Chapter 101 Promises and Tears

Chapter 101 Promises and Tears

Zuo Qinghuan took a deep breath, trying to quell the turmoil in her heart, before fishing her keys out to unlock the door.

"Come here," Qin Wanshu said, gesturing to Zuo Qinghuan. She'd felt Zuo Qinghuan had been out for too long today, and a little pang of longing had settled in.

Zuo Qinghuan walked over obediently. Qin Wanshu reached out, slipped an arm around Zuo Qinghuan's waist, and drew her onto her lap. It was unusual for Qin Wanshu to initiate such closeness, but Zuo Qinghuan was too preoccupied to notice. Her mind was heavy with unspoken thoughts. She instinctively returned Qin Wanshu's embrace, greedily inhaling the sweet scent that always clung to her.

"Your eyes are a little red. Have you been crying?" Qin Wanshu noticed the faint redness and puffiness around Zuo Qinghuan's eyes.

Zuo Qinghuan shook her head. She'd deliberately lingered outside before coming back, hoping Qin Wanshu wouldn't see she'd been crying.

"Did my grandfather send someone to bother you?" Qin Wanshu asked, her voice perceptive.

"No, I'm just a bit tired today," Zuo Qinghuan replied, wanting to keep the encounter with the old man a secret for now.

"Go take a bath and get some rest early tonight," Qin Wanshu said, holding Zuo Qinghuan tighter, her voice laced with concern.

"Could you ever be completely mine, with all my love?" Zuo Qinghuan suddenly looked up at Qin Wanshu, a small smile playing on her lips.

"You already are," Qin Wanshu nodded indulgently. The thought of being claimed by Zuo Qinghuan didn't bother her in the slightest. Wasn't Zuo Qinghuan already hers, body and soul?

Zuo Qinghuan's smile widened, a genuine happiness lighting up her face. Qin Wanshu truly was the most wonderful woman. The thought of having her all to herself was enough to make her wake up smiling from even the deepest sleep.

"Qin Wanshu," Zuo Qinghuan began tentatively, "if I wanted to go away to study for three years, would you wait for me?"

Qin Wanshu's brow furrowed slightly. Why the sudden interest in studying abroad? Something felt off about Zuo Qinghuan today.

"What would you want to study? Maybe I could even teach you myself," Qin Wanshu offered, the thought of Zuo Qinghuan leaving for three years already causing a knot of anxiety in her stomach. Three years felt like an eternity.

"But I want to become better than you," Zuo Qinghuan said, a hint of playful challenge in her tone. She needed to forge her own path, to grow beyond Qin Wanshu's protective embrace, or she'd always feel like she was living in her shadow.

"But would you really be willing to leave me for three whole years?" Qin Wanshu sensed the underlying insecurity in Zuo Qinghuan's question. While she admired her desire for self-improvement, three years was an unbearable length of time.

"I wouldn't want to," Zuo Qinghuan admitted, "but I really want to become stronger." Her reluctance was even more profound than Qin Wanshu's, but sometimes, the hardest choices were the most necessary.

A pang of unease shot through Qin Wanshu's heart.

"This is a very sudden request. Did my grandfather trouble you?" Qin Wanshu pressed. This wasn't like Zuo Qinghuan. Hadn't she once declared Qin Wanshu to be her entire world? How could her feelings have shifted so dramatically? Something was clearly amiss.

"He didn't trouble me. I've just come to understand a lot lately. You once told me I could broaden my own horizons," Zuo Qinghuan murmured, burying her face in the crook of Qin Wanshu's neck, nuzzling gently.

"Zuo Qinghuan, I don't need you to change. In fact, I'm afraid of you growing too distant. Three years is a long time, with too many uncertainties. I don't know if I have the patience to wait. Promise me you won't leave me so easily," Qin Wanshu pleaded, holding Zuo Qinghuan tightly, a rare feeling of fear creeping into her heart. She wasn't getting any younger, and she knew exactly what she wanted in life. She didn't want Zuo Qinghuan to leave simply because of some fleeting insecurity. Life was too short to waste three precious years.

Zuo Qinghuan nodded, her arms tightening around Qin Wanshu. If only she could shut out the rest of the world and simply stay here, wrapped in Qin Wanshu's embrace.

"Qin Wanshu, I really love you. So, so much," Zuo Qinghuan whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Her love for Qin Wanshu was so profound it bordered on fear. There were nights she'd wake up in a cold sweat, reaching out to confirm the woman beside her was real, terrified that it was all just a beautiful dream. The thought of waking up to nothing was unbearable.

"If you love me, then don't leave me. If you want to grow, I can be there with you," Qin Wanshu said, her voice tinged with a possessiveness she didn't try to hide. She wanted Zuo Qinghuan by her side. If Zuo Qinghuan yearned for self-improvement, Qin Wanshu would guide her, step by step, but she couldn't bear the thought of her leaving.

Zuo Qinghuan smiled softly and nodded.

Seeing Zuo Qinghuan's nod, a wave of relief washed over Qin Wanshu. She wanted to believe that Zuo Qinghuan would choose their love over her insecurities, that their bond was strong enough to withstand this sudden urge to leave.

Later that night, after a tender interlude, Qin Wanshu and Zuo Qinghuan lay facing each other in bed. Zuo Qinghuan's fingers gently traced the contours of Qin Wanshu's face, as if trying to memorize every detail.

"Why do you always like to touch my face?" Qin Wanshu asked softly, her voice still carrying the warmth of their recent intimacy.

"I was just thinking how incredibly beautiful you are. No matter how many times I look at you, it's never enough," Zuo Qinghuan replied with a loving smile.

"Smooth talker," Qin Wanshu teased, though a blush crept up her cheeks. Even someone as composed as her enjoyed a bit of flattery.

"Qin Wanshu," Zuo Qinghuan called her name softly.

"Hmm?"

"Look at me more too. I'm beautiful too, you know," Zuo Qinghuan said, her gaze earnest. Remember my face clearly. Don't ever forget me.

Qin Wanshu couldn't help but smile, her heart swelling with affection. She gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Zuo Qinghuan's forehead. "Yes, you are," she agreed, her voice filled with tenderness.

"Auntie Xiao, I've decided to go to Japan," Zuo Qinghuan said into the phone, calling Xiao Qinan from a quiet corner of a coffee shop.

"I've already taken care of most of the arrangements. You can leave whenever you're ready," Xiao Qinan replied, her voice calm and knowing. She'd anticipated this decision. Zuo Qinghuan was a bright girl; she understood that sometimes, a temporary separation was necessary for long-term growth.

"Thank you, Auntie Xiao," Zuo Qinghuan said sincerely.

"You're like family to me, a child I've watched grow up. I want you to spread your wings and fly. Three years isn't a long time to learn everything you want, so the rest will depend on your own efforts," Xiao Qinan said. Three years might seem short for studying, but it would be an agonizing wait for those left behind.

After hanging up, Zuo Qinghuan left the coffee shop early and headed to the market, carefully selecting Qin Wanshu's favorite ingredients.

"Are we really going to eat all of this?" Qin Wanshu asked, surveying the table laden with dishes. It was clearly far too much for just the two of them.

"If we can't finish it, we can always put it in the fridge," Zuo Qinghuan said, finally stepping back from the table, a satisfied smile on her face as she took off her apron.

"Wine?" Qin Wanshu pointed to the bottle of red wine sitting on the table. Zuo Qinghuan was definitely up to something. She rarely drank, knowing how quickly even a small amount affected her.

"The wine has its purpose," Zuo Qinghuan said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"I have a feeling you're plotting something tonight," Qin Wanshu said, a faint memory of the last time Zuo Qinghuan had plied her with alcohol flickering in her mind.

Zuo Qinghuan watched Qin Wanshu sleep peacefully. Whether it was the lingering effects of their earlier intimacy or the wine, Qin Wanshu was now in a deep slumber, completely oblivious to the turmoil brewing within Zuo Qinghuan.

Zuo Qinghuan's heart ached with a sharp, suffocating pain. The thought of leaving this woman, of not seeing her for three long years, was almost unbearable.

"I will come back. You have to wait for me," Zuo Qinghuan whispered, pressing a tender kiss to Qin Wanshu's forehead. Qin Wanshu, please wait for me.

Zuo Qinghuan didn't dare to linger any longer, afraid that if she did, her resolve would crumble.

"Are you feeling sad?" Xiao Qinan asked, noticing Zuo Qinghuan's quiet demeanor in the car.

Zuo Qinghuan didn't answer, simply nodding. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about Qin Wanshu. Several times, she'd almost yielded to the overwhelming urge to turn back.

Xiao Qinan understood the depth of Zuo Qinghuan's emotions. She'd experienced that same heart-wrenching pain and reluctance herself. It was a choice born out of necessity, when all other options seemed impossible.

"If you really can't go through with this, you can still turn back. Without a strong heart, you won't be able to do it," Xiao Qinan said gently, her voice tinged with sympathy.

"No, I'm going to Japan," Zuo Qinghuan said, her voice firm despite the tears welling in her eyes. She couldn't afford to be weak now.

"This is as far as I can take you. The rest of the journey is yours," Xiao Qinan said, watching Zuo Qinghuan disappear through the security checkpoint.

"Auntie Xiao..." Zuo Qinghuan began, unsure how to express her gratitude.

"Don't say anything. If you want to thank me, show me a completely new Zuo Qinghuan when you come back in three years," Xiao Qinan said with a warm smile.

Zuo Qinghuan nodded, a silent promise forming in her heart. Three years from now, she would definitely return.

Qin Wanshu had been dreaming that Zuo Qinghuan was leaving. She woke with a jolt, instinctively reaching for the empty space beside her. A cold wave of unease washed over her.

"Zuo Qinghuan..." Qin Wanshu called out, her voice echoing in the silent room. A sudden panic seized her. She grabbed her phone from the bedside table, her fingers already dialing Zuo Qinghuan's number, when she noticed a folded piece of paper tucked underneath it.

"Wait for me for three years. I will come back." Qin Wanshu stared at the note in disbelief. She'd always believed that Zuo Qinghuan couldn't bear to leave her, just as she couldn't imagine life without Zuo Qinghuan. But now, she was gone. A heavy weight settled in Qin Wanshu's chest, a dull, suffocating pain spreading through her. She'd never known her heart could ache like this.

Who did Zuo Qinghuan think she was, deciding what she needed to do? Even if she wanted to grow, Qin Wanshu could have been there, supporting her every step of the way. How could she make such a unilateral decision? And how could she simply assume that Qin Wanshu would wait for her for three long years? Qin Wanshu crumpled the note in her hand, her knuckles white. Zuo Qinghuan, I understand your choice, but I will never forgive you for this!

The plane had already lifted off, leaving the mainland far behind. By now, Qin Wanshu must have woken up. Was she looking for her? Would she even begin to understand her decision? Zuo Qinghuan thought of Qin Wanshu, and silent tears streamed down her face.

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