Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="333" data-orig-width="500"></figure>I think it’s high time that I am bribed for my translations… through comments. From now on, I want at least four comments from four different people before I will post the next chapter. I’m not asking for too much, am I? :P
Jian Zhang really bugged me in this chapter. I know that all the evidence points to the ‘unusual’ relationship between Jing Wan and Liu Shao but honestly, after growing up with her, does he really not know her character well enough? Moreover, how can he treat her this way, when all her efforts were to get him released?
Encountering Love: Chapter 23
He Xu An shook his head and said: “I am only responsible for this matter, I don’t know anything about other matters.” Jian Zhang interjected to ask Jing Wan: “Liu Shao? Murong Liu Shao? Why are you asking about Liu Shao?” Jing Wan replied: “I owe Liu Shao a big favor. This sequence of events is not something that I can explain in a couple of sentences.” Jian Zhang gave an ‘uh’ sound and seemingly understanding the situation a bit better, he said: “So it was him.” When he was in prison, he had once heard a prison guard say: “He is really fortunate to have someone from the top take care of him like this.” After the matter was revealed like this today, he was full of doubts, and seeing how Jing Wan was hemming and hawing, he became even more suspicious. Precisely at this time, the large clock, which was as tall a sitting person, began to clang in the room. When Jing Wan heard this sound, she jumped up as if she had been frightened and upon turning around, she saw that the hour hand and minute hand on the clock had come together. She stared blankly at it, lost in thought.
Jian Zhang called out “Jing Wan”, but she did not seem to hear him, and after a while, she said to herself: “It’s twelve o’clock.” Xu Jian Zhang took the train ticket from her and looked at it, astonished: “The train will leave in thirty minutes. If we are going to get on it, we must leave quickly.” Jing Wan made a sound of affirmation, but she only heard the dim sound of music and people’s voices. After a while, as they heard the sound of approaching footsteps getting closer and closer, she felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest, but the footsteps were brisk and did not sound like leather shoes. That person walked into the reception area, and Jing Wan recognized Zhou Ma from the atrium, who said to her: “Our Madam asked me to tell Miss Yin that it is time to start the celebration, but Liu Shao has not arrived yet, probably because his meeting is running late. She wants to postpone the celebration by a quarter of an hour.”
Jing Wan suddenly felt a rush of weakness and could not say anything, so she just nodded. She saw Zhou Ma studying Xu Jian Zhang, so she quickly said: “This is my cousin. Tell Madam that I will be there soon.” When Xu Jian Zhang heard her address him as her cousin, he began to have even more doubts, the corners of his mouth moved slightly but forced himself to endure it. After that Zhou Ma walked away, he asked again: “Where is this place? What are you doing here?” Jing Wan replied: “This is the Tao Estate. In order to remedy your situation, I have been staying here temporarily.” Xu Jian Zhang said: “Since I have already been released, you should tell your host that we will be leaving to avoid bothering them.” Jing Wan gently grounded her teeth and responded: “You should go first, I will get on the next train.”
Xu Jian Zhang did not expect that she would ever say this, so he asked: “Why?” Jing Wan said: “I cannot say right now. You will understand tomorrow. Since Liu Shao released you, I owe him a favor. I must thank him in person.” Finally, Xu Jian Zhang could not stand it anymore: “Liu Shao this, Liu Shao that. How did you meet this Liu Shao? And why was he willing to release me?” Jing Wan heard the suspicion in his voice, and became indignant so she retorted: “Do you not trust me?”
Xu Jian Zhang replied: “Of course I trust you, but you have to explain everything clearly to me.” Jing Wan angrily said: “What do you want me to explain? He released you but you aren’t even grateful and actually have suspicions about him!” From the side, He Xu An tried to persuade them: “Miss Yin, it’s is better to walk and talk. Liu Shao especially urged me over and over again to be sure to send Miss Yin off.” Jing Wan raised her head and replied: “Liu Shao has treated me so well, how can I just leave? Mr. He, please take Jian Zhang to the train station, I will take the next one.”
Even though Xu Jian Zhang was usually easy going, he could not remain so anymore, so he coldly said: “If you won’t leave, I won’t leave either.” Jing Wan stomped her foot and said: “That’s fine if you don’t trust me.” She then said to He Xu An: “Please take me to see Liu Shao.” He Xu An was startled, and Xu Jian Zhang asked: “Why do you want to see him?” Jing Wan replied lightly: “He saved your life, I have to at least thank him.” Xu Jian Zhang could not endure patiently anymore: “Why would he be willing to save me? Why aren’t you telling me outright?” Jing Wan stared at him for quite a while, then she gave him a charming smile: “Yes, why would he save you? Since you already have your suspicions, why don’t you just say them out loud?” Xu Jian Zhang felt remorseful, but remembering that the prison warden was so respectful to He Xu An when he went to jail to release him, clearly, he must be a high-ranking official. But this Mr. He was also extremely respectful in front of Jing Wan. Jing Wan was simply a woman, yet she can cause this kind of high personage of the Cheng army to be so obedient, it would surprise anyone. When they were conversing, they always mentioned this Murong Feng, and it seemed that her relationship with Murong Feng is also usual. The clouds of suspicion in his mind were growing larger and more turbulent, as if he was going to explode at any minute from the pain within his heart. But Jing Wan’s facial expression did not even look slightly concerned for him, and she turned to He Xu An to say again: “I want to see Liu Shao.”
He Xu An hesitantly responded: “Miss Yin, this won’t do.” The multitudes of thoughts in Jing Wan’s head were completely jumbled, so much that she did not know where to start putting them in order. Her only thought was that she was sworn brother and sister with him, and since they’ve met, he has always treated her with courtesy. This time, the situation was so urgent, yet he still prepared so carefully for her; right now, he might be in danger and she could not simply walk away from it all. Within a minute, she had already made up her mind and said to He Xu An: “The situation has gotten to this point and Jing Wan has already made up her mind. Please agree to my request.”
He Xu An usually saw her as such a delicate person, but hearing her so determined, he secretly praised her for attaching such importance to friendship and justice. At this point of life and death, he actually said: “Liu Shao has orders that I cannot go against. But since Miss Yin refuses to go to the train station, I cannot force you to.” Jing Wan smiled slightly and said to Jian Zhang: “Wait here for me, I will be back soon.” Xu Jian Zhang said: “I will go with you.” Jing Wan did not know what the situation was like, as the future was uncertain, and looking at the clock, she saw that it was already 12:20; since the Third Miss had not asked her to come down for the celebration, Murong Feng most likely had not returned yet. At that moment, she could not explain the situation clearly to Xu Jian Zhang and unwilling to delay any longer, she only said: “You cannot go with me, but I will return shortly.” Xu Jian Zhang still had words to say, but Jing Wan interrupted him: “Mr. He, please stay with Mr. Xu.” He Xu An agreed, but Jian Zhang grabbed her arm and indignantly asked: “Jing Wan, why?!”