Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 217 - 213: Gears

Chapter 217: Chapter 213: Gears

After the meal, there was no delay. They took the high-speed train shortly after three o’clock in the afternoon, and by two o’clock, He Shan had already dropped the two off at the train station. After buying some snacks at a nearby shop, they waved goodbye.

"Get back quickly, I’ll message you when I get home."

"Uh-huh, be careful on the way."

"Goodbye."

He Shan waved and then turned to leave.

The National Day holiday wasn’t celebratory at all. The family didn’t get to spend a proper few days together; instead, they kept running to the hospital.

A bunch of scumbags, always causing trouble.

"We can finally go back," Qin Guanglin sighed as they entered the station. "It wasn’t easy; it felt as long as a month."

"Was it uncomfortable at my place?" He Fang asked with a laugh.

"No, the hospital was uncomfortable; your place was fine. Playing chess with your dad helped pass the time... Be careful, watch your step."

Qin Guanglin reminded her, then led He Fang through the security check and sat down in the lobby to wait.

All the pre-meeting nervousness had vanished, leaving behind a bellyful of emotions and complex thoughts. Regardless, the main goal was more or less successfully met; he had met He Fang’s parents, and the interaction was barely harmonious, without any conflict, laying the groundwork for the next stage. Although there was an unexpected hospital stay in the middle, it proved to be a blessing in disguise, earning him some extra points.

"Six days in He City, and I only stayed at your place for one day. Paid a deposit at the hotel and didn’t stay, and spent the rest of the time in the hospital. Who could have imagined such a twist before coming?"

Leaning back slightly in his seat, Qin Guanglin gently rubbed He Fang’s hand, feeling the smoothness of her skin, and squinted his eyes, "Does this count as ’good things come through challenges’?"

"You’re still talking about it. If I had known, I wouldn’t have brought you, such bad luck."

"It’s okay, I didn’t have a major incident anyway. This visit to the future father-in-law’s house is successfully concluded. Next time I come, I’ll be asking for your hand in marriage."

"Ask for ’fart,’ wait until I agree."

"You wouldn’t agree?"

"To marry me is a big deal; shouldn’t I think it over properly?" He Fang said as if it made perfect sense. "I can’t just say yes as soon as you ask. It wouldn’t look good. No, you have to pamper me properly first, then I’ll consider letting you ask."

"Okay, I will pamper you well."

"The pampering you’re talking about... is it the same as what I mean?" He Fang asked with a skeptical look.

"It should be..."

"Pfft, like I’d believe that."

...

The high-speed train was punctual, arriving at the station on schedule. After a brief stop, it slowly started to accelerate and whistled off towards Luo City.

He Fang looked out the window, while Qin Guanglin looked at her, lost in thought for a long while. He finally spoke, "I feel you’ve had something on your mind these past few days?"

She had been zoning out more often, staring into space now and then. Initially, Qin Guanglin thought it was because of his injury, but now that he was doing much better, she was still acting the same. So he couldn’t help but ask.

"Concern?" He Fang paused upon hearing his question, turned her head with a smile and replied, "No, I’m just worried about your injury. You’re already so goofy; don’t get goofier."

"I think there’s more to it; don’t hide anything from me."

"Don’t worry, you’re my Classmate Qin. Why would I hide anything from you?" She touched Qin Guanglin’s face and gave him a reassuring look before reaching into her bag to pull out the snacks she had bought outside the station, gesturing, "Want some?"

"No, thanks."

"Here."

Qin Guanglin opened his mouth to accept the snack she handed him, chewed twice, and then spoke, "I think if one day I really become fat, it’ll definitely be because of you feeding me like this."

"Then I won’t give it to you anymore, I’ll eat it myself."

After saying that, she took a couple of bites from the bag of snacks and then handed it back to Qin Guanglin, "It doesn’t taste good, you finish it."

"..."

He Fang watched him eat for a while, then slowly leaned back in the chair to relax, closing her eyes to continue pondering the events of the past few days.

Indeed, she had concerns, but she couldn’t talk to Qin Guanglin about them. To be precise, she couldn’t talk to anyone—

The butterfly effect had arrived.

In the timeline she had experienced, Qin Guanglin had never been injured, she had never brandished a knife with tears in her eyes, and He Shan had never helped them with a lawsuit.

Although it was only a single event, both the visible and invisible impacts would accumulate slowly, until they spiraled completely out of control.

In fact, upon reflection, everything had already been different since the beginning of their relationship. She just hadn’t delved into it consciously, always feeling that time would gradually correct everything.

Originally, Qin Guanglin should have been staying at home painting, improving his artistry. Even after getting married, he should have been buried in commissions, leading an unremarkable life for a few years until the opportunity arose at an exhibition, where he would stun everyone and make the leap from a little-known painter to a somewhat famous artist. But now, he was dabbling in comics, dedicating most of his energy to them, and still at a studio that was on the verge of collapsing.

Everything was silently and subtly changing, slowly and gently, yet unstoppable, with no strength to pull it back.

He Fang couldn’t persuade Qin Guanglin; if she wanted to forcefully straighten things out, she would have to push him to resign—but that would only make things worse.

She didn’t dare to act.

Just like that night, a small catalyst was all it took to lead to various accidents.

And these accidents would become new catalysts.

Like Qin Guanglin taking the initiative to go to the gym and building up muscle...

Complicated thoughts swirled in He Fang’s mind, causing her eyebrows to instinctively furrow slightly, until Qin Guanglin’s fingers caressed hers, prompting her to open her eyes and look at him.

"You have something on your mind," Qin Guanglin stated affirmatively, not asking but certain.

"..."

He Fang wanted to deny it, but after seeing his eyes, she pursed her lips and remained silent.

It was pointless; both could clearly see into each other’s hearts.

"Alright, I won’t ask," Qin Guanglin said, and lifted her hand to kiss it. "You don’t have to say anything, but if you need help, don’t keep it to yourself."

Everyone has their own private matters, their own personal space. There’s no need to pry; he understood that.

"..."

After hesitating, He Fang gripped Qin Guanglin’s hand firmly, looking at him earnestly.

"Can you quit your job?"

Qin Guanglin was taken aback, not expecting her to bring up this matter again. Before he could speak, he heard her continue, "Stay at home and keep painting, I will make breakfast and dinner for you, and all you have to do is paint."

"...Why?" Qin Guanglin thought it over carefully, neither refusing nor agreeing, "Give me a reason."

"There is no reason."

"..."

The two sat in silence, looking at each other. After a moment, Qin Guanglin raised his hand to touch her cheek, "Quitting is fine, but staying at home just to paint is not, I need to work."

The uncertainty of simply painting freely was too great; he didn’t have the confidence to provide He Fang with a stable life. Now, while he was still young, was the time to strive, not to pin his hopes on the elusive prospect of fame.

Wasting years at home would be foolish.