“……” It’s me who was too naive. It turns out this guy wanted to use courtesy before force!
My back tensed: “I… just went to the hospital.”
He rubbed my lower lip with his thumb: “You said last night that, mouth can be used too.”
I was stunned, and suddenly I felt his legs slightly apart, my hips were free, and my body slid down and knelt on the ground, with my face pressed against his crotch.
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“Ranran, I just want you to remember, what the punishment will be, if you run away from me.”
“Umm!”
And he even said that he doesn’t know that we could extinguish fire with the mouth, what an old liar…
I raised my eyes in shame and anger and saw him staring at me with his red eyes as if he was going to pounce on me and burn all my flesh and bones at any time. It was obvious that he could no longer control himself, and I was so scared that I had to swallow awkwardly.
I raised my eyes, looked at him pleadingly, and shook my head.
I bit my lower lip, wanting to cry out of shame, but my eyes became hot and his eyes became darker. I was so scared that I immediately held back my tears, but I still couldn’t escape.
I jolted awake from a sudden dream, lingering fragments still drifting in my mind. Dazed, I opened my eyes, only able to recall glimpses of a strange dream—an ancient manor, women with high-pinned hair, a girl with long braids, a white horse galloping across the hillside, a grand procession of elephant-drawn carriages climbing the mountain, and a sea of crimson blooms spreading across the slopes. I couldn’t remember the details. Turning my head, I found Tunshe Nalin absent. When I lifted my gaze, the door curtain swayed gently, he was standing on the balcony, holding a raw, bloodied lump of meat, feeding it to a vulture. So, Brother Vulture had come along as well.
Noticing my gaze, he turned sideways, lifted the door curtain, and the vulture flew away.
I stared at him, and an image suddenly surfaced in my mind, on the back of a white elephant approaching, a pale, slender hand lifted the golden tassel curtain. On a face that could captivate the world, there was a pair of water-blue eyes that exuded an aloofness, untouched by the world’s troubles, like the cleanest sea, untainted by dust.
Apart from those blue eyes, the person in the image momentarily overlapped with the man before me. I froze, feeling confused. When had I seen him like this? Was it in last night’s dream?
“Why are you staring at me like that? Do you want to draw me now?”
“Tunshe Nalin… were your eyes blue before?”
He furrowed his brows and stared at me. “Why do you ask that?”
“I think I had a dream, and you were in it.”
His brow furrowed deeper. “What did you dream about?”
“I can’t remember clearly.” I shook my head. “Were your eyes really blue before? Are you mixed-race?” If so, it would make perfect sense, his features were so defined, and he was so tall.
“What do you mean by mixed-race?”
“It means that your parents come from two different countries.”
Tunshe Nalin thought for a moment. “Then I am indeed mixed-race.”
“Mixed from which places?” My curiosity was piqued, and for a moment, I couldn’t even feel the shame from last night’s events.
He seemed to ponder for a moment. “I have half Tianzhu blood.”
Tianzhu, isn’t that the ancient name for India? With his appearance, one of his parents definitely couldn’t have been from the black ethnic groups of India. He must have come from one of the very few Aryan people. If he has Aryan blood, it makes sense, Aryans are pure Caucasians, known in ancient times for producing stunning beauties.
“Then… are you from Tianzhu, or did you grow up in Southern Jiangsu?”
“I come from Tianzhu.”
I thought of the Monk Tang, who headed to Tianzhu in the West to fetch the scripture. “Then what were you before? A missionary monk?” But then I realized that didn’t make sense. His background was tied to the Tusheng Sect, so how could he have been a monk?
He curved his lips into a smile, as if amused by my question. “If I were a monk, wouldn’t that be breaking the vow of celibacy?”
I pressed my lips together, not wanting to engage with him anymore. “You’re nothing like a monk.”
“Why are you so curious about me? Don’t you only care about my appearance?” Tunshe Nalin pinched my cheek. I shook my head, and his finger paused, as if waiting for my response.
I didn’t want to lie to him anymore; after all, I had already reaped the bitter consequences of deceiving him, and I didn’t want to plant another seed of trouble. I swallowed dryly and decided to speak the truth. “A good artist doesn’t just paint the surface but the bones beneath. They must be in tune with their muse, understanding everything about them, such as their background, worldview, dreams, and pain… but as for you, I still know nothing.”
“So, does that mean, I’m still your muse?” His tone carried a hint of amusement.
Though I was reluctant to admit it, I still nodded, suppressing the shame.
“Aside from me, is there anyone else you’d like to paint?”
I shook my head, and my neck was suddenly grabbed. I was pressed against the wall, and forced to raise my head to accept his aggressive and fierce kiss. I grabbed his collar and involuntarily straightened my toes—
It is true that I want to paint him, but it is also true that I want to escape from him.
“Burning papers into ashes…”
The familiar ringtone of my phone rang, and I pushed him away, pleading for him to let me go for a moment. My neck was released, and I slumped onto the bed, reaching over to grab my phone from the bedside table.
“Hello.”
“Why is your voice so hoarse? Are you sick?” Cheng Wan’s voice came from the other end of the line.
Of course, I couldn’t say I had been crying, that’s why it’s like this, so I just hummed in response.
“Then I won’t waste more of your time. Check WeChat.” She said briskly before hanging up the call.
I opened her WeChat, and there was a photo, a side profile of an elderly foreign man with graying temples. As I focused on it, my nerves jolted suddenly—
“Abmer, didn’t you say you’ve always wanted to meet Flavio? He really appreciates you and wants to meet you. Next Friday at the Kingbar on the top floor of Jiang’an Taiping Building. Just so you know, Qing Ze will be there too. I told you before, he might have been provoked by you at YICCA. He went back and created a bunch of new works, better than his previous ones. His skills have improved by leaps and bounds, and a few of his pieces have even sold for sky-high prices. Your new work is just that one piece, and if you don’t go, he’ll definitely overshadow you in front of your idol and might also steal your chance to join the European group exhibition. If you decide to come, bring your new muse along. Flavio is very interested and wants to meet him too. This is from his assistant. Think carefully, because this opportunity won’t come again if you miss it.”
My heart started racing.
Flavio, the master I admire most, the one who sparked my passion for art. When I studied in Italy, I yearned to be his student, but I was never able to apply successfully. Five years ago, I couldn’t even catch his eye. I had sent him countless application emails, but there was no response. Yet now, he specifically wanted to meet me.
It was clearly because of that new piece. The new work that Tunshe Nalin had given me.
The pitch-black strands of hair slid down from my shoulder, and I knew, without a doubt, that he had seen the message too.
I turned off my phone. “Tunshe Nalin, will you come with me to buy some paint?”
The paint and art supplies are sold on a street next to Jiangcheng Fine Arts Academy, not far from my apartment.
It was raining outside, and Tunshe Nalin and I shared an umbrella as we walked down this street I knew so well. I hadn’t been here for two months. A few new stores had opened, while one I used to frequent had been demolished.
“That’s strange. Why did they demolish it? I wonder if the other stores have the special color I need…” I stared at the notice on the door, feeling a bit frustrated. Suddenly, I heard a ‘meow’ from beside my feet, followed by a soft brush against my leg. I looked down and saw the shop’s cat. Without hesitation, I crouched down and picked it up.
“How are you here? Where’s your owner?”
I petted its head. The little black cat blinked its round, bright eyes, looked at me, then glanced at Tunshe Nalin beside me. It didn’t seem afraid of him at all and even climbed over me to perch on his shoulder.
Seeing the little cat rubbing its face against his, I couldn’t help but think of the big dog at the guesthouse in Kashag Town. Looking back now, I realized it had been scared into peeing with its tail between its legs because of him. So, this cat…
“The cat isn’t afraid of you?”
He nodded: “Cats are yin, and dogs are yang. Yin creatures will get close to me.”
“Then I’ll take it back.” I blurted out and was stunned for a moment. Why should I ask for his opinion when I picked up the cat… just when I was about to say something to make amends, I saw that the corners of his lips slightly deepened, and he let out an ‘en’.
