Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

Liu Yunshu's sensitive nerves tightened suddenly, and a strong sense of unease and instinctive crisis gripped her.

Almost out of sudden courage, she used all her strength to push the man in front of her away!

Caught off guard, Liu Chengyan was pushed back half a step by her.

Just then, not far away, Jiang Chi's anxious, almost tearing shouts rang out.

The sound was like the light of a lighthouse piercing through the darkness.

She took the opportunity to break free and stumbled towards the direction of the sound.

Her soft hair was ruffled by the wind, and her skirt fluttered wildly, like a fledgling rabbit.

"A-Chi!" Her voice was heavy with sobs, her soft tone broken and shattered, yet it conveyed an extreme urgency.

Jiang Chi turned his head in the direction of the sound and immediately saw the milky white figure.

His heart tightened, and he rushed through the crowd like a madman, pulling her tightly into his arms, his voice trembling:

"Yunshu! You scared me to death! Are you alright? Are you hurt? Did you bump into anything? Let me see!"

She buried her face in Jiang Chi's chest, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist.

She trembled uncontrollably in his arms, choked with sobs, barely able to utter a complete sentence, only shaking her head desperately and sobbing intermittently:

"I'm okay...Ah Chi...I...I'm so scared...It's so dark...I can't find you..."

Jiang Chi felt an overwhelming pang of heartache, tightening his arms around her as if he wanted to pull her whole body into his heart.

He lowered his head and kept kissing her hair and forehead, which were wet with sweat and tears.

With endless pity and lingering fear, his fingertips gently stroked her violently trembling back again and again.

"I'm not afraid anymore, I'm not afraid anymore... It's my fault, I shouldn't have let go of your hand..."

"I'm here, I'm here, I won't let go anymore... It's okay, it's okay, it's okay..."

In the darkness not far away, Liu Chengyan stood still, watching the two embracing.

Behind the gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes were as dark as a bottomless, icy pool.

His hands, hanging by his sides, were clenched tightly, his knuckles white, and even his bones ached slightly.

The lingering scent of gardenias in my arms had not yet dissipated, and my fingertips could almost still feel the softness of her waist.

But that gentle figure had already fallen into someone else's arms.

He slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, all the emotions in his eyes had been completely concealed, leaving only a cold indifference.

The assistant cautiously stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Liu, shall we... go back?"

Liu Chengyan did not speak, but his gaze remained fixed on the two people embracing.

After a long while, he slowly turned around and walked towards the exit of the haunted house.

His back was tall and lonely, and the fierce aura around him almost solidified the surrounding darkness.

The assistant watched his retreating figure, shivered, and quickly followed, not daring to utter another word.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Since that day at the amusement park, Liu Yunshu has buried herself in painting, trying not to recall the scene from that day.

Fortunately, Ryu Seung-yeon really did not reappear in her sight.

There were no phone calls, no chance encounters, and even the communication with the art studio was handled by the assistant.

She began to think that perhaps the strange feeling she had in the haunted house that day was just her overthinking due to excessive fright.

How could someone like Mr. Liu possibly...

Liu Yunshu locked herself in her studio for a whole day and finally finished the last stroke of her painting "Sunset Runway".

When Lin Chuchu arrived to pick up the painting, she was immediately drawn into it and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise:

"Oh my god, Yun Shu, this is so sweet! She'll definitely be a hit at the exhibition!"

Liu Yunshu blushed slightly at her praise, scratched her head, and said in a soft voice, "I just... wanted to draw down how I felt that day."

Lin Chuchu winked at her, smiled meaningfully, and began to carefully pack the paintings with deft movements.

"I'll send the painting over first. You rest well at home, and remember to dress nicely for the exhibition!"

three days later.

The banquet was held in an open-air art gallery, where the evening breeze carried the fragrance of flowers, and the air was filled with the aroma of fine clothes and the clinking of glasses.

Liu Yunshu wore a light blue strapless dress, the skirt flowing like water, which made her skin look as white as snow and her collarbone delicate.

Jiang Chi stayed by her side, his fingertips always holding her hand, the warmth of his palm making her feel a little more at ease.

Just then, a gentle yet elegant female voice rang out from the side:

"The way this painting captures light and shadow and emotion is truly exquisite and moving."

Liu Yunshu turned her head at the sound and saw a lady in a champagne-colored satin gown standing in front of her painting.

A polite smile played on his lips, his eyes were gentle, and his gaze held undisguised admiration.

She quickly gave a polite slight bow, a soft smile curving her lips, and said in a sweet voice, "Thank you for your compliment."

"You must be Liu Yunshu."

The woman's smile deepened, and her gaze softened as she looked at her face.

"I am the curator of this exhibition, my surname is Su. I had long heard of a very talented new painter, and seeing him today, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved."

She smiled and extended her hand, and Liu Yunshu quickly and gently shook it back, her fingertips slightly cold from nervousness and flattery.

"Hello, Teacher Su, I am Liu Yunshu. You flatter me. I... still have a lot to learn and explore."

"You're being modest."

Curator Su patted the back of her hand, her gaze falling on the painting, her tone increasingly appreciative.

"The handling of light and shadow in this painting, 'Sunset Running Track,' is excellent. It shows your keen perception of life and great potential."

Jiang Chi stood aside, watching Liu Yunshu blush and her eyes sparkle as she was praised, and his heart was filled with pride.

Just then, a clear and calming woody scent, accompanied by unhurried footsteps, quietly approached.

A familiar, warm yet highly noticeable male voice rang out behind them:

"Aunt Su, it's been a long time! You still look as radiant as ever."

Curator Su turned her head, saw the newcomer, and her smile deepened, carrying the warmth of an elder:

"Chengyan, you've arrived. You have good taste. Miss Liu's work is indeed one of the biggest highlights of this exhibition, and she has a bright future ahead of her."

Liu Chengyan's gaze fell naturally on Liu Yunshu, his tone as calm and composed as ever:

"Yun Shu's talent is like a rough gem; we just hope to provide her with a better platform to showcase it."

Curator Su's gaze lingered on Liu Chengyan's calm face for a moment, keenly sensing something.

This kid...could he really be having some inappropriate thoughts?

The young couple is deeply in love; let's hope nothing goes wrong.

Her mind was racing, but she didn't show it on her face. She smiled and made a suggestion to Liu Yunshu.

"Miss Liu, would you mind accompanying me to see some other works? I'd like to hear your thoughts on the styles of those emerging painters."

Liu Yunshu paused slightly, then gave Curator Su a shy and polite smile, her voice soft and sweet:

"Okay, Ms. Su, I'm honored."

The two walked side by side to the other side of the exhibition hall, the evening breeze ruffling their skirts and carrying a faint floral fragrance.

The two walked up to a painting with vibrant colors. During a break in their conversation, she quietly remarked, "Stay away from Ryu Seung-yeon."

Liu Yunshu's heart skipped a beat!

Could it be that... the strange feeling she had in the haunted house that day wasn't just her imagination?

Mr. Liu... this, how is this possible!

At this moment, a figure dressed in a dark blue silk cheongsam embroidered with a few sparse bamboo branches walked over gracefully.

She walked straight to curator Su, affectionately took her arm, and spoke softly:

"Ah Qing, I've been looking for you for a while. Turns out you were hiding here discussing art with a pretty young girl."

Liu Yunshu looked in the direction of the sound and met the gaze of the woman in the cheongsam.

His gaze was gentle, but the moment he saw Liu Yunshu's face clearly...

A fleeting, elusive doubt and a deeper scrutiny seemed to flash across his face.

"This is Liu Yunshu."

Su Qing introduced with a smile, gently patting the back of the hand of the woman in the cheongsam who was holding hers, her tone affectionate.

"It's the new artist I told you about, the one I'm most optimistic about in this exhibition, the artist of 'Sunset Runway'."

"So he's the author of 'Sunset Running Track'."

She nodded slightly, her voice gentle.

"I really like that painting. It's so warm, like the soft light of the evening has been blended into the canvas."

Liu Yunshu was a little embarrassed by the compliment, her fingertips gently twisting the hem of her skirt, her voice soft and sweet: "Thank you for your kind words."

My surname is Wen.

The woman in the cheongsam smiled slightly, introduced herself, and then affectionately took the arm of curator Su and swayed it.

"Ah Qing always says I have a picky eye, but after seeing your painting today, I feel like we click."

Curator Su glanced at her, her tone tinged with a hint of helpless mockery:

"You, you clearly just liked that girl and insisted on tearing the painting."

Ms. Wen did not refute, but just smiled, her gaze falling on Liu Yunshu's slightly flushed cheeks.

"I wonder what Miss Liu's parents do? Judging from your temperament, they've raised you very well."

Liu Yunshu gently bit the corner of her lip, her voice lowered, a soft tone tinged with a barely perceptible hoarseness:

"I...I've been in an orphanage since I was very young. So...I don't know anything about my parents."

Ms. Wen's smile froze abruptly, a hint of surprise and pity flashing across her eyes, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Curator Su's hand.

"Feel sorry,"

Ms. Wen almost immediately let go of Liu Yunshu's hand, stepped forward, and gently grasped Liu Yunshu's slightly cool hand.

His tone was full of sincere remorse.

"I was being presumptuous and asked something I shouldn't have, which brought up painful memories for you. I'm so sorry."

Liu Yunshu shook her head, the bitterness in her eyes quickly fading away, replaced by a faint smile: "It's alright, it's all in the past."

Curator Su also stepped forward, patted her on the shoulder, and spoke in a reassuring tone:

"Don't take it to heart. She's just straightforward. She can't help but ask a few more questions when she sees a child she likes."

Liu Yunshu shook her head again, her smile becoming more genuine: "It's really okay. I understand."

"Alright, alright, let's go look at the paintings."

Su Qing took the opportunity to pull Ms. Wen's wrist and lightly changed the subject.

Ms. Wen understood and followed her lead.

Before leaving, she turned back to look at Liu Yunshu, her eyes filled with even more pity.

"Miss Liu, if you have time, you are welcome to come to my home for tea. I have quite a few freshly roasted Longjing teas."

Liu Yunshu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded quickly, her soft voice tinged with a hint of flattery: "Thank you, Ms. Wen."