Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 267 - 263: Do You Want to Take a Look?

Chapter 267: Chapter 263: Do You Want to Take a Look?

At the dinner table.

Qin Guanglin was sucking on crab legs, his eyes shifting back and forth between the two women.

It seemed a bit odd.

"This crab is full of roe, He Fang, you should try it." Qin’s Mom cracked open a crab and heaved it onto He Fang’s plate.

"Thank you... Auntie."

He Fang lowered her head and pursed her lips.

"Eat up, eat up." Qin’s Mom was so happy that her eyes crinkled with joy.

"What are you looking at?" She turned her head and saw Qin Guanglin gnawing on a crab leg, sneakily watching her, and couldn’t help but click her tongue, "Eat your food!"

"Oh."

Qin Guanglin glanced at He Fang, not knowing what was going on with them, and decided to just focus on his own meal.

Seeing the old lady so cheerful, it had to be something good.

"They say the crabs from Green Island are delicious, but honestly, they’re just so-so, about the same as ours in Luo City, not as amazing as they’re hyped up to be... The crabs raised in Luo River are much fresher than theirs."

While eating, he didn’t miss the chance to comment. Green Island crabs were overhyped and not as good as the advertisements claimed.

"How can you compare when they’re different species, just talking nonsense."

Qin’s Mom knew the difference between river crabs and sea crabs, unlike Qin Guanglin who only recognized crabs.

"I wanted to bring some local products home, but the local products there were all seafood, difficult to carry, so I gave up—next time I’ll take you there to look around."

"No need, you guys go have fun. With my old arms and legs, I’m just staying home, not going anywhere—Luo City is so big I’m too lazy to go out, let alone go elsewhere," Qin’s Mom shook her head, "You young folks are full of energy, living too well, even climbing mountains and swimming in rivers. Back in our day, we used to go to the mountain to gather grass for the pigs every day, climbing a mountain was part of the job, something you have never done, thinking climbing is something exciting, pah, now even if you paid me, I wouldn’t climb..."

"Okay, okay, no climbing, stop talking about your glorious days of pig feeding." Qin Guanglin had heard his mom reminisce countless times about the hardships back then and quickly nodded to stop her, then corrected, "That’s not called ’climbing mountains and swimming in rivers,’ it’s called ’roaming mountains and playing in the waters.’"

"I like to call it climbing mountains and swimming in rivers." Qin’s Mom glared, "A few years of schooling and you start showing off?"

"He Fang, which do you say it is?"

"Climbing mountains and swimming in rivers."

"..."

Qin Guanglin was at a loss for words and silently nibbled on his crab. After a while, he mumbled, "Once I’m done with the work at hand, I’ll paint both of you and post it on my public WeChat account."

Though he said he was busy with work at hand, right after dinner he dived back into his studio, and for the next few days, he kept running there to keep busy until work resumed after the National Day holiday. He hadn’t yet finished everything, emerging every day paint-splattered only to clean up and return the next day stained again.

It was evidently a big project.

He Fang had always been around, spending the last couple of days at home preparing for the new school term and writing her novel. At meal times, she would come to help Qin’s Mom with shopping and cooking, then the three of them would eat together, and later she would stay to watch TV with Qin’s Mom in the evening.

Although she didn’t know what Qin Guanglin was up to, since he said it was a surprise, He Fang had not sneaked in to check, but his secretive manner only made her curiosity grow stronger—this oblivious guy sometimes turned surprises into scares, but he was generally reliable when it came to painting.

"What is this boy up to?"

Qin’s Mom couldn’t suppress her curiosity and several times felt tempted to sneak in and check, but who could have anticipated that Qin Guanglin was too cautious, not only locking the door when inside but also taking the keys with him to lock the studio at night, treating it like a treasure not even allowing a glance.

"I don’t know, he’s kept it very secret."

After dinner, He Fang sat on the sofa, turned to look at the firmly shut studio door, and shook her head indicating she didn’t know either.

"This boy... I reckon he’s painting you two." Qin’s Mom spoke with certainty, "Who knows, might be painting your wedding photo."

"No way... right?" He Fang felt unsure when she heard this.

Qin Guanglin, oblivious as he was, kept brooding about when to get married, now he couldn’t wait and decided to paint a wedding photo first... It was something he would do.

"I think it’s very likely."

Qin’s Mom grinned, and once the topic shifted to marriage, she had to delve into it, shifting closer to He Fang and whispered, "Have you guys discussed it yet?"

"What?" He Fang’s heart skipped a beat.

"Oh, just... just that, when are you planning to get that marriage thing done? He must have talked it over with you, right? Every time I ask him he dodges the question. Tell your aunt, how did you discuss it?"

If it was just normal dating, Qin’s Mom wouldn’t be in such a rush, but seeing them living together for over a year without marriage seemed a bit off.

"Well... we haven’t discussed it yet, he said to prepare first." He Fang didn’t hesitate to shift the blame to Qin Guanglin.

After a pause, she continued, "And it’s not just a matter between the two of us, there’s so much to consider... It’s better to take it slowly."

Qin’s Mom nodded continuously, "Yes, it’s a big matter, of course, there’s a lot to consider... the most important is what you two think."

"Our thoughts are... we will definitely get married." He Fang’s lips curved into a smile, "No matter sooner or later, we will definitely get married, Auntie, you don’t have to worry, we’re both fine, it’s good to take it slow like this."

"I’m not worried, not worried."

Click.

The studio door clicked.

Qin Guanglin walked out, stretching his arms, his old jacket meant for painting draped to one side, heading to the washroom.

"Coming out so early today, are you done painting?"

"No, it needs to dry a bit, I’ll continue painting tomorrow."

"Oh..."

Qin’s Mom eyed the unlocked studio door, then glanced towards the washroom, nudging He Fang with her shoulder and whispered sneakily, "Wanna sneak in and take a quick look?"

"Not good, right..." He Fang listened to the water running in the restroom, feeling slightly tempted.

"Just take a look, see what he’s been up to these days." Qin’s Mom continued to urge, glancing toward the restroom and quietly stood up.

Before, painting would at most take two days to finish. This time, Qin Guanglin had already been working on it for almost a week, and it still wasn’t done. His actions piqued her curiosity so much that she constantly wanted to see what major project he was undertaking.

He Fang hesitated, but then stood up as well, wanting to take an early peek at what he had been up to for the week, so as not to be truly startled later on.

"What are you guys doing?!"

"Nothing, nothing at all."

The two, who had just stood up, plopped back down onto the sofa, sitting up straight, trying to look nonchalant.

Unexpectedly, Qin Guanglin, while washing his hands in the bathroom, couldn’t help but poke his head out to keep an eye on them.

"I just wanted to get some water..."

Feeling guilty, Qin’s Mom glanced around, stood up holding a cup, and poured some tea. "He Fang, you drink some water too before you go back."

"Okay, Auntie."

Qin Guanglin wiped his hands dry, came out, and looked vigilantly at the two. He took out his keys and locked the studio door with two turns before he felt relieved.

If it’s supposed to be a surprise, then it has to be a surprise. Seeing it beforehand wouldn’t be a surprise at all.

After He Fang finished the water in her cup, the two said goodbye to Qin’s Mom, arm in arm, and strolled back.

"Finished painting so early today, going to the gym?" He Fang asked.

"Not going... I’m a bit tired, better to rest first," Qin Guanglin massaged his shoulder and shook his head, "Let’s go in a few days."

"Let me massage you then."

He Fang smiled and sat behind Qin Guanglin, her soft hands resting on his shoulders as she gently kneaded, "Is that okay?"

"Mmm—apply a bit more strength."

"Then sit tight... or rather, lie down."

She coaxed Qin Guanglin to lie on the bed, then climbed onto his back, spat on her hands twice, rubbed them together, and grinned, "I’m going to use some real strength now."

"How strong can you be—ouch!"

Qin Guanglin hadn’t finished his sentence when he felt a tingling sensation on his shoulder, his whole body tensed, "Ah... this works, yes, just like that."

He closed his eyes and hummed softly as his stiff muscles slowly relaxed, and the fatigue from a day’s painting disappeared under her hands.

Really, her hands were quite strong.

...

After dinner, Sun Wen, who had taken a few days off, looked at the mirror to see the bruises on his face had completely faded before he put on his clothes and went to work.

The gym was sparse during the day, but it truly came alive at night.

"Brother Wen, back at work?"

"Yeah, I’m back."

"We haven’t seen Brother Wen for a few days."

"Was busy with some stuff."

Entering the gym, Sun Wen greeted his colleagues and walked into the locker room. He glanced back and vaguely felt something was off.

Their smiles looked a bit strange.

"You’re here?"

The manager, having changed his clothes, came out from a compartment just in time to bump into Sun Wen, paused for a moment, then came over to pat his shoulder, "There’s a meeting in a bit."

"Okay."

Sun Wen frowned, holding his clothes as he walked into a compartment. A few minutes later, he came out changed into his office attire. Inside, seven or eight people were already seated, waiting just for him.

"Cough... Everyone’s here, so let’s not delay further. Today’s meeting is mainly to re-emphasize—"

The manager grabbed a plastic rod and pointed to the employee code of conduct hanging behind him, "Every single line here, every single rule, has to be strictly followed, especially these last two."

"Usually, you all slack off, not many people read this, leading to some issues..." he glanced at Sun Wen, continuing, "Someone caused trouble in the gym, which everyone knows about. We’re a legitimate gym, aiming for physical fitness."

"Psst..."

"Ha ha."

Laughter erupted from the crowd.

Sun Wen watched him expressionlessly, fully aware of what had happened.

Having been caught cheating was probably known to everyone by now, though not openly discussed... It was always an unspoken understanding, never exposed.

Feeling uneasy under Sun Wen’s gaze, the manager shifted his eyes and continued, "Normally you all dawdle with customers, fiddling here and there. The company has turned a blind eye—whether for performance sake or your little benefits. But now, the boss has given a strict order—no touching, and definitely no inappropriate groping—listen well, we’ll fine for the first offense, and fire for the second."

"Then I might as well not sell damn classes." Sun Wen tugged at the corner of his mouth and stood, swaying lightly, "You guys have fun."

Bang!

He left, slamming the door behind him, leaving everyone exchanging glances.