Xunwen arrived in Dongcheng the day before the exhibition began.

He worked at an internet company in Silicon Valley and had specifically taken annual leave for this exhibition.

Given the rare opportunity, his parents also coordinated their schedules and came along with him.

They planned to visit a few cities for sightseeing and vacation after viewing the exhibition.

Meng Fu Yuan personally drove to pick them up and took them to their reserved hotel.

After the long journey, the three of them rested first, postponing dinner and other arrangements until after the exhibition.

On the day of the exhibition, a driver took them in a business vehicle. Chen Qing Wu and Meng Fu Yuan went together to pick up Xunwen and his parents, who were already waiting in the lobby.

Chen Qing Wu and Meng Fu Yuan walked through the revolving door towards the lobby’s waiting area. When Xunwen saw them, he waved and stood up.

As they approached, Xunwen noticed that Meng Fu Yuan was holding Chen Qing Wu’s hand and said with a smile, “So, it’s already official?”

Meng Fu Yuan nodded.

Xunwen laughed heartily.

Chen Qing Wu, not understanding the strange conversation, looked at Meng Fu Yuan, hoping for an explanation.

Meng Fu Yuan said, “It’s nothing important.”

Xunwen’s mother, Mira, also stood up. She was delighted to meet Chen Qing Wu and, after some warm greetings, presented her with a handmade candle as a gift.

The group set off to visit the art museum.

After getting out of the car, Chen Qing Wu asked everyone to wait briefly at the security checkpoint.

Shortly after, a staff member named Yao Ge came out of the museum with several guest passes and distributed them to everyone.

They entered the museum through the staff entrance, passed through the lobby, and headed to the exhibition hall for today’s porcelain exhibit.

Halls 7 through 10 were all open for this exhibition.

At the entrance of the hall, there was a large poster introducing the exhibition, where Xunwen and his group paused.

The exhibition was titled “Dust and Mist.”

“From the primitive celadon unearthed at the Erlitou site to the flourishing varieties under modern techniques, Chinese porcelain spans three thousand years—Ru ware blue, Ding ware white, Jian ware black… Craftsmanship and artisanship complement each other. In the long river of history, we have captured a few waves. The works of ten artisans, overlooked gems, are either harmonious, upright, simple, or serene… They transform dust into mist through fire and light.”

The exhibition required a reservation and was free, with limited slots available on the opening day. As a result, the hall was very quiet, and the occasional footsteps and murmurs didn’t disturb the atmosphere.

Instead of rushing through, the group followed the exhibition’s layout, viewing each piece one by one.

Whenever there was something they didn’t understand, they would ask Chen Qing Wu.

Mira saw a vase with a gradient from pale yellow to deep blue and asked Chen Qing Wu how it was fired, “How do the colors not mix together?”

Chen Qing Wu explained, “Theoretically, two methods can achieve this multicolored effect. One method involves creating the colors during the glazing process, while the other uses a base glaze with other colors layered on top. This requires precise prediction of the glaze’s firing effects, which might need multiple test firings to get it right. Another method is multiple firings. Judging by the look of this piece, it seems to have been produced by multiple firings, with the colors overlapping and covering each other.”

Upon hearing this, Mira looked at Chen Qing Wu with admiration.

Chen Qing Wu was used to seeing such looks whenever she explained ceramic exhibits at museums, but she always felt a bit embarrassed because it was just her specialized knowledge at work.

Not every piece in the exhibition resonated with everyone, so they spent more time on some and only glanced at others.

As a professional, Chen Qing Wu was more “fickle” in her affections, liking nearly every piece in the exhibition.

She particularly enjoyed examining the objects themselves and then inferring the life of the porcelain maker based on the piece’s characteristics. If she guessed correctly, it was an unexpected delight.

Meng Fu Yuan noticed her little game and joined in.

When they disagreed, they would even bet on it.

While they were having a lot of fun, they reached the junction between Halls 7 and 8.

Ahead was the personal section dedicated to Zhuang Shiying, with the theme titled “Flowers in All Four Seasons,” derived from Han Wo’s line “Flowers in all four seasons are often seen with rain.”

Upon seeing these words, Xunwen was slightly stunned and asked Chen Qing Wu, “Who came up with the theme?”

“It’s usually the curatorial team.”

“They must have studied my grandmother’s work seriously. This theme matches the tone of her creations very well.”

After saying that, Xunwen couldn’t wait to step into Hall 8.

On the wall were Zhuang Shiying’s photo and personal biography, including her birth and death years and her life experiences.

Xunwen and his father paused to read each word carefully, their emotions complicated.

Although she was a familiar relative, it felt as if she had transformed into a legendary figure in a biography.

Zhuang Shiying’s works were categorized into three periods: youth, middle age, and old age. Each stage had its characteristics, but there were also preferences and temperaments that ran throughout her life.

As the four characters “Flowers in All Four Seasons” summarized, each piece of her work faced hardships with optimism and resilience, as flowers bloom on dead wood.

The enamel cloisonné bell-shaped cup that Chen Qing Wu had brought back from afar was placed in the central glass display case, bathed in soft white light, with an elegant and gentle texture.

It was as if all the brilliance and intensity of her life had been wrapped in time, becoming serene and unassuming.

Xunwen’s family stayed in the hall for a long time, going through the exhibits once and then returning to the first piece to start over.

Meanwhile, Chen Qing Wu examined the pieces more meticulously, studying the craftsmanship, firing effects, and creative ideas.

In this quiet space and time, it was as if she was transcending the barriers of life and death, sitting down for a conversation with the past artisans.

At that moment, Yao Ge returned, accompanied by Zhai Jingtang.

Yao Ge introduced Zhai Jingtang to Xunwen and his family, saying, “Mr. Zhai, these are the relatives of Ms. Zhuang Shiying. They came all the way from the United States.”

Zhai Jingtang extended his hand, nodding and smiling, “Pleasure to meet you! Thank you, Mr. Mai, for your efforts and support.”

Xunwen replied, “I should be the one thanking you. The exhibition planning is excellent, and none of the things I worried about happened.”

Zhai Jingtang laughed and said, “It’s my honor to have helped make this happen and to let more people know about Ms. Zhuang’s works. I heard you’re friends with Ms. Chen, right? She’s the one who deserves the most thanks. She coordinated many things behind the scenes.”

Chen Qing Wu quickly said, “No, no, I just did a little bit.”

Xunwen said, “I’ll treat Ms. Chen to dinner tonight.”

“… But we said that Meng Fu Yuan and I would treat,” Chen Qing Wu replied with a smile.

At that moment, Zhai Jingtang glanced at Meng Fu Yuan standing beside Chen Qing Wu.

It was only then that Chen Qing Wu remembered she hadn’t introduced him yet, so she smiled apologetically and said, “This is my boyfriend, Meng Fu Yuan. He works with SE Medical, the company that asked for your help in firing ceramic components before.”

Zhai Jingtang extended his hand and smiled, “Pleasure to meet you.”

Meng Fu Yuan shook his hand and said with a smile, “Thank you for supporting our work.”

He didn’t say, “Thank you for taking care of her.”

Chen Qing Wu smiled, thinking that perhaps she was the only one who could appreciate the subtle difference in wording.

Zhai Jingtang laughed and said, “I heard it’s for flame-retardant materials used in medical devices. I guess that means I’ve indirectly contributed to the advancement of healthcare. That’s an honor for me too.”

After some casual conversation, Zhai Jingtang had to leave.

Before leaving, he joked with Chen Qing Wu, “I occasionally browse your online store. Make sure to keep up the good work—I might place an order to check on you.”

Chen Qing Wu smiled and said, “No pressure at all.”

“Pressure brings out better work—I’ll be off then. Next time, bring your boyfriend to Porcelain City, and I’ll host you two.”

After Zhai Jingtang left, Xunwen and his family focused on a few more pieces, taking photos and then continuing to the next exhibition hall.

Xunwen lagged slightly behind and walked with Chen Qing Wu, saying, “Thank you. I now fully understand what you meant when you said she was not just my grandmother, but also a ceramic artist.”

Chen Qing Wu smiled and said, “You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help make this happen; it’s very fulfilling for me.”

Meng Fu Yuan didn’t interrupt Chen Qing Wu’s conversation with the others at all.

He liked watching her glow with passion for her work. Even as a bystander, it gave him a sense of peace—knowing that in this seemingly chaotic world, there were still people who pursued their passions seriously.

When they arrived at Hall 10, a figure standing in front of a large ceramic mural caught Chen Qing Wu’s attention.

Wearing a black

 T-shirt and sports jacket, with a black backpack slung over one shoulder, he had a tall, slender frame and striking features that could easily make it in the entertainment industry.

Who else could it be but Meng Qi Ran?

Meng Fu Yuan also noticed and exchanged a glance with Chen Qing Wu before they walked over together.

Meng Fu Yuan called out, “Qi Ran.”

Meng Qi Ran turned his head, showing a hint of surprise at the encounter. “Brother…”

His gaze swept over Chen Qing Wu, but the greeting meant for her was swallowed back.

Meng Fu Yuan asked, “Here to see the exhibition?”

“I saw the poster in my WeChat Moments.”

Meng Fu Yuan understood; it was, of course, from Chen Qing Wu’s Moments.

“Want to have lunch together?” Meng Fu Yuan asked.

“No, I have other plans. I was going to go to your company after the exhibition.”

“What do you need from me?”

Meng Qi Ran took off his backpack, pulled out a 20-centimeter square wooden box, and handed it to Meng Fu Yuan, “A gift for you.”

“What is it? It better not be a hand grenade.”

“…,” Meng Qi Ran was speechless for a moment. “Yeah, that’s exactly what it is. Hold it carefully, or it’ll explode as soon as you drop it.”

Meng Fu Yuan gave him a look that said, “How old are you?”

Throughout the exchange, Meng Qi Ran only glanced at Chen Qing Wu out of the corner of his eye.

For some reason, he felt a vague sense of guilt, as if he was suffocating. Whether it was due to jealousy or sorrow, he couldn’t tell.

She seemed so happy now, no longer looking as thin and fragile as before.

What hurt him was not her happiness, but the fact that he once had a chance to make her happy.

Meng Qi Ran didn’t let any of these emotions show. He zipped up his backpack, lowered his gaze, and said, “I’ve finished looking around. I’ll be leaving now. You guys take your time.”

Meng Fu Yuan simply nodded without saying much.

Before leaving, Meng Qi Ran gave Chen Qing Wu one last glance, nodded slightly, and then turned to walk towards the exit.

After they finished the exhibition, the group got back into the car and headed to the restaurant Meng Fu Yuan had reserved.

In the seven-seater business vehicle, Chen Qing Wu and Meng Fu Yuan sat in the back row.

Meng Fu Yuan took the wooden box and placed it on his lap.

Chen Qing Wu leaned in closer, waiting for him to open it.

The box had a brass lock with a pin. After pulling out the pin and flipping the lid, they both stared in surprise.

It was the color of freesia, spreading in the water—a slightly translucent, misty purple.

That cup.

That “Flower and Mist.”