Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 269 - 265: Never Drawing Again

Chapter 269: Chapter 265: Never Drawing Again

"I find you seem very tired."

At the school entrance, He Fang noticed as soon as he opened the car door that Qin Guanglin’s condition wasn’t great.

To be exact, it hadn’t been great for nearly a week.

Chen Rui could tell in a glance. It was because they hadn’t seen each other for so long that she only realized it now, and also because they spent the whole day together so she was somewhat slow to notice this gradual change.

"Really?" Qin Guanglin glanced casually in the rearview mirror, "I didn’t notice. Hurry up and get in."

But He Fang didn’t get in, instead shaking her head and walking around to the other side of the car, saying, "Let me drive."

"Okay."

Qin Guanglin didn’t resist, as He Fang’s driving skills were much better than he had imagined. Though she didn’t drive often, she was steadier than many experienced drivers—having the experience of a veteran and the caution of a novice.

The car smoothly left the school entrance, heading towards home. With soothing music playing inside, Qin Guanglin closed his eyes to rest, and seeing him like that, He Fang didn’t disturb him and quietly drove without making a sound.

Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling...

At South Fly Road intersection, a series of bell tones woke Qin Guanglin from his drowsiness.

"Hello? ...Oh, I’m at South Fly Road, I’m here... Mmhmm... Do you see that broken phone booth? Right, over this side."

In just a few short sentences of conversation, He Fang had already parked the car, and as he ended the call, she casually asked while unbuckling her seat belt, "Who was it?"

"A delivery person. Must be new, doesn’t even know the way... Look, here he comes."

Qin Guanglin nodded his chin to indicate, and a battered tricycle electric car came from the other side, quickly stopping next to the phone booth he had mentioned.

"Over here!"

He waved his hand, and the tricycle started up again, moving a few hundred meters forward to stop in front of them.

"Mr. Qin, right... Please sign here." The courier handed over a flat cardboard box from the vehicle.

He Fang looked on curiously as they completed the handover, and as they walked up the stairs, she glanced at the cardboard box under his elbow, "What’s this?"

"Part of a surprise."

"...Take some rest, you can deal with it the day after tomorrow, on the weekend."

"No way, I need to get it done in one go, then I can really rest over the weekend."

Qin Guanglin was unusually stubborn, and He Fang had no choice but to go home to put away her bag and then out to buy groceries. Afterward, she returned to the Qin family’s home and cooked with Qin’s Mom, while Qin Guanglin plunged into the studio. He only emerged to eat, and after dinner, went straight back to work.

"Has the boy gone mad?" Qin’s Mom frowned looking at the studio.

"I also feel like he’s not in good spirits. He looks very tired..."

A flicker of concern passed through He Fang’s eyes. Since they returned from their National Day holiday travels, for more than half a month, Qin Guanglin had been like this almost continuously. He even stopped going to the gym, except for occasionally coming out early, he usually stayed in the studio until around ten at night before going back, taking a shower, and falling asleep.

Even the weekends were no exception.

They hadn’t seen him this tired even during the hectic months last year when the company had issues.

Not until after ten at night did the studio door quietly open, and Qin Guanglin came out, first using his keys to lock the door properly, then thumping towards the restroom to clean himself up.

"I feel like you’re about to wear yourself out," He Fang stood at the door and said to him.

"No, this little thing, how could it wear me out."

Qin Guanglin wiped his face and looked up, drops of water falling from his chin. His damp face bore an unmistakable look of excitement.

Yet, the bloodshots in his eyes were clearly seen by He Fang.

He Fang began to speak, then stopped short, turning back, "Go to sleep, clean up during your shower."

"Okay."

Qin Guanglin gave himself a quick wash and then led He Fang out the door.

The pitch-black night sky had barely a few stars, with a waning moon hanging above, casting a cool faint light.

A breeze blew by, making the withered yellow leaves scatter with the wind, and on the quiet street, only their two figures could be seen. The crunch of the dry branches and fallen leaves under their feet was unusually distinct.

"We still don’t know what you’re working on, after all this time."

"You’ve said it before, ’art.’"

"Art?"

"Everything will be taken care of by tomorrow, you will find out soon," Qin Guanglin’s voice was tired but excited, "you are right, I do have artistic talent!"

"Alright... Hurry up and go get some rest."

...

Friday, late night.

"I’ll finish it tonight, it might be quite late, you can go home first, no need to wait for me."

Qin Guanglin put down his bowl and instructed He Fang before burying himself back into the studio.

He Fang and Qin’s Mom exchanged a glance, cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks, washed them in the kitchen, and then sat on the sofa to continue watching the drama they had been following for the past half month, while waiting for him to come out.

"I bet he’s painting the two of you, ninety percent sure."

"Possibly... He also bought a picture frame, it just arrived yesterday."

"Picture frame?" Qin’s Mom was puzzled.

"It’s a big frame like this." He Fang gestured with her hands, "Over a meter tall, looks quite delicate."

"Oh... That’s quite big."

It was the first time Qin’s Mom had seen Qin Guanglin use such a large picture frame, no wonder it was taking so long.

It was because it was too big.

The two of them sat on the sofa until eleven o’clock, and Qin Guanglin still hadn’t come out. Seeing Qin’s Mom yawn several times, He Fang couldn’t help but speak up, "You should go rest first, I’ll wait for him and we’ll go back together."

"Hmm... Why don’t you go back first too, let him paint by himself."

Qin’s Mom glanced at Qin Guanglin’s bedroom, although it had been cleaned, it hadn’t been lived in for a long time and would be quite a hassle to tidy up at this hour. She didn’t ask He Fang to rest there first, as it would take enough time to prepare that He Fang could just walk back home.

She stood up, stretched, and gestured with her mouth towards the studio, "That boy used to paint until midnight, said it was quieter at night... Don’t wait any longer, I have a flashlight here, let me get it for you—"

"No need, Auntie, you should get some sleep." He Fang took out her phone and shook it, signaling, "The phone has a flashlight... And there are streetlights outside too, it’s just a few steps away, no problem— I’ll wait another half an hour, if he doesn’t come out by then, I’ll leave."

"Okay, I’m going to bed then."

Watching Qin’s Mom return to the bedroom, He Fang turned down the TV volume with the remote and leaned back on the sofa, looking towards the studio door.

Half an hour flew by, and then another half an hour.

The clock in the living room moved steadily, and before she realized, it was past midnight.

When the studio door made a noise, He Fang was already struggling to stay awake, dozing on the armrest of the sofa; she looked up to see Qin Guanglin walking out exhausted, locking the door with his keys, then finally noticing He Fang on the sofa.

"Why haven’t you gone back yet... Come on, let’s go to sleep." Qin Guanglin rubbed his hands on his clothes and pulled He Fang up.

He Fang yawned and rubbed her eyes, asking, "Not finished yet?"

She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was now five minutes past one in the morning.

"It’s done."

Qin Guanglin cracked a smile, his eyes bloodshot and seemingly a bit red, pointing towards the studio, "It needs to dry first, can’t move it until tomorrow."

"Oh."

He Fang let herself be led out, walking on the nighttime street; Qin Guanglin’s steps were heavier than usual as if he was extremely fatigued, silent all the way until they went upstairs.

After a quick wash to clean the paint off his body, he watched He Fang kneel on the bed to make the covers and then collapsed onto it.

"I won’t paint anymore."

"Hmm?"

"I’m never painting again."

"...Hmm, let’s sleep."

He Fang whispered in response, covering Qin Guanglin with the blanket, turned off the light, and slid under the covers to hold him, ready to fall asleep.

Not much later, she got up again and turned on the light.

"Do you have a fever?"

"..."