Chapter 5: Eyes Fixed, Gaze Intense

Zhuang Jianxi, after finishing dinner, sat on the balcony, enjoying the night breeze while sketching the scenery.

The winding mountain road outside the hillside villa was illuminated by dazzling streetlights, with swaying shadows of trees, a vast starry sky, and gentle moonlight, making it as beautiful as a night scene in an anime. Especially the quiet lake in the distance, shimmering under the moonlight.

The brush danced deftly between her white fingers, the strokes just right, the lines flowing. Soon, a rough sketch was outlined.

Zhuang Jianxi was drawing intently, the evening wind blowing her stray strands of hair, her skirt swaying gently. Every move she made exuded an ethereal elegance and aloofness.

When Qiu Yixun entered, he saw this scene and couldn’t help but hold his breath, unwilling to disturb her. He simply stood there and watched quietly.

But soon, as if sensing something, Zhuang Jianxi turned her head. Seeing the man so close, she frowned, her face losing its previous calmness and becoming slightly impatient.

“Is this how you treat others, Young Master Qiu? You don’t even knock before entering?”

She should have locked the door, but she forgot in a moment of carelessness.

Qiu Yixun, who was always arrogant and dismissive, raised an eyebrow at her words.

The entire villa was hers. Did she need to knock to enter her own place?

But since she said so, he had to respect her rules.

Qiu Yixun took three steps to the door and knocked lightly, a mere formality. Then, he strolled in casually.

Zhuang Jianxi was displeased. “I didn’t agree to let you in.”

Qiu Yixun didn’t deny it. “I didn’t ask for your agreement.”

He walked to the balcony and casually looked at the girl and her artwork. Although he didn’t understand art, he could appreciate it.

The day before, he had seen some of Zhuang Jianxi’s paintings in his room. Her style always contained a gentle, peaceful, and healing power, brimming with endless nostalgia and hope, just like her… beautiful.

Zhuang Jianxi couldn’t see the depth in Qiu Yixun’s eyes. She only felt uncomfortable with him around, as if there was an unavoidable behemoth beside her.

Eyes fixed, gaze intense.

The lines on the drawing lost their previous ease and casualness. Zhuang Jianxi clenched her brush, then threw it into the nearby pencil holder.

She didn’t want to draw anymore.

Seeing this, Qiu Yixun spoke, “Am I disturbing you?”

Zhuang Jianxi glanced at him. “Would you leave if you were disturbing me?”

Qiu Yixun smirked and asked back, “Shouldn’t true artists be able to focus without distractions?”

Zhuang Jianxi snorted. “I can’t.”

Qiu Yixun smiled and walked over to her paintings. After a moment, he said, “Do you want to hold an exhibition?”

“I can organize a grand and spectacular exhibition for you, making you famous overnight.”

Holding an exhibition, selling art, becoming famous—these things should be the most important goals for any art student, the best way to prove themselves.

But for Qiu Yixun, it was just a trivial matter, a way to make the beautiful woman smile.

Unexpectedly, Zhuang Jianxi was unmoved. She stood up directly to send him away. “No need. It’s not necessary.”

Painting was just a hobby for her. Gold would shine no matter what. She had just graduated, and there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

So, she didn’t care about Qiu Yixun organizing a grand exhibition for her, and she certainly didn’t want to owe him a favor!

Qiu Yixun was kicked out. As he saw the door, barely two inches from his nose, slam shut, he raised his hand to smooth his hair. He didn’t say anything, calmly turning around and returning to his master bedroom.

The next morning, after getting up and washing up, Zhuang Jianxi deliberately waited until Qiu Yixun’s car had already left the courtyard before going downstairs to have breakfast.

If Qiu Yixun was around, she would rather eat outside or skip breakfast altogether than eat with him at the same table.

Because that perverted and cold man always liked to eat slowly while scanning her with his black eyes, unmoving and emotionless.

Zhuang Jianxi always felt that he wasn’t eating food, but her…

Arriving at the dining room, Zhuang Jianxi discovered that this time, her breakfast actually included her favorite sweet porridge, millet cake, and nut pastries.

Previously, the kitchen prepared all three meals according to Qiu Yixun’s preferences, which were heavier and spicier. Zhuang Jianxi couldn’t get used to them, so she ate little.

But this time, she ate her breakfast with satisfaction, and her mood was much better when she went out.

Song Butler took pictures and sent them to Qiu Yixun to report.

“Young Master, Madam finished most of her breakfast this time.”

Qiu Yixun saw it and replied with a satisfied, “Reward.”

Song Butler beamed with joy. Although she couldn’t stand the Young Master’s spoiled and bad-tempered little ancestor, no one would refuse money.

Especially such a generous reward.

Days passed peacefully, with no conflict between them for half a month.

Zhuang Jianxi was nearing graduation. During this time, most of her classmates were preparing their graduation projects. In June, the Academy collaborated with Huafubi to hold a graduation exhibition.

Many parents of students attending this academy were socialites, and with the school inviting alumni and industry elites, this graduation exhibition was quite grand, almost like a formal auction.

This was the highlight moment for almost all graduating students, a crucial moment to prove the fruits of their hard work over the past few years.

Whose work was sought after and sold for a high price? That person would be the most dazzling presence at the event.

In a corner of the grand hall, Zhuang Jianxi quietly observed other people’s works. Her gaze swept across paintings, stopping at a magnificent “Tenglong Wanli” in the center.

The painting style was grand and majestic, the dragon scales lifelike, showing the artist’s strong brushwork.

“What do you think? Give me some feedback.”

A clear voice sounded beside her. Zhuang Jianxi turned her head. The speaker was handsome, gentle and refined, her university classmate and friend, Lu Zhiyuan.

Lu Zhiyuan smiled at her, his eyes soft.

“Brother Zhiyuan’s work is naturally the best in the exhibition.” Zhuang Jianxi smiled faintly, not stingy with her praise.

When Zhuang Jianxi smiled, her lips were red and her teeth white, her bright eyes curved like a crescent moon, like a warm touch in the cold winter, like a spring flowing in the desert, a true beauty in a troubled world.

Even though Lu Zhiyuan had witnessed Zhuang Jianxi’s smile countless times, every time, his heart couldn’t help but be moved.

His gaze was deep, and he smiled, “You’re just good at flattering people. I haven’t seen your work yet, how can it be the best in the exhibition?”

Lu Zhiyuan had just arrived and hadn’t had time to see Zhuang Jianxi’s graduation work. He was eager to see it. “Where’s your work? Take me to see it.”

A rare flicker of cunning flashed in Zhuang Jianxi’s eyes. “I didn’t sign my name, you can find it if you can.”

Among the exhibited works, some were unsigned.

Some were from students of other schools, and some were from those who felt their skills were too poor to leave their names and risk embarrassment…

Lu Zhiyuan chuckled, his eyes gleaming with a hint of certainty. “Your work, I’ll definitely recognize it at a glance.”

Zhuang Jianxi shook her head. “That’s not necessarily true.”

Relatives and friends familiar with her style could naturally recognize her work, but this time she had changed her style and tools. People who hadn’t seen her work before might not be able to recognize it.

Lu Zhiyuan noticed the glint of light in her eyes and couldn’t help but be stunned.