69

 "I'm curious, are you planning to confess to Zhao Ying?"

Qi Dong and Wang Hao weren't as nosy, plus there really wasn't anything suspicious about Xiang Ran lately. Other than his busy schedule with the art department's big screen project, he hadn't shown any signs of romantic interest. Although he spent a lot of time with Liu Shuyao, it was always in legitimate work contexts, so no one suspected anything.

No one could have imagined how the top student from the Computer Science department was secretly getting close to the art school's beauty.

Xiang Ran looked just like he always did, so the topic quickly shifted away.

"I'm planning to invite her out during the National Day holiday to gauge her feelings."

"Sounds good! What are you thinking of giving her when you confess?"

Xiang Ran subtly redirected the conversation.

Qi Dong scratched his head. "I don't know. That's why I'm consulting someone with experience."

Wang Hao had been with Xiao Qiao for several years, and their relationship remained stable, so everyone agreed his advice was valuable.

"First, think if she’s ever mentioned anything she likes in front of you—like lipstick or cosmetics?"

Xiang Ran thought for a moment. He hadn't been with Liu Shuyao for long, and their private conversations mostly revolved around sweet nothings and school life. He hadn’t heard her express any specific likes.

"If there’s something, just go for it. If not, pay attention to her favorite bags or something."

"Even just getting one of those that costs thousands would be fine."

"Are you talking about those luxury brands?"

Qi Dong didn’t know many brands but had heard of a few big names.

"I might as well smash my back teeth if I tried to buy one of those."

"We're not asking you to go bankrupt! Just get something within your means! Zhao Ying doesn’t seem like the type to chase after material things."

"What brands do girls generally like?"

Qi Dong kept pressing, then pulled out his phone to search. Wang Hao waved him off.

"Everyone has different tastes. What Xiao Qiao likes, Zhao Ying might not."

"You have to observe!"

Wang Hao repeated himself.

"So the key point from all this is just 'observe'???"

After thinking he might have found a gift idea, it turned out to be elusive!

Qi Dong had no leads, so he decided to browse Zhao Ying’s social media for clues.

Xiang Ran wasn’t as discouraged; he was good at observing but didn’t recognize girls' preferences. Even if they were right in front of him, he wouldn’t be able to distinguish them.

So, after pondering for a moment, he concluded he should check out Liu Shuyao’s studio.

The next afternoon after class, Xiang Ran texted Liu Shuyao and headed to the art school.

Looking at the autumn begonias in the small garden below, he felt a bit nostalgic. When he first came here, he thought it would just be a temporary visit, but now it seemed like they would be seeing each other frequently.

By evening, Liu Shuyao was the only one left in the studio.

The golden sunlight streamed through the window, casting beams on the art table and creating deep shadows. A gentle breeze wafted through the window, making the curtains sway slightly, mixing with the faint smell of paint that filled the room.

The wind blew a little further. This was the first time Xiang Ran had stepped into such an artistic place. He gazed at the various canvases filled with contrasting lines of light and shadow. The easel was neatly arranged with an assortment of brushes, some new and shiny, others old and worn, a bit chaotic.

Liu Shuyou sat by the window, her figure bathed in the soft evening light as if covered by a thin veil.

Her gaze was deep and focused, seemingly lost in the world of her creation, unaware that her boyfriend had entered.

Her long black hair cascaded gently over her shoulders, occasionally swayed by the breeze, partially hiding her profile.

On the canvas was a vast ocean, waves surging, with moonlight dancing on the ripples.

Liu Shuyou’s brush danced gracefully; she used blue to outline the depth of the sea. Under the moonlight, the silver ripples on the water came alive and serene under her strokes, as if the ocean was softly humming.

A small white boat floated lightly on the waves. In the center of the scene, a sail was slightly billowing, with a solitary boatman standing on the small craft. His figure appeared lean and resolute in the moonlight. The weariness of age was faintly etched on his face, casting a profound inner strength reflected on the shimmering sea surface during the quiet night.

Xiang Ran quietly approached, stopping behind her without disturbing Liu Shuyou.

Watching her immersed in the world of art reminded him of Bian Zhilin’s poem:

“You stand on the bridge to see the scenery, while the person in the building looks at you. The bright moon adorns your window, and you decorate others' dreams.”

Unconsciously, Xiang Ran took out his phone and snapped a photo of her silhouette, capturing the moment with her hair blowing in the breeze.

On the phone screen, the image of Liu Shuyou was frozen, with a corner of the canvas behind her. In that instant, Xiang Ran's heart seemed to pause.

Looking at the photo, he instinctively tapped “More” in the bottom right corner to set it as his wallpaper.

After a while, Liu Shuyou put down her brush, stretched her shoulders, and took out her phone, seemingly checking for messages.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she unexpectedly spotted her boyfriend behind her.

“You're here~”

Her eyes were bright, her voice carrying an unrecognized excitement.

Xiang Ran nodded. When Liu Shuyou was focused on painting, there was a sense of distance about her, her expression cold and aloof like ice and snow. Yet, when she softened her voice, her slightly upturned eyes revealed a mix of beauty and tenderness, a stark contrast.

“Can you wait for me a bit?”

“There's just a little left to finish~” Liu Shuyou pointed at her work on the canvas.

Though she wanted to hurry out on a date with her boyfriend, she felt she couldn’t leave her work unfinished. It was never good to leave things half-done, especially with painting, where a broken train of thought could be hard to resume.

“It’s fine, no rush.”

After saying this, Xiang Ran found a chair and sat down beside her.

They exchanged a few words occasionally.

“You paint really well,” Xiang Ran said, looking at the canvas.

“Where?”

Liu Shuyou was in the finishing stages, so she replied to her boyfriend.

“Uh... everywhere looks great.”

Xiang Ran struggled to articulate his appreciation for her art. He could sense a unique emotion in the sparkle of her eyes when she painted.

It wasn’t just technique; it was a passion and dedication.

Suddenly, regarding that birthday gift, he felt he had an idea.

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