Chapter Four, Iron Blue (04)

Jiang Ci, however, thought that she must finish the painting at all costs; she could not ruin Teacher Chen's reputation.

Jiang Ci smiled faintly, took off her work uniform and hung it on the ladder, "I will take half a day off this afternoon and come to paint the other side tomorrow"

Jiang Ci's lips parted slightly, she paused for a few seconds, and softly uttered an "oh"

The young man saw Jiang Ci pacing with her head tilted against the wall, remaining silent for a long time, unsure if she had heard him, and he did not dare to disturb her. Ever since Jiang Ci entered the room, he felt that she was somewhat strange; a perfectly fine young lady, why choose such a hairstyle, opting for a buzz cut instead of something more conventional. However, he quickly reconsidered, thinking that those involved in the arts often have unique personalities, and being eccentric is quite normal. He mumbled to himself, scratching his head, "If you need anything, I will be cleaning up in the front. My name is Liu Yuan."

"I suppose so," Liang Jingxing nodded, "What are you doing here?"

This area is filled with bars, and the neon signs are extremely dazzling at night. After about ten minutes, Jiang Ci turned into a deep alley, walked a few more steps, and stopped in front of a dilapidated building

Jiang Ci picked up a discarded newspaper from the ground, sat down on the floor, and looked up at the wall in front of her. Half an hour later, she got up, brushed off the dust from her clothes, and went to the front to borrow a ladder from Liu Yuan. She took out the acrylic paint from her backpack and was about to dilute it when she suddenly looked at Liu Yuan, who was setting up the ladder, and asked, "Do you have any clothes on you?"

Jiang Ci thought for a moment and did not decline. At this hour, the buses had already stopped running, and taking a taxi back would be expensive. Moreover, she had spent several hours painting and was also unwell, feeling utterly exhausted like a dead dog.

Jiang Ci coughed a few times and waved his hand, "No need."

Liang Jingxing glanced at her and asked, "Have you caught a cold?"

The lake is azure by day, the mountains stretch endlessly, laid upon the broad walls, vast and magnificent

After a few seconds of silence, Liang Jingxing spoke: "Get in the car, I will give you a ride"

After bidding farewell to Jiang Ci, Liang Jingxing turned and descended the stairs. After taking a few steps, he heard the key being inserted into the lock, followed by a "click" sound, and then the door slammed shut with a "bang".

As the night deepened, when Jiang Ci came to her senses, it was already 10 PM. Having stood on the ladder for a long time, her entire body ached as if it were about to fall apart. The space was very quiet, with only the central air conditioning above her head working hard, puffing out cold air. She rubbed her shoulders, slowly climbed down the ladder, cleaned her painting tools, and took off her work uniform before leaving the company

Jiang Ci remained silent for a few seconds, "Mr. Liang, thank you for bringing me back. It is quite late, you should head back now, I won't keep you any longer"

Have you taken your medicine

Upon reaching the sixth floor, Jiang Ci turned around and said, "I have arrived"

The clothes carried a hint of sweat, and Jiang Ci frowned, shaking them in her hand. The clothes were men's, clearly oversized. Draped over the T-shirt, they concealed the hot pants she was wearing, revealing only two slender sections of her legs from beneath the garment. From behind, it appeared as if she were not wearing any pants at all

I see you are sleeping soundly

A bit of white paint was smeared on her forehead. Liu Yuan glanced at it and immediately averted his gaze, "I... I think it looks great, the scenery is beautiful"

Liu Yuan, having nothing to do, would take a stroll around the corridor. As for what Jiang Ci was painting, he believed that he simply did not understand it, so he chose not to worry about it. However, when the seventh day of completion arrived, he stared in astonishment at the newly transformed wall.

Just as Jiang Ci was about to respond, she suddenly felt a tickle in her throat, and immediately turned her face away to cover her mouth and coughed a few times. After coughing, she turned her head to look at Liang Jinghang, seemingly smiling a little: "I can draw for you."

Without a mask, her voice sounded dull, "There was only the first time and this time."

Liu Yuan glanced at the wall again, opened his mouth, but did not make a sound. He thought to himself, perhaps what is depicted is not a lake, but a talisman.

Not yet, I need to rush some work tonight

The backlight of the phone illuminated a few inches of space as Liang Jingxing lowered his head, following Jiang Ci. He had only entered such a building during his early years as a photojournalist when he went to the slums for shooting. The lime walls were damp and bulging, with large patches peeling off, revealing the gray cement underneath. Dark green mold had grown at the base of the walls, emitting a foul odor. Upon reaching the fourth floor, a large rat scurried down from above, completely unbothered by his presence.

After getting into the car and settling down, she first took out a mask from her bag and put it on again

Liang Jingxing looked at her and said, "I will take you home"

In Chongcheng, the summer is fierce, with heat waves rising outside, while the air conditioning indoors is set extremely low. People come and go, making it easy to fall ill in the sudden shifts between cold and heat. She persevered for half a day, but by the evening, she began to run a fever. After receiving injections for two days, with the opening day that Liu Yuan mentioned fast approaching and progress barely halfway completed, she immediately rushed to the company after her fever subsided

Liang Jingxing nodded and said, "If you are unwell, it is better to rest more; it does not matter if you cannot finish the painting."

Liang Jingxing propped his arm against the car window and said, "I am going back to the office to get some things"

Liang Jingxing was taken aback, "You were sent here by Mr. Chen Tongxu?"

Liu Yuan was just about to get off work when he saw her come in wearing a mask, momentarily taken aback. "Miss Jiang, have you recovered from your cold?"

He felt too embarrassed to speak directly, and with a simple, honest smile, he said, "I have been watching for the whole morning, yet I still cannot figure out what this painting is about. I am uneducated, and perhaps my mind is a bit dull."

Every time I see you, it seems that you are unwell

Jiang Ciwei was somewhat surprised and pointed to the building behind her, "Is this your company"

After a moment, it was Liang Jingxing who noticed her first. He extinguished his cigarette and tossed it into the nearby filthy trash can, then walked over to her, "Are you awake?"

Jiang Ci seemed to be accustomed to all of this; when a mouse scurried past her feet, she didn't even blink an eye

Liu Yuan quickly averted his gaze

Hmm. Jiang Ci, feeling exhausted and disinterested in conversation, reached out to turn off the car's amplifier, leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes, and softly said, "I will take a nap; please wake me when we arrive."

Jiang Ci let out a soft laugh, and with that smile, the serious expression she wore while painting, as if the whole world owed her money, finally faded away, revealing a kind of innocent demeanor belonging to a young girl. "I painted a lake"

Then... how about I stay here with you? It feels rather lonely when you are by yourself

Liang Jingxing's gaze seemed to wander aimlessly, and his posture while smoking appeared quite casual, as if he were not truly engaged in the act itself. However, when it came to what exactly he was doing, Jiang Ci found herself at a loss for words

Liu Yuan was taken aback for a moment, quickly nodded, and ran to the workshop to find another one

Furthermore, the boss has made arrangements with the tea restaurant across the street. You can simply inform them when you go there for a meal, and the bill will be charged to our boss's account

Jiang Ci placed her hands on her hips and turned to look at him: "What do you think?"

After painting for two days, Jiang Ci suddenly caught a cold

Jiang Ci did not take out the key and pushed the door twice. The broken door lock made a couple of clicking sounds and opened in response. She took out her phone and said, "There are no lights in the hallway, watch your step."

Why don't you call me

"It is getting late, and the area is not safe," Liang Jingxing said with an unusual firmness in his tone. "If anything were to happen to you, I would have a hard time explaining it to your teacher."

Jiang Ci moved neither too fast nor too slow, layering colors onto the wall, calling Liu Yuan to help move the ladder, going up and down from time to time. The air conditioning in the corridor was quite strong, yet she still worked up a sweat. Liu Yuan thought this young girl was quite something, and took the time to go out and buy her a bottle of ice water. After receiving it, Jiang Ci did not drink, thanked him, and set it aside, continuing to work diligently.

After a busy morning, the entire wall was painted in a haphazard manner. During lunch, Liu Yuan went to inspect it one last time and wondered if his boss had been taken for a ride— the paint on the wall was a chaotic mix of blue and purple, making it impossible to discern any pattern.

The car window rolled down, revealing a familiar figure seated in the driver's seat

Under her inquiry, Liu Yuan candidly revealed the situation of his family. However, he suspected that Jiang Ci might not have taken it to heart, as once he told Jiang Ci that his elder brother had contracted a pepper garden, yielding a decent profit each year. The next day, Jiang Ci asked him: "What varieties of peppers are grown in your grandfather's chili garden?"

Jiang Ci was taken aback for a few seconds, "Mr. Liang?"

No need to ... ...

Jiang Ci squinted her eyes, stepped aside, and began to walk. After taking just a few steps, the car suddenly stopped, precisely beside her.

For reasons unknown, Jiang Ci did not call out to him

After finishing her last final exam, Jiang Ci carried a large bag of art supplies and went to the company that had just been renovated, following the address given by Chen Tongxu. A young man in a gray-blue work uniform, slender in build and with dark skin, received her.

Jiang Ci raised his head and squinted to observe the height

With experience, Jiang Ci's speed has noticeably improved. She pauses while painting and takes the time to chat with Liu Yuan.

The young man led her to the corridor and pointed to the white walls on both sides, "This is it. The company is set to open in half a month, so the timeline might be a bit tight," he scratched his head and said with a smile, "However, our boss mentioned that we don't need to be too meticulous about the details; as long as it looks somewhat presentable overall, that will suffice."

Jiang Ci lowered her gaze and nodded slightly

Jiang Ci took out her phone to check the time; it was already 11:30. She opened the car door and got out. After walking a few steps, she saw Liang Jingxing standing by the roadside smoking. Today, he was dressed in a silver-gray suit, his figure tall and upright, appearing more formal than during their previous encounters.

It is an old English song, sung in a deep male voice, exuding a strong sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of vintage photographs or grainy black-and-white films. The car moves slowly, with Jiang's eyes tightly closed, listening to one song after another, as thoughts gradually slow down, sinking into chaos

Jiang Ci took out his phone and wallet from his bag, removed his work uniform, bent down to pick up the bottle of mineral water placed beside him, and said, "Thank you, I will go have lunch now"

Uncertain of how long she had slept, she suddenly awoke. She raised her head and looked around in confusion, and upon seeing the sign of Walmart, she realized that she had arrived at Xiawangdong Road. The car had turned off and was parked under the shadow of a sycamore tree, with no one in the driver's seat

This area is filled with office buildings, and it is far less lively at night than during the day. Jiang Ci stood at the entrance of the company for a while, but did not see a single taxi. She planned to walk a few steps to the intersection, where it is adjacent to the main road, hoping it would be easier to hail a cab. Just then, a light suddenly flashed ahead, and a car was driving towards her.

Jiang Ci nodded