OVL 07 Maze

He Mengxin lowered her head and took a sip of tea, then smiled sweetly at him: "Yes, I did not understand. Auntie hopes we can be together, what is wrong with that? So if you are willing to tell me, I won't mind"

Li Zhijin handed her the notebook and asked, "What do you like?"

It is truly a place devoid of light, not an exaggeration in the slightest, resembling a hibernating burrowing animal

Zhang Zecheng did not take the key, and the butler hurriedly called the driver. He casually sat down, unaware of the emotions that filled him, his pupils a shimmering black, deep and rippling. The newspaper was still at his side; he turned to the finance section, skimmed the headlines, and took another sip of the slightly cool tea.

It is quite time-consuming, almost more troublesome than a physical examination. Li Zhijin casually chatted with Master Jia and learned that several exquisitely intricate costumes in the previous Kunqu opera were crafted by Master Jia himself. Luo Yao watched as he took out a thick material book, which at first glance was filled with a riot of colors, various patterns, and silks. He handed it to Li Zhijin and asked, "Would you like to select some more?"

It was a call from the secretary, informing him that all of the morning's schedule had been postponed or canceled, and asking whether he would come to the office in the afternoon. He was momentarily taken aback, as the curtains were very heavy, several layers thick, completely opaque, revealing not a hint of light. He then glanced at the time and was startled to realize that it was already noon

He became persistent, his gaze unwavering: "You promised me that day." He continued, "Then you surely agreed to accompany me that day, right? Just outside the theater, you clearly promised.

In fact, most repair craftsmen are quite elderly, as there are few young people who can endure the patience required for the work. However, Bai Luoyao is an exception; even Master Zhong, who rarely praises others, gave her a thumbs up and brought her into the bronze repair room, confidently allowing her to assist by cleaning the broken copper pieces

He raised his eyebrows: "You know much more than I do"

The Ming Dynasty Xuande red-glazed high-footed cup with three fish patterns

He has truly lost his mind, insisting on driving to find her while so intoxicated, time and again ending up bloodied and bruised, just like last night. His hands are covered with the marks she cruelly scratched into his skin, yet even with such a grotesque appearance, even when only scars remain in the end, he still cannot bear to part with her, not even harboring resentment towards her.

By some mysterious force, Luo Yao glanced at the photo again. His cuffs were pristine and crisp, adorned with a pair of silver diamond-shaped cufflinks, exuding an air of refined elegance

Before her was a vast expanse of white, and she had never lost her way, for what awaited her had always been a frantic rush without discernment

In fact, she does not know what is going on. Previously, the teacher had taught her to practice Zen meditation, but she was too young at that time and could not calm her mind. Now, she has lost the desire to pursue that thought again, feeling disheartened and plagued by a constant sense of restlessness. However, the diligent repetition of a single task, such as mending or cleaning, instead brings her a sense of tranquility.

He shrugged: "There is a certain Ming Dynasty red glaze... what cup is it."

Bai Luoyao felt an inexplicable sadness in her heart, yet she bit her lip and counted her steps, passing quietly and gently in front of him. He remained with his eyes closed, seemingly unaware, only murmuring a few words.

Luo Yao took out a large stack of materials and images from her backpack, explaining to him item by item which images could be used for the venue setup and which porcelain pieces should be highlighted, with clear organization. She spoke gently, as if recounting treasured family heirlooms

In the end, Luo Yao lay on the bed, yet could not help but think back to what he said about being lost... Such a purposeful person... Could he really be lost?

Warm water flowed out of the faucet, and as soon as his hand touched the water, he felt a slight sting, prompting him to raise his right hand and take a closer look.

She left at the fastest speed, not even saying a word to Xiao Li in her anxiety, as if there were entangled ghosts behind her

She smiled gently: "Is everything alright? You didn't fall again, did you? Your hands are all scraped up."

He Mengxin supported her chin with one hand and lightly tapped the newspaper beside him with her slender fingers: "Open it and take a look. The edition."

She naturally trusts his judgment, after all, he is an artist, and she quickly waved her hand: "I will just listen to you"

It was as if out of spite, yet somewhat anxious; from that moment on, her name was always the first in his contact list... Even though they had not had a single bit of contact in these three years, he truly had never changed

This time, all the repairs involve porcelain, and cleaning the broken pieces requires great patience, as even a tiny speck of dirt in the gaps can affect the final shape of the porcelain. She wears gloves and carefully scrubs the fragments, her fingertips applying gentle pressure, occasionally hearing the soft sound of dripping water; she could spend an entire day sitting like this

When Zhe Cheng woke up, he frowned and rubbed his forehead, yet he could not figure out where he was.

A gentle reproach escaped her lips, her eyes narrowing slightly, resembling a little girl who had just thrown a tantrum. Her complexion was pale and tender, glistening like the picture she held in her hand. What was it she had just mentioned? The white porcelain teapot from the Dezhou kiln?

Li Zhijin was watching from the side when he suddenly said: "Master Jia, I think the white silk satin with purple flowers from last time suits her complexion better."

He Mengxin's tone was very patient: "If no one is nodding behind the scenes, can this news be reported? Why do you have to make things difficult for your subordinates?"

As he walked downstairs, he saw the silhouette of a young woman in front of the wide floor-to-ceiling window, slender and tall. He said nothing, merely sat down at the dining table and added some milk to his black tea

The scent that belonged solely to him penetrated deeply into her heart in varying degrees. Luo Yao tried to move her body, but Zhan Zecheng ignored her, stubbornly holding on tightly and refusing to let go. His cold cheek pressed against her neck, yet his warm breath brushed against her temple, teasingly stirring her heart.

He Mengxin's gaze is very innocent: "Many, but none of the photos are as clear as this one"

Xiao Li did not even glance at her, merely saying in a low voice: "Miss Bai, let us help him into the car together; I will take Mr. Zhan home." He had driven another car, which was parked not far away. Luo Yao nodded, and together, one on the left and one on the right, they slowly walked towards that car.

The master craftsman, while having his assistant record the data, said: "Hmm... that works."

Perhaps there was a faint and desolate scent of alcohol, separated by a short distance, akin to the fragrance of flowers, which she gently inhaled and immediately understood. The flush on Zhan Zecheng's face was not due to the cold, but rather from intoxication

In the natural light, after the blood scabs were washed away, the back of his hand appeared somewhat hideous. He glanced at it, unfazed, and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Such a tongue-twisting name, when she uttered it in one breath, sounded as if it were a beautifully recited poem

Luo Yao stood rigidly, as he always did, stubborn and unwilling to let go... Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked up, trying to hold back her emotions. In her panic, she noticed his overcoat lying on the ground—he must be quite drunk to be in such a disheveled state.

He once said: "If you are unwilling to come out, I will keep calling you, keep calling."

He merely sneered, pushing aside the plate in front of him, and without avoiding her sitting opposite him, he dialed a phone number. There was already a hint of anger in his voice: "Have Ma Sheng go check today's newspaper." Even before he could impatiently say the next sentence, he had already pressed the end call button.

Luo Yao was somewhat taken aback. It was a young girl who, feeling a bit embarrassed, said: "I wanted to buy one, but that child has already walked far away."

Gao Chifei sent her to the intersection, and Luo Yao jumped out of the car, bent down to say goodbye, and then turned to walk back. After taking a few steps, her heart tightened when she saw Zhan Zecheng only wearing a shirt, eyes closed, leaning against the streetlight. The white light from the streetlamp cast on his cheek, but it faintly flushed with a hint of red. On such a cold day, it must have been from the cold, right

Sister Lin served the meal and handed a bowl of soup to Luo Yao, saying: "Eat more, you have really worked hard these past few days"

As he finally emerged from the car, Zhan Zecheng seemed to awaken. Luo Yao turned to glance at him; he looked somewhat at a loss as he gazed at her. His usually resolute expression was, at this moment, filled with an unprecedented sense of reluctance, as if he were trying to hold on, softly calling her name.

Master Jia said: "This young lady has a slender figure, and wearing solid colors will indeed look good, but will it appear too thin?"

Due to the reorganization of the ceramics gallery and the introduction of new collections, there is a large number of artifacts that require cleaning and restoration. The studio is located in the basement of the museum, where several individuals at the workbench remain silent. The light shines on the artifacts, and the fragments possess a clear sense of reality, having come through the passage of time. Everyone holds their breath, with delicate brushes or special adhesives in hand, fearing that a moment of carelessness could distort the artifacts beneath their hands

Upon returning home, she immediately began to take a shower. In the bathroom, Luo Yao sensed a kind of atmosphere that was humid and stifling, almost suffocating. She washed her hair over and over again, with scalding hot water still dripping down her face and body. Shower gel and facial cleanser were piled at her feet; she wanted to wash away all traces of his scent completely. After a long, long time, when she finally emerged, she did not feel refreshed but merely exhausted, wishing she could just collapse onto the bed and fall asleep. However, that was not an option; there were still those clothes and scarves that needed to be changed... After a long, long time, when she finally emerged, she did not feel refreshed but merely exhausted, wishing she could just collapse onto the bed and fall asleep. However, that was not an option; there were still those clothes and scarves that needed to be changed...

Behind him, He Mengxin's voice suddenly became sharp: "You were drunk last night and still dared to drive alone? Who did you go to find?"

It's just gossip, isn't it? We are not entertainment stars, so what are you afraid of

Because her fingers were frozen, they were not nimble, and she pressed the wrong buttons on the touchscreen phone several times before finally bringing up his contact list. Luo Yao paused for a moment upon seeing the first name and couldn't help but turn her head to look at him. The corners of his mouth held a slight curve, seemingly a smile, yet also a look of contentment, gentle to the point of being almost unrecognizable as Zhan Zecheng

His hand had already slipped onto his own right hand, firmly gripping it, not allowing her to leave. Luo Yao sighed, freeing her left hand to pick up the coat. She struggled to drape the coat over his shoulders and then fished out his phone.

Zhan Zecheng slowly lowered his head to adjust his cuffs, his tone seemingly a bit amused, yet also carrying a hint of desolation: "Are you referring to my mother?" Finally, he gently repositioned the obsidian, then calmly raised his head to look at the woman across from him, "It seems you haven't quite understood; the current Yi Qin is under my control."

The following report is more specific, even mentioning that an employee of Yi Qin revealed that this girl had accompanied him to an internal company banquet, and even Zhan Zecheng's mother smiled broadly when asked by the reporter.

Li Zhijin crossed his arms in front of his chest, somewhat amused: "It is the centenary of my great-grandfather's birth, and you promised to help me by explaining the collection, how can you not dress nicely? This Master Jia does not easily tailor clothes for others, isn't it a favor to you?"

At that time, he said: "In a few days, it will be the centenary of my great-grandfather's birth. Would you like to join?" Without a second thought, she agreed and also promised to prepare the speech for the celebration.

Xiao Li arrived very quickly, in less than ten minutes, and the phone rang again on this mobile. He was still leaning against the street lamp, their fingers intertwined, but he no longer said anything. Luo Yao answered the phone, lowered her voice, and reported her location

Zhan Zecheng's jaw instantly tightened, resembling an iceberg. He silently scanned the entire page, his tone slightly cool: "Are there any other newspapers?"

Luo Yao returned to the office, supporting her sore neck, only to find that the film crew had come again. This time, they were here to shoot a few additional scenes as the reopening of the ceramic museum drew nearer, and there was an important event scheduled for the opening day. Her colleagues were all in a flurry, no longer exhibiting their usual leisurely demeanor, hurrying about and barely having time to greet one another

What is strange

Luo Yao was dumbfounded: "Mr. Li's birthday... I only promised to explain the words to you"

She willingly returned his embrace, without any reluctance or hesitation, a hug that felt both familiar and distant... He finally seemed to relax, his hands gently loosening, his voice almost a whisper: "Mm."

She has only seen it in the materials. The exquisite red-glazed porcelain from Jingdezhen during the Ming Dynasty, which contains ruby powder in the glaze, boasts a vibrant color akin to red lips. Three small perch appear lively, as if they are swimming up and down. If it could truly be donated to the museum, it would mean that she could personally touch such a precious artifact

She no longer dared to forget and hurriedly replied to a message, waiting for him on the east side of the square. Li Zhijin waited for her to get in and repeatedly exclaimed, "Let's get down to business first, then we can go eat." The car drove straight to the Hyatt Hotel, and he directly led her upstairs, while saying, "Why is your face so pale?"

Luo Yao took a step back, speaking weakly: "What is this for? Wasn't it said that I would help you with the commentary on those porcelain pieces?"

However, Bai Luoyao pouted and said, "Director Fan is really boring; he must have known all along and didn't even tell me"

Zhan Zecheng's footsteps did not pause; he walked directly to the door, seemingly oblivious to her words

He stood up, walked to her side, and finally paused, speaking in a calm tone: "There is nothing much to say. If you see my mother, please tell her to know when to stop."

Luo Yao's footsteps came to a halt, and he involuntarily stopped. He was still speaking, his voice very soft, but she heard him clearly: "Luo Yao... I am lost..."

Entertainment Edition

But in fact, it is not difficult to understand at all; he simply wants to be with her. A girl who is gentle and unassuming, just like now, quietly sitting there, feeling an inexplicable sense of peace and happiness.

There is a clear statement: "At 5:30, I will pick you up, you haven't forgotten, have you?"

Luo Yao's finger moved down until it landed on the assistant's name

A very clear picture was taken, showing Zhan Zecheng's usual cold expression. However, he inadvertently turned his head and extended his hand towards the woman behind him, exuding a naturally graceful and gentle demeanor. Yet, his tall stature meant that only the rose-colored hem of the woman's gown was visible, and there was no clear frontal photograph of her.

She stretched lazily, changed out of her work uniform, and only then noticed that she had not brought her phone into the studio, where she saw several missed calls and a number of text messages. All of them were from Li Zhijin

Luo Yao unconsciously touched her face, let out a sound of surprise, and suddenly laughed: "Try sitting in the basement for a week, and you'll definitely turn as pale as a ghost, no need for any makeup."

Although it seemed like a small trap, I indeed agreed to it. Luo Yao threw the bag on the ground and obediently allowed Master Jia to arrange things as he pleased

God knows how he suddenly gained so much patience. The things in the house, he has never wanted to understand, whether it be porcelain or business; he has always been a free-spirited and easygoing person. If his father knew that he was sitting here at this moment, wholeheartedly planning this event and patiently trying to understand each piece of porcelain, would he be so surprised that his glasses would fall off?

Xiao Li was still outside the car and had not come in. The inside of the car was warm, as if it were another world, yet it also bore a suffocating pressure. She slowly removed his long fingers, silent and increasingly forceful. In a state of half-drunkenness, he ultimately could not resist her desperate strength. There were marks on his fingers left by her nails, and in the end, she managed to separate them.

While discussing a Longquan kiln boat-shaped inkstone, Li Zhijin suddenly suggested, "Why don't we just order some food here? We can eat while we talk"

She stood still, right in front of him. He had his eyes closed, long eyelashes shielding his brilliant eyes, a straight nose, and a gentle breath, resembling a child. Zhang Zecheng didn't even open his eyes, yet he reached out and pulled her into his embrace, burying his face in the place of her shoulder blade, softly calling her: "Luo Yao... I am lost..."

Thus, I rummaged through the drawer and casually ordered two dishes. A bowl of thin-skinned wontons surprisingly cost 60 yuan. When it was served, it was nothing special; it was just a complete set brought to the table, with several small dishes of soy sauce and vinegar, nearly filling the table. Luo Yao ate absentmindedly, poured more vinegar, and after eating just a few, she pushed it away. She took a cushion and sat on the soft couch, asking Li Zhijin: "What else is in this batch of donations?"

Finally, she opened the door to the back seat, and Bai Luoyao patiently accompanied him as he sat down, placing his clothes on his lap, and then began to pry open his fingers

The next morning at work, the car was already gone. She hurried into the subway, where a child was selling newspapers. A dirty little boy stood in front of Luoyao, and she took out some change to buy a copy. In fact, she had not slept well the previous night, and her head was still a bit foggy; she really did not want to read it, so she held it in her hand and closed her eyes to rest. Until a passenger sitting next to her gently tapped her: "Miss, may I borrow your newspaper for a moment?"

Out of curiosity, she took a glance

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Luo Yao shifted her position and bent down to reach for that coat

A colleague on the side remarked, "This job truly sees no daylight."

She steadied herself, tentatively placing her hands on his waist, gently embracing him, and whispered, "I am here."

Today's achievements include the restoration of a celadon and white glazed four-series jar and a carved powder box from the Yue kiln. Both were reconstructed using a special filling material to piece together the fragments and fill in the gaps, ultimately inspected by experts, leaving almost no visible traces. In the evening, they watched as the staff packed several finished products into boxes to be taken to the exhibition hall, all smiling and sighing, as if a great task had been accomplished

On his fingers and the back of his hand, there were wounds from being scratched open, some were quite light, while others were significantly more severe, with the skin even torn apart, and faint blood clots had formed. He carelessly submerged his hand in the water again, and a wave of sharp pain surged through him, causing him to gasp sharply, not out of pain, but because he suddenly recalled the scene from last night, her silhouette as she left, decisive and unhesitating, even the action of prying his fingers apart miraculously came back to him. He carelessly submerged his hand in the water again, and a wave of sharp pain surged through him, causing him to gasp sharply, not out of pain, but because he suddenly recalled the scene from last night, her silhouette as she left, decisive and unhesitating, even the action of prying his fingers apart miraculously came back to him

The other party skillfully translated a certain version, quickly browsed through it, and returned it to her, saying "thank you"

He silently gazed at her, as if looking at a porcelain doll, and after a long while, he said: "At such a young age, you enjoy such a cold and lonely job." Luo Yao instinctively wanted to refute him, but a "no" was on the tip of her tongue, yet she swallowed it back, only managing to curve her lips: "How can I compare to you? Performing a lively show on stage is so glamorous."

A master craftsman in his sixties was waiting in the suite. Upon seeing Luo Yao, he smiled and asked, "Is this the young lady?" He took a ruler and without further ado began to measure her figure.

Zhang Zecheng replied with a soft "Hmm": "I am fine"

She said "It's nothing" and handed her the newspaper in her hand

The phone rang at just the right moment

Zhang Zecheng made his first public appearance with his girlfriend at a cocktail party

He Mengxin turned around, her tone somewhat reproachful: "You came down without a sound." Her phoenix eyes slightly raised, her tone contemplative, she sat opposite him, "You drank too heavily last night, so I came to check on you."

How luxurious it is, yet it is clearly no longer a dream; it is already within reach

He did not respond, giving her a cold glance before standing up to leave. The butler, observing his expression, picked up the keys from the coffee table and handed them to him: "These were delivered by Assistant Li this morning. He mentioned that the car was scratched in several places, you see..."

Who is truly lost

Li Zhijin's lips curled slightly as he confidently said: "It is white with purple flowers"

He Mengxin naturally knew that Ma Sheng was the head of the public relations department, responsible for media liaison and image for Yiqin Group and Zhans family. She found it amusing and let out a giggle, her voice crisp and clear, like jade beads falling on a plate: "Zecheng, why are you throwing a tantrum?"

She will wash away what can be washed, stuffing her coat into the bag, intending to drop it off at the dry cleaner's on her way to work tomorrow. It seems that only after completing all this will she feel at ease