Chapter 114: Left or Right, Hesitating in Decision

An Muxi smiled without a word.

Someone quickened their pace and walked ahead.

Lin Shenlu stood rooted to the spot, dazed. He didn’t know what kind of answer An Muxi had given.

Hmm... Standing still, Lin Shenlu was suddenly bumped from behind by Su Bao’er, who was looking around nervously, causing him to stumble.

“Ugh... Lu-wa... you silly...” Su Bao’er rubbed her head and asked.

“Hahaha... you fool,” An Muxi said with a smile as she looked at Lin Shenlu.

“Let’s go quickly, I’m willing to accompany you,” An Muxi whispered before turning and briskly walking away.

Lin Shenlu froze for a moment, then his heart leapt with joy.

“All right... let’s go!” Lin Shenlu hurried to catch up.

After waiting so long, he had finally moved An Muxi. His journey on March 15th now seemed imminent.

...

Evening.

Xiao Shou brought Wu Heng back to the courtyard.

Surprisingly, Qi Nai did not return with them.

According to Qi Nai, her paintings had surely been chosen by the Blue Whale Inn, which had set aside a room for her in the coming days, available at any time.

Since the day she joined the exhibition, Qi Nai’s mindset seemed to have undergone a great change.

Her pursuits and determination had shifted significantly.

Even her pride in painting had taken on a new understanding.

The last words Qi Nai left with Xiao Shou were that the inn’s art wall was not yet fully filled... and that she, Qi Nai, would fill the last blank space, no matter how long it took.

Xiao Shou felt somewhat regretful as he returned to the small courtyard with Wu Heng.

“Little Wu, do you think Qi Nai doesn’t like me anymore...”

“Brother Shou, when did Qi Nai ever like you? She likes your writing... You and Lu Fei are different people. Don’t put yourself in the wrong place, okay? Qi Nai isn’t your Jiang Jiang either...” Wu Heng sighed as he spoke.

“Ah, what a pity. I haven’t drunk for several days. I thought I was in good form today and could win Qi Nai over at once...” Xiao Shou shook his head.

Wu Heng said nothing.

“Little Wu, do you get cold when you sleep at night?” Xiao Shou scratched his butt and looked at Wu Heng with a dreamy gaze.

“Brother Shou, if I punch you once, will you believe it hurts?”

...

Tonight, the Blue Whale was not back in the small courtyard.

The inn was already open and ready for guests.

And now, there were already people staying.

Lu Chaoxi was helping for the time being, but the Blue Whale was busy with many things.

When Lin Shenlu brought An Muxi and Su Bao’er back to the courtyard, the once lively space was now a bit quiet.

Xiao Shou’s room light was off as well.

No one knew what loneliness each person was harboring.

Tonight, the person who accompanied Su Bao’er to sleep changed from the Blue Whale to An Muxi.

Su Bao’er was not shy at all; in her words, “Who cares who you sleep with?”

Lin Shenlu would have a busy night.

The remaining chapters of the Lishui story were unfinished, and the concluding work was still pending.

Today, many photos were taken at the inn, but weaving them all in seamlessly was a challenge.

The night was always so profoundly lonely.

Each person guarded a passion deep within their hearts.

At Whale-Deer Inn, Qi Nai sat alone by the bedside, lost in thought. A pansy flower was placed in the vase by her bed.

Her room was named Pansy.

Outside her door, a stone planter held a dozen or so pansies.

Legend had it that when pansies were cultivated to perfection, they became seven-colored pansies—flowers that bloomed in seven hues.

On the walls of this room hung Qi Nai’s painting titled “Burning Tower.”

...

The free-spirited traveler Chen Fan stayed in the Black Mandrake room.

He enjoyed the monochromatic decor; it made him feel comfortable.

Facing the painting of a black mandrake on the wall, Chen Fan smiled proudly.

At night, the black mandrake outside the door released a faint fragrance—pleasant yet poisonous.

It intoxicated and enthralled.

...

Chen Muyun and Chen Qinghan stayed in the Hyacinth room.

The siblings had traveled far—one a photographer, the other a painter. As traveling writers, they didn’t expect to encounter such things in the small village of Lishui.

Nor did they expect to gain free accommodation there.

Of course, the siblings shared a twin room, with two beds and a nightstand adorned with a purple hyacinth.

Tonight, they enjoyed a rare comfortable rest and slept soundly.

...

Su Youzhi stayed in the Rosemary room.

She had always thought herself a lover of scenery, travel, and painting.

Her first trip remembered was to Fenghuang in western Hunan, where she met a man important to her life.

Su Youzhi did not sleep; she waited for the man who had taught her how to blend goodnight blue.

He had promised to drive from Meishan to Lishui to see her.

A ten-hour drive, with two hours remaining.

She hadn’t seen him in a long time. Tonight was destined to be sleepless.

The painting on the wall was beautiful.

Under a goodnight blue sky, sunlight filtered through white clouds onto the old inn building.

The light passed through cloud gaps, forming shapes.

The man once told her this was called the Tyndall effect.

When the Tyndall effect appears, light takes on shape.

Now, Su Youzhi waited with this painting for the man’s arrival.

To show him her blue and her light.

...

For these paintings immediately chosen and loved by the Blue Whale, the inn invited their creators to stay.

This night should have been joyful, with everyone singing, drinking, and telling stories. Instead, each guarded their own solitude in their rooms.

The Blue Whale sat quietly alone by the tea table in the hall, with a painting gifted by Lin Shenlu hanging on the opposite wall—Whale and Deer.

She drank alone, as the night seemed to grow even darker.

...

Lin Shenlu glanced at the time: midnight.

His fingers paused on the keyboard.

Finally, it was finished.

The sprawling Lishui chapter, over eight thousand words, was finally complete.

Lin Shenlu stretched lazily.

The story of the painting village had come to an end.

He had written slowly today, perhaps because his heart was burdened.

“Beep beep beep...” Lin Shenlu’s phone buzzed.

A WeChat message.

He opened it.

It was from the Blue Whale.

Her WeChat name was lovely—“Whale Blowing Bubbles.”

Her avatar was a pink whale with a cute girl lying atop it.

Whale Blowing Bubbles: “I’m drunk, come pick me up.”

Only seven words.

Girl’s Kidnapper: “It’s late, hurry and sleep.”

Lin Shenlu replied.

Whale Blowing Bubbles: “If you don’t come, I’ll drink until dawn.”

Lin Shenlu sighed deeply, staring at the message. He fell silent.

Next door, Su Bao’er and An Muxi were already asleep.

Glancing at the time again, Lin Shenlu hesitated.