translated_Chapter 42

42: Thirty

A nurse came over and whispered in Qiu Ci’s ear, “CEO Qiu, Director Wang is looking for you.”

Qiu Ci nodded, gently placed Jing Yueming on the chair, and went alone to the office in the distance.

When Jing Yueming woke up, Qiu Ci was beside him, holding a medical examination report in his hand.

“Let me see, do I have an incurable disease?” Jing Yueming rubbed his sleepy eyes, trying to take a look.

Almost all the indicators on the medical examination report were normal. The final conclusion was: “Pay attention to rest…”

Qiu Ci said calmly, “It might be because you’ve been staying up late in the art studio lately.”

Jing Yueming slumped against Qiu Ci again. After taking off his coat, the man’s body was cooler, especially compared to Jing Yueming’s warm body after just waking up.

He covered them both with the coat: “Let me wake up a bit and we’ll go home.”

“Okay.”

Jing Yueming thought he was done for. He slept for so long in the afternoon, how could he go to bed early and wake up early at night?

Qiu Ci said expressionlessly: “Or, let’s put the studio’s work aside for now, and continue after you rest.”

Jing Yueming firmly shook his head: “While I still have the feeling, these past few days I feel like my hand doesn’t shake as smoothly as before.”

Qiu Ci stopped talking. Suggestions should be made in passing, no need to force it.

Jing Yueming received several calls from Tsukimi Rin in a row. That person had been at the entrance of the studio, so he didn’t dare to go over.

Finally, Jing Yueming couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Miss Tsukimi, I know you’re sad, but the dead cannot be brought back to life. You should start a new life as soon as possible. If you really want to see Miss Ai La’s paintings, I will hold an art exhibition after the New Year, and you are welcome to visit for free.”

After sending this text message, Tsukimi Rin indeed didn’t bother him again, but not because of the text message.

It was because Qiu Ci discovered that she was squatting outside the studio every day, and Qiu Ci dismissed her once again with a few words.

Now Tsukimi Rin can’t even go to the residential area where the studio is located.

As the end of the year approached, Jing Yueming softened.

“Why don’t we let Miss Tsukimi come and see? She’s a girl alone in China…”

“If you had seen my sister, after slitting her wrists in this studio, still calling Tsukimi Rin, you wouldn’t say that.” Qiu Ci’s attitude was firm: “Leave her alone, these are all her own choices.”

Jing Yueming had an indescribable emotion.

He was not a detective, nor a psychologist. Half of his eyes were on another artistic world, and he couldn’t discern people’s hearts.

On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Jing Yueming secretly arranged for Tsukimi Rin to come to the studio.

The gatekeeper went home for the New Year, and the current one was a temporary worker who didn’t recognize Tsukimi Rin, so they easily sneaked in.

Jing Yueming understood her feelings.

When he learned of Ai La’s death, he also felt depressed for more than half a year, until he met Qiu Ci again.

Only when the empty heart was filled did he gradually walk out.

“Qiu Ci, he cares about Ai La too much, actually he doesn’t hate you…” Jing Yueming even spoke well of Qiu Ci.

Tsukimi Rin admired and observed the paintings here one by one.

“Don’t rummage around, there are no clues here, but if you use those blood test reagents, you might still see the crime scene.” Jing Yueming was joking when he realized it didn’t seem funny: “Sorry, just take a look around.”

The next moment, Tsukimi Rin turned on the ultraviolet light. It only took a few seconds, and Jing Yueming didn’t know what she was looking at. This wasn’t like checking for counterfeit money.

Tsukimi Rin took a quick look and left.

Originally, Jing Yueming was worried that if Tsukimi Rin went crazy, he wouldn’t be able to control her, and it would be difficult to explain to Qiu Ci.

Now it seemed that he was overthinking. Tsukimi Rin was actually a nice person, someone who took relationships seriously.

Qiu Ci gave the employees a New Year’s holiday and brought back New Year’s goods prepared by the administrative department.

It was still some appliances, tea, and things like that.

Qiu Ci brought back an air fryer and some Boston tea, black tea.

Jing Yueming held the air fryer and studied it: “Wow, a German brand.”

“They’re all prepared by the administrative department.” Qiu Ci watched TV while peeling tangerines.

“It’ll save oil when frying chicken wings in the future.”

“Less oil is better.”

Jing Yueming tried putting the marinated chicken wings in.

“Qiu Ci…”

“Hmm?”

“I finished that painting. After the New Year, if you have time, help me organize an art exhibition.”

Qiu Ci nodded: “I have a friend whose company specializes in this. They can help with location selection and layout.”

“OK, I have a general idea. We’ll discuss it later.”

Today is New Year’s Eve.

Jing Yueming and Qiu Ci even made some dumplings.

Just the two of them, they didn’t make too many dishes, otherwise there would be leftovers for the next few days.

It had been many years since Qiu Ci had spent the New Year like this.

“Qiu Ci, actually, the Spring Festival three years ago was the most memorable for me.”

That was the first year after he and Ai La officially got together. They congratulated each other on the New Year with letters.

It was also a key turning point in Jing Yueming’s lonely past.

From then on, he was no longer alone every year.

He thought he would return to being alone this year.

Fortunately, there was Qiu Ci.

Even when he talked about his ex-girlfriend, Qiu Ci wasn’t angry: “A lot happened after that year.”

Because of Qiu Ci’s concealment and lies.

In Jing Yueming’s eyes, Qiu Shi was really studying in France those years. It was only after his father passed away that he returned to China, and then suffered from depression due to the company’s setbacks.

In Qiu Ci’s eyes, that year was very busy.

“Yeah, I was preparing for exams that year, and then I saw Ai La less and less.”

At that time, Ai La had gradually become silent, and then one spring, she committed suicide alone in the studio.

Committed suicide alone.

A looming thought suddenly appeared in Jing Yueming’s mind.

…

“If you had seen my sister, after slitting her wrists in this studio, still calling Tsukimi Rin, you wouldn’t say that.”

…

Qiu Ci picked up a delicate little dumpling, dipped it in some vinegar, and put it in his mouth, his eyes occasionally glancing at the TV program.

No way.

Qiu Ci must have misspoke.

When people are emotionally agitated, it is difficult for their words to be accurate.

Jing Yueming calmed down. He was not a psychologist, a criminal investigator, or a detective. There was no need to worry about these troubles.

Qiu Ci watched Ai La commit suicide?

He must have seen the tragic state after Ai La committed suicide.

Seeing his sister lying in a pool of blood must be a lifelong trauma.

Under the shadow of Ai La’s death, her younger brother, who had been with her the longest, must be the most painful.

After all, he didn’t do anything, and he couldn’t do anything in that situation.

Ai La struggled with work and emotions, and Jing Yueming knew nothing about it, so he was the least affected.

He only received the news after Ai La hadn’t contacted him for a long time.

The New Year’s fireworks were set off at twelve o’clock.

Fireworks exploded in the middle of the city.

The noisy sound could not be blocked by any soundproof glass.

“Qiu Ci, Happy New Year.”

“Not happy.” Qiu Ci said with a smile.

“Why?”

“I’m thirty.”