I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

But the people were gone during the day.

Nian Meng, who had been following behind, was confused.

It's daytime!

She has such a big younger brother!

Nian walked quickly to the place where daylight disappeared, and then suddenly realized.

"Paintings for the National Day holiday."

In the blink of an eye, the view has shifted from the outside world to the world within the painting.

Gazing at the sky where the sun and moon rise together, displaying two distinct colors, Bai Zhou took a deep breath.

I never expected to find Mr. [Name]'s paintings here.

The ceremony was interrupted, but Bai Zhou was not annoyed; in fact, she was somewhat pleasantly surprised.

If the ritual is interrupted, the earth's veins can be reconnected; if the erection of the cauldron fails, it can be started again.

But if the gentleman doesn't accept the painting this time, it might disappear next time.

Bai looked around during the day.

He was in a bamboo forest, with thick white fog behind him, making it seem as if passage was prohibited.

Before him was a small path made of stone bricks, which seemed to be pointing him forward.

"So I don't need to find my way... Is this really a painting by the master?"

A sense of curiosity immediately arose in Bai Zhou's heart.

He also knows Xi's paintings quite well.

Generally, the most important information when entering a painting is the path leading to a certain place. However, given the artist's nature, she won't clearly present this path to you. Therefore, if you want to leave the painting, you have to find the way out yourself.

But this time, it actually came with its own road.

Weird.

Take a step during the day and keep walking along the road.

He walked for an unknown amount of time, and when he looked back, he could no longer see the fog that was blocking his way. Ahead of him was still a path with no end in sight.

"Why do you do this, sir?"

"Sir, you must have had your reasons for doing this."

Daylight continues to move forward.

About fifteen or twenty minutes later, a green bamboo house finally came into view during the day.

"Flowers and plants, flowing water... artificial hills and small ponds..."

The courtyard in front of me is full of artistic conception and beautiful scenery, making it a perfect place for retirement.

There should be someone here who drew this.

Bai Zhou walked slowly to the door of the bamboo house and gently knocked.

"Is anyone here? I am a traveler passing through, and it is getting dark. I would like to ask for lodging for the night."

This is a lie.

The world in the painting only changes when someone is looking at it. As it is now, the appearance of the heavens remains unchanged, and time in the painting does not change at all.

Bai Zhou called again, and this time, the door opened by itself.

"..."

It's unclear whether the person inside opened the door out of impatience or if the wind blew it open.

Step into it during the day.

Paintings—what you see are all kinds of paintings.

It contains all sorts of strange mountains and rivers, mountain spirits and monsters, customs and human relationships, and all aspects of life.

But what's most captivating is the artist who painted them.

“…That…that is…”

Looking at the figure sitting behind the screen, the tongue that could refute the ministers in court without any confusion during the day became stuttering and stiff.

After stammering for a few breaths, he swallowed and finally managed to utter a few words.

"Is this... sir?"

"The world is full of turbulent waves, and ten years can pass in the blink of an eye."

She recited the short verses aloud.

One sentence was enough to make a man shed tears for her.

"It really is... sir."

By day, I slowly circled the screen, nervously and eagerly looking at the person.

"Yes!"

It was a face he recognized, a face that had appeared in his dreams countless times.

"gentlemen……"

"sit down."

Her voice remained as gentle as ever, and as indifferent as ever, devoid of any earthly warmth.

"..."

During the day, he sat obediently opposite her, his eyes fixed on her, as if afraid she would suddenly disappear.

The other person was also sizing him up.

Then she smiled.

Although it was just a smile, it was definitely a smile.

"Long time no see, little one."

Upon hearing this, the joy on Bai Zhou's face vanished instantly.

"You are not a gentleman."

During the day, his face fell, and his tail, which had been held high, was now as wilted and limp as a frostbitten eggplant.

"I'm."

She maintained that smile.

"you are not."

He stared at her during the day, then reached out and wiped away her smile.

That looks better.

"I am her."

She wasn't angry at being treated this way; she was simply trying to prove her true identity.

"The gentleman only calls me 'Hey,' or... 'Ah Xi.'"

"I see."

She began to understand.

“But I am indeed her. Well, part of her.”

She raised her hand, and the thin pen that she kept in the pocket at her waist during the day flew into her hand.

"Did you...draw this, sir?"

He had some guesses during the day, but felt that something was still missing before he could prove them.

"I already said that."

She looked at the daylight, picked up her pen, and drew a little turtle on his face.

“I am a part of her. I possess some memories. Perhaps they were left to me intentionally.”

"Or, as you said, these are all 'experiences' she gave me, and I was just thinking that I was her."

She looked at Bai Zhou, then waved her hand, erasing the turtle from Bai Zhou's face.

"She arranged for me to be here, just to wait for your arrival, and then give myself to you."

"I see."

Her words gave Bai Zhou a slight understanding.

It turned out that the gentleman was also looking for her, and in order to avoid missing her, he specially left a scroll as instructions for her.

that's nice!

Bai Zhou looked at "Xi," who looked exactly like her husband, and a smile returned to her face.

"So, where are you now, sir?"

"do not know."

"Oh? When did you arrive, sir?"

"I don't remember."

"Oh! Then...when...when did the gentleman leave?"

"It's been too long, I don't remember."

The "evening" before me knew nothing, shattering the laughter of the daytime once more.

"But I can tell you what she's been doing all these years."

"so……"

But then, he simply... couldn't refuse.

He sat upright during the day, ready to listen to what his husband's life had been like since he left him.