Chapter 231 - 133: Missing a Stroke of Cinnabar Red

Chapter 231: Chapter 133: Missing a Stroke of Cinnabar Red

The streetlights stretched their shadows long as they walked along the sidewalk. Xiao Wanqing was especially talkative tonight, chattering on and on. It had been a long time since she’d last seen Su Ran, and she wanted to tell him everything that had happened recently.

Xiao Wanqing cherished her time alone with Su Ran. The days they’d spent together during the National Day holiday had become an eternal memory for her. This time, she had come by herself simply because she missed him. She didn’t care what might happen; she felt she already belonged to Su Ran and truly had no room in her heart for any other man.

「At the entrance of Chuyuan.」

Xiao Wanqing looked up at the ’Chuyuan’ plaque. This was her second visit. The character for ’not’ was gone from the name. ’Where’s the other plaque?’ she asked.

"I’m keeping it," Su Ran said. "Let’s go."

Xiao Wanqing was speechless.

Inside, Su Ran handed her a pair of slippers. Xiao Wanqing had stayed in this big house for a week before, so she was quite familiar with it. Not much had changed since her last visit, but the addition of more daily necessities made the place feel much cozier.

The house was heated, so she took off her down jacket and hung it on a rack. Dressed in tight jeans and a form-fitting wool sweater, she walked around the room. As a dancer, she had an excellent figure and presence, especially her long legs, accentuated by the skinny jeans...

’They’d look nice... slung over my shoulder.’

"Su Ran, what is this painting supposed to be?"

Xiao Wanqing pointed at a painting on the living room wall. "It’s just a black blob with a little bit of white in the middle," she said, confused. "What is it?"

"Discharge."

"...Are you asking for a smack?"

"Just a joke. The painting’s called *The Universe*. I painted it a while back after reading *The Three-Body Problem* and feeling inspired. The black represents a black hole, and the little bit of white represents my hope of exploring its mysteries."

Seeing his deadpan explanation, Xiao Wanqing more or less believed him. Of course, she had to believe him. This was art, and black holes were one of the universe’s great mysteries.

"By the way, didn’t you ask me to paint something for you last time? I’m free today, so I can do one for you later."

"What kind?"

"Any kind you want."

"Then I’ll go take a shower first."

She turned shyly and headed for the bathroom. Su Ran understood this meant it was time to begin another Forbidden Painting. He didn’t think much of it. Plenty of girls with great bodies took private photos these days, keepsakes to show their future selves how amazing they once looked.

Su Ran knew his way around a camera, of course, though he was no expert.

Painting, however, was his forte. Tang Bohu’s specialty had been Forbidden Paintings, and Su Ran had inherited his true mastery. He imagined himself as Jack, painting a lifelike portrait of Rose, one that would one day be treasured in the private museum at Chuyuan.

So far, Su Ran had completed two such works: one of Liu Jinyu, and the other, the *Four Young Actresses Bathing Painting*. The latter, however, couldn’t really be considered a Forbidden Painting, since they were all wearing swimsuits.

Su Ran actually had an idea: ’I should paint all the girls around me.’

’Of course, it’s for art.’

...

Su Ran was in the study, organizing his painting supplies, when he heard Xiao Wanqing call out. "In the study!" Su Ran called back.

The door creaked open, and Xiao Wanqing entered, barefoot. She saw Su Ran on the tatami mat, arranging a folding screen to use as a backdrop. It all looked very professional.

"Su... Ran..."

A shy, sweet voice came from behind him.

Su Ran turned, his eyes reflecting the shy expression of the long-haired woman, who was wrapped in a thin robe.

’Her body really is incredible. Uncovered, you can see its true form even better.’

"Why are you staring at me? I’m not doing it," she said.

The feeling of a man’s eyes intensely fixed on her body made Xiao Wanqing blush. She turned to leave, but Su Ran stepped forward and took her by her slender arm.

"What’s there to be afraid of? It’s not like I haven’t seen you before."

"It’s different."

"Well..." Su Ran tilted his head, looking her up and down. "You’re right, it is different. Before, I was treating you, so I only saw... ahem. But now..."

"Don’t say it!"

"Okay, let’s get to painting before you catch a cold. Go lie down on the tatami mat."

...

Xiao Wanqing bit her lip and shyly stepped onto the mat. She felt a wave of discomfort, the feeling of being completely exposed. ’It’s fine. I’ll get used to it after he looks a few more times.’

"Um..." Xiao Wanqing stood on the tatami mat, watching Su Ran grind the ink. "Su Ran, how should I pose?"

"Anything goes. Make it provocative," Su Ran said bluntly.

"I don’t know how to be provocative."

"Hah. Then just copy Jinyu."

"Oh, that I can do."

"Hahaha..."

The little joke instantly broke the tension, and Xiao Wanqing relaxed. She already belonged to Su Ran anyway, so what was there to be afraid of? ’Let him paint,’ she thought.

Xiao Wanqing reclined on the tatami mat in a seductive pose, cradling her head with one hand as she watched Su Ran.

"Pull the sheer robe open a little."

"Like this?"

"Mhm."

A few minutes later, Su Ran could see she was at her peak. "Okay, hold just like that," he said, then let her go and returned to his desk.

’What the—’ Xiao Wanqing cursed inwardly. ’Does he really have to get me all flustered just to paint?’

Okay, it was time to begin.

Su Ran dipped his brush in ink and set it to the page. The wolf-hair tip danced across the Xuan paper, and slowly, the image of a peerless beauty began to emerge.

He applied the final stroke, then stamped his seal.

"It is finished."

"Let me see!"

Xiao Wanqing got up and ran over, her body jiggling, to admire herself in the painting. "Wow, it looks amazing! Su Ran, you’re so talent... wait, why didn’t you paint any lipstick?"

"I’m out of cinnabar."

"What do you mean?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she understood.

"You..."

She whipped her head around and saw Su Ran staring at her. She wanted to call him a pervert.

But this was a private, intimate matter between a couple.

Playing along, she wrapped her arms around Su Ran’s neck and leaned against him. "What is it?"

Xiao Wanqing was playing dumb.

"Sister Wanqing, you’re so beautiful."

As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around Xiao Wanqing’s slender waist, lifted her up, and sat her down on the desk.

"Su Ran."

"Mhm."

"I really, really like you. I’m your woman. You said so yourself."

"I did. What about it?"

"Nothing. I was just making sure. I was afraid you’d forgotten."

"I won’t."

"Then... I’m willing."

"Mhm."

With that, she embraced Su Ran...

Su Ran said nothing more. At this moment, words were unnecessary.

What was about to happen between him and Xiao Wanqing had long been a foregone conclusion; it was just that some twist of fate had always gotten in the way. This time, however, there were no interruptions. There was only romance, and no need to think of anything else.