The Divorce Lawyer Is Very Hard To Flirt With - Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Love Is Not Necessarily Something Noble or…

“I think what you said was particularly good!” Zhu Yun sat opposite Song Xidan, beckoning the waiter for some peanuts, which went perfectly with the wine. “So, you said the same type of people are not necessarily the same path of people. How did Zhi’an reply?”

Song Xidan sat blankly in the booth, her mind still reeling a bit. She had come straight from the Judges Academy to Zhu Yun’s gathering place; she desperately needed a strategist, so Zhu Yun had set up a separate seat for her.

Hearing Zhu Yun’s question, Song Xidan slowly sighed, her eyes carrying a mixture of confusion and a plea for help. “Sister Zhi’an said that life is like a game of constant encounters, separations, re-encounters, and repeated permutations and combinations. Perhaps what I said was right, perhaps it wasn’t right, and she doesn’t pass judgment on future matters.”

Zhu Yun was stunned, her brow furrowed. She chewed over the sentence, as if trying to extract every drop of meaning. “Said it was right, yet not right, and doesn’t pass judgment on the future? Such sophisticated speaking skills. Words can be used to mask inner feelings; we still have to look at her actions. What was her expression then?”

Song Xidan was also stunned, then let out a wail of annoyance. “I was too nervous; I don’t remember either.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay, that’s normal,” Zhu Yun quickly reassured her. “Zhi’an even self-studied psychology back in the day; she’s someone who often uses micro-expressions to make judgments. Even if you remembered her expression, she might have disguised herself very well.”

“I feel like what I said was a bit too obvious, but I don’t know if Sister Zhi’an got the hint.”

Zhu Yun could only mutter silently to herself: She definitely got the hint. She already knew you liked her! She is just ‘mending the road in the open while crossing the river in the dark!’ She wants you to retreat gracefully!

Zhu Yun understood, and she felt like she was standing at a crossroads with four possible directions, not knowing which way to go. Rationality told her she should help Ying Zhi’an stop this fruitless relationship, but emotion told her that Song Xidan was serious. Why should someone be deprived of even the chance to try?

Zhu Yun, usually so boisterous, was lost in thought and fell silent for a moment.

Song Xidan picked up the wine bottle, poured herself a drink, and tossed it back. The sting of the alcohol instantly cleared her mind somewhat. “Whether Sister Zhi’an got the hint or not, I can’t continue being ‘passively active’ like this. I feel like the so-called ‘slow-boil-the-frog’ plan wasn’t very effective.”

“‘Passively active’?” Zhu Yun chewed on the contradictory phrase but had to admit it was an accurate conceptual term and the best description of their plan.

Zhu Yun ate a fried peanut. “You can’t say it was useless; there have been some changes!”

“Have there?”

“Yes!”

As the planner of the ‘slow-boil-the-frog’ plan, Zhu Yun would not allow it to be questioned. She counted on her fingers: “The most obvious one: Zhi’an hasn’t drunk coffee for a long, long time; she’s gotten into the habit of drinking your health-preserving tea.”

Song Xidan’s eyes instantly darkened, like a puppy with its head drooping. “I saw an empty coffee cup in their room…”

“Furthermore, you knew she never used to eat celery, right? Just like some people hate cilantro. But the mixed fruit juice you made her last time with celery, isn’t she able to tolerate celery now?” Zhu Yun argued fiercely.

“But celery and Chinese celery are not the same thing,” Song Xidan murmured in rebuttal.

Zhu Yun frowned and decided to offer a more compelling example. “And since you arrived, her three meals have become normal! Isn’t that a clear change? You’ve helped her become a very healthy legal professional, not someone who often forgets to eat lunch and just snacks for breakfast. You are really important to her.”

Song Xidan still shook her head, saying with frustration, “That’s just a change in lifestyle habits; anyone could do that for her. But Judge Song is different…”

“What Judge Song? Do you like Ying Zhi’an or that Judge Song? Why are you always praising your rival and diminishing yourself?” Zhu Yun interrupted her, slightly annoyed.

When Song Xidan thought of Song Moqiu, she recalled Ying Zhi’an’s phrase, “We are the same type of people,” and felt a pang of pain. “But Judge Song is indeed a very excellent person. You haven’t met her. She’s incredibly good-looking, intellectual, and beautiful, like a noble lady stepping out of a classical painting, yet possessing the independence and wisdom of a modern woman. In her speech and demeanor, you can clearly sense her extraordinary temperament and refinement. She’s the kind of person whose charm you can’t help but be drawn to.”

Zhu Yun was dismissive. “Even if she’s a celestial being, she’s still your rival! Stop praising her! You’re about to be ‘home-wrecked’! And you’re still praising her!”

Song Xidan sighed deeply. “I simply can’t compare to her.”

“You look great too!” Zhu Yun wished she could shake Song Xidan awake and dispel this lethargy from the “little sun.” If she had initially had a slight intention of following Ying Zhi’an’s lead to break up Song Xidan’s crush, that idea was now completely gone. “You’re also good-looking! And you’re younger than her! Plus, what you said to Zhi’an in the end was absolutely right—two rational people are not suited to be together! I don’t believe love is the product of reason; love is impulsive, chaotic, and destructive!”

“Sister Yun, I originally thought my love for Sister Zhi’an was mature, and that I loved her regardless of her feelings, because I wouldn’t tightly bind the person I loved and possess them. I loved her without expecting anything in return. But I realize that’s not true; I was young and talked nonsense. I’m neither noble nor mature. Deep down in my humanity, I still have that desire to succeed in becoming Sister Zhi’an’s girlfriend and the fear of her being with Judge Song. I can’t face the emotional loss and disappointment with composure. I’m not mature enough…”

Song Xidan was sinking into an unprecedented self-doubt, as if mired in quicksand.

Zhu Yun had never seen her like this. Since Song Xidan joined the law firm, she had always been like a little sun, energetically revolving around Ying Zhi’an. Although she was slightly inexperienced in her work, she was quick and efficient, and her learning ability was astonishing. Even Luo Qingcheng, known for his harshness, had given her a “not bad” evaluation.

Now, she looked like a sun that had lost its radiance, completely dull, which made Zhu Yun feel very uncomfortable.

“Don’t be like this! I’m truly bad with words, I…” Zhu Yun was anxious, wanting to comfort Song Xidan, but found herself speechless. If Ying Zhi’an were here, she would surely spout a string of profound theories to console her.

Zhu Yun opened her mouth, then closed it, repeating this motion, but ultimately said nothing. She longed to call Ying Zhi’an immediately and scold her harshly for tormenting such a good young person this way!

However, while Zhu Yun never felt guilty facing Luo Qingcheng, she felt extremely guilty towards Ying Zhi’an. At the moment, she could only sigh deeply and try a different approach to guide Song Xidan. “How about you don’t be discouraged first? Honestly, homosexuality isn’t something common. Are you sure that Judge Song is your rival? Judge Song might like men, or maybe she already has a partner? How do you know she’s single and likes women?”

As soon as she said this, Zhu Yun’s eyes lit up. She silently patted herself on the back: Well done, Zhu Yun, that even rhymed!

Zhu Yun’s words made Song Xidan pause, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. “I think…”

“Don’t rely on what you think, you need to confirm!” Zhu Yun interrupted her, her tone firm.

“I can’t confirm that,” Song Xidan shook her head helplessly.

“I’ll find an excuse for Ying Zhi’an to handle something for Luo Qingcheng tomorrow. Then you’ll have an excuse to go there. You can try to probe when you meet Judge Song.” Zhu Yun offered an idea.

Song Xidan thought this made some sense. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “Then I’ll confirm it tomorrow.”

“Mhm, don’t worry about this for now; confirm it first before anything else. By the way, Sister Qian is over there; shall we go join them?”

Song Xidan shook her head. “Sister Yun, you’re right. I can’t be here pitying myself before confirming anything. I’m going home now; I haven’t finished my bar exam studying task for today.”

Mentioning the bar exam, Zhu Yun didn’t try to keep her. While she herself lacked ambition, she couldn’t hinder a young person’s future.

After Song Xidan left, Sister Qian from the next table came over to find Zhu Yun, asking about the young Song’s situation. Zhu Yun simply said Song Xidan was troubled by love and repeated Song Xidan’s earlier words, omitting the crucial information. “Sister Qian, I think she demands too much of herself. Actually, love itself is not necessarily something noble or mature.”

Sister Qian rolled her eyes upon hearing this. “You don’t need to hide anything. Didn’t she say she liked Ying Zhi’an in front of everyone back then? I was there; I know this.

“Oh, right, you know. I forgot. Then you’re in a better position to judge. Do you think she and Zhi’an can have a future?” Zhu Yun asked.

Sister Qian considered carefully. “Xiao Yun, actually, you could have told the young Song that there is an insurmountable gap between the ideal and reality. Her ideal love for Ying Zhi’an is just an ideal. People are accustomed to viewing possession as proof of love, which is why reciprocated love is the ideal so many aspire to. If the final outcome is still one-sided affection, and her feelings can’t be equally reciprocated, she needs to accept and respect the other person’s choice. She just needs to learn to love herself in the process of loving others. The best love always begins with self-love.”

Zhu Yun was filled with regret upon hearing this, slapping her thigh. “I wish I had known you knew about her liking Zhi’an! Your words are perfect!”

Sister Qian rolled her eyes. “You’re telling her to go find her rival tomorrow?”

“Yeah, just to probe, right? Without making it obvious, it should be fine, right?” Zhu Yun asked, slightly unsure.

Sister Qian nodded. “She has to try. I agree with your view: the same type of people are not necessarily the same path of people. Because feelings generated under reason aren’t necessarily love; they might be just companionship. True love is inevitably impulsive and cannot be measured by reason.”

Zhu Yun said with full confidence, “I’ll go find Luo Qingcheng first thing tomorrow morning to see if he has any documents for Zhi’an.”

Although Zhu Yun was always slow and procrastinating with her bar exam studies, she showed astonishing initiative when it came to helping Song Xidan.

The next day at noon, Song Xidan appeared at the Judges Academy entrance holding a sealed manila envelope.

As if fate was helping her, Ying Zhi’an was attending a small social meeting of the lawyer circle within the training group and could only entrust Song Moqiu to retrieve the documents.

The two women, both surnamed Song, met.

Song Xidan pursed her lips, looking at Song Moqiu, silently rehearsing her lines. After entering the building and getting into the elevator, she finally mustered the courage to ask: “Judge Song, do you have a partner?”