Chapter 73 Spend Time Together
The studio was so quiet that I could hear the faint music coming from the campus radio in the distance.
"...How is it?" Tang Ximian's voice broke the silence, with a hint of cautious temptation and a hint of imperceptible pride, "Is it... a bit too exaggerated?" He secretly observed Si Yankai's reaction, his fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of his clothes.
Si Yankai seemed to be awakened by his voice. He slowly turned his head and moved his gaze from the canvas to Tang Ximian's face.
The look was deep, filled with so many emotions that Tang Ximian couldn't understand at the moment - shock, disbelief, and something hot that was almost overflowing.
"Exaggeration? Why do you say that?"
Si Yankai finally spoke, his voice much deeper and hoarser than usual, as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper. He took a small step forward, closing the distance between them.
Under the warm yellow light in the studio, he could clearly see a speck of lemon yellow paint on the tip of Tang Ximian's nose.
"Hmm..." Tang Ximian felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by him. He subconsciously touched the tip of his nose, which ended up smearing the yellow a little. "It's just... I feel like I painted you too... too..." He couldn't find the right words for a moment. "Too soft?"
Si Yankai didn't respond. He simply reached out his hand, his fingertips not touching the painting but gently brushing the smudged lemon yellow on the tip of Tang Ximian's nose. His fingertips were warm, carrying the faint scent of paper and ink from the library.
"Tang Ximian," he called his full name, his tone so serious that it made Tang Ximian's heart tremble, "Is this painting of you... of me?"
"Nonsense! Who else could it be but you?" Tang Ximian was a little confused by his question and forgot to be nervous.
Si Yankai's gaze fell back on the painting, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved upwards. That smile was no longer the usual restrained and faint one, but instead carried an almost childish, pure wonder and joy.
"Oh," he responded, dragging out the last syllable a little, as if he had finally confirmed something important.
He looked at Tang Ximian again, the light in his eyes almost burning. "So this is how I look in your eyes... Did you put a filter over me that's over ten meters thick?" He paused, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper. "But I'm still very handsome."
"Pfft..." Tang Ximian was amused by his last straightforward yet somewhat clumsy compliment. The slight uneasiness she had felt just now instantly disappeared, leaving only joy and pride in her heart. "Nonsense! How can my drawing not be handsome?"
Si Yankai also laughed, his shoulders shrugged slightly, and his laughter was low and pleasant.
"The painting is very beautiful. I'm not a professional, so I don't know how to evaluate it, but if I were a judge, I would give it 101 out of 100."
Seeing Tang Ximian's smug look, Si Yankai smiled and pointed to the table next to him: "The cocoa is getting cold, but the bread is probably still a little warm."
"Eat something first? I'll take you to eat later."
"Okay, I'm starving!"
Tang Ximian's attention was immediately drawn to the sweet food. He pounced on the paper bag, took out the still warm cup of cocoa and the bread with an enticing aroma, took a big bite, and squinted his eyes in satisfaction.
Si Yankai stood in front of the painting and looked at it quietly for a long time.
The self on the canvas, immersed in the world of knowledge, is endowed with such a strong and warm vitality.
He suddenly felt that he was very lucky and happy.
He took out his cell phone, pointed at the canvas, and carefully took a photo without adding any filters, just the original look.
"Hey, don't think that you can secretly take pictures of my work just because you are my boyfriend. Please pay the copyright fee?" Tang Ximian yelled incoherently while holding a piece of bread in his mouth.
Si Yankai put away his phone, walked over, and very naturally picked up the tissue that Tang Ximian had placed aside and wiped the crumbs from the corner of his mouth.
"It's on the books," he said seriously. "The interest is ten cents a day."
"Black-hearted capitalist!" Tang Ximian smiled and bumped his shoulder.
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