It was night, in the cozy bedroom.
"...I like you so much... Can you... not marry someone else?"
The man leaned close to her ear, with a hoarse and low voice, there was an almost broken grievance.
"Please, Zhien."
"...Okay."
The woman's peach-pink eyes were upturned at the corners. She took the initiative to offer her lips and said affectionately while kissing.
"But I always have to get married. If not with him, then who should I marry?"
The man didn't have time to be pleasantly surprised by her kiss and said eagerly.
"Marry me..."
The following words couldn't be completely spoken. Everything in front of him changed rapidly.
"Jingle bells, jingle bells—"
In the middle of the night.
The ringtone of the mobile phone echoed in the ear.
On the bed, the man with red and swollen eyes opened his eyes with difficulty. His chaotic brain was not yet clear, and he didn't touch his mobile phone to answer the call immediately.
Instead, he stared blankly at the large full-body poster on the ceiling.
The poster is set on the top of a snow-capped mountain.
The woman in polar clothing is more eye-catching than the strongest painting colors. Her facial features are exquisite and beautiful. Especially her bright peach blossom eyes are particularly captivating when they ripple.
After successfully conquering the extreme downhill skiing on the peak of the Alps in extreme weather and creating an unrivaled new record.
On the blue mountain top where the clouds and mist have dissipated.
Her smile is dazzling and proud.
This is one of the few times when the high mountain flower shows a smile, and it is also Qi Su's favorite poster.
He likes it so much that he wants to see it as soon as he wakes up every morning.
Qi Su feels the yearning from the bottom of his heart.
The scene of the dream is still entangled in his mind.
Just now.
Just on this bed under him...
He fantasized that she loved him.
He seems like a pervert.
Obviously she is about to get married, kiss others, hug others, and have children. He still has such a dream...
As soon as he thought of this, the corners of Qi Su's tightly pursed lips couldn't help trembling again.
Damn it!!!
Damn love-brain!!!
Cheating on the feelings of his career fan!
Why do you have to retire just because you get married?
Why do you have to be so affectionate and dedicated?
Can't you find a few more people with her conditions?
Why get married?
Do you have to hang yourself on a crooked neck tree?!
Qi Su turned over and got out of bed irritably.
The not-so-large bedroom is filled with various peripherals, posters, and endorsed brands.
All of these come from the same woman.
As soon as she announced her retirement, she disappeared from the public eye. According to rumors, she gave up her thriving career and retired to get married.
The talented snowboarder who is said to dream of being a full-time housewife—Xue Zhien.
Qi Su grabbed the noisy phone and stared deeply at the surrounding items in this room that made him annoyed.
The sound of opening his mouth was hoarse after not speaking for a long time.
"Hello, do you want to see what time it is now?"
"The great artist finally answered the phone? I almost thought you were dead." The male voice on the other end of the microphone was carefree.
"Sorry to disappoint you." Qi Su sneered. "I'm still alive and well."
"I can tell. You are living well. But where are your paintings? Big brother—"
The male voice paused, and then there was a heart-wrenching roar.
"Where are your paintings? The exhibition is about to start! Stop mourning for your unrequited first love! Hurry up and paint!"
"..."
Qi Su lowered his eyes and looked at his slightly trembling right hand closing. "Cancel the art exhibition."
"What did you say?!"
"Also suspend all future activities."
"Are you crazy, Qi? Don't tell me you want to imitate Contestant Xue and retire at the peak of your career!
Do you know how long this art exhibition has been in preparation? Just give up when you say so? There's no one like you! You stupid die-hard fan!!"
The other party felt that he might really be able to do such a thing.
Everyone who knew Qi Su in the early years knew how obsessed he was with this skier. Isn't Xue Zhien's sudden retirement more painful than killing him?
"It's not imitating her."
"Then what on earth are you going to do?!"
"I can't paint. I can't paint anything anymore." Qi Su repeated calmly.
"..."
Since Xue Zhien retired until now, he has tried countless times. Different from his passionate creation day and night before, now he instinctively loathes even the paintbrush.
The muse in his heart seems to be dead.
Qi Su, who had been struggling for a long time, still didn't make up his mind to clear out the peripherals in this bedroom.
He chose to lock it up and also seal his feelings in his heart.
"Qi Su."
When the door was closed, the male voice in the phone rang.
"Huh?"
"It's okay if you can't paint temporarily. You haven't rested for many years either." The other side comforted. "Just take this opportunity to give yourself a vacation."
Qi Su turned on the speakerphone, grabbed the hem of his pajamas with his hand, changed out of his sticky clothes, and said indifferently.
"That's the only way. Now I feel sick when I see paint."
"Do you feel sick when you see Contestant Xue?"
"..." Qi Su frowned. "If you want to see me jump off a building, just say so directly. Don't beat around the bush. I'll go to the rooftop right now."
"No, you misunderstood."
The other side explained. "I mean that portrait in your attic. Anyway, you don't have any fans now. Why not make her public?"
"That painting isn't finished yet."
"I know, but the degree of completion is already very high. It can be used as a substitute. If it's released, your reputation will definitely reach a higher level."
The other side was persuasive.
"Don't even think about it."
Qi Su pulled off his top over his head, revealing the rare strong body of an artist. Under his smooth ink-black hair reaching his shoulders, he had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with firm and well-proportioned muscles.
Fingers more eye-catching than artworks grasped the fabric tightly, and the bulging veins spread to his long thin arms with muscles.
In the cold moonlight shining in from outside the window, his dark brown eyes were gloomy.
"She" is mine.
"..."
The other side was silent for a while. "Didn't you stop being a fan? Why are you still clinging to her?"
"Who told you I stopped being a fan?"
"She has retired. What are you still a fan of?"
"You're so annoying! "
"Qi Su, I think you can consider it."
"I won't consider it. I'm hanging up."
"Don't hang up. I'm serious. That painting must not be buried..."
Qi Su was completely annoyed. The veins on his forehead were throbbing. He shouted recklessly.
"Do I have to say it? That was painted secretly by me?! She's about to get married. What would it be like if I release it? Let everyone know about my tragic unrequited love history? Isn't it enough for you to laugh at me alone?!"
"..."
Helplessly covering his face, the tall man squatted down on the spot and was once again stirred up by the sadness in his heart.
"Sorry, Qi Su," the other side said in a low voice. "But even without this incident, your 'unrequited love' probably won't have a result."
Xue Zhien comes from a famous and powerful family with a prominent background. There is a huge gap between her and a painter like Qi Su who is from a "commoner" background.
Even if he is rich and famous, it can't narrow the gap much.
"Don't you think I know?" Qi Su retorted. "I never expected any result."
He didn't dare to have many wild thoughts at all.
That kind of dream was the first time ever. In the past, he only dreamed of shaking hands and asking for an autograph. Who would have thought that the scale would be so large tonight.
Qi Su's ears were a little hot, but he quickly calmed down.
After all, even without that so-called marriage partner, Xue Zhien would not look at him.
Qi Su has self-awareness.
He is not good enough.
"As long as you understand. I was just afraid that you couldn't figure it out."
Qi Su said in a muffled voice, "No."
The other side shifted this heavy topic:
"Why don't you go out and change your mood? Don't always stay at home. Look at you. You don't go when professors from the Capital University invite you. You stay at home alone all day. If it doesn't work, find someone to fall in love with. I'll introduce you to the beautiful owner of the gallery."
"..."
Qi Su pretended to be dead without saying a word.
The man was obviously already used to it. Sighing, he said.
"Really. The handsome guys and beautiful girls who ask me for your contact information every day can line up to the other side of the ocean. Don't hold your broken plush doll and cry all day, okay?"
Qi Su couldn't help but argue:
"I've said it many times. That's not a broken plush doll. That's Xue Zhien's limited edition plush doll. I snatched it for a long time..."
"Enough! I don't want to continue listening to the story of the broken plush doll. Did you hear me? Go out!" the man roared.
"Let's talk about it later." Qi Su wiped his face and said listlessly.
"What about the plush doll?"
"...I won't hold it anymore in the future."
"Throw it away?"
"Don't worry about it."
"You stupid die-hard fan."