Chapter 36

Yu Nianyi had been in an especially good mood lately. Every day she went to bed smiling and woke up smiling. Sometimes she would even casually tell Xi Yu about little amusing things she’d run into on the way to and from school. Xi Yu’s replies were always slow, but she read every message. They were just short.

Since things weren’t too busy during the week, Yu Nianyi had been going to Xu Ruoyan’s shop after evening classes to finish that tea set.

On Friday night, she passed by a very famous skincare store and bought a set of hand cream that had once been wildly popular and very easy to use, planning to bring it to Xu Ruoyan as thanks for last time.

When she walked into the shop, Xu Ruoyan wasn’t there. The clerk said she was busy with something else, so Yu Nianyi had no choice but to head inside, following the familiar stone path into the studio from last time.

As soon as she opened the door, she ran into Xi Yao and Luo Yiran. They turned at the sound and immediately spotted her.

“I was just wondering if you’d come to Ruoyan-jie’s shop today. Turns out you really did.” Xi Yao’s eyes curved as she looked Yu Nianyi over.

Yu Nianyi set the hand cream on the table and went straight back to her own work. She lowered her head to inspect it. “I wanted to finish the tea set quickly. I already told Xi Yu-jie last Saturday, so I can’t keep dragging it out.”

Xi Yao said, “That fast?”

Luo Yiran came over too. “I saw your work. It’s beautiful.”

Yu Nianyi curved her lips and looked down at her tea set again and again; the more she looked, the more satisfied she became. “Thank you.”

“Why are you two here?” Yu Nianyi asked next.

Xi Yao pulled a chair out for Luo Yiran. Once Luo Yiran sat down, Xi Yao took the seat beside her. “Nothing much. We just finished class and wanted to get dinner together. Ruoyan-jie’s shop happened to be on the way, so we thought we’d stop in and take a look. Maybe you’d be here too.”

Yu Nianyi nodded and carefully placed her tea set on the pottery wheel. She took a lot of tools from the bucket in front of her and got ready to trim the piece.

“You can do this already?” Xi Yao asked.

“More or less. I practiced with Ruoyan-jie before.”

Luo Yiran moved her chair closer to the wheel and studied Yu Nianyi’s movements closely. “What kind of decoration are you planning?”

Yu Nianyi answered with a soft “Mm.” “I want something simpler and more elegant. It doesn’t need too many patterns; the empty space makes it look more refined.”

“An outline of mountains, or a branch with leaves and flowers, would be nice.”

Luo Yiran nodded in understanding, looking very interested.

“Oh, right. Want to come to an exhibition with us tomorrow?” Xi Yao said suddenly after glancing at her phone.

“An art exhibition?” Yu Nianyi looked up briefly, then lowered her head again.

“Yeah. Ten in the morning. My sister and Chen Shuo are going. You wouldn’t let us go without coming along too, would you?”

Yu Nianyi’s hand froze. She stared at the teacup in her hand for a few seconds; her eyelid kept twitching, and a sour feeling rose in waves from her chest, impossible to hide. “Xi Yu-jie probably doesn’t like him. Why would she still make plans to go out with him?”

Xi Yao curled her lip, looking unconcerned. “What’s that supposed to mean? Just think of it as my sister clearing a level. She’s already broken through so many little soldiers and shrimp generals along the way; now there’s still a hidden boss. If she can clear it, great. If she can’t, then she’ll just have to accept fate.”

Yu Nianyi pressed her lips together and said nothing. The corners of her mouth, which always held a smile, were now drawn tight.

Xi Yao waved a hand and said nothing more. She stood up and exchanged a look with Luo Yiran. “Alright then. Get back to work.”

Luo Yiran stood as well. “See you tomorrow.”

—

Saturday’s exhibition was a solo ink-wash show by a young artist who had become fairly well known in recent years. The works covered a wide range of subjects, though mostly landscapes, flowers, and birds.

Yu Nianyi had been here before; a teacher had once recommended an oil painting exhibition by an artist who was also showing here. The style had been distinctive and very worth studying.

The three of them arrived fairly early. At that point, there were only a few people in the hall, clustered in twos and threes as they stood quietly before the works on the walls.

Yu Nianyi looked around, then checked the time. It was 10:10. She still hadn’t seen any familiar figures.

Xi Yao was very interested in the pieces; along the way, she took photo after photo, and from time to time she would sigh to Luo Yiran beside her.

Before long, the three of them split into two groups. Only Yu Nianyi kept glancing repeatedly toward the entrance.

More and more people came in to see the exhibition, mostly those who truly loved art. Soon after, a media reporter and a cameraman entered one after another, expertly carrying their gear as they looked around before heading straight to the back room.

Yu Nianyi was starting to feel a little dazzled by everything, but she still forced herself to search through the crowd.

Until, behind the people, a coffee-colored figure slowly came in.

A crisp, straight-cut coffee-colored coat; long black hair falling straight down; a calm, cool face.

Yu Nianyi’s gaze landed on her at once. Xi Yu rarely wore her hair down; the last time had been the night she drank and drove home, and that had been the first time Yu Nianyi had ever seen her hair loose.

Xi Yu was beautiful with her hair down, in a way that was unexpected and breathtaking.

Like a classical oil painting, where every color harmonized perfectly and one striking shade stood out on the canvas with blinding brilliance.

Xi Yu slowly removed the black scarf wrapped around her neck and draped it over her arm, casually glancing around.

People brushed past her in the crowd, and then a somewhat familiar face appeared beside Xi Yu.

Chen Shuo also seemed to have dressed carefully; his hair was smooth and neat, giving him a gentlemanly air.

He seemed to be saying something to Xi Yu at the moment, and his hand naturally reached toward the scarf in Xi Yu’s hand. Xi Yu gave no sign of letting go, so he had no choice but to withdraw awkwardly.

Yu Nianyi strode straight toward the two of them. Xi Yu was standing with her back to her, and Chen Shuo spotted her at once. Surprise flashed through his eyes. Xi Yu seemed to sense someone behind her as well and turned to look.

“Xi Yu-jie, what a coincidence.” Yu Nianyi smiled brightly.

Xi Yu’s gaze settled quietly on Yu Nianyi’s face. After looking at her for a moment, she answered with a soft, “Mm. What a coincidence.”

Then she nodded to Chen Shuo in greeting.

Xi Yu asked, “Xi Yao came too?”

Yu Nianyi moved to Xi Yu’s left side and pointed toward where Xi Yao and Luo Yiran were standing. “Over there. They’re really into the exhibition right now.”

“Alright. We’ll go over together.”

Yu Nianyi’s lips curved upward. She moved closer to Xi Yu, almost as if she wanted to cling to her.

Today was the opening ceremony for the exhibition, and there were quite a few professionals inside. The media and camera crew who had just come in were now gathered around the artist, the curator, and the gallery owner.

“An Ning is a very famous young artist these past few years. Her ink paintings are deeply loved by collectors. A friend of mine has one of her pieces at home; the first time I saw it, I was immediately drawn in.” Chen Shuo glanced at the people gathered not far away, smiling the whole time.

Xi Yu nodded. “I’ve heard of her. She is indeed very good.”

Yu Nianyi’s gaze swept over the works on the walls. The moment she walked in, she had immediately sensed it: every painting shared a distinct style, fresh and elegant, yet with a hint of wildness. The entire exhibition space was wrapped in the temperament of the paintings. It was impressive.

The smile in Chen Shuo’s eyes deepened. “The very first time I saw her work, I thought of you. I always felt that the temperament of these paintings suited you very well. If there’s anything you like, I can make sure to reserve it later. Once the exhibition is over, hang it at home. It’ll definitely look beautiful.”

Yu Nianyi pressed her lips together and forced a smile as she looked at Chen Shuo through Xi Yu. Chen Shuo met her eyes without blinking, his smile unchanged, completely at ease.

The two of them stared at each other for a while. In the end, Yu Nianyi resentfully looked away and said nothing.

There was no denying that An Ning’s work was excellent; Yu Nianyi couldn’t refute that. Even if Xi Yu really liked it, then yes, it would indeed be worth buying and taking home.

Xi Yu didn’t rush to respond. She slightly lifted her eyes and quietly admired the work, her expression very focused.

Yu Nianyi pouted, staring at Xi Yu’s profile, and continued, “This landscape in front of us is very interesting. The brushwork and ink are refined, and it has a strong personal style. Xi Yu-jie has been looking at it for so long, so you must really like it. How about I buy it and give it to you?”

Xi Yu’s eyes paused; she turned slightly to look at Yu Nianyi, whose lips were still puckered as if she were sulking.

Chen Shuo seemed a little surprised, staring at Yu Nianyi over and over again.

Yu Nianyi’s eyes held a smile, but there was a trace of provocation in the way she looked at him. “But there’s already one of my paintings at home. If this one were hung with it, it might not match very well and could affect the overall look.”

Chen Shuo instinctively looked toward the silent Xi Yu, his tone puzzled. “I really didn’t expect there to already be a painting hanging at your place. And it’s this little friend’s work.”

Yu Nianyi frowned and glared at Chen Shuo.

Little friend? You’re the little friend.

“I’m not that little anymore; I’m about to graduate.” Yu Nianyi smiled. “I think you also look especially young and handsome, like a college heartthrob. You’ve got so much energy. Put you in a crowd and no one would guess you’re already working. You take such good care of yourself.”

Chen Shuo froze. The smile at the corner of his mouth lasted only a few seconds before fading quickly, as if he vaguely realized what she meant.

He studied the competitive edge in Yu Nianyi’s tone, and the smile in his eyes faded a little, replaced by a searching look.

“No need.” Xi Yu spoke up, first looking at Chen Shuo. “Thank you for the thought, but for now I don’t plan to hang any other works.”

Yu Nianyi looked through Xi Yu at the embarrassed expression on Chen Shuo’s face and felt so pleased she almost snickered out loud. Her expression was downright mischievous, full of triumph.

Xi Yu glanced at her lightly, as if brushing away an itch. Yu Nianyi unexpectedly met her eyes; the two of them looked at each other for a few seconds, and then Xi Yu looked away without saying a word.

Not far away, two people were walking toward where the three of them stood; the woman on the right raised her hand to greet them from a distance.

The woman on the left was dressed fresh and elegant, her makeup light, a faint smile resting on her lips. She should have been An Ning, the artist of this exhibition.

And beside her was a short-haired woman in a white suit and a long black skirt, her expression quite familiar. She glanced over the three of them, and in the end her gaze landed directly on Xi Yu in the middle.

“It’s been so long since we last saw each other; why didn’t you give me a heads-up in advance? I could have come pick you up.”