novelraw Chapter 072 Farewell on the Easel
Chapter 072 Farewell on the Easel
The afternoon of the day of the victory celebration banquet.
The sunlight was so bright it was almost blinding.
Jiang Ci left home early in the morning.
As the main character tonight, he needs to go to the site to confirm the final procedures and pick up the pink diamond ring that was expedited by air.
Before leaving, he kissed Wen Ning's forehead, his eyes filled with starlight:
"Stay home and wait for me. The driver will pick you up at four o'clock this afternoon to get your hair and makeup done."
"Tonight, you are the only princess."
The door closed.
Wen Ning stood in the entryway, listening to the sound of the elevator descending until it fell into complete silence.
She didn't pick out any clothes, nor did she put on a face mask.
She turned and went upstairs to the Loft area on the second floor of the apartment building.
This is their master bedroom and rest area.
The light in front of the floor-to-ceiling window was just right; it was her favorite place to be.
Wen Ning brought over an easel.
sit down.
He picked up a paintbrush.
This was her last moment.
During those long months, she drew many things. She drew the trees outside the window, the lake downstairs, and even secretly drew Jiang Ci's profile countless times.
But this one was one she had conceived long ago, but had never dared to put pen to paper.
She mixed the colors.
The brushstrokes fall.
It's not realistic, but rather in the style of impressionism.
The night sky was a deep blue, and the streetlights were a dim yellow.
Torrential rain.
The raindrops, illuminated by the lamplight, looked like golden threads.
In the center of the picture.
It was the back of a man.
He was wearing a black windbreaker, and his back was broad and slightly hunched.
He was carrying a barefoot girl in a formal dress on his back.
That was after that dance.
He carried her, whose feet ached, as they walked step by step out of the corridor.
Although it was just a view from behind.
But that careful protection, that composure as if carrying the whole world on one's back, strikes straight to the heart through the canvas.
Wen Ning painted very slowly.
Each stroke seems to lock the warmth of this moment into the paint forever.
She is in the painting.
A soft halo was added to that silhouette.
That was the only salvation she saw in her despair.
Two hours later.
It's finished.
Wen Ning put down his paintbrush.
Looking at the still-dry paint, my eyes welled up with tears.
The painting is called "Reliance".
pity.
She could no longer rely on him.
Wen Ning stood up and waited for a while until the surface paint set.
She took a deep breath.
He flipped the drawing board over.
The back has a rough wood and canvas texture.
She picked up a black, thick-tipped marker.
Remove the pen cap.
My hands are trembling violently.
If she were to write her last words, she would have a thousand words to say.
I want to say "I love you".
I want to say, "You need to eat properly."
I want to say, "Don't stay up late."
but.
In that coming, hate-filled future.
Any well-intentioned advice will turn into hypocritical irony.
She can only write these three words.
These are the three words she owes him the most.
The tip of the brush touches the canvas.
It emitted an extremely harsh friction sound.
sorry.
Three words.
It was written very large, with force penetrating the paper.
The black ink seeped into the texture of the canvas, like a hideous scar.
Finished writing the last stroke.
Wen Ning threw away the pen.
She looked at those three words, covered her mouth, and tried not to cry out loud.
Aci.
When you see this painting.
You must hate me to the core by now, right?
You should already be at the top of the world, and have long forgotten about that ex-girlfriend who only caused you trouble, right?
She put the frame back on the easel.
Facing outwards.
Then, I found a white dust cloth and gently covered it.
After doing all this.
Wen Ning did not go downstairs immediately.
She took a somewhat old cell phone out of her pocket.
The phone has been switched off for a long time.
The memos inside recorded all her struggles over the past six months, the truth behind the system tasks, and the pain of her constant contradictions between her words and actions.
She stroked the cold fuselage.
His eyes were complicated.
If she could, she hoped the phone would never be discovered.
Some truths are too cruel.
Some unpleasant experiences, once spoken aloud, only cause more pain.
Wen Ning took her phone and walked to the most inconspicuous corner on the second floor.
There was a pot of thriving Monstera deliciosa.
She squatted down.
I moved the heavy flowerpot to the side.
"Crunch—"
A very faint sound, like a wooden plank loosening, rang out in the quiet afternoon.
After a while.
Wen Ning stood up.
Her hands were empty.
She moved the Monstera deliciosa plant back to its original position.
The large leaves drooped down, casting dappled shadows that perfectly covered the corner.
It also concealed the secret that had been re-pressed.
That's fine.
She patted the dust off her hands.
"It's best if it rots in the darkness."
【Host.】
The system's voice sounded on time.
Like a heartless clock bird.
【Time is up.】
Zhou Xu's car is already downstairs.
Please leave immediately and change into the "betrayal" battle robe.
Wen Ning took one last look at the easel covered with a white cloth.
That was the "postcard" she left for him.
That corner was her "grave" for herself.
"understood."
She looked away.
She wiped away the tears from her face.
I turned around and went downstairs.
In the living room.
The sun was still shining brightly.
The couple's mugs on the coffee table are still there, and the throw pillows on the sofa are still there.
The air even still carried the scent of aftershave that Jiang Ci had sprayed before leaving home that morning.
Everything was as if nothing had happened.
The hostess just needed to go out to get her hair and makeup done in preparation for the evening's banquet.
Wen Ning walked to the entrance hall.
Change your shoes.
She took the key that belonged to this place out of her bag.
It was gently placed on the entryway cabinet.
That was a return.
It was also a complete break.
"goodbye."
She spoke softly to the empty house.
The door handle turns.
A "click" sound.
The door opened, then closed again.
The fingerprint lock clicked to lock.
The sunlight inside seemed to have dimmed somewhat.
That apartment that was once filled with laughter, tears, and countless sweet moments.
at this point.
Utter silence descended.
Only the white cloth on the easel on the second floor swayed gently in the breeze.
And there's that Monstera deliciosa plant in the corner, standing quietly, guarding the secrets underground.
downstairs.
A low-profile black minivan was parked on the side of the road.
The car window rolled down, revealing Zhou Xu's serious face.
Wen Ning opened the car door and got in.
A huge gift box was placed on the back seat.
The lid was half open.
It revealed the extremely luxurious red dress underneath.
It was as red as blood.
That was her "battle outfit" for tonight.
It was also the sharpest knife she used to stab Jiang Ci.
"Let's go."
Wen Ning looked ahead, her eyes shifting from reluctance to deathly stillness.
"Go change your clothes."
The car started.
It sped off into the distance.