Chapter 44
Yu Nianyi nodded. “Yes.”
Sun Mengyao said, “Not bad. You have a very distinct style, your fundamentals are solid, and you’re bold too. The first time I saw it, it really stood out.”
At her words, An Ning looked at Yu Nianyi a little more closely as well, her smiling eyes especially warm and approachable.
Yu Nianyi felt a little overwhelmed by the attention. Sun Mengyao had seen more works than she could count, and artists like An Ning were no doubt familiar with plenty of others too; for them to assess her painting like this had truly caught her off guard.
“Thank you,” Yu Nianyi said.
After a pause, Sun Mengyao glanced meaningfully at Xi Yu, who had remained silent the whole time. “If I’m not mistaken, the person in the painting is Xi Yu, right?”
Xi Yu lifted her eyelids and met Sun Mengyao’s gaze from across the table.
Yu Nianyi gave a quiet hum. “Yes.”
Sun Mengyao said, “The composition is very harmonious. Especially the way you handled the scenery and the rendering; compared to the figures, that part is quite strong.”
Yu Nianyi nodded, not really surprised that she had so quickly picked out her weak point.
“Speaking of the place in the painting, Yao and I passed by there a couple of days ago.” Sun Mengyao changed the subject. “There have been a lot of videos about it online lately; it seems the unique architecture has turned it into a popular check-in spot. It was packed on the weekend, and we had to queue a long time just to eat.”
Xi Yao looked up and asked casually, “Which place did you eat at, Sister Mengyao? There’s one restaurant that’s really good; we can recommend it to you and Sister An Ning.”
Sun Mengyao smiled. “You mean Wang Jie Restaurant?”
Xi Yao laughed. “So you already knew.”
An Ning said gently, “That place is actually very famous. That’s where we queued. The food really is delicious, and the owner is very welcoming.”
Xi Yao said, “Exactly. Luo Luo, Yu Nianyi, and I all like going there. There’s almost nothing on the menu that misses.”
Sun Mengyao smiled. “Looks like we’re very much in sync when it comes to food too. We should go try it again sometime.”
Yu Nianyi, Xi Yao, and Luo Yiran all nodded.
Very soon, the dishes were brought to the table. Their fragrance instantly filled the private room, and after talking for so long, everyone had worked up an appetite; they all picked up their chopsticks and started eating.
After they’d eaten for a while, Xi Yu took a tissue and wiped her lips before speaking. “I heard next year you’ll be organizing an exhibition here for young artists from different places. Will you be able to handle the workload?”
Sun Mengyao met Xi Yu’s eyes directly and curved her lips. “Yeah. After all, we still have to select a batch of new works to bring in.”
“I’ll definitely be busy, but that can’t be helped. President Xi, are you asking because you want to work for me?”
Xi Yu turned her face slightly; there was a hint of amusement in her calm eyes. Before she could say anything, Sun Mengyao suddenly waved a hand with obvious distaste. “Forget it, forget it. I can’t afford your salary. No need to trouble yourself.”
“Since you brought it up, these two little sisters could also take part in next year’s exhibition,” An Ning said with a smile.
Yu Nianyi subconsciously looked toward Xi Yu; unexpectedly, she met Xi Yu’s eyes at the same moment. Xi Yu’s brows and eyes were calm, her gaze steady, and Yu Nianyi’s reflection was faintly captured in them.
Xi Yao was the first to smile, looking rather eager. “If I meet the requirements, I’ll definitely apply.”
Sun Mengyao gave a hum and let her gaze wander over Xi Yao and Yu Nianyi in turn. “Of course you can, but we judge by the works themselves. We’ll assess eligibility from multiple angles.”
She smiled again as she spoke, half joking, though her eyes kept drifting back to Yu Nianyi. “If you get screened out by then, don’t go crying to Xi Yu.”
Yu Nianyi looked away and then, almost reflexively, turned to Sun Mengyao across from her with a smile. “Thanks for the reminder, Sister Mengyao. I’ll work hard.”
Xi Yao answered just as readily, and the rest of the meal became much more relaxed. Most of their conversation was about good restaurants and local specialties in Jiayang.
At one point, Sun Mengyao seemed to get especially spirited. She complained that she hadn’t seen Xi Yu in ages, spent a while making sarcastic digs at her, and then began speaking at length about how she and An Ning had met.
Yu Nianyi’s earlier suspicions were now completely confirmed; Sun Mengyao and An Ning really were a couple.
“I still remember the first time I met Sister An. It was through a landscape painting of Beicheng. The very first glance, and I was completely captivated. Then, when we happened to meet again later, it was basically love at first sight.” Sun Mengyao’s smile deepened as if she were reliving the scene.
An Ning cleared her throat and took a sip of water.
Xi Yao listened with great interest. “Your relationship really does seem so good. That day when I only caught a quick glimpse, I felt like there had to be something going on; turns out I was right.”
Luo Yiran sighed before adding, “Back then, Sister An said the two of them were simply too beautiful, and that you were both so successful in your careers and still so gentle and elegant. She’d been wanting to find a chance to get to know you two.”
Sun Mengyao burst out laughing, clearly pleased by their back-and-forth. She glanced at Xi Yu and said, “Then you should thank Xi Yu for letting us meet so quickly.”
Xi Yao nodded, looking at Xi Yu with some emotion.
“I heard Nianyi’s family has quite a few works too,” Sun Mengyao suddenly said, turning to Yu Nianyi. “If you have time, you have to let us take a proper look.”
Yu Nianyi nodded quickly. “Of course, I’d be delighted. Then I’ll have to trouble Sister Mengyao and Sister An Ning for guidance.”
“You’re too polite.”
The meal soon drew to a close. Yu Nianyi exchanged contact information with Sun Mengyao and An Ning, then politely said goodbye.
Xi Yao and Luo Yiran said they still wanted to wander around and digest their food, so they left together as well.
By then, the car had only the two of them left inside, and Xi Yu was driving toward Xiangyang Community.
Yu Nianyi had too many things she wanted to ask Xi Yu. Ever since they entered the private room, Xi Yu’s special attention to her, along with her subtle introductions, had been enough to stir Yu Nianyi’s heart.
Doing this to someone who had already confessed to her was really too much.
She didn’t know how many traffic lights they’d passed before the car stopped again at an intersection. In the distance, the red light in midair showed a glaring 136 seconds.
Jiayang in winter was beautiful enough. Though you couldn’t see the star-filled sky of the mountains, winter brought snow all year round; the flakes were soft and dense as they drifted down slowly, with all the romantic atmosphere of an idol drama.
The first time she saw Xi Yu had also been on a snowy day, and that too was unforgettable.
Yu Nianyi remembered that snowscape for a very long time.
She lifted her eyes slightly and looked straight at the snowflakes dancing down again in the air, then suddenly said, “Seeing Sister Mengyao and Sister An Ning again, I feel like their relationship is a lot closer now. I didn’t know they had such a friendly side.”
“I should thank Sister Xi Yu for arranging this meal.”
Xi Yu said, “No need. If you have any questions, you can ask Sun Mengyao at any time. She’s always very serious about works.”
Yu Nianyi nodded, her gaze falling on Xi Yu’s clear profile. “So Sister Xi Yu wants me to participate in next year’s exhibition?”
“Yes.” Xi Yu said. “You already have completed works; you just happen to be missing an opportunity for exposure, and her exhibition is very prestigious. It’ll give you very thorough training.”
“Whether you’re selected or not, it’s still an opportunity.”
Yu Nianyi drew in a breath. She knew Xi Yu had been thinking of her all along; the irritation she’d felt a few days ago vanished in an instant, and her heart was so full it seemed to have been packed entirely with Xi Yu’s image.
“That’s already enough,” Yu Nianyi said with a bright smile, her voice sweet. “I’ll cherish this opportunity properly.”
Xi Yu gave a hum. Up ahead, the red light turned green, and the car started moving again.
After a little longer, they would reach the entrance to Xiangyang Community.
Yu Nianyi sat in her seat and watched the buildings around them. Gradually, the tall towers of Fanghua International came into view; then came the gate of Jiangbei Academy, and after that, Xiangyang Community, with only a few lights glowing here and there.
“My painting is already finished.” Yu Nianyi turned her face toward Xi Yu, her brows curving as she smiled with a teasing sort of charm. “Does Sister Xi Yu want to come upstairs and take a look at what I look like in your eyes?”
The car soon turned into the street. Xi Yu parked steadily and looked at Yu Nianyi. “Okay.”
They weren’t back especially late; there were still many vendors and students along the street, and the smell of barbecue had drifted far into the distance.
The snowflakes that had been fluttering in the air were still dancing now, unhurried, with no sign of getting heavier.
Neither Yu Nianyi nor Xi Yu had brought umbrellas; perhaps they didn’t need them.
Soft flakes landed sporadically on both of them. When Yu Nianyi left earlier, she had deliberately curled her hair; the ends rested over her chest. Her hair was already light in color, and now that snow had settled on it, it took on a mesmerizing beauty.
Xi Yu didn’t seem to tie her hair up much lately. Today she simply let her long hair fall straight down her back, not a strand spilling over her chest. White snow settled on it, making her look even clearer and brighter; she was dazzling enough to hurt the eyes.
When they walked into the stairwell again, the motion-sensor light overhead switched on at once, and the two of them went up side by side with their arms brushing.
Yu Nianyi looked down at their shadows, which were sometimes touching and sometimes separating as the light shifted, and smiled. “Now that the model commission is over, I should be paying Sister Xi Yu your wages.”
Xi Yu glanced at her and said casually, “What’s the usual fee for a model?”
Yu Nianyi made a soft sound and thought about it for a moment before answering, “In school, it wouldn’t exceed three hundred for a class period.”
“One class period is forty-five minutes.”
Xi Yu gave a quiet hum and said nothing.
They were already at the fourth floor, but their voices had triggered the fifth-floor light as well; its dim yellow glow settled over the two of them, making the smile in Yu Nianyi’s eyes shine even brighter.
“So, should I pay Sister Xi Yu in cash, or in some other way?”
Xi Yu paused mid-step and gave Yu Nianyi a meaningful look. Yu Nianyi tilted her head and smiled at her; under the warm yellow light, her red lips were dazzlingly alluring, and her smile remained fox-like and sly.
“Some other way?” Xi Yu withdrew her gaze, and they continued upstairs.
Yu Nianyi nodded, smiling as she said, “Yeah. For example, if Sister Xi Yu has anything she likes, anything you want me to do, I can satisfy you.”
At last they reached the fifth floor. Xi Yu stopped at the door and said, “No need. I don’t have anything right now.”
Yu Nianyi raised a brow and walked to Xi Yu’s side, not hurrying to open the door. She looked straight at her. “Sister Xi Yu, the things you’ve done make it hard not to overthink.”
She watched Xi Yu look back at her; the usually calm eyes in memory were dark now, like the deep sea at night—quiet, mysterious, and enough to draw people in and make them lose themselves.
Yu Nianyi lowered her head and opened the door, revealing the dim entryway inside. The light shone straight onto the cage in the corner of the coffee table, where only a faint glow remained.
“Once we step through this door, what I really want to ask is: what are you thinking about me?”