Staring into these eyes for too long feels like gazing into a bottomless black hole, drawing one’s soul into its depths.
They vividly resemble that person standing right in front of her.
The tistamp in the lower-right corner indicates it was created this November.
"Shen You’an." Helian Yu spat out the na through clenched teeth, venom in her voice as though she wished to dismber him a thousand tis over.
Resisting the impulse to destroy these paintings into which Xixi had poured her heart and soul, she carefully collected them, one by one, and placed them back into the box.
Then she fetched her drawing tools, secured a sheet of paper onto the drawing board, and closed her eyes to recall mories for a mont.
She opened her eyes and let her brush fall onto the paper.
In her youth, she too had been a famous prodigy, even winning national art awards. Yet as a daughter of the Helian family, she was destined not to wield a brush but rather the law.
It had been ages since she last picked up a paintbrush. She suspected she might feel rusty, but the mont her fingers touched the brush, her mories surged back, and she painted with divine precision.
The boy’s vivid features and joyous expressions seed to leap off the canvas through her strokes.
After a while, Helian Yu put the brush down and stepped back to examine the piece.
The eyes—still not right.
In her mory, the boy had large, bright eyes, full of laughter. They radiated warmth like sunlight.
Helian Yu froze, a trace of warmth creeping into her recollections of the one who colored her mories in glowing hues. It was evident he must have been the dream lover of countless maidens back then.
She was no exception.
Feeling a mix of embarrassnt and irritation, Helian Yu tore the paper into shreds and tossed it into the trash bin.
The Sang family had betrayed the nation—Sang Ziming had been humiliated and oppressed by a re actor, dying a pitiful death while the entire branch was obliterated by i Lvge.
As for Yu Fuli, what did it matter that he was alive? i Lvge had a thousand ways to seal his fate if she wished to kill him.
History is made by victors—all reputations crumbled, mories crushed, the narrative irrevocably settled.
Helian Yu was determined to uncover the truth; only then would she have leverage to negotiate with the Yu family.
Only then could she pave a smooth path for Xixi.
Helian Yu pulled out another sheet of paper. When she reached for the brush, her gaze inadvertently swept past the portrait in the box.
The girl in the drawing, now unshielded by glasses, revealed eyes that glimred with charm and allure.
A sudden inspiration struck Helian Yu as she began sketching a pair of eyes.
This ti, she reversed her steps, drawing the eyes first before finishing the rest.
Ti passed unknowingly until a knock broke the silence. Her assistant called from outside the door.
"Madam, the person has been brought in."
Helian Yu pulled her shawl tighter and instructed to let them in.
Monts later, Kong Lili shuffled in, trembling.
Before coming in, she had been fiercely warned by the woman accompanying her.
She kept her head down the entire ti, too petrified to look at anything.
"What is Shen Li to you?" A gentle female voice drifted to her ears.
Here it was again—Shen Li.
Kong Lili felt a surge of resentnt. She had a gut feeling that Zhou Qin’s brother-in-law was either a heinous criminal or a person of extraordinary standing.
From her brief encounter with Shen Li, she leaned strongly toward the latter.
After all, how could soone with such unmatched looks and charisma be anything other than extraordinary? Wasting such gifts would be a cri against heaven.
The other woman patiently waited for her response.
Kong Lili stamred out, "He’s my cousin’s brother-in-law."
The connection felt convoluted.
"Have you t him?"
"Of course I’ve t him," Kong Lili realized her tone was too loud, and embarrassed, she hung her head again.
"I haven’t seen him much, but he left a deep impression. Back when Zhang Yun had difficulties during childbirth, Zhou Qin and I were in the hospital. Shen Li was waiting outside the operating room. Don’t mind that his wife was a fool—he absolutely adored her. Zhou Qin and I often said Zhang Yun was blessed in her simplicity, marrying such a good husband. It’s just a sha her fate was thin, and she didn’t get to enjoy her happiness for long before passing away."
Helian Yu’s expression shifted, tinged with irritation.
The assistant shot a glare at Kong Lili, signaling her to shut her mouth.
Kong Lili snapped her lips shut, feeling wronged. What could she have said wrong?
Helian Yu glanced at the assistant.
The assistant nodded, lowered her head, and turned to close the door as she left.
The room was now empty aside from Helian Yu and Kong Lili.
Kong Lili felt even more uneasy.
Helian Yu rose and walked up to Kong Lili, handing her a drawing.
"Raise your head. Do you recognize the person in the portrait?"
Helian Yu stared at Kong Lili’s face without blinking, scrutinizing every flicker of expression.
Kong Lili lifted her head.
It was a portrait of a young boy.
The artist had remarkable skill, capturing the boy’s features and expressions vividly and in great detail.
Thick eyebrows, large eyes brimd with laughter, slightly upturned at the corners—a soft yet striking allure.
The boy’s radiant smile carried an infectious charm, compelling anyone who looked to smile along.
The more Kong Lili stared, the more familiar it seed: "Isn’t this... isn’t this Shen Li? Just younger."
Helian Yu’s heartbeat sped up. Her fingers tightened around the edges of the drawing, steadying her voice as she pressed on, "Are you certain?"
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