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Psst! We're moving!
Lin Zhan jogged over to Sun Hong.
Sun Hong was truly loyal. The moment he sensed the awkward atmosphere between Lin Zhan and Shen Xi, he immediately called for a break, allowing everyone to rest on the spot.
This gave Lin Zhan and Shen Xi some private time together.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have had the chance to share such an intimate moment.
Lin Zhan patted Sun Hong’s shoulder: “Good buddy, I’ll treat you to dinner when we get back!”
Although her only real accomplishment just now seemed to be making herself blush furiously...
Sun Hong nearly collapsed under her slap, clutching his shoulder as he dodged: “Whoa, with that kind of strength, are you trying to murder your adorable matchmaking assistant?!”
Noticing something off about Lin Zhan, Sun Hong became even more curious.
“Why is Shen Xi so calm while your face looks like a monkey’s bottom?”
Lin Zhan naturally retorted: “It’s blush! You know nothing!”
Sun Hong: “...Is it trendy now to apply blush all over your face?”
Lin Zhan: “I declare your meal canceled.”
///
Lin Zhan moved to the back and walked alongside Zheng Yi Mian.
Zheng Yi Mian couldn’t resist teasing her: “Hey hey hey, what were you two doing up front earlier? Filming a Korean drama? A Korean version of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio ?”
Lin Zhan asked: “Why Strange Tales ?”
Zheng Yi Mian thought for a moment and replied: “From afar, you looked like Nie Xiaoqian, and Shen Xi looked like Ning Caichen. You resemble a mischievous female ghost, and he’s like an honest scholar.”
Lin Zhan pointed to her cheek: “Have you ever seen such a timid female ghost?”
Zheng Yi Mian shook her head honestly: “...No, I haven’t.”
Lin Zhan pointed to Shen Xi: “Have you ever seen such a cold scholar?”
Zheng Yi Mian disagreed: “I think Shen Xi has quite a gentlemanly demeanor—he just doesn’t talk much. Besides, even if everyone else is fooled by appearances, you shouldn’t think this way. Shen Xi has been very gentle and considerate toward you.”
Lin Zhan lowered her head: “Really?”
Zheng Yi Mian: “Yes. Have you ever seen him hold someone else’s hand?”
Lin Zhan: “That was me faking an accident.”
Zheng Yi Mian: “Have you ever seen him visit someone’s class to comfort them and make them sleep?”
Lin Zhan: “He did it to mock my dark circles.”
Zheng Yi Mian shrugged: “This conversation is going nowhere.”
Lin Zhan cooled her face with her hands: “I think Shen Xi sees me as just a friend, right?”
Zheng Yi Mian: “Probably, but don’t you feel that he… might have a little crush on you?”
“I don’t think so,” Lin Zhan widened her eyes at Zheng Yi Mian. “It’s probably because I like him, so I’m misunderstanding things. I think he just sees me as a friend, similar to how Sun Hong and Qi Lijie see me—helping me out when I’m in trouble.”
“Remember when I accidentally cut my hand while sharpening a pencil? Didn’t Sun Hong and Qi Lijie also help me buy cotton swabs and band-aids?”
After some thought, Zheng Yi Mian said: “I think you’re handling this well. If you mistakenly thought he liked you and later found out otherwise, it would hurt a lot.”
“That’s right,” Lin Zhan agreed. “Given Shen Xi’s personality, if he liked me, I’d definitely sense it.”
After a few steps, Lin Zhan muttered, seemingly to herself but also as if asking Zheng Yi Mian.
“What kind of girl do you think Shen Xi would like?”
The words “How would I know?” got stuck in Zheng Yi Mian’s throat as Lin Zhan quickly answered herself.
“Forget it. No matter what kind of person he likes, he must fall in love with me.”
Zheng Yi Mian: “...”
///
They reached a scenic spot and decided to settle down for lunch.
After eating, several art students decided to sketch there.
Zheng Yi Mian set up her easel, and Qi Lijie helped her arrange her paints.
Fortunately, there was a water source nearby and designated trash bins for tourists.
Lin Zhan asked: “The art students are staying to paint, what about the others?”
Zhang Ze: “I’ll stay behind to rest.”
The others, tired from walking, also expressed their intention to stay and rest while watching everyone paint.
Lin Zhan glanced around. She had painted such landscapes countless times before and felt no interest in them anymore.
Lin Zhan: “Then you guys stay here. I’ll go ahead and see if there’s anything interesting to paint. I’ll come back to find you later.”
Zheng Yi Mian, who was drawing water from a bucket, hastily asked: “Are you going alone? Isn’t that unsafe?”
Lin Zhan smiled: “How could it be? Haven’t I gone out sketching alone countless times? Besides, I won’t go far. Once I’m done painting, I’ll come back to meet you. Don’t worry.”
Zhang Ze turned to Shen Xi and said: “Shen Xi, didn’t you say you wanted to explore further? Why don’t you go with Lin Zhan?”
Shen Xi glanced at Zhang Ze and then fixed his gaze on Lin Zhan, contemplating the feasibility of this idea.
A girl venturing forward alone wasn’t very safe.
Shen Xi put his phone back into his bag and nodded: “Alright.”
To him, it didn’t matter where he went.
Expecting to explore alone, Lin Zhan was pleasantly surprised to have company. She immediately shouldered her painting bag and prepared to set off.
Sun Hong clicked his tongue and whispered to Lin Zhan: “In these deep mountains, seize the opportunity.”
///
Truthfully, Lin Zhan didn’t harbor any ulterior motives.
One thing at a time—earlier, they were here to relax and enjoy themselves. Now that it was time to paint, she needed to focus on her work. She still knew how to prioritize.
She kept peeking into the distance, prompting Shen Xi to ask.
He inquired: “What kind of place are you looking for?”
Perhaps seeing her search for so long, he wanted to help.
Lin Zhan scratched her head: “Hard to say. I want somewhere unique, something no one has painted before.”
Shen Xi gazed at her, deep in thought.
Despite searching high and low, they couldn’t find a unique spot. Exhausted, Lin Zhan stopped in her tracks.
“It seems we won’t find anything. There’s nothing but trees here—no waterfalls, no azure lakes, or anything that inspires my creativity… I guess I’ll just stick to quick sketches.”
Shen Xi: “Right here?”
“Mm,” Lin Zhan said. “I’ll paint here. Are you still planning to go further?”
With that, she took off her painting bag and massaged her sore shoulders.
Shen Xi spoke from behind: “No, there’s nothing ahead either.”
Lin Zhan pulled out her sketchbook, lamenting: “I can’t believe I hauled all this stuff here and still ended up doing quick sketches.”
Such was the plight of an inspiration-driven creator.
Taking out a graphite-and-charcoal pencil, Lin Zhan pondered what to draw. Lowering her head, she saw Shen Xi.
He was photographing a tiny flower.
So small it was almost negligible, Lin Zhan could only see a pure red dot.
But this person was far more beautiful than the flower.
If everyone was molded by Nuwa, Lin Zhan thought, Shen Xi must have been a favorite during creation. Despite spending little time on him, he turned out exceptionally handsome.
If everyone was drawn instead...
Shen Xi’s profile would surely be completed in one stroke, requiring no revisions. Such perfect proportions—it was as if he stepped out of a shoujo manga.
Thinking this, Lin Zhan unconsciously began sketching his outline.
Shen Xi cooperated fully, maintaining his pose without moving, patiently waiting for Lin Zhan to finish the entire sketch.
Lin Zhan was somewhat flattered and sped up her strokes. After shading the background, the sketch was complete.
She switched the pencil to her left hand, tore the page out with her right, and handed it to Shen Xi.
The fragile sketch paper fluttered noisily in the wind.
Lin Zhan: “It’s for you.”
Shen Xi didn’t speak but extended his hand to take it.
Suddenly, Lin Zhan pulled the sketch back.
Shen Xi grabbed at empty air.
Lin Zhan held the sketch between her index and middle fingers, teasingly waving it.
“Let’s make a deal.”
“You pose for me again, and this one’s yours.”
Shen Xi seemed to smile: “On what grounds?”
Meaning, why should he model just for her sketch?
Underestimating Lin Zhan was fine, but not her artwork.
Standing there confidently, she declared: “Because this painting is by Lin Zhan.”
An elusive fragrance wafted through the air, lifting her stray strands of hair.
Unbeknownst to her, her eyes sparkled brightly, her voice was soft, and her expression carried pride.
Shen Xi reined in his smile, gazing deeply into her eyes.
“What pose do you want?”
Lin Zhan froze.
???
What pose did she want??
All the confidence Lin Zhan had mustered moments ago vanished the instant Shen Xi finished his sentence.
Just moments before, basking in the warm light and pleasant atmosphere, she had finally achieved harmony between her inner self and outer appearance, exuding confident charm.
Just as she thought she could confidently secure Shen Xi as her model, he shocked her by asking what pose she wanted.
Her confidence deflated like a punctured balloon. All her momentum dissipated instantly, replaced by a brief daze.
Collecting herself, she stuttered out a full sentence: “Um, uh, whatever feels comfortable for you… Your comfort is most important.”
The more she spoke, the worse it sounded…
Eyes flickering, Lin Zhan waved her hand and handed over her sketch.
Her cultivation was still shallow.
///
Later, Shen Xi indeed changed into various poses.
...
The biggest taboo for a model was stiffness and unnatural poses, but Shen Xi never fell into that trap.
He was always relaxed and natural, something Lin Zhan knew well. Even in tense situations, he remained composed—let alone facing just Lin Zhan, not a dozen cameras.
Lin Zhan sketched many pieces.
Shen Xi taking photos, Shen Xi looking at her sketches, Shen Xi closing his eyes to rest…
Shen Xi’s poses weren’t forced; most were adjusted according to what felt most comfortable, sparing Lin Zhan any extra effort while keeping him at ease.
While painting, Lin Zhan reflected.
When they first met, she hadn’t even dared to approach him. He had even brought a rock to avoid her.
Never did she imagine that one day, he would willingly become her model.
It seemed their distance was indeed slowly closing.
///
By the time they finished, evening had arrived. The sky was dyed in large swathes of clouds, glowing with a gentle purplish-red hue.
The clouds stretched into sheets, blending back together.
Lin Zhan asked: “Should we go?”
Shen Xi brushed off the dust from his clothes and said: “Let’s go.”
She inadvertently caught his gaze, quickly turned her head, and started walking forward.
But suddenly, she was called back.
“Lin Zhan.”
The voice was youthful, warm, and clean.
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