"Hmm," Ouyang Xianyue nodded gently, her gaze as calm as still water, "What do you think of my writing?"
"The characters have a strong presence, the brushwork is restrained, yet hides an imperceptible edge. However, the imagery in the last two lines, I'm still not completely sure I understand."
"Oh?" She tilted her head slightly, chuckling softly, her tone unhurried, "Actually, it's quite simple."
She extended her slender fingers, lightly touching the scroll.
"'This life if a dream,' speaks of life as a dream, gatherings and partings like smoke. And 'why not enjoy the autumn reds'..." She lifted her deep eyes, unabashedly meeting Tang Song's gaze, her voice as soft as a whisper, "… refers, naturally, to the full foliage of red leaves. In such a beautiful setting, if we can enjoy it together, why not?"
Her words were flawless.
It seemed it was only that Tang Song had overthought things.
Yet her gaze unmistakably carried ripples that stirred the imagination.
