Chapter 17, The 17th Beam of Light: "I thought you were going to kiss me!"
His accuracy in catching people was so remarkable that for a moment Song Xingyun even doubted whether he had regained his sight again. "I didn't... I didn't run away..."
She stammered as she turned her head and moved her neck, signaling him to let go.
Yu Mushang quickly withdrew his hand, and the ambiguous atmosphere disappeared instantly. Song Xingyun thought she had just overthought things. "Why were you still choking me and standing so close... Anyone who didn't know better would think you were going to... do something to me."
After Song Xingyun finished speaking, she felt that her ability to take the initiative and turn the tables had improved.
Yu Mushang surprisingly chimed in, "Oh? What do you think I want to do to you?"
"I thought you were going to kiss me! Is that something I can say?" No! Song Xingyun only dared to respond in her heart, but actually chickened out and started to change the subject, "I clearly came here to get praise..."
She genuinely hadn't heard his earlier compliment clearly, and now, after this little incident, Song Xingyun figured the man probably wouldn't bother repeating it to her.
The two maintained this delicate distance, frozen in place. This was the first time Song Xingyun had stared at him so closely for so long. "Um... I'm going out now, you..."
Yes, she was the one who couldn't take it anymore. After all, Yu Mushang couldn't see, but she could. She realized that she was completely powerless against Yu Mushang's face.
Little did Yu Mushang know that he was also recalling what Song Xingyun looked like now, but Song Xingyun obviously didn't give him much time to reminisce.
Upon hearing that she was leaving, Yu Mushang interrupted her the next second and repeated his previous praise, "I praised Assistant Song as extremely outstanding, a true all-rounder."
They even added words she had said to the original text.
His face was always turned towards Song Xingyun, and Song Xingyun, who was already staring at him, felt as if she were making eye contact with him.
He really did praise her.
In their nearly seven years of correspondence, Song Xingyun shared many of her achievements with him, but he mostly offered encouragement, and it seemed that she had developed a strong desire for his praise.
"Thank you, you're awesome too."
This was a sincere thank you to him for his help and for his praise.
Song Xingyun secretly sniffed; she just regretted not praising and encouraging him more in her letters over the years.
On the day she received his letter of sponsorship, Song Xingyun asked the staff many questions. She knew from the beginning that her sponsor was the same age as her. In the end, she accepted the sponsorship because she felt a sense of kinship from that letter. Now that she knows more about him, she realizes that she was right before. He is very outstanding, but God is also very unfair, causing him to lose his parents and his sight.
Yu Mushang was also surprised to receive a compliment from her, and chuckled softly, "Is Assistant Song just returning the favor?"
One sentence pulled Song Xingyun back to reality; she couldn't cry anymore once this man spoke!
"I'm sincere! It's not just a simple exchange of gifts!"
Yu Mushang stopped teasing her, but his smile remained, which was unusual for him. He moved his body, which was lying down, and sat up by pulling the robe covering his back with one hand.
He made no attempt to avoid Song Xingyun, and right in front of her, he gradually covered his bare upper body, put on his clothes, and fastened them...
Song Xingyun watched his every move without blinking, suppressing the urge to swallow.
Was his neckline a little too low? This was the second time Song Xingyun had noticed the neckline of Yu Mushang's bathrobe.
The first time was when she saw him open the door. Now, when she thinks back, the deep V-neckline gave him a sense of aggression, no wonder her first reaction was to back away and want to escape.
But now, she has a perverse desire to peel it off.
Song Xingyun's eyes widened at her own audacious idea, and she instinctively grabbed the man's collar, pulling the fabric tightly around her neck...
Yu Mushang was clearly taken aback by her sudden action. "What are you doing?" she asked, still clutching his collar.
Song Xingyun noticed that Yu Mushang always did something "out of line" whenever they met. She felt like she was going a little crazy, so she withdrew her hand and said, "No, this neckline is too low, it lets in the wind... I... I'm afraid you'll catch a cold!"
After saying that, she felt it wasn't convincing enough, so she continued, "If other people saw you like this, it would have a really bad influence." Her voice trailed off, "Why isn't it a round neck..."
Does she care about me?
Yu Mushang's mind was filled with those four words; he had forgotten to smile for a long time. "You like round necks?"
"Ah...ah?" Song Xingyun thought this person's focus was really peculiar, but after looking at his V-neck, she nodded, "A round neck is better."
"Okay." Yu Mushang silently made a mental note of it.
She doesn't want me to be seen by others...
This raised even more questions for Song Xingyun: What was he doing so well?
Song Xingyun glanced at the time; it was getting late. She braced herself against the sofa and tried to get up, but her legs were numb, probably from squatting for so long.
After she stood up, she swayed slightly and reached her hands directly towards the small bar behind the sofa where Yu Mushang was sitting, trying to find a point of support.
As she drew closer, the man felt the soft fabric of her clothes brush against his face and the tip of his nose, carrying her unique sweet fragrance. He remained unmoved, yet a thousand horses galloped through his heart.
Song Xingyun didn't notice that the fabric of her clothes had "ambushed" him, because her attention was focused on the eight-inch painting that she had accidentally knocked over on the small bar counter.
It was framed and very well preserved; the signature was still clearly visible, and there was even an unfinished star at the end of the signature…
That was... her work.
Song Xingyun remembers every painting she has ever created. In order to make a living, she has sold many paintings, and this one is among them.
So, he was actually the buyer? Was it a coincidence or...?
Yu Mushang also heard the noise. He was trying to recall what was on the small bar counter. Unsure, he could only ask, "Assistant Song, have you caused trouble again in the blink of an eye?"
Song Xingyun looked at him, and instead of answering, asked, "How...how did you get this painting?"
Yu Mushang's expression remained unchanged, as if he were recalling the painting she had mentioned.
Song Xingyun waited quietly, and then he raised an eyebrow and said softly, "It was a gift from an old friend. I heard it's a very good painting, but unfortunately I don't have the chance to see it."
But he still chose to display it here.
So it was just a coincidence?
A wave of emotions welled up in Song Xingyun's heart. She had painted many paintings, but he was the only one she owned.
Touching the Light
That's the name of the painting.
The hands in the painting look quite young; they stretch upwards towards the exit, trying to touch the sunlight. There aren't many elements in the painting, and its meaning isn't particularly profound; it simply reflects her personal state at the time. She was quite surprised when the painting was sold.
Unexpectedly, the painting ended up in his hands. Now it seems that the painting is suitable for him. Isn't he also someone who wants to touch the light?
Rather than touching it, Song Xingyun hoped that Yu Mushang could see it again in his lifetime, and when that time came, she would definitely give him a new painting to display.
"Your old friend has excellent taste."
Yu Mushang smiled but remained silent.
Song Xingyun's mind raced, and she asked, "Aren't you curious how I know about this painting?"
She was nervous when she asked the question, but in the end she received a nonchalant reply: "So you won't tell me unless I ask, Assistant Song? If I'm not mistaken, you probably know this painting better than I do, have you seen it before?"
Song Xingyun concealed her disappointment and confessed, "I painted this picture."
Yu Mushang looked like he had already guessed it, and simply said, "What a coincidence."
Song Xingyun felt like she had punched cotton, and sighed, "I told you we were destined for each other, didn't I?"
Yu Mushang didn't say anything more, but his alarm clock rang. "It's getting late, it's reminding me that I should go to sleep."
Song Xingyun knew she couldn't linger any longer.
Lying on her bed, her thoughts were in turmoil. She couldn't deny that Yu Mushang was very clever; he had immediately guessed her relationship with the painting, yet he hadn't recognized her at all...
Song Xingyun eventually fell asleep with questions lingering in her mind, completely forgetting her original plan to bring Changming into the room to sleep before going to bed.
＊
The next morning.
Ying Qi brought breakfast, but when Song Xingyun appeared, there was an elderly man at the table. "Who is this?"
Ying Qi still had bread in her mouth. "Oh, let me introduce you. This is Uncle Lin, the butler of the Yu family's old house. He comes over occasionally to check if we're still alive."
Song Xingyun: ...
She greeted him respectfully, "Hello, Uncle Lin, I'm Song Xingyun, the boss's new assistant."
The man's expression had been slightly unnatural from the moment Song Xingyun appeared, but she didn't take it to heart, assuming it was just his nervousness from meeting him for the first time. This made her try even harder to keep smiling and close the distance.
After a long pause, Uncle Lin nodded to her with satisfaction. "Hello, I heard from Ying Qi that the new assistant has excellent cooking skills, which puts my mind at ease."
Uncle Lin, who was trying to keep his heart calm, was deeply moved. He glanced at Yu Mushang and realized that it was no wonder the young master had recently brought up the old story with him again; it turned out that the person was already by his side.
Song Xingyun waved her hand somewhat embarrassedly, "I wouldn't dare call it exquisite, it just happened to suit their tastes."
Changming ran over with a small ball in its mouth and rubbed against her leg. Song Xingyun felt a little guilty and asked with concern, "Did you sleep well last night?"
After Changming called out, Song Xingyun felt relieved based on her understanding of it.
Yu Mushang, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, "The master gets up later than the dog, aren't you afraid it will starve?"
Song Xingyun was speechless. This man really has a sharp tongue!
Ying Qi added from the side, "Your dog was also fed by the boss this morning."
Song Xingyun immediately took back the words she had used to criticize him for his sharp tongue. How kind-hearted he was! She weakly explained, "It didn't come to wake me up either."
Yu Mushang said coldly, "Is your dog so gifted that it can open your door and come out to find food by itself?"
Song Xingyun looked at the dog grinning foolishly in the distance, "How could that be? It slept with Bai Sui last night."
Everyone saw Yu Mushang's expression soften immediately. "You mean, there was no dog in your room last night?"
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