It was a very simple two-line caption, accompanied by a photo. There was no complicated copy, no pretentious photographic composition. On the eve of the art exhibition, Yan Yu posted a social media update.
“Thank the organizers for the invitation. Having my artwork recognized is a great honor. I will continue to strive on my path of pursuing art.”
“Furthermore, everyone is welcome to visit the City Art Museum during the exhibition period.”
The accompanying image was the painting she had completed herself and already sent for framing—“Time’s Shadow.” The photo was very plain, so much so that one could even see the subtle reflections of the wet oil paint at the edges of the canvas, as well as the tree shadows interlaced on the painting from the window. But this only allowed the slightly lonely aura of the painting itself to be presented without reservation.
Not long after the social media post was sent out, Yan Yu’s phone began to emit a continuous series of soft vibration alerts. The red number of likes climbed rapidly. Then, comments started popping up one after another:
“You’re amazing, junior! Congratulations!”
“Wow, this painting is really beautiful! The mood is incredible!”
“Such big improvement! I’m truly envious…”
“Go Yan Yu! I’ll definitely come support you at the exhibition!”
The commenters were mostly classmates from the same department or acquaintances. Yan Yu patiently replied “Thank you” to each one, tapping lightly on the screen with a calm expression.
However, the ripples stirred by this post went far beyond these superficial interactions.
Someone who clearly paid constant attention to Yan Yu and had even set her as a special contact was at that moment staring at the screen, their fingertip hovering over the like and comment buttons, hesitating repeatedly… In the end, they just watched in silence, leaving no trace.
That person was Dai Feng.
At that moment, she was in a noisy scene that was completely at odds with her disposition.
Dai Feng’s home was a large, imitation European-style estate located in the outskirts of the city. Tonight, it was brightly lit, with perfume and shadows of figures everywhere. Dai Feng’s father, the Boss Dai known in business circles for his ruthless tactics and amorous ways, was throwing a lavish welcome banquet for his newest lover, who had just “returned after completing her studies” overseas.
Dai Feng grew up in a complex blended family. Her father had been married five times and divorced four, but he had only had one child with his first wife—Dai Feng’s biological mother—and that child was Dai Feng. None of the subsequent wives, no matter how young and beautiful or what methods they used, could bear another child for the Dai family. This became a secret worry for Boss Dai, and it also made Dai Feng’s position in the family extremely delicate. She was the only legitimate heir, yet also the “obstacle” left behind by her father’s romantic debts and failed marriages.
From an early age, Dai Feng’s relationship with her father had already dropped to freezing point. She detested her father’s frivolous attitude toward relationships and marriage, and even more, she loathed the hypocrisy and scheming that perpetually pervaded the household. She preferred to live year-round in her apartment in the city center and rarely set foot in this cold, “luxurious mansion.” Tonight, she had been forcibly called back.
As soon as she entered, she was met with a suffocating display of extravagant decorations. The young woman surrounded at the center like the moon among stars was wearing a haute couture gown of the season, with delicate makeup, and was hanging on her father’s arm, laughing in a flirty manner. Seeing Dai Feng enter, the woman’s eyes lit up. She immediately put on her most proper demeanor, swaying gracefully as she approached, her voice cloyingly sweet: “Xiao Feng is back? You must be tired from the journey? Come quickly, we’ve been waiting for you…”
Dai Feng stopped walking and did not take the champagne glass offered. She looked the other woman up and down, a cold smile with no warmth curling at the corner of her lips.
“Save it,” she said, her voice not loud but clear enough for the small circle around them to hear. “My dad, that miser, only spends money on you because it’s still novel. Do you believe that within three months, you’ll have to pack your things and leave, just like the nine before you?”
The moment the words fell, the surroundings instantly fell into dead silence. The woman’s smile froze on her face, the color draining from it at a visible speed, and in her meticulously made-up eyes welled up an incredulous mix of humiliation and anger. She was at the most “triumphant” moment of her life, surrounded and flattered by everyone; how could she have ever endured such a public and ruthless slap in the face?
“You…” she trembled with rage, pointing at Dai Feng, but unable to form a complete sentence.
Dai Feng’s father’s face also darkened, and he barked sternly, “Xiao Feng! Watch your mouth! Apologize to Aunt Lin!”
“Aunt Lin?” Dai Feng raised an eyebrow as if she’d heard a joke. “Dad, you sure know how to calculate seniority. She doesn’t look much older than me, does she?”
With that, she couldn’t be bothered to look at the woman’s pale face or her father’s livid expression. She flicked her neat high ponytail, turned around, and left the nauseating cacophony without looking back.
Walking through the corridor carpeted with lavish rugs, until she entered her own room in the wing of the estate, closing the wooden door to shut out all the noise, Dai Feng leaned against the door and let out a long breath.
‘Annoying.’
This home, every person here, made her feel annoyed.
‘It’s still better to be with Yan Yu.’
She habitually pulled out her phone, unlocked the screen, and aimlessly scrolled a few times, as if looking for something to distract herself. Then, her finger stopped. In the update list of her social feed, the newest post was from that familiar, simple avatar.
Yan Yu.
Dai Feng tapped on the image. The painting titled “Time’s Shadow” immediately came into view. River surface, fragmented golden lights, the blurred silhouette of the city. Dai Feng looked at it quietly for a long time. The world in the painting was quiet and lonely, yet it had a power that soothed the heart. As if one could feel the focused tranquility of the painter at the moment she put brush to paper. Seeing this painting, the stifling anger that had been accumulating in Dai Feng’s chest miraculously dissipated little by little. As if she had been silently soothed by this painting, by the person who painted it.
“Ah,” she murmured to herself, “looking at this makes me feel better.”
After saying that, she read the short caption from beginning to end again, her gaze finally landing on the date and location of the art exhibition.
“City Art Museum… opens this Saturday.” She read it softly, her eyes lighting up slightly.
Saturday, she just happened to be free. Even if she wasn’t free, she would find a way to make herself free. In that case, she might as well go take a look. To go see Yan Yu’s painting, the truly finished work, how it looked hanging under the museum’s lights. And maybe… she could “accidentally” run into Yan Yu herself there.
Once this thought emerged, it could no longer be suppressed. Dai Feng found that as long as she thought about being able to exchange a few more words with Yan Yu, even just a greeting, a strangely sweet joy would bubble up in her heart. She felt as if she were playing a dating sim, and Yan Yu was the character she wanted to get close to. Every seemingly chance encounter, every brief conversation, felt like patiently, little by little, increasing affection points. Although progress was slow, every tiny interaction brought her a step closer to her goal.
“Art exhibition, right?” she murmured to her phone screen, her lips curling unconsciously. “Art exhibitions are really nice.”
“Miss, what are you saying?” The elderly maid who had been standing quietly in the corner of the room heard her muttering and asked with some confusion in a low voice.
Dai Feng snapped back to reality and quickly turned off her phone screen, as if someone had caught her in a secret. She coughed lightly, and looked up at the heavy night sky outside the window in a dissembling manner, saying to the maid, “…I’ve suddenly become very interested in art.”
The maid’s eyes widened as she looked at her young lady’s serious profile, and she secretly thought to herself:
‘What the hell! Art? Dai Feng actually wants to learn art? Has Miss Dai been traumatized again? Or… has she really turned over a new leaf?’
However, Dai Feng did not answer her question. She just avoided her gaze and quickly walked away, her back betraying a hint of guilt.
—
In another part of the city, inside a top-tier mansion with tight security.
Bai Yan’er was also scrolling through her phone. She had just finished a round of high-intensity training, still carrying a light sweat from the exercise, with strands of hair slightly damp and plastered to her smooth forehead. She leaned back in a soft leather sofa, her finger gliding across the screen. Then, she stopped.
Yan Yu’s social media post popped up.
Bai Yan’er raised an eyebrow slightly and tapped to open the full image. Her gaze lingered on the painting for a moment. It was indeed well painted, with a kind of tranquil power that moved the heart. But more than the painting itself, she was more concerned with the person who posted it.
Last time, elder sister had tacitly approved of her pursuit. This caused a certain burning thought in Bai Yan’er’s heart to begin spreading and growing silently, like a vine that had received nutrients. She had originally been calculating in her mind what excuse and method she could use to naturally and unawkwardly invite Yan Yu out and create an opportunity to be alone together. A direct invitation would seem too deliberate, and elder sister would likely find an excuse to decline. Also, regarding elder sister… although she had tacitly approved, one still had to maintain propriety.
Now, the opportunity seemed to have presented itself.
The art exhibition.
A public event of great significance to Yan Yu. As a participant, Yan Yu would most likely appear at the scene.
“Mmm…” Bai Yan’er lightly tapped the sofa armrest with her fingertips, a gleam of determination passing through her eyes. “This time, it’s a pretty good opportunity.”
‘Since elder sister allowed her pursuit, then going to the art exhibition to “accidentally” meet Yan Yu shouldn’t count as breaking the agreement, right?’
Rudely asking for a private time might cause the wary “prey” to detect and escape in advance. But creating a coincidence in a public place like an art exhibition, and then naturally intercepting her, would be much more natural and effective.
With this thought, Bai Yan’er’s plan had become clear. She even began to think about what clothes to wear that day, clothes that could both highlight her style as the younger sister and not be too formal.
First, a chance encounter. Then, find the right moment to naturally strike up a conversation with Yan Yu. And then… perhaps she could use the excuse of asking about art-related questions, or mention a nice café nearby, and take the opportunity to suggest moving somewhere else to continue the conversation. Finally, just find a way to “spirit away” elder sister from that crowded and busy place.
Thinking of this, Bai Yan’er curled the corner of her mouth.