Chapter 136 My Name is Du Qian

Pei Xubai's voice was very low, but it sounded very clear in the already quiet hospital room.

Zhong Wan paused, her hand holding the paintbrush still, then, just as she was about to focus and continue painting,

But Lin Yan'an grabbed her wrist.

Zhong Wan turned her head to look, puzzled.

Lin Yan'an pursed his thin lips, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he looked at Zhong Wan in a slightly hoarse voice, saying, "Wanwan, rest, there's no rush."

The investors' withdrawal was within his expectations, but he hadn't anticipated that they wouldn't even wait until the last night, much less that they would do so after his wife, despite her weakened state, began writing.

His gaze was deep, with a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.

Zhong Wan raised her hand and gently patted the back of his hand, her voice weak as she comforted him, "Their decision to withdraw their investment shows they lack foresight."

"Don't be angry, let's focus on our own things."

Lin Yan looked at her quietly, without saying a word.

He didn't use much force, as if afraid of hurting her.

Even with his wrist gripped, Zhong Wan could still pick up her paintbrush and continue painting.

It still feels a bit awkward, though.

However, she didn't have the energy to think too much at that moment.

As her painting became more detailed, her breathing gradually became heavy, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead without her noticing. Even the hand holding the paintbrush was trembling slightly.

Depicting a lingering obsession that spans a thousand years is far more demanding than she imagined.

Seeing this, Lin Yan'an hesitated several times, wanting to tell her to stop and rest, but remembering the determined look in her eyes just now, he finally slowly let go of her hand.

All I could do was pick up a tissue from the side and gently wipe the sweat from her forehead.

He sat silently beside her, supporting her with his own body, silently conveying his strength.

Time passed slowly, and Pei Xubai returned to the ward with a serious expression, holding his phone.

Seeing the worried looks in Pei Xingyu and Pei Xingyao's eyes, he shook his head slightly.

Even Liu Hua and Cheng Yanzhou, who rushed over, instinctively remained quiet upon sensing the atmosphere in the ward.

Finally, after Zhong Wan slowly drew the last stroke on the paper, all her strength seemed to drain away. Her body went limp, and she leaned back weakly, the pen slipping from her hand.

But just before it landed, it transformed into a streak of black light, quickly circling the ward, flashing past the three members of the Pei family, passing through the transparent figure, returning to Zhong Wan, and then disappearing instantly.

In an instant, everyone noticed the sudden chill in the room.

But Lin Yan'an had no time to care about any of that. He quickly caught Zhong Wan and called out anxiously, "Wanwan..."

Zhong Wan slumped in his arms, looked at his worried expression, shook her head slightly, and smiled weakly, "I'm fine... I'm just sleepy..."

Her voice was pale and weak, her eyelids were heavy, and she seemed somewhat dizzy, yet she still tried her best to say, "Don't worry... if there are any problems, contact your grandfather..."

Before she could finish speaking, the drawing paper on her lap suddenly floated up behind her.

Zhong Wan strained to turn her head and watched as the drawing paper slowly came to a stop beside the transparent figure. Hearing the mechanical voice suddenly ringing in her mind, a slight smile appeared on her lips.

[Ding: Spirit detected, system task in progress...]

[Quest: Unwavering Dedication to Green Hills. Quest Level LV5.]

[Task Reward: 10,000,000 RMB]

The moment the broadcast ended, everything went black before Zhong Wan's eyes, and she completely lost consciousness.

"Zhong Wan!"

Lin Yan'an was instantly startled. His eyes turned bloodshot, and he was completely at a loss.

Pei Xubai quickly stepped forward, his hand trembling as he reached out to check her breath. He breathed a sigh of relief after feeling the slight warmth of her fingertips.

"I'll go get the doctor!"

Cheng Yanzhou hurriedly uttered a sentence and was about to turn around and leave when...

Then Pei Xubai hurriedly called out, "Wait a minute!"

"President Pei?"

Cheng Yanzhou frowned and looked at him, puzzled.

Pei Xubai patted Lin Yan'an's shoulder and breathed a sigh of relief: "Don't worry, she's just asleep."

Listen carefully.

Lin Yan'an was startled, and quickly held his breath, listening intently.

Hearing her steady breathing, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Yan'an held Zhong Wan tightly for a few moments, and only after confirming that she had simply fallen asleep from exhaustion did his tense nerves relax.

Lin Yan'an carefully placed Zhong Wan's body on the bed and considerately covered her with a blanket.

Then he turned his head to look at the painting hanging in the air, and the gradually appearing illusory figure of a scholar in a blue robe next to the painting.

The drawing paper faintly emitted a light, and the features of the figure seemed to gradually become clearer under that light.

Compared to Zhong Wan's previous paintings, it is still not complete.

Perhaps Zhong Wan's physical energy was limited, or perhaps her painting was too rough.

The man before her had well-defined features, but his figure was still somewhat blurry; only his tattered blue robe remained striking.

He looked at the unconscious Zhong Wan, his deep eyes filled with complex emotions, a mixture of gratitude and the feeling of being understood after a thousand years of loneliness.

His gaze swept over the people in front of him, and then landed on the drawing paper in front of him.

Looking at the painting before me, and its unique style,

He slowly raised his hand, wanting to touch it, but stopped just before his fingertips touched it.

Ultimately, it turned into a heavy sigh.

Pei Xubai and Lin Yan'an exchanged a glance, then stepped forward and respectfully bowed to the illusory figure using the etiquette he had learned in the play: "Junior Pei Xubai greets senior."

Hearing his voice, watching his gestures,

The illusory figure solemnly returned the greeting, then stood up straight.

Looking at the person before him, his eyes no longer held the fierceness and rebuke of his nightmares, but instead a deep weariness that had endured a thousand years of vicissitudes and a cautious understanding that came with a first encounter.

"My name is Du Qian, courtesy name Zigong. During the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, I served as Left Reminder."

Du Qian's voice was calm, yet it carried a profound sense of history, making one's heart sink: "All I have ever sought in my life is the word 'truth'."

“I record the hardships of the common people and offer advice to the emperor on his merits and demerits. I wish to use my meager strength to fill the gaps in the annals of history.”

At this point, Du Qian's gaze fell on Pei Xubai, harsh yet helpless: "However, things in this world can never go as one wishes."

"What I see is a world of plenty, yet famine roams the land; within the mansions of the rich, the stench of wine and meat lingers; and on the distant borders, wolves lurk in the shadows… I submitted a memorial to the throne, hoping to awaken the court, but…"

Du Qian sighed heavily, his voice filled with pain and torment: "I have offended the powerful minister, who accused me of neglecting my duties and misleading the people, and thus I was exiled to Lingnan..."

"My life's work, 'Records of Folk Customs,' remained unfinished... and I died with regret."

"I never expected that I would be attached to this pen so unexpectedly. I only hope that future generations who are interested can see the true history and pass on the true history."

Du Qian paused, his figure swaying slightly, and he angrily rebuked, "Alas, a thousand years of waiting has yielded nothing but a ridiculous piece of paper!"

Looking at Pei Xubai before him, and recalling the performances he had witnessed, he grew even angrier: "Your portrayal of that person is merely superficial, lacking the true spirit; frivolous and pretentious, possessing only the outward appearance but lacking the soul! How can I not be angry? How can I not rebuke you?"