After Xia Xiaolan settled things with Aunt Cheng at the public phone booth, she had Gong Yang design four business cards.

Her business card listed the public phone number that Aunt Cheng managed. Li Fengmei and Liu Fen’s contact information was naturally close to the clothing store, while Liu Yong’s was near the rented house.

Li Fengmei and Liu Fen weren’t sure what to do with their business cards. “Blue Phoenix Fashion” – people who didn’t know might think it was a garment factory when it was just a clothing store. Xia Xiaolan made them as a precaution, knowing Li Fengmei and Liu Fen would eventually need to handle external business, and the cards would come in handy.

Xia Xiaolan’s card was simple, just a name and phone number, while Liu Yong’s read “Yuan Hui Decorating.”

“Yuan Hui” didn’t even have a storefront, yet Xia Xiaolan had already printed “Yuan Hui Decorating Manager” on Liu Yong’s cards. As a one-man operation, Liu Yong felt immense pressure, and having business cards now forced him to work harder to expand his business.

His first call was to Kang Wei, who had agreed to renovate his house before the New Year. When would this project finally begin?

It was only the end of February, and the Lunar New Year celebrations weren’t even over.

Kang Wei brought up the renovation with his mother for the first time.

Kang’s mother was a fragile woman who had always followed her husband’s lead when he was alive. After Kang Wei’s father’s sacrifice, if she hadn’t been pregnant with Kang Wei, the news would surely have broken her. After giving birth to Kang Wei, she didn’t become stronger through motherhood. His grandmother largely took on that role while his mother remained melancholic. Kang Wei had to be very careful when speaking with his mother.

For instance, when he mentioned wanting to renovate the house, his mother’s eyes couldn’t focus. Though he sat right in front of her speaking, he could tell his words weren’t reaching her heart.

“Fine, go ahead with it.”

That was her lukewarm response, leaving Kang Wei feeling defeated.

It seemed that no matter what he said or did, his mother remained unmoved, showing no enthusiasm for life. Sometimes Kang Wei felt that when his father died in the line of duty, he had taken his mother’s soul with him, leaving behind merely a walking corpse.

She had a respectable job and kept herself neat every day.

But she was indifferent to everything, just going through the motions.

She barely even cared about her son, since Kang Wei had his grandparents looking after him. Even if she didn’t take care of him, he wouldn’t go hungry or cold. Yet Kang Wei couldn’t say his mother didn’t love him – she followed his lead on all family matters, big and small. Perhaps mother and son should have changed their environment long ago. Kang Wei hoped renovating the house might bring some change.

Since his mother didn’t object, Kang Wei decided to proceed with the renovation.

His grandmother was quite reluctant to part with things, as many items in the house were personally chosen by her for her son when he got married.

Kang Wei’s grandfather was more accepting:

“Kang Wei is almost 21 now, and it’s been 21 years since his father left us. Even if we can’t let go, we must. Should we ignore the living while holding onto memories of the dead?”

Such an outstanding son, yet lost to war.

All the power in the world meant nothing when it came to life and death – it was all in fate’s hands. Kang Wei’s grandfather had no choice but to accept it. That was his most beloved and proud son, but the dead couldn’t return to life. If he and his wife couldn’t move on, how could Kang Wei’s mother ever let go?

Renovating the house was appropriate. With a new environment, perhaps his daughter-in-law would gradually move forward.

The grandmother, convinced by the old man, said, “Then let them stay here while the house is being renovated.”

She was quite happy about this. She had raised Kang Wei when he was little until he moved back to live with his mother after elementary school. She treasured her grandson the most and would love to see him every day.

The grandfather also missed his grandson.

However, their other children were wary of the grandparents showing too much favoritism to Kang Wei and kept their guard up. The grandfather was quite worried. If the two elderly passed away, the orphaned mother and son would have to rely on other members of the Kang family. It was precisely because he noticed this that he had sent Kang Wei back to live with his mother.

Now though, Kang Wei was almost 21, recently working with Zhou Cheng, showing initiative rather than depending on anyone from the Kang family for support. The grandfather had fewer concerns.

“Let them come stay here, and we’ll see how things go after the house is renovated.”

The grandmother happily went to help prepare the rooms.

With all the elders in agreement, Kang Wei replied to Liu Yong: “Uncle Liu, you can come over anytime.”

Having telephone contact was indeed much more convenient, even if making and receiving calls was troublesome. It was still faster than telegrams, let alone letters. When Xia Xiaolan wrote back to Zhou Cheng, she also included her new contact information and mentioned her approximate arrival time in Beijing.

By the time Zhou Cheng received this letter, she and her Uncle Liu Yong would be close to arriving in Beijing.

For Kang Wei’s project, Xia Xiaolan wanted to try collaborating with Gong Yang.

Gong Yang was quite shocked to hear about going to Beijing.

He was concerned not only about the time spent traveling but also about the travel expenses and accommodation costs in Beijing.

Xia Xiaolan immediately dismissed his concerns:

“You’re our design consultant, and we’ll cover all these expenses. We’ll depart in about half a month, probably taking three or four days of your time. Just arrange your schedule accordingly.”

Renovating Kang Wei’s house was quite an undertaking – bringing an art student was nothing compared to bringing two workers along. Liu Yong had to worry about getting introduction letters for the masonry workers. Being a manager wasn’t easy. Kang Wei said he could arrange an affordable hostel – this was something Xia Xiaolan had repeatedly emphasized.

Kang Wei had to consider both parties’ situations. If he arranged an expensive hotel, it would be comfortable, but after covering food and lodging for several people, Liu Yong would certainly lose money on this job. When starting any business, owners must control costs. Focusing only on comfort would lead to self-destruction!

Gong Yang was in a daze.

What started as a small job helping Xia Xiaolan paint some posters, and then designing business cards had now turned into a trip to Beijing.

Though Gong Yang said he might not be able to get permission to leave, he had already decided to go.

Who would refuse such an opportunity when travel and accommodation were covered, the work paid, and it meant a trip to the capital?

Third-year art students had more freedom than other students, and there was a requirement for outdoor sketching and life drawing. Sketching didn’t have to mean just drawing landscapes in the wilderness – he could draw the capital’s scenery!

As Xia Xiaolan left, people happened to see her.

Recently, Xia Xiaolan visited Gong Yang twice, and those who knew him started teasing him, thinking she was his girlfriend.

“She’s really pretty. Where did you meet her, Gong Yang?”

“Zhuo introduced her. She came to me for paintings.”

For paintings?

Gong Yang took various jobs outside school, but a young, beautiful girl repeatedly came to him for paintings. It sounded quite strange.

Gong Yang couldn’t do anything about his classmates’ disbelief. He found it strange – how old was Xia Xiaolan anyway? Not only did she have a store next to the Commercial City Department Store, but now she was doing business in Beijing.

Someone from Beijing getting people from their city to do renovations – this was beyond Gong Yang’s imagination.

He took on small jobs that others looked down on just to buy more paint and paper, so it was hard to imagine someone being so casual with money – wait, earlier Xia Xiaolan mentioned covering food, lodging, and travel expenses, but didn’t mention payment?

Gong Yang’s mind was racing as he rushed to the library.

If someone was paying to bring him to Beijing, it would be embarrassing if he couldn’t draw renovation design sketches!