translated_Chapter 11

11: Meddling

“She was actually a rational and realistic person. Two years ago, their adoptive father, the largest shareholder of CW Enterprise/Global Wealth, passed away. Before his death, the adoptive father originally wanted to leave the inheritance to Qiu Ci, but at the last moment, he gave it to Qiu Shi, which is Ai La. Qiu Ci ultimately didn’t receive the inheritance even at his adoptive father’s side.”

“You suspect that Qiu Ci deliberately murdered Ai La because of the inheritance?” Jing Yueming understood the general idea.

“You are very clever.” A trace of relaxation appeared in Tsukimi Rin’s eyes, finally expressing what she wanted to convey.

“You’re really overthinking it. Ai La was really neurotic about her work during the last few months. I thought she would be fine after finishing the painting, but…” Jing Yueming could understand the woman’s inability to escape her grief.

Tsukimi Rin shook her head: “You can find a reason to ask Qiu Ci to go to Ai La’s private art studio. If there is anything important, it must be inside. I have observed that place for several months and it hasn’t been opened. That is to say, everything is still inside. Go and see for yourself and you’ll know.”

The final conversation ended inconclusively.

It seemed that Tsukimi Rin would not give up.

Jing Yueming also remembered Ai La’s studio once again.

He had always wanted to go there before, but unfortunately, he didn’t know that Qiu Ci was Ai La’s family member at the time.

After a brief consideration.

Before going to bed, he asked Qiu Ci again: “Qiu Ci, can I go to Ai La’s studio?”

Qiu Ci’s chest was still heaving slightly due to fatigue: “Ah? I’m worried you’ll be scared, after all, someone died inside.”

“I won’t be. The ghosts that people are afraid of are the people that others dream of seeing again.” Jing Yueming’s eyes were firm.

Qiu Ci gently kissed his forehead: “I’ll take you tomorrow.”

“Good night.”

Qiu Ci: “Good night.”

The next day was Saturday.

They woke up very late in the morning.

Jing Yueming opened his eyes and first looked at the other person beside the bed, still there.

He pulled him into his arms and kissed him.

He kissed the person awake.

Qiu Ci groggily reached for his phone, but both hands were held down by Jing Yueming: “Don’t rush, it’s Saturday today.”

They were intimate in bed for a while before getting up.

They only managed to eat lunch.

Qiu Ci’s taste is really interesting. The bed faces the glass display cabinet, and the human body model in the cabinet has scared Jing Yueming several times.

In the afternoon, they drove to the residential area where Ai La’s former studio was located.

Ai La’s studio was quite low-key.

Even few people in her social circle knew about it.

Jing Yueming had been there several times, always with Ai La.

Qiu Ci took out the key and opened the door.

The smell of turpentine oil wafted over.

Qiu Ci frowned uncomfortably: “Open the windows to ventilate.”

As he spoke, he opened the windows and turned on the air conditioner to circulate the air.

The smell was really too strong.

The curtains were opened, and the fifteen-square-meter room officially reappeared in front of Jing Yueming.

Several oil paintings that Ai La had painted were hanging on the wall.

Ai La’s style was relatively rough, especially compared to Jing Yueming, who was a hyperrealism enthusiast.

The colors were very prominent.

There was only one that Jing Yueming had never seen.

It was one that Ai La had been conceiving before her death, and it was placed on the easel.

There were still unused paints on the palette, but more than half a year had passed, and they had long dried up.

The content of the painting was two small babies, with a wet feeling, with umbilical cords wrapped around them.

The place where they were was the mother’s womb.

Embodying texture was an original direction.

What Ai La wanted to restore this time was the feeling of babies in the womb, soaked in amniotic fluid.

When conceiving the design, Jing Yueming was curious as to why she needed twins.

If she wanted to express the feeling of being in amniotic fluid, only one baby would be enough.

After knowing the relationship between Qiu Ci and Ai La.

Jing Yueming realized that this painting was of Ai La and her younger brother Qiu Ci.

At that time, their adoptive father had just passed away.

From that time on, Ai La only had Qiu Ci as a family member.

Qiu Ci was also an important person to Ai La.

The semi-finished product on the canvas had long dried up, and Jing Yueming gently stroked it. His eyes gradually became moist.

“Ai La, the one you wanted to paint, is you, Qiu Ci.” Jing Yueming choked up a little.

Qiu Ci quietly watched him: “I know, my sister didn’t finish it in the end, it’s a pity.”

“Why did Ai La commit suicide? Did you put too much pressure on her at work?” There was also the wooden box set that Jing Yueming had given to Ai La on the table.

Qiu Ci just apologized: “I’m sorry, at that time I was more focused on my father’s funeral, Ai La was alone in the company…”

“But she didn’t say anything to me, if she had told me, would it have been better.”

“Condolences, except for the last time, Ai La was strong and brave in everything else. It was precisely after my sister’s death that those other stubborn shareholders were afraid and didn’t make things difficult for me.” During this time, Qiu Ci had indeed been targeted by the board of directors.

“Qiu Ci, how did Ai La make everyone so reluctant to part with her, Tsukimi Rin is one, and I am also reluctant to part with her.” Jing Yueming touched the soft hair on the paint brush.

Qiu Ci didn’t show anything on his face: “Condolences, the living must live well, right?”

“Yes.” Jing Yueming drew on the canvas with a clean paint brush: “I still want you, Qiu Ci, it’s enough for you to accompany me to live well.”

“Yes.”

Jing Yueming turned around firmly and faced Qiu Ci: “Qiu Ci, I want to finish this painting, Ai La and you.”

There was some hesitation in the man’s light green eyes.

“You also want to see the last painting Ai La gave you, right? I’ll paint it for you on her behalf.” Jing Yueming tried to persuade him further.

“But, there is some difference in your painting styles.” Qiu Ci said worriedly.

“I can do it, I promise.” Jing Yueming was extremely certain.

Qiu Ci sighed: “Okay.” As he spoke, he handed the key in his hand to Jing Yueming.

Throughout the afternoon, Jing Yueming was studying Ai La’s thoughts and color schemes.

Qiu Ci was playing with the paints.

Jing Yueming smeared a stroke of adjusted reddish-brown on his arm.

Qiu Ci reminded: “Don’t get it on your body.”

Jing Yueming explained with a smile: “They are all mineral pigments, don’t worry, it’s okay to eat them directly, turpentine thinner is also natural.”

Qiu Ci smiled awkwardly and shallowly.

They were busy until the sky turned dark before returning.

Considering that Jing Yueming was too tired, Qiu Ci drove the car on the way back.

On weekends, the main city roads were still congested, and the car moved and stopped intermittently.

On the way, he didn’t forget to talk to Qiu Ci incessantly: “I have to analyze Ai La’s remaining color schemes and ideas, I estimate that the finished product can be seen in a month if it’s fast.”

“Thank you.”

Jing Yueming approached him: “Boss Qiu, give me some practical thanks.”

“I’ll reward you when we get home.”

In the following days, Jing Yueming went to the studio after class.

Once, when he remembered Tsukimi Rin’s matter, he specially searched around the studio, but in the end, he didn’t find anything.

It was probably really overthinking it.