Gao Meng was helping her frame the painting, and she was using a scroll-like frame to do it.

"Mengmeng, do you know what I'm going to do with this painting?" Qiao Qiu raised her eyebrows slightly. Actually, this painting isn't really suitable as a scroll, but if it's to be given as a gift, it would be better as a scroll.

“When you have nothing to do, you will never use a pen. If you do, it’s either for the teacher’s homework or a gift to give to someone else. You will never keep it for yourself,” Gao Meng said without looking up.

Qiao Qiu hadn't expected Gao Meng to observe her so closely. She was just being paranoid; she felt that the phrase "autumn is beginning to sprout" sounded familiar, so she assumed it might be Gao Meng.

"Mengmeng, aren't you curious about who I'll give it to?"

Does Gao Meng really not care about her at all, so he doesn't care who she gives gifts to?

“You’ll say it when you want to,” Gao Meng said.

Qiao Qiu took the milk and turned to go to the living room, feeling a little disappointed.

After having breakfast, Qiao Qiu took the painting back to her home. She sat in her room for a full hour before opening Honor of Kings. Seeing that Qiu Yijianmeng was online, she asked for her home address.

As autumn approached, she readily gave Qiao Qiu her home address and told her that her name was Liu Yi.

Qiao Qiu looked at the address; it wasn't in this city. It seemed the person really wasn't Gao Meng.

She took a screenshot of the address, picked up her car keys, and drove off.

After quickly going to the post office to mail the painting, Qiao Qiu didn't want to go home, so she went to a nearby park and stood on a small bridge watching the flowing water out of boredom.

In her mind, she was analyzing all the interactions she had had with Gao Meng since they met. She knew she couldn't rush things if she wanted to win Gao Meng over.

Gao Meng is now taking extremely good care of her, almost beyond sisterly affection. At this time, what is most needed is for someone to take the first step. Qiao Qiu believes that happiness is in her own hands, and she absolutely cannot be so passive.

"Qiuqiu, it really is you here."

Qiao Qiu was still deep in thought when she was suddenly interrupted by Zhou Nan's 'surprised' voice. She frowned in disgust.

Zhou Nan ran to Qiao Qiu's side and said with delight, "Qiuqiu, I didn't expect to meet you here. What a coincidence!"

"Is that so?" Qiao Qiu's lips curled into a mocking smile. "What a small world."

Since breaking up with him, Qiao Qiu has become like this. Zhou Nan has now gotten used to it and ignores her attacks. "Qiu Qiu, I came here to paint. Did you come here to play?"

"What's it to you?" Qiao Qiu felt that this was the sentence Zhou Nan had said the most.

"Don't be so heartless. You've been scolding me for so long and giving me a hard time. Please stop being angry, okay?" Zhou Nan reached out to put his arm around Qiao Qiu's shoulder, intending to comfort her as he always had.

Qiao Qiu raised her hand to block his hand and said, "If you don't want to see my face, then don't show up in front of me, so you won't upset me."

“You…” The veins on Zhou Nan’s forehead bulged. He tried his best to control his temper. Now was not the time for her to be angry.

"Go do what you need to do, I'm leaving." Qiao Qiu didn't want to see this guy at all. He was a scumbag, and he even tried to steal Gao Meng from her.

"Qiuqiu, I know you don't want to see me, but could you please arrange a meeting with Gao Meng for me? I have some questions about my paintings that I'd like to ask her."

Hearing this, Qiao Qiu's anger flared up instantly. She had seen such a shameless person today. She turned to look at Zhou Nan with a dark look in her eyes, "Zhou Nan, let me tell you, stop looking at me with the same eyes you used to have. Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Give up, or I won't let you off the hook."

After saying that, Qiao Qiu turned and left.

Watching her retreating figure, Zhou Nan sneered, "You won't let me go? Let's see who won't let whom go."

Qiao Qiu was unaware that her words had completely ignited the male lead's hatred, making him willing to use methods that would "hurt the enemy a thousand while harming himself eight hundred" rather than let her go.

Back in her apartment complex, Qiao Qiu parked her car in her own garage and then went to Gao Meng's house.

Gao Meng was completely absorbed in her painting in the studio and didn't notice the sound of the lock being opened. Of course, the door was closed, and the studio was soundproofed, so even if she wanted to listen carefully, she probably wouldn't have heard it.

Qiao Qiu entered the room but didn't see Gao Meng. She went straight to the studio door, opened it, and sure enough, saw Gao Meng inside.

Gao Meng turned around when she heard the sound and saw Qiao Qiu at the door. "You're back."

Qiao Qiu nodded, carried a long violin case to the other side of the easel, and placed the case next to the painter.

Gao Meng noticed the box but couldn't tell what it was. "Qiuqiu, what's that box in your hand?"

Qiao Qiu glanced at the box and said, "It's just a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument)."

"The guqin?" Gao Meng raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You know how to play that?"

"I know a little," Qiao Qiu said modestly.

"Could you play it for me?" Gao Meng became interested.

Qiao Qiu glanced at her painting and agreed, "Okay."

She picked up the violin again and walked outside.

Gao Meng put down her paintbrush and followed them out.

Gao Meng's only artistic talent is drawing, so she doesn't have a music stand or anything like that at home. Qiao Qiu walked to the coffee table, took out the guqin, placed it on the table, and then moved a stool over to sit down.

Gao Meng walked over to Qiao Qiu and sat down on the sofa, propping her chin up with her hand, looking ready.

Qiao Qiu slowly wrapped false nails around her fingers, thinking about the sheet music. She already knew what to play.

After getting ready, Qiao Qiu placed her hands on the guqin, and the starting posture immediately came into play.

Gao Meng's eyes widened slightly, quite surprised by Qiao Qiu's professional posture. However, Gao Meng felt that Qiao Qiu's skill level was definitely not very good; at most, she could only play smoothly.

However, the very first note Qiao Qiu played completely changed Gao Meng's opinion.

After the first note, the next notes followed. Just as Gao Meng had imagined, it flowed very smoothly, but the artistic conception was different from what she had expected.

Qiao Qiu played "A Laughter in the Vast Sea," which didn't have the completely ancient feel, but it had a very heroic and chivalrous spirit. This piece was like entering one's soul.

Gao Meng seemed to see a chivalrous knight-errant who, despite having weathered many storms, could still maintain a carefree demeanor, carrying a pot of wine and a sword, walking the world alone.

Gao Meng's heart was pounding, especially when she met Qiao Qiu's carefree expression; her heart simply couldn't be controlled.

When the song ended, Gao Meng was still immersed in that feeling and couldn't get out of it.

Qiao Qiu didn't speak either. As the one playing the instrument, she herself had to be emotional in order to draw the audience into that scene. She hadn't recovered yet either.