Yi Chao’s expression also shifted slightly. Clearly, he hadn’t expected Shen Zui to keep such things in his car—and so many of them at that. He couldn’t help but glance at Shen Zui’s lower half, his gaze drifting a little.
The atmosphere suddenly turned somewhat strange.
Shen Zui’s eyes instinctively swept over the packaging.
Extra large.
Shen Zui: “…”
Damn!
The original host really knew how to pretend.
Didn’t he have any idea how big his own “chili” was?
Then, Yi Chao cautiously looked at Shen Zui and whispered, “Um… President Shen, I brought a pen.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Zui snapped the storage compartment shut with a “thud.”
“Mm, good.”
Just two short words, yet they inexplicably carried an indescribable awkwardness.
Yi Chao didn’t say much more either. He quickly signed his name on the contract and handed the document back to Shen Zui.
Shen Zui took it and looked down, but suddenly froze the next second.
He stared at the two characters as if confirming something, reading them out slowly, one by one:
“You… are… Yi Chao?”
Yi Chao was taken aback by the question, nodding somewhat bewilderedly. “Yes.”
Shen Zui’s expression instantly turned odd. “Aren’t you surnamed Chao??”
Only then did Yi Chao explain, “It’s just that my younger brother usually likes to call me ‘A Chao,’ so I later started using that as my painting signature.”
Shen Zui’s face instantly grew complicated, as if his soul had momentarily left his body.
He had actually casually picked up a male supporting character?!
After all, in the original plot, when Yi Chao and Jiang Songyue first met, Yi Chao was already somewhat well-known in the art circle. How could he have imagined running into Yi Chao, fresh out of college, at a time like this?
Painter, younger brother, A University Department of Fine Arts.
It all matched up.
Everything matched up.
Yi Chao had a twin brother named Yi Mu. In stark contrast to Yi Chao’s calm and reserved personality, Yi Mu was sunny and cheerful. Unfortunately, Yi Mu was disabled in both legs, but he was a pianist.
It could only be said that both brothers possessed astonishing talent in the arts.
Of course, the book’s descriptions of them went far beyond that.
Because they were twins, the two shared an almost eerie empathy—emotions, sensations, and even more intimate experiences would affect each other.
So later, when they both fell in love with Jiang Songyue…
The dynamics became quite intense at times.
Just two of them.
Shen Zui: “…”
“President Shen… is something wrong?”
Yi Chao asked cautiously, his gaze flickering slightly. His uneasy demeanor showed genuine concern.
Seeing him like this, Shen Zui’s heart softened a little.
Forget it.
The contract was already signed anyway.
Besides, he was just casually helping out a male supporting character. It didn’t conflict with the male supporting character later falling in love with the male lead. In a way, it might even be a good thing—by helping Yi Chao build his reputation, by the time Jiang Songyue returned to the country, Yi Chao would already have some influence in the painting circle. If the two met earlier, the plot might even progress faster.
Thinking this, Shen Zui immediately put on a smile.
“It’s nothing, haha, just a bit surprised. I’d always thought your surname was Chao.”
Yi Chao lowered his head slightly and said softly, “I didn’t explain it clearly.”
He paused, then mustered the courage to continue, “By the way… Mr. Shen, would you like to visit my studio? I’d like to paint a portrait for you first, so you can see my style. If there’s anything you don’t like, I can adjust it later.”
Shen Zui thought for a moment.
Well… it didn’t seem like a bad idea.
After all, he was quite free today.
So he nodded, “Alright, let’s go. Send me the location of your studio.”
Shen Zui hadn’t expected that what Yi Chao called his “studio” was actually the place he rented.
But on second thought, it made sense. Yi Chao had just graduated not long ago and naturally didn’t have much financial means. It was already impressive that he could spare a room as a studio.
And it was here that Shen Zui met another male supporting character, Yi Mu.
He sat in a wheelchair, his face almost identical to Yi Chao’s, yet carrying a completely different aura.
Yi Chao appeared quiet and reserved, while Yi Mu wore a gentle smile, his eyes warm and friendly, giving off a very approachable vibe. He had neat short hair, dyed silver-white, adding a touch of bold artistic flair to his appearance.
Shen Zui’s gaze unconsciously fell on his hands.
Those hands rested on the wheelchair’s armrests, with distinct knuckles, fair and slender, as if meticulously carved, almost unnervingly beautiful.
“A Chao, you’re back?”
Yi Mu spoke with a gentle smile, his voice warm.
Then his gaze shifted to Shen Zui, tinged with curiosity, “Is this the Mr. Shen you mentioned before?”
Yi Chao nodded but subtly stepped forward, slightly positioning himself between Shen Zui and Yi Mu, as if instinctively trying to keep the two from interacting too much.
“Yes.”
His tone remained calm.
“Mr. Shen, let’s go, to my studio.”
With that, he led Shen Zui directly into the house. Shen Zui didn’t think much of it and followed him into the room.
The living room fell quiet again. Yi Mu remained seated in his wheelchair, watching their figures gradually disappear down the hallway.
His gaze lingered on Shen Zui’s retreating back.
When Shen Zui had walked past him earlier, the air carried a faint, pleasant scent.
It was subtle but unexpectedly fragrant.
Yi Mu narrowed his eyes slightly.
So fragrant…
No wonder he had sensed earlier that Yi Chao seemed quite fond of this Mr. Shen, especially around noon today, when the emotions were so intense that even he, who had been practicing the piano, had been somewhat distracted.
Even he found such a scent rather captivating.
After all, they were twins.
Since childhood, they had always been drawn to the same things.
Whether it was toys, books, pets, or even people.
At this thought, the corner of Yi Mu’s lips curled slightly.
And Yi Chao’s earlier deliberate act of positioning himself between them was not without reason. He knew very well that Yi Mu was more likable than him.
It had always been this way since they were young. He was quiet, often seeming out of place, finding it hard to truly fit in with others.
But Yi Mu was different. He always smiled, seemingly able to get along with anyone. No matter the person, they would inevitably lean toward him a little more in the end.
Even now…
Yi Chao lowered his gaze, a vague emotion rising in his heart. He even felt a slight worry that Shen Zui might be the same.
Shen Zui surveyed Yi Chao’s studio.
After all, this young man, who still seemed somewhat financially constrained, would one day become the most sought-after painter in City A, with his paintings fetching astronomical prices, often in the hundreds of millions.
The room was neither dim nor particularly bright. The white gauze curtains on the balcony were drawn, filtering the light into a soft, hazy glow. The space was filled with numerous mannequins and plaster models, and the air carried a faint scent of paint and turpentine.
The walls were covered with portraits.
Yet, all the figures in those paintings lacked facial features—a detail Shen Zui found unsurprising.
He knew the plot. Once Yi Chao met Jiang Songyue, the faces in these paintings would gradually be filled in. And every one of those faces would become Jiang Songyue’s. Only then would these paintings be truly complete.