(superior)
At night, an easel stood out abruptly by the bedside, the light from the floor lamp falling on the pale paper.
A slender figure stood before the easel, the rustling sound of charcoal pencils against paper masked by the wind outside. The window was open, and the cold air clashed with the warm air inside, their ebb and flow creating a subtle harmony on the surface.
Beneath the calm surface, undercurrents surged. As soon as Fu Xuanliao stood up, Shi Meng turned to look at him, acting like a prison warden guarding prisoners, domineering and justified.
"Can't I take a shower?" Fu Xuanliao asked with a sneer. "Or would you allow me to lie in bed without showering?"
Shi Meng looked away and returned to the drawing paper: "You can wash it."
Fu Xuanliao went into the bathroom, closed the door, and turned on the light. He stopped smiling, raised his hand to pinch his brow, and felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him.
I came to the Shi family's house early this afternoon specifically to avoid Shi Meng and to finalize things. But Shi Meng returned early and we ran into each other.
Thinking of Shi Meng's bewildered look back then, and feeling the suppressed irritation in his heart about to return, Fu Xuanliao stood under the shower, letting the water wash over his head, washing away useless worries, and began to think about what to do next.
Li Bihan, the matriarch of the Shi family, was clearly inclined to terminate the contract. After all, she had previously tried to win over the Fu family in an attempt to take back the shares held by Shi Meng, and naturally did not want to see him getting close to Shi Meng.
As for Shi Huaiyi, his stance is neutral. Back then, his main purpose in helping Shi Meng sign this contract was to restrain the Fu family. Now that his father has shown enough sincerity, guaranteeing that the Fu family's profits in the cooperation will always be subordinate to the Shi family, and handing over all final decision-making power to the Shi family, from a business perspective, Shi Huaiyi has no need to continue to implement this contract.
From a familial perspective… Fu Xuanliao was uncertain, because given the Shi family's status in Fengcheng at the time, they didn't need to sign this contract; their future was already bright. On the contrary, if the Fu family hadn't unfortunately received help from the Shi family, they probably wouldn't have survived that difficult period.
Therefore, Shi Meng must have played a role in prompting Shi Huaiyi to sign the contract. As for how much of this was due to his deep love for his son, it remains to be seen.
Based on Fu Xuanliao's previous observations, when Shi Meng first arrived at the Shi family, Shi Huaiyi did not care much about this illegitimate son raised by another woman. When he brought him home, he only made sure that Shi Meng was well-fed and clothed, and he was stingy with any other words of concern.
The change occurred four years ago, around the time the contract was signed. Since then, Shi Huaiyi's attitude towards Shi Meng has improved a lot. He not only cares about his life, but also takes the initiative to help him arrange his studies. Fu Xuanliao has heard him mention the matter of returning to school to continue his studies several times.
If it's because he only has one son left, so he transfers all his love to Shi Meng, that's understandable. But if it's out of guilt, feeling that he neglected his youngest son before, this change without any apparent reason comes too suddenly.
For the first ten years or so, I never thought of being good to him, but when he turned twenty, I suddenly had a change of heart?
That doesn't make sense.
Therefore, although Fu Xuanliao was unsure of the success rate of breaking through Shi Huaiyi's side, the only hope he could place on pressure from his elders.
It's not that I haven't considered persuading Shi Meng to let go.
After taking a shower and returning to the bedroom, Fu Xuanliao looked up and saw the contract next to the easel, with a sapphire on top of it.
After glancing at it twice, Shi Meng warily pressed her hand down, glaring at him like a possessive mother. Not long after, the contract was placed back in the bedside drawer with the combination lock, making it impossible for anyone else to touch it.
Fu Xuanliao chuckled self-deprecatingly at his overly naive idea.
Since he was destined to stay here today, he stopped struggling and found a comfortable position to lie down on the bed where he had slept for many Saturday nights.
Shortly after, the light source near the bed was turned off, the window was closed, footsteps approached, and another person climbed onto the bed.
When the slender arms reached out and encircled his waist, an immense sense of powerlessness slowly surged up, making Fu Xuanliao feel both tired and absurd.
He asked, "Is this interesting?"
Shi Meng didn't say anything, she just hugged him tightly.
"I could never like you."
Shi Meng remained silent, but his breath hit her back a beat off.
This scene strangely echoed what had happened two hours earlier, except back then he was silent and sometimes hysterical.
Fu Xuanliao seemed to have fallen into a kind of stubbornness that wouldn't give up until he achieved his goal. He blinded himself and ignored his true thoughts, mechanically pouring out words that should have deterred Shi Meng: "I like Shi Mu, you know that, I've always liked him."
"I promised I would never forget him."
"Shi Meng, please let me go."
The moment the words "let him go" were uttered, the person holding him finally reacted.
The arms around her waist tightened again, and Shi Meng said fiercely, "Don't even think about it."
He was like a machine that didn't know what it meant to be disheartened. He had just learned to treat people gently and wanted to try to soften his stance, but he was drenched by the cold rain of reality and had no choice but to raise his shield and arm himself with invincibility.
"Don't even think about it," Shi Meng repeated. "You're mine, and you're not allowed to leave."
It's just these two sentences over and over again.
Having said all that needed to be said, Fu Xuanliao closed his eyes helplessly, deciding not to try reasoning with a madman anymore.
Perhaps because of what was mentioned before going to sleep, Fu Xuanliao dreamed of Shi Mu that night, something he hadn't done in a long time.
When the wind picked up, he stood at the other end of the playground and looked into the distance. Although it was a little blurry, Fu Xuanliao was sure that someone was looking at him.
He questioned with his eyes—how could you forget me?
Fu Xuanliao tried to explain, wanting to say that he didn't, but when he opened his mouth, no sound came out.
In fact, he couldn't even see Shi Mu's face clearly.
He asked himself, was it that he couldn't see clearly or that he couldn't remember?
Before he could find an answer, Shi Mu asked again—did you never like me at all?
"Of course not," Fu Xuanliao answered silently. "It's true that I'm moved, and it's true that I like you, but..."
It's just that too much time has passed, and too many things have happened in these four years.
There are just too many things we can't control.
Even in his dreams, Fu Xuanliao was burdened with immense pressure, fearing accusations of breaking his promises and being labeled a traitor.
Shi Mu shook her head, seemingly unable to accept his explanation.
He immediately raised his hand and pointed behind him.
Fu Xuanliao turned around and saw a slender figure.
His heart suddenly raced, as if guided by some force. Fu Xuanliao turned around uncontrollably, took a step forward, and completely ignored the calls behind him.
The figure was distant and frail, as if it would drift away with a gust of wind.
Therefore, all other thoughts in his mind were instantly cleared away, leaving only one thought: to walk over and hug him tightly.
When I suddenly opened my eyes, it was just getting light.
Turning over, Fu Xuanliao saw a fluffy head with pointed ears peeking out from the side of the bed. He was stunned for a moment before he remembered that it was the cat Shi Meng had brought back yesterday.
Shi Meng has already gotten up, or he may not have slept all night.
He was very thin, his spine bulging alarmingly beneath his thin pajamas. After pouring the cat food and turning around, Fu Xuanliao saw his ashen face and bloodless lips. His once bright eyes had become dull and lifeless, as if life had been drained away overnight, leaving only a cold shell.
Exactly the same as in my dream.
Back in reality, Fu Xuanliao's heart was still pounding, but he was more overwhelmed by lingering fear.
How can I hug him?
He is both pitiful and hateful. Even now, he still shows no remorse for the evil deeds he has committed. How can anyone want to hug such a person?
Soon, Fu Xuanliao felt ironic about the slight feeling of heartache that had arisen under his infatuation, because when Shi Meng saw that he was awake, she quickly put down the cat food scoop in her hand, then strode to the bedside and blocked his combination lock drawer with her body.
His sprained ankle hadn't fully healed, so he still walked with a limp, and his movements were sometimes so quick they looked almost comical.
As the last thought faded from his dream, Fu Xuanliao breathed a sigh of relief, then chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I won't steal it."
If tearing up the contract would achieve the purpose of invalidating it, why would he even be here?
Upon hearing this, she was stunned for a moment, as if she also realized that such protection was in vain. She silently lowered her eyes and looked at the cat eating with its face buried in its food bowl by the wall.
Sunday was not within the scope of the contract, so Fu Xuanliao was about to leave after washing up.
Shi Meng followed downstairs, and the cat squeezed out of the door and followed him out. He went back, picked up the cat from the steps, and hurried after it.
Knowing that someone was following him, Fu Xuanliao did not turn around.
He got into the car and closed the door in one smooth motion. When he backed the car out, he saw Shi Meng standing at the door holding a cat in the rearview mirror. He ruthlessly looked away and stepped on the gas without hesitation.
Fu Xuanliao went to Heting.
It was rare that Gao Lecheng wasn't here today, so I called him and told him to come upstairs directly, saying that the supervisor would arrange things for him at today's meeting.
After saying that, he couldn't help but tease, "What happened, Lao Fu? Did your ice queen kick you out of bed or kick you out of the house?"
“Today is Sunday,” Fu Xuanliao said.
"It's just strange on Sundays. Normally, Saturday nights are like dry wood and raging fire, so Sunday mornings should be spent sleeping in and cuddling in bed together..."
“We’re breaking up soon.” Fu Xuanliao subconsciously didn’t want to hear others mention his intimacy with Shi Meng, so he interrupted, “Yesterday I went to talk about terminating the contract.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. Gao Lecheng put away his nonchalant tone and tentatively asked, "Are you serious?"
Recalling that he had asked Gao Lecheng something similar at the resort last week, Fu Xuanliao pretended to be relaxed and echoed him: "When have I ever not been serious?"
“But…that’s not right.” Gao Lecheng couldn’t figure it out. “You two were fine last week, with you two being all lovey-dovey and exchanging tokens of love. Jiang Xue hasn’t even accepted my necklace yet. You two are so envious.”
It was probably the first time he had heard someone describe the sapphire necklace as a "token of love." In a moment of daze, Fu Xuanliao recalled how Meng had desperately tried to return the necklace to him last night, saying things like "it's not mine" and "I don't want it anymore."
He doesn't want what's his, but he insists on keeping what isn't his. Fu Xuanliao smirked, thinking to himself that Shi Meng wasn't crazy, he was just stupid.
The cold laugh sent chills down Gao Lecheng's spine. He asked nervously, "What's going on? What did he do to you, or what did you do to him? You two are always making a scene, making me afraid to pursue Jiang Xue freely."
Even a bystander found it too noisy, and Fu Xuanliao breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's nothing, it just ended early." His voice sounded tired and dejected. "Anyway, it shouldn't have started in the first place."
On one hand, they abandoned their struggle plan and acted swiftly to resolve the mess; on the other hand, the crazy and foolish Shi Meng was already worrying about what to do next Saturday.
He had gotten used to looking forward to Saturdays, and he circled every SAT on the calendar page in red pen, some with special markings.
With two weeks to go before the Spring Festival, he originally planned to spend one week listening to musicals and the other week picking strawberries in the suburbs.
Few people know that Fu Xuanliao has a sweet tooth, especially for pastries and fruits, so Shi Meng specially picked out this strawberry farm from the dating locations Jiang Xue had suggested and included it in the plan.
He had already booked the venue with the strawberry farm owner over the phone. Since Fu Xuanliao dislikes noise, he chose to book the entire place, so it would just be him and Fu Xuanliao.
He had even decided what to wear: the same white down jacket. He'd sent it to the dry cleaners the day after they returned from the resort, and it was almost time to pick it up. He knew Fu Xuanliao liked seeing him in this jacket because Fu Xuanliao had asked where it came from and complimented how good it looked.
Shi Meng paced back and forth in the room, flipping through this page and checking her phone, finally calming down the restlessness in her heart.
See how well I know Fu Xuanliao? Is there anyone else in the world who understands him better than me?
There's no one left, only me.
After asking and answering his own questions in an attempt to prove himself, Shi Meng let out a breath, and his restless heart calmed down a little.
For the next five days, Shi Meng repeatedly hypnotized herself, comforting herself that Fu Xuanliao would definitely come on Saturday.
The sketch, drawn in a state of anxiety, was messy and had complex colors, resembling the blurred changes of Impressionism, with unknown artistic value. However, Jiang Xue praised it repeatedly after seeing the photos sent by Shi Meng.
"This is a new painting style that you've never tried before." Jiang Xue couldn't hide her excitement in the video. "I think this painting will open a new chapter in your artistic journey. Wait, I'll contact a big exhibition and make this painting the focus of everyone's attention, and sell it for a high price in a grand manner."
Hearing her vision, Shi Meng couldn't muster any enthusiasm: "I don't think it's good." He took the painting, filled with fear and sorrow, off the easel and tore it in half in front of Jiang Xue. "No good, repaint it."
Although it wasn't the first time Jiang Xue had seen him tear up a painting, his decisive action still made her heart skip a beat.
"Baby, you've shattered my dream of reaching the top." She patted her chest and sighed, then turned fierce. "The next one has to be better than this one. Put your dream back together for me, you hear me?"
Shi Meng neither agreed nor disagreed, placed her phone on the empty easel, and picked up a book from the side to open it.
It was a book about portrait lighting, and the pages were already turned out. Jiang Xue saw it and asked, "Still reading? Have you decided who to draw?"
Shi Meng opened his mouth as if to say something, but strangely, no sound came out when the name reached his lips.
In the end, he just shook his head, whether because he hadn't thought it through or wasn't confident, he decided he couldn't draw it for the time being.
Jiang Xue had heard some things about him and Fu Xuanliao from Gao Lecheng, but she didn't dare to ask any more questions.
Fearing he might get stuck on something, Jiang Xue tried to steer the conversation in a lighter tone, saying things like, "How about I find a few people to put that guy surnamed Fu in a sack and beat him up?" or "Why don't you have your dad add a clause to that contract about breach of contract penalties that will make him pay to death?"
Shi Meng couldn't laugh. He didn't want Fu Xuanliao to get hurt, but he also didn't need that much money.
He just wanted Fu Xuanliao to be able to meet him every Saturday, just like before, even if they just stayed at home and did nothing.
Jiang Xue had known for a long time how stubborn Shi Meng was. No matter how she presented the facts or reasoned with him, she could not persuade him. All she could do was care for him and keep him company.
"If he does this tomorrow..."
Jiang Xue didn't say the words "didn't come." Instead, she said in a lighter tone, "Just call me. I'll go with you wherever you want to go. Even if you want to climb Mount Everest, I'll go with you."
Shi Meng nodded and said slowly, "No, it's too cold."
Moreover, Fu Xuanliao was not there.
It's even colder where Fu Xuanliao isn't around.
(Down)
Before the video call ended, Jiang Xue couldn't help but add a few words: "Hey, even if you're not satisfied with the painting in the future, don't tear it up. My new house is being renovated, and I'm in need of a few paintings. Everything that exists has a reason, right? The works you think are bad can always be used in other ways."
Shi Meng agreed.
At the time, he didn't think anything of it, but little did he know that the next day, those words would become the last lifeline Shi Meng could grab, providing him with a way to turn the tide when his beliefs, which he had held onto for many years, were on the verge of collapse.
On the second-to-last Saturday before the New Year, Shi Meng got up early, opened the curtains in the attic, and left the window wide open. She would glance out the window after each stroke of her brush, and placed her phone in the nearest spot beside her.
At 9:00 AM, he sent a message to number 001, asking when Fu Xuanliao would arrive today, but there was no reply.
Thinking he might be busy working overtime on the weekend, Shi Meng waited until 3 p.m. and then sent him another message, asking what he wanted to eat for dinner.
Today, my aunt bought fish, and Shi Meng specially went to the kitchen to remind her not to put spicy food in it.
"Fish can be delicious even without chili." Although the aunt agreed, she looked somewhat hesitant. "But will Young Master Fu be coming today?"
“Yes, he will,” Shi Meng said. “He didn’t say he wouldn’t come.”
Shi Meng's world is very simple: black and white, and all promises must be kept. Fu Xuanliao didn't say he wouldn't come, so he will.
There are still five years and seven months between them. In such a long time, if Fu Xuanliao hasn't said he hates her, then one day he will come to like her.
Having fabricated a complete logical chain, Shi Meng calmed down and stopped sending text messages. Instead, she stood by the window in the attic and continued to wait.
He was very good at waiting; it was because he could wait that Fu Xuanliao caught him under the tree at the school gate back then.
It was because he was patient and could wait a very long time that he was able to keep the appointment every Saturday.
See, the world is actually fair; you will reap rewards simply by investing time.
But as time went on, this perfect chain of logic seemed to have a hole gnawed through it. Shi Meng was restless, watching helplessly as the hole grew larger and larger, from which a constantly wriggling, dark premonition emerged.
This ominous premonition gradually took shape as the hour hand slowly passed the fifth mark and approached the sixth.
Before it could take on a concrete shape, Shi Meng picked up her phone and called 001.
The first call went unanswered, the second went unanswered, and it wasn't until the third call that I heard ambient sounds other than the dial tone, as well as the voice of Fu Xuanliao's friend surnamed Gao.
"Old Fu isn't here." Gao Lecheng was clearly not good at lying, and his words were incoherent. "If there's anything, wait for him to come back... oh no, I'll pass on the message for you."
Shi Meng didn't need to relay anything; he had only one request: "Let Fu Xuanliao answer the phone."
The noise on the phone stopped as the microphone became completely quiet, covered by a hand.
When the sound rang out again, Shi Meng sat up straight, his whole body unconsciously becoming excited.
He called out impatiently, "Fu Xuanliao."
Being able to identify the person opposite him as Fu Xuanliao through a single breath was a little secret known only to Shi Meng.
Unfortunately, Fu Xuanliao wasn't interested in his talent, and his tone was filled with impatience: "What do you want from me?"
Shi Meng didn't beat around the bush and stated his purpose directly: "Today is Saturday."
"What's wrong with Saturday?"
"You should come over."
"Where are you coming from?"
"My home."
Fu Xuanliao chuckled: "Shi Meng, have you forgotten that we've already terminated our contract?"
Those words hit the nail on the head. With her free hand, she gripped the curtain fabric tightly and said, "There's no termination of the contract; it's still in effect."
Fu Xuanliao felt annoyed by this. He had called Shi Huaiyi several times this week, hoping to talk to him alone, but the old man was either unavailable or had something come up at the last minute, and he couldn't find an opportunity to meet him even by Saturday.
"It's already under discussion," Fu Xuanliao could only say. "It's only a matter of time."
There was nothing wrong with this approach in itself, but he forgot that Shi Meng's thought process was different from that of ordinary people, and that he was extremely stubborn.
"Whether it's early or late, the contract hasn't been terminated yet," Shi Meng said matter-of-factly. "You have to come on Saturday."
Fu Xuanliao, who hates being ordered around the most, almost smashed his phone.
However, it hasn't come to the point where compromise is necessary. After all, no matter how capable Shi Meng is, he still has to abide by the law.
So he calmed down again and casually said into the phone, "What if I don't go?"
I'm not going there. Are you going to tie him up from Heting and take him to the Shi family with a rope?
Fu Xuanliao thought Shi Meng would be scratching his head in frustration and get angry, but unexpectedly, there was a click on the other end of the line, and the call ended.
While Fu Xuanliao was staring blankly at the disconnected call screen, his phone vibrated; Shi Meng had sent him a photo.
With the thought of "I'll see what tricks you're up to," Fu Xuanliao clicked on the photo, and the moment he saw what it contained, his eyes widened and he jumped to his feet.
Then, after only managing to say "I have to go first" to Gao Lecheng, he rushed out.
They overtook and changed lanes all the way, arriving at the Shi family mansion in just half an hour.
The sun had set, and it was completely dark. When he knocked on the door and went inside, the aunt who answered looked surprised: "Young Master Fu, what brings you here? Master and Madam aren't home..."
Fu Xuanliao had no time to listen carefully. After entering the house, he ran towards the stairwell without looking back, taking three steps at a time and rushing up to the attic in one go.
When he burst through the studio door, a blast of cold air rushed in with his overly rapid breathing. The sudden change in temperature caused him to cough incessantly, his hair was disheveled, and he looked quite disheveled.
However, Fu Xuanliao couldn't care less about these things, because the scene in front of him was too horrifying. The sudden sight made him tremble with fear, as if he had a stress reaction, causing him to tremble wildly from the tips of his fingers to his heart.
— Less than three meters directly in front of him, Shi Meng, dressed in a thin nightgown, sat on the windowsill holding a painting that was half her height. The frame and half of her body hung outside the window. A dim light shone from above her head, and behind her was the boundless darkness.
The wind rushed into the room from his side, lifting the loose corner of Shi Meng's clothes, making him feel as if he could be blown up at any moment, lifted high into the air, and then crashed down, finally shattering into pieces.
Hearing the sound, Shi Meng turned around and looked at the person standing at the door, still panting, and showed his first smile in days.
His choice was right.
He could finally breathe a sigh of relief and smiled at Fu Xuanliao, saying, "You've come."
His heart was pounding so hard it was deafening. Fu Xuanliao couldn't even tell whether this overwhelming fear stemmed from the fear of the painting being destroyed or from the worry that Shi Meng would fall.
The situation was critical, and there was no time for him to sort out his thoughts. Fu Xuanliao stepped forward and shouted, "Are you crazy? Get down here!"
Perhaps it was the word "crazy" that reminded Shi Meng, who, after sitting in the cold wind for a long time, suddenly remembered why he was sitting there.
He moved the painting, titled "Flame," a few inches out the window, found it amusing, and then moved himself out about an arm's length.
Then, as if she had discovered something new and exciting, she turned to look at Fu Xuanliao again, full of curiosity and fearless ignorance, and asked, "Are you trying to push me down?"
Fu Xuanliao felt a sinking feeling in his chest, and his feet froze on the spot.
Seeing his reaction, Shi Meng smiled silently again.
A cold wind roused him, and he shed his innate sluggishness. His soul soared into the air, and with the aid of a pair of all-seeing eyes, he transformed into a god who looked down upon all living beings.
He could almost see all the evil and dark thoughts in Fu Xuanliao's heart, those that had already sprouted, those that were suppressed, those that were hidden in secret corners... all of them were magnified countless times and seen clearly.
Unfortunately, it was too late. He had already stepped onto a tightrope alone. The path ahead was narrow and steep, and behind him was pitch black. There was no turning back; he could only move forward.
Here, tears and weakness are utterly useless, and gentleness and waiting will not earn you any pity.
So, having returned to being a commoner with a mortal body, he could only put his removed armor back on and then cover it with hard spikes.
The smile on his lips lost its warmth, slowly flattened by a heavy weight. Shi Meng stood in the biting wind, coldly watching Fu Xuanliao, and told him as if she were an outsider, "But if you push me down... this painting will be gone too."
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