47
Ji Shengsheng slept very soundly and didn't even dream.
She thought Xu Yu was asleep too. But when she woke up, Xu Yu had already bought the food.
There is only one pair of chopsticks.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Ji Shengsheng asked, rubbing her eyes.
"I'm not hungry."
"I'm not very hungry either."
"You need to eat." Xu Yu squeezed her wrist.
"...I don't want to eat."
Xu Yu arranged the food, then sat on the sofa and gestured for Ji Shengsheng to come over.
"Huh?" As soon as she walked to Xu Yu's side, Xu Yu pulled her to sit in his lap.
So this is how you eat...
"Then I'll eat just a little bit."
Ji Shengsheng leaned back, her back resting against Xu Yu's chest, completely enveloped by him.
"Okay." Xu Yu nuzzled her head with his chin before letting her go to eat.
"Do you have any plans for this afternoon?" Ji Shengsheng could only eat a little bit of food before she couldn't eat anymore.
"I'll draw with you."
"good."
While Ji Shengsheng was painting, Xu Yu was reading.
To avoid disturbing her, Xu Yu sat some distance behind her.
Drawing is a very hard job.
Ji Shengsheng didn't leave her computer all afternoon, and the water on her desk remained untouched.
Only after she stretched her wrists and turned to look at him did Xu Yu put the book on the table: "Get up and walk around?"
"Okay!" Ji Shengsheng nodded. "I want to go out for a walk."
Except for a short break during the Chinese New Year, she basically didn't get any rest during this period.
She has basically completed all the drafts that she had assigned to be finished, and the work on the surrounding designs is also done.
But new inspiration kept flowing in, so she continued to paint day and night.
It feels wonderful to paint with Xu Yu by my side.
However, besides painting, which is the most important thing in her life, she also wants to take time to live the life that normal couples would have.
"good."
After the second day of the Lunar New Year, shopping malls in Taoyuan City gradually reopened.
Ji Shengsheng hadn't walked hand in hand with Xu Yu on the street like this in a long time.
"You're shy about holding hands?" Xu Yu smiled helplessly.
She would hide behind him from time to time along the way.
"Oh dear—" Ji Shengsheng simply stood behind Xu Yu.
Xu Yu wouldn't let her dodge, which made Ji Shengsheng's face turn red with anger.
"Sound and sound!"
In Taoyuan, you'll find familiar faces everywhere.
Relatives, classmates... it wasn't that she didn't want to introduce Xu Yu, she was just a little embarrassed.
This time, she ran into a classmate from her previous art training class. She tried to avoid her, but she couldn't.
Xu Yu practically grabbed her arm, forcing her to stand in front.
"Ding Ning, it's been a long time."
She and Ding Ning were considered to be food buddies during the training camp.
During the intensive training period, we drew from morning till night every day, and we still developed a deep camaraderie.
However, after starting university, we gradually lost touch and now we only like each other's posts on social media.
"This is my wife, Xu Lin." Ding Ning introduced the girl beside him generously, then winked at Ji Shengsheng, "Aren't you going to introduce her?"
"My boyfriend, Xu Yu."
After Ji Shengsheng finished his introduction, he quickly looked at Xu Yu's expression.
He seemed to enjoy her shyness, staring at her endlessly.
Ji Shengsheng could only gently squeeze his arm to make him restrain himself.
"How about we grab a bite together?" Xu Lin's eyes lit up as he looked at Ji Shengsheng.
Ji Shengsheng looked to Xu Yu for his opinion, and when he nodded, she agreed.
She felt that Xu Lin had something to say to her, and although they had never interacted before, she still smiled back at Xu Lin.
Ding Ning and Xu Lin walked ahead of them, Ding Ning's right arm around Xu Lin's waist, and her left hand clasped together with Xu Lin's left hand, looking warm and happy.
Ji Shengsheng looked down at the hands she and Xu Yu were holding.
Xu Yu almost immediately understood her thoughts: "You want to too?"
Ji Shengsheng: "...Not yet."
She wanted to learn how couples with great relationships get along, which would help her and Xu Yu's relationship become more stable and lasting.
As a result, Xu Yu had already followed suit and satisfied her needs.
Ji Shengsheng's face remained red until she entered the elevator, and only calmed down after Xu Yu let go of her.
After discussing what to eat, the four of them sat in a private room at a restaurant on the fifth floor of the mall.
After a brief reminiscing, Ding Ning rubbed his hands together and said, "Sheng Sheng, would you mind if my wife signed an autograph?"
Ji Shengsheng didn't react immediately: "Huh?"
"Is that so..." Xu Lin said excitedly, without needing Ding Ning to introduce him, "I've always been your fan!"
"I've been following you ever since you started drawing fan art. I've bought two of your art books, and I even bought a ticket for your last book signing, but I got sick and couldn't go... I only found out today that he's your classmate!"
Ding Ning was a little dissatisfied: "You met me first, so how come I'm her classmate now? Shouldn't you say that you only found out today that Sheng Sheng is my classmate?"
“…What does it matter?” Xu Lin complained that he had interrupted. “You never told me this before.”
Ding Ning really didn't know what to say.
He knew, of course, that Ji Shengsheng had a certain reputation online and had become a well-known figure in the artist community in recent years.
He also knew that Xu Lin was a fan of Ji Shengsheng.
However, firstly, he had long since left his original profession and didn't pay much attention to these things; secondly, they used to be good friends, and contacting each other through this signature would seem too formal... Moreover, he had always disliked and rejected the kind of relationship between internet celebrities and fans.
So he never mentioned it.
Ji Shengsheng was flattered by such a direct expression of affection.
She had hardly read any online discussions about her, nor had she joined any fan groups; in fact, she only found out today that there were actually fan groups.
She just focused on drawing and then shared the pictures on social media. Occasionally, there would be an interesting comment, and she would reply to a few before quickly logging off.
As for the autograph session, it was actually an event organized by the publisher at the comic convention, and she was just one of the artists who was invited.
Fearing that Xu Lin might really get angry, Ding Ning explained earnestly, "The reason I didn't ask you for an autograph is because the times you told me you liked Sheng Sheng, you were expressing your feelings very intensely. You were also arguing with someone online, and I didn't know the situation. I was afraid I might mess things up again."
While Ding Ning was talking about these things, Xu Lin kept looking at Ji Shengsheng's expression, afraid that Ji Shengsheng would be unhappy.
But Ji Shengsheng seemed completely unaware of those controversies.
Xu Yu knew the things she didn't know.
After Ji Shengsheng went abroad, the internet became his only means of understanding Ji Shengsheng.
Ever since her works gained popularity, controversies surrounding her have been constant.
Initially, it was determined that she had borrowed from a well-known senior, and people would occasionally pop up to share a short essay or two.
Later, someone else was found to have plagiarized her work, and the other person's fans dug up past unsubstantiated claims and asserted them as her dark history. Then, people who liked her and those who disliked her work were mixed together, each fighting for their own side.
Recently, a game for which she had previously created fan art has been the subject of negative publicity, and she has been dragged into the criticism as well. Many people in the comments section of her alternate account are demanding that she speak out and distance herself from that game.
Ji Shengsheng didn't know exactly what they were talking about, but based on the information provided by Ding Ning, she had an impression of these so-called "major events".
She never looks at other people's opinions. She has her own standards for judging her work.
People have different aesthetic preferences, so there's no need to convince others.
Ultimately, if she draws well enough, she will naturally attract people who like her. Until then, she just needs to focus on drawing, improving her skills, and producing more works.
So whether it's accusations of plagiarism or someone copying or plagiarizing her work, ultimately it's her work that matters. She won't waste time arguing with others.
Upon learning of her thoughts, Ding Ning sighed, "I told you not to argue with others because of Sheng Sheng."
"People are misunderstanding her. If we don't argue, the rumors will only get more exaggerated." Xu Lin argued firmly, "I can't stand people misunderstanding the person I like. If I don't speak up for her, then my affection for her would be too cheap!"
“During the previous training camp, our teacher scolded us every day, saying things like ‘You’re just wasting your time if you keep drawing,’ ‘Tear it up, you’re a waste of paper!’ We heard these things from morning till night. In our training camp… only Ji Shengsheng never cried.”
"Her heart is very strong; it won't be affected at all."
"So you don't need to do those things that will only bring bad luck."
Ding Ning made Xu Lin cry with just a few words.
Ji Shengsheng and Xu Yu exchanged a glance.
She didn't know whether she should speak up, since interfering in other people's relationship might escalate a small conflict.
But if she said or did nothing, she felt she would be letting Xu Lin down.
"Xu Lin, I still have the art book from the last book signing at home." Ji Shengsheng took out her phone and handed it to Xu Lin. "Give me your address, and I'll mail it to you when I get back to Lucheng."
Xu Lin looked at Ji Shengsheng's phone in front of him: "...Can I add you as a friend?"
"OK."
Xu Lin immediately burst into tears and slapped Ding Ning several times: "I'm going to fight for her! I'm going to write a long essay about it when I get back!"
"Okay, okay, I was wrong, I was wrong..." Ding Ning quickly stretched out her hand for Xu Lin to hit.
Ji Shengsheng was a little at a loss. She had never encountered this situation before and really didn't know how to handle it.
She felt honored by this affection, but was also afraid of disrupting Xulin's normal life.
At least, Xu Lin's emotions have been disturbed by the comments and rumors circulating online.
She wanted to offer advice, but didn't know where to begin.
Xu Yu gently patted the back of her hand under the table, then held her fingers to comfort her.
"Thank you for your appreciation." Ji Shengsheng handed a tissue to Xu Lin. "As a way of repaying you, I will continue to draw as much as I can."
After dinner, Ding Ning accompanied Xu Lin to draw blind boxes as an apology.
Ji Shengsheng originally wanted to go back, but Xu Yu insisted on dragging her upstairs for a stroll.
"...I have so many clothes." The wardrobe in the east room on the second floor was full of her clothes.
"I know."
Xu Yu rarely goes shopping, but recently he has been going to the mall more often, mainly to buy necessities for him and Ji Shengsheng.
Every time he sees women's clothing, he thinks of Ji Shengsheng.
I want to buy it for her, I want to see her wear it, I want to dress her up.
Today I finally have the opportunity, so of course I can't let it slip by.
Trying on clothes is not an easy task.
Ji Shengsheng didn't expect Xu Yu to let her try for so long.
Xu Yu thinks she looks good in everything she wears.
In the end, she only agreed to buy the few items that were in season.
"Are you going to dress me up?" Seeing Xu Yu still reluctant to leave after paying the bill, Ji Shengsheng had a mischievous idea. "Can you help me get dressed?"
"At night?" Xu Yu knew what she was thinking. "Which one? Or... every single one?"
Ji Shengsheng blushed immediately.
"Ah, I didn't say anything."
Just as they were about to leave the mall, Xu Yu stopped them again.
"Once it's used up, we need to get a new one," Xu Yu summarized succinctly.
"Then I'll wait for you here..." Ji Shengsheng said shyly as she went shopping with Xu Yu. "Remember to buy a lot."
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