Chapter 23
Lin Zheng was still carrying a bag. Gu Lin’s face was too close. He used his free hand to push against Gu Lin’s chest, but it couldn’t stop the intimate feeling between them, as if they might accidentally touch at any moment.
“My little bunny’s ears are red.”
Lin Zheng was startled. He thought Gu Lin wouldn’t notice if he didn’t look, but he had underestimated him.
He pushed Gu Lin away, “There’s…nothing else to say.”
Lin Zheng pulled away, Gu Lin’s hand loosened from his waist, the hand resting on his side sliding down. “Right now, I’ll agree to anything you say. Such a good opportunity, you really have nothing to say?”
Lin Zheng touched his ear, trying to cool it down with his cold fingers, looking away. “No, I’m not saying anything. I have too many things, I’ll put them away first.”
Lin Zheng said, and rushed back into the house.
Gu Lin leaned against the door, watching Lin Zheng disappear before gently lowering his gaze and leisurely starting to take off his coat.
Back in the room, Lin Zheng dropped his things on the floor, threw himself onto the bed, and buried his face in the pillow.
Crazy, he was just shy?
Just because Gu Lin hugged him?
No, no, it wasn’t because Gu Lin hugged him, but because a handsome guy hugged him.
Anyone would be shy if hugged by a stunningly handsome man, right?
That’s right, that’s it!
Lin Zheng lifted his head from the pillow.
With a determined expression.
Absolutely!
There was a painting exhibition at the art museum on Wednesday. The organizer was Huichuang’s client, and Gu Lin was invited as a guest.
Shen, the assistant, had other things to do that day, so Lin Zheng was assigned to accompany Gu Lin.
Lin Zheng reported the specific time and itinerary to Gu Lin: they would have lunch with the client on Wednesday and then go directly to the art museum.
Gu Lin nodded.
Lin Zheng left after reporting his work.
As he closed the door, he watched Gu Lin’s serious face through the shrinking gap.
The door closed.
He thought that although Gu Lin usually liked to tease people, he was completely different at work: serious, meticulous, and possessing an indescribable charisma.
Having worked with Gu Lin for a while, Lin Zheng now understood why so many people in the company admired him.
Let’s not talk about his appearance; his ability and personality were also important factors.
On Wednesday, before heading to the restaurant, Lin Zheng was about to take the car keys when Gu Lin stopped him.
Soon, the driver drove the car out.
Gu Lin told him to sit in the back seat, then sat down beside him. After the car started, he leaned his head against Lin Zheng’s shoulder.
There was no partition between the front and back seats. Gu Lin didn’t seem to mind, but Lin Zheng was still afraid of being seen by the driver in front, just as he was about to say something, he heard Gu Lin say with his eyes closed, “Don’t move, let me rest for a while.”
Lin Zheng then remembered that Gu Lin had been busy last night, seemingly sleeping only around 2 am.
So he stayed still.
Perhaps he was really tired; within minutes, even breathing could be heard from his shoulder.
Gu Lin’s hair occasionally brushed against Lin Zheng’s neck as the car moved, making Lin Zheng afraid of waking him up. He wanted to move but dared not. Even worse…
Lin Zheng tried to hide the grimace on his face.
The shoulder and arm pressed against by Gu Lin’s head had already gone numb.
When they arrived at their destination, after getting out of the car, Gu Lin saw Lin Zheng’s drooping shoulder and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Lin Zheng raised his still-functional arm, “Nothing at all.”
The dining location was a restaurant by the lake, a restaurant with an antique style: white walls, black tiles, a courtyard filled with flowers, and staff in traditional costumes. It felt like being in ancient times.
The restaurant had been very popular since it opened, but it received very few guests, a place where a thousand gold coins couldn’t buy a seat.
According to the invited client, he had made several reservations before finally securing a table.
As they were led inside, Lin Zheng found his mood improving as he looked at the antique decorations. Passing by a place with vases, the staff introduced them, saying it was a replica of a thousand-year-old antique vase. The original vase was originally bought back from abroad by the owner, and then the real one was handed over, then after obtaining permission, they had a master create an exact replica to put in the restaurant.
Lin Zheng pointed at the patterns on the vase, puzzled, “Are those people painted on it?”
The person introducing the vase seemed surprised, “Yes, I didn’t expect you to be able to tell. Many people only think they are complex patterns, or representative of that dynasty, but actually, they are people, two people, but an unexpectedly separated couple.”
Lin Zheng thought, that’s a sad story behind this.
Gu Lin also looked at the vase. After a while, he saw the figures on it. He said to Lin Zheng, “When did your eyesight become so sharp?”
If Lin Zheng hadn’t mentioned it, he wouldn’t have been able to tell it was people painted there.
Lin Zheng proudly touched his nose, “My eyesight is definitely military-grade.”
Gu Lin shook his head.
Separated by the white walls and black tiles, the inside and outside seemed to be two different worlds. They sat by the lake, surrounded by flowers and plants.
Lin Zheng leaned on the lake, watching the geese swimming freely, and suddenly felt a desire to stay in this peaceful environment forever.
It would be nice to live in a place like this.
But Gu Lin and the client’s conversation pulled him back to reality.
“This exhibition not only features works by famous artists at home and abroad, but also a collection of works by emerging artists. I saw a few when selecting works, and I have to say, today’s young people are becoming more and more talented.”
“Mr. Ning’s vision is never wrong. I’m already looking forward to the exhibition.”
“Haha, I’ll have to ask Mr. Gu to give me some leeway later.”
The two were chatting excitedly when Lin Zheng saw that the tea on the table was gone, and he got up to get more.
To get to the house from the courtyard, one had to pass through a screen wall. As soon as he passed, he was bumped into by a guest coming the other way, spilling tea all over his jacket.
The person immediately apologized.
Lin Zheng knew it wasn’t intentional, so he didn’t mind, but his jacket was soaked and probably couldn’t be worn.
Gu Lin had seen Lin Zheng get bumped. Seeing Lin Zheng head inside, he told the client something and followed him in.
Lin Zheng went to the restroom and took off his jacket, revealing a thin shirt underneath.
The outside temperature was not something a shirt could withstand.
Just as he was wondering what to do, he felt a weight on his back—a coat.
Lin Zheng turned his head and saw Gu Lin adjusting his cuffs. Gu Lin said, “Make do with this, wear mine for now, there isn’t enough time to buy one.”
Lin Zheng put his hands in the sleeves, then shook the extra-long sleeves. He then kicked at the coat that only reached Gu Lin’s knees but now reached his lower calves. “Are you sure this will do?”
Looking at the boy wrapped in the oversized coat, looking just like a little boyfriend who had snuck into adult clothes, Gu Lin was charmed.
He pulled Lin Zheng’s hand, rolled up his sleeves for him, tidied the coat, then fastened the belt around his waist, leaning close to his ear, and forcibly explained, “Have you heard of boyfriend style? This is boyfriend style.”
“…”
When they went out, Mr. Ning was surprised by Lin Zheng’s outfit, but ultimately wisely said nothing.
The art exhibition was close to the restaurant. After lunch, they went to the exhibition.
Lin Zheng didn’t have much artistic talent, but when he saw the paintings carefully hung on the walls, he still felt a heartfelt shock.
The paintings were not only exquisitely made, but even the smallest details were meticulously designed.
On the walls were not only works by well-known artists, but also works by unfamiliar artists.
Mr. Ning took them on a tour, explaining the origins of some less well-known works.
Lin Zheng saw Gu Lin’s gaze drawn to a painting not far away and looked over.
It was a painting depicting a sunset scene. The layers were distinct: an orange sky over towering mountains, below which was a sea surface shimmering with the setting sun’s rays. The water was painted very realistically; the waves on the shore seemed about to splash out of the painting.
There was no signature on the painting.
Lin Zheng felt strangely familiar with the scene.
Seeing both their gazes on the painting, Mr. Ning went over to introduce it.
Gu Lin looked at it for a while and asked, “Who painted this?”
Mr. Ning said, “The artist…” His gaze was drawn to something behind them.
Mr. Ning happily waved to that direction.
Lin Zheng looked back and saw a tall, leggy young man with a sunny smile, about twenty years old.
The man walked toward them.
Mr. Ning introduced them, “This is the author of this painting.”
Then he gestured for the man to introduce himself.
The man politely smiled slightly at Lin Zheng and Gu Lin, “Hello, my name is Wu Yu. Wu with the mouth radical, Yu meaning not worrying.”
Lin Zheng froze.
Wu Yu…
That was the original novel’s male protagonist’s name.
The person before him was the original novel’s male protagonist.
Lin Zheng had vaguely felt something was wrong before. Sure enough, the plot was ahead of schedule.
He looked at the painting again.
Yes, he almost forgot, in the original book, Gu Lin fell for the male protagonist because of a painting. He fell in love at first sight because of a painting.
Then, after falling in love with the male lead, he cruelly abandoned him.
Lin Zheng looked at Gu Lin, “You…do you like this painting very much?”
Gu Lin looked back at him, a smile on his lips, “Don’t you think this painting is beautiful?”
Lin Zheng knew.
Gu Lin liked the painting.
Hearing Gu Lin’s praise, Wu Yu looked a little embarrassed, “Thank you for liking it.”
“Can you tell me about the inspiration behind this painting?”
“Of course…”
Watching the two standing together talking.
Tick.
Lin Zheng seemed to hear the sound of the minute and hour hands coinciding at the top of the 12 o’clock position.
He knew, the time had come.