Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 218 - 214: When Dark Clouds Keep Piling Up

Chapter 218: Chapter 214: When Dark Clouds Keep Piling Up

"Painting is largely about luck," he said slowly. "Many painters have been dead for years before their works were discovered."

Qin Guanglin wrapped an arm around He Fang’s shoulders, pulling her closer as he continued, "Look at me, I spent so many days, killed who knows how many brain cells, and only managed a painting of the Dragon Boat Festival. In the end, it was luck that won me an excellent award—just three thousand yuan.

Normally, painting a picture for someone fetches only a few hundred. Nowadays, technology advances, and many images are created directly with computers. Even painting directly with a stylus on a tablet is a thing. The road for traditional painting keeps shrinking. It can only be considered art. Although I want to be a great artist, it isn’t something one can just decide to be. I have to use painting to find a different path for myself. I think comics are quite good... If you really don’t like it—I don’t know if it’s me working at this company or the comics you dislike. If it’s the company, I can quit. If it’s comics, I can learn to be an illustrator or a concept artist. But staying idle at home just won’t do. If I waste a few years and make no progress, what will I have to marry you with... um..."

Qin Guanglin spoke earnestly to He Fang, but she didn’t want to hear any of his "nonsense." She cupped his face and stopped him mid-sentence.

After a while, He Fang let go, retreated to her seat, and leaned back, "Let’s skip it, no more about that."

"Alright." Qin Guanglin wiped his mouth, tilted his body, and rested his head on her shoulder, closing his eyes, "You just focus on being a good teacher. Leave the rest to me, and don’t worry."

He Fang didn’t respond, just softly turned her head to rest against his, quietly watching the scenery outside the window.

Sometimes she wondered if she was being overly cautious, but when both their futures and family were involved, being extra careful wasn’t too much.

Spending four days in the hospital over the National Day holiday with a not-so-serious injury on her head was a lesson fate had taught her.

As night fell, the high-speed train arrived at Luo City. Dressed in blue jeans and a white coat, He Fang and Qin Guanglin, wearing a duckbill cap, stood outside Luo City Station. They took a deep breath while looking at the neon lights shimmering in the night and the traffic passing by.

It had only been a week, yet it felt like they hadn’t been home in a long time.

"Let’s go, let’s go home."

"Yeah, home."

Hearing "let’s go home" from He Fang’s mouth brought a smile to Qin Guanglin’s face. Holding her hand and carrying bags, they walked toward a taxi.

When they got home, everything was as they left it—peaceful. Qin Guanglin took off his hat, flopped onto the bed with a yawn, stretching widely.

"Go fetch some water for me to wash my feet and wipe down."

After enjoying the softness of Teacher He’s big bed, he casually swung his legs while pointing towards the door with a nod to He Fang.

"Look how pleased you are," He Fang glanced at him and couldn’t help but laugh at his lordly demeanor, "Wait up, be right back."

Having been well taken care of in the hospital, Qin Guanglin had shed all his embarrassment. Speedily stripping his clothes, he laid down spread-eagled, waiting for He Fang to assist him.

"Behave."

He Fang chastised lightly. In the hospital, it had been fine, but at home, he was getting out of hand.

"It’s been a while since we’ve... you know..." Qin Guanglin’s hands began to wander.

"No, your injury hasn’t healed."

"It won’t be a problem. How long will that take..."

"It’s still not okay. Not until at least we no longer have to change dressings. Move, or else... you’re sleeping on the couch."

"..."

"..."

He Fang stretched his arm out and wiped it down with a towel, amused and slightly frustrated at his sullen look.

"Really, you."

"I heroically protected you the other day and got this honorable injury, and now I might have to sleep on the couch. You really are white on the outside and black inside," Qin Guanglin grumbled dissatisfiedly.

"Oh, come on, it’s just for a few days. Hang in there."

"Not even a reward, leaving a hero disheartened, a husband chilled..."

"Still, my heart is cold, colder than ice... you’ve changed, before you would have..."

Listening to Qin Guanglin nag like an old lady, He Fang rolled her eyes in exasperation, spat at him, and swished the towel around in a basin of water, then stood up and hit it sharply, "In a few days, you’ll get your reward."

"In a few days is too late; this is normal life."

"Well then..." He Fang pondered for a moment, glanced at Qin Guanglin, leaned in close to his ear, and whispered softly, "Behave for a few days, and once your wound heals, I might..."

"Really?"

"Really. Is that a reward?"

"Yeah, yeah, it’s settled then," Qin Guanglin nodded vigorously, tugging at his wound in the process, inhaling sharply from the pain, yet unable to hide the delight on his face.

"Careful, does it hurt?" He Fang, both empathetic and amused, leaned in to blow gently on his head, "If you don’t take care of the wound, who knows how long it will take to heal."

"I’ll heal very quickly, almost there."

"Not now. What if the wound bursts? Your blood could drain into your brain, and you might lose blood... and it could even lower your immunity. What if you get an infection? Oh, and tomorrow I’ll wash the pillowcases and everything... Come, dip your feet in."

After cleaning Qin Guanglin’s feet, the water was still warm. He Fang tugged at his foot, placed it in the basin, and gently scrubbed it with her hands. Qin Guanglin squinted, visibly enjoying himself, quite like a feudal lord.

"Look how pleased you are, up you get."

Using a towel to dry his feet, He Fang patted them down before picking up the basin to leave.

"When I’m healed, I’ll take care of you for a month," Qin Guanglin promised joyously as he called out to her departing figure.

"In your dreams!" He Fang’s voice echoed from the bathroom.

She knew exactly what Qin Guanglin was really craving—it was her body.

Pah, so lowly.

Qin Guanglin lay on the bed laughing, when he suddenly realized a problem and sat up, shouting towards the door, "Hey, right, the one you mentioned, white or black?"

"Whatever you want, just don’t get those weird multicolored ones," He Fang said as she walked in, glanced at his delighted expression, paused, and shook her index finger in front of his eyes, smilingly said, "You can only choose one."

"Hmm..." Qin Guanglin was conflicted.

White, or black?

"Take your time thinking about it, but be careful not to press on your wound."

He Fang grabbed some pajamas from the wardrobe, hugged them to her chest, advised him while slipping on her slippers to take a shower, and when she came out smelling fresh, Qin Guanglin was already on his phone placing an order.

"Did you buy it?"

"Bought it."

"Which kind?"

"It’s a secret; you’ll know when you wear it," Qin Guanglin held his phone and grinned foolishly.

Who wouldn’t love a girlfriend like this?

I’m totally smitten with Teacher He.

"Hmph, if it’s not nice, you wear it yourself," He Fang turned off the bedroom light, leaving only a small night light dimly hanging on the wall; she adjusted the air conditioning mode, slowly crawled into bed, and closed her eyes while lying against Qin Guanglin’s chest.

"Sleep early; it’s good for your wound recovery."

"Okay."

The room quieted down.

A peaceful night.

The next morning when they woke up, the sky outside was overcast, dark clouds piled together, infusing the air with the muggy feeling that comes before a downpour.

He Fang fried two eggs for a quick breakfast with Qin Guanglin, and while it was still not raining, she grabbed an umbrella and went to the marketplace to stock up on groceries for the whole day.

Just as they got home, a torrential downpour started and continued through noon, with no sign of weakening, flooding the streets up to a person’s shins.

He Fang was preparing lunch in the kitchen while Qin Guanglin sat on the balcony quietly watching the rain. Staying home on a rainy day always brought a unique sense of tranquility.

"You don’t think this rain will last until tomorrow, do you?"

Qin Guanglin hadn’t taken time off work and felt his injury was no longer serious; he planned to wear a hat to work tomorrow, but the rain made him a bit worried.

"It probably won’t last; looking at how hard it’s pouring, it seems it will pass soon," He Fang said as she carried some dishes from the kitchen to glance outside before returning to her cooking.

"That’s good, luckily it’s raining today and not tomorrow. It would be inconvenient to go to work."

Continuous drizzle tends to last for days, but this kind of heavy rain usually starts and ends quickly.

"Alright, stop watching the rain, come wash up for lunch."

"Coming, coming... Wow, it smells amazing. Teacher He, you’re the best."

"Really getting calluses on my ears, can you find a new phrase to praise?" He Fang untied her apron, hung it on the wall, and playfully rubbed her finger on his cheek.

Qin Guanglin playfully bit her lightly and turned back with a smile as he washed his hands, "It’s flavorful, smells great, and even the texture is perfect. Truly flawless."

"Are you talking about me or the food?"

"Both."

The lunch on a day off was always hearty and today was no exception. Qin Guanglin enjoyed He Fang’s cooking and suddenly asked, "That day I heard your dad say you could only cook instant noodles? But your cooking skills are great and no worse than your brother’s."

He Fang paused her soup-drinking motion, casually blew on the bowl twice before opening up, "I rarely cook at home; it’s mostly my brother who does... I mainly practiced at university."

"Oh, that’s really impressive." Qin Guanglin took another bite and felt something cross his mind but he couldn’t grasp it and decided not to ponder further.

"I’m more blessed than your brother and them; I get to eat your cooking every day."

"Eat more if you like it."

He Fang gently sipped the chicken soup from her small bowl, looking down at the oil floating in it before asking after a moment, "Did he say anything else?"

"Nothing much, just some everyday trifles."

"Oh."

After they finished their meal, He Fang cleaned up the dishes and led Qin Guanglin out of the kitchen under the pretext of caring for the patient. She took over all the cooking and dishwashing, and once everything was settled, she suggested Qin Guanglin pick a movie for them to watch together.

The storm didn’t last as long as they thought; it started to diminish by dinnertime, still trickling down raindrops.

"Did you take it off? Maybe you shouldn’t go to work tomorrow. You’re supposed to avoid getting wet; what if you get soaked?" He Fang checked the weather forecast and advised Qin Guanglin.

"Mm..."

Qin Guanglin hesitated for a moment and before he could speak, his phone on the bedside table lit up and started ringing.

He picked it up and glanced at it, then swiped to answer.

"Hello?"