Volume 1, Chapter 3 – See you on the narrow road

She wanted to lie about her reasons. But his expression made her decide to be honest and tell him everything.

She told him in a whisper that she had fell ill last month and spent all the money she earned from her part-time job, so she went to her dad’s house to ask for an allowance. Her father did not want to give her money, so she kept waiting near his house. It was only until his wife and son arrived that he gave in because he could not bear to lose face.

Qin Ge was stunned, and held her into his arms without a word.

The hug was so strong that she thought he was trying to strangle her to death. Unlike other couples, this is how their relationship began— just like this, without any warning.

Lin Siwei hated her so much for this. It turned out that she had always liked Qin Ge. This became a talk of the school, but Hai Lan did not care. She was just grateful. Besides, she loved Qin Ge not because of his appearance not his identity.

Before he hastily came into her world, she never knew that there could be such a person who could give her so much peace and happiness. Unfortunately, after experiencing such grace, some women would really think they have owned the world.

The doctor once told her, “Hai Lan, although you never spend so much energy on your grades, you are smarter and more prudent than anyone else I’ve encountered. Stay in the department and aid me.

And as the saying goes, a true gentleman will die for the person who understands his worth¹, hence after graduating, she went to work in the doctor’s research institute. And she would not leave this job just because she and Qin Ge called it quits. She even participated in the Dunhuang excavation to help Dr. Ai Wei. She will stay here despite the gossips. Despite the fact that no matter how much she avoids him, they will still meet on a narrow road².

But what can she do? She does not have much. She already lost Qi Ge, but if she loses her favorite job, then she will have nothing left. But thinking about it, perhaps, Qin Ge never really became hers. So when she chose not to tear that damn check, perhaps she knew this day would really happen.

Unexpectedly, Qin Ge’s family also came in the site. Qin Ge’s parents knew her and did not like her. Qin Mama glanced at her contemptuously, but his sister Qin Ge could not bear it and said, “Jie, let me help you…”

Qin Mama scolded her and said, “Such a meddlesome girl!”

Hai Lan hurriedly shook her head to Qin Fei.

But Lin Siwei came into the scene and said, “Then allow me to help you, Hai Lan.”

Hai Lan frowned slightly. But Lin Siwei turned her head towards Qin Ge and smiled, “I will help Hai Lan in carrying these things, and you will help me hold it, okay?”

“Okay.” Qin Ge responded with a smile.

With a knot in her chest, Hai Lan smiled back and said to Lin Si Wei, “The shovel has no eyes³. It would be a big trouble if it accidentally touch your delicate skin.”

Lin Siwei’s expression changed minutely, hence Qin Ge interjected in time and said lightly, “Xiao Xia, help Miss Lin carry those things.”

Xiao Xia is Qin Ge’s driver. In a blink of an eye, he grabbed everything from her hands and shoulder, his clever shift grasp displaying dexterity.

The tomb suddenly fall into desolation.

From where she was standing, she could hear the sarcastic remarks of her colleagues in the archeological team who witnessed what happened. Some of them even asked if she knew that a day like this would come, would she behave that way when they first met?

Her throat became a little dry, tears welling up her eyes. But self esteem is really a ridiculous thing. She tried hard to contain her tears, because what will be left of her when people see her cry?

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Notes:

[1] Author included the phrase 士为知己者死 (shi wei zhiji zhe shi), which is part of a longer proverb 士为知己者死，女为悦己者容。(shi wei zhiji zhe shi , nu wei yueji zhe rong) And it meant — A true gentleman will sacrifice his life for a friend who understands him, just as how woman makes herself beautiful for her sweetheart. In Hai Lan’s case, she just borrowed the first part because she was saying that it she has identified such connection with the professor

[2] 狭路相逢 (xia lu xiang feng) literally meeting in a narrow path – this means you came into an unavoidable circumstance – the title

[3] She used the phrase 利铲无眼 (li chan wu yan) with the literal meaning on the main text, borrowing from the metaphor 刀剑无眼 (daojian wuyan) which literally translates to “the knife does not have eyes”, and the meanings vary depending on the situation. Most of the time it means that in the presence of dangerous situation, you should be careful and could not blame anyone if you’re hurt. In Hai Lan’s case, she wittingly replaced the knife with shovel because that is what she was holding at the moment and is warning her not to incite tension. But also literally, the Luoyang shovel is also a very sharp instrument.

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T/N:
It’s such a disservice to my friends who have been wanting to read this that my pace was very glacial. But I was so into Shattered Glass because it’s always painful, and it’s kind of my thing to torment myself into translating. Because here, we have not reached the past yet which is the bulk of the pain. Volume 1 is all the modern times and a little glimpse of Long Feili, Xiao Qi, their son Long Wushang, and Xiao Qi’s adoptive daughter Lin Lang (of My Gentle Tyrant, FWQC’s sister-book), and how it is connected to Hai Lan’s time-travel.

So, I am looking forward to breach Volume 2 because the concubine selection, when Qiao Chu (Hai Lan) joins the pageant (yes an actual concubine contest) for Rui Wang aka Shangguan Jinghong aka Qin Ge’s past incarnatio, was although frustrating but was fun.

But since I am alternating the translation with this one, Shattered Glass, Ye Ningxi, and 7th July – Qing (and all my work stuff) depending on my mood, I’m gonna have my friends wait.

Have a good painful reading!