OVL 06 The person in the painting

Many times, men are much more rational and mature than women. Gao Chifei glanced at his junior sister's expression and suddenly found it hard to continue speaking. Because even from a man's perspective, Zhang Zecheng is indeed outstanding enough to evoke the feeling of 'once having seen the vast sea, one finds it hard to regard other waters as significant'

The tentacle was icy cold, as if the tin can had just been taken out of the refrigerator. Luo Yao glanced at it with curiosity and asked, "What is this?"

Bai Luoyao only felt that the other person's joke was really not funny, but in the end, she still went to find him

Someone knocked on the door, and Gao Chifei peeked in: "Ladies, would you like some white fungus soup?"

Behind him, a young man chuckled softly, prompting her to tiptoe to see who it was

He Mengxin possesses strikingly three-dimensional features, and even in photographs, she exudes a beauty imbued with a sense of heroism that is truly breathtaking. The photograph was taken at the racetrack, where she is holding hands with Zhan Zecheng, smiling as if she were a newly blossomed sunflower. In that picture, alongside the handsome man and beautiful woman, there is also a magnificent black steed, equally spirited as its owner.

There are two temples in Xishan, and she has visited them twice with her teacher

His expression became serious: "I am serious. They are not Yi Qin, so there is no need to worry."

In the courtyard, there was only the rustling sound of sweeping, and on the stone table, there were two large bowls. The young apprentice raised a cloud of dust in one corner of the yard and, seeing her about to leave, hurriedly said: "Goodbye"

After returning to the dormitory and finishing my shower, I found that I was still the only person in the dorm. There were a few missed calls on my phone.

The sizzling noise made Luo Yao quietly open her eyes. Gao Chi Fei said nothing, merely switched to the music channel, where the music was sung by lovely children's voices, in an unknown language, light and delicate like silver bells

Yes, what is she "ah" about

The entire mountain seemed to have just awakened, stretching lazily and shedding the deepness of winter, with a hazy and tender green spreading everywhere. With no particular destination in mind, I wound my way up the mountain path; if I felt tired, I would push the cart, catching sight of squirrels darting through the thickets, their fluffy, curled tails resembling the most comfortable of blankets. Her baseball cap was the brightest shade of red, and the wildflowers had yet to bloom, with even the colors for embellishment still in the process of brewing, thus placing the person within the painting, as if part of the scenery.

Comrade Xiaobai, my family Gao Chifei is cooking, come over for dinner

Luo Yao hurriedly stood up and said: "No, no, I still need to go back and take a shower. Goodbye, teacher"

He placed the car in the trunk, and Luo Yao got into the car and asked him: "What are you doing here?"

Luo Yao let out an "oh" with a face full of reverence: "As expected of a master. In his eyes, there should be no difference between the finest tea and the coarsest tea, right"

Perhaps it was the prolonged appearance of the same scene, with the deep blue color constantly swirling before her eyes. Luo Yao, seeing no hope of treasures appearing in the short term, was finally lured by the fragrance to the kitchen door. Wang Minchen's abdomen was only slightly protruding as she stood beside Gao Chi Fei, resting her arm on his shoulder, and the two were engaged in conversation

Luo Yao, I know several people who are quite well-off, and I will introduce them to you next time

Zhan Zecheng had not yet left; he leaned against the tree and turned back to see her, smiling casually: "Are you heading down the mountain?"

Fortunately, we still have each other's phone numbers. Although we have only known each other for half a day, it is certainly not just a fleeting encounter.

Gao Chifei was taken aback: "How did you know?"

Winding along one side of the mountain road into the depths of the mountain, the path is not difficult to traverse. Sunlight filters through layers of shade, having long since depleted its vigor, it carries away the gentle heat, leaving only a refreshing coolness that flows like water. Luo Yao pushed the cart, removed her hat, and in the short distance she had walked, she could already see the temple hidden behind the wooden gate.

Wang Minchen looked for a while, then stood up: "Forget it, take your time. I will go check if the bone soup is ready."

Teacher Yu lives in the staff dormitory area. She is single and resides in a two-bedroom apartment, which is about 40 to 50 square meters in size. It is quite an old-fashioned house, with a piece of coarse cloth in blue and white hanging on the iron door, giving it a very ordinary appearance. Lu Yao knocked on the door and waited for a while before hearing some movement inside.

A news item that lacks both a beginning and an end, yet seems like an invisible current, prompting Luo Yao to reflexively change the subject.

Before Minchen could speak, Luoyao scooped a bowl of soup and casually said, "It must be He Mengxin, right?" The words came out so smoothly that even she was startled, not knowing how that name had popped into her mind

Having eaten and drunk their fill, the two individuals closed the door to the room and brought in a bowl of fruit salad, chatting away in the room like young female students

"You are the one who is foolish, your whole family is foolish!" Luo Yao threw away the banana in his hand, yet could not help but smile broadly, "I will be right there."

Gao Chifei is still working at Yiqin. A few days ago, there was an internal gathering for employees. Zhang Zecheng, who has always attended various company events without a female companion, surprisingly brought a girl with him this time, which quickly became a hot topic of discussion.

That vehicle belongs to him. He said, "It is too dangerous to ride a bicycle down the hill, I will take you down."

Finally, he dropped her off at the corner near the school. Zhe Cheng took her bicycle and watched as she gracefully mounted it, quickly riding away while the traffic light was still red. He sat in the car waiting for the light to change, observing the pedestrians in front of him flowing like water and shrouded in mist, bustling along the sidewalk. Yet, he felt a slight regret: why didn't he invite her to dinner just now

Luo Yao took out the box of tea leaves, and Teacher Yu was momentarily taken aback, not accepting it, but instead turned her head to turn on the fluorescent light. After searching for a while, with a snap, the light turned on, and only then did she reach out to take it, getting up again to put it in the refrigerator

He casually changed the subject: "I was only eighteen at that time, in England." She didn't have the time to dwell on his past, so she simply responded with an "oh" and continued to scroll down. It was then that she discovered they actually had quite a few photos together. Turning to look at him, he appeared completely at ease, sometimes even pointing to a particular picture and sharing amusing stories with her, his demeanor so relaxed that she couldn't help but believe him

Is it merely a meeting?

Although the range hood was wide open and there was a gap in the door, Luo Yao heard Wang Minchen say: "All men are the same. Don't bring it up again; just thinking about him makes me furious."

Gao Chifei made a turn and smiled at her sideways: "You can just brush me off. When you really come out, you find all sorts of excuses to back out. Last time it was overtime, what was it the time before that? Socializing?"

Luo Yao peeled a banana, took a bite, and her mouth was filled with sweetness and tenderness

In the past, the teacher would always joke with her for a long time, but today her expression was somewhat subdued, only asking her: "Did you go to Xishan today?"

Bai Luoyao opened the backpack as if it were scalding hot, and asked him in a daze, "Isn't it this one?"

The atmosphere fell silent, and Gao Chifei gently cleared his throat and turned on the radio

As she was lost in thought, the teacher directly handed it to her right under her eyelids, saying: "Take it to your teacher to drink"

She rarely had the opportunity to see the old monk willing to receive guests, so she was somewhat curious: "Who is he?"

Zhan Zecheng thought for a moment before saying, "I also brought it for someone else. It should be good."

At that time, Zhan Zecheng said: "My sister"

He also had a bowl of strong tea beside him, but it appeared untouched. Luo Yao took another small sip from her bowl before she heard him say, "Drinking tea that is too strong is not good for you"

Should she tell her old friend that Zhan Zecheng has appeared in her world, forcing her to return to the past

In fact, by the time they reached halfway up the mountain, she began to feel thirsty. She remembered that during her visit with her teacher, they had shared tea in that small temple. The small temple, known only to the master and disciple, was never a place of attention for others; the backyard was a vegetable garden, and the stream from the mountain flowed gently down, resembling a paradise beyond the world. It was also reminiscent of Wang Mojie's poetry, which, despite being separated by a thousand years, was vividly present in her mind at this moment

Luo Yao had been repeatedly defeated by Zhan Zecheng's expressionless demeanor, so she once asked him, "Then why did you smile when we first met?" Zhan Zecheng had an unusually good memory; the clarity in his eyes gradually focused in one spot as he replied, "Little Master, I came to ask for a bowl of water—don't you think that resembles the alms-seeking in Journey to the West?"

Luo Yao lifted the bicycle and flashed him a smile: "Yes."

He said nonchalantly, "What?"

When she finally arrived at her home, there was still quite a while before dinner time. Luo Yao, familiar with the surroundings, greeted Gao Chifei, who was busy in the kitchen, and then sat on the sofa to watch television with Wang Minchen. Although it was said to be keeping her company, she ultimately took the remote control: "Hey, I'm watching the live broadcast of Treasure Hunting Under the Sea!"

The sunken ships of the Southern Song Dynasty bear witness to the prosperity and flourishing of the Maritime Silk Road. If exquisite porcelain pieces from the official kilns of the Song Dynasty are still hidden within and can once again see the light of day, it would indeed be a fortunate event in the history of human art

After finishing the meal, Minchen insisted that Gao Chifei drive Luoyao home. Gao Chifei took out the car, and Luoyao sat in the passenger seat, gazing at the deep blue sky outside, engaging in a casual conversation with him.

At that time when they first met, how could Luo Yao have imagined that such a kind and handsome young man would one day turn everything upside down, destroying his own life.

Lu Yao remained silent, merely smiling and nodding

Zhan Zecheng stood up, his entire figure upright like a water cedar, even his dress pants were impeccably straight. He nodded slightly to Luo Yao and then entered.

When Bai Luoyao stepped out, she glanced back. The deep brown window frame seemed to possess a spirit, skillfully dividing the sunlight, which then fell upon the master, exuding a sense of accumulated wisdom and understanding. She recalled the master telling her, "In fact, he has not taken the precepts, so he is considered a layperson. If it were ancient times, he would probably be regarded as a high-minded recluse." A sense of inexplicable joy and excitement welled up within her, as if she had encountered peace and happiness—feelings she had read about extensively in books, but only now began to faintly comprehend.

He stepped on the brake, looking at the can of tea leaves in his fair hand

In fact, it is clear that he still does not believe her words, even with a doctor's proof, it is of no use. Well, let it be, just consider oneself troubled by love; this "truth" is better than anything else. Some secrets are best left to slowly rot among just a few people... even if they corrode into wounds that can never be healed.

He nodded slightly, his deep eyes, reminiscent of ancient tales, showing not a trace of emotion: "How is your teacher's health?" After saying this, he turned his face to glance at Zhan Zecheng, as if recalling something, and a subtle crease appeared between his brows.

The master handed her a black jar, and she curiously glanced at it; it was merely an iron box, even less eye-catching than the prayer beads in his hand. The prayer beads formed a long string that hung from his chest down to his waist, with a large black bead attached to the tassel, resembling a cat's eye, shining like jade, distinct from the other wooden beads.

The phone call was quite disappointing. When Luo Yao answered it, she was in a bad mood, but considering that the other party was pregnant, she endured it.

As they sat there, the young master suddenly interrupted the conversation between the two, saying, "Master, he requests that you go inside"

Luo Yao stood up and said politely, "Master, I have only been sitting for a short while"

When was that? It must have been when the mentor applied to the publisher for the project to collect temple couplets

Bone broth is truly delicious, stewed together with carrots and wood ear mushrooms, it is not greasy at all, and the color is a beautiful light yellow. Luo Yao drank half a bowl, still wanting more. Her thoughts turned slowly, and she finally remembered: "Oh, her, I have seen her photo before."

Luo Yao furrowed her brows, suddenly realizing who she was talking about. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she turned around, intending to leave quietly, but was still spotted by Min Chen. She slightly parted her lips and gently coughed, saying: "Luo Yao..."

The television screen displayed a deep sea blue, with indistinct silhouettes swaying at the bottom of the water. The mast of an ancient ship stood at an angle, seemingly entwined with long, flowing aquatic plants. There were also individuals floating and moving in and out of the cabin door, as if they had found something.

Wang Minchen asked her alertly, "I saw the news... have you met again?" She was merely making an inference based on common sense, yet it was expected to see Luo Yao's face turn pale, so she asked her again, "Did you really meet?"

"Truly deserving of being in finance, remembering even such trivial matters so clearly."

It is reported that the charity fund established by Yiqin Group...

Only in front of Wang Minchen and Gao Chifei can I speak those words without restraint. After all, they witnessed those past events. The time I was sent to the hospital, Wang Minchen shouted at Zhan Zecheng in the corridor: "She committed suicide, are you happy now? Have you achieved your goal?" In fact, I later explained to her countless times: "I really did not attempt suicide, why would I do that for him?" But Minchen never believed me, and with a sigh, she comforted me: "It's okay, I know you didn't attempt suicide"

Dong Ding Oolong. The tea most beloved by my father. It is grown in our own garden, harvested in winter, processed in winter, and preserved in a frozen state. It is taken out several hours before drinking to awaken its flavor, and it can be steeped more than ten times without losing its taste

Her skin glimmered softly in the golden sunlight, resembling sweat, yet also appearing as if a delicate pink cloud was emanating from within. In that moment, an innate innocence struck one profoundly. Zhe Cheng could not help but follow her tone and ask, "At such a young age, do you still practice meditation?"

She had some doubts: "Younger sister? How come it doesn't seem like it?"

Whoever it may be, after experiencing such a romance, once filled with beauty and harmony, once adorned with treasures, yet suddenly falling apart in an instant, is bound to develop a fear of love, right? Wang Minchen held her hand and said, "It's good as long as you are fine"

Today, a car was parked outside, bringing with it a touch of modern brightness. Light fell on the rearview mirror and was refracted back, casting irregular patches of light on the bluestone pavement, creating a strange glow and warmth. She parked the car by the locust tree, ran up to knock on the door, seeking a drink of water

The streetlights passed by one after another, reminiscent of the fireflies that danced around her bed during her childhood. She wanted to count them, but the dazzling display overwhelmed her.

She hurriedly said, "Very good," as she had come to ask for a cup of tea, and it was time for her to leave, but she was called back by the old man: "Come with me."

Even Lian Luoyao couldn't help but chuckle. However, at that moment, she was sitting directly opposite him, and then the young master brought over a large porcelain bowl filled with thick, brown tea. It had a coarse and refreshing taste. She picked it up and gulped down half a bowl, only to realize that he had been watching her all along, seemingly finding it amusing.

Ah, her teacher always has some peculiar temper

Luo Yao smiled and said, "Oh, don't ask anymore, after all, I used to be quite familiar with him."

The power of the media is immense. Sometimes when she sees that man in newspapers and magazines, she always feels as if it is in a hall of mirrors. The person inside, Zhan Zecheng, seems so unreal that she often wonders: is that really the person she knows? He has increasingly become willing to do good deeds, charming and extraordinary. Charitable foundations, cultural relic donations, cultural preservation, all give the impression that he welcomes everyone.

Luo Yao looked at his expression and asked, "Is this good tea?"

The old monk, dressed in gray and white robes, walked out alongside a young man, speaking softly. When he raised his eyes and saw Luo Yao sitting there, his white brows lifted, and he smiled, "When did you arrive?"

The one who opened the door was still that thin little apprentice. He recognized her and, after a moment of surprise, Luo Yao cheerfully said: "Little Master, I have come to ask for a bowl of water to drink"

The old man pondered for a moment, the corners of his eyes etched with deep lines, bearing the marks of time: "Frozen Top Oolong. There is no frozen place on the mountain, let your teacher have some." After a brief silence, he gently moved the prayer beads, "Go ahead."

He gazed ahead, focused on driving: "Bring some tea leaves."

What a handsome man! No matter how composed and fearless Bai Luoyao is, she always feels a bit uneasy. Thus, she puts down the bowl and graciously says: "Hello"

It is rare to see a man who, having reached a supervisory position, is still so devoted to his family. Luo Yao took a bowl and smiled, "Thank you, senior brother." She scooped a mouthful, savoring its smooth sweetness, and while eating, she said, "I will leave as soon as I finish, so as not to disturb your world of two."

The young man possesses an extraordinarily beautiful gaze, reminiscent of the stream in a mountain ravine; even in the height of summer, it remains refreshingly cool and crystal clear. He casually sits on the stone bench in the courtyard, slightly raising his chin, strikingly handsome. It is as if he has stepped out from a painting by Gu Kaizhi, a masterpiece that flows like clouds and water, crafted with such exquisite skill.

The coarse bowl is already empty, with only some residue left at the bottom. The young girl propped her chin on her hand, curiously observing him: "Zen tea is best when strong; many people who meditate drink it, otherwise they might feel drowsy"

In the end, I don't know why, I just said: "Well, there's nothing much to it, it's just a work relationship."

He said calmly: "I am lost"

She has always found her teacher to be quite strange, as she never likes to turn on the lights. Even though it is getting late, the room remains dim, without a single small lamp, only a very clean scent wafting through the air. Once, she came over at this time and found the teacher sitting by the window reading a book in the dim light, so she couldn't help but ask, "Can you see clearly like this?" Later, Teacher Yu said, "I am not accustomed to being illuminated by light."

She was not in a hurry to leave, sitting alone, using her hand to create a fan, gently fanning the air. In the spring mountains, the sound of insects could be heard, not hurried, but rather soft and melodious, like the music of nature

The mountain road is indeed steep, and the momentum of the descent can sometimes be completely uncontrollable. Luo Yao originally intended to push the cart down, but upon hearing his words, she found it difficult to refuse his kindness. She could only hesitate, biting her lip, and after a long while, she finally said: "Ah?"

Luo Yao smiled shyly and said, "No, I can never calm my mind. When sitting in meditation, I have to keep my eyes open, and I end up thinking about all sorts of other things." That expression was truly adorable, resembling a little rabbit, and also like a student who is not diligently doing their homework, exuding clarity both inside and out

But only Luo Yao knows that it is not all of him. If those things come into conflict with his group or his family, he only needs to slightly furrow his brow, and all the embellishments will instantly turn to dust, falling softly through his fingers, lighter than snowflakes and worth less than scraps of paper

Luo Yao nodded and said, "I will go out for a spring outing by myself." She then added, "Teacher, so you know what tea it is? Dong Ding Oolong. The master on the mountain also said it needs to be refrigerated. He asked me to bring it for you to drink."

The young master said somewhat awkwardly: "I do not know."

He no longer paid attention to Zhe Cheng, but took her towards the back room. Zhe Cheng stood at the threshold, watching her brush past, and as he slightly lowered his head, he could see the soft, curled strands of her fair neck. The old and the young, their silhouettes receding, created an indescribable harmony. He strode into the courtyard, where the bowl of tea had not yet been cleared away and had already cooled down. He lowered his head and took a sip. There was a strong bitterness that surged straight to his forehead. However, upon careful reflection, he found a lingering sweetness. He strode into the courtyard, where the bowl of tea had not yet been cleared away and had already cooled down. He lowered his head and took a sip. There was a strong bitterness that surged straight to his forehead. However, upon careful reflection, he found a lingering sweetness.

The sponsorship event from that year directly led to the pairing of Wang Minchen and Gao Chifei, who have now blossomed and yielded results, with a fetus already developing in the womb

Only after answering the phone did I realize that Zhan Zecheng was still waiting at the old place, and Luo Yao was taken aback: "You haven't left yet?"

At that moment, upon seeing it, I immediately exclaimed, "How beautiful! Who is this?"

Luo Yao waved his hand at him and pushed open the door

On that day, she rode her bicycle, departing from the city center, riding continuously until she reached the Western Hills

Strangely, Teacher Yu did not ask anything, simply nodding slightly and saying, "I understand." After glancing at her again, he then asked, "Have you eaten? Would you like to eat with me?"

Therefore, one should not judge a person by their appearance