Qu Qirong suppressed the strange feeling in her heart. “I spaced out again. Let’s continue.”
Deng Tianyu glanced at Aunt Rong with a hint of surprise. This was already the second time she’d spaced out!
“Aunt Rong, let’s first learn to draw a straight line.”
“Light at the beginning, heavy in the middle, light at the end, creating a line that’s faint at both ends and solid in the center.”
“Keep your strokes crisp, and when you finish, bring it to a slight hooking stop, letting the tip’s sharpness show a little.”
As he spoke, he held Qu Qirong’s soft hand and began to sketch.
With the strokes of the charcoal pencil, the outline of a lotus appeared, followed by the partial stems and leaves, and then the twin flowers nestled together.
With the soft-spoken guidance beside her ear, the warmth enveloping the back of her hand, and the faint masculine scent reaching her, Qu Qirong’s gaze involuntarily moved from the drawing to his face, momentarily lost in thought again.
A scene from years past surfaced in her mind.
Back then, Deng Tianyu was just a babe in swaddling clothes.
He was so delicately fair, his eyes bright and clear, indescribably lively and adorable.
The first time she held him, the baby didn’t shy away from strangers, nor did he wail from being taken from his Mother Consort’s arms.
Qu Qirong gently cradled the infant, holding his tiny hand, and the baby actually gave a warm, radiant smile.
At that moment, she thought, if she ever had a child, would they be as blessed with such transcendent grace as he was?
With the passage of time, as the seas turned to mulberry fields, that little porcelain doll had grown into an adult. Compared to his childhood self, the childishness was gone, replaced by the presence of an exceptionally charming young man.
Deng Tianyu, who was absorbed in drawing, noticed something was off. Turning his head slightly, he saw that Qu Qirong’s beautiful eyes had lost their focus. He called out softly, “Aunt Rong?”
Qu Qirong came back to her senses, her exquisite jade face turning red with apology. “I zoned out again.”
“Ah,” Deng Tianyu acknowledged, and continued guiding her hand in the drawing.
After this, she didn’t space out again. Both of them concentrated intently, and soon, a perfectly standard drawing of twin lotuses on one stalk appeared on the paper.
Her gaze lingering on the piece, Qu Qirong’s brows furrowed delicately. “It truly is beautiful, but it’s still missing some color.”
“It needs to be shaded,” Deng Tianyu smiled and placed a brush in her palm, then once again covered the back of her hand with his palm. “For shading a sketch, you outline the edges first, go light first, then apply the darker shades.”
“Yes,” Qu Qirong gave a lovely smile and, guided by his hand, began shading the twin lotus flowers.
Within the elegant garden, the warm morning light fell upon the two of them as if draping a layer of golden gauze over their shoulders.
Chatting and laughing, the distance between the young man and the mature beauty steadily closed as they painted the twin lotuses.
After a long while, the fully shaded twin lotus flowers looked more lifelike than ever, appearing to almost be the real thing.
“Drawings done with this sketching technique are far more vivid and lifelike. If it weren’t for Tianyu, I would never have known such a unique and novel method of painting existed in this world.”
Her eyes lingered on the painting for a long time. Qu Qirong could hardly believe she had drawn it.
Although she had dabbled in traditional painting, her skill had never reached this level of vivid realism. Yet, by using the sketching method, she clearly achieved it!
“It’s a pity I still haven’t fully mastered the sketching method.” Letting out a soft sigh, Aunt Rong glanced at Deng Tianyu, her words full of implication.
Deng Tianyu naturally understood her meaning and very considerately said, “If Aunt Rong likes it, I can come here in my spare time. I guarantee Aunt Rong will learn to sketch.”
It was clear his Aunt Rong had taken a liking to sketching.
He had nothing else pressing during this period anyway, so he might as well focus on being filial to his elder.
This way, he could spend more time with Aunt Rong and earn some Filial Piety Water drops—killing two birds with one stone.
“Tianyu said it himself. If you go back on your word, Aunt Rong won’t be happy.” Hearing this, a warm current flowed through Qu Qirong’s heart.
Ever since she found a sense of family affection in Deng Tianyu again, she no longer wanted to return to those days of loneliness, spending day after day by herself. She yearned for more companionship.
Although she had intentionally phrased her words that way, she hadn’t expected Tianyu to agree without a second thought.
This alone showed her how important a place she held in his heart.
Meeting Qu Qirong’s gaze, Deng Tianyu said with utter seriousness, “Aunt Rong jests. How could I ever dare break a promise to you?”
“I’ll leave this charcoal pencil here. Aunt Rong can practice sketching more whenever the mood strikes you.”
“Perfect!” Qu Qirong found this gesture extremely gratifying, and her gaze towards him grew increasingly gentle.
With that, she turned her attention back to the paper in her hands. “The twin lotus painting is done, but there’s still a bit of blank space. It would be even better if there were some words inscribed.”
“That’s simple enough!” Deng Tianyu smiled, picked up a brush, and began to write with a flourish.
As the words appeared one by one on the paper, Qu Qirong couldn’t help but read them aloud:
“Green leaves spread over the clear water, Lotuses bloom in vibrant red. Below, their roots grow intertwined, Above, the twin lotuses rest their head.”
The poem perfectly captured the essence of the twin lotus flowers.
Inscribing this poem on the painting was like adding the finishing touch that brought the entire artwork, both form and meaning, to life.
Qu Qirong liked it more and more, unable to resist praising him: “I didn’t know Tianyu possessed such poetic talent?”
“This poem isn’t mine; it’s from…” Deng Tianyu reflexively started to shift the blame.
Of course, it indeed wasn’t his poem—it was from his past life.
Qu Qirong gave him a mock-stern look and interrupted: “From another one of those miscellaneous books in the Purple Cloud Sect’s Library Pavilion?”
“Yes, that’s exactly where it’s from.”
Qu Qirong looked at him meaningfully but didn’t press further. Instead, she asked, “Tianyu, could you use this sketching method to draw a portrait of me?”
“Of course, I can!” Deng Tianyu replied.
“Aunt Rong, if you sit here, with the beautiful scenery as your companion, the portrait will turn out even better,” he said, having her sit right by the lotus pond.
“Tianyu, you can begin now.”
Qu Qirong smiled, placed her hands together on one side of her lap, and sat with her legs together, striking a dignified pose.
Deng Tianyu’s gaze traveled from her devastatingly beautiful face to the smooth, luminous curve of her neck, down to the full swell straining against her dress, and further to her graceful, slender waist…
At some point, a stunning rosy blush had spread across Qu Qirong’s exquisite face, and her breathing became slightly rapid.
Under that intense gaze, she felt as if a light touch was brushing over her entire body, an indescribably strange sensation.
But by now, Deng Tianyu had already withdrawn his gaze. Using the image imprinted in his mind, he held the charcoal pencil and began to sketch swiftly on the paper.
Gradually, Qu Qirong’s elegant and graceful silhouette took form. Then, the individual parts were filled in, and shading was added…
After a while, Deng Tianyu let out a breath and said softly, “It’s done, Aunt Rong.”
