For the next half month, Chang Xuyu shut herself in Yuan Zixu's studio, painting day and night to meet her deadlines.
The lights in the studio were often on, and she rarely showed herself. Yuan Zixu could only occasionally catch a glimpse of her when she finished work and was about to leave. During this time, the two barely exchanged a word.
Yuan Zixu knew she was grieving and didn't disturb her too much, but she was worried that Chang Xuyu would suffocate herself like this. Chang Xuyu's personality wasn't naturally lively or cheerful to begin with, and if she continued to isolate herself like this, something would eventually go wrong.
So one day, Yuan Zixu used the pretext of discussing painting style to cautiously squeeze into the studio, hoping to chat with Chang Xuyu. But the moment she stepped inside, she was startled by the scene—
The walls were stained with many paint splatters, pure colors mixed with gray, in various shapes. Though it added an artistic touch, the composition and color scheme felt desolate and cold, like a frozen ice cave, yet with a sacred solemnity, everywhere marked by a strange aura that said "Keep Out."
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