HomeWu Li QingWu Li Qing - Chapter 47

Wu Li Qing – Chapter 47

A few days later.

After dropping Chen Qingwu off at the studio, Meng Fuyuan headed to the company.

The hardware and software R&D departments had a meeting in the morning to discuss equipment integration issues.

The meeting was important, and Meng Fuyuan didn’t check his phone all morning.

Near noon, just as the meeting was about to adjourn, he unexpectedly received a message from Meng Qiran.

The gist of the message was that when he woke up this morning and found no one home, he asked the housekeeper and learned that Meng Chengyong and Qilin had left for East City.

Meng Qiran reminded him: They’re probably coming to find you two. Be prepared to handle it yourselves.

Meng Fuyuan’s heart tightened.

Based on the timing, they should have arrived long ago, but there was no activity on his phone, and the receptionist hadn’t notified him of any visitors.

He immediately thought of that Polaroid photo.

Without hesitation, Meng Fuyuan stood up immediately, instructed his assistant to take control of the remaining meeting procedures, and rushed to Chen Qingwu’s studio.

That morning, Chen Qingwu was glazing a batch of bisque ware when someone knocked on the door.

To her great surprise, it was Meng Chengyong and Qilin.

She quickly removed her apron, washed her hands, and seated them while serving tea.

Meng Chengyong and Qilin sat together on one side of the sofa, while Chen Qingwu sat alone on the single armchair opposite them.

Tea smoke curled above the coffee table, but the atmosphere was very stagnant.

Meng Chengyong and Qilin weren’t being aggressive; on the contrary, they seemed somewhat hesitant to speak.

Chen Qingwu smiled. “Uncle, Auntie, just say whatever you want directly.”

Meng Chengyong: “Qingwu, then I’ll speak frankly.”

Chen Qingwu nodded.

“We won’t even mention the Spring Festival—Fuyuan was angry then, and wanting to calm down was understandable. But he didn’t come home for the Lantern Festival either. Is he really going to break with the family like this from now on?”

“…We never wanted to break with the family, Uncle. It’s you who can’t accept us.”

After the hasty disclosure, Chen Qingwu had always regretted not having the chance to talk with Qilin and Meng Chengyong. She felt things might not be as irreconcilable as she thought, but today their attitude told her she had been overly naive.

“How can you expect us to accept such a thing?”

Chen Qingwu paused. “Uncle, Auntie, did you come to persuade me to break up with Meng Fuyuan?”

Meng Chengyong: “Yes. I’ll speak bluntly—right now, only the family knows about you two. Stop here, and everything can return to normal.”

In her memory, Meng Chengyong had always been the most easygoing one, but at this moment, his tone was cold and hard, leaving no room for argument.

“By ‘normal,’ do you mean the two families continue as before, Meng Fuyuan and I pretend nothing happened, and Qiran and I continue preparing to get married someday?” Chen Qingwu’s voice was calm.

Perhaps hearing it stated this way made even normal people realize this so-called “normal” was absurdly unreasonable. Both Meng Chengyong and Qilin fell silent for a moment.

After a while, Qilin said: “Whether the two families’ relationship continues as before, whether you and Qiran continue developing your relationship—none of that matters. But you two being together is truly inappropriate. Qingwu, Uncle and Auntie have never treated you poorly, have we? When you were sick as a child and your mother couldn’t get away, I helped look after you. When your parents were busy with work, you’d come to our house after school, eating and playing with Qiran, sometimes even sleeping over.”

“I know…” Chen Qingwu felt a wave of sadness. She truly was grateful for their kindness, though perhaps they didn’t believe it.

“If you know, then why put Auntie in such a difficult position?”

Chen Qingwu lowered her gaze and was quiet for a long while before saying: “Auntie, what are your specific reasons for opposing Meng Fuyuan and me?”

“This is too ugly to say. You’re not living in a vacuum, child. When you two get to the point of discussing marriage, how will the two families talk about this? When the wedding banquet is held, what will relatives and friends say?”

Chen Qingwu looked up, gazing directly at Qilin and Meng Chengyong. “You mean Meng Fuyuan’s personal happiness is ultimately less important than saving face, is that it?”

“That’s not what I mean…”

Chen Qingwu tried to maintain her smile: “That’s exactly what I’m hearing.”

“Fuyuan has been excellent in character and academics since childhood. Are you going to let this become a stain on his record?”

“Meng Fuyuan himself doesn’t care, so I won’t give him up for such a reason. To me, his happiness is more important than anything else. Auntie, I’m sorry. I know you’ve always taken good care of me, and I have no way to repay that. Just consider me an ungrateful person. If I must let one side down, I still choose not to let Meng Fuyuan down.”

Qilin choked up. “…You’ll both be disgraced!”

“Then we’ll be disgraced.”

Just then, urgent footsteps suddenly came from the doorway.

All three looked over.

Meng Fuyuan strode in purposefully, his expression cold. He usually kept his emotions hidden, but today his face carried a layer of barely suppressible anger.

Arriving before them, his tone was still calm: “Mom, Dad, why didn’t you give me advance notice that you were coming?”

Neither Qilin nor Meng Chengyong spoke.

There was a stool by the coffee table. Meng Fuyuan sat down casually. “Perfect. Since you’re here, there’s something I want to confirm.”

Meng Fuyuan looked across at them, getting straight to the point: “Did you give Qingwu that Polaroid photo?”

Meng Chengyong: “What photo?”

But Qilin’s face immediately changed color. She didn’t speak.

Meng Fuyuan’s question had no specific target, since he wasn’t certain who had approached Chen Qingwu.

Qilin’s reaction gave him his answer.

Meng Fuyuan looked at Qilin. “How did you discover it?”

“…When I was cleaning your study last time, I found it under the desk carpet.” Knowing denial was useless, Qilin told the truth.

In the drawer of Meng Fuyuan’s study desk was a black leather notebook.

Inside were some items that weren’t particularly important but had some commemorative significance—plane tickets, movie tickets, performance and exhibition tickets, etc.

Among a few photos, including a graduation photo with Mai Xunwen from years ago and a group photo of the team working through the night during the company’s early days.

That Polaroid of Chen Qingwu was his only shameful secret.

The fireworks that New Year’s Eve were exceptionally beautiful. Chen Qingwu had asked him to take a Polaroid.

Looking at her smiling face in the viewfinder, at that moment he couldn’t control his base selfishness and shifted the lens half a frame, removing Meng Qiran from the shot.

The frame contained only her.

The moment the photo paper ejected, Qingwu happened to turn her head to listen to Qiran speak.

He calmly slipped this solo photo of her into his pocket and said the shutter hadn’t pressed properly earlier, asking them to retake it.

They had moved once in East City back then. Worried that moving might lose important items, he had brought some materials back to South City after organizing them.

It had been locked in the drawer since, deliberately not touched.

The last time he had taken it out to look at was during that period when Chen Qingwu had pointed out his feelings and gently rejected him.

That day after Qingwu’s grandmother’s birthday banquet, after the meal, he had stayed alone in his study for a long time.

Probably, it was when he was putting the photo back that he received a phone call and wasn’t paying attention, causing it to fall out.

Chen Qingwu looked at Meng Fuyuan in surprise: “You… you knew?”

Meng Fuyuan nodded. “I saw it accidentally a few days ago. I originally planned to find time to talk to you about this.”

His original plan was to return to South City over the weekend, talk with Meng Chengyong and Qilin first, then tell Chen Qingwu.

Meng Fuyuan looked at Qilin. “Until today, Qingwu hasn’t mentioned a single word to me. If I hadn’t discovered it myself, given her personality, she would never have told me in her lifetime.”

Qilin mumbled something.

Meng Fuyuan’s tone was extremely calm. “You pressured her back then, didn’t you?”

Qilin didn’t answer.

“Around National Day last year, you already noticed, so you deliberately warned me and even insisted on arranging that blind date. Later, when you found you couldn’t break through with me, you went to find Qingwu.”

Meng Fuyuan sorted through the chain of events with eight or nine-tenths accuracy, making it even harder for Qilin to speak.

She just felt that today’s atmosphere was much harder to endure than the day before the New Year when Meng Fuyuan and Chen Qingwu had gone public.

“Why didn’t you come to me directly?” Meng Fuyuan stared at her. “Because you thought Qingwu was softer-hearted, more considerate of the bigger picture?”

“No… it was just that Qingwu happened to come over that day. I thought some things are better dealt with quickly than prolonged.”

“Better dealt with quickly.” Meng Fuyuan closed his eyes. “You’re right. Then I might as well be clear too. I’ve always known about what happened between you back then.”

There was a pained quality in his voice.

Both Meng Chengyong and Qilin’s expressions froze.

“Whether there’s been partiality over the years—I don’t intend to seek fairness from you. None of that matters, but these two incidents…” Meng Fuyuan’s tone grew colder. “They truly violated my principles.”

“Fuyuan…” It was Meng Chengyong who spoke. “Your mother was doing it for your own good. You’ve fallen out with Qiran, can’t return home—is this what you want?”

“This is exactly what I want.”

“You…”

“From now on, except for Grandpa and Grandma’s birthdays, I won’t return to South City. I hope this is the last time you presume to interfere with Qingwu without my consent.”

Chen Qingwu quickly reached out and tugged at Meng Fuyuan’s sleeve, shaking her head.

Meng Fuyuan only patted the back of her hand, clearly meaning: no need to persuade me.

In fact, throughout this entire exchange, Meng Fuyuan’s tone had never been particularly harsh, but it was precisely this seemingly well-considered calmness that was more intimidating.

“Meng Fuyuan.” Meng Chengyong couldn’t suppress his anger. “Regardless of anything, we’re still your parents. What do you mean by this—are you trying to completely sever ties with us?”

Meng Fuyuan was completely unmoved. “I’ve expressed myself very clearly.”

Qilin quickly said: “Fuyuan… I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through carefully back then…”

“You don’t need to apologize. I don’t want to delve into your motives. Let’s draw a line under this matter here. I have only one thing to say—if you have any questions or dissatisfaction, please come directly to me. Don’t disturb Qingwu again.”

Chen Qingwu immediately said: “Uncle, Auntie, Meng Fuyuan doesn’t mean it like that…”

Meng Chengyong stood up and said coldly: “Very well. This is your own choice. From now on, you don’t need to return to the Meng family anymore.”

Chen Qingwu quickly stood up as well. “Uncle…”

Of course Meng Chengyong ignored her and strode out.

Qilin looked at Meng Fuyuan, sighed, and also stood up to leave.

Chen Qingwu wanted to chase after them, but Meng Fuyuan caught her wrist and shook his head.

Chen Qingwu watched Meng Chengyong and Qilin’s figures disappear at the doorway, then turned to look at Meng Fuyuan: “Actually, just now, taking a step back would have been fine. Uncle and Auntie just want to save face…”

“Qingwu, do you think my actions today were too extreme?”

Chen Qingwu shook her head.

Meng Fuyuan had always been the best at considering the whole picture. In today’s situation, if he had wanted to smooth things over, he definitely could have at least maintained surface harmony.

But he didn’t, which must mean he had rarely chosen to let emotion take precedence over reason.

“I heard everything you said to them.” Meng Fuyuan looked up at her, his tone earnest, almost a sigh. “Thinking my happiness is more important than anything else—Qingwu, you’re the first person who’s ever thought that.”

Chen Qingwu’s nose tingled.

Meng Fuyuan never thought his parents didn’t love him at all—it was just that compared to Qiran, their love was always conditional.

He had to be obedient, had to be excellent, had to read situations, had to consider the bigger picture…

All his personal emotions had to yield infinitely, because as the family’s golden medal for decorating their reputation, he wasn’t supposed to have personal emotions.

Before, he had never fantasized that there could be someone who would regard his own wishes as the highest principle.

And this person was Chen Qingwu.

She was so courageously alone, yet so sincere.

“Qingwu, I can’t just watch you be bullied—twice—and say nothing.”

“I really don’t mind. I don’t think that was bullying…”

“Why didn’t you tell me about my mother pressuring you?”

“Because at that time I wasn’t certain whether I’d be with you. If I told you, it would definitely affect your relationship with Auntie. As for after we got together… I thought that’s still your family, your parents. They don’t understand now, but perhaps someday they will. If I told you, it would just create unnecessary conflict.”

“Qingwu, from now on, you are my family.”

Chen Qingwu froze.

“Back then you were being tortured by pressure alone, while I was still insisting on the principle of not actively seeking you out. How ridiculous.”

Meng Fuyuan sighed, lowered his head, took her hand and pressed it against his cheek. “…In the future, can you tell me first when you’re wronged? When you choose to bear it alone, I feel useless.”

Chen Qingwu was often moved by his constant feeling of owing her something, when clearly he had already offered her his purest loyalty and favoritism.

She quickly nodded. “I will. But I also won’t let you deny your principles.”

“…Okay.”

After being quiet for a moment, Meng Fuyuan said again, “Qingwu, I feel the same way.”

—If he must let one side down, he likewise chooses never to let Chen Qingwu down.

The next day at noon, during lunch break, his assistant came to report that Meng Qiran had come to the company and wanted to meet and talk.

Meng Fuyuan: “Got it. Have him wait in the conference room.”

After handling a batch of documents, Meng Fuyuan went downstairs to the conference room.

Meng Qiran sat on the sofa. Unusually, he wasn’t waiting with obvious boredom but was looking thoughtfully at the teacup of tea soup in his hand.

It was the tea set “Mist Green” that Chen Qingwu had made.

Hearing footsteps, Meng Qiran looked up and set down the teacup, but didn’t greet him.

Meng Fuyuan walked over and first looked at his head. The gauze had been removed, so it seemed to be fine now.

He sat down and asked flatly: “What did you want to see me about?”

“Did Mom and Dad come find you yesterday?”

“They didn’t find me. They found Qingwu.”

Meng Qiran’s expression showed slight surprise. “…What did they want with Qingwu?”

Meng Fuyuan glanced at him. “What do you think?”

Back in high school, the school would occasionally expose someone for “puppy love.” The practice Meng Qiran most despised was when a boy’s parents bypassed the teachers or the girl’s parents and went directly to “negotiate” with the girl. Girls at that age were generally quite thin-skinned. When the boy’s parents did this, they were precisely taking advantage of this fact—even if they couldn’t break them up, they could plant seeds of doubt in the girl’s heart.

He never expected his own parents would do such a thing one day.

“This is the second time.” After thinking for a moment, Meng Fuyuan decided to tell Meng Qiran about this. It was precisely because Meng Qiran had been nearby last time that Chen Qingwu had luckily avoided injury. He thought that when it came to caring about Chen Qingwu, they should be able to reach consensus. “…The first time, she didn’t tell anyone, including me.”

Meng Qiran’s tone was bitter. “…She’s always been like that.”

When things happen, she always considers others first. And in the past, to keep him from being scolded by their parents, she had kept countless secrets to herself.

“From now on, I’ll rarely return home. You’ll have to shoulder more of the responsibility for Mom and Dad.” Meng Fuyuan’s tone and expression were both peaceful.

Meng Qiran wasn’t surprised by this outcome. Yesterday’s meeting must have ended badly. “They just can’t digest it right now. It’ll be fine after some time.”

Meng Fuyuan was indifferent. He raised his wrist to check his watch. “Anything else? If not, I’m heading back up. I have a meeting at one, no time to take you out for lunch. You’ll have to manage on your own.”

Meng Qiran said that was fine.

Seeing his older brother about to stand up, he finally couldn’t help but speak first: “…Is Wuwu’s foot better?”

“It’s been fine for a while. No need for your concern.”

Meng Qiran had a bellyful of words that were choked back.

Meng Fuyuan stared at him for a moment.

When they’d met last time, he’d already felt it—Meng Qiran looked much more haggard overall, as if overnight, that restless air about him had been tempered into some stability.

“Have you given up on yourself?” Meng Fuyuan asked flatly.

“No…”

“Qingwu has never said a single disparaging word about you. She’s always felt you’re too free-spirited, which is why you’re unwilling to be constrained. This matter isn’t about who’s right or wrong—it’s that you two have fundamentally different values.” Meng Fuyuan said lightly. “Take responsibility for each of your choices.”

With that, he stood up and walked out.

“…Take good care of Wuwu.”

Meng Fuyuan’s steps paused. He frowned. “I’ve put up with you long enough.”

Meng Qiran showed a questioning expression.

“From now on, you’re not allowed to address Qingwu that way anymore.”

“…Then what should I call her? I’ve called her that for twenty-six years. You want me to suddenly change?”

Meng Qiran thought about it and could understand—it would be hard for any man to tolerate others addressing his girlfriend so intimately.

“If you’re willing, you can call her sister-in-law.”

Meng Qiran gritted his teeth. “…I’m not willing!”

Time flew by, and it was March.

Ms. Zhuang Shiying’s ceramics exhibition was about to open. Mai Xunwen planned to come to East City for the occasion, attend the exhibition, and have a small gathering with Meng Fuyuan.

That day, Chen Qingwu’s studio welcomed a young visitor who wanted to continue trying ceramics—Maggie’s daughter Beibei.

Maggie was busy all morning, so she entrusted Chen Qingwu to help look after her.

Beibei was a very easy girl to communicate with. She had completed the last ceramics class excellently. This time, Chen Qingwu taught her coil building, then took her to observe the raku firing process.

Around two in the afternoon, Meng Fuyuan went to the studio.

When he arrived, he saw an iron barrel placed on the open ground by the studio door. Smoke was rising from the barrel, and the air smelled of burning wood and withered leaves.

Chen Qingwu and Beibei were crouching near the barrel. Beibei wore a full set of protective gear, even her hair tucked tightly under a bandana.

“What are you doing?”

Both turned around at the sound.

Beibei smiled and greeted him: “Uncle Meng. Sister is teaching me raku firing.”

Meng Fuyuan didn’t bother correcting her obviously off-generation address. He walked over and saw several pieces of ware on the ground in front of them, also still cooling, with smoke rising from them.

At a glance, compared to what Chen Qingwu usually fired, they had more of a random, natural beauty.

“What does raku firing mean?” Meng Fuyuan crouched beside them.

“Raku firing is…” Beibei looked at Chen Qingwu. It was somewhat difficult to have a six-year-old girl explain this concept.

Chen Qingwu smiled and said: “After glazing the bisque ware, it’s fired in an electric kiln to about 1000 degrees. At high temperature, it’s taken out and smothered in a barrel. The barrel contains withered leaves and old newspapers, which are highly flammable. The flames coat the surface with a fluorescent metallic film. But this is American-style raku firing—Japanese raku firing is a different concept. Raku firing produces results quickly, and the effects are very random and fun.”

“That, that rice bowl bisque was chosen by me.” Beibei pointed. “Sister said after it cools, I can take it home today.”

Meng Fuyuan smiled. “So what did you make yourself?”

“I made a kitty bowl. Sister said after it’s fired, I’ll come back to get it.”

Perhaps having been warned about the high temperature danger, Beibei never got too close to those pieces on the ground.

Chen Qingwu stood up and removed her gloves. “Let’s just leave them here to cool. We’ll go inside to wash our hands, Beibei.”

Meng Fuyuan followed them inside.

Chen Qingwu removed Beibei’s protective clothing, mask, and goggles, then led her to the sink to wash hands.

After washing, Beibei took Meng Fuyuan to the wooden shelf to see what she had made—a round bowl with a proper-looking cat head attached, complete with ears and nose.

Meng Fuyuan smiled. “Very well done.”

Chen Qingwu rarely heard Meng Fuyuan speak in such a warm tone. She couldn’t help but turn to look, and smiled.

Around three o’clock, Maggie drove over to pick up her daughter. The bowl Beibei wanted was already packaged by Chen Qingwu.

Maggie kept thanking her, saying her child had been a bother.

“Not at all. She was very well-behaved.” Chen Qingwu smiled and touched the little girl’s head, lowering her head to say, “We had a wonderful time today, didn’t we?”

Beibei nodded repeatedly.

Before the two left, Chen Qingwu instructed: “That bowl is for display only. If you use it, the surface will oxidize and the metallic luster will disappear.”

Maggie smiled and said to Beibei: “Then shall we put it in your bookshelf?”

“Yes!”

After seeing off Maggie and Beibei, Meng Fuyuan helped Chen Qingwu clean up the raku barrel and the other pieces.

While washing her hands, Chen Qingwu asked Meng Fuyuan with a smile: “Aren’t you going back to work?”

“Playing hooky.”

Chen Qingwu laughed. “Perfect timing then. There are still teaching materials left. Do you want another lesson?”

“Of course I’ll follow Teacher Chen’s arrangements.”

Chen Qingwu felt that with Meng Fuyuan’s talent, he could try the electric pottery wheel.

After completing preliminary steps like wedging the clay, Chen Qingwu explained the key points of using the electric pottery wheel. “Fix your arms on your knees, keep your body about 30 centimeters from the wheel head, right foot on the pedal. First try stepping on it to familiarize yourself with how different pressure changes the speed.”

Meng Fuyuan followed the instructions and looked at Chen Qingwu.

Chen Qingwu nodded. “Throw the clay ball onto the center of the wheel head, stick it firmly, then rotate the wheel and pat the clay into a cone shape—step lightly first, don’t rush.”

With such clear and simple teaching, Meng Fuyuan had made no mistakes up to this point.

“Apply water to the whole clay mass until the surface is smooth.”

Chen Qingwu observed Meng Fuyuan’s movements. “The next step adds a bit of difficulty—embrace the clay with both hands, use the pinky-side of your palms to squeeze toward the center, and add a bit more pressure to the pedal. Then pull up with both hands, all the way to the top…”

As the speed increased, Meng Fuyuan felt somewhat flustered. “Teacher Chen, by adding difficulty, do you mean jumping straight from the Pythagorean theorem to calculus?”

Chen Qingwu laughed aloud. “Don’t get distracted, it’s going crooked!”

Seeing the clay mass tilting and about to collapse, Chen Qingwu quickly reached out and grasped Meng Fuyuan’s hands to make corrections.

In Chen Qingwu’s hands, the clay became so docile, as if every angle could be precisely controlled.

“Qingwu.”

“Mm?”

“Have you seen that movie?” (*Note)

“That movie…”

“Mm.”

Both fell silent, but simultaneously lightened their breathing and lowered their gazes, staring at their fingers entwined in the clay.

The wheel kept turning.

The clay, in his hands held by hers, was pulled to the top and became cone-shaped.

At this moment, Chen Qingwu suddenly turned her head and kissed Meng Fuyuan.

Meng Fuyuan released the pedal, and the wheel stopped at a steady pace.

He reached out, wrapped his arm around her back, his tongue invaded, found hers, and kissed her forcefully.

The position was too awkward. Soon, Meng Fuyuan pulled Chen Qingwu to her feet. The two kissed while backing toward the sink.

Chen Qingwu’s palms wrapped around his back, leaving clear handprints on his white shirt, but no one cared. They only held each other tighter, as if wanting to merge the other into their own body.

When they briefly separated, Meng Fuyuan held Chen Qingwu’s hands under running water to wash them clean, then directly hoisted her up and carried her toward the bedroom space at the back.

Afraid of dirtying the sheets, Meng Fuyuan removed her dress and took off his own shirt.

Chen Qingwu lay back. Meng Fuyuan leaned down and kissed her again. At the same time, his other hand moved downward, going straight to the point.

His fingertips touched the dampness already soaking through the fabric, and he chuckled softly.

Chen Qingwu reflexively arched her knees. Meng Fuyuan pressed down on her knee and spread them apart.

A moment later, she heard rustling sounds. Looking down, she saw Meng Fuyuan had moved to her feet.

Her ankle was grasped, and then a kiss fell on the gray birthmark.

The sensation of lips touching made Chen Qingwu barely manage not to pull back.

The memory of that day rushed at her with the salty moisture of sea breeze.

It was as if she could still see the sunlight streaming through the fishtail palm, creating dappled patterns that swayed like shimmering water at the bottom of a lake.

Chen Qingwu nearly lost her heartbeat. It seemed an entire ocean was pouring and roaring inside her body.

That breath traveled along her ankle, winding upward.

Chen Qingwu realized what he was about to do and quickly pushed at his forehead. “You can’t…”

“I can.” Meng Fuyuan removed her hand. “Try it first, Qingwu. You’ll like it.”

“But…”

He didn’t give her a chance for “but.” Meng Fuyuan was always the action-oriented type who struck while the iron was hot.

Chen Qingwu’s heartbeat was violent, nearly suffocating. The feeling was like being on the verge of death.

The studio door wasn’t closed—anyone could walk in at any moment.

This sense of insecurity instead became a kind of catalyst.

She didn’t dare look down. When her gaze fell, she only saw his dark hair.

He was such a noble person, yet at this moment…

At that instant, Chen Qingwu cried out. Meng Fuyuan immediately rose and held her tightly in his arms. Waiting for her intense convulsive rhythm to subside, he said with a laugh: “A bit lacking in backbone there, Qingwu.”

“…” Chen Qingwu couldn’t make a sound at all.

The afternoon space had a kind of forgotten silence.

Chen Qingwu was embraced by Meng Fuyuan for a long time before finally recovering. She lightly pushed his shoulder to break free from the embrace, braced herself on the sheets, and knelt. Just as she was about to move downward, Meng Fuyuan grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?”

“Of course I’m…”

“No.” Meng Fuyuan held her, only catching her hand to help him. Her hands, which constantly worked with clay, had thin calluses on the fingertips.

“But you just…”

“No buts.” Meng Fuyuan was very firm.

He embraced her so tightly that Chen Qingwu couldn’t break free at all.

After a moment, Meng Fuyuan said with a low laugh: “Could this be the trump card you had prepared?”

“You’re never allowed to use it again.”

Chen Qingwu bit down on his shoulder in anger.

Fortunately, Chen Qingwu had very foresightedly prepared a change of clothes for Meng Fuyuan here.

After both cleaned up and walked out of the bedroom, the sky outside was already full of sunset clouds.

The barely-begun clay mass lay on the electric wheel. Thanks to Teacher Chen’s careful instruction, Meng Fuyuan had no plans to touch it again for the time being.

They locked the studio door and drove away, discussing dinner plans amidst the traffic as the lights began to come on.

[Note]: That movie refers to “Ghost”

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