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

The artist looked at the sky outside.

Her painting is different from others. If no one is looking at it, the time depicted in the painting is forever fixed at a certain point in the daytime.

If someone were to look at it, the flow of time in the painting would be exactly the same as in the real world outside.

"It's getting late. Ah Xi, why don't you stay here with me and keep me company?"

"..."

After pondering for a moment, Bai Zhou agreed to the artist's request.

Even if he goes out, he'll still be alone, so he might as well stay here and talk to her. Two people are always better than one.

"Then Ah Xi, please sit here first. I'll go get you some bedding."

Because it's a bamboo house, you can sleep on the floor as long as you lay out your bedding.

"Sir... thank you for your trouble."

He took off his clothes during the day and lay down on the mattress.

"Ah Xi, Ah Xi..."

The artist awoke from his dream with a trembling body.

After catching her breath, she looked around and saw that the paintings were piled up like mountains.

However, no matter how many paintings are in this room, they are not as valuable as a familiar greeting at this moment.

"Back then..."

She sat on the mat, staring silently at the pile of papers in front of her.

“Ah Xi…”

She just had a dream.

She dreamt that her gifts, her Ah Xi, were stolen by a fake person impersonating her.

"You deserve it all, you fool."

No matter how well you paint, it's still just a piece of paper stained with ink.

When did paper become more important than people?

She actually hesitated because of this.

If she had the chance to do it all over again, she... would never let go.

"Ha...a fool's dream."

Where in this world can you buy a pill to undo your mistakes?

The little guy must have been very resentful of her when he learned that she had refused.

Such an outcome cannot be reversed unless there is another woman desperately trying to salvage it.

If even a real person can provoke such resentment in him, how could a mere fake person possibly win him back?

"..."

"Ah Xi, how is this belated wedding night?"

Inside the bamboo hut, this fabricated portrait struggles to bear the weight of sorrow and longing. Yet, its depth and weight are too much for her to bear alone; the ink flows on and on...

"Although it's not her, but... no matter where it is, sir, I can guarantee it will be exactly the same."

Even though he was almost delirious from the overwhelming longing, the artist still tried his best to express his true feelings to him.

"gentlemen……"

Bai Zhou embraced the exhausted painter, his expression complex.

He even laughed at Du Heng back then for being so infatuated with a fictional character.

Reflecting on his reckless actions just now, he was even worse than Du Heng. He actually mixed his own colors into a pure painting.

But... which cadre can withstand such a test?

“Ah Xi… next time, can you let the master be on top again?”

The artist enjoyed watching Bai Zhou's changing expressions from above. That way, it would seem like she was the only one he cared about.

"Sir, you can do whatever you want."

Once the arrow is released, there's no going back; it's gone forever.

Instead of worrying about these things, just enjoy life.

After all... even a fake one cares about him more than the real one, and is more willing to accept him than the real one.

"Mmm. Ah Xi, you're such a good girl."

As the sun rose higher, the lynx, after having breakfast, came to the White Night Palace to find him.

"Your Highness, good day."

After exchanging greetings with him, the lynx looked around at the new furnishings in the room.

A painting hangs on the wall opposite him, depicting a lush bamboo forest.

"It's a good painting."

Kal'tsit made a compliment, then turned her attention to Daylight.

"Kal'tsit, how was your rest?"

During the day, I pay close attention to my friend's life experience here.

"Apart from the food being a bit cold, everything else was excellent."

"Haha, in that case, let's go find a restaurant on the street for lunch later, what does Kal'tsit think?"

There was nothing Bai Zhou could do about the food in the palace. Although he was not afraid of poison, others could not be like him, so he had to do more to ensure food safety.

"Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness."

Surprisingly, the lynx did not refuse, and thus successfully attracted Bai Zhou's attention.

"Kal'tsit, are you... joking with me?"

Such a straightforwardness... it's not like her at all.

The lynx's eyebrows curved slightly, and then it said:

"Your Highness, I've been thinking of finding a flower to grow for my own leisure and recreation these past few days."

"It just so happens that Your Highness is going out today, so I'd like to take advantage of your situation and go out with you."

"I see. It's just a flower... Hmm, let's go to the flower market to take a look."

With Bai Zhou's permission, the lynx's face softened considerably, to the point that Bai Zhou vaguely saw a smile on her face, but in the blink of an eye, he could only see the lynx's kitten face.

During the day, she didn't think too much about it, but instead considered what position would be suitable for the lynx but wouldn't overwork her.

What are the dreams of a 17-year-old man?

"Your Highness, what do you think of this flower?"

The lynx pointed to a lily and asked for his opinion on the daylight beside it.

"Hmm...it's quite pretty."

I don't know much about flowers, and after looking at them for a long time, this is all I can say.

"White lilies symbolize pure love, a long and happy marriage, a beautiful family, and best wishes."

When the young girl in the flower shop saw the two of them, she came over and explained the meanings behind the flowers.

"Since this lady likes it, why don't you buy one for her? Family harmony and marital happiness are the most important things."

The young woman's sales pitch was a little awkward, but she got to the point. Men generally don't refuse to spend a little money to please women when the topic turns to them.

"...Do you love me?"

Bai Zhou laughed, which made the little girl look puzzled.

"You guessed wrong, little girl. We're not a couple."

"Ah, I see... I'm sorry, gentlemen. It's just that you two are such a perfect match... It's my fault."

When her secret was exposed, the girl's fair face immediately turned red with embarrassment, and she apologized to the two men repeatedly.

"It's alright, it's alright. She and I have been friends for many years, and I just wanted to buy some flowers to take home and care for."

Bai Zhou also said:

"Now that we've met you, young lady, please recommend a flower for us. If it suits your taste, I'll buy it."

"What does Kal'tsit think?"

The lynx nodded slightly in agreement.

Although it differs from what she imagined, as long as the result is the same, the process doesn't matter.

"Hmm... in that case..."

The little girl looked at the two of them, then pondered for a few moments and came up with an idea.

"Since you two are close friends, this is certainly suitable for you. Please wait a moment."

The girl turned and went inside. Half a minute later, she returned with a packet of seeds.

"These are gardenia seeds. The gardenia symbolizes eternal friendship, and I believe there is no flower more suitable for you two gentlemen."

She pointed to a small white flower displayed on the counter and told the two of them about it.

“Eternal friendship… very good. Little girl, I’ll buy this potted plant and these seeds.”

In broad daylight, he waved his hand, took out his purse, and paid the money.

"Thank you for your patronage, gentlemen. Here is also a book on gardenia cultivation, which I will give to you as well. Please take good care of these little creatures."

"That's inevitable."

During the day, Bai Zhou handed the seeds and the book on how to grow flowers to the lynx, then picked up the potted plant and said goodbye to the little girl.