Chapter 2: Journey to the West Soul of the Handsome Man in the Painting

This method is actually quite dangerous without relevant professionals present to operate it, and each session of “descending into the underworld” can reduce one’s lifespan by five to ten years.

As for why some people can immediately enter character hypnosis while others see nothing after passing through intense light, the post explains that some people possess extremely strong Yang energy while others have heavy Yin energy. Those with extremely strong Yang energy find it very difficult to “descend into the underworld.”

I painted an ink wash painting depicting a man emerging from a water pond. Although I don’t believe in superstitions, I was ultimately affected by this. I don’t understand what kind of connection would cause me to dream the same dream night after night.

Perhaps by painting these scenes, I might glimpse something during the process of stroke by stroke depiction.

Su Mo had quietly come up behind me at some point. Holding a mug, she asked with a puzzled expression why I hadn’t drawn facial features for this man.

I asked her, “What do you think this man should look like?”

She tilted her head and thought for a long time before saying, “The man you’ve depicted has a slender and delicate bone structure. He probably isn’t very athletic. Look at his slender fingers and exquisite, elegant knuckles he should resemble a musician or painter, possessing great refinement with a touch of aloofness.”

I smiled and said, “Not bad, continue your analysis.”

Surprisingly serious, Su Mo thought for a moment before continuing, “The contours of this man’s face are already formed. Following the standard three divisions and five eyes facial proportions, it would definitely be a golden ratio! Oh my, this is one handsome guy!”

As she described, I began adding facial features to the man based on her analysis and my own intuition.

Su Mo said, “His features must be delicate and refined, leaning slightly toward the feminine side. Hmm… his eyes should have double eyelids that appear gentle at first glance but reveal coolness upon closer inspection. And he must have a high nose bridge all handsome men have high nose bridges!”

After more than an hour, the man’s facial features were completed. For several seconds, both Su Mo and I were stunned.

“Wow!” Su Mo exclaimed, immediately demanding that I give her the painting. She said, “Mi Mi, how did you manage to paint him so beautifully? You must have seen him in person, right? Otherwise, how could you paint someone so vividly, as if he’s about to step out of the painting?”

Seeing Su Mo about to lay hands on the painting, I blocked her reaching hand with an excuse that the ink hadn’t dried yet and she shouldn’t touch it randomly.

Su Mo snorted coldly, “Stingy!”

In the end, I treated her to a meal before she finally stopped mentioning the waterfall handsome man painting.

Looking at this painting, I felt I had gone mad actually blushing with a racing heartbeat while staring at the man in the painting for two full hours.

Who are you? Do you really exist? Or is all this just my crazy delusion?

Just as I was gazing intently, Su Mo reached from behind and covered my eyes, sighing deeply.

“Mi Mi, so you’re hiding here fantasizing about the handsome man painting?”

I pulled her hands away and gave her a big glare. “Don’t assume everyone has the same dirty mind as you, okay? What do you want?”

“Oh, nothing much. The promotional materials for the Western Teaching Program have arrived. The school is organizing registrations, but I doubt many would be willing to go to that place.”

“Let me see the promotional materials.”

Su Mo took a color-printed brochure from her bag and handed it to me, crossing her legs as she opened my computer and said, “Borrowing your computer for a bit.”

“Go ahead.” I opened the brochure and started flipping through it. When I reached the last two pages, I suddenly shot up from my chair, giving Su Mo a huge scare.

“Mi Mi? What are you doing? So jumpy all of a sudden.”

I couldn’t explain it to her clearly at that moment, so I just anxiously ran out of the dorm, found the registration office, and got a form to fill out my information.

I had never considered joining a Teaching Program in such a poor, isolated mountainous area, but just because of that waterfall photo in the brochure, I made the decision without a second thought.

After filling out the application form, I went to the restroom to splash some water on my face, trying to calm myself down. I told myself, Lin Mi, you still have a chance to back out, to cancel the application.

Even with this self-admonishment, I didn’t have the slightest desire to change my decision. Taking a sharp breath, I turned and walked out of the restroom. Suddenly, in the hallway ahead, I caught sight of a familiar figure one that always appeared in my midnight dreams.

“It’s him… Don’t go! Don’t go!!” I desperately chased after him, but as I turned the corner, I collided with a large, heavy-set person and fell flat on my back.

By the time I scrambled to my feet and looked toward the stairwell, the figure was long gone.

“Hey, student, watch where you’re going! In such a hurry to be reborn?”

I was frustrated, but since I was the one who had recklessly bumped into someone, I just shot him a glare and rushed out of the school administration building. The world was vast, the sea of people endless, and I couldn’t find him again.

Dejected, I returned to the dorm. Su Mo had already taken over my bed, using my computer to play a couple rounds of games.

Seeing me so dispirited, Su Mo asked with concern, “Mi Mi, are you okay? You’ve been acting strange lately.”

“Su Mo, I think I saw him.”
“Ah? Who?”

My chest tightened, and I instinctively shook my head. “Nothing, it’s nothing.” If I said I thought I’d seen the man from the painting, Su Mo would definitely think I’d lost my mind.

“Hey, by the way, have you checked the school forum? Professor Chu’s son, Chu Xi, got into trouble while studying abroad and was expelled from the overseas art academy.”

As I tidied my things, I casually asked, “Who’s Chu Xi?”

“Oh my god, Mi Mi, I’m seriously starting to wonder if we even exist in the same dimension. You don’t even know who Chu Xi is?!”

“Why should I know him?”

Su Mo let out a long sigh and said, “Chu Xi is incredibly talented. When the overseas art academy came to recruit, he was the only one selected from the country and given a green lane as a genius painter. I’ve also heard he’s exceptionally handsome!”

“No picture, no proof.” I wasn’t particularly interested in these kinds of legends.

“Professor Chu is so intimidating, who would dare post photos of his son? Besides, Chu Xi was only at the school for half a year, and during that time, he was almost never seen around campus.”

I let Su Mo’s words go in one ear and out the other. After organizing my desk, I took a quiet breath and said to her, “Su Mo, I applied for the Teaching Program in the western region.”

“What?!” Su Mo let out a earth-shattering cry, staring at me with wide eyes as if looking at a complete idiot.

“Have you lost your mind? Though our major doesn’t offer great job prospects, there’s no need to run off to that godforsaken place! Mi Mi, you mustn’t do anything rash – is one scumbag like Fang Qinnian really worth this?”

Truthfully, looking back now, I don’t feel much sorrow anymore. You can’t force matters of the heart. If he could be stolen away by someone else, it just proves he was never meant to be mine.

“Enough, I’ve made my decision. And going to teach in the western Teaching Program has nothing to do with Fang Qinnian.”