Chapter 61

Shen Zhiyao's exhibition, scheduled for a brisk autumn weekend in mid-September, featured the theme, as she put it, "Ruins and Aurora." Promotions quietly began to roll out, and her visually striking paintings and unique artistic image quickly sparked considerable discussion within Jinzhou's art circles and a smaller public. Media releases inevitably mentioned her long-forgotten past with Jiang Yu, further adding to her mystique.

The day before the exhibition opened, Jiang Yu received a formal invitation from Shen Zhiyao, delivered through Li Mo. The card, gilded with gold and simple in design, contained only the exhibition title, time, location, and Shen Zhiyao's signature.

In the evening, Jiang Yu placed the invitation on the coffee table in the living room and looked at Xia Wan who was organizing the materials for the studio.

"She sent an invitation. The opening is tomorrow." His tone was normal, as if he was talking about a business transaction.

Xia Wan looked up from her computer screen, her eyes falling on the delicate envelope. Her heart skipped a beat, then she regained her composure. She closed her computer, walked over to sit next to him, and took a look at the invitation.

"Are you going?" she asked, her voice emotionless.

"Do you want to go?" Jiang Yu threw the question back, looked at her calmly, and put the decision completely in her hands.

Xia Wan stroked the smooth surface of the invitation, pondering for a moment. Escape wasn't her style, and she was genuinely curious about Shen Zhiyao's world of "ruins and auroras." More importantly, she wanted to know what had become of this woman who had left such a deep mark on Jiang Yu's life. This wasn't a comparison, but a direct confrontation and understanding of the past.

"Go ahead." She raised her head and met Jiang Yu's gaze, her eyes clear and firm. "Since it's a formal invitation, we should also respond formally. Besides, I also want to see her paintings."

Jiang Yu looked at her calm expression, a hint of appreciation and relief flashing across his eyes. He liked her attitude of facing problems head-on without dodging or evading. "Okay, let's go together."

The opening reception was scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Xia Wan chose a neatly tailored dark blue silk shirt dress, paired with simple pearl earrings, exuding a sophisticated and elegant air, yet also approachable. Jiang Yu wore his usual black suit, appearing calm and reserved.

When the two appeared hand-in-hand at the gallery entrance, they inevitably attracted a few stares. Some were business friends familiar with Jiang Yu, some were colleagues curious about Xia Wan, the newly promoted deputy director, and most were onlookers who looked at the "current" and the rumored "ex" together with inquiring eyes.

Shen Zhiyao, the protagonist, was surrounded by several reporters and art critics. She wore a bright red, irregularly cut dress that made her pale skin appear almost translucent. Her makeup was minimal, highlighting her all-seeing, almost limpid eyes. She spoke rapidly and gesticulating, discussing her creative philosophies with a focused and engaged expression, emanating a powerful, artistic aura.

Seeing Jiang Yu and Xia Wan enter, her gaze passed over the crowd and landed squarely on them. She didn't approach immediately, but instead raised her champagne glass from a distance, offering Jiang Yu a smile that was somewhere between familiarity and courtesy. Then, her gaze shifted to Xia Wan, a gaze filled with pure curiosity and scrutiny. It lingered for two seconds, and then she nodded slightly, a greeting.

There was no awkwardness, no deliberate avoidance, and no over-enthusiasm. Her attitude was just like treating any other special couple who came to visit.

Jiang Yu also nodded calmly, then naturally put his arm around Xia Wan's waist, walked towards the exhibition area, and began to appreciate the paintings on the wall.

Shen Zhiyao's paintings are truly impactful. Their abundance of dark tones, twisted lines, and fragmented compositions create a sense of desolation and ruin, like a ruin. Yet, amidst this desolation, vibrant, flowing blocks of color constantly appear, as alluring and captivating as the aurora, imbued with an inappropriate, almost desperate vitality. Destruction and rebirth, decadence and redemption—these two extremely contradictory emotions collide fiercely on her canvas, creating an eerie and captivating tension.

Xia Wan paused before a painting titled "Embers." In the center of the painting was a burnt, unrecognizable object, while around the edges shimmered faint blue dots of light, like sparks.

"Shocking, isn't it?" A slightly hoarse female voice sounded beside him.

Xia Wan turned around and saw Shen Zhiyao had walked over to her and stood beside her, also looking at the painting. She smelled faintly of turpentine and paint.

"Yeah," Xia Wan nodded and said frankly, "There's a kind of...broken beauty. It's contradictory, but very attractive."

Shen Zhiyao tilted his head, his pale eyes examining Xia Wan intently for a few seconds before he suddenly smiled, a smile that held a touch of truth. "You understand." Her tone carried a hint of joy, like meeting a kindred spirit, though this kindred spirit might only understand superficially. "Many people simply find it depressing, or simply think the color is pretty."

"Maybe it's because I often deal with 'ruins,'" Xia Wan pointed to a painting not far away that showed structures resembling the beams and columns of an old building. "However, I'm trying to keep them alive in reality, rather than commemorating them on canvas."

Shen Zhiyao raised his eyebrows, seeming to be very interested in this angle: "Let the ruins live? Interesting. Are you an architect?"

"Well, it mainly involves the protection and renovation of historical buildings."

"Wow," Shen Zhiyao let out a soft exclamation, his eyes lighting up, "Then we are two extremes. I am fascinated by the beauty of death and end that the ruins themselves carry, while you try to fight against this kind of end." There was a bit more real interest and respect in her eyes when she looked at Xia Wan, which was a recognition of someone who was persistent in another field.

The two women sat before the painting, setting aside any awkward context, and engaged in a brief conversation on the themes of "ruins" and "rebirth." There was no tension, no innuendo, simply a clash of perspectives based on their respective professional fields.

Jiang Yu stood a little further away, not disturbing them. He watched Xia Wan calmly converse with Shen Zhiyao, her eyes calm, her attitude neither humble nor overbearing, her heart filled with pride. His Xia Wan was no longer the little girl who needed him to stand behind her. She had her own world and light, capable of facing any storms from the past with ease.

After a while, other people came to find Shen Zhiyao. She smiled apologetically at Xia Wan and blended into the crowd again.

"How do you feel?" Jiang Yu walked to Xia Wan and asked in a low voice.

"It's...easier than I thought." Xia Wan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at him, "She is a very special artist. Moreover, she seems to have really...let it go." That kind of pure state of focus on art and the exchange of ideas cannot be faked.

Jiang Yu held her hand and squeezed it gently: "I let it go a long time ago." His eyes fell on her face, extremely focused, "Now and in the future, I only have eyes for you."

As the reception progressed, the atmosphere relaxed. Shen Zhiyao, the centerpiece, continued to mingle among the diverse crowd, his demeanor imbued with the artist's uninhibited freedom and uninhibited energy. Xia Wan was chatting with a local art critic about architecture and spatial perception when she caught a glimpse of Shen Zhiyao, glass in hand, walking naturally toward Jiang Yu, who had been standing quietly and unwaveringly nearby.

"Jiang Yu," Shen Zhiyao's voice was not loud, but it came through clearly through the subtle noise, "Long time no see."

Xia Wan's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained the smile she'd worn while chatting with the critic. She saw Jiang Yu turn around and face Shen Zhiyao, his expression as calm as ever. He nodded slightly, "Long time no see. The exhibition was a success."

"Thank you. It's mainly thanks to my friends' support." Shen Zhiyao shook the wine glass in his hand, his tone relaxed, as if he was facing an old classmate he hadn't seen for many years. "I heard that you are doing very well now. Congratulations."

"Mutual." Jiang Yu's answer was concise and to the point.

The conversation between the two sounded ordinary and polite. There was no excitement of meeting again after a long separation, nor was there any deliberate alienation. It was like two rivers that once met and then separated, and now flowed smoothly on their respective tracks. When they met occasionally, they just greeted each other calmly.

Xia Wan knew they needed a brief, direct conversation like this to truly put an end to the past. She didn't want to stand there like a nervous watchman. Trust should be given more completely.

She ended her conversation with the art critic at the right moment and gave Jiang Yu a look that said, "I'm going to leave for a moment." Jiang Yu immediately understood and his eyes met hers briefly, his expression filled with understanding and comfort.

Xia Wan turned around and walked towards the bathroom, leaving the space for them.

The gallery's restroom was stylishly designed, continuing the overall minimalist style. The lighting was soft, and the air was filled with a faint aroma of incense. Xia Wan walked to the sink and looked in the mirror at herself, dressed smartly and with delicate makeup, and breathed a sigh of relief. Beneath her earlier composure, a subtle tension lingered. She opened her purse and pulled out her compact, ready to touch up the areas on the sides of her nose where the slight perspiration had caused some makeup to come off.

Just then, the bathroom door was pushed open and a red figure walked in.

It’s Shen Zhiyao.

She didn't seem to expect to run into Xia Wan here. She paused for a moment, then walked over, stood in front of the sink next to her, turned on the faucet, and slowly rinsed her fingers. The water flowed with a gurgling sound.

Xia Wan saw her pale and well-defined profile in the mirror, and continued with what she was doing without speaking.

Shen Zhiyao turned off the faucet, took a tissue, and wiped her hands carefully. She didn't look at Xia Wan, but her eyes fell on Xia Wan in the mirror, as if she was recalling something through the mature and elegant image at that moment.

Suddenly, she spoke, her voice filled with a hint of reminiscence, breaking the silence in the bathroom:

"I remember you."

Xia Wan paused in her makeup application, the powder puff between her fingertips hanging in mid-air. She raised her eyes, looked through the mirror, and met Shen Zhiyao's pale, all-seeing eyes.

Shen Zhiyao was also looking at her through the mirror, with a very faint arc of understanding at the corner of his mouth.

"Jincheng No. 1 Middle School, Senior 3 (7), right?" Her tone was very certain, not like a question. "You're Jiang Yu's deskmate. The girl who's always quiet and takes really neat notes."

“…”

Xia Wan felt her breath stop at that moment, as if her blood rushed to her head and her ears buzzed. She had never expected that Shen Zhiyao would remember her! He remembered her so clearly! He even remembered details like her being Jiang Yu's deskmate and her neat notes!

In her youth, when she and Shen Zhiyao were worlds apart, she had always thought she was the most inconspicuous person in the crowd, a background figure that a dazzling star like Shen Zhiyao would never notice. So... she had actually been seen? And Shen Zhiyao had remembered her in such a way?

The huge shock and an indescribable feeling of embarrassment, as if all her secrets were seen through, made Xia Wan speechless for a moment, and her cheeks became hot uncontrollably.

Shen Zhiyao looked at her instantly stiffened body and flushed cheeks, and smiled knowingly. There was no malice in that smile, but rather a hint of... "As expected." She crumpled up the paper towel she had used to wipe her hands and threw it accurately into the trash can beside her.

"You liked him then, right?" Shen Zhiyao's tone remained calm, as if stating a fact he had already discovered, without any judgment. "The way you look at him is different from the way you look at others."

These words, like a key, suddenly opened the box of "secret love" that had been locked deep in Xia Wan's heart for ten years. All those carefully concealed emotions, those thoughts that she thought were unknown, might not be invisible to another person.

Xia Wan's heart pounded in her chest. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Deny it? Under Shen Zhiyao's unwavering gaze, it seemed pale and ridiculous. Admit it? Faced with Shen Zhiyao and Jiang Yu's well-known past, it seemed so inappropriate and... humble.

Seeing her embarrassed and almost ashamed look, Shen Zhiyao suddenly sighed softly, almost inaudibly.

"Don't be nervous," her tone softened a little, with the clarity of someone who had experienced a lot, "It's all in the past. Back then... who didn't have someone hidden in their heart when they were young?" She seemed to be talking to Xia Wan, but also seemed to be talking to herself.

"Don't worry, I won't tell him!" Shen Zhiyao once again looked at Xia Wan in front of him and gave her a gentle hug.

After saying this, she didn't stop, adjusted the hem of her red skirt in front of the mirror, then turned around and walked out of the bathroom with leisurely steps, leaving Xia Wan alone, facing the mirror, her heart pounding, unable to calm down for a long time.

The woman in the mirror had a flushed face, her eyes filled with shock, embarrassment, and a hint of panic after having her secrets exposed. Shen Zhiyao's few casual words were like a huge rock thrown into a lake, stirring up huge waves in her heart.

It turns out that her humble self, hiding in the corner, is not completely invisible.

This realization made her feel a belated, complex mixture of bitterness and relief.

Xia Wan stayed in the bathroom for a long time, until the heat on her face gradually faded away and her heartbeat slowly calmed down. Then she took a deep breath, re-applied her makeup, straightened her back, and walked out.

When she returned to the exhibition hall and found Jiang Yu, he immediately noticed her subtle changes in mood.

"What's wrong?" he asked in a low voice, full of concern.

Xia Wan shook her head, took his arm, and leaned a little of her weight on him, as if this was the only way to find a sense of security. "Nothing," she said softly, her eyes sweeping over Shen Zhiyao, who was chatting and laughing with someone not far away. "It's just... I suddenly feel that the past was really interesting."

Although Jiang Yu was a little confused, seeing that she didn't want to say more, he didn't ask any further questions, but just held her hand tighter.

The exhibition reception ultimately ended in a seemingly peaceful, yet turbulent atmosphere. For Xia Wan, this evening offered more than artistic inspiration; it also provided a sudden reconsideration of her past and herself.

A few days after the exhibition reception, Xia Wan received a special project inquiry from the design institute. Jinzhou planned to transform a nearly century-old, long-abandoned textile factory into a modern art center. This project, embracing the dual challenges of historical preservation and the integration of modern art, was a formidable undertaking, but its success would have unprecedented impact.

The institute's leadership hopes that Xia Wan's newly formed studio will take the lead in the preliminary conceptual design of this project. This is undoubtedly a huge opportunity, but also a daunting task.

When they returned home in the evening, Xia Wan and Jiang Yu talked about this matter, their tones expressing both excitement and pressure.

"The old textile factory... I know that place. It's very complex, and preserving it is quite difficult." Jiang Yu pondered, "Plus, combining it with art requires a high level of creativity."

"Yeah," Xia Wan leaned back on the sofa and rubbed her brows. "It feels even harder than the old town project. Not only do I need to understand architecture, but I also need to understand art and curating... I feel like my knowledge base is totally inadequate."

"If you don't understand, you can learn. You can ask a consultant." Jiang Yu sat down next to her, holding her in his arms, and said in a steady voice, "This is a very good platform that will allow you to fully utilize the concept of combining historical preservation with modern functions. I believe you can do it."

His trust always gave her endless strength. Xia Wan found a comfortable position in his arms and murmured, "I need to think carefully about where to start..."

"Perhaps," Jiang Yu suddenly said, his tone thoughtful, "you can change your mindset. Don't just think of yourself as an architect. Try to think of yourself as... a director planning a grand light and shadow show on the ruins."

"The director of the light and shadow show?" Xia Wan raised her head and looked at him puzzledly.

"Well," Jiang Yu looked down at her, his eyes deep. "Just like Shen Zhiyao's paintings, creating aurora on the ruins. What you need to do is not to put a new shell on the old factory building, but to understand the language of the 'ruins' of the factory building itself, find the historical light and shadows it has deposited, and then, use modern design, technology, and art to ignite it, so that those dormant lights and shadows can come alive again and become the 'aurora' of this era."

His words, like a flash of lightning, instantly split the chaotic fog in Xia Wan's mind! She sat up straight, her eyes sparkling with excitement!

"I understand!" She grabbed Jiang Yu's arm and said excitedly, "It's not transformation, it's 'activation'! It's a dialogue! Yes! That's it! I want to have a dialogue with that old factory, understand its story, and then invite modern art in to create a new story together!"

Seeing her instantly ignited and filled with fighting spirit, Jiang Yu's lips curled up in satisfaction. His Xia Wan was always quick to understand and full of spirituality.

"It seems that my visit to Shen Zhiyao's exhibition was not in vain." He chuckled, hinting at something.

Xia Wan was stunned for a moment, then smiled. Yes, who would have thought that it was Jiang Yu who gave her this key inspiration, and that it was Shen Zhiyao's paintings of "Ruins and Aurora" that triggered Jiang Yu's inspiration.

The arrangement of fate is sometimes so wonderful. The past and the present, seemingly opposite ends, may intertwine in an unexpected moment to illuminate the way forward.

Xia Wan rushed back to her computer, eagerly recording the inspiration that was now flowing. Jiang Yu watched her focused silhouette without interrupting her. He simply stood up and poured her a glass of warm water, gently placing it on the edge of the table.

The coolness of the autumn night is kept out of the window, while the room is brightly lit, filled with the warmth of striving for dreams and the future. New challenges have arrived, but they support each other and move forward together.