Chapter 13: Decision

After deciding to open a clothing design studio, Qin Ruyan’s first move was to create a Weibo account.

She didn’t open a personal Weibo account, but one for her studio. She named her studio “Listening to the Heart.”

She wanted to express her thoughts and ideas to the world through her clothing designs.

Qin Ruyan was a woman of action. Once she decided to do something, she wouldn’t hesitate.

The next day, she went out to scout the market, first needing to find a place to rent.

Real estate prices in the capital were sky-high, even the most inconspicuous corners could have shocking prices.

After three days of searching, Qin Ruyan finally settled on a location.

She signed a one-year lease in the city center’s CBD.

She couldn’t afford more. The rent was too expensive. All her savings combined could only cover a year and a half’s worth of rent. She had to keep some for herself, she couldn’t invest everything.

During her university years, Qin Ruyan had participated in several clothing design competitions and won many awards. She had a lot of saved designs.

However, a few years had passed, and the popular design elements might have changed.

Qin Ruyan had a habit of backing up her work to prevent loss. Now, she dug out her old drafts, took a look, and made minor adjustments to a few of them, leaving the rest untouched.

Qin Ruyan was looking at her designs in the room when she heard a knock on the door.

She got up and opened the door. Qin Shi stood at the doorway, holding a cup of milk.

“Brother?”

Qin Ruyan was a little surprised to see Qin Shi at home at this time of night. Usually, he came back in the middle of the night, and was already gone by the time she woke up. In the past two years, Qin Shi had been managing Qin Pharmaceutical, and the company had been doing increasingly well under his leadership.

Qin Shi stood at the doorway, not entering. His sister was grown up now, even as a brother, it wasn’t appropriate for him to enter her room.

However, Qin Shi’s gaze drifted towards the room, noticing the pile of things on the table: paintbrushes, and some drawings.

“Why aren’t you sleeping yet? It’s so late, don’t girls care about their sleep? They say it’s called beauty sleep.”

Qin Ruyan burst out laughing. She hadn’t expected her brother to know about such things.

“I rented a place these past two days, I’m planning to open a clothing design studio,” Qin Ruyan explained. “I mentioned it to Uncle and Aunt a few days ago, but you were on a business trip then, so I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want to bother you.”

Qin Ruyan took the milk and took a few sips.

Qin Shi nodded. “Can I come in, brother? I want to see your drawings.”

He knew that Qin Ruyan had majored in clothing design in university, but she had always been quiet, and he had been busy taking over Qin Pharmaceutical. He had very little time to see her, and he didn’t actually know much about her university life.

Qin Ruyan stepped back, making way for Qin Shi.

“Of course, you can come in. It’s perfect timing, brother can give me some feedback. You attend a lot of banquets, what kind of clothes do the ladies usually wear at those events?”

She designed according to her own aesthetic, but when making clothes, you also need to consider the market’s aesthetic, otherwise, only she would like it, and no one else would. Then who would she sell it to?

Qin Shi walked in. His gaze didn’t wander around. He picked up the drawings on the table and flipped through a few.

When he saw the sixth one, his hand holding the drawing tightened.

It was a picture of a black dress, with thin shoulder straps, a strapless style, quite fitted, the skirt was a little messy, and there was a tea rose pattern at the waist. Two words were written next to the picture: “Farewell.”

Qin Shi looked again. Qin Ruyan’s drawings were mostly dark in style, with almost no bright colors.

Looking at these paintings, Qin Shi seemed to see the life she had lived abroad these past few years.

He put down the drawing, turned around and looked at Qin Ruyan.

Qin Ruyan’s expression was calm. It was true, she never showed any vulnerability in front of them.

“The drawings are really good.” Qin Shi’s voice carried a hint of amusement. Qin Ruyan was a little embarrassed to be praised by him for the first time.

“I drew quite a lot when I was participating in competitions. Actually, I haven’t drawn for a long time.”

She pursed her lips, not noticing the fleeting surprise in Qin Shi’s face.

“Your style might be a bit too singular.” Qin Shi was giving her serious advice.

Qin Ruyan picked up the drawing and looked at it. It seemed that they were indeed mostly unappealing black.

“Yeah, I plan to hire another designer. It’s better if we work together.”

Qin Ruyan put down the drawing, turned to look at Qin Shi, and her smile was now bright. “Brother, I actually tried to draw some more lively and energetic pictures, but I couldn’t accept it back then. Every time I drew something beautiful, I would cry.”

Qin Shi noticed that her eyes were red again. He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Qin Ruyan took out a drawing from the drawer of the table.

It was a picture taken by the head teacher when their parents went to school for a parent-teacher meeting when she got first place in high school. Unexpectedly, it became the last photo of the three of them.

“Later, one night I couldn’t sleep. I got up and secretly drew this picture. I drew for five hours. It’s the longest I’ve ever drawn. Brother, I came back because I realized that I left Beijing, I left this place, but I seemed even more miserable abroad.”

Qin Ruyan’s tears fell.

“I only have you two. If you’re not by my side anymore, I don’t know what I would do.”

Qin Shi was at a loss for words, his hands and feet feeling clumsy. He had no experience comforting girls, and he didn’t know what to do.