Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 266 - 262: Surprise

Chapter 266: Chapter 262: Surprise

October 5th.

Wrapped in blankets, the two of them sat on the beach and watched the sunrise before packing up their things and starting the journey back home.

The train sped along, arriving in Luo City by evening.

It was dark when they traveled from Luo City to Green Island, mainly because transferring in unfamiliar cities had delayed them, but on the return trip, they made it home before nightfall, with a hint of the sunset’s afterglow still lingering.

Without dawdling after a whole day’s travel, the two had dinner, took a quick bath, and hopped into bed—one playing Fight the Landlord and the other flipping through a novel—until it was about time to turn off the bedroom lights, bid each other goodnight, and fall asleep in each other’s arms.

A night of peaceful sleep.

After a few days of tiring fun, a good night’s sleep in their familiar bed with familiar arms around them replenished all their energy. The next morning, both were full of vigor, staring at each other with big eyes and small eyes for a moment before Qin Guanglin suppressed the urge, kissed He Fang on the forehead, and got up to wash.

"Let’s go to my place later."

"For lunch?"

"Yeah, I need to use the studio, and you can hang out with my mom or go back to writing your novel."

"Sure, let’s buy groceries first and then head straight there so we won’t have to make another trip."

The two stood in front of the bathroom mirror, holding the enamel mugs Qin’s Mom had given them—’For the People’ and ’For the Leaders’—and chatted with each other inarticulately while brushing their teeth.

"Heh... gurgle gurgle... ptooey."

"Heh... gurgle gurgle... ptooey."

Rinsing their mouths with almost identical motions, Qin Guanglin wiped his mouth, picked up his razor, and started to shave in the mirror, while He Fang picked up a watering can to water the plants in the corner of the living room.

The pot of Lycoris radiata had already sprouted new buds, waiting to bloom.

This reassured her even more—the flowers were fine, and if there had been a problem, it would have been with the previous bloom.

Although He Fang felt a slight regret, she also knew to be content. Having one more chance was already incredible good fortune; how could she dare to ask for a second?

The past had passed, and living the present in peace was the greatest happiness.

"If you like it so much, why not get a bigger pot and grow a big clump? I think it would look very nice," Qin Guanglin said casually when he saw He Fang tending the pot of flowers after finishing his shave.

He no longer had any aversion to that plant. After all, it looked pretty, and the meaning behind the flowers was all made up by people—there was no other shore governed by spirits and deities.

And if there were, even better; they could be reborn together in the next life.

"I’m this good-looking, do you want to fill a house with me to take care of?"

"..."

Qin Guanglin thought about it and concluded that, if possible, it might not be such a bad idea.

It’s just that his body wouldn’t be able to handle it.

"Let’s go."

He Fang put down the watering can, wiped her hands, and arm in arm with Qin Guanglin, they left the house and went downstairs to the nearby market to buy vegetables for lunch.

Having lived there for over a year, the stall owners at the market knew them well. Some who were acquainted with Qin’s Mom knew that the two were still dating but close to marriage. Those less familiar with the Qin family already treated them as a married couple.

"How about steaming crabs?"

While browsing, He Fang saw the seafood and asked Qin Guanglin for his opinion.

After a moment of thought, Qin Guanglin nodded and agreed, "Yeah, sure."

They had just eaten them the day before yesterday, but since He Fang mentioned it, it was surely to steam for Qin’s Mom.

After a fun and delightful trip, it was only right to show some consideration to an elder upon return.

By the time they finished shopping, it was past ten o’clock. Carrying large and small bags, they returned to the Qin family’s place. As Qin Guanglin opened the door, a delicious aroma instantly wafted toward them.

"You started cooking so early?" Qin Guanglin asked, seeing Qin’s Mom standing at the kitchen entrance, his forehead creased with question marks.

He sniffed the air; it actually smelled pretty good.

Qin’s Mom hadn’t expected the two of them to come over, slapping her thigh regretfully, "Oh dear, why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I would have cooked more if I had known..."

"What did you cook?"

"Soup."

"What kind of soup?"

As Qin Guanglin spoke, he carried the vegetables into the kitchen, looking around. The rice wasn’t cooked, the vegetables weren’t stir-fried, there was just a pot of soup on the stove, its thick white aroma wafting through the air.

"Turtle soup." Qin’s Mom quickly stopped him as he reached for a spoon, "Go away, it won’t be ready for another half hour."

"Really living it up..." Qin Guanglin grumbled as he walked out.

It was a wasted worry; how could the old lady possibly short-change herself? She must be living the life on her own, unbeknownst to everyone.

"He Fang, come try a bit and see how it tastes."

Qin’s Mom beckoned He Fang over and handed her the spoon she had taken from Qin Guanglin, "I’ve been simmering it all morning. This stuff is really nourishing. Look how he’s gained weight and you’re still the same. Drink a couple more bowls later."

"...I’m not fat, I’m sturdy."

Qin Guanglin sulked off to the studio, resolving to have a daughter next time. Sons are like freebies that come with recharge credits.

Shutting the door to block out the women’s chatter, he propped up the drawing board, opened the paint cans, wet the brush, and finished a series of preparations before sitting quietly on the stool without moving.

After drawing comics for so long, it was a bit difficult to pick up his old craft out of nowhere.

Seeing that Qin Guanglin had hidden himself in the studio, He Fang didn’t bother him. She chatted with Qin’s Mom while sorting through the groceries, placing what needed refrigeration into the fridge, and washing what would be eaten for lunch in the sink, setting it aside, waiting to be chopped.

"Why did you come back so early? Didn’t you stay on Green Island for a few more days?"

"Just went to look around. Staying too long gets boring... Home is the best."

Qin’s Mom’s heart bloomed with joy at her mention of ’home,’ laughing, "You’re right, nowhere is as comfortable as home. Hey, I’ll wash these, you start chopping."

The two women casually chatted in the kitchen, but their hands moved quickly, rinsing, cutting, frying, blanching, steaming. Not long after twelve, a table full of fragrant dishes was ready.

Knock knock knock.

"Wash your hands, time to eat."

"Coming."

Qin Guanglin emerged mysteriously, firmly closing the door behind him to block He Fang’s curious gaze, not allowing her a peek at what was going on inside. He Fang pouted indifferently; it wasn’t like he was doing anything other than painting, what was there to hide.

Unless...

A thought crossed He Fang’s mind, suspiciously, "You’re not sneaking in some ’art,’ are you?"

"Um...?"

Caught off guard, Qin Guanglin was about to nod when he suddenly realized that the way she used the word ’art’ didn’t sound quite right, and he awkwardly changed the tone of his ’um’ into a high-pitched question, "How could I?!"

"Dare you mess around, just you wait," He Fang whispered a threat, then raised her voice, "Wash your hands! Look at all that red and yellow on them... Scrub them well."

"Heh heh heh, just you wait, it’s going to make you go ’wow!" Qin Guanglin chuckled as he went to the bathroom.

"Don’t peek, okay? Know what a surprise is?—surprise! Just wait."

"Surprised my ass."

He Fang wrinkled her nose, unable to suppress a laugh, then turned back to lay out chopsticks and divide bowls for the three of them, saying, "Mom, I..."

At the kitchen entrance, the bowl of soup in Qin’s Mom’s hands almost spilled over.

"Huh?"