Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 180 - 177: Different

Chapter 180: Chapter 177: Different

Qin Guanglin frowned and fell into silence for a while.

"If I hadn’t come here to work?"

Before Sun Wen could answer, he added, "Yu Le, right?"

He remembered that on his first day at work, Sun Wen had told Yu Le and Jiang Lingling to ask him for advice more often, and later he often brought up the idea of him giving more guidance to Yu Le.

"That’s right, the kid is talented and willing to work hard. He learns very quickly," Sun Wen nodded, sighing inwardly.

Seeing Qin Guanglin like this, there wasn’t much hope.

What a pity.

With the two of them together, he was ninety percent sure they could get the studio off the ground, and even make it look good.

As Qin Guanglin was about to speak again, Uncle Shao had already brought over some dishes, and he slightly turned to receive them.

"Thank you, Uncle Shao."

"Do the bones not suit your taste?" Uncle Shao noticed that they had each eaten less than half a rib and was somewhat puzzled.

"They’re delicious, how could they not suit our taste," Sun Wen picked up another one and bit into it fiercely, "We just haven’t had the chance to eat yet."

"Ha ha, that’s good then. You two take your time eating."

"Sure, you go ahead and be busy."

Seeing Uncle Shao squeeze back into the kitchen, Sun Wen looked at the bone in his hands from left to right, eventually placing it back on the plate, "Lin, don’t you want to be your own boss?"

"I really don’t. It’s so much trouble, how can it be as comfortable as painting?" Qin Guanglin shook his head and laughed.

If it weren’t for meeting He Fang, he guessed he’d still be cooped up at home painting, too lazy to even look for work.

Now with a decent job, he could not only reassure his girlfriend, but when the time came, it would also be a good explanation for He Fang’s family - he couldn’t introduce him as: "This is my boyfriend, a freelancer/at home painting."

That just didn’t sound reputable.

The older generation valued stability over freedom; a job that steadily paid eight thousand was definitely worth more than an unstable job paying tens of thousands.

Even if he claimed to be a painter, asked about any famous works, he couldn’t name any - he was just scraping by in this line, and strictly speaking, he could only be called an illustrator. Earning just a few thousand a month, and maybe tens of thousands in a good month, he really had the nerve to call himself a painter?

His attitude left Sun Wen speechless for a moment, who then disdainfully said, "Lazy."

"I’ve been lazy for years."

"Being talented is good. A lazy person like me can still make money, while someone like you has to struggle to make something of yourself."

"Actually, you could take it slow," Qin Guanglin pondered, "There’s no need to be like this..."

"By next year at the latest, that was the plan. But now..." Sun Wen sighed, "Now I can’t wait, so I pulled you over to have a serious talk. If you can help me, we can get things started right away; everything is pretty much prepared..."

He spoke with a serious expression on his face, pleading softly, "Lin, help me out. Think of it as doing me a favor."

He had a complete plan, only lacking a trustworthy, capable partner.

Qin Guanglin slowly shook his head, "You could hire someone else."

"First, we need to establish the studio and get through the initial period before we can talk about hiring. Otherwise, no one would want to come. Anyone who might be willing... probably isn’t even as good as Yu Le."

"Then you can wait for Yu Le." Qin Guanglin pondered for a moment and looked up at him, "I’ll train him properly. Judging by his rate of improvement, by next year at the latest, you’ll just about be able to make use of him."

"I can’t wait that long..."

Sun Wen’s eyes and eyebrows drooped, and he slouched despondently in his chair, lighting another cigarette and inhaling deeply. He held his breath for a long while before slowly exhaling the smoke.

"Lin... Sigh, you’re still as stubborn as you were in school. When will you be a bit more adaptable?"

"Some things can’t be changed."

Qin Guanglin smiled briefly, paused for a moment, and then asked, "Have you ever thought about what you’d do if you fail?"

"How could I fail?" Sun Wen retorted, "I have nothing right now; even if it doesn’t work out in the end, the worst-case scenario is calling it quits. How could that be a loss?"

"If this issue becomes a big deal, getting a job later..." Qin Guanglin spread his hands, "This circle is only so big; a rumor starts and everyone knows."

Luo City isn’t that large, but it’s not very small either. Yet the circle of painters is only so big. If word got out about this, except for changing cities, he’d have no choice but to change careers.

"Then I’ll change careers."

"You say it so lightly?"

"Do you think I could be content without trying?" Sun Wen opened another bottle of wine, topped off Qin Guanglin’s glass, and then took a big swig himself, "Every venture has its risks. I’m ready. I’ve had enough of sharing the soup; I want my share of the meat too. Whether I’ll get it or not is another matter, but I have to try."

He nodded towards Qin Guanglin, "What if it works out?"

"Then good luck to you."

For Qin Guanglin, work wasn’t that important. He could make money at home, and worst case, he’d just change his pen name to release works. As long as the work was there, he wouldn’t worry about making money.

But for Sun Wen, without a job, it would be really hard to get by.

Everyone has different ideas. The two understood they couldn’t convince each other. After making their positions clear, they didn’t try to persuade further, just enjoyed their meal and drinks in tacit agreement not to bring up the subject again.

They had a simple dinner, each lost in their thoughts. When it came time to pay the bill, Qin Guanglin reached for his wallet, but Sun Wen pushed his hand back.

"I said it’s my treat."

"Alright, it’s on you."

Qin Guanglin didn’t insist. After waiting for Sun Wen to pay, they greeted Uncle Shao and left the restaurant together.

"I didn’t make things clear when I recommended you for the job, and that was wrong of me..."

"Let’s not talk about that," Qin Guanglin waved his hand, stopping Sun Wen from continuing.

Maybe this was why he and Xiao Yu had always been close buddies, but he always felt a certain distance with Sun Wen.

Sun Wen smiled and tucked away his guilt, lighting a cigarette and looking around, "You have to accompany your girlfriend, right? You better head back. Take it slow on the road."

Qin Guanglin didn’t delay. He simply responded and headed for the bus stop.

To each their own; a lazy person enjoys their laziness, a struggler finds joy in the struggle. Though he disagreed with Sun Wen’s actions, he couldn’t, and didn’t want to, interfere.

He had said all that needed to be said, fulfilling his duty as a friend.

Sun Wen crouched on the ground with a cigarette in his mouth and didn’t leave immediately. Squinting, he watched Qin Guanglin’s silhouette gradually disappear into the night. He let out a long sigh.

He sighed for not having Qin Guanglin’s talent, and for Qin Guanglin not having his own ambition.

Life is unpredictable; things can never be perfect. He had foreseen this outcome, but still couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

After finishing the cigarette, Sun Wen stood up, grinding the butt under his foot with force, his expression hardening with determination. Hands in his pockets, he looked left and right and walked away in the opposite direction.

Qin Guanglin could afford to be lazy because he was talented, had residence in Luo City, and was an only child. Even if he stayed lazy, he could live a good life. But Sun Wen couldn’t. He had nothing.

He was like a child without an umbrella who had no choice but to run as hard as he could.