After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 130
Chapter 130
After receiving a scolding from her own mother, Cheng Zhanxi returned home with Yu Qingtang.
While waiting at a traffic light on the way, she looked at Yu Qingtang several times, seeming to want to say something but hesitating.
After changing her shoes in the entryway, Cheng Zhanxi put the food she brought from home into the refrigerator and said to Yu Qingtang, who was resting on the sofa, “I heard from Mom that you want to work out?”
Yu Qingtang had been guessing what Cheng Zhanxi wanted to say but couldn’t quite articulate. She had considered countless possibilities, but this one happened to be unexpected. She picked up a satsuma mandarin from the fruit bowl, peeling it as she casually replied, “Yeah, I’m bored at home and want to find something to do.”
Cheng Zhanxi glanced at her without questioning, it was unclear whether she believed her or not.
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Then, do you want me to find you a personal trainer, like Mom’s, who comes three or four times a week? That way, you won’t have to go out all the time. Or I can teach you; I’ve studied the relevant professional knowledge.”
Yu Qingtang tossed the last piece of orange peel into the trash can and beckoned to Cheng Zhanxi.
Cheng Zhanxi came over, opened her mouth, and accepted half a satsuma mandarin. It was so sweet that her eyes curved into crescents.
Yu Qingtang said, “I’m just joining Aunt Song for the fun of it. What if it’s just a fleeting interest? We can talk about it again if I really want to work out in the future.” She put the other half of the sweet mandarin into her mouth, hooked Cheng Zhanxi’s chin, and kissed her, passing a bit of orange juice over in the process.
The sweetness of the orange permeated their lips and teeth.
Cheng Zhanxi’s eyes and brows were incredibly docile. “Jiejie.”
Yu Qingtang caressed her face.
Cheng Zhanxi nuzzled her face into Yu Qingtang’s neck, and as they nuzzled, they tumbled onto the sofa together.
Cheng Zhanxi sat on the sofa, while Yu Qingtang knelt before her, her hands resting on Cheng Zhanxi’s knees, her head bowed.
Cheng Zhanxi watched as Yu Qingtang lowered her head inch by inch, until all she could see was the dark crown of her head.
Cheng Zhanxi placed her hand on Yu Qingtang’s long hair, her fingers delving into the soft strands, sometimes gentle, sometimes unable to resist applying more pressure, tugging at her roots as she bit her own lower lip.
She was like a general on a battlefield, retreating step by step in a hard-fought offensive. She resisted with all her might, trying to prolong her fighting chance, but she couldn’t withstand the opponent’s devastating, all-conquering advance. In the end, she was utterly routed, letting out a sob.
The recessed lighting in the living room ceiling cast circles of white light. Cheng Zhanxi’s deep tea-colored pupils remained in a prolonged state of daze.
Yu Qingtang pinched her chin and kissed her lips, gentle yet forceful.
Her lips were moist and soft, radiating a scorching heat.
Having just been defeated, Cheng Zhanxi couldn’t bear this. She let out muffled whimpers, tears streaming more fiercely from the corners of her eyes.
Yu Qingtang released her, exasperated and amused. “Why are you crying again?”
Cheng Zhanxi wrapped the blanket Yu Qingtang had given her around herself, her eyes slightly red. “Let me rest for a bit.”
Yu Qingtang glanced at her. “Aren’t you a fitness expert?”
Cheng Zhanxi said, full of self-righteousness, “Fitness doesn’t train that part. If you practice with me more in the future, I’ll get used to it.”
Yu Qingtang pinched her ear again. “It’s better not to get used to it.” She and Cheng Zhanxi had done it so many times, and she hadn’t seen herself get used to it.
Yu Qingtang hugged her and said, “I’m going to the restroom.”
While Yu Qingtang was rinsing her mouth, Cheng Zhanxi sent a message to Yu Jianxing.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: [Blushing]
[Yu Jianxing]: This time? This expression? No way, no way, it can’t be what I think it is, right?
[Cheng Zhanxi]: It’s exactly what you think [doge]
[Yu Jianxing]: So jealous. Ask your Jiejie if she knows any other Jiejies, introduce one to me. I’ve been drawing so much lately my hair is falling out, I urgently need some… nourishment.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Hahahahaha
When Yu Qingtang came out, Cheng Zhanxi immediately put away her phone.
Yu Qingtang picked up Cheng Zhanxi’s pants from the floor, folded them neatly, and set them aside. “Who were you chatting with? You look so happy.”
Cheng Zhanxi confessed, “Yu Jianxing. Do you want to see the chat history?”
Yu Qingtang trusted her completely. “No need.”
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Come on, take a look.”
Yu Qingtang took it and looked, then scrolled up to what they had said at noon today, her understanding constantly being refreshed. Seeing the expression on Yu Qingtang’s face, as if a new world had opened up to her, Cheng Zhanxi couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Yu Qingtang scrolled back and forth twice, then returned it to her. “You guys talk about this stuff every day?”
Cheng Zhanxi: “Uh-huh.”
Yu Qingtang gave her a sidelong glance. “Contemporary young artists?”
Cheng Zhanxi laughed out loud again. “Yep.”
Yu Qingtang said, “My eyes have been opened.” She came over and wrapped an arm around Cheng Zhanxi’s ribs, the other hand slipping under her knees, as if with an upward force. The reason it was “as if” was because Cheng Zhanxi didn’t actually feel it; she only saw Yu Qingtang make such a motion.
Cheng Zhanxi asked in disbelief, “Are you trying to princess-carry me?”
Yu Qingtang withdrew her hands, saying coolly, “No.”
But the tips of her ears had quietly turned crimson.
Cheng Zhanxi decisively took the blame. “It’s because I’m too heavy.”
Yu Qingtang shook her head; she really couldn’t deceive herself about this. “I should work out.”
Yu Qingtang’s mind was entirely preoccupied with fitness. Looking at Cheng Zhanxi, she imagined herself successfully working out, effortlessly lifting her horizontally, and making her cry and beg for mercy in various ways in bed. The thought made her heart race. Returning to reality, she was still a weak top who ran out of stamina after lifting a toothbrush cup a few times, which couldn’t help but make her feel frustrated.
Fortunately, Cheng Zhanxi still preferred to take the initiative in this aspect. Once Yu Qingtang didn’t show strong aggression, her physical instincts would lead her to satisfy Yu Qingtang in a familiar way.
What Cheng Zhanxi cared about was whether Yu Qingtang placed them on an equal footing on a spiritual level. Clearly, Yu Qingtang had already achieved this, and from time to time, she even felt a sense of tender affection for her, an indispensable emotion in love. Physical needs were secondary, so she viewed this aspect rather lightly.
But Yu Qingtang viewed it very seriously.
The next afternoon, Lao Li drove Yu Qingtang to the Cheng residence.
Song Qingrou had changed into a sportswear set and had also prepared one for Yu Qingtang. Yu Qingtang had excellent body proportions, with long legs and a slender waist. Because she was slim, she didn’t look like she had any excess fat even without regular exercise. Yu Qingtang spent a long time looking in the mirror in the changing room before daring to go out.
Song Qingrou’s personal trainer, true to her consistent aesthetic, was a young and beautiful woman. The trainer’s surname was Ruan, and her name was Ruan Wei. She wore a sports bra and black stretch pants, her skin firm, and her abdominal lines distinct. Yu Qingtang secretly compared Ruan Wei’s figure to Cheng Zhanxi’s in her mind and objectively concluded that Cheng Zhanxi was superior.
Song Qingrou said to Yu Qingtang, “Tell Xiao Ruan what you want to train, and she’ll help you create a plan.”
Ruan Wei smiled, looking very approachable.
Yu Qingtang tried to make her attitude seem casual and unprofessional, without too strong a purpose. “I’ve been feeling like my arms don’t have much strength lately. Is there any way to increase arm strength?”
Ruan Wei said, “Mainly upper body strength training, is that right?”
Yu Qingtang felt a warmth gradually creep up her ears. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said, feigning naturalness, “Is that possible?”
Ruan Wei thought for a moment. “It is possible, but generally, when we work out, we train the whole body’s strength. For example, in daily activities like walking, sitting, and lying down, the muscle groups primarily used are the lower limb and core muscle groups. The lower limbs and core can increase body coordination and stability, while the upper limbs don’t bear a large burden. It’s recommended to first improve the strength of large muscle groups, then train smaller muscle groups to achieve overall body coordination and a good physique.”
Yu Qingtang asked, “So, I can’t train my upper body for now?”
Ruan Wei’s gaze swept over her slender, fair arms. She said gently, “No, I’m just offering advice. You’re responsible for stating your requirements, and I’ll help you achieve the results.”
Yu Qingtang said, “Then let’s train the upper body.” Song Qingrou, listening nearby, showed a flicker of a strange expression.
Song Qingrou did her own workout, while Ruan Wei was mainly responsible for guiding the newcomer, Yu Qingtang. They were some distance away from Song Qingrou. Yu Qingtang asked in a volume only the two of them could hear, “Coach, is there a way to increase wrist strength too?”
Ruan Wei: “…”
She seemed to vaguely understand the other person’s purpose.
As a personal trainer with a same-sex partner, and with same-sex marriage having been legalized in recent years, she occasionally encountered female clients who frankly expressed concerns in this area, unable to satisfy their wives’ or girlfriends’ needs, and wanting targeted training.
Ruan Wei tentatively asked, “There are also training plans for finger joints. Do you need one?” As a personal trainer, one must keep up with the times and be comprehensive!
Besides, she thought Yu Qingtang’s natural attributes were truly excellent. Such a pair of hands, not using them to… cough… would be a waste.
Yu Qingtang: “…”
The two exchanged a look, and after class, they also exchanged WeChat contacts.
While Yu Qingtang was working out, she was driven by a burst of energy and didn’t feel particularly tired. But once she stopped, especially after a night’s sleep, her arms were sore, aching, and numb, as if parts of her body had appeared out of nowhere that didn’t belong to her. When Cheng Zhanxi accidentally touched her hand, she couldn’t help but cry out in pain.
Cheng Zhanxi tensed up, thinking something was wrong. But then she realized it was just the normal reaction of someone who never exercised suddenly starting to work out, and she let out an unkind chuckle.
Yu Qingtang could only glare at her, because she couldn’t lift her hands.
That afternoon, just as Yu Qingtang’s arms were starting to feel better, Song Qingrou arranged an indoor archery session in the villa. She acted as a semi-coach, teaching Yu Qingtang how to hold the bow and nock an arrow. The bow was wooden, but maintaining a posture for a long time without moving tested endurance and stamina. As soon as Yu Qingtang picked up the longbow and raised it in front of her, her arms began to tremble.
Song Qingrou’s face showed a hint of worry.
She had originally thought Cheng Zhanxi lacked restraint, but it seemed she had misjudged her.
Yu Qingtang trained for two consecutive days. When she returned home, she flopped down like a salted fish, without even the strength to lift a finger.
Cheng Zhanxi’s proposal plan was almost ready. She asked Yu Qingtang to take a few days off from exercising to recover her energy. Cheng Zhanxi took Yu Qingtang around, exploring various places. There were many places in the Capital City that Yu Qingtang had never been to, or had been to but hadn’t paid much attention to. Revisiting old haunts brought a different kind of feeling.
The two also went to Yu Qingtang’s alma mater. Yu Qingtang had only graduated a year ago, so she was still quite familiar with the school. She took Cheng Zhanxi to the cafeteria, the academic buildings, the library, and the area beneath her old dormitory. Cheng Zhanxi somehow procured a pink bicycle and rode Yu Qingtang around the campus.
The leaves on the trees lining the roads were a delicate and gentle green. Yu Qingtang had one arm around Cheng Zhanxi’s waist from behind, while her other hand was raised to shield her eyes as she looked up at the sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves. The lines of her profile were incredibly soft.
“Yu Qingtang?”
As Cheng Zhanxi rode the bicycle past a campus path, she heard a voice from behind.
She squeezed the handbrake, her feet touching the ground, and turned back to ask Yu Qingtang, “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“Someone called your name.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Cheng Zhanxi looked around and saw a young man in a suit and leather shoes walking over. He called out again, hesitantly, “Yu Qingtang?”
Cheng Zhanxi looked at the young man, and Yu Qingtang looked at him too. They exchanged a glance, and Cheng Zhanxi read three large words in Yu Qingtang’s eyes: Don’t know him.
The young man saw Yu Qingtang’s expression but wasn’t embarrassed. He smiled gracefully and said, “It’s me, Gao Yiqun, our class monitor.”
Yu Qingtang was used to being a loner and didn’t even recognize everyone in her class. After three years of her master’s program, she remembered even less.
Yu Qingtang got off the back of the bicycle, her expression even more at ease than his. She nodded. “Hello.”
Gao Yiqun said, “Long time no see.”
Yu Qingtang replied politely, “Long time no see.”
Gao Yiqun’s gaze shifted to Cheng Zhanxi, who was holding the handlebars with one hand. He concealed his surprise deep in his eyes and politely asked, “And this is?”
Yu Qingtang: “My girlfriend.”
The next second, Gao Yiqun saw the diamond ring on Cheng Zhanxi’s left hand and said, “Congratulations, may you have a long and happy life together.”
A faint smile appeared on Yu Qingtang’s face as she said sincerely, “Thank you.”
Perhaps this smile encouraged Gao Yiqun. His smile also became more natural and friendly, like one would have when facing an old classmate. He invited, “Tomorrow night, we’re having a class reunion. You can bring a guest. Would you like to come?”
In the past, Yu Qingtang definitely wouldn’t have gone, but now she always wanted to try new things and experience different aspects of life. Those uneventful student days that hadn’t left much of an impression might offer different feelings when revisited.
Yu Qingtang asked Cheng Zhanxi, “Are you free?”
Cheng Zhanxi nodded.
Yu Qingtang said to Gao Yiqun, “Time and place?”
Gao Yiqun took out a black, elegant business card from the pocket of his custom-made suit and handed it to her. “Tomorrow night at seven, Haiyan Tower. Call me when you arrive, and I’ll come out to get you.” The young man chuckled. “They’ll never guess I invited you. I’m going to keep this secret until it’s revealed tomorrow night.”
After Gao Yiqun left, Cheng Zhanxi leaned over to look at the business card in Yu Qingtang’s hand.
Gao Yiqun looked to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, working in the finance industry. His company and position seemed very impressive. He could be considered young and promising.
Yu Qingtang remained silent.
Cheng Zhanxi asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Yu Qingtang said, “Experiencing a certain mood.”
“What mood?” Cheng Zhanxi didn’t understand.
Yu Qingtang smiled. “It’s that feeling people talk about online, for class reunions. The feeling of being embarrassed to attend if you haven’t done well. I’m getting a slight sense of that now.”
As a graduate from a prestigious university, she didn’t know how her classmates were doing, but she presumed those attending were doing quite well. Someone like Gao Yiqun was definitely not the best, yet he was already beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Do they have a girlfriend as beautiful and outstanding as me?”
Yu Qingtang smiled. “No.” She tucked the business card into Cheng Zhanxi’s pocket and said, “Let’s go. I still want to take a ride by the lake.”
She actually didn’t care much about others’ opinions anymore, just like Cheng Zhanxi’s uncle who ran the private kitchen. No one could judge the worth of a person’s life; everyone had their own way of living. The most important thing was not to let oneself down.
The next day was the weekend, and Cheng Zhanxi accompanied Yu Qingtang to the class reunion.
They drove to Haiyan Tower. As they were about to arrive, Yu Qingtang called Gao Yiqun. Gao Yiqun came out and happened to see a white Porsche Panamera pull up at the hotel entrance. Yu Qingtang, in a long dress, pushed open the car door and got out. Cheng Zhanxi tossed the car keys to a valet in a red vest and came over to take Yu Qingtang’s hand.
This world was so fantastical that as long as you stayed true to yourself, you could find joy in anything you did. At the same time, it was also very realistic and utilitarian. Yu Qingtang didn’t care, but Cheng Zhanxi needed to consider these things for her, to reduce unnecessary trouble.
Gao Yiqun’s eyes flickered slightly, then quickly returned to normal.
He smiled and approached them, saying, “Please come in, everyone has been waiting for a long time.”
There weren’t many people at this reunion. As Yu Qingtang had said, a few who were doing exceptionally well played central roles in the gathering. Most people were doing moderately well. Gao Yiqun was somewhere in between; because he was the class monitor, he was also one of those leading the effort to liven up the atmosphere.
At the door, Gao Yiqun asked the two to wait a moment while he went in first.
Outside the door, Cheng Zhanxi heard him building suspense. Amidst everyone’s anticipation and urging, Yu Qingtang stepped inside.
There was a moment of silence in the private room.
A classmate holding a wine glass paused with the rim at their lips. Classmates who were chatting with their heads down looked up and froze, as if their acupoints had been pressed. Some had their mouths agape, dumbfounded.
Then, the air began to flow again.
Someone excitedly shouted “Goddess!” Everyone looked in the direction of the voice but couldn’t find who had spoken. It felt like anyone could have been the one, as that’s what they used to call her privately back then.
Gao Yiqun picked up the thread, announcing loudly, “Come, let’s toast our goddess.”
A group of people raised their glasses, wanting to toast Yu Qingtang.
At this moment, a fair, slender hand blocked Yu Qingtang, taking the wine glass from her. Only then did everyone notice Cheng Zhanxi behind her.
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Qingtang isn’t a good drinker. I’ll drink this on her behalf.”
Gao Yiqun introduced, “This is Yu Qingtang’s girlfriend, surname Cheng.”
Cheng Zhanxi noticed that the expressions of several unattached men in the crowd froze for an instant, and her eyebrows arched almost imperceptibly.
Yu Qingtang had quite a few admirers, starting from her student days.
Among those attending the reunion was one of Yu Qingtang’s undergraduate roommates. Yu Qingtang had to think for a long time before remembering her name. The roommate talked to her about their undergraduate days. Yu Qingtang still had some impression of those times. Then the roommate started gossiping about the class back then, which Yu Qingtang was completely unaware of. She showed a surprised expression of “Really? Is that so?”, which was very vivid and a novelty to the roommate who was used to her expressionless face.
The roommate, getting excited, even complained about her, “Do you know how aloof you were back then? We didn’t even dare to speak in the dorm.”
Yu Qingtang smiled. “Really?”
The roommate said, “Yes, yes! And Su He had a crush on you for four years, you didn’t know, did you?”
Su He was another one of their roommates, a female.
Yu Qingtang smiled again and glanced at Cheng Zhanxi sitting beside her.
The roommate also noticed and said, “Sorry.”
Cheng Zhanxi rested her chin on her hand and said leisurely, “Please continue, I want to hear too.”
Not knowing was one thing, but hearing it was a shock.
The Yu Qingtang in her own eyes and the Yu Qingtang in her classmates’ eyes were completely different.
In her classmates’ hearts, she was the aloof study goddess. Even among peers at a renowned institution, she was leagues ahead of many ordinary mortals. Coupled with her intelligence and beauty, and her unconventional personality, she consistently topped the campus beauty polls on the university’s internal network year after year. Countless people in her class, department, faculty, and even the entire university had secret crushes on her, revering her as the goddess of their hearts.
And an exam goddess too. People would pray to her before exams, hoping to rub off some of her divine aura.
The roommate said, “Didn’t you notice that our public classes were always packed? Come final exams, the corridors would be full of people coming and going.”
Yu Qingtang: “Hmm?”
Cheng Zhanxi asked, “Were they all there to see her?”
The roommate snapped her fingers. “Exactly.”
No matter how low Yu Qingtang’s presence was, academically, she was always someone to look up to. Their school admired strength; beauty was merely the icing on the cake.
The roommate said, “We were always guessing who could catch Yu Qingtang’s eye. But she was still single when she graduated. It’s good though, no one was good enough for her.”
Cheng Zhanxi: “What do you think of me? Am I good enough?”
The roommate sized her up several times and said honestly, “Barely.”
Cheng Zhanxi burst out laughing.
All the way home in the car, Cheng Zhanxi thought about the reunion earlier and couldn’t stop laughing.
Yu Qingtang said helplessly, “That’s enough.”
The designated driver was driving in front. Cheng Zhanxi leaned her lips close to Yu Qingtang’s ear and chuckled, “Goddess.”
Yu Qingtang’s helplessness deepened.
Several people had called her that during the reunion, giving Yu Qingtang goosebumps on her arms. Now Cheng Zhanxi was teasing her again.
Cheng Zhanxi, having had her fun, asked her, “How did you feel about the reunion?”
Yu Qingtang curved her lips slightly and said, “It was okay.” Her roommate was too talkative. Yu Qingtang relived her four years of undergraduate studies with her. Before parting, they even exchanged WeChat IDs and agreed to go shopping together when they had time.
Cheng Zhanxi suddenly said, “I really regret it now.”
“Regret what?”
“I visited your university before. If I had just randomly asked someone who the campus beauty was back then, I could have fallen in love with you at first sight much earlier.”
Yu Qingtang couldn’t help but chuckle. She lightly tapped Cheng Zhanxi’s arm and said with playful reproach, “Nonsense.”
“It’s true.” Cheng Zhanxi wrapped her arms around Yu Qingtang’s neck, tilting her head up slightly to look at her. “I regret so much not meeting you sooner.”
Yu Qingtang’s gaze gradually softened. She ruffled Cheng Zhanxi’s hair and said, “Me too.”
After they got home and showered, as Yu Qingtang came out of the bathroom, her vision suddenly darkened, the world spun, and Cheng Zhanxi pinned her onto the bed, starting to “settle accounts.”
“Who is Su He?”
“…”
“And that boy who used to bring you milk tea.”
“…”
“The girls who ‘coincidentally’ ran into you downstairs at your dorm every day, besides Wen Zhihan, were there others?”
“…”
That night, Yu Qingtang endured it many times.
From the bedroom to the bathroom, the bathtub to the washstand, and back to the bed, Cheng Zhanxi tormented her until three or four in the morning before finally letting go of Yu Qingtang, whose voice was hoarse and gone. She wiped the tear stains from Yu Qingtang’s face and got up to clean up the mess everywhere.
When she returned, Yu Qingtang was already asleep.
Cheng Zhanxi got into bed and hugged her. When Yu Qingtang was awake, she struggled fiercely, but when asleep, she was very docile, snuggling into Cheng Zhanxi’s embrace.
Cheng Zhanxi stroked her long hair.
Yu Qingtang, with her eyes closed, murmured something in her sleep, full of affection.
Cheng Zhanxi quietly thought about things for a while, a smile playing on her lips, and then closed her eyes too.
After resting for a day, the two stayed at home and didn’t go anywhere. In the afternoon, Yu Qingtang, wearing specific attire, posed as an oil painting model for Cheng Zhanxi in the garden.
Being a model required holding a pose motionless for several hours. Cheng Zhanxi was afraid it would be too hard for her, so she had hesitated and never mentioned it. Yu Qingtang read a biography of a foreign oil painter that mentioned this aspect, so she asked Cheng Zhanxi what the requirements were for being her model and if she could do it. Cheng Zhanxi then suggested they try.
When painting others, she needed to find inspiration. When painting Yu Qingtang, she only needed to look at her, and her brush seemed to gain a soul, flowing endlessly.
On the canvas, day and night were split into two sides. One side was the sun’s illumination, a glorious temple, a pilgrim’s smooth path. The other side was an eerie silver moon, dark thorns, a path with no visible origin. At the boundary between light and shadow, day and night, a woman in red sat on a swing deep within, her feet swinging high.
It was the first time Yu Qingtang had seen Cheng Zhanxi paint an oil painting with such strong subjective consciousness. The use of color was bold, the lines were bizarre, and the combination of color blocks was intense and somber, carrying a religious mystique. Just looking at the painting, an extremely oppressive atmosphere rushed towards her. It was unimaginable how an ordinary paintbrush could roam so freely in Cheng Zhanxi’s mind and then land on the canvas, depicting a fantasy world beyond the reach of mortals.
Yu Qingtang looked at the woman in red in the depths of the painting. The oil paint hadn’t dried yet, so she didn’t dare to touch it. She carefully asked, “Is this me?”
Cheng Zhanxi didn’t answer.
Yu Qingtang tilted her head to look at Cheng Zhanxi’s face and found it covered in tears.
Yu Qingtang reached out, but Cheng Zhanxi raised her hand to block her, her hand trembling as she put down the paintbrush. She said in a hoarse voice, “Don’t mind me, I’ll be fine in a moment.”
With that, she covered her face with both hands and burst into tears.
Yu Qingtang stood by, helpless and frantic.
Later, Yu Qingtang became accustomed to this. Cheng Zhanxi often hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door when she painted. Firstly, she needed quiet, and secondly, she had a quirk: losing emotional control during the creative process was normal. After hearing crying sounds twice and rushing into the studio only to find nothing amiss, Yu Qingtang was no longer surprised.
Additionally, Yu Qingtang discovered that Cheng Zhanxi was very emotional in front of people she was close to. A significant manifestation of this was her overactive tear ducts; you never knew when she would suddenly cry. She cried if things went too fast, cried if they went too slow, for inexplicable reasons. Regarding this, Yu Qingtang specifically sought advice from Song Qingrou, who gave her an unpublished monograph: Regarding How to Coax a Crybaby.
Of course, these were all later developments.
Cheng Zhanxi wanted to name the painting Cheng and Yu or Yu and Cheng, but due to Yu Qingtang’s firm opposition, she renamed it Greenwich and sent it to the second-floor studio to dry.
Cheng Zhanxi came down from the second floor, chasing after Yu Qingtang’s retreating figure, trying to argue, “How about calling it Cheng Mo? It has both you and me, and it’s autobiographical.”
Yu Qingtang didn’t even turn her head. “No way! Give up on that idea!”
Are all contemporary young artists like this?
Yu Qingtang’s idealized image of a painter completely shattered.
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