It was true that she didn't understand art.
Su Zhiyi blinked. "I think it's very beautiful. What's imperfect about it?"
"I paint too many landscapes. I always feel the picture is empty, just empty scenery, lacking the soul of the painting. I wonder if adding a figure to the painting would bring it to life."
Xu Yezhou's words carried a hint, as if meaning something else.
Su Zhiyi involuntarily recalled the painting of the garden girl she had seen in the school gallery a few days ago.
The style of that painting seemed quite similar to Xu Yezhou's works?
"Yezhou." Song Lian suddenly interrupted Xu Yezhou. "I remember you just finished a painting last month. I haven't seen it yet. Is it here today?"
Xu Yezhou wisely didn't continue the inappropriate topic. He followed Song Lian's lead and changed the subject.
"Oh, you mean the painting I did last month when I went to C City for scenery? Of course it's here. After all, it's the star of today's exhibition."
Song Lian said, "I've wanted to see that painting ever since you mentioned it last month. Do I have the honor of seeing it today?"
"Of course, why not? That painting is over there." Xu Yezhou pointed to the end of the gallery they were in. "I'll take you to see it. It took me three whole days and nights without sleep to paint it. It's my best work this year."
Today was Song Lian's last date with Su Zhiyi, and he didn't want a third person present during their brief time together.
After Xu Yezhou had accompanied them around the exhibition for about an hour, Song Lian found an excuse to send him away.
By the time they finished viewing the exhibition, the sky was growing dim.
It was getting late, so they left the exhibition.
The hazy sun was half-hidden by the mountain, and the sunset's afterglow fell on Su Zhiyi.
Today, Su Zhiyi wore a white strappy floral dress with only a thin knitted cardigan over it. When a slight cool wind blew, her thin outfit couldn't block the breeze at all.
As the wind blew, she couldn't help but shiver.
Just as she felt a bit cold, a warm coat landed on her shoulders.
It was warmer than the sunlight, still retaining the warmth of the person who had worn it.
Su Zhiyi grabbed the collar of the coat and looked at Song Lian beside her.
"Put it on." Song Lian had given his coat to Su Zhiyi, leaving him in just a white shirt that perfectly outlined his physique. "I don't want you to catch a cold on our date. If you get sick, I'll be heartbroken."
"Thank you." Su Zhiyi didn't refuse Song Lian's kindness and put on his coat.
The restaurant Song Lian had booked was one Su Zhiyi knew.
It was that same French restaurant that was ridiculously expensive, with tiny portions, but where the taste of money was pretty good.
After they sat down, a server brought the menu to their table.
Song Lian took the menu and ordered. He knew Su Zhiyi's tastes well and politely asked her, "Still want the pan-seared foie gras? I remember you like this."
"Order one."
Su Zhiyi glanced around absentmindedly and answered Song Lian distractedly.
Back in the familiar restaurant, she couldn't help but silently sigh.
She had been to this restaurant with Su Qinghuai, with Si Yanjing, and also with Song Lian.
The front desk staff had grown familiar with her face, seeing her come to this restaurant for dates with different men every time.
Hmm... This restaurant was quite nice. If she left this world after completing her mission, she wouldn't get to eat here anymore.
Thinking about it, it was a bit of a shame.
The food came quickly. Su Zhiyi slowly cut the foie gras with her knife, forked a small piece, and put it into her mouth.
Before she could fully savor the deliciousness of the foie gras, she suddenly felt two icy, sinister stares fixed on her, sending chills down her spine.
Before she could locate the source of those stares, System 030 sounded an alarm in her mind. What it said made the blood in her veins freeze instantly. Her knife and fork scraped a white mark across the porcelain plate, the harsh screech piercing her eardrums and jolting her brain.
"Host, host, stop eating first. I-I-I see Si Yanjing and Su Qinghuai! Ah—why are they here today too? I remember checking; Si Yanjing was supposed to go to the racing club, and Su Qinghuai was supposed to go to a dinner party with the Su Family Head!"
"Wait—"
System 030's voice seemed to be strangled by a pair of large hands, abruptly cut off.
The voice in her mind vanished, like a drop of water falling into a vast ocean, lost.
The restaurant had a constant temperature air conditioner, and she was wearing Song Lian's coat, but Su Zhiyi felt no warmth at all. Instead, her hands and feet instantly turned cold, and her face drained of color.
"Alas, it seems our last date is about to be ruined."
Song Lian's smile reached his eyes, carrying a hint of schadenfreude.
He put down his knife and fork, laughing lightly and cheerfully.
"Zhiyi, what will you do now that you've been caught by your fiancé and your brother?"
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Author's note: Zhiyi: This restaurant must have bad feng shui!