Painting Enchantment - chapter 3

A strange incident occurred in town.

The County Magistrate’s Son suddenly went mad. One night, after murdering his wife and child, he tried to hang himself, but was saved by the servants who rushed in.

And all because of a Beauty Painting of a woman of a thousand charms.

The woman in the painting had crimson lips that spoke human words, and enchanting eyes that could steal one’s soul.

Just one glance, and she was unforgettable.

A true peerless beauty.

For her, the County Magistrate’s Son killed his wife and child, hopelessly obsessed.

He spent his days pleasuring himself before the painting.

I found the story curious and went out to join the crowd.

When I arrived at the County Magistrate’s residence, I saw neither the rumored demonic painting nor the lovesick, bewitched son.

Instead, I saw Lu Yanzhi coming out of the County Magistrate’s residence.

The County Magistrate was whispering something in his ear, gratitude written all over his face.

Lu Yanzhi spotted me in the crowd, smoothed his sleeves, and walked over.

I asked, “You just came out of the County Magistrate’s residence. Did you see that Beauty Painting?”

Lu Yanzhi paused slightly, a look of confusion on his face. “What painting?”

Puzzled, I told him the rumor, only for him to rap me on the head.

He said the County Magistrate had invited him to treat his son, who had caught a chill in the night and developed a hysterical illness from fright.

As for the Beauty Painting-

“Just a rumor,” he said, tidying his sleeves as he spoke.

Half believing, half doubting, my gaze fell on his cuffs.

There was nothing there.

…

Night fell, the moon shining on the branches.

There was a rustle at my side as someone quietly climbed into bed.

I have always been sensitive to sounds. Startled from my sleep, I found the space beside me empty.

Through the layers of bed curtains, I quietly glanced over.

It was Lu Yanzhi.

In the dim room, he wore only a thin robe, his jet-black hair cascading over his shoulders-a beauty so striking it took one’s breath away.

At that moment, he was caressing a painting, gazing at the figure within, utterly entranced.

The beauty in the painting seemed to be smiling at him.

That Beauty Painting.

I could hardly suppress my shock, but pretended to be asleep, closing my eyes as he returned to bed.

Suddenly, I felt a chill at my back.

Lu Yanzhi was looking at me.

“Zhou Yan,” he called softly.

With my back to him, I suddenly felt a pair of warm, cool hands reach for my slender neck.

Fingertips brushed my nape, lifting the hair at the back of my ear, damp with sweat.

“You’re awake.”

I shot upright from the head of the bed, terror in my eyes as I stared at him.

Before he could speak, I was already trembling like a sieve.

Tears streaming down my face, I cried out:

“Husband, what are you trying to do!”

Remembering how the County Magistrate’s Son went mad after seeing that painting, murdering his wife and child, my voice rose in fear:

“Are you going to kill me? For that painting… For a worthless painting, are you going to kill me!”

Clutching the bedding, my words were already tinged with sobs.

The next second, my crying stopped abruptly.

“Zhou Yan, you are already dead.”

…Nonsense, how could I be dead?

Just as I was about to curse, Lu Yanzhi interrupted me. The bright moonlight outside the window stretched the shadows of the objects in the room long and thin.

But when I lowered my head and looked at my feet-

Nothing.

Utterly empty. No shadow at all.

“You don’t remember anything?”

I was stunned for a moment, not knowing what he meant.

He gazed at me quietly, then suddenly smiled.

“You should have gone to the Yellow Springs. Why have you come back?”