Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 111: Turns Out to Be a Schoolgirl

Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Turns Out to Be a Schoolgirl

Time flew by, and it was already Friday.

He Fang said she would join for a run but hadn’t even done it once, insisting they would run together once she moved in.

Qin Guanglin didn’t feel much motivation on his own; he would run a few extra laps when he felt enthusiastic, and when tired, just walked around his house, took a photo, and sent it to Teacher He, who didn’t seem to care, as she would supervise him once she moved in.

"Come over to my place and practice, Lin." Seeing Qin Guanglin buried in that booklet for the past few days, Sun Wen felt a bit uneasy. "Don’t mess up when I take a day off."

"Don’t worry."

Qin Guanglin held his pen backwards and leisurely smeared the drawing board. He didn’t draw fast, having completed only three pages so far, and was deliberately trying to imitate Chen Rui’s style.

"Anyway, if you mess it up, just redraw it." Sun Wen stroked his chin, glanced at his drawing board for a moment, then went back to his own spot. "I don’t care, as long as I’m having fun."

"Don’t forget to buy more incense and worship properly. It’s best to visit all the temples on the mountain. Maybe the gods will take pity and bless you both with a harmonious and happy life."

"Visit all of them? I’m not crazy."

"Come on, what do you mean? Does visiting all mean I’m crazy?"

"What?" Sun Wen looked at him suspiciously. "What? Have you visited all of them?"

Seeing Qin Guanglin didn’t respond, Sun Wen’s expression suddenly exaggerated. "No way?! Lin, when did you become so foolish?"

"Get lost, you know nothing."

Qin Guanglin shrugged, realizing his idea to trick Sun Wen into kneeling for a day was not going to happen.

Tsk, no wonder they argue every day, not sincere at all.

"To burn incense should be for god of marriage, not for that daytime Cuihua girl. You can tell she’s unreliable," Sun Wen moved his thick eyebrows a few times, pulling a silly face. "Cuihua, tsk, Cuihua, isn’t she just the little sister from next door? Wearing her tattered quilted jacket and snotty nose..."

"Get lost already, disgusting, just do your work."

Qin Guanglin couldn’t be bothered with him anymore and stopped his pen to pick up the booklet again to study the storyboards.

Reading someone else’s comics seemed simple—just draw characters and tell a story. But when he actually got to it, he realized there was so much more to it. The story was in his head, but thinking about which angle or scene to use, profile or frontal, close-up or long shot, was challenging.

The more detailed it got, the harder it was, especially adding depth, considering shadows and light sources. It was far from those basic four-panel comics.

"Take a break, big boss, have some milk tea." Jiang Lingling handed him a cup of milk tea and placed it on the table.

Qin Guanglin looked up; no one else had any. It wasn’t Chen Rui’s afternoon treat. "Did you buy this?"

"Yeah, the third issue’s popularity has dropped a bit, but it’s still good. The series is secure." Jiang Lingling’s sweet smile appeared. "This is to thank you."

"Okay." Qin Guanglin didn’t refuse, as letting her express her gratitude would only continue to cause him trouble. He decisively stuck a straw in and began to drink.

The overly sweet pearl milk tea required annoyingly effortful chewing of the pearls... He regretted it after just one sip, wishing he had given it to Sun Wen instead.

Casually placing the milk tea on the corner of the desk, Qin Guanglin was about to resume work when he noticed Jiang Lingling standing beside him, seemingly hesitant to talk.

"Just say it."

"Well..." Jiang Lingling hesitated, "Although the third issue is still popular, I’ve noticed a lot of similar types popping up online recently. It’s obvious they’re imitating us..."

"That’s normal." Qin Guanglin had anticipated this from the start. If it wasn’t popular, it would be one thing, but once it gained traction, imitators were inevitable. "Didn’t we talk about this last time? The heart of this comic is creativity. As long as it’s creative, even someone who’s only studied drawing for a few days can make something."

"I just wanted to ask if there’s any way to improve it?" Jiang Lingling looked hopeful. "Maybe add something others don’t have?"

"How can that be?"

Qin Guanglin laughed, shaking his head. "Its potential is limited. If you make it complex, you lose the essence." He paused. "This comic is just like this. If you want to do well, you can only outperform others with more frequent updates and creative stories."

"How can that be..." Jiang Lingling’s face fell, and she sighed sadly. "Is there no way to stop others from copying?"

"The simpler it is, the easier it is to copy." Qin Guanglin pointed at his drawing board. "If you draw something like this, nobody will copy it."

"It’s too hard, I can’t do it."

She shook her head, looking enviously at his sketchpad. "What if someone tries to mimic your style?"

"No one could, not without the proper skills. Those who have such skills already have their own style. Why would they copy someone else?"

He had just started, learning from Chen Rui’s style to paint, but once he was proficient, he would definitely explore a style that suited him.

"...I’d better focus on creating new stuff," Jiang Lingling grimaced and sat down at her desk to start... well, to start painting.

The master was right—while one could follow trends in creativity and style, technique was impossible to imitate.

What if she transformed someone else’s technique into her own?

She sat on her chair, biting her pen, and sneaked a glance at Qin Guanglin.

Time flew, and soon it was time to leave. Qin Guanglin stretched, tidied up his desk, and pretending to dispose of his milk tea—that he found too sweet and sugary to drink.

"Haven’t finished your drink? Didn’t like it?"

"No, I loved it," he waved his hand, "Off work now, bye."

"Are you free this weekend?" Jiang Lingling hurriedly asked as he headed for the door.

"No, I’m busy."

Qin Guanglin was straightforward. "I’ve already treated myself to milk tea, so no need for dinner."

Nothing could delay him from helping Teacher He move. That was a top priority.

Jiang Lingling persisted, "What are you busy with? Maybe I can help?"

"Hehe," Qin Guanglin gave her a smile. "Busy with my girlfriend."

"Go on, then. Bye." He didn’t wait for Sun Wen, and continued out.

"..."

"Lin, you didn’t wait for me again!" Sun Wen, who’d been slacking off in the afternoon, still had some work to finish.

Jiang Lingling sighed, about to leave, but turned toward his desk on hearing Sun Wen’s call. "Brother Wen?"

"What’s up?"

"I wanted to ask something..."

"What is it?" Sun Wen looked at her hesitant manner curiously. "Come on, spit it out."

"Does the boss really have a girlfriend?" She was skeptical—how could this geeky guy possibly find a girlfriend?

"The boss?"

Sun Wen paused before realizing she meant Qin Guanglin. "Yeah, he does. Why, what’s up with that?" He eyed Jiang Lingling suspiciously. "You got a crush on him?"

"No, not at all," Jiang Lingling laughed off the suggestion. "Just asking. He doesn’t seem like he’d have a girlfriend... I’m off then, Brother Wen."

"Alright, take care."

"Oh, by the way," she paused again, "Is the boss in a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend?"

"Not at all. His girlfriend is studying at Luo City University, she hasn’t graduated yet." Sun Wen looked at her, "You really have a crush on him, don’t you?"

"No, just curious, bye!" Jiang Lingling, with her fluffy backpack, headed out of the office.

So, he was dating a college student who hadn’t yet graduated...

"Good luck, I’m rooting for you."

Sun Wen watched her leave, smacking his lips. That kid had quietly caught the eye of a young girl?

How curious.