Sister Lin's Commission
The sun gradually sank, and night began to fall.
In Lu Yan's home, the monitor was the only source of light, its glow outlining his figure.
The pressure-sensitive stylus darted across the drawing tablet, making a soft, rapid scratching sound.
Whenever Lu Yan became absorbed in creating, his usually cheerful, calm face would unconsciously grow tense.
He was working on the commission from that client, Venus.
He couldn't make her look too much like Aemeath, but whenever he tried to draw the girl's eyes, all he could think of was that beautiful pair of starry eyes.
"Creak~" The old security door swung open, accompanied by a patter of light footsteps and the rustling of paper bags.
"A-Yan! I'm home! I bought pan-fried buns and some nice, hot red bean soup~"
Lu Yan put down his stylus, rubbed his aching shoulder, and turned to see Aemeath standing in the entryway, changing her shoes.
A few dark raindrops marked the shoulder of her beige knit sweater. The wind had tousled her long pink hair, leaving a few stray strands against her cheeks.
"Is it raining outside?"
"Just a little drizzle."
Aemeath trotted over with several takeout bags and pressed herself against his back. "I thought you must want something sweet after working so hard, A-Yan."
Aemeath rested her chin in the crook of his neck and peered at the screen. "How's the drawing coming along?"
A little flustered, Lu Yan closed several reference windows.
Though he was drawing perfectly proper material, his secretive feelings always made him feel inexplicably guilty about drawing other female characters in front of Aemeath.
"I'm still working on the draft."
"Mmm, smells great." He took the pan-fried buns, their steaming aroma dispelling the loneliness of being up late.
Aemeath sat beside him, propping up her chin as she watched him eat. She wasn't bored at all; watching Lu Yan eat was the best kind of healing.
Just then, the phone on the desk chimed, and its screen lit up.
Lu Yan glanced at it and saw it was Miss Lin. He wiped his hands with a tissue and opened WeChat.
Miss Lin: [Little Lu, the client loved the last illustration! That slightly dazed look in her eyes, that chubby feel, and the way she somehow makes you want to protect her were absolutely perfect.]
Miss Lin: [The client says he'd like you to design character illustrations for three more female leads at the same standard.]
Miss Lin: [The price is 1,500 each. What do you think? Your big sister really came through for you, didn't she?]
Lu Yan's grip on his phone tightened slightly. At 1,500 each, three would come to 4,500.
That was a sizable sum for him, especially now that he was preparing to move.
He didn't notice Aemeath quietly leaning closer beside him, a faint gleam flashing through her eyes.
Lu Yan steeled himself and typed: [What are the conditions? Are there any specific requirements for their character designs?]
The reply came quickly, as though she had prepared it long ago.
Miss Lin: [First, a lively Japanese-style girl.]
Miss Lin: [Second, a tomboy type with white hair and red eyes, sharp and capable. You know, gap moe?]
Miss Lin: [Third, preferably a blonde, blue-eyed young lady.]
Miss Lin: [Oh, and their school-style uniforms should match.]
Lu Yan stared at the screen and fell into thought.
A lively Japanese-style girl, a blonde tsundere young lady, a white-haired, red-eyed tomboy, school style...
These were all classic two-dimensional archetypes. He could easily come up with a few sets of templates.
But before he could reply, a small, warm hand suddenly covered the back of his hand with a force that brooked no refusal.
"A blonde young lady?" Aemeath spoke in a low voice, so sickly sweet that it made Lu Yan uneasy.
"A-Yan, do you like that type? The spoiled, headstrong kind you have to put effort into coaxing?"
"No, that's the style the client asked for," Lu Yan explained.
Aemeath narrowed her eyes slightly. Her fingers slipped beneath the hem of Lu Yan's hoodie and traced gentle circles on the skin of his waist. "What about the white-haired tomboy, then? Do you think girls like that are really cool, much more interesting than a pink-haired girl like me who only knows how to cling to you?"
A tingling sensation spread through Lu Yan's waist, throwing even his breathing out of rhythm.
He looked at the possessiveness in Aemeath's eyes and her almost suffocating love.
Yet he thought happily to himself, Do you know that you're the only one who's ever made me want to spend a lifetime with you?
But he couldn't say that directly. He wanted to work hard and earn money first, to return her love.
"Aemeath, it's just work."
Lu Yan put down his phone, turned, and hugged her, coaxing her softly in her ear. "Look, it's 1,500 for one, so three will be 4,500."
"Once that money comes in, I can buy you lots of things."
"I don't need those." Aemeath shook her head stubbornly. She straddled Lu Yan's lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "As long as I have you, it's the same wherever we are."
"But I do care." Lu Yan sighed softly and buried his face against her chest, listening to her real heartbeat.
"I want to give you the best, because you've given me everything beautiful."
Aemeath froze. The jealousy that had been on the verge of erupting melted into a puddle in her heart when she heard the words "I want to give you the best."
Aemeath didn't actually care about the money. After all, she could make money just by dabbling in stocks.
But Aemeath enjoyed the feeling of being cherished by Lu Yan, enjoyed watching this man work hard, compromise, and even go against his own nature for her sake.
"Then... you're not allowed to make them too pretty." Aemeath compromised, pouting as she spoke. "Especially that blonde young lady. You can't make her legs longer than mine, and you can't make her eyes prettier than mine."
"All right, all right, whatever you say." Lu Yan laughed.
He picked up his phone and replied: [No problem, Sister Lin. I'll do my best.]