translated_Chapter 61

61: Starting a Business and Losing Money

“Brother Qiu, your shop isn’t making any money,” Su Yuyang said, holding a calculator, wanting to ask Qiu Ci if he had made a mistake.

Su Yuyang showed him: “A teacher costs at least five figures a month, and there’s more than one teacher. Then there’s rent, utilities. Your ideal self-service art studio needs not only a large space but also to provide simple art supplies. Considering all this, how much tuition do we need? Plus, our location is very expensive.”

Qiu Ci looked through the bills: “It’s okay, fifty thousand a month is fine. My goal isn’t to make money.”

“It’s negative fifty thousand,” Su Yuyang emphasized, tapping a few times on the calculator. The mechanical sound came out: “Subtract, five, zero, zero, zero, zero.”

Qiu Ci also said seriously, “I know, it’s okay.” Qiu Ci was never polite with his sister, and Qiu Shi was very supportive, transferring money over every time he asked without questioning.

Qiu Shi had always managed the living expenses that Louis gave, until one day she asked curiously, “Why do you need money again? Didn’t you just ask last week? And didn’t you start a business?”

“Yeah, my art class also costs money.” Qiu Ci turned off all the lights in the art studio. The kids had all left. They were quite well-behaved, cleaning up themselves before leaving. Qiu Ci only needed to turn off the lights and lock the door.

“Is your art class losing money? I thought your plan was so good, and the commercial location was so good. You can still lose money?”

Qiu Ci didn’t understand, “Why can’t I lose money?” He hadn’t done this kind of business before. In other words, he hadn’t done any business. Businessmen make money; he thought he was doing charity.

Qiu Shi didn’t understand what he was thinking, “Send me the monthly bills, and I’ll see what you’re doing.”

For a year, he hadn’t made a single cent, losing almost half a million.

Qiu Shi used her own ideas to make some improvements to the art class. Qiu Ci could do charity, but he couldn’t only do charity.

Or perhaps Qiu Shi had learned some things in university and was eager to show them off, giving Qiu Ci several compromise plans to fleece some money from the rich.

Qiu Ci could continue to teach the children he originally taught and also added a tutoring program.

As well as a genuine art experience class, not just the kind to fool parents.

The second spring, Su Yuyang was surprised to discover, “Brother Qiu, this month we actually didn’t lose money.”

This art class, which neither profited nor lost money, teetered along in the city center for three years.

Qiu Ci became a locally well-known “principal.”

Some parents, after learning his true identity, fought to send their children in and build relationships.

“Little Jun has a lot of talent already. Learning at her age is perfect.”

The young woman was very happy to be praised, “She just can’t sit still. A little girl, she’s never quiet.”

Qiu Ci smiled apologetically, “It’s not that little girls must be quiet. Little Jun has a very strong sense of jumpy thinking and learns things quickly, so sometimes she gets bored with the same rhythm as everyone else. Plus, she’s at an age where she’s naturally hyperactive.”

“Oh my, Teacher, you’ve made her so happy. She won’t sleep tonight.” The woman said this, but she was already overjoyed, “Teacher Qiu is twenty-one this year, right?”

“Yeah, about that.”

“Teacher Qiu, do you have a girlfriend?” The woman asked, already knowing the answer.

Qiu Ci shook his head, “Not yet.”

“Teacher Qiu, I have a niece who’s also studying painting at the Academy of Fine Arts. If you have time…”

“Oh really, that’s a coincidence.” Qiu Ci interrupted her.

The woman understood that Qiu Ci didn’t want to go on a blind date or anything, “During the New Year and summer vacations, I’ll have her come here to work part-time.”

“You’re very welcome.”

After sending Little Jun’s mother away, Qiu Ci returned to the art studio.

The lights were still on, and some of the children were chatting.

“If you’ve painted enough, go home first.” There was no other meaning; he just thought it was quite late. These children were only fifteen or sixteen years old, and it got dark early in the winter.

The students were overjoyed, “Then we’ll leave after cleaning up.”

“You can leave me here too.”

The students had already started fighting over the mops and brooms.

Qiu Ci waited for them to finish cleaning up and still had to lock the door.

While checking his phone, his sister called, “Qiu Ci, Dad is sick. Book a flight back.”

“Okay.”

After simply explaining to Su Yuyang, Qiu Ci left.

He only met his sister after arriving in New York.

He knew that Louis owned a mansion.

Seeing it with his own eyes still shocked him.

He had only seen this money displayed in accounts; in fact, he had never really squandered it.

In addition to basic facilities like restaurants and movie theaters, the three floors dedicated to Louis’s medical area were the strongest part of the entire building.

Louis was still sitting in bed reading a newspaper.

“Allen is here.” Louis took off his glasses and greeted him, “Recently, I’ve been feeling nostalgic.” Louis pointed to the newspaper.

“Father,” Qiu Ci said respectfully.

“It’s been a few years, you’ve changed a lot.” Louis said with emotion. The snot-nosed kid was now so mature, just a bit short.

Qiu Ci sat on the bench, “How’s your health?”

“Old age brings problems. It’s normal. What about you? I didn’t even come to see you after the car accident.”

“I’ve recovered well, thank you for your concern, Father.” Qiu Ci rarely spent time alone with Louis and felt somewhat uncomfortable.

After a brief greeting, Louis had someone take Qiu Ci to his accommodations.

Qiu Shi didn’t return until evening.

She spent half the night alone with Louis again.

Recently, Qiu Shi had been preparing to take over the company. She had been in China for the first half of the year and had made several trips to Switzerland.

Qiu Ci estimated that he would have to stay here for at least two months.

Louis’s health gradually stabilized.

Qiu Shi was busy walking through the American connections, during which she brought Qiu Ci to banquets.

Awkwardly, Qiu Ci and Qin Yishan pretended not to know each other.

Qiu Shi didn’t notice the subtle exchanges between them.

Qin’s father kept trying to promote his son to Qiu Shi.

Qin Yishan was also very interested in Qiu Shi.

“Ai La, why don’t you and Little Qin…”

With a simple mention, everyone understood.

Qin Yishan was silent, and Qiu Shi shook her head, “This matter needs further consideration…”

As the dinner was about to end, Qin Yishan called Qiu Shi aside for a private chat, “Long time no see, Ai La.”

The two stood on the terrace.

“It has indeed been a long time,” Qiu Shi said with emotion. These past few years had been uneventful but sweet.

“Are you preparing to take over Louis’s position?” Qin Yishan asked.

“Yes, Father is getting old.”

“You’re still so young, many things won’t be convenient. What my father said is also helpful to you. Being with me will also help you. The Qin family is also a major shareholder of CW.”

Qiu Shi smiled, “Sorry, I’m actually not single anymore.”

Qin Yishan was genuinely surprised. Although he didn’t know her exact whereabouts in Japan, it was hard to believe that someone as strong as Qiu Shi would also be in love, “Is that boy also from Japan?”

“It’s a girl,” Qiu Shi told him.