Sketching was quick, but refining the details took time. Qin Guanglin spent the entire afternoon in his studio. By evening, he set down his pen with a sigh of relief, stepping back to admire his finished work.
The painting depicted a figure in a small floral apron. Her hair was tied neatly at the back, with a single strand falling loosely over her forehead. She held a spatula in one hand and a pot in the other. A soft smile graced her face, radiating contentment and ease as if she were happily cooking.
As he gazed at the painting, Qin Guanglin's thoughts drifted to his idea of a perfect partner. He had once imagined someone glamorous: blonde hair, long legs, an hourglass figure—the kind of fantasy that many young men entertained. But now, looking at his work, he realized something profound.
It wasn't the dazzling or extravagant that mattered—it was the steady and simple joys of life, like a river quietly flowing. Even if she were someone others might overlook or even a bit unconventional, she would still be perfect for him.
He felt a sudden pang of urgency. A good person like her couldn't be missed. If he let her slip away, there wouldn't be a second chance. His feelings for her had grown strong, and he realized that their slow progress was starting to frustrate him. He had an almost overwhelming desire to secure their future together.
His mother's knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Dinner's ready," she called.
"Coming," he replied, setting his pen down and heading to the table.
Dinner was simple: fried dough sticks and watermelon that his mother had bought earlier. Qin Guanglin took a bite of the crispy dough stick, hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
"Mom," he began.
"Yes?" she replied casually, reaching for a piece of watermelon.
"Why do I want to get married?" he asked abruptly.
Qin Ma froze mid-bite, staring at him as though she hadn't heard him correctly. "What did you say?"
"Why do I want to get married?" he repeated.
There was a brief, awkward silence before his mother frowned. "You should ask that to someone else. Why are you telling me?"
"Well, don't I need your approval?" Qin Guanglin asked, puzzled.
"What if I say no?" she countered, raising an eyebrow. "You'd still marry her, wouldn't you?"
"Of course!" he admitted without hesitation. "But you're my family—I want you to support me."
Qin Ma sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Fine. If you've already decided, what do you need my help with?"
"I need advice," he said. "How do I... make it happen?"
His mother gave him a long, appraising look. "She's still in school, you know. Don't rush things. If you scare her off, it'll all be for nothing."
"I won't mess it up," he assured her. Then, after a pause, he added, "Should I meet her family first?"
"Obviously. It's not just about the two of you. You're marrying into her family too, and they'll need to approve."
Her words made him feel a flicker of doubt, but he quickly pushed it aside. "I've already thought it through. I just need to work on my career first."
"You got a job?" she asked.
"I passed an interview today," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "It's at a comic studio. The starting salary is 7,000 a month, plus bonuses."
Qin Ma frowned slightly. "That's about the same as what you make freelancing."
"Yes, but I can still take on freelance work on the side," he explained. "It's extra income, and it's steady."
She considered his words and finally nodded. "Alright. Just don't overwork yourself."
After dinner, Qin Guanglin cleaned up and returned to his room. He took out the painting he'd completed earlier and looked at it again, his heart softening.
Yesterday, he had seen her cooking, and it had left a deep impression on him. Holding the painting, he thought to himself, *If I let her go, I'll never find anyone like her again.*
Carefully, he slid the artwork under the glass on his desk. Next to it, he placed a photo of the two of them on a roller coaster from their last outing. Now, whether he was working or simply sitting at his desk, he could always see these tokens of her.
For now, while he couldn't see her in person, these small reminders would have to be enough.