The Horizon Gallery was one of the top three art galleries which held an art exhibition every year. It paved the way for all young and experienced artists to showcase their unique art talent.
Shui was going to be a part of it and was currently smothered by the love of her father from all sides. Zhiyuan had his nose grow in length by a few inches with tears of pride shining in his eyes.
"Isn't our daughter so amazing!" Then he covered his tearful face, "I am so proud of you…"
Nuo patted her father-in-law's shoulder nodding her head. She understood how doting fathers worked.
Siying touched his chin thoughtfully. "People really pay for your art or are you just scamming them?"
Shui kicked his leg with her sharp heel and he yelped. "Ouch!"
She sneered. "Don't worry Bro. Even if I am scamming them, I will make sure you are the Boss they chase for their money."
"..."
Xinyi pinched Siying's ears and frowned. "No teasing and fighting today."
"Aunty Xinyiii! Shui!" Xiao waved her hand to them for a greeting and pulled the matter in a warm hug.
"I am so happy for you hehe~"
"Xiao!" Shui brightened. "Thanks for coming."
"Of course I would," she then bowed before her family and everybody started gossiping.
Zhiyuan was happy to see Xiao as Shui's friend who ca to the gallery to show her support. But he wouldn't be so thrilled if her brother was here too.
"Is Kang Yuze here too?" He couldn't help but enquire with a twitched brow, making Xinyi and Siying sigh.
"Oh…Ah, yes. I an not right now but he will be arriving soon," she gingerly tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.
"Tch…" he clicked his tongue.
"Zhiyuan," Xinyi held a slight warning tone and he averted his eyes.
Suddenly, another person hopped to hug Shui from her back and chirped with an unmatchable zeal. "My dear Shuiiiii!! It's your most favorite Uncle Jing!!!"
"Uncle Jing! And Uncle Yukito too," Shui's expression bead like the sun and she warmly hugged him back too. "You ca too!"
"Of course I will! As a fellow artist of the sa world, how could I not co here and show my passionate support~?"
Yukito pinched her cheek. "Cannot wait to see your painting."
"You are the best!" she grinned.
"And how is my dearest Nuo and Muyang!" Jing sparkled as he grabbed them in his embrace too.
"Gaaaaaa!!" Little Muyang was evidently thrilled to see his great-uncle.
Nuo said, "As you can see, happy and rolling as always~ Like you and Uncle Yukito. Tell the truth. You ca here to show off your happy marriage, right?"
Yukito's brow twitched. "We are old for that now…"
Jing burst into tears. "But we are the happiest of the happiest!"
He glared at him. "You don't get to say that after watching my most embarrassing video that I was supposed to take to my grave!"
Shui coughed. "Sorry Uncle…I let the cat out of the bag."
"It's not your fault, dear," his voice softened.
Nuo and Zhiyuan curiously leaned in. "What, what, what? What is this secret video?"
Jing blossod like a sunflower. "It's where my dearest Yukito confesses his heartfelt and most passionate feelings for !!! He thought it was embarrassing so he hid it from ! But my heart…I couldn't be happier…" he burst into tears.
Yukito coughed. "Shui had accidentally found it one day when she was playing at our villa."
Nuo gasped. "And you didn't tell Shui! I feel betrayed," she clutched her chest.
"I-It was supposed to be a secret! I was very loyal."
Siying sneered. "Apparently not quite after more than twenty years. Who made you fumble?"
Her mouth twitched.
"It's Ren Alix!!" Jing happily answered. "I am sooooo indebted to her. She is such a good child! I am on the moon because of her!" He cried.
Yukito felt his heart filled with grievances.
Xiao asked, "Is Alix here too?"
Shui replied. "I didn't see her. I think she is on her way."
Nuo rembered. "Oh yeah, where is Jin?"
Jing pouted. "He is outside. He will co after a break. Apparently, he felt too suffocated with my expression of my love for my husband! Hmph, he is just a jealous Jini-boy!"
"..."
Yukito smiled. "Leina, Xing Bi and Ai are coming in another car. "They would be reaching anyti."
"Gaaaa…" Muyang was getting fussy so Nuo said, "Aww, sobody is getting cranky. I will be back."
Siying said, "Let take him."
"Na, be here with Shui. I will be fine," she smiled.
"A bowl of hot and spicy ran always cheers right up!" Jing sheepishly grinned.
"Muyang is only two, Uncle," Nuo rolled her eyes.
"He has the Liu family's blood in him. He definitely has the taste buds. I am telling you. At least make him sll the ran. He will definitely shine like an enlightened Buddha, hoho!"
"..."
—
In a secluded part of the parking lot where no soul could see him, Jin lit up a cigarette and lightly placed it between his lips. He stared hard at the concrete floor, unsure of the feelings riling him up.
He had used Jing's tomfoolery as an excuse to enter the gallery without them but truth to be told, he hesitated to go in. He didn't know what bothered him, but he suddenly didn't have the urge to see Shui's art.
What did she draw about?
Was it sothing similar to what he had found in her drawings?
And if it was, then what was he supposed to do about it?
He thought that six years in Paris would make moving on for him and Shui easier, but he wasn't feeling exactly that. On the contrary, it only got more difficult.
Going into the exhibition with all these questions and unresolved feelings felt more stressful than ever, so he couldn't help but step out to take a smoke.
"I see one naughty child here," a voice called out.
Jin froze and slowly looked up to find Alix aningfully smiling at him.
What the hell…
"You look like that teenager who hides from his parents for a smoke or to watch porn."
His brow twitched. "What are you even doing here?"
This place is supposed to be secluded…
The car keys jingled in her hand. "Just finding my parking spot."
"In this lonely place?"
"Everybody is lonely in this world. A lonely parking space hardly counts," she shrugged. "Plus, spots like these make feel alive~"
He grimaced. "What kind of a twisted fetish is that?"
"A fetish where I can plot so shady stuff in secrecy," she blinked with pure innocence.
Jin felt it was better to not interrogate that line of her thought process so he ignored her and continued to puff out a small stream of smoke out of his lips.
Alix raised her brow. "Does that calm you down?"
He glanced at her side once and looked away. "I want to think it does."
"So you are still thinking about Shui despite the fact that the cigarette should help you into not thinking about her."
Jin threw daggers at her. "Yeah thank you so much for that completely unnecessary reminder, genius!"
"Thank you. It's my job to keep you reminding of her~"
He gritted her teeth. He was about to bark at her when Alix suddenly pulled out the cigarette from his lips out of nowhere and held it in between her fingers.
"Hey! That's my-"
"Jin?"
He froze hard, recognizing his elder sister's voice. He slowly turned back, seeing Nuo carrying Muyang in her arms. She blinked at him, puzzled.
"What are you doing…" her nostrils twitched and she sniffed the air a bit, "Is that cigarette smoke?"
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