Painting Enchantment - chapter 9

I thought that once I had taken my revenge, my resentment would be gone.

But after Lu Yanzhi disappeared, I still couldn’t board the boat.

I didn’t want to become a wandering ghost.

Fortunately, the Prefect was kind-hearted and kept me by his side to grind ink.

He had the same appearance as my Husband, Lu Yanzhi.

Those eyes were just as beautiful, captivating the soul.

Yet they were filled with a bottomless chill.

Not as affectionate as Lu Yanzhi.

Even so, when I gazed at that face, I couldn’t help but call out, “Husband.”

When he turned his face and looked at me coldly, I realized I had called the wrong person.

I could only lower my head and correct myself: “Prefect.”

A Bi An Flower bloomed on the Prefect’s desk.

He frowned, interrupting my sorrow.

“Why are you crying?”

I sniffed and said I missed my Husband.

He looked at me for a long time, then averted his gaze and spoke indifferently:

“Isn’t your Husband right in your arms?”

He was referring to the Chess Piece inside my clothes.

I always carried it with me, occasionally taking it out to look at.

Small and dark as ink, cool to the touch in my palm.

Yet, it would never become my Husband again.

I said, “Prefect, why don’t you smile?”

My Husband loved to smile. If the Prefect smiled, he would look just like my Husband.

But the Prefect would not smile.

His face remained icy as he said he was not Lu Yanzhi.

Sometimes, I would dream.

Strange, isn’t it? I am a ghost, yet I can dream.

In my dream, there was a Young Master, with curved brows and eyes, ink-black hair lightly tied.

Especially those eyes, so beautiful, like ink.

Just a gentle lift, and it was a rare beauty in the mortal world.

Even I, a Seductive Ghost, felt inferior upon seeing him.

I couldn’t help but call him, “Husband.”

It was Lu Yanzhi’s face.

But it was also somewhat different from Lu Yanzhi.

Much more youthful.

And he seemed not to hear my call, only turning his face to quietly look at me.

I heard him say:

“Zhou Yan, are you leaving?”

I asked him why I had to leave, but he didn’t answer.

Those beautiful eyes were brimming with tears, reddened at the rims, full of pain.

“But my painting isn’t finished yet. You’re not allowed to leave.”

He scolded me just like Lu Yanzhi:

“After deceiving me for my body, you want to walk away? No way! You heartless creature!”

When I woke up, I was a little dazed again.

The face in my dream faded away like smoke.

I sat by the Yellow Springs, staring blankly at the Chess Piece in my hands.

Grinding ink was an easy task; most of the time, the Prefect didn’t need me to do anything.

The Little Ghost who had fished me out of the Yellow Springs clicked his tongue in wonder.

“The Prefect actually kept you.”

“Your Husband really looks just like the Prefect?”

“Yes.” I put away the Chess Piece and picked up the Beauty Painting, examining it closely.

This painting always felt familiar, so I brought it down with me.

Apart from the woman in the painting looking just like me, it was an ordinary painting-how could it speak or bewitch people?

“How strange!” the Little Ghost exclaimed.

I asked, what was so strange about it?

According to the Prefect, it was because Lu Yanzhi had swallowed his Yang Soul that he looked the same as the Prefect.

The Little Ghost widened his eyes and smacked his lips:

“Did you get it wrong?”

“When the Prefect was reincarnated and undergoing tribulation, he did lose his Yang Soul.”

“But his Yang Spirit was taken by a Female Ghost!”

“Everyone in the Yellow Springs knows about this. When he returned from his tribulation, he went mad searching for that woman for a long time!”