Chapter 135 Waking Up to Love
The next morning, Zuo Qinghuan woke first. Instinctively, she reached out to touch the woman beside her. Feeling the comforting warmth of her body, a sense of peace settled over her. Propping her chin on her hand, she greedily gazed at the still-sleeping Qin Wanshu.
Qin Wanshu was truly beautiful. Zuo Qinghuan recalled the first time she'd laid eyes on this woman, how utterly captivated she had been. But mere beauty wasn't enough to sustain someone's allure; true charm always transcended physical appearance. Zuo Qinghuan believed that even at sixty, Qin Wanshu would still take her breath away.
Zuo Qinghuan often wondered if she and Qin Wanshu must have shared an incredibly deep bond in a past life. How else could she have ended up with this woman? She could understand the attitudes of Shi Yunyang and the others; sometimes, even Zuo Qinghuan herself thought that a woman as near-perfect as Qin Wanshu shouldn't belong to anyone. But such thoughts were always fleeting.
Gazing at Qin Wanshu's sleeping face, Zuo Qinghuan knew, regardless of anything else, this wonderful woman was hers. Qin Wanshu had bloomed beneath her countless times last night, and Zuo Qinghuan's chest swelled with happiness. She must be exhausted because of me, Zuo Qinghuan mused, placing a tender, pitying kiss on Qin Wanshu's forehead before preparing to get up and make her a breakfast filled with love.
As Zuo Qinghuan climbed out of bed, her feet nearly gave way when they touched the floor. Only then did she notice the soreness in her thighs and waist. Qin Wanshu had claimed her just as many times last night. Qin Wanshu always believed in 'courtesy demands reciprocity,' so last night had been one of complete indulgence for both of them. Zuo Qinghuan relished such indulgence, though she knew it was rare for Qin Wanshu to let go like this. That self-controlled woman certainly wouldn't allow her to be so unrestrained every single time.
After washing up, Zuo Qinghuan headed straight for the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, she took out eggs and other ingredients, humming a little tune happily as she started preparing their special breakfast.
Not long after Zuo Qinghuan left the bed, Qin Wanshu also awoke. She glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table – ten o'clock. The sun was already high; it had been a long time since she'd woken up this late. She saw the bright sunlight peeking through the gaps in the curtains and heard the cheerful humming drifting from the kitchen, an involuntary smile gracing her lips. Qin Wanshu slipped on her pajamas, washed up, and walked to the kitchen doorway. Watching the figure inside bustling about like a happy little bird, her smile deepened. She loved this kind of life: companionship with the one she loved, no need for earth-shattering drama, just a simple, ordinary life spent together.
Qin Wanshu entered the kitchen and embraced Zuo Qinghuan from behind.
Zuo Qinghuan caught Qin Wanshu's delicate fragrance and smiled brightly.
"Go wait in the living room for a bit. I smell like cooking fumes right now!" Although Zuo Qinghuan loved the feeling of being held by Qin Wanshu, she didn't want her standing around in the smoky kitchen.
"Let me check if you do." Qin Wanshu sniffed near Zuo Qinghuan's hair, then moved closer to her neck, nuzzling it lightly with the tip of her nose. Zuo Qinghuan felt a ticklish, slightly tingling sensation spread across her neck; her body truly was incredibly sensitive to Qin Wanshu's touch.
"Nope, you still smell wonderful," Qin Wanshu stated after her seemingly serious assessment.
"Qin Wanshu, you're saying sweet things," Zuo Qinghuan said, her smile as sweet as honey.
"Am I not allowed to?" Qin Wanshu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You should say them often," Zuo Qinghuan replied. She wasn't afraid of cheesy words, and somehow, coming from Qin Wanshu, they never sounded cheesy at all.
"Actually, I was also thinking that you look beautiful when you're focused on cooking," Qin Wanshu added. She believed sweet talk wasn't necessarily false; at least, she couldn't bring herself to say things she didn't mean.
"If you want a certain behavior to continue, you should constantly give positive affirmation and reinforcement. It's what management theory calls 'positive reinforcement'. By praising how I look when I cook, are you hoping I'll keep being your little cook forever?" Zuo Qinghuan asked with a grin.
"Mm, seems about right," Qin Wanshu deliberately played along.
"What if I turn into a frumpy, worn-out housewife?" Zuo Qinghuan challenged, raising an eyebrow. Losing one's looks was a major concern, after all.
"Zuo Qinghuan, I don't love you because you can cook. I love you simply because you are you. I just happen to like seeing you busy yourself for my sake," Qin Wanshu said earnestly.
"I know. Just like I love watching you play the piano for me. It's something you do for me." Zuo Qinghuan's lips curved into a wide smile. She'd gladly spend her whole life being Qin Wanshu's 'frumpy housewife'.
"Mm," Qin Wanshu knew Zuo Qinghuan understood.
"Qin Wanshu, I can play the piano now! Can I play for you sometime soon?" Speaking of the piano, Zuo Qinghuan felt an urge, much like a child's, to show Qin Wanshu everything she had learned.
"Alright." Qin Wanshu hadn't expected Zuo Qinghuan to have learned so much over the past three years. There was a slight pang of regret realizing how much Zuo Qinghuan had grown without her knowledge, but Qin Wanshu genuinely looked forward to seeing her play. Her little fairy would surely have a wonderful aura at the piano.
"Qin Wanshu, can I make Japanese food for you tonight?" Zuo Qinghuan asked eagerly.
"Alright." Qin Wanshu nodded.
"Qin Wanshu, can we visit Auntie Xiao tomorrow, and maybe see Aoba too?"
"Alright." Qin Wanshu still replied with "alright."
"Qin Wanshu, Li Xin mentioned that Shi Yunyang has a steady partner now. I'm really curious what kind of person managed to tame that menace! When can you introduce me?" Apparently, it was a woman Shi Yunyang would never have even glanced at before. Zuo Qinghuan was incredibly curious about this person. What kind of woman could possibly catch the eye – and hold the heart – of someone like Shi Yunyang, who had seen and done it all? Knowing Shi Yunyang's picky taste, her class snobbery, her obsession with looks – basically, her extremely shallow nature – Zuo Qinghuan had expected her to just play around forever.
"She's a nice girl. If you want to meet her, I'll arrange a time for us all to have a meal together." Qin Wanshu mused on how strange life was. If Shi Yunyang hadn't had that car accident, she and that girl probably never would have crossed paths. If it hadn't been for Han Shibin, perhaps she and Zuo Qinghuan wouldn't have either. Yet, somehow, they all met.
"Let's invite Li Xin and Yan Ruozhe too," Zuo Qinghuan suggested. The scene would definitely be lively, especially considering the past relationship between those two enchantresses, Shi Yunyang and Li Xin. Thinking about it, Zuo Qinghuan suddenly felt she could understand Shi Yunyang's penchant for stirring up trouble.
"Mm." Qin Wanshu easily guessed Zuo Qinghuan's intentions but nodded indulgently anyway.
"Qin Wanshu, there are still so, so many things I want to do with you."
"We'll take it slow. There's no rush. We have plenty of time ahead of us."
"Qin Wanshu, I love hearing that." Zuo Qinghuan smiled sweetly. She loved the thought that Qin Wanshu would be part of everything in her future; she would never feel lonely again.
Sometimes, love is simply about mutual affection, and the willing one takes the bait.