Chapter 11: The Remaining Emotions Become Paintings

  Wu Xin was still gazing at her with an infatuated expression, Fang Xiaoqin blushed and said: "It's dawn!"

  "Oh! Don't be in a hurry! Let's warm up for a while, it's getting colder and I don't want you to catch a chill!"

  Fang Xiaoqin's heart was eager to get drunk, but she didn't give in and said: "It's disgusting! I want to go clean up early, or else Dad and Mom will laugh at me later!"

  "But I don't want to move. Besides, can you get up?" Wu Xin said with a mischievous smile.

  Jian Fang Xiao Qin blushed and couldn't help but giggle, her face radiating the joy of being a newlywed. Suddenly, she said softly: "Xiao Qin! Do you want to see me paint? I love painting flowers the most, and it just so happens that I've saved many colors. How about I create my first-ever masterpiece for you?"

  Fang Xiaoqin was first shy, then strangely said: "Is what you said true? Can you really paint? Don't deceive me! If you end up painting a mess, I won't accept it!"

  "Wu Xin smiled and said, 'Don't worry! If I don't create a shocking painting for you, how can I be worthy of you?' Although he was smiling, his words were filled with sincerity and gratitude."

  "Bravo! Then go and draw it! I'll be fine too!"

  "Alright! But I'm going to keep this!" Wu Xin said, pulling out a white cloth from the quilt.

  Fang Xiaoqin saw him and smiled shyly, saying softly: "How did you suddenly become so feudal? I was just about to throw this dirty thing away!"

  Wu Xin tapped his finger on Fang Xiaoqin's beautiful nose and smiled: "I don't know who is feudal, but someone has prepared a good white cloth! And it seems like they've been planning this for a long time?"

  Fang Xiaoqin furrowed her brow and swung a fist at Wu Xin's chest, but was caught by Wu Xin.

  "Alright, don't catch a cold! This is exactly my canvas!"

  "Ah!" Fang Xiaoxin exclaimed: "How can this be?"

  "Don't worry! Go ahead and mind your own business!" Wu Xin smiled and pushed her away.

  The two of them then busied themselves, each washing and dressing before going about their separate ways.

  Fang Xiaoxin couldn't help but laugh at the mother who was making breakfast, while Wu Xin secretly took a white cloth and slipped into the study, not coming out for half a day.

  When everything was ready and everyone had sat down waiting for breakfast, Wu Xin still hadn't come out.

  "Go call him out!" said Mrs Fang with a smile to Fang Xiaoqin.

  "I'm not going!" Fang Xiaoqin said with her head down and pouting.

  "What's wrong? Are you feeling embarrassed now?" Mr. Fang said with a sly smile: "Forget it, I'll go call him!" After finishing speaking, he slowly got up and walked into the study room. But saw Wu Xin staring at a painting from afar, his eyebrows furrowed, thinking about something.

  Father Fang was curious and hurriedly went closer to take a look, and for a moment he was also stunned!

  All Wu Xin saw was a long white cloth about two meters long and half a meter wide. The white cloth was tightly attached to a wooden board, stretched tight without any wrinkles, as if it were part of the board itself. On the white cloth, some things were drawn with a brush, although they were light and few in number, they could still be clearly seen. The scenery was painted very vividly. On the left side of the white cloth, there was a cliff, strange rocks, and a cluster of small grasses that seemed to be densely packed. In the middle of the white cloth, there was a palm-sized pond, with a lotus flower rising high in the center, its buds about to open, surrounded by pink dots. There were also several other flowers around, some with blood-red petals, others pale and faint, which made the central lotus flower look even more elegant and refined, surpassing all the other flowers. Although they were all painted with a brush, the scenery was sometimes sparse, sometimes dense, with bold and fine lines, and from a distance, it seemed as if they had colors!

  Father Fang only felt that he had also come to a desolate wilderness, where he saw a small pond. The water in the pond was very clear, with tiny ripples, as if a cool breeze had blown up, wrinkling the surface of the water. On the right side of the white silk, there was a blank space, apparently unpainted.

  Although Father Fang didn't quite understand painting, he was deeply captivated by this scene and looked at it carefully.

  The mother and daughter in the hall were both strange, and after Father Fang went in, he never came out again.

  The two of them looked at each other, and Fang's mother smiled: "I'll go see what they're doing, why don't they come out!"

  After a long time, none of the three came out.

  Fang Xiaoqin looked at the door awkwardly, unsure of what was going on, and also got up and entered the room.

  Just as she walked in, she saw that all three of them were staring blankly at a painting. Fang Xiaocin only then realized what was going on and her face turned bright red again. But she had no idea what kind of embarrassing thing he had painted. Fang Xiaocin secretly worried.

  As she walked closer, her eyes lit up and Fang Xiaoxin was stunned! Fang Xiaoxin was known as the "little genius" in school, with some knowledge of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Seeing this painting, although there were few strokes, there were many scenes, showing that the ink was concise, and although it was just a few strokes, the stones, grass, flowers, and water all had a vivid presence. What's more, those lotus flowers seemed to have come alive, as if they were whispering to each other. The whole painting was frugal with ink, using one stroke to convey ten, simple yet comprehensive, conveying meaning beyond the strokes themselves. It was indeed a rare masterpiece, only...only that red color on the lotus flower was a bit too embarrassing! Fang Xiaoxin saw it and felt both grateful and shy, her heart beating happily, gazing at Wu Xing in a daze.

  Wu Xin was stunned for a moment before regaining his composure and exclaimed: "Ah! When did you all run over here?"

  "Your mother was both angry and amused, saying: 'What did you think we were just now? We've been here for a long time! Early in the morning, busy painting, and actually led us all away.'"

  Wu Xin said with embarrassment: "Sorry! Xiao Qin, I... I was too hasty just now and forgot about the layout. Now I think this layout isn't quite right, so I'm thinking about how to make it better. This matter can't be taken lightly!"

  Fang Xiaoqin happily said: "Brother Wu Xin, it's okay! Your drawing is very good, I like it very much!"

  "Wu Xindao said: 'Ashamed! Unfortunately, I was rash for a moment, and this canvas is the only one... otherwise I would definitely repaint one for you! Let me think carefully about how to perfect it!'"

  Mr. Fang's father and mother heard this, felt very pleased in their hearts, and burst out laughing.

  Father Fang said: "Wu Xin, don't be in a hurry, let's eat first and talk later!"

  Wu Xin nodded, looked at Fang Xiaoqin's parents' expression, and felt a bit embarrassed, so he went out the door to have a casual breakfast with everyone. Wu Xin didn't go to school, but instead was busy for half a day before finishing his painting, adding some scenery, and writing some poetry on the right side. He then framed it, creating his first work in his life, and was busy until Fang Xiaoqin got out of school in the afternoon.

  Fang Xiaoqin returned, saw that he was even more delighted, and slightly shyly said: "Wu Xing brother! Why did you have to spend so much time? Besides, this isn't a painting for others to see!"

  Wu Xin listened, hugged Fang Xiaoqin and said softly: "Of course, this is not for others to see. If it were, I wouldn't be willing to spend so much time! This is specially for my little darling to see, so it must be even more serious and better painted!"

  Fang Xiaoxin leaned against Wu Xin's chest, and didn't make a sound, only gently blowing out the fragrance of orchids. As she blew, she suddenly felt something pressing against her from below, startling her pale cheeks to turn white as she looked at Wu Xin. Wu Xin smiled softly and said: "It's okay, don't be afraid! I'm going home now!"

  Fang Xiaoqin smiled and nodded: "Why don't we go to my room for a cup of tea first?"

  The two of them came to Fang Xiaoqin's room with interesting expressions, drank tea for a while, chatted for a bit, and then left.

  "Xiao Qin! Let's discuss this, shall we? I just took a photo of the painting and posted it online, and your father's artist friend saw it. He asked when we acquired such a valuable piece and said it was an authentic work from some ancient famous family. He wants to come over from the city right away to take a look. You won't mind, will you?"

  "Mom! How can you do this? That painting... who would want to see it? It was okay when we just glanced at it, but if you look closely, it's really ugly..." Xiao Qin said with a low head and an embarrassed smile.

  "How can you not see people? Especially that lotus flower, with a faint red glow in its elegance... Ah! Is this red...?" Fang's mother's eyes widened, her mouth open wide enough to fit an egg, looking at Xiao Qin's lowered head and blushing expression, only then did she react.

  After being stunned for a long time, Mother Fang finally said softly: "What to do?" and then went with Fang Xiaoxin to the study room to find Father Fang.

  Mr. Fang's father was still carefully looking at the painting, which was taken away by Mrs. Fang and handed over to Xiao Qin. Mr. Fang's father didn't know what was going on and looked at them in confusion, saying: "What's wrong? Can't I take a look?"

  Mrs. Fang smiled shyly and whispered something in his ear, and Mr. Fang suddenly realized, only looking at Xiao Qin. Xiao Qin lowered her head, blushing, playing with the hem of her clothes, not daring to look at her father.

  Father Fang smiled slightly and said: "What can we do now? We've all promised Uncle Xie."

  Mother Fang laughed and said: "What boyfriend! They're all sons-in-law!"

  The three of them chatted for a while, when suddenly Father Fang thought: "What if my friend arrives soon? Can't let him come in vain!" Mother Fang was startled and said: "Yes, he's driving, and it won't be more than half an hour before he arrives."

  "Why don't we ask Wu Xin to paint another one?" Father Fang looked up at the two of them.

  "It's too late! Besides, Wu Xin has been busy all day, he should be allowed to rest!" Fang Xiaoqin said softly.

  "Anyway, that's how it is! Xiao Qin, don't be too hard on him. Where can he go to escape from you? Besides, he got to marry my beautiful and intelligent, multi-talented and charming daughter, what a huge advantage for him. If he dares not listen to me, just watch me deal with him."

  Fang Xiaoqin listened and pouted, saying "Mom!"

  Father Fang hadn't finished listening before he went to pull Wu Xin over and told him the general idea.

  Wu Xin sighed and said: "Alright! Bring that brush quickly, let's hurry up and draw!"

  Three people watched Wu Xin paint, and saw that his hands moved extremely fast, lightly flashing, and the brush seemed to have already been planned out in his mind, probably because he had painted it before. At first, there were just a few light strokes here and there, not forming any scenery, but then the brush flew across the paper, with a few strokes here and a few dots there, as if floating like an immortal. When he moved quickly, you couldn't see where his brush was, and when he slowed down, it became steady and cautious. Everyone was mesmerized without realizing it. In just one hour, Wu Xin had finished painting.

  Wu Xin's face turned red as he said, "It can only be done this way, there's just not enough time."

  Father Fang regained his composure and said: "Not bad! Not bad! This painting is good, you're good too. In the future, be sure to treat our little Qin well!"

  Wu Xin nodded solemnly and said, "I, Wu Xin, guarantee that even if I lose my life, I will not let Xiao Qin suffer any grievances!" Fang Xiaoyin heard this and pinched Wu Xin hard on the side. Wu Xin yelped in pain, causing everyone to burst out laughing.

  "Wu's mother smiled and said: 'This painting is indeed beautiful! But I want to compare it with Xiao Qin's, which one is better?'"

  "Is it! Just looking at this one, I think it's good. Comparing them will reveal the pros and cons."

  Only when several people unfolded it to take a look did they realize that Xiao Qin's painting was even more delicate and smooth than the one in front of them, and the scenery was even more vivid and lifelike.

  "Still prefer Little Qin! We asked you to draw and it turned out like this!"

  Mum!

  "Alright, I'm most afraid of Xiaoyin's trick! I'll go cook some dishes now. Wu Xin, you can leave after dinner!" She quickly ran into the kitchen.

  Then Father Fang pulled Wu Xindao over: "Take a look at this house, the walls are all white and empty. When you have time, take care of it, whether it's words or paintings, whatever size you think is good, just be responsible for decorating this house! Is that okay?

  Wu Xin could only nod in agreement.

  Mother Fang casually cooked a few dishes, and her craftsmanship was very good.

  Not long after this "family" hastily finished dinner, they heard the sound of a car horn outside.

  Several people busied themselves going out to welcome the honored guest.