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Psst! We're moving!
Suddenly, she thought of a line of poetry—
The mountain path winds, but my lord is gone; on the snow, only horse tracks remain.
It speaks of parting, yet because it’s about watching a friend’s figure disappear into the distance, it highlights reluctance to part.
Good, Lin Zhan firmly decided in her heart, I’ll paint this.
She adjusted the blue-gray on the painting, adding shadows and highlights. Soon, the horse tracks on the snow deepened, and under Lin Zhan’s brush, they formed deeply sunken impressions.
Adjusting the perspective of near-large and far-small, Lin Zhan lowered her head to carefully blend the colors, each stroke quick and precise.
In the last forty minutes, every stroke of Lin Zhan’s landed in a crucial position: the horse hoof prints, the bare tree branches, the distant blurred figure shrinking to a small dot...
“Alright, everyone stop painting. Time to hand in your papers!”
Lin Zhan’s final stroke stopped precisely. She tossed her brush into the water bucket, closed her eyes, and rubbed the back of her neck.
Finished.
Finally finished.
Lin Zhan rolled her eyes open.
Suddenly, she met a gaze.
After a brief exchange, Sun Qiqi, feeling somewhat guilty, averted her gaze, but her molars were clenched.
She had seen Lin Zhan’s final painting—among everyone else’s works, that painting stood out, eye-catching.
She not only failed to affect Lin Zhan in any way, but she also inspired Lin Zhan’s new idea, allowing Lin Zhan to effortlessly turn the tide.
Her chest was filled with an unbearable knot of frustration.
—Why? Why on earth?!
Lin Zhan waited for the teacher to collect the papers, remained silent, and carried her water bucket out of the classroom.
Behind her, even the proctor couldn’t help but glance at her painting twice.
Regardless of the myriad changes in Sun Qiqi’s eyes, Lin Zhan remained calm and composed, leaving the examination venue along the corridor.
After this competition, the school was going to organize everyone’s return.
Lin Zhan had spoken with the accompanying teacher, who agreed that she could return to school with her friends.
Lin Zhan did not participate in the subsequent itinerary.
She packed her luggage before Sun Qiqi returned. Shen Xi carried her belongings and opened another room for her downstairs.
As they went downstairs, Lin Zhan asked him, “Why don’t you ask me why I’m moving out?”
“I guessed,” Shen Xi said, “Your alarm didn’t go off this morning; I woke you up with a call.”
It was not difficult to deduce from this incident, by thinking back and forth a few times, that there were ill intentions and aggressive gazes.
Lin Zhan sighed, but wasn’t truly angry, just looked at Shen Xi with a helpless expression: “Actually, we’ve met before, a long time ago when I was giving a painting lecture, you came to pick me up after class, you should have seen her too, she was right next to me.”
Shen Xi carried her suitcase, silent in the elevator for a long time. It wasn’t until the elevator reached the second floor from the third with a soft “ding” that he came back to himself and remembered.
“What kind of memory do you have?” Lin Zhan chuckled at him. “Can’t you recite the periodic table backwards? How come you need to recall something like this for so long?”
Shen Xi switched the suitcase from his left hand to his right and said, “Unimportant things, I generally don’t remember.”
“Don’t you remember her face either? She even hosted.”
Lin Zhan took two steps forward, then heard Shen Xi behind her, his voice flat, say.
“Aside from you, I don’t remember anyone else’s faces.”
________________________________________
The attractions in the new city were nothing more than the usual: crowded commercial streets, aromatic food courts, and distinctive architecture bearing the deep imprint of the city.
After a day, Lin Zhan’s legs were almost broken from walking.
The last stop was in the commercial street. Lin Zhan planned to browse for clothes. If she found something suitable, she’d buy it; otherwise, she’d head back to the hotel and rest early.
As soon as she entered the store, she attracted quite a few glances.
The first floor was the brand’s men’s wear. Their clothing was very versatile, light athleisure style, and new collections always set trends in the industry.
Lin Zhan waved at Shen Xi: “Come, come over here.”
Shen Xi stood there like a clothes hanger. When Lin Zhan picked something good-looking, she’d hold it up in front of him to gauge whether he should try it on.
Shen Xi was tall and very thin, the kind who looked slender in clothes but had muscle underneath. He could effortlessly pull off any style.
So, when Lin Zhan bought clothes for him, she usually just had him try on anything that looked good, and it never went wrong.
She picked out a hooded sweatshirt for him. A sales associate on the side said, “This is our latest arrival, selling exceptionally well. Your boyfriend has a great figure; it’ll definitely look good on him.”
“It will,” Lin Zhan turned her head and smiled, handing the clothes to Shen Xi, “Boyfriend, go try it on quickly.”
Shen Xi walked to the innermost fitting room to change. Lin Zhan sat outside and waited for him.
When he came out dressed, Lin Zhan looked up.
The grey hoodie elevated his refined temperament to another level.
The only minor flaw was that the collar wasn’t adjusted properly.
Lin Zhan stepped forward. Shen Xi, to make it easier for her to approach, pushed the dressing room door open a bit further.
The glass door swung open, forming a right angle with the room, and stopped steadily.
The room was furthest inside, and the aisle was narrow. With the open door blocking it, they were enclosed in this small, square area.
Lin Zhan slightly stood on tiptoes and reached out to help Shen Xi adjust his collar.
Perhaps it was because she had just been insisting on him having a matcha Frappuccino with her, but now, with only millimeters separating them and the air in this secluded corner not circulating quickly, the rich aroma of matcha grew even stronger.
Lin Zhan’s somewhat cold fingers touched Shen Xi’s neck, and he reflexively flinced.
Lin Zhan chuckled smugly.
She looked up, her hand that was gripping the hoodie collar dropping.
Shen Xi bent down, leaning over.
The scent of matcha grew stronger, its rich aroma permeating Lin Zhan’s skin.
Using this posture, she leaned forward, touching Shen Xi’s lips.
Soft, moist, wrapped in the sweet-bitter fragrance of tea.
She extended the tip of her tongue, testing briefly, just for a mere second.
The next second, she was about to pull away, but her waist was suddenly seized.
She lost her balance, tilting backward, almost instinctively grasping forward, her body moving ahead.
Shen Xi naturally pulled her back, swallowing all her unspoken words before she could utter a single syllable.
She tasted matcha again.
This time, it couldn’t be described as merely light or strong.
Her body leaned forward from inertia, as if she were reluctantly inviting him. Shen Xi’s tongue probed deeper, sweeping away all her gasps.
He twisted and turned, sucking lightly and heavily.
Lin Zhan’s lips were pulled into his teeth and lightly scraped. Every time he tugged, her lips tingled.
When they rebounded, the soft flesh within her lips still retained the sensation of his invasion.
Shen Xi released her, their foreheads touching. His long eyelashes were slightly lowered, and he whispered softly in her ear, “Satisfied?”
His voice was laced with hoarseness, like particles and snowflakes from a long-slumbering iceberg.
Lin Zhan rubbed her burning red ears, pouted and glared at him, her voice sounding soft as if it had been soaked.
She “hmphed,” then turned around, met her own flushed face in the mirror, angled the mirror away, and ran out for air.
________________________________________
The competition results also came out around Christmas.
Luoluo pulled Lin Zhan to the notice board to look, just happening to run into a displeased Sun Qiqi.
Luoluo muttered a few words under her breath, then went to the notice board to find Lin Zhan’s name.
“Zhanzhan, you really got first prize!”
Lin Zhan glanced at Sun Qiqi’s ranking; she hadn’t performed well and only got third prize.
Luoluo was still excitedly continuing: “First prize will be selected for the art collection, right?!”
Lin Zhan hummed: “Should be.”
Luoluo reached out a finger and poked the clear glass of the notice board: “You’re amazing.”
“When will the art collection be released?” Luoluo asked.
“Around the start of the next semester,” Lin Zhan said, “The teacher should notify me to pick it up then.”
“That’s good,” Luoluo linked arms with her, “Today’s a double celebration—come on, let’s go celebrate Christmas.”
Enveloped by the two universities, every store along the street was adorned with a strong Christmas theme.
As night deepened, the colored lights hanging on the Christmas trees came into play, brightly illuminating every visible spot to the maximum extent.
This time, students from Weida University and the Medical University spontaneously organized a Christmas event, renting a DIY shop to hold some performances and showcase some recent achievements from both schools.
There weren’t many invitations; only those who managed to grab them could attend.
Lin Zhan naturally got “internal tickets,” and she got two.
Now, all her roommates went to the venue to help out.
Lin Zhan, wearing a bright yellow down jacket with her hands in her pockets, stood in front of a brightly lit Christmas tree, waiting for Shen Xi.
The wind was a bit strong, and there was light snow. She pulled up the hood on her back and put it on, and also wore a mask.
Fully geared up like this, she wondered if Shen Xi would even be able to spot her.
Lin Zhan stared blankly at the flow of people. When she came back to her senses, Shen Xi was already standing beside her.
“What are you looking at?” he asked.
“Waiting for you,” Lin Zhan said, “If I can’t wait for you, how dare I leave first?”
“But I’ve been standing behind you for ten minutes.”
Lin Zhan: “...”
Shen Xi said, “Let’s go.”
Shen Xi walked in front of her, hands in his pockets.
Lin Zhan caught up in two or three steps, glancing out of the corner of her eye as he moved his arm with slight displeasure.
She understood, reached out, and linked her arm through his.
Shen Xi’s brows unfurrowed.
Lin Zhan pouted.
Why don’t you just die of awkwardness?
________________________________________
As soon as they entered the hall, the lively atmosphere was overwhelming, rushing towards everyone.
In the center, some people were playing board games, and others were gathered playing video games.
Not far away, there was a separate room with a projector showing a movie.
There were also people making small cakes and cookies.
Truly clear division of labor.
In the main hall, staff had hung up some of Lin Zhan’s paintings; this was something Lin Zhan had asked Luoluo to do.
For her future art exhibition, she needed to gain recognition now.
Seeing her paintings and remembering how everyone had helped her, Lin Zhan felt a bit guilty and joined everyone in making small cakes.
The heating in the hall was on full blast, and Shen Xi felt a bit stuffy. He told Lin Zhan he was going out for some air.
When he returned, he conveniently brought back a large bag of snacks.
He was afraid she’d be hungry since she’d probably be out very late.
Shen Xi had just reached the door, ready to push it open and enter, when he saw Lin Zhan excitedly waving at him through the glass French window on the side.
He lowered his hand from the doorknob, didn’t go in, and walked to the right, watching Lin Zhan through the window.
She held a freshly baked cupcake in her hand. The cake inside was golden, looking soft and rich, with excellent presentation.
Lin Zhan gave a thumbs-up, then pointed to herself, proudly saying, “Mine.”
I made it.
She didn’t hear her voice, but Shen Xi could still guess the triumphant tone in her voice when she said that.
When facing him, her emotions were always rich, and she would look back for his affirmation with every step.
That was a kind of dependent emotion that only arises in extremely intimate states, and also a trust that lays all one’s emotions openly for the other person.
Shen Xi’s eyelashes fluttered. The corners of his lips curved upward, forming a clear, bright smile.
He nodded affirmatively, pointed at the cake in Lin Zhan’s hand, then at her: “Yours.”
Not long after, he gestured with his index finger, turning it in a circle, then bent his arm and pointed to himself.
“Mine.”
The cake is yours, and you are mine.
In the sparkling, snow-covered lights, the tenderness that spilled from Shen Xi’s eyes surpassed a myriad of starlight.
________________________________________
Everyone really did stay out very late that night. As they were leaving, Luoluo pointed at Lin Zhan’s paintings on the wall and asked everyone, “Aren’t they beautiful!”
“They’re beautiful.”
“If our Zhanzhan holds an art exhibition, will everyone go?”
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