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

"It's not worth it. Next time, don't spend money recklessly."

"Yes, sir, you're right. I think so too."

He nodded in agreement during the day.

"You can eat these. Don't waste them."

The artist took two more bites and then pushed the remaining crab roe and crab meat to Bai Zhou. But to his surprise, Bai Zhou pushed it back to him.

The artist raised an eyebrow, and just as he was about to knock, he saw Bai Zhou suddenly smile mysteriously.

"Sir, I knew you couldn't stomach such bland food, so... ta-da!"

Bai Zhou took a white porcelain bottle from under the table and showed it to the painter as if it were a treasure.

"This is……"

Upon seeing this small bottle, the artist seemed to have an epiphany.

"Hey, this is what I saw when I came back. Red yeast rice wine! I heard it's the most famous wine in Shuanglin Town. The shopkeeper said it's the best accompaniment to crab."

During the day, he removed the bottle cap and took out a small cup.

"Sir, what do you think of crab with wine?"

"..."

In front of me are fragrant drinks and delicious snacks to accompany them.

The artist swallowed hard and picked up his chopsticks.

"Hey, if you like it, have some more!"

Returning to the Twelve Clouds in the Painting, Clouds in the Painting

Xi sat on the edge of the bed, the taste of wine and crab still lingering in her mouth.

With her feet submerged in the warm water, the constant feeling of comfort made Xi close her eyes contentedly.

"Sir, is this pressure enough?"

The daytime inquiry received no verbal response, but was followed by a sharp crack on the forehead.

Xi reached out and gently flicked him with her cool fingertips.

The little devil looked up in confusion, seemingly wondering why she had done this.

Is this interesting? Yes, it is very interesting.

For Xi, getting the kid to show any expression other than that stiff smile was the most interesting form of entertainment in her spare time.

"..."

Bai Zhou blinked, then lowered his head again to massage earnestly.

"..."

Xi did not withdraw her hand, but instead went further, gently stroking Bai Zhou's translucent, ink-like horn as if she were playing with a piece of beautiful jade.

The patterns and shapes of the horns flow from the fingertips into the heart, just like those unanswered questions.

The writer's attitude towards the little devil, and the little devil's attitude towards writing.

Xi was puzzled.

They... are a little too close.

How could the writer, that guy who, like himself, didn't want to get too involved with worldly affairs, be so...gentle towards someone?

The kid, too, keeps bringing up... um, I'm overthinking it.

Indeed, I shouldn't have succumbed to the temptation to drink.

Alcohol is a dangerous thing that can bewitch people and disturb their peace. She will never touch it again!

"Sir, you should rest now."

The call of daylight will awaken dusk from its tipsy daze.

"Why are you resting so early?"

Xi withdrew her hand and moved further inside the bed, supporting herself on the bed frame.

Then, she looked up at the window, and the bright sky annoyed her slightly.

She needs to rest before it's even dark? Absolutely not!

"Oh? Sir? Your feet aren't dry yet! The floor isn't clean, sir! Please put your shoes on!"

During the day, holding a towel, she hurriedly followed Xi, who was running "swish swish swish" to the bamboo box containing the paintings, seemingly looking for something.

"Ugh?"

The next moment, Bai Zhou stood there in a panic, the painter nowhere to be found.

■

Bai Zhou silently rolled up the towel in his hand and draped it over his shoulder. Then he slowly moved his feet backward until his back was pressed against the cold rock and there was nowhere left to retreat. Only then did he begin to look around at his surroundings.

Looking up, one sees four towering mountain peaks reaching into the clouds, with thousands of cliffs vying for beauty, shrouded in mist and clouds, their details obscured from view, and occasionally the cries of beasts can be heard.

Looking down, one sees a vast expanse of white clouds, seemingly bottomless, as if life were swimming within them.

Looking around again, one sees the mountain scenery of the same mountain where one was during the day. Everywhere one looks, there are towering peaks and jagged rocks, with clouds and mist swirling around them. The mountain path winds and twists, turning every ten steps and then again, right next to a sheer cliff.

The ground beneath one's feet is less than half a meter wide. If a climber is not focused, he may fall into the bottomless abyss and be smashed to pieces if he loses his composure.

"Where did the gentleman go?"

Xi was nowhere to be seen during the day.

The artist left him there, and then disappeared without a trace.

We need to find Mr. [name] as soon as possible.

With no way back, we have no choice but to move forward.

During the day, I leaned against the rock face and slowly walked along the mountain path.

Once we find the gentleman, we need to ask him to widen the road a bit.

###

Suddenly the sky cleared, the mountains rolled up their curtains, and the clouds still held their shape as if the rocks were draped in clothing.

Xi sat on a blue stone, quietly watching the clouds drift and gather.

Beside her was a basket of fresh apricots, and Xi would occasionally grab one and put it in her mouth.

This kind of life is wonderful.

But it seems like something's missing?

Xi held an apricot in her hand and then tossed it into the sea of ​​clouds, but it didn't make a sound at all.

Some parts are too quiet.

"Sir! Sir!"

"..."

The cheerful cheers from behind made Xi freeze in mid-air as she tossed the apricot.

Turning around, I saw a little devil covered in dust, who looked like he had suffered a lot to climb up there.

"Sir! Thank goodness! I've finally found you... Waaah!"

The daytime, which had rushed over excitedly, was struck head-on by a flying apricot.

"It's noisy."

Looking at Bai Zhou, who was crouching and defending himself not far away, Xi snorted and picked up an apricot to show off.

"gentlemen."

During the day, he covered his forehead and waited for a while, but no second apricot came before he looked up at the sunset.

"gentlemen!"

"Crack~"

The second apricot, arriving late, hit him precisely.

“(?﹏?)”

After tossing two apricots in a row, Xi's mood improved somewhat.

"come over."

"Hey, sir."

Upon hearing Xi's voice, Bai Zhou, who had been squatting there, grabbed two apricots and ran over with a smile.

Does it hurt?

Xi glanced at Bai Zhou's forehead, where a faint blush was imprinted in the center, the two apricots having landed in the same spot.

"It doesn't hurt."

"Ok?"

Xi raised an eyebrow after hearing Bai Zhou's response.

She used a little force just now, the kid couldn't possibly not feel pain...

"Actually... it still hurts a little, but it will be fine soon, sir."

The little devil didn't seem to feel any pain.

That's strange...

Xi raised her hand and gently touched the red mark.

"gentlemen?"

"Speak your mind."