Chapter 65: Her Little Dog Is a Design Genius!

In this shop, besides her and the occasional Jiang Jiaojiao who drops by, it's usually just Jiang Ran and the two kids.

Douzi and Yaya are young, barely literate, let alone drawing pictures with clear design intent.

Sister Jiang Jiaojiao may be fashionable, but she has no interest in clothing design.

Then it's just Jiang Ran left…

He wanders around the shop all day, watching her draw, listening to her talk about lines, proportions, style…

Sometimes he grabs her discarded draft paper and doodles aimlessly; she just thinks he's bored and never pays attention.

Could it be…

Su Ruan suppresses the turmoil in her heart, takes the sheets, strides to the shop entrance, crouches, and meets Jiang Ran's eyes at the threshold.

Jiang Ran is happily munching on a scallion pancake; when he sees her approach, he thinks his wife‑to‑be is checking whether he's finished, and he grins, showing two rows of white teeth.

Su Ruan places the papers before him, her voice tinged with barely perceptible excitement and curiosity: "Jiang Ran, these… are they yours?"

Jiang Ran's chewing freezes instantly; his gaze lands on the few sheets of draft he had hidden, his smile solidifying visibly, then with a sudden "whoosh," his ears to neck flush a deep red.

He darts like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, lunging to snatch the papers, his tone a unprecedented panic and awkwardness, his voice pitched higher.

"This… what's so good about it! I just doodled! Give it to me, throw it away, throw it away!"

The more he reacts this way, the more certain Su Ruan becomes.

She flicks her wrist, deftly evading his grasp, shielding the drawing behind her, her gaze burning as she fixes him: "Doodled? Jiang Ran, look into my eyes and tell me, is this really your doodle?"

Jiang Ran seizes a moment, meeting Su Ruan's clear eyes that seem to see through hearts, and feels even more mortified.

His gaze darts away, unwilling to meet hers, he reaches again for the paper behind her, muttering with a hint of exasperated shame: "It's just a doodle! Ugly! Hideous! Give it back to me quickly!"

His tall frame, crouched, looks somewhat hunched; the mischievous swagger on his face has vanished, leaving only the panic of a secret exposed and a near‑shameful feeling.

Even his earlobes are so red they seem about to bleed.

Su Ruan looks at his state and sees nothing left to misunderstand.

Instead of returning the paper, she leans forward, matching his crouch, closing the gap so she can almost feel his slightly rapid, nervous breath.

She softens her voice, coaxing like a frightened little beast: "I think it's very beautiful, especially beautiful. Jiang Ran, tell me, did you draw this?"

Her affirmation is like a faint electric current that hits Jiang Ran.

His snatching motion halts; he lifts his eyes, glances at her swiftly, then drops them again, his lips pursing a few times, his voice as low as a mosquito's hum: "…mm."

He admitted it!

Even though it's a barely audible syllable, Su Ruan's heart flares instantly, a wave of indescribable delight and pride surging up.

Her Jiang Ran, her little wolfdog, actually has such talent!

"When did you draw it? Why never told me before?" Su Ruan's voice trembles with uncontainable joy.

Jiang Ran sees no mockery in her eyes, only a sparkling look; his nervousness eases a bit, yet he remains awkward, scratching the back of his head, murmuring: "Just… just watching you draw, doodling… nothing much to say, it's not a serious matter…"

Subconsciously he feels that drawing, especially women's clothing, isn't something a former brawler like him should do; it feels a bit… embarrassing.

So he kept it hidden, never expecting it to be uncovered today.

"Who said that?" Su Ruan retorts instantly, her tone decisive, "How can this not be a serious matter? It's a hugely serious matter!"

"Jiang Ran, do you know? What you drew is very imaginative, very special!"

She picks up the Sketch of a high‑waisted Dress, pointing to its details: "Look here, the waist‑cinching spot, and the direction of the skirt's hem. If made with good fabric, it'll accentuate the figure and be lively."

"And this V‑neck with Frog Button idea, it retains Chinese charm while elongating the neck—very grand!"

She then points to that top: "The shoulder and cuff design, if realized, would be far more stylish than the shirts flooding the streets now!"

Su Ruan grows more excited, her gaze at Jiang Ran shining with the light of discovering treasure: "Jiang Ran, you have a design gift! Really!"

Jiang Ran feels light‑headed from her praise; the heat on his face hasn't faded, and his heart feels drenched in honey—sweet, warm, and a bit airy.

His wife… says his drawing is good?

And says he has talent?

He furtively lifts his eyes, watching Su Ruan's flushed cheeks and shining eyes from excitement; there's no hint of mockery or perfunctory praise, only sincere admiration and encouragement.

A feeling never before experienced sprouts in his chest, like a tender shoot breaking through soil, timid yet incredibly resolute.

He licks his slightly dry lips; his voice remains low but less frantic: "Really… is it truly? Don't you think… it's a bit odd?"

"Of course it's real!" Su Ruan nods vigorously, reaches out, and proactively grasps his slightly curled hand, her tone utterly earnest, "Not odd at all! Jiang Ran, our shop might someday rely on you as the great designer!"

Her palm is soft and warm, tightly enveloping his slightly calloused fingers.

Jiang Ran feels the warmth, looks at the complete trust and expectation in her eyes, and the lingering awkwardness and shame in his heart are finally replaced by a surge of great courage and passion.

He grasps Su Ruan's hand with his other hand, tightening it, as if holding a priceless treasure.

He lifts his head; his gaze still carries a trace of embarrassment, but more so a kindled brightness, his mouth unable to stop curving upward, revealing a slightly goofy yet radiant smile.

"Wife… do you really think I'm capable?"

Jiang Ran's eyes, usually a hint of roguish heat, now shine like lit stars, flickering with an unprecedented glow.

Su Ruan's affirmation is like a key, opening a door in his heart he never dared to touch.

"You certainly can!" Su Ruan's tone shows no hesitation; she shakes their clasped hands, pointing to details on the paper, "Look here, this waist‑line idea I never thought of. And this cuff—how did you think of it?"

Being looked at with such adoring eyes from his wife, Jiang Ran feels his blood heat up all over; the remaining awkwardness evaporates, replaced by an urgent urge to share.

He scratches his head, a bit embarrassed, and points across the street: "Just… just watching people, that's all."

He holds Su Ruan's hand, still crouched at the threshold, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret: "Look at those walking girls; some wear straight, tube‑like clothes that wrap them like pillars—not pretty. I think, if we take a bit off here,"

He gestures with his empty hand at his waist, "Wouldn't it be like the willow branches by the river—swaying with the wind, giving it more flair?"