"So where do you think is the place that truly belongs to you?"
Lu Xue shook her head. "I'm not quite sure. Maybe I'll just drift aimlessly through life alone."
The cicadas were singing one after another in the trees near and far, creating a deafening chorus like a huge wave. The water in the water tank sparkled under the moonlight.
The two of them fell silent. They didn't go back to their rooms to rest until the night grew deeper.
The next day, instead of going to the mountains to paint with Mr. Chen, Lu Xue invited him to stroll around the quiet little village with her.
They walked from the area of small bridges and flowing water to the open fields, passing by the chicken coops of many households on the way.
Lu Xue chatted with Mr. Chen about her work and mental state in recent years and also shared her difficulties.
Mr. Chen nodded. During these days of getting along, he had already understood most of her situation from their conversations.
"Just as I told you before, your works are too orderly and composed. In many cases, this is actually a kind of constraint for you."
Mr. Chen knew that it was impossible to say everything in just a short moment. Most of the time, Lu Xue needed to experience it in life.
However, during this short period of getting along, he had taken a special liking to this girl in his heart. He sincerely hoped that she could become better.
Before leaving, Mr. Chen couldn't help but give an extra reminder. "You've always had a knot in your heart. Only by unraveling it can you embrace a broader self. These are all your own spiritual practices. You need to endure them alone. No one else's advice can change the situation for you."
Lu Xue pondered over Mr. Chen's words and fell into deep thought.
It was already very late when she got home that day. The night had fallen completely, and the barking of dogs could be heard from near and far in the village.
Huotui (Sausage) had been waiting under the dim street - lamp at the door for a long time. Finally, it saw Lu Xue's hazy figure approaching from the alley in the distance.
Huotui was so excited that it bounded over from afar, circled around her feet and tried to jump into her arms.
Lu Xue squatted down wearily and stroked Huotui's head. She whispered to it, "Mr. Chen is leaving tomorrow. From now on, you'll stay with me. I'll take good care of you."
Whether Huotui understood or not, it just nuzzled Lu Xue and licked the back of her hand affectionately with its tongue.
At night, Mu Yuze was sitting in the yard, trying to catch the weak signal in the corner to deal with several emails.
But the signal was unstable, so the work that usually took only five minutes took him more than an hour and still wasn't finished.
He rubbed his temples tiredly and simply gave up dealing with these matters. He closed his laptop and went out for a walk.
He walked all the way to the nearby river and saw Mr. Chen sitting by the river fishing under the moonlight.
The cicadas were singing up and down in the nearby bushes. The light was dim, and the low bushes stood unevenly by the river. They looked just like people sitting there. For a moment, Mu Yuze couldn't tell which one was Mr. Chen.
Fortunately, there was a small light on Mr. Chen's fishing rod, so Mu Yuze could accurately identify his position.
He walked over and sat down beside Mr. Chen. Mr. Chen seemed to have something on his mind. He was fishing silently. He turned his head and glanced at Mu Yuze, but neither of them said a word.
Mu Yuze sat there for a while and then suddenly said, "Mr. Chen, can I ask you a question?"
Mr. Chen nodded, but his hand holding the fishing rod remained steady.
Mu Yuze looked up at the night sky and the sparkling river and said, "May I ask what kind of person Lu Xue is in your eyes?"
Mr. Chen thought for a while and replied, "She's a very nice girl. Although she seems care - free on the surface, she actually has her own concerns in her heart."
Mu Yuze asked, "What do you think her concerns are?"
Mr. Chen shook his head. "I don't know. Everyone has their own knots. There's no one in this world who is truly care - free."
Mu Yuze asked, "What's your opinion on the level of her paintings?"
Mr. Chen turned his head and looked at Mu Yuze strangely, probably thinking that this question was unnecessary.
"You don't need me to tell you. You must be well aware of the outside world's evaluation. Her paintings are among the best among young people. They're actually of first - class level. Don't think that I've been nit - picking on her during these days. In fact, she's truly an outstanding one among her peers."
Mu Yuze was a little surprised that Mr. Chen had given such a high evaluation.
He probed further, "Then do you think Lu Xue's current level is enough to hold an art exhibition in her own name?"
Mr. Chen thought this question was even stranger.
"Didn't Lu Xue hold many solo art exhibitions before? Don't you even care about her career?"