Chapter 51: Extremely Strong Presence
Meng Shuyou didn’t reply for the time being and asked Madam Kasa’s opinion that evening.
Madam Kasa said on the telephone call: “Restoring the photograph shouldn’t be too difficult for you. If you have time and can manage it, take it on. It’ll be a good chance to see if you’ve improved.”
“Okay.”
After the telephone call, Meng Shuyou messaged Ivy back: “Miss Ivy, when do you need the painting?”
Ivy: “Before Wednesday.”
Ivy: “It’s because time is tight that I couldn’t find other painters and came to you. Just treat it as helping out; I can pay extra.”
Meng Shuyou: “Send me the photograph.”
Ivy: “Thanks.”
There were quite a few guests coming to see paintings over the weekend, so Meng Shuyou was very busy during the day and could only work on the draft in the evening.
She had told Mister Pei that she would stay in the apartment these few days and not go back.
The art gallery was closed on Monday, so she worked on it all day.
The background of the photograph Ivy sent her was quite complex, with flowers, ribbons, candlelight, and the formal dress on her was also very elaborate, so it would take quite some time to paint.
At nine in the evening, the mobile phone rang.
She freed up one hand to answer and put it on speaker nearby.
The man’s warm and mild voice came through, “Are you done?”
There was traffic noise on his end, so he was probably still outside.
Meng Shuyou picked up the paintbrush and mixed colors on the paint palette, “Not yet, finishing touches.”
“What did you have for dinner?” Pei Yuzhou propped his elbow on the car window and asked casually.
“Didn’t eat, I forgot…” Meng Shuyou checked the time and realized it was so late, “I’ll just grab something later.”
He hung up the telephone call.
Meng Shuyou didn’t think much of it and continued with her work.
About half an hour later, the mobile phone rang again.
After answering, the voice on the other end was direct, “Come down.”
“Huh?” Meng Shuyou reacted after two seconds, “You’re here?”
“Mm.”
“I’ll come down right away.”
She set down the paint palette and paintbrush, washed her hands in the kitchen, and hurried downstairs.
As soon as she exited the stairwell, she saw the familiar figure.
Under the streetlight, the man’s posture was upright and noble, with exceptional temperament.
As long as he stood there, even doing nothing, it was enough to catch everyone’s eye.
Meng Shuyou trotted over, “Mister Pei, why are you here?”
Her hair was secured at the back of her head with a clip, with a few strands falling by her ear, looking lazy and casual.
Pei Yuzhou had one hand in his pocket and looked down at her fair and rosy cheek, “Go eat dinner.”
“Did you come just to take me to dinner?” Meng Shuyou looked up at him, her eyes curving slightly, “No need to go to trouble; I can just boil some noodles.”
She used to do this when rushing drafts to save time and was too lazy to go out.
“If you don’t eat properly, go back to live there.” Pei Yuzhou turned and walked in another direction.
“I’ll go back tomorrow.” Meng Shuyou kept pace with him and asked by his side: “You haven’t eaten either, have you?”
He didn’t speak.
Meng Shuyou muttered very softly, “You don’t eat properly yourself but lecture me.”
At this hour, most restaurants had already closed.
Surprisingly, the popular new Americano restaurant on the street side hadn’t closed yet.
This shop’s business was always very good, with limited guests each day, requiring reservations a week in advance.
Pei Yuzhou took her straight in.
With Mister Pei’s status, Meng Shuyou wasn’t surprised by anything he did.
The manager personally received them and arranged seats, “Good evening, sir and miss. What would you like to eat?”
Meng Shuyou looked at the menu and ordered a few signature dishes.
Pei Yuzhou sat down and started looking at his mobile phone, handling a few work messages.
Meng Shuyou asked: “Mister Pei, what do you want to eat?”
“Order for me.”
“What if I order something you don’t like.”
“You eat it.”
“…Oh.”
She added a few more dishes.
Three chefs in the kitchen worked together, and the dishes came out quickly.
The exquisitely plated dishes were delicious, no wonder the business was booming.
Mister Pei was picky about food and few things suited his taste.
It showed that this restaurant was indeed good.
After dinner, Pei Yuzhou sent her back downstairs to the apartment.
Meng Shuyou turned around, stood in front of him, and smiled, “Thank you, Mister Pei, for coming to keep me company for dinner.”
Previously, when she was too busy, she just grabbed something to fill her stomach; this was the first time someone came specially to accompany her.
Mister Pei was very good when he wasn’t angry.
Pei Yuzhou’s gaze fell on her face, and he stepped forward slightly, lifting her chin with long fingers and leaning down to approach.
Meng Shuyou’s eyelashes fluttered, and she closed her eyes instinctively.
The man’s fingertip rubbed at her chin, “You got paint on it.”
A smile lifted the corner of his eye, “Thought I was going to kiss you?”
Meng Shuyou opened her eyes, a trace of embarrassment flashing in them, and denied shyly, “No, I’m going up.”
Before her foot could step out, her waist was held by him.
His large palm pressed against the back of her neck, and he lowered his head to capture her red lips in a kiss, his breath forcefully entering between her lips.
Their hot breaths mingled.
The surroundings were quiet, and the lights stretched their overlapping shadows on the ground.
After the kiss, Meng Shuyou’s mind was still dizzy, her body soft, and she leaned in Pei Yuzhou’s arms to recover for two minutes.
Her hair was messed up by the wind, and her heartbeat equally disordered.
She took a deep breath, stepped back, her voice slightly hoarse, “I’m going up, goodbye, Mister Pei.”
With that, she ran off without looking back.
Her dangling ponytail swung lightly in the air.
Pei Yuzhou’s lip corner curved softly, watching the little girl go in before leaving.
Meng Shuyou went back, washed her face, and found some white paint smeared on her chin somehow.
In the mirror, her lips were flushed red from being sucked, like they had lip gloss on.
His taste still lingered in her mouth.
His kisses were always deep and intense, with a strong presence.
Back in the living room, Meng Shuyou continued finishing the work.
Busy until twelve-thirty, finally done.
She stood up to stretch her limbs and rubbed her sore arms.
The floor was a mess with paintbrushes and paint; she didn’t want to clean up for now, and with fatigue setting in, she just wanted to lie down and rest.
She left the drawing board there to dry.
She went back to the room to shower, wash up, and sleep.
–
She slept until she woke naturally.
At nine in the morning, Meng Shuyou got up and started cleaning the living room.
She loved cleanliness; if not for being too tired last night, she wouldn’t have waited until today to tidy up.
After tidying, she sent the oil painting photograph and original together to Madam Kasa, “Please take a look.”
Madam Kasa: “Finished painting so quickly? Does the guest need it that urgently?”
Meng Shuyou: “Mm.”
Madam Kasa carefully compared the photographs and replied: “You gave me a surprise. You’ve improved so fast; the facial expression and overall light and shadow are very well restored.”
Meng Shuyou’s lips curved into a smile, “I have to thank you for the techniques you taught me.”
Madam Kasa: “It’s still thanks to your own aptitude.”
Meng Shuyou messaged Ivy, “Miss Ivy, I’ve finished your painting. See when you have time to pick it up.”
Ivy: “I’ll come this afternoon.”
Meng Shuyou: “Okay, but the painting isn’t completely dry yet, so be extra careful when picking it up.”
After replying, she set down the mobile phone and went to the kitchen to cook breakfast.
