“Alright, then I’ll draw a self-portrait.” Tu Longjian bent down and focused intently on sketching his own portrait on his chest, stroke by stroke.

The bamboo pen trembled, somewhat out of control. Tu Longjian simply finished the last stroke, put the bamboo pen in his mouth, raised his eyebrows, and mumbled, "Perfect."

The bamboo pen seemed to quiet down, so Tu Longjian dipped it in peach blossom honey wine and brought it close to apply it to Cong Anlan's lips.

She sat directly on An Lan's lap, leaned over, and took his hand to touch the portrait on his chest: "Young Master Cong, are you satisfied? Does it resemble your wife?"

Feeling Tu Longjian's aura all around her, with her chest exposed to the cool air, the tension in An Lan's mind suddenly eased. She tilted her head back and kissed him, not caring that the bamboo pen was still on her lips.

Snap.

The bamboo pen rolled to the ground.

Tu Longjian, who was breathing erratically, got up from An Lan and tried to pick up the bamboo pen, but saw a flash of blue light and the bamboo pen actually transformed into his master.

Yan Xiuzhu got up in a disheveled state, not daring to look back, and hurriedly left, his eyes still seemingly misty.

Tu Longjian turned his head in astonishment and asked, "Was the bamboo pen transformed by Master?"

An Lan, lounging lazily in her chair, said, "Master won't mind."

"You knew all along but didn't say anything. This is blasphemy." Tu Longjian angrily flung his sleeve away.

An Lan tugged at her sleeve, looking wronged and innocent. "Master values ​​his reputation, so I didn't expose him. Who would have thought you would use him against me... cough cough." His face was flushed with a captivating blush.

Tu Longjian glanced at him, rubbed his forehead in exasperation, and chased after Yan Xiuzhu.

Upon arriving at the bamboo house, the bamboo door was ajar, and one could almost hear suppressed sobs escaping from the lips.

Tu Longjian pushed open the door and entered. Yan Xiuzhu wiped away her tears with her sleeve and forced a smile, saying, "A-Jian, why didn't you stay in the cave but came here instead?" Her voice was thick with jealousy.

"Master, I didn't know that bamboo pen was yours, I'm sorry."

Yan Xiuzhu lowered his eyes and comforted her, "It's alright. It's good that Alan's eyes have recovered."

Tu Longjian sat down next to him, but saw Yan Xiuzhu unconsciously move aside. She still leaned over and touched the corner of Yan Xiuzhu's lips, trying to make him smile.

Yan Xiuzhu couldn't refuse her, so he smiled bitterly.

“Master’s tears are like the stains on bamboo.” Yan Xiuzhu, who was usually calm and elegant, suddenly had a misty look on his face because of her words.

After examining his wrist for a moment, Tu Longjian's brow furrowed with concern: "Master's body is still weak from exhaustion. I'll go refine some tonic pills."

She wanted to leave, but Yan Xiuzhu grabbed her. His usually gentle expression was now somewhat stubborn. His pale face and watery eyes were tinged with red, and even a hint of wolfish greed was overflowing, as if he wanted to devour her, which was very different from his previous image of being pure and indifferent.

"I feel like I'm completely healed."

The sky-blue curtains fell, obscuring the darkening night.