Chapter 78: Caught Red‑Handed

Su Ruan's string of compliments struck Jiang Ran's heart, making him dizzy and his heart pound wildly.

Genius…?

His wife says he's a genius?

He looks at Su Ruan's flushed cheeks from excitement, sees the unabashed admiration and fervor in her eyes, and a never‑before‑felt joy and pride erupts like a volcano, instantly crushing all his anxiety and awkwardness!

"Really… really?" his Adam's apple rolls, his voice hoarse with incredulous elation, "Wife, do you really think… I can?"

"Of course you can! You're amazing!" Su Ruan nods vigorously, clutching the sketchbook tightly as if it were a priceless treasure, "Jiang Ran, I dare say, based solely on the ideas in this Sketch, if we can produce them perfectly, it'll definitely shake the entire fashion world! No, maybe even more!"

She grows more excited, pulls Jiang Ran onto the nearby bench, and begins to analyze his designs page by page, pointing out the subtleties and offering suggestions for optimizing and refining details.

"Look here, the coat's shoulders—if we add a thin pad, would it give more presence?"

"For this Asymmetric Ribbon Silk Shirt, the fabric must be the softest to convey a breezy feel."

"And this patchwork skirt, we could try colliding fabrics of different textures; the effect might be even more stunning…"

She speaks with passion, her eyes sparkling.

Jiang Ran listens intently, occasionally offering his own thoughts; the two heads together, immersed in the world of creation, forgetting time and everything around them.

The sunset fully sinks below the horizon, night falls, and the shop's lights automatically turn on, softly enveloping them.

Jiang Ran watches Su Ruan's focused, excited profile, listens to her clear analysis, feels how she cherishes and esteems his Wild Idea, and his heart fills with an indescribable happiness and satisfaction.

He used to think that winning fights, playing billiards well, and making money were all the measure of skill.

But now he finds that having his wife look at him with those sparkling eyes, discussing these whimsical ideas together, and receiving a sincere compliment of "genius" from her, is more exhilarating than anything!

It gives him more sense of achievement than anything else!

"Wife," he can't help reaching out, gently grasping Su Ruan's hand placed on the Sketch, his gaze deep and earnest, "From now on, I'll draw for you."

"Tell me what kind of clothes you want, and I'll draw them. Together, we'll make Chongsu the best, most unique shop!"

His palm is warm and strong, with a thin callus, tightly enveloping her hand.

Su Ruan returns the grip, nods heavily, her smile blooming like a flower: "Alright! Together!"

Night deepens, the street outside the shop has long quieted, only occasional dog barks breaking the silence.

Su Ruan, holding a sharpened pencil, delicately sketches and revises on Jiang Ran's somewhat rugged Sketch.

She isn't overturning his ideas; instead, while preserving the bold, unrestrained core spirit, she refines the lines, perfects the structure, and adds more practical details.

"Jiang Ran, look here," Su Ruan points to the coat's waist, "Your back‑strap idea is brilliant—more distinctive than the traditional side strap, and it'll look great as the strap flutters while walking."

"I think we could tweak the strap's width and length, and design several tying methods…"

Jiang Ran leans close, a faint fragrance from her hair lingering at his nose, his eyes fixed on her pen tip dancing on the paper, listening to her gentle yet professional explanation.

She doesn't simply reject him; she understands and refines him, turning his fanciful Wild Idea into something more concrete and perfect.

He can't describe the feeling inside him; it's like drinking a steaming bowl of ginger soup in the dead of winter, warming from his throat to every limb, and also like his heart being filled to the brim—bloated, sour, yet brimming with an indescribable joy and strength.

This feeling of total acceptance, deep understanding, and walking side by side surpasses the thrill of his first victorious fight, his first earnings, even his wedding night in making his heart race and feel fulfilled.

"Hmm! Wife, you're right! This change looks better!" he nods vigorously, his eyes shining astonishingly, as if studded with stars.

He also picks up a pen, drawing several strap possibilities in the blank space beside, "How about tying it like this? Or like this?"

He doesn't know how long passed, until Su Ruan's stomach let out an unruly "growl," and they suddenly realized it was late.

"Oh dear, it's so late!" Su Ruan glances at the old wall clock, already nearing eleven o'clock.

Jiang Ran also startles, quickly stands: "We were so absorbed in drawing we lost track of time. Wife, are you hungry? Let's hurry home and have Mom make something for you."

"Don't bother her; at this hour she'll probably be asleep."

Su Ruan shakes her head, her face still alight with lingering excitement.

They finally selected three of the most representative and relatively feasible designs from Jiang Ran's sketchbook, deciding to make them the flagship styles for Chongsu's next phase.

They are the sleek, dashing H-shaped Double-breasted Trench Coat, the Asymmetric Ribbon Silk Shirt, and the irregularly cut patchwork skirt.

"We'll make just these three models, one piece per size!" Su Ruan's eyes sparkle with confidence and challenge, "Scarcity makes it precious! Let them know that every item we produce at Chongsu is a unique Premium; if you want one, you must book early!"

"Alright! We'll follow the wife's word!"

Jiang Ran agrees without hesitation; he now admires Su Ruan's business decisions wholeheartedly.

The two carefully store the revised designs, lock the shop door, hop on their bicycles, and race home under the starlit moonlight.

The evening breeze is cool, but it cannot disperse the heat in their hearts.

Arriving outside the Jiang Family Courtyard, the interior is silent and pitch‑black, with only a dim porch light at the gate casting a faint glow.

"Looks like Mom and Dad are already asleep."

Jiang Ran lowers his voice, gently pushes open the courtyard gate, then quietly closes it behind him, fearing any sound.

Su Ruan also tiptoes, following behind, the two moving like thieves, stealthily stepping toward the house.

Yet when they push open the Main Hall's door, they freeze—

The Main Hall is brightly lit!

Jiang Jianguo, Li Huijuan, Jiang Nainai, and even Jiang Jiaojiao were all seated neatly on the sofa, the TV broadcasting the evening news, though clearly no one was watching, their eyes all flicking toward the newcomers.

The two groups stared at each other, the air instantly freezing.