After My System Went Bankrupt, I Found My Happy Ending with the General - Chapter 21

Liang Jue shot him a glance. “When have I ever gotten angry with you?”

Luo Chuchen grinned, leaning against his arm now that the others had left. “Of course you haven’t.”

Liang Jue sighed. “Alright then, do you want to go to Lin Yun Pavilion?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Luo Chuchen tugged at Liang Jue’s sleeve as they walked forward, with Liang Jue indulging him as they followed the pebbled path along the lake all the way to Lin Yun Pavilion.

Coincidentally, there was no one resting in the pavilion. Luo Chuchen released Liang Jue’s arm, hopped up the stone steps, and entered the pavilion.

While She Chuan set up the easel behind them, Luo Chuchen leaned both hands against the pavilion’s decorative railing, gazing at the distant mountains and waters draped in silver snow. He took a deep breath.

Turning back, he exclaimed, “It’s really beautiful!”

Liang Jue, standing half a step behind him, smiled and pointed. “That’s where we boarded the painted boat earlier.”

Luo Chuchen followed his gaze and said in surprise, “I didn’t realize it from the boat it’s actually this far.”

After admiring the scenery for a while, She Chuan finished grinding the ink, and He Qi had brewed several cups of tea.

Luo Chuchen sat before the easel, glancing at He Qi and She Chuan standing on either side, then at Liang Jue calmly sipping tea nearby. Under the gaze of all three, he felt a bit flustered and somewhat embarrassed. “She Chuan, why don’t you take He Qi to go play.?”

She Chuan chuckled, taking He Qi’s hand. “Let’s take a walk nearby. We won’t go too far.”

“Why are you sending my servant away too?” Liang Jue set down his teacup.

Facing only Liang Jue, Luo Chuchen felt no shyness at all. Dipping his brush in ink, he propped his chin on his hand and looked out at the expansive view beyond the pavilion. “Actually, I’m not very good at painting such large scenes.”

“Mr. Yin probably knows that, which is why he encourages you to go out more to appreciate the scenery and paint,” Liang Jue remarked.

“Ah, that’s true.” Luo Chuchen set the brush aside and picked up a charcoal pencil, sketching the outlines on the rice paper.

While he was contemplating, Liang Jue remained quiet, sipping his tea and occasionally helping out grinding ink, washing brushes, and such.

Time passed quickly, and after much effort, Luo Chuchen had roughly outlined the composition and drawn in the lines.

“What do you think?” Luo Chuchen showed it to Liang Jue.

He had chosen the view to the right of the pavilion facing the lake. Half the painting showed the shimmering water, while the other half depicted the stone path and forested hills. At the boundary was a dock with faint figures visible, and the upper left corner of the painting included a glimpse of Lin Yun Pavilion’s edge.

Liang Jue praised, “It looks very nice.”

Luo Chuchen’s heart bloomed with joy, and he smiled faintly, recalling his teacher’s words. “My teacher says I’m always constrained by the physical forms in my paintings. I may capture the likeness, but I often miss the essence and charm of the landscape.”

Liang Jue responded, “That’s just a matter of different preferences in painting. Some artists focus solely on freehand expression, to the point where the shapes in their work are barely recognizable. Others rigidly follow ancient styles, painting only in the manner of old masters. Then there are those who merely imitate their teachers, producing works that lack individuality and any personal insight.”

Luo Chuchen listened, wide-eyed.

Liang Jue continued, “You’re still young and have only recently begun formal training. To paint like this already places you far ahead of your peers. That’s precisely why your teacher holds you to higher standards. If you’re willing to stay later and see the works of the art academy students, you definitely wouldn’t say what you did earlier.”

Luo Chuchen covered his chest, his ears feeling slightly warm. “If you keep talking like that, I might actually fall for it!”

Liang Jue stood up to refill his teacup and poured one for Luo Chuchen as well. Gazing into his eyes, he said, “Every word I said is true.”

Luo Chuchen: !

Oh no, he’s making me feel so moved. Am I really that impressive?

Liang Jue’s perception of me is way too idealized. But he doesn’t know that before I transmigrated, I was just an art student these skills are nothing special for me.

Taking a sip of the warm tea, Luo Chuchen reluctantly replied, “Alright, you can come take a look around noon.”

He wasn’t sure of the exact time, but the sun seemed almost directly overhead. The sundial, however, was only available at the pier.

Liang Jue stood up and brushed off his robe. “I’ll go call those two back. Who knows where they’ve wandered off to?”

Luo Chuchen hummed in agreement. “Then we can find a place for lunch? I heard there’s a banquet set up somewhere.”

Liang Jue said, “The Prime Minister has arranged a banquet at Julan Pavilion, but it’s on the opposite side of the lake from Linyun Pavilion.”

Luo Chuchen glanced over and immediately frowned, not at all keen on walking that far.

Liang Jue chuckled, “Isn’t noon the perfect time for a walk? The sun is out, and the snow will have melted quite a bit. It’s much more comfortable than in the early morning or evening.”

Luo Chuchen tried to think of an excuse but couldn’t come up with one, so he admitted frankly, “It’s just too far.”

Liang Jue suggested, “Then how about having He Qi and the others buy some food from the pier?”

Luo Chuchen’s eyes lit up. “That works!”

He looked around, “But I don’t know where those two have gone off to they’re nowhere in sight.”

Liang Jue went out to search for them, while Luo Chuchen stayed in the pavilion, grinding some ink and making a few adjustments to his painting.

Not long after, He Qi and She Chuan strolled over along the lakeside path. Both were holding paper-wrapped snacks and entered the pavilion with a warm, bustling air. “Young master, are you hungry?”

They set the food on the table mostly easy to carry items like baked flatbreads and stuffed pastries. She Chuan was also carrying a small bowl of wontons and had brought along two small servings of sweet potato soup.

She Chuan explained, “He Qi and I walked to the pier and remembered it was almost noon, so we bought some snacks to bring back.”

Luo Chuchen asked, “Did you happen to see Liang Jue?”

He Qi blinked in surprise. “No, we didn’t.”

Luo Chuchen said, “He went to look for you. I wonder why you didn’t run into each other.”

“If we’d known, we wouldn’t have gone so far. Now Young Master Jue has made a wasted trip,” He Qi slapped his forehead in regret, then turned to Luo Chuchen. “Young Marquis, I’ll go find the general and be right back.”

Luo Chuchen watched He Qi dash off and thought to himself, What a mess.

“Young master, would you like to try some now?” She Chuan tidied the snacks on the table.

Luo Chuchen shook his head. “Let’s put these away for now. We’ll eat together when Brother Jue returns.”

She Chuan took out only one bowl of sweet potato soup and placed it beside Luo Chuchen’s inkstone. Then he stepped behind the easel to take a look and exclaimed in delight, “Young master, did you paint this just now?”

“Yes,” Luo Chuchen replied. “Can you tell what it’s depicting?”

She Chuan said, “How could I not recognize it? Young master, you’re underestimating me. That’s the path He Qi and I just walked along on the right.”

As he spoke, he casually pointed to two small figures on the path. “See, these two are He Qi and me.”

Luo Chuchen was amused by him and nudged Shechuan’s hand. “Go on, go take a break somewhere.”

With only a rough draft sketched out, and unsure when the other two would return, Luo Chuchen switched to a much larger brush. He had Shechuan prepare a very diluted ink wash and began laying down colors on the painting.

Just as he was applying the wash, a voice tinged with laughter suddenly rang out: “Well, well, we meet again.”

Luo Chuchen looked up in confusion to see a young man in a purple brocade robe standing outside the pavilion. With his slicked-back hair and powdered face, he looked strangely familiar.

The young man took two steps forward into the pavilion, his tone frivolous. “It seems fate really ties us together we keep running into each other everywhere. Are you a student at the Art Academy?”

As he spoke, he even tried to lean in and see what Luo Chuchen was painting.

There was no way Luo Chuchen would let him look. Setting the brush aside, he quickly stood up to block the view, frowning as he asked, “And you are?”

“You don’t remember me?” The young man narrowed his eyes and smiled.

Shechuan, standing nearby, suddenly recalled and quickly poked Luo Chuchen in the side, whispering, “It’s the person we met outside the pastry shop when we first returned to the capital.”

It was him!

Luo Chuchen finally placed him, and the young man’s face instantly became irritating to look at. Coupled with his earlier flirtatious remarks, Luo Chuchen felt nothing but disgust. Struggling to maintain his composure, he asked, “Is there something you need?”

The young man cupped his hands in a slight bow. “I didn’t have the chance to introduce myself earlier. My name is Li Yuan, son of the Vice Minister of Rites. May I ask your name, young master?”

Luo Chuchen replied coldly, “We are but strangers who happened to cross paths. There’s no need to force an acquaintance if fate hasn’t willed it.”

Li Yuan didn’t seem bothered at all. He leaned in closer, attempting to touch Luo Chuchen’s face, but Luo Chuchen dodged. “Such a handsome young master, why not smile more? As the saying goes, fate brings people together across a thousand miles. We’ve met twice by chance now, so it’s clear we’re fated.”

Luo Chuchen frowned and took a step back. Shechuan squeezed in as well, positioning himself in front of his master. “Young master, my lord has no prior acquaintance or connection with you. Why must you persist so relentlessly?”

“Everyone appreciates beauty,” Li Yuan retorted, shaking his head and even licking his lips while staring at Luo Chuchen, who shuddered in disgust.

It was almost time for the midday banquet, and there were few people passing by in the area. Over Li Yuan’s shoulder, Luo Chuchen could see several of his thuggish servants standing outside the pavilion.

If it came to a fight, the odds wouldn’t be in their favor. Luo Chuchen quickly assessed the situation and considered waiting until Liang Jue returned. He tilted his head, signaling Shechuan to roll up the painting and put it away.

Li Yuan blocked the way, grinning cheekily. “Ah, young master, even if you won’t tell me your name, why not let me take a look at your work? I have an uncle who serves as an advisor at the Art Academy. Getting to know me would only bring you benefits, no harm.”

Luo Chuchen was on the verge of cursing. This guy was like a piece of sticky candy impossible to shake off. Giving him any information would only invite endless trouble. What a nuisance,

Shechuan ignored Li Yuan and proceeded to carefully roll up the painting. Li Yuan glanced around, growing irritated at being disregarded. He turned and pointed at Shechuan. “You insolent servant! How dare you put things away while your master is speaking? Men, seize him!”

At his command, several burly servants stepped forward menacingly, ready to grab Shechuan.

Before Shechuan could react, Luo Chuchen had already reached his limit. Gritting his teeth, he picked up the bowl of sweet potato soup from the table and splashed it directly over Li Yuan’s head.

“Enough is enough,” Luo Chuchen snapped.

Li Yuan seemed momentarily stunned by the sudden drenching. His servant quickly handed him a handkerchief to wipe his face.

After slowly wiping himself dry, Li Yuan lifted his head and glared viciously at Luo Chuchen. With a menacing grin, he said, “You ungrateful wretch! You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. I wonder where you found the nerve to challenge me.”

Perhaps because Luo Chuchen had always avoided mentioning his background, Li Yuan mistakenly assumed he had no powerful connections, which only fueled his arrogance.

Li Yuan raised his hand slightly, and the servants behind him immediately rushed forward, attempting to restrain both of them.

Outnumbered and overpowered, Shechuan was forced to his knees despite his struggles, while Luo Chuchen’s hands were pinned behind his back.

Li Yuan took a few steps closer, his face a mess and his expression ugly as he leaned in toward Luo Chuchen. “Last time, there were too many people around, and someone stood up for you. Let’s see if you’re lucky enough to have that happen again today, hmm? Who gave you the courage to say no to me?”

He even raised his hand again, intending to touch the side of Luo Chuchen’s face.

Luo Chuchen said nothing.

He blinked, showing no trace of fear, and expressionlessly looked past Li Yuan’s shoulder.

The servants restraining them cried out in panic, “Young Master!” Before Li Yuan could react, a sharp, whistling sound cut through the air behind him.

With a dull thud, Li Yuan was brutally kicked to the ground. His head slammed against the leg of a chair, producing another heavy thump that sounded excruciatingly painful. Looking up, a pair of dark brocade boots came into view, firmly planted on his back. The toe of the boot pressed down and twisted, making it impossible for him to struggle free.

Liang Jue bent down, seized Li Yuan’s arm, and decisively yanked it backward. As Li Yuan screamed in agony, Liang Jue lifted his eyes and fixed them on the servants. “Let them go.”