Chapter 80
Colin soon found a local inn. The owner, upon hearing the sound of the car, came out to give us a warm
welcome. He engaged in a friendly conversation with Colin as though they had been friends for many
years.
“Colin, it’s been a long time since you’ve come. Did you finally have a girlfriend? That’s great; now I don’t
have to worry about you.”
“No, mister. That’s not it. I’m Luna, and he’s my older brother,” I quickly replied before Colin could say
anything, feeling a bit embarrassed about being mistaken for his girlfriend.
“A sister from another mother? Colin, she’s even more beautiful than the scenery here. Keep it up!” The
owner’s eyes contained a hint of encouragement.
When Colin shook hands with the owner, his grip was strong–as if they had made some kind of
agreement.
The owner laughed heartily, telling us to make ourselves at home and that he would take care of our
meals and accommodations.
For dinner, we had typical northern farmhouse dishes. It was surprisingly delicious, and I had so much
food that walking became difficult.
While Colin teased me about it, he held my hand, strolling around the village to help me digest everything.
“Colin, is there a lake here? Why is it called Western Loch?”
“I heard that before the liberation, this place was occupied by brigands. It was called ‘Western Land‘
back then. I don’t know when it evolved into ‘Western Loch.”
“What’s a brigand? Is it a type of snake?” Having grown up in the South, I didn’t know what it was and thought it might be some kind of soft–bodied creature from the sound of it.
Colin laughed again, letting go of my hand and patting my head. “A brigand is a bandit.”
I stuck out my tongue, feeling embarrassed for not knowing even this. No wonder Colin teased me.
That evening, when Colin opened the trunk, I was shocked to see a complete set of art supplies.
Facing the brilliant sunset, he took out the materials one by one and arranged them neatly before sitting me in front of an easel. He placed a paintbrush in my hand and said, “I’ll paint with you.”
⚫ +15 BONUS
I sat motionless for four hours straight. The sun had set, the moon had risen, and the courtyard lights of
the inn were all switched on to illuminate us. Yet, despite wracking my brains, I couldn’t fully depict the
stunning beauty of this place.
Besides, watercolor painting emphasized details, and after four hours, I only managed to outline the
general features. I had to add colors slowly after going back.
I painted the small stream I had waded into in the afternoon, including the stones, small fish, distant.
mountains, and maple leaves. I even included the grass by the stream, all vividly on the canvas.
Yet, I still felt something was missing. No matter how I looked at the painting, it seemed a bit dull. It was
unable to convey the charm I wanted.
Colin stood by my side and observed for a while. Then, he effortlessly picked up a paintbrush and began
sketching.
The next moment, a new figure appeared on the white stones. It was a girl in a white dress. She was
barefoot as she stood in the stream and playfully danced with the small fish in the water. Droplets of
water were wetting the hem of her long skirt.
The addition of the girl instantly made the originally plain painting lively and dynamic. Colin’s painting
skills were indeed far superior to mine.
*Colin, did you paint me? How pretty.”
Colin looked down at me warmly, his gaze intoxicating. “Because of your presence, the mountains,
waters, and maple leaves pale in comparison. Lulu, even with all my skills, the girl I painted is only one-
tenth of your true being in my heart. You are the most beautiful sight in the world.”
Colin spoke like he was crafting poetry. It sounded incredibly pleasant.
“No way, Colin. You’re just saying that to make me happy. You’re so sly. I won’t be fooled.”