#43: Cohabitation

“Ah? Ah...” Lin Zhan blinked, “You’ll accompany me?”

She subconsciously pinched her fingertips, her words still jumbled.

Shen Xi patiently explained: “It’s impossible that you’re not nervous at all.”

He knew her so well. Her recent exams and competitions had yielded results that almost none of them satisfied her. To keep him from worrying, to make him feel that his earlier comfort was useful, she had been pretending to be very calm.

But it wasn’t true.

The most important exam, the one that almost determined whether she could achieve her dream, even he felt a bit nervous. How much more so for her, who hadn’t performed well in her recent attempts.

That noon, while napping in the coffee shop, she unconsciously mumbled something in her sleep, which he overheard.

In her dream, she was lost and helpless, asking herself, “Am I unable to paint anymore...?”

She had started to doubt herself, and she desperately needed affirmation, desperately needed a pillar of support.

It was as if all her years of studying were just for those three days of the college entrance exam. Lin Zhan’s continuous efforts were also to smoothly get into her ideal university.

Lin Zhan swallowed, “What about your classes then? I’ll be delaying you again...”

In her heart, she hoped he would accompany her.

With him, she felt secure and calm.

Shen Xi simply stated, “Me not going to class for a week won’t make a difference, let alone missing one day. I can just review the day’s missed material myself.”

Back then, the teachers said that if you laid a solid foundation in the previous years, you wouldn’t have to stress and stay up all night in your senior year.

He understood now that the reason he had laid such a solid foundation in previous years was so he could take time off to be with her this year.

Lin Zhan still hesitated: “Will Zhang Ze take notes for you...?”

“No need to ask, it’s settled,” Shen Xi decided quickly, “When’s the exam?”

“The Thursday after next. We need to arrive on Wednesday afternoon.”

He secretly planned it out. It seemed there was still time.

________________________________________

The next evening, he went to Tingmo Art Studio, where Lin Zhan had stayed during her joint entrance exam.

The teacher who had arranged the art exhibition for Lin Zhan and his friend heard Shen Xi’s words and then asked, “So you mean, if the art exhibition can be moved up, it’s best to move it before Lin Zhan’s university entrance exam?”

Shen Xi nodded, “Yes, because she’s been a bit lacking in confidence recently, and my comfort feels very bland. I can only use this method to try and boost her confidence. Of course, if it absolutely cannot be moved up, that’s fine too, as I came rather suddenly.”

“No, it’s alright, the art exhibition is actually going to happen soon,” the teacher said. “After I received Lin Zhan’s Romantic Ruins, I brought it up with my friend. And yes, he truly loves Lin Zhan’s work.”

The teacher continued, “We originally planned to hold it around Lin Zhan’s university entrance exam, but the timing is flexible. We can move it up if we want, as long as we secure the venue. Lin Zhan and Zheng Yimian are both students I highly admire, and if I can help them, I’d certainly be delighted.”

“How about this, leave me your contact information. I’ll get in touch with him tonight and then notify you.”

“Okay,” Shen Xi left his contact information, then stood up and said, “Thank you, teacher, I appreciate your trouble.”

He left the gift he had bought, thanked him, and then departed.

The teacher said, “Don’t mention it, we’re all family here.”

“If Lin Zhan ever holds an art exhibition in the future, remember to invite me. It’s an honor to have taught her.”

The next day, Shen Xi received news that they would have a week for preparation and promotion, and then the art exhibition could be held a week later.

The university entrance exam for Weida University would be just a few days after the exhibition.

Everything was timed perfectly.

Shen Xi was part of the student council, so he naturally had many channels for promotion. After helping with the promotion, he also frequently went to help arrange the exhibition after school.

A week later, the art exhibition opened as scheduled.

Lin Zhan only learned about it two days beforehand. She was so surprised she could barely speak: “Ah? It’s ready so soon? Is my work in the main hall? Oh my god, thank you so much, teacher. Okay, I’ll definitely be there.”

After hanging up the teacher’s call, she looked at Shen Xi with a hint of disbelief.

“It’s hard to imagine, I’ve never co-hosted an art exhibition with anyone before. Many excellent teachers’ works and mine displayed together, I can barely imagine...”

At this point, she choked up a little, “I must be so lucky.”

Shen Xi reached out, patted her head, and said, “You deserve this.”

________________________________________

On the day the art exhibition officially opened, W City shed its previous gloomy, rainy weather and was uncommonly clear.

Lin Zhan wore a fleece-lined hoodie with skinny jeans, simply tidied herself up, and headed out.

Shen Xi waited for her at the main entrance.

By the time they reached the venue entrance, the exhibition had already been open for ten minutes.

The foot traffic was good, truly living up to the description of a bustling place.

Entering the main hall, the entire exhibition was well-organized, with the artworks perfectly framed and hung on the walls.

Lights were arranged on the walls, casting small beams onto each painting.

People watched and took photos.

Lin Zhan muttered softly, “I wonder where my painting is...”

Shen Xi turned sideways and pointed to the left, saying, “It’s over here.”

Lin Zhan followed his gaze and, sure enough, saw her painting Romantic Ruins hanging on the left wall.

Many people stood in front of the painting. Lin Zhan stood outside the crowd, feeling an indescribable, immense sense of satisfaction in her heart.

It was as if her long efforts had finally seen a return, had been proven.

Below Romantic Ruins was her real name, with a small introductory note beside it.

Many people took out their phones to take pictures, and friends walking together were discussing in low voices.

“Amazing, the person who painted this is only eighteen.”

“Right? I think it’s so beautiful too. Every time I come to an art exhibition, I feel completely overwhelmed by the artists’ talent. So sad.”

“I never knew this person’s name before, but the painting is quite good. To be on par with so many somewhat famous young artists, they must be an up-and-coming talent.”

Everyone discussed in low voices for a bit. After taking photos and viewing, they moved along the corridor to continue admiring other artworks.

Shen Xi said clearly, turning his head to her, “Everyone thinks your painting is very good.”

During this time, she hadn’t smiled much, and even when she did, it wasn’t from genuine happiness.

After a moment, Lin Zhan pursed her lips and curved them into a smile.

She said, “Mm, I know.”

After leaving the art exhibition, Lin Zhan’s mood noticeably improved, and she also felt much lighter.

She turned to Shen Xi and joked, “This is too much of a coincidence. I have my university entrance exam in two days, and an art exhibition just happens to open now to cheer me on...”

Shen Xi paused slightly, then said, “Mm, isn’t that good?”

“It’s very good, it’s just too much of a coincidence, I feel so surprised, like I won the lottery.”

She felt as if she was being protected.

After a moment, Shen Xi mumbled an indistinct sound, his fingers moving in his pocket.

The things he did for her, there was no need for her to know. Knowing would only add to her pressure.

As long as he himself knew that these things were meaningful, that was enough.

________________________________________

On the morning of the day before Weida University’s independent entrance exam, Lin Zhan prepared her belongings and set off.

The car ride would take about three hours.

Shen Xi had already called for a car and was waiting for her at the entrance of a convenience store a kilometer in front of Lin Zhan’s house.

Lin Zhan quickly found the car by its license plate number.

Shen Xi glanced back, got out to place her luggage and art bag in the trunk, and then instructed the driver to head to the examination venue.

Weida University was too far from W City, so they had set up an examination center directly in W City. Local examinees could just go to this center for their exam.

Lin Zhan got into the car, wrapped herself in her small trench coat, and then planned with Shen Xi: “We should arrive in the afternoon. We’ll check into a hotel nearby, and tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the competition, and you can review in the hotel.”

Shen Xi: “What time tomorrow?”

“Eight.”

He nodded, acknowledging it.

The car drove steadily on the straight road. Inside, Lin Zhan was already dozing off. Not long after waking up, she leaned against the cushion and fell asleep.

Once she fell asleep, she became soft and pliable.

Lin Zhan’s head slowly, slowly dropped, inch by inch...

Shen Xi took a glance.

Then, he moved closer to her, adjusted the height of his shoulder, and let her rest her head on it.

The driver in front glanced in the rearview mirror and smiled.

________________________________________

The car came to a smooth stop.

The moment she opened her eyes, she realized she was resting her head on something.

The driver in the front turned his head and said, “Little girl, we’re here.”

She vaguely closed her eyes, sat up, and said, “That was fast.”

“Not fast at all,” the driver chuckled, “It’s been two or three hours already. You slept very well, but your boyfriend sat perfectly still for three hours. Just now, when we went over a speed bump, he even held your head so he wouldn’t wake you up.”

Just waking up, Lin Zhan’s mind was still in a fog. She said “ah” and then opened the car door to get out.

Shen Xi got out first to retrieve her belongings from the trunk.

After the two of them checked out the examination venue, Lin Zhan’s rusty brain finally seemed to start working.

“You weren’t asleep in the car just now, were you?”

Shen Xi shook his head: “I wasn’t sleepy.”

She nodded, then went to look for accommodation nearby.

This area wasn’t as lively as the city center; it was a bit desolate and remote. Most of the available accommodations were renovated multi-story houses owned by residents.

They found a relatively clean place with a good environment and booked two rooms.

The landlady was nice, and the place was decorated quite tastefully.

After they chose their rooms, the landlady was still saying, “There’s a door between these two rooms. If you don’t need it, I’ll lock it.”

“No need,” Lin Zhan said, “Just give us the keys, we’ll lock it ourselves when we need to.”

“Alright.”

After giving them the necessary instructions, the landlady left.

Shen Xi first opened the door to Lin Zhan’s room. Lin Zhan put her rolling suitcase aside, and Shen Xi placed her art bag. He was about to turn to leave.

Lin Zhan: “Where are you going?”

He seemed to hesitate for a moment: “...My room.”

“Go later tonight,” Lin Zhan said, “It’s not our first time sharing a room, why are you in such a hurry to run off?”

After speaking, Lin Zhan smiled tentatively, “Afraid I’ll do something to you?”