After hesitating for a moment, as though he was bewitched, Fu Jianchen bent down and grabbed the painting tube. He opened it and brought the painting out of the tube before he slowly unrolled the painting. A stunned expression replaced the gloomy expression immediately when he saw the painting.
A man’s figure was clearly seen on the painting. His eyebrows and eyes were expressive. The structure, the colors, and the shadows of the painting were perfect. It could be said that there was no flaw at all. Most importantly, the man in the painting resembled Fu Jianchen.
Fu Jianchen held the painting and looked at it for a long time before he looked at the young woman who was still rummaging through the trash can. Her white dress was already dirty, and her bun was already loose. Her face was covered in sweat, but her expression was calm and serious. It was clear that she did not have the intention to give up at all. He pursed his lips before he asked, sounding slightly unnatural, “You drew me?”
Xu Youyou did not raise her head as she replied softly, “Yes.”
“You’ve only seen me once, but you remember what I look like?”
“I usually paint people a lot so it’s easier for me to remember faces. Moreover…” Xu Youyou said. She paused and turned to look at him with sparkling eyes before she continued to say, “You look a little like someone I know.”
1
Fu Jianchen did not say anything and continued to look at the painting. After a while, he said, “Stop looking for it.”
“No! I really like that painting. I must find it,” Xu Youyou said as she continued to rummage through the trash can seriously. She raised one arm to wipe the sweat off her face before she said again, “Even if it’s damaged, I’ll fix it.”
Fu Jianchen walked toward her with his slender legs and grabbed her wrist. “I told you to stop looking for it.”
“But…” Xu Youyou frowned. She was about to say something when she was interrupted.
“The painting isn’t lost. I’ll give it to you.”
Xu Youyou was stunned. “It’s not lost?”
Fu Jianchen frowned and let go of her arm. He said with a hint of disdain, “No.”
“That’s great! Thank you!” A smile appeared on Xu Youyou’s face immediately. Her smile was so bright that even the beads of sweat on her face looked like sparkling diamonds.
Fu Jianchen looked at her suspiciously. “You’re thanking me? Aren’t you angry?”
After all, Fu Jianchen had gotten someone to trick her into thinking the painting had been thrown into the trash can. Because of that, she had looked through the trash cans for a long time. He did not understand why she would thank him instead of getting angry at him. Was she an idiot?
“I’m not angry,” Xu Youyou said in a crisp voice, raising her hand to touch her nose. When she realized her hands were dirty, she quietly put it back down. She continued to say, “I was the one who missed our appointment. It’s only natural that you’re angry. Moreover, I was the one who wanted to look for it in the trash cans. You didn’t force me. Why should I be angry?”
Fu Jianchen’s eyes flashed for a brief moment. His originally cold eyes now carried a hint of a smile as a faint smile appeared on his face.
Xu Youyou took a step toward him and asked, “Where’s the painting?”
Fu Jianchen quickly took two steps back and said with a frown, “Don’t come over!”
Xu Youyou was puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
‘He was fine just a moment ago and didn’t seem angry anymore…’
Xu Youyou took another step forward.
Fu Jianchen took another step back as he said, “Stop right there! Don’t come any closer! You stink like you just crawled out of a toilet bowl!”
“Really? Why can’t I smell anything? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” Xu Youyou looked at him with an innocent expression on her face as she took another step toward him, deliberately teasing him.
“F*ck!” Fu Jianchen cursed in a low voice. Then, he said warningly before he pinched his nose and ran inside, “Xu Youyou, don’t come over! Stay away from me!”
Xu Youyou chased him to the back door of the mall. Then, she looked at the man standing by the entrance and asked, “Fu Jianchen, have you forgiven me? Are you not angry anymore?”
Fu Jianchen saw that she did not come any closer so he turned around. When he saw her smiling face, he lowered his gaze and remained silent for a few seconds. Then, he said, “Forget it. I’m too lazy to be angry at you.”
Fu Jianchen’s voice sounded a little forced, but the dim light illuminated the faint smile on his face.
“Thank you!”
“You stink! I’ll bring you to a place to shower and change your clothes!”
…
An hour later.
Xu Youyou emerged from the bathroom wearing a childish light purple dress with lace trimmings. Her hair was still damp, and beads of water rolled down the tip of her hair, staining her dress. Her small face was flushed from the heat, and her eyes were bright and pure.
When a young woman, who worked at the escape room, saw Xu Youyou, her eyes lit up immediately. She said, “Wow! This dress suits you very well! You look so cute! Are you interested in working for us? Other places pay 50 yuan an hour, but you’ll get paid 80 yuan an hour here. What do you think, Boss?”
At the end of her words, the young woman looked at Fu Jianchen. She thought that with such a cute girl working at the store, business would definitely be good.
Xu Youyou smiled shyly as she replied, “I usually have to paint so I don’t have much time for a part-time job.”
The young woman looked slightly disappointed when she heard Xu Youyou’s words. “Oh, okay. Then you should come over more often if you have the time.”
Xu Youyou nodded.
“Alright, I’ll get back to work then,” the young woman said. She tactfully left, leaving the duo alone.
When Fu Jianchen’s gaze fell on Xu Youyou, his dark eyes softened completely. He coughed lightly, pretending to be calm before he said, “Dry your hair first.”
The air-conditioning in the room was on. Her hair was wet so it would be easy for her to catch a cold.
“Oh.”
Xu Youyou walked to the couch and sat down. She dried her hair with a clean towel as she asked worriedly, “Where’s the painting?”
Fu Jianchen did not answer her. Instead, he walked to the bookshelf and opened the cabinet, bringing out the rolled-up painting. He asked, “Do you like it that much? Many people said it’s too bloody and terrifying.”
Xu Youyou nodded. “I usually paint people so I’m not very good at paintings like this. I want to learn.”
Teacher Kang had told Xu Youyou that her painting style was too simple and did not have enough depth. Hence, she had been studying other people’s paintings recently, hoping to learn more.
The corners of Fu Jianchen’s lips curled up into a playful smile as he said, “What’s the point of just looking at paintings? Why don’t I teach you?”
Xu Youyou was stunned for a moment. When she reacted, she asked, “Did you paint this?”
Fu Jianchen did not reply. His raised chin and proud expression were enough of an answer.
Xu Youyou praised him sincerely, “You know how to paint, and you own the art gallery and the escape room! You seem to know everything!”
Fu Jianchen enjoyed the praise very much. He said, “I’ll teach you. Do you want to learn or not?”
“But I have classes in the afternoon,” Xu Youyou said hesitantly.
“Then, go to class first. I’ll come and pick you up after class,” Fu Jianchen said decisively, not giving her a chance to refuse. He asked to add her on WeChat as well.
Xu Youyou, who was not given a chance to refuse, could only acquiesce.
2
…
As night fell, the tired birds returned to their homes. The lights in the city gradually lit up as well, giving the city a warm vibe.
Xu Youyou stood in the crowd, listening to the roars of cars and motorcycles. There was no fear on her clean face at all. Instead, her eyes were filled with a sense of novelty.
Fu Jianchen walked over with a glass of cold fruit juice and handed it to her.
“Thank you,” Xu Youyou said as she took a sip from the glass. The ice-cold fruit juice helped to ease the heat. After a moment, she asked, “What are we doing?”
“Underground car racing. Haven’t you seen it before?” Fu Jianchen said as he placed his hands on the railings behind him and easily sat on it.
“Underground car racing?” Xu Youyou’s eyes widened as she asked instinctively, “It’s illegal, right?!”
The person next to her laughed and said teasingly, “Pffttt! When did Young Master Chen change his taste? This girl is so naive!”
After hesitating for a moment, as though he was bewitched, Fu Jianchen bent down and grabbed the painting tube. He opened it and brought the painting out of the tube before he slowly unrolled the painting. A stunned expression replaced the gloomy expression immediately when he saw the painting.
A man’s figure was clearly seen on the painting. His eyebrows and eyes were expressive. The structure, the colors, and the shadows of the painting were perfect. It could be said that there was no flaw at all. Most importantly, the man in the painting resembled Fu Jianchen.
Fu Jianchen held the painting and looked at it for a long time before he looked at the young woman who was still rummaging through the trash can. Her white dress was already dirty, and her bun was already loose. Her face was covered in sweat, but her expression was calm and serious. It was clear that she did not have the intention to give up at all. He pursed his lips before he asked, sounding slightly unnatural, “You drew me?”
Xu Youyou did not raise her head as she replied softly, “Yes.”
“You’ve only seen me once, but you remember what I look like?”
“I usually paint people a lot so it’s easier for me to remember faces. Moreover…” Xu Youyou said. She paused and turned to look at him with sparkling eyes before she continued to say, “You look a little like someone I know.”
1
Fu Jianchen did not say anything and continued to look at the painting. After a while, he said, “Stop looking for it.”
“No! I really like that painting. I must find it,” Xu Youyou said as she continued to rummage through the trash can seriously. She raised one arm to wipe the sweat off her face before she said again, “Even if it’s damaged, I’ll fix it.”
Fu Jianchen walked toward her with his slender legs and grabbed her wrist. “I told you to stop looking for it.”
“But…” Xu Youyou frowned. She was about to say something when she was interrupted.
“The painting isn’t lost. I’ll give it to you.”
Xu Youyou was stunned. “It’s not lost?”
Fu Jianchen frowned and let go of her arm. He said with a hint of disdain, “No.”
“That’s great! Thank you!” A smile appeared on Xu Youyou’s face immediately. Her smile was so bright that even the beads of sweat on her face looked like sparkling diamonds.
Fu Jianchen looked at her suspiciously. “You’re thanking me? Aren’t you angry?”
After all, Fu Jianchen had gotten someone to trick her into thinking the painting had been thrown into the trash can. Because of that, she had looked through the trash cans for a long time. He did not understand why she would thank him instead of getting angry at him. Was she an idiot?
“I’m not angry,” Xu Youyou said in a crisp voice, raising her hand to touch her nose. When she realized her hands were dirty, she quietly put it back down. She continued to say, “I was the one who missed our appointment. It’s only natural that you’re angry. Moreover, I was the one who wanted to look for it in the trash cans. You didn’t force me. Why should I be angry?”
Fu Jianchen’s eyes flashed for a brief moment. His originally cold eyes now carried a hint of a smile as a faint smile appeared on his face.
Xu Youyou took a step toward him and asked, “Where’s the painting?”
Fu Jianchen quickly took two steps back and said with a frown, “Don’t come over!”
Xu Youyou was puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
‘He was fine just a moment ago and didn’t seem angry anymore…’
Xu Youyou took another step forward.
Fu Jianchen took another step back as he said, “Stop right there! Don’t come any closer! You stink like you just crawled out of a toilet bowl!”
“Really? Why can’t I smell anything? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” Xu Youyou looked at him with an innocent expression on her face as she took another step toward him, deliberately teasing him.
“F*ck!” Fu Jianchen cursed in a low voice. Then, he said warningly before he pinched his nose and ran inside, “Xu Youyou, don’t come over! Stay away from me!”
Xu Youyou chased him to the back door of the mall. Then, she looked at the man standing by the entrance and asked, “Fu Jianchen, have you forgiven me? Are you not angry anymore?”
Fu Jianchen saw that she did not come any closer so he turned around. When he saw her smiling face, he lowered his gaze and remained silent for a few seconds. Then, he said, “Forget it. I’m too lazy to be angry at you.”
Fu Jianchen’s voice sounded a little forced, but the dim light illuminated the faint smile on his face.
“Thank you!”
“You stink! I’ll bring you to a place to shower and change your clothes!”
…
An hour later.
Xu Youyou emerged from the bathroom wearing a childish light purple dress with lace trimmings. Her hair was still damp, and beads of water rolled down the tip of her hair, staining her dress. Her small face was flushed from the heat, and her eyes were bright and pure.
When a young woman, who worked at the escape room, saw Xu Youyou, her eyes lit up immediately. She said, “Wow! This dress suits you very well! You look so cute! Are you interested in working for us? Other places pay 50 yuan an hour, but you’ll get paid 80 yuan an hour here. What do you think, Boss?”
At the end of her words, the young woman looked at Fu Jianchen. She thought that with such a cute girl working at the store, business would definitely be good.
Xu Youyou smiled shyly as she replied, “I usually have to paint so I don’t have much time for a part-time job.”
The young woman looked slightly disappointed when she heard Xu Youyou’s words. “Oh, okay. Then you should come over more often if you have the time.”
Xu Youyou nodded.
“Alright, I’ll get back to work then,” the young woman said. She tactfully left, leaving the duo alone.
When Fu Jianchen’s gaze fell on Xu Youyou, his dark eyes softened completely. He coughed lightly, pretending to be calm before he said, “Dry your hair first.”
The air-conditioning in the room was on. Her hair was wet so it would be easy for her to catch a cold.
“Oh.”
Xu Youyou walked to the couch and sat down. She dried her hair with a clean towel as she asked worriedly, “Where’s the painting?”
Fu Jianchen did not answer her. Instead, he walked to the bookshelf and opened the cabinet, bringing out the rolled-up painting. He asked, “Do you like it that much? Many people said it’s too bloody and terrifying.”
Xu Youyou nodded. “I usually paint people so I’m not very good at paintings like this. I want to learn.”
Teacher Kang had told Xu Youyou that her painting style was too simple and did not have enough depth. Hence, she had been studying other people’s paintings recently, hoping to learn more.
The corners of Fu Jianchen’s lips curled up into a playful smile as he said, “What’s the point of just looking at paintings? Why don’t I teach you?”
Xu Youyou was stunned for a moment. When she reacted, she asked, “Did you paint this?”
Fu Jianchen did not reply. His raised chin and proud expression were enough of an answer.
Xu Youyou praised him sincerely, “You know how to paint, and you own the art gallery and the escape room! You seem to know everything!”
Fu Jianchen enjoyed the praise very much. He said, “I’ll teach you. Do you want to learn or not?”
“But I have classes in the afternoon,” Xu Youyou said hesitantly.
“Then, go to class first. I’ll come and pick you up after class,” Fu Jianchen said decisively, not giving her a chance to refuse. He asked to add her on WeChat as well.
Xu Youyou, who was not given a chance to refuse, could only acquiesce.
2
…
As night fell, the tired birds returned to their homes. The lights in the city gradually lit up as well, giving the city a warm vibe.
Xu Youyou stood in the crowd, listening to the roars of cars and motorcycles. There was no fear on her clean face at all. Instead, her eyes were filled with a sense of novelty.
Fu Jianchen walked over with a glass of cold fruit juice and handed it to her.
“Thank you,” Xu Youyou said as she took a sip from the glass. The ice-cold fruit juice helped to ease the heat. After a moment, she asked, “What are we doing?”
“Underground car racing. Haven’t you seen it before?” Fu Jianchen said as he placed his hands on the railings behind him and easily sat on it.
“Underground car racing?” Xu Youyou’s eyes widened as she asked instinctively, “It’s illegal, right?!”
The person next to her laughed and said teasingly, “Pffttt! When did Young Master Chen change his taste? This girl is so naive!”
