Old Master Lu slowly unfolded the painting. The first thing that caught his eye was darkness. In the dimly lit room, a haggard figure was painting. She sat before her canvas, her hand holding the brush appeared withered, a stark contrast to the youthful silhouette of someone in their twenties.
The canvas depicted a girl in her teens, but only her face was drawn. Her eyes were exceptionally large, brimming with a sense of world-weariness and regret.
Fu Hanchuan's gaze was fixed on the figure's back in the painting, disbelief filling his eyes. The figure in the background of his dreams had the same face as Qin Sheng's. It was worn, lacking the vitality she possessed now.
Fu Hanchuan's eyes turned to Qin Sheng, but her expression remained unchanged, deepening his confusion. How could Sheng Sheng have painted such a piece?
Lu Ming quickly sat back in his seat, rubbing his arms. "It's too sorrowful."
Old Master Lu, too, was lost in the painting, analyzing it from an artist's perspective.
Several minutes passed before he finally spoke, "Sheng Sheng, your skill is truly impressive. Even an old man like me feels inferior."
"But," he continued, voicing his thoughts, "isn't this a bit too heavy and oppressive? Perhaps a window here, letting in a sliver of sunlight, could imbue it with a sense of hope."
The entire painting was shrouded in darkness, even the spot where the girl sat was rather dim.
Hearing this, Qin Sheng nodded, evident surprise in her eyes. "Thank you, Grandpa Lu. I've been pondering this for days without finding an answer. Your suggestion has given me clarity."
Old Master Lu chuckled, "Sheng Sheng, you have great talent in painting. Come to me often. This old man may not have much to offer, but when it comes to painting, I daresay I'm better than some of the renowned artists in the country. The title of 'master' wasn't given to me in vain."
"As long as Grandpa Lu doesn't mind me being a bother," Qin Sheng replied, her eyes squinting with a cheerful smile.
Old Master Lu laughed heartily, "I would never find you bothersome."
Lu Ming, standing by, couldn't help but sigh. His grandfather truly favored girls. To him, his own grandson was as insignificant as a blade of grass, while Qin Sheng was a treasure.
Qin Sheng stayed with Old Master Lu until the evening before returning home.
Fu Hanchuan offered to drive Qin Sheng back to the Qin family, and Lu Ming also wanted to get in the car.
Fu Hanchuan, expressionless, told him, "Have the driver take you home."
Lu Ming had a place to stay outside and would occasionally spend the night there.
Perplexed, Lu Ming asked, "Brother, isn't this on the way?"
His answer was the sound of the car door slamming shut. Lu Ming was left outside.
Lu Ming: "…"
Alright, he finally understood. His brother clearly didn't want him to play the third wheel.
Rubbing his nose, Lu Ming asked the driver to take him home.
Inside the car, it was very quiet.
While waiting at the first traffic light, Fu Hanchuan moved his lips, voicing the question that had been troubling him, "Sheng Sheng, where did the inspiration for that painting come from?"
Qin Sheng didn't mention her rebirth. "I've dreamed of it. I had a long dream, where it seemed I experienced everything that happened in a past life."
Indeed, Qin Sheng had been reborn. To her, the previous life was just a dream, a very vivid one.
Fu Hanchuan's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Could you tell me about your dream?"
The light turned green, and Fu Hanchuan started the car again.
It was a long while before Fu Hanchuan heard Qin Sheng's response, a soft "Alright."
Qin Sheng briefly recounted her experiences from the previous life. Her words were straightforward, yet they matched what he had dreamed of, almost exactly.
Fu Hanchuan felt a deep ache in his heart, as if ants were gnawing at it.
He fell silent.
He and she had almost the same dream. Only, his dream was even more detailed and specific than what Qin Sheng described.
"Sheng Sheng, whether it's real or not, I will protect you for the rest of my life." After Qin Sheng got out of the car, Fu Hanchuan suddenly spoke softly. However, Qin Sheng did not hear these words.
He watched her enter the gates of the Qin family home before finally driving away.
*(End of Chapter)*