Morning light slipped through the gap in the curtains, casting a slender beam across the bedroom floor. Jiang Yi woke groggily under the effects of the medicine. The fever had subsided, but his body still felt weak and drained. He pushed himself upright and noticed a glass of water on the bedside table, with several pills neatly placed beside it.
A faint fragrance of rice drifted in from the living room.
Supporting himself against the wall, Jiang Yi slowly walked out and saw Qin Feng standing in the kitchen, cooking porridge. Steam rose from the clay pot on the stove. Wearing an apron, Qin Feng carefully stirred it with a ladle.
“You’re awake?” Qin Feng turned and saw him, immediately putting down the ladle and walking over. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better.” Jiang Yi’s voice was still slightly hoarse. “You didn’t go back last night?”
“You had such a high fever. How could I leave?” Qin Feng helped him sit at the dining table. “The porridge will be ready soon. My mom specifically told me to cook it soft and smooth. She said it’s better for your stomach after being sick.”
Jiang Yi watched Qin Feng’s busy figure in the kitchen, and a quiet warmth rose in his chest. This brother who had grown up with him had always been there when he needed him most.
Once the porridge was ready, Qin Feng carefully served it into a bowl and paired it with a few light side dishes. “Eat first. I also happen to have a document to show you.”
He took out a neatly bound proposal from his briefcase and placed it in front of Jiang Yi. “This is a cooperation plan from Qingyue Design Studio. I’ve looked it over. It seems quite good.”
Jiang Yi took the file. His hands were still a little weak from the illness. He flipped open the first page and saw the name of the studio, beneath which were two graceful characters indicating the founder’s name.
“Although the studio isn’t large, its founder, Wen Ruan, has a very distinctive design philosophy,” Qin Feng said casually as he sat across from him. “She focuses on human-centered care and details. They have a good reputation in the industry. They handled the interior design for that Xinghe project last time, and the client feedback was excellent.” New chapters come out on NovelPing first.
Jiang Yi listened absentmindedly. The name meant nothing to him. Yet the phrase human-centered care felt like a small pebble dropped into the still surface of his heart, stirring faint ripples.
He thought of Shu Jin’s cold voice on the phone the night before. He thought of how she had chosen to stay with another man, unwilling even to come see him when he had a fever. In recent days, all he had felt was betrayal and coldness. Against that, the idea of human-centered care formed a subtle, almost ironic contrast.
“Look here.” Qin Feng pointed to a page in the proposal. “Wen Ruan suggests setting up relaxation corners in the office area, with books and greenery, so employees have a place to unwind during busy work hours. This kind of attention to detail is truly thoughtful.”
Jiang Yi’s gaze fell on a corner of the design sketch. Each plant’s placement was precisely marked, and even the types of books suitable for different areas were noted. This level of detail made him linger on it a little longer.
“I remember you once said you wanted to create a more comfortable working environment for your employees,” Qin Feng continued. “Qingyue’s design philosophy fits that direction perfectly.”
Jiang Yi nodded lightly and turned to the next page. The proposal had been crafted with great care. Every detail was thoroughly considered, and the designer’s dedication was evident.
For some reason, he suddenly recalled how many years ago, Shu Jin had once put the same level of care into preparing birthday surprises for him. Back then, she paid attention to every detail, remembering even the smallest things he said in passing.
He set the proposal down and rubbed his aching temples. “Reach out to them first. If it’s truly suitable, then arrange a formal meeting.”
Qin Feng collected the file and served him another bowl of porridge. “Focus on recovering first. Everything else can wait.”
After the meal, Qin Feng insisted that Jiang Yi continue resting.
Lying on the bed in the bedroom, Jiang Yi stared at the ceiling. The details from the proposal surfaced in his mind again, unbidden. Those meticulous designs, those ideas filled with warmth, were like a faint ray of light shining into the gloom that had clouded his heart these past days.
He picked up his phone and, without thinking, opened WeChat. Shu Jin’s profile picture lay quietly in his contacts list. The last message was still her urging him to transfer money. He swiped past it and exited the chat.
Outside, the sunlight gradually grew brighter. The room carried a faint scent of disinfectant.
Jiang Yi closed his eyes, trying to dispel the unpleasant memories in his mind. Yet the words human-centered care lingered, like a seed quietly taking root in his heart.
Perhaps, in this world, there were still people who took life seriously, who devoted themselves to their work, who treated others with sincerity. Perhaps he had simply been unlucky not to meet the right person.
With that thought, he sent Qin Feng a message: “Look into Qingyue’s proposal more thoroughly.”
Putting down his phone, he gazed at the bright sunlight outside the window. For the first time in a long while, he felt that perhaps life was not entirely shrouded in darkness. There were always small, unnoticed moments of beauty that could, when least expected, give a person the courage to keep moving forward.