Chapter 109: Bao'er Collides with the Painting, The Free Fish

For An Muxi, this was her first time visiting the city of Lishui.

However, having listened to Lin Shenlu’s accounts over the past few days and viewed the many photographs he had taken, she was filled with anticipation for this place where clouds drifted over terraced fields and mists scattered among the human world.

She was especially excited because today was the grand opening of the Blue Whale Inn, and many painters would be gathering there to create. This only added to her anticipation for the journey.

Just as she had resolved yesterday, she had changed her hairstyle and put on a new outfit. With a renewed spirit, An Muxi set off.

She was heading to a place where no one would ask her about her "Dali love story." She was going to find Lin Shenlu.

In her heart, a sliver of tenderness, reserved solely for Lin Shenlu, had begun to stir. It was a small crack opening up, a place where the sunlight could finally shine through.

...

Dagangtou Town.

Although Hai Lanjing had prepared plenty of lunch to ensure the artists wouldn't go hungry, she had truly underestimated their dedication to their art.

So many painters, caught in the flow of inspiration, chose to keep working rather than break for a meal. The entire morning had passed, and yet, not a single person had completed their work. Everyone was meticulously refining their pieces.

Well, everyone except one person.

Su Bao'er, who had spent the entire morning wandering around.

It was such a lively day. Su Bao'er had been drifting from place to place, constantly snacking while watching everyone with wide-eyed curiosity.

Finally, she remembered. Lin Shenlu had said that today was the day of Sister Whale’s inn opening... and that he would paint a picture for her. Su Bao'er had even grabbed a blank canvas earlier to work on.

"Hmm... where did I throw that drawing board..." she muttered. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, she quietly picked up some painting supplies and found a secluded spot to work for the rest of the morning.

When the others weren't looking for lunch, Su Bao'er carried her painting, hunched over, and crept toward Hai Lanjing.

She had been sleeping curled up against Hai Lanjing for the past few days. Su Bao'er slept soundly; Hai Lanjing smelled fragrant and felt soft and comforting to hold. Plus, Hai Lanjing often brought her delicious treats. Su Bao'er liked her very much.

"Um... Sister Whale?" Su Bao'er whispered from the side.

"Hm? Bao'er... what’s wrong?" Hai Lanjing looked at her curiously. She hadn't seen the girl all morning, just like Lin Shenlu, and hadn't been able to find her.

The scene was simply too chaotic. With people and easels everywhere, it was normal to miss someone passing by.

"I'm hungry... I want meat..." Su Bao'er said, rubbing her stomach.

"Haha... go eat, and come back for more if you need it!" Hai Lanjing gently patted Su Bao'er’s messy hair and handed her a lunch box.

"Um... this is for you... 'Deer Boy' said he was giving a gift today..." Su Bao'er handed over the painting she had been hiding behind her back.

Hai Lanjing never dreamed that in such a grand exhibition, with so many people and so many works, the first person to turn in their piece would be Su Bao'er.

Su Bao'er took the food and quietly went off to eat. Hai Lanjing looked down at the painting in her hands.

Is this... painted by Su Bao'er?

Hai Lanjing couldn't help but smile. In Su Bao'er's world, perhaps this was what perfection looked like. Sometimes, Hai Lanjing truly envied the purity of Su Bao'er’s inner world. Perhaps that was the meaning behind the legend of being untethered by the mundane world.

The painting before her—fish flying in the sky, animals running in the water—this must be her ideal world. Although it lacked technique or structure, and was barely recognizable—perhaps on the level of a primary school student—it didn't stop Hai Lanjing from loving it.

Did that fish in the sky symbolize her own yearning for freedom? Even though Su Bao'er’s painting wasn't "good" in the traditional sense, it touched Hai Lanjing’s heart.

...

Su Bao'er didn't know how to paint. She only vaguely remembered seeing Lin Shenlu painting over the last few days, and the scene he was working on looked roughly like this. Fish in the sky, horses on the water... or was it a deer? She couldn't tell the difference. But in Su Bao'er’s heart, "Deer Boy" was never wrong.

...

Lin Shenlu was nearly finished with his work. He had pondered this piece for a long time and revised it seven or eight times; this draft finally captured the vision he loved most.

A massive blue whale drifted sideways through the sky, with a few light white clouds floating alongside it in the worry-free, azure expanse. Its lifelike tail and fins seemed to sway with the air itself. The blue whale was truly alive.

A tiny boy sat on the whale, his face turned downward, looking toward the girl riding a deer across the sea. The whale used its vast body to protect the boy, radiating gentleness. On the sea, the deer stood firm, its eyes warm. Flowers bloomed from its antlers, scattering fragrance as the girl clung tightly to its neck, trusting the deer to carry her toward the far, distant horizon.

In Lin Shenlu’s heart, this painting had no grander meaning. He simply wanted to give it to Hai Lanjing. He had reserved a spot for it on the hall wall. He only hoped that whenever Hai Lanjing, or any traveler staying at the inn, looked at it, the corners of their mouths would lift, their hearts would feel warm, and they would forget all their troubles. The viewer didn't need to know why they were smiling; it was enough that they were happy.

...

As Lin Shenlu cleaned his brushes, he noticed that the girl’s work nearby was also nearly finished. Seeing that touch of ambiguous sky, he became even more certain that the blue in her painting was the "Goodnight Blue" that had once stunned him. The sky in her painting was filled with romance, and the inn beneath it was tucked away in the mountain woods. She had captured the inn with a touch of romanticism.

The girl took out a fine brush and signed her name in the bottom right corner:

*Su Youzhi.*
*2022.02.11*

...

The freelance artist Chen Fan was also perfecting his work. He had chosen a very narrow perspective: the single black datura flower before him. The final details were about capturing the perfection of this main bloom. Black petals. It was truly difficult to paint. But Chen Fan, fueled by his conviction, painted this flower he loved so dearly with extraordinary beauty. It was a work that condensed everything he held dear.

...

Chen Muyun had been painting for a long time. Her brother, Chen Qinghan, had been recording his sister’s work with his camera the whole time. Chen Muyun’s painting was quite unique, though it was hard to tell what the final result would look like.

...

Lin Shenlu turned his head to look at Qilai. Following his advice, she had continued to use black as a base to mix her colors. When Lin Shenlu’s gaze fell upon Qilai’s canvas, his eyes widened.

This painting?