Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

Chapter 327 The Charming Painter 28

The amusement park was bustling with noise, laughter and music mingling together, making Liu Yunshu even more silent.

She sat on the carousel, her skirt swaying gently with its rise and fall.

His gaze was blank as he stared into the distance, as if separated by an invisible barrier.

Jiang Chi stood outside the fence watching her, his brows furrowed.

The Liu Yunshu he knew was shy.

But her eyes always sparkled, brimming with curiosity about the world and a love for painting.

Unlike now, it's deathly still, as if the light in their eyes has been forcibly ripped out.

Yunshu, what's wrong with you?

Jiang Chi's heart felt like it was being pricked by tiny needles, a dense, persistent pain.

The rocking horse slowly came to a stop, and Liu Yunshu slowly lifted her leg to walk down, her steps were so unsteady that she almost stumbled and fell.

Jiang Chi swiftly caught her, his fingertips touching the skin of her arm, which was as cold as a piece of jade soaked in water.

"Slow down." He spoke very softly.

"Want to go buy an ice cream? Your favorite strawberry flavor."

Liu Yunshu gently shook her head.

"A-Chi,"

Her voice was soft and gentle, with a barely perceptible huskiness.

"Will you come with me... for a walk?"

She stared intently at Jiang Chi's face.

The boy's handsome features shone brightly in the sunlight, clean and full of vibrant life.

She longed to throw herself into his arms and tell him all the excruciating fear and humiliation she had felt.

But Liu Chengyan's voice, like a poisoned vine, clung tightly to her throat—rewards have rules.

She knew the rules better than anyone else.

Jiang Chi noticed her gaze, turned his head to look at her, and his worry deepened: "Yun Shu, is there something you want to tell me?"

Liu Yunshu hurriedly turned her head away, looking at a rose bush in full bloom by the roadside, her voice as soft as the wind:

"It's nothing... I just haven't seen you in a long time and wanted to see you more often."

"Feel sorry,"

Jiang Chi lowered his voice, filled with sincere remorse.

"Recently, the team has suddenly added a lot of training tasks, and the schedule is very full."

"Suddenly... there's been a lot more... training?" Liu Yunshu repeated the question with difficulty.

Jiang Chi took it as her feeling sorry for him, and reached out to gently ruffle her hair, his touch incredibly tender.

"Yeah, it was pretty sudden. It seems the coach received some kind of notification."

His palms were warm, carrying the clean scent unique to young people.

Liu Yunshu's nose suddenly stung, and tears almost fell.

She hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to look at the cobblestone path under her feet, her voice muffled in her throat: "Then...then you should take care of yourself and get some rest."

"I will." Jiang Chi smiled and reached out to take her hand, but she shrank back like a startled rabbit.

Jiang Chi's hand froze in mid-air, the smile on his face faded slightly, and a trace of confusion and hurt flashed in his eyes.

But he didn't say anything. He simply put his hands back in his pockets, slowed his pace, and silently walked beside her.

Liu Yunshu watched a couple holding hands buying cotton candy not far away.

The girl smiled, her eyes crinkling, and the boy bent down to wipe the sugar stains from the corner of her mouth, their intimacy almost blinding.

That's how she and Jiang Chi should have been.

But now...

"A-Chi,"

Liu Yunshu stopped walking, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

"I...I should go back now. Mom said she cooked my favorite sweet and sour pork ribs for dinner."

Jiang Chi paused, a clear look of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

But he quickly composed himself, a gentle smile curving his lips: "Okay. I'll walk you to the intersection."

When they reached the intersection, Liu Yunshu glanced at the car parked not far away.

"Ah Chi, we... will be together forever, right?"

Jiang Chi was taken aback upon hearing this, then squatted down, looked up into her wet eyes, and gently took her cold fingertips in his hand.

This time she didn't dodge, but her fingertips were still trembling slightly.

His palms were warm and dry, carrying the clear strength unique to young people, and his tone was more serious than ever before: "Of course."

He gently stroked her knuckles with his thumb, his eyes shining as if they were filled with starlight.

"Once I achieve even better results and have enough confidence, I'll go to the Liu family to propose marriage and bring you home in style."

Liu Yunshu's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she almost shed a tear.

She desperately wanted what he said to be true, but she knew it was nothing but a mirage.

How could someone like Liu Chengyan possibly let her go?

She gently withdrew her hand and took half a step back.

"Yes..."

Her voice was as soft as a sigh about to dissipate in the wind; it was unclear whether she was trying to persuade him or deceiving herself.

"It definitely will."

"I should go." She turned around and walked unsteadily toward the black car.

Jiang Chi stood there, watching her slender figure from behind, his brows furrowed tightly.

He always felt that she had many things she didn't say.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Back at the Liu residence.

Liu Chengyan sat on the leather sofa in the living room, an unlit cigarette between his fingers.

"Having fun?" he asked, his voice devoid of emotion, but his fingertips unconsciously rubbed the cigarette.

Liu Yunshu hung her head, like a lifeless porcelain doll.

"……happy."

"Is that so?" Liu Chengyan chuckled softly, stood up, and slowly walked towards her.

He stopped in front of her, his tall figure completely enveloping her.

He reached out and gently brushed his fingertips across the corner of her eye, where the moisture still lingered.

"Have you been crying?"

Liu Yunshu turned her head away indifferently, avoiding his touch.

She didn't want to answer, and she was too tired to answer.

"I want to go to an art studio to paint."

She uttered those words in a hollow voice, then walked unsteadily past him, step by step, toward the studio at the top of the stairs.

Liu Chengyan stood silently in place, without making any attempt to stop him.

He simply turned his head and looked at her lifeless back.

He frowned deeply, a strange, chilling anxiety suddenly gripping his heart.

Yun Shu, she...

He was unusually flustered, the cigarette between his fingers becoming deformed from being squeezed.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Chengyan, where's Yunshu?"

Shen Wan put down her handbag, her tone filled with concern.

"She's painting in her studio," Liu Chengyan replied succinctly, raising his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Shen Wan's tone carried a hint of heartache and helplessness:

"Why is this child stuck in the studio again? What time is it? I'll go upstairs and call her down."

"Mom, I'll go." Liu Chengyan stood up.

"Okay, tell her that there will be sweet and sour pork ribs for dinner tonight, which she likes."

Liu Chengyan responded and turned to go up the stairs.

The studio door was ajar, letting in the dim yellow light from inside.

As he pushed open the door, his gaze was immediately fixed on the unfinished painting on the easel.

The canvas was covered with large swaths of thick, impenetrable ink, like the night sky before a storm, weighing heavily on one's heart.

The carousel, sketched with just a few strokes, stands alone in the center of the paper.

There was no color, no laughter, only a desolate stillness.

Liu Chengyan's heart clenched, as if gripped tightly by the darkness and desolation in the scene.

He quickly looked away, searching for Liu Yunshu's figure in the studio.

She was curled up on the large bay window sill in the corner of the studio, her hands tightly hugging her knees.

His chin rested on his knees, and he curled up into a tiny ball.

Even the sound of him pushing the door open and coming in failed to elicit the slightest reaction from her.

Liu Chengyan walked quietly behind her.

He could smell the faint scent of gardenias in her hair, mixed with the crispness of the moonlight, but it couldn't dispel the impenetrable stillness surrounding her.

He reached out, his fingertips hovering above her head. He hesitated for a moment, then finally placed his hand down.

Liu Yunshu's body trembled violently, but she neither turned around nor dodged.

"Finished drawing?" His voice was very low, with a hint of caution that he himself was unaware of, completely different from his usual domineering self.

Liu Yunshu did not respond and continued to look out the window.

"Don't you like amusement parks anymore?"

Liu Chengyan asked again, his gaze falling on the lifeless painting on the easel.

My Adam's apple bobbed slightly involuntarily, and a dull ache spread through my chest.

He had never seen Liu Yunshu like this before; she seemed to have lost all her vitality, leaving only an empty shell.

He leaned down, trying to see her face clearly, but all he saw was her pale profile and her tightly pursed, bloodless lips.

"Yun Shu,"

His voice softened further, carrying a hint of barely perceptible panic.

"I'll take you to eat sweet and sour pork ribs, Mom makes them, it's your favorite."

Liu Yunshu nodded slightly, but did not move.

Liu Chengyan bent down and carefully picked her up horizontally.

Her body was as light as a feather, curled up in his arms, obedient beyond belief, without even a struggle.

Shen Wan looked up at the noise and saw her son carrying her daughter down the stairs. She couldn't help but smile.

"This child is so big, yet still so clingy."

Mr. Liu put down his newspaper and joked with a smile, "Niannian has become quite close to Chengyan these past few days since she came back."

Liu Chengyan's Adam's apple bobbed as he looked down at the person in his arms.

Her face was buried in the crook of his neck, her breathing so faint it was almost imperceptible.

A strong, unfamiliar sense of panic gripped his heart like never before, even overshadowing his obsessive possessiveness.

He carried her to the dining table, gently placed her on a chair, and reached out to tidy up the stray hairs on her forehead.

Shen Wan placed a piece of sweet and sour pork rib into her bowl and said with a smile, "Try it, it's sweet and sour."

Liu Yunshu picked up her chopsticks, but her fingertips trembled violently, and she even had to use a lot of effort to pick up the small piece of pork rib.

She put the ribs in her mouth and chewed slowly, but couldn't taste anything.

Looking at her completely lost state, Liu Chengyan felt a sharp, agonizing pain in his heart.

He could barely control himself and wanted to reach out and hold her trembling hand.

"Why is Niannian dressed so warmly today? And her hands are shaking a little."

Mr. Liu put down his chopsticks, his gaze falling on the smoky gray turtleneck dress she was wearing, his tone tinged with doubt.

Shen Wan also glanced at her a few times, reaching out to touch her forehead, but Liu Yunshu instinctively dodged away.

The girl's movements were very light, yet they carried an almost instinctive resistance, causing Shen Wan's hand to freeze in mid-air.

Liu Yunshu seemed to realize that she had overreacted, and a trace of panic flashed across her pale face.

"I'm sorry... Mom... I didn't mean to..."

She withdrew her hand, gently patted the back of Liu Yunshu's hand, and spoke in an extremely soft voice:

"Silly child, why are you apologizing to your mother? Are you feeling unwell? Are you dressed so warmly because you're cold?"

Liu Chengyan put down his chopsticks at the opportune moment, and his voice was calm and gentle as he took over the conversation:

"I told her to wear more clothes. She was painting with the window open in her studio a few days ago and caught a chill, so she started coughing. I was worried she might catch a cold."

Hearing this, Shen Wan immediately frowned and gave him a reproachful look.

"You silly child, why didn't you say so sooner? I'll ask the nanny to stew some rock sugar pears for her later, to soothe her throat."

Mr. Liu nodded and didn't ask any more questions. He simply picked up a piece of pork rib and put it into Liu Yunshu's bowl: "Eat more to nourish your body."

Liu Yunshu tightened her grip on the chopsticks, her eyelashes drooping, her long lashes concealing the turbulent emotions in her eyes.