Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 181 - 178: Guess Who

Chapter 181: Chapter 178: Guess Who

Back home, the living room was dark without lights turned on, and Guanglin circled around but did not see Qin’s Mom, she must have gone out for a stroll again.

Older people always like to go out for a walk, even if they do nothing, just sitting by the street on a small stool with neighbors to enjoy the cool air and gossip—it’s more comfortable than staying home alone. This is how all the neighborhood gossip gets passed around.

Someone’s couple had a fight, someone’s kid scored first in class, someone earned money outside and didn’t return home but spent it on another woman—there was always fresh news or stale gossip to retell when there was none. Maybe that was the fun of gathering together.

Sometimes they would discuss historical facts and myths, like how many lovers Wu Zetian had, how many people Bao Zhen’s executioner’s blade had chopped, and whether Qin Qiong could defeat Guan Yu... These were topics usually favored by old men and not so much by the elderly ladies.

Tossing his backpack into the bedroom, Guanglin stepped out again and leisurely made his way to He Fang’s place. She was sitting at her desk with the fountain pen he had given her, supporting her chin with one hand and staring at the ceiling in thought. When Guanglin entered, she snapped back to reality, capped her pen, and locked up her papers and the pen in the drawer.

"So cautious, are you writing something... racy?" he teased.

Guanglin looked at her actions with a bit of suspicion. His girlfriend being artsy was nothing new, but since she was Teacher He, it felt strange—though she always had some blush-inducing actions, she always stayed within the boundaries.

"Who’s being artsy? Last time was just an accident, and it’s rare in the whole book."

He Fang rolled her eyes, pushed his approaching head away with one hand, and fanned her nose with the other, "Been drinking? You stink, don’t kiss me."

"Just two beers," Guanglin retorted, brushing off her hand and pecking her cheek quickly. He chuckled at her vigorous wiping. After she finished, he leaned in to peck her again, laughing at her annoyed expression.

Girlfriends should be teased from time to time for some fun.

"Back off, I’m going to change," He Fang stood up pushing him towards the door, planning to change out of her pajamas into running gear for her daily jog.

"I’ve seen it all before, just change like this... Hey, stop shoving."

Guanglin wanted to keep teasing, but surrendered immediately when a tiny hand pressed against his waist. Somehow, He Fang had trained her hand to be incredibly effective at finding the soft spots, a light prod was enough to make him grimace.

Once He Fang changed into her sports gear, the two of them headed downstairs. As usual, she picked up a small stick from the corner and swung it a couple of times. Guanglin, who had inspected it during the day, noticed the end she held was smoothed from frequent use. He couldn’t understand why the sanitation workers were so careless as to leave it there, allowing it to become her personal weapon.

"You sure you don’t have a bit of an s-streak?"

The night breeze was gentle as Guanglin and He Fang ran side by side, observing her wield the stick occasionally prompted his question.

"s?"

Initially, He Fang didn’t catch his meaning but after a moment she understood and lightly whipped his back, "What are you always thinking about?"

Using a stick was just a habit, like patrolling her classroom, managing her increasingly cheeky boyfriend.

"I’m just worried you might suddenly pull out a candle."

"You seem to know a lot?"

"Art, you know..."

"Run faster! Stop chattering... or I’ll go buy a packet of candles to try on you."

"..."

The idea of buying candles was clearly a joke. After a slow jog and laughter for an hour, when they returned, they didn’t go up right away. Having just run, they couldn’t sit or lie down immediately, so they walked around the street hand in hand to catch their breath before heading back home together.

Guanglin found clean clothes in the wardrobe and took a quick shower, only spending a few minutes before calling He Fang to take her turn. Then, he sat in front of the computer to check his emails for any new commission requests.

Clients were usually introduced by acquaintances and would add him as a friend, and email correspondence was rare but not nonexistent. Those who used emails were usually more formal and typically of higher quality.

"Did you put the clothes in the washing machine?" He Fang, after her shower, shuffled about the living room in her slippers, then shouted towards the bedroom.

"Put them in already."

Guanglin replied, quickly dealt with his emails, and left the computer to pick up the laundry basket. He saw He Fang standing on the balcony, looking like a ripe peach after her shower, her cheeks so flushed they seemed to drip water.

"What are you doing, move over!" He Fang got a shock as Guanglin wrapped his arms around her, ducking her neck and pushing his head away, "What are you, a puppy?"

"Why is it that using the same shower gel, you smell so nice and I have no scent?"

"You do too."

He Fang sniffed, "A smell of a stinky man, let go, I haven’t added the detergent yet, stop messing around."

The guy was getting clingier by the day, which while delightful, also brought its irritations. They weren’t even married yet and were already shamelessly glued together all the time; what would happen after marriage?

"On the balcony, a beauty stands, peerless and solitary..."

Qin Guanglin shook his head and recited a poem as he entered the bathroom with a bucket, not disturbing her while she washed clothes. When he came out with the hot water, He Fang was already lying in bed looking at her phone. He put the bucket down, first dipping his feet in to test the temperature, then he leaned over and pulled He Fang to join him, holding her ankles and placing her feet in the water, which made her yelp in surprise. After a while, she got used to the temperature and lay back, humming as she gazed at the ceiling and enjoyed herself.

"I had dinner with Sun Wen tonight, and he talked to me," he said. "You guessed right; he’s planning to start his own group and be his own boss. He’s just missing a chief editor and wants to pull me in."

"Did you refuse?"

"Of course, I refused. I’m not a fool. If I wanted to do it, I could pull a few people together myself. Why should I join him, especially in this manner... It’s just ugly. I tried persuading him, but no use, let him do whatever he wants."

That was indeed true; the chief editor is the core of such a small studio. Even without help, as long as he took the time to produce the works, he could handle the rest on his own.

Others could do it, he could do it; what he could do, others could not—this was his confidence.

"I’ve been telling you to quit your job, but you wouldn’t listen. It’s not too late to resign now. Just stick to your traditional painting. Why make yourself uneasy? See? Not listening to your girlfriend ends up with immediate consequences."

"The boss has taught me a lot. In the area of comics, he’s almost a guide. Quitting now wouldn’t be right. I’ll stay for now and see how things go. I’ll help if I can. After all, I alone am worth several of them."

Qin Guanglin leaned back in his chair, discussing his plans. "Just in case he hires someone new and Sun Wen pulls them in, that’d really be the end. For now, staying here, drawing my salary, and practicing my art, there’s nothing wrong with that."

If he were to resign now, he couldn’t reconcile with himself. No matter what others did, he just needed to act on his own thoughts. As for whether Chen Rui would appreciate knowing the full story or blame him for not warning him, that was not his concern. He only needed to be at peace with himself, owe nothing to anyone, and that was enough.

"Tsck."

He Fang knew his character. Although he appeared carefree about many things, it was hard to change his mind when it came to principles. She snorted and then said no more, not wanting to bother further.

Neither spoke again, and the only sounds in the bedroom were the occasional splashes made by their feet in the water. After a long time, He Fang suddenly noticed something was off. She looked up and caught Qin Guanglin stealthily staring into space.

"Pervert!" She sat up abruptly, pulling down the hem of her nightgown, huffing angrily as she kicked him in the bucket.

"Ouch... Was that reaction really necessary? I’ve seen it all anyway..." Qin Guanglin guiltily turned his head toward the window.

"Is wearing something the same as wearing nothing?!"

He Fang gritted her teeth when she heard his comment; this guy was becoming more shameless.

"Almost the same, almost the same..." Qin Guanglin chuckled as he stood up and grabbed a towel. "Come on, lift your foot."

His own girlfriend, his own viewing—she didn’t see that as perverted; at most, it was just being lustful.

And being lustful toward just one person, that was love.

Indeed, it was because he liked her that he acted this way. Qin Guanglin straightened out his logic and even the slight guilt disappeared. He gently dried He Fang’s feet, adjusted her position on the bed, and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "So adorable."

"Are you saying I’m adorable?" He Fang looked at him suspiciously, sensing another meaning in his words.

"Of course, what else?"

Qin Guanglin chuckled, picked up the bucket, and went out to dump the water. After turning off the bathroom and living room lights, he climbed into bed in the bedroom and clung to He Fang tightly.

"I accidentally spilled some water on the bed at home; it’s still not dry, so I need to stay here tonight."

"I think you wet the bed."

"If I wet the bed, then I wet the bed; there’s no way I can go back now."

"Then go turn off the light and sleep, and don’t fidget."

"Yes, ma’am."

The bedroom was plunged into darkness. Qin Guanglin fumbled to cover them both with a thin blanket. After settling down, he opened his eyes in the dark. After a long while, as his eyes adjusted to the dimness from the light seeping through the window, he saw that He Fang, too, had her eyes open, looking at him just as he was looking at her.

"Has anyone ever told you your eyes sparkle like stars?" he suddenly asked.

"Yes."

"Who?"

"Guess."

"I’m not guessing." Qin Guanglin closed his eyes, pulled her closer, and whispered, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."