Ji Sang let out a deep sigh, suppressing his overly rapid heartbeat, hoping he wouldn’t misspeak.
There wasn’t much of a disturbance, but the courtyard was so quiet that Ah Xing put down her pen and turned her head to look at Ji Sang.
The two exchanged a smile.
"Have you arrived?"
Her soft voice brought a hint of warmth in the days transitioning from autumn to winter and also relaxed Ji Sang, who didn’t know quite what to say.
"Mm, what are you painting?"
Ah Xing shifted aside to let Ji Sang see for himself.
On the easel was unmistakably the tree outside the yard. Ji Sang had been too far to see it clearly before. Only now did he notice that the painting was not exactly the sa as the tree outside.
Ah Xing had added an unrelated flower to the originally bare trunk.
At first glance, it seed discordant, but upon further examination, it revealed a different perspective.
Like withered wood in spring, although not of the sa kind, this visual clash vividly expressed a longing for life.
The flower was precisely a rose.
Ji Sang’s eyelashes trembled slightly; could this be Ah Xing’s desire?
She, like herself, wanted to rember past events.
She wanted to know who she was, who her family was—only then would her life be complete.
"Ah Xing, do you now know why you like red roses?"
The last ti he asked, he couldn’t get an answer from Ah Xing, who also didn’t understand why she loved red roses so much.
Perhaps it was Ji Sang’s earnest gaze, Ah Xing’s eyes returned to the painted rose.
After a few minutes, she finally spoke slowly.
"Maybe it’s passion."
"Red roses are so beautiful, flamboyant, like fire, it’s as if they embody love for this world."
"So beautiful that one cannot look away."
"So beautiful that even without color, you know she is smiling."
Just like the ti at the old house, what Ye Lin said to Ji Sang was exactly the sa.
See, no matter what happens, she is still fundantally herself, still the Fu Zhixing who loves the world, loves life, and dreams passionately from the Fu Family.
Ji Sang, who barely suppressed his heartbeat, now felt it accelerating once again.
"Ah Xing, can you gift this painting to ?"
Ah Xing was slightly surprised but nodded.
"Of course, as long as you like it."
Ah Xing didn’t understand her inexplicable familiarity with Ji Sang, guessing she might resemble soone she knew, which is why she treated her gently.
Just like dealing with the mory she couldn’t recall.
...
"I will co to see you tomorrow and bring you a gift."
This was what Ji Sang said to Ah Xing before leaving the sanitarium.
While the two were in the courtyard, Yong Qi stayed inside the tea house without coming out, giving them space.
He wasn’t sure whether Ji Sang wouldn’t bring up the Fu Family’s issues, but now looking at Ah Xing’s condition, it seed she still didn’t know.
"The little lady seed troubled today."
It was rare for Ah Xing to spontaneously talk about others.
Yong Qi also found it strange why she would act this way towards Ji Sang upon their first eting.
"Do you like her?"
"Don’t you think she is beautiful? Those eyes."
Eyes?
Yong Qi suddenly laughed.
"They are beautiful, identical to yours."
Ah Xing frowned, puzzled, and looked at Yong Qi.
He suddenly pointed at the glass that could serve as a mirror.
"Take a look, you both have the sa sparkle in your eyes."
Even though Ah Xing’s eyes were much gentler now, he could still see a semblance in them.
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