It was a rainy day, and the temperature was chilly. The two of them didn't walk for long before leaving the Bund and returning home.

Chu Fang took a bath, and after he finished, he saw Zhong Tingyue sitting in front of the easel again. Her gentle and poetic face and delicate features were full of seriousness and solemnity.

Chu Fang walked to the back and looked at the easel. With just a few strokes, it was impossible to tell what the painting depicted. He didn't disturb his fiancée; he simply stood behind her, watching her paint.

As time passed and night deepened, Zhong Rou opened the door and called out loudly, "I'm back..."

Ever since Chu's mother came to Shanghai last time, and everyone knew that Zhong Rou was going to slide home on her knees, Zhong Rou stopped doing that and instead shouted: I'm back!

The whole house could hear it.

But before she could finish her sentence, Chu Fang made a shushing gesture. The rest of her words caught in her throat. She gently closed the door, walked to Chu Fang's side, and whispered, "I'm back."

Chu Fang: "I know."

Zhong Rou: "I'm not saying this to you, but I need to finish what I have to say, otherwise I'll feel uncomfortable."

Chu Fang: "... ..,"

You're quite the ritualist.

"Is your drawing finished yet, sister?" Zhong Rou asked.

These days, Zhong Tingyue has been busy with her paintings and hasn't paid much attention to Zhong Rou, who is very happy and lively all day long. She hasn't done her homework for several days now.

"It should be soon."

After painting until late at night, the sister-in-law couldn't help but go to sleep, leaving Chu Fang behind. Suddenly, Zhong Tingyue stretched and said, "Phew, things are finally over."

“Ms. Zhong, you are such a hypocrite. You belittled my ideas back then, but now you’re using them.”

Zhong Tingyue's painting depicts the Bund in Shanghai: the towering Oriental Pearl Tower, the ever-flowing river, the flower-lined banks, and the dense crowds of tourists...

"no the same."

"Tch~~~" Chu Fang curled his lip, "I despise you."

“The implications are different.” Zhong Tingyue shook her head, pointing to the drawing board. “Today is the wedding anniversary of this elderly couple. They came to Shanghai from the Northeast and have witnessed the prosperity of their motherland; the young man just arrived in Shanghai, full of ambition, and has already made a name for himself; this middle-aged man is having some headaches. His son's grades are not good, his mother just bought health supplements, and his wife keeps asking him if he still loves her… ”

Zhong Tingyue introduced the figures in the painting, each seemingly having their own story and past.

After his fiancée finished speaking, Chu Fang asked, "Did you make this up?"

“I heard it.” Zhong Tingyue shook her head.

Chu Fang: "...No, are your ears like telescopic eyes? How can you hear so much?"

They were just strolling along the shore when Chu Fang's mind went blank, while the woman overheard so much.

The difference is just too big.

Zhong Tingyue gave him a deep look: "I'm not a clairvoyant, but I'm better than a clairvoyant. I can see into other people's hearts, including yours. Mr. Chu, you're very scared right now, your chest feels cold."

Chu Fang touched his heart; it was indeed quite cold.

He shouted, "Who opened the window? The cold wind is blowing right at me and chilling my chest!"

Zhong Tingyue smiled sweetly, like a blooming rose, beautiful and charming.

The following day, Chu Fang and Zhong Tingyue arrived at Teacher Wu's tomb, burned paper money, and took out the painting of figures and scenery from the Bund in Shanghai, which they then set on fire, eventually turning to ashes along with the paper money.

Chu Fang asked, "This is the culmination of your hard work these past few days. Are you really not going to regret burning it like this?"

This spendthrift woman burned her masterpiece, which took her more than half a month to complete.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Tingyue shook her head: "This was ultimately painted for Teacher Wu. Whether it's good or bad, we'll have to ask her for her opinion."

"I think this is the second best work I have ever painted in my life."

Chu Fang asked curiously, "Then what's the best?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Zhong Tingyue, you're so mean!"

Actually, her best work was the portrait of Chu Fang that she painted, which she considered her best work, but she didn't want to say it out loud, lest this man gloat again.

"Eh? May I ask who you two are?"

Just then, they heard a voice behind them. When they turned around, they saw several young men and women looking at them curiously.

“I used to be Ms. Wu’s student. I heard she had passed away, so I came to visit,” Zhong Tingyue explained.

"Oh, okay." A man nodded. "We are too. You must be our senior sister, right?"

The other men and women called out in unison, "Hello, Senior Sister."

Then, several young men and women paid their respects to Teacher Wu. After the ceremony, Chu Fang, Zhong Tingyue, and the others left together.

"Hey? Senior, which year are you in?" a lively girl asked.

“I’m from the class of xx,” Zhong Tingyue replied.

Upon hearing this, the first boy to ask a question became curious: "I heard from Teacher Wu that your year was very impressive, with many outstanding senior students, especially Senior Zhong Tingyue. Teacher Wu praised her many times when he was teaching us."

Zhong Tingyue was quite surprised: "Praise?"

“Yes.” The lively girl nodded. “Teacher Wu said that Senior Zhong Tingyue is very talented and is her favorite student.”

Zhong Tingyue frowned: "But at that time, Zhong Tingyue and Teacher Wu did not have a very good relationship."

It's already a miracle that she wasn't scolded, so why is she being praised?

The lively girl continued, "When Teacher Wu told us about this, he said that the two of them had a conflict because of their different beliefs, but as time went by, Teacher Wu felt very regretful and guilty towards Senior Zhong Tingyue."

"Teacher Wu said that he later realized that art is not something that is kept on a high shelf and only accessible to a small group of people. Art should belong to the masses and the people, and everyone should be able to understand and appreciate it."

"And Senior Sister Zhong Tingyue's dedication to interior design has brought art into the lives of ordinary people, filling everything with beauty. Teacher Wu said that Senior Sister Zhong Tingyue is right."

Zhong Tingyue bit her red lips and remained silent.

These were words she had never expected; such a stubborn old woman actually agreed with her beliefs.

The group left the tomb together and went their separate ways. The lively girl asked, "By the way, senior, I still don't know your name."

Zhong Tingyue thought for a few seconds, then smiled, and when she smiled, the whole world seemed to light up: "My name is Zhong Tingyue."

ah?

"Surprised?"

Several young men and women looked at each other: "This is unexpected."

“Life is full of surprises, just like I never expected Teacher Wu to say such things.” Zhong Tingyue smiled. “Thank you all, you’ve made me feel much better.”

Chu Fang and Zhong Tingyue left.

The lively woman said, "So she's Senior Zhong. I've finally met her in person today."

Another man speculated, "I remember a senior saying that Senior Zhong is very beautiful, like an angel, and that girl is also like an angel, so it must be Senior Zhong."

The other friends stared speechlessly at the boy who had suddenly realized what was happening.

Are you brainless or do you have a brain?

It's hard to say.

... ...