——Yunchao Villa, Art Studio——
"Between me and the world, you are the gulf, the sail."
"The faithful ends of the towline."
Chu Zhao's voice rang out in the quiet art studio.
Xie Yunji stopped his brush, his gaze sweeping past the canvas—which was already beginning to take on the distinct features of a person—and landing on Chu Zhao.
Her dark eyelashes drooped, and her fair fingers rested upon the snow-white pages of a book. Her expression as she lowered her gaze to read was both focused and lovely.
It was a thoroughly ordinary action, yet before the person right in front of him, Xie Yunji inexplicably felt unable to tear his eyes away.
A subtle itch bloomed in the center of his heart, and the hand gripping the paintbrush unconsciously tightened.
"You are the fountain, the wind."
"The crisp shout of childhood."
Xie Yunji forced himself to withdraw his gaze, pouring all his concentration back onto the canvas before him.
He lifted his brush, tracing and retracing the lines belonging to Chu Zhao on the canvas with meticulous detail.
Chu Zhao's voice was soft and gentle, sounding as though it had traveled through distant time to brush lightly against his ear.
Every time the figure beneath his brush drew one fraction closer to Chu Zhao—
The memories tied to Chu Zhao surged even more violently within Xie Yunji's heart.
Chapter 144