Originally, it was for the convenience of Alii to fetch the ancestral tablets, and incidentally, to add some items to the collection box.
But the verbal explanation was, since Alii had the habit of admiring her collection before bed, it was simply an opportunity for you to take a look at "Alii."
After tidying up the brushes, Alii looked at the scroll on the table.
Clearly, compared to the brush, she preferred to collect this.
"Alii, I need to take this with me, I have a use for it," Li Zhiyuan preempted, noticing the girl’s intent.
Alii nodded, yet her fingertips still lightly touched the scroll.
"When I’m done with it, I’ll bring this painting back to you," Li Zhiyuan said, glancing at the painting desk, "All those painters like to stamp their collected paintings, Alii, you can carve one for yourself too."
Alii’s craftsmanship skills were known to the young man; she could even easily carve Array patterns, so carving a seal would be even simpler.
This was also to give the girl something to do.
In the past, when Alii carved wooden flower rolls for him, Li Zhiyuan would feel sorry for her efforts, always thinking that it was too complicated and tiresome for a young girl to do these things.
But since realizing yesterday that Alii was always surrounded by those objects, he understood that perhaps for the girl herself, having something to focus on wholeheartedly was a form of relaxation and happiness.
Alii sat down, spread out a piece of paper, picked up a brush, and began designing the seal.
Her brush danced lively and briskly on the paper, reflecting her inner state.
Li Zhiyuan opened the curtains to let the sunlight in.
Outside the window in the yard, Run Sheng started his boxing practice for today.
His movements were faster and smoother than yesterday; it seemed he was gradually adapting.
Sensing the gaze, Run Sheng smiled towards the young man’s direction while boxing.
Then, Run Sheng slapped the back of his head with his right hand, speeding up his actions that had just slowed down.
Now, Run Sheng didn’t need Uncle Qin to throw pebbles at him to stay alert; he could motivate himself.
In the corner of the yard, Uncle Qin was squatting there, holding a trowel in his right hand and a stone in his left, repairing the cobblestone path he had broken yesterday.
"Time for breakfast!"
Aunt Liu’s voice was noticeably hoarse.
Li Zhiyuan rolled up the scroll and then went to the dining table with Alii.
Yin Meng was already sitting at the table, head down, motionless.
"Yin Meng?" Li Zhiyuan tried calling out.
Yin Meng raised her head: "Brother Xiao Yuan."
Her eyes were all black, and moving her eyeballs, only a hint of light could be seen.
"It’s okay, I’ll be able to see again after expelling the toxins at noon."
"Oh," Li Zhiyuan nodded and said no more.
When Liu Yumei came down the stairs and sat at the dining table, she asked, "Where’s Zhuangzhuang?"
"Grandma, Zhuangzhuang had something to do this morning."
"No matter how busy, he should still come by every day."
"Grandma, don’t worry, I will remind him."
Mainly because everyone in the family was busy, if Zhuangzhuang didn’t come, Liu Yumei would seem idle, and she doesn’t know how to cook.
"Xiao Yuan, the books you wanted will be delivered tomorrow, they are quite a few, so they are all kept in the original house, you can fetch them whenever you want to read."
"Grandma, I will first select a batch that I think are useful, and then move them to the store’s basement."
This way, the cause-and-effect relationship could be minimized.
"That’s fine, whatever you want," Liu Yumei slid the soup bowl in front of the young man, "Military training will be over soon, right? You’ll be busy with classes, so take care of your body."
This conversation, it suddenly felt like they were back to the time at Grandmaster’s House.
"Don’t worry, Grandma, I have previewed the lessons, and for any points I don’t understand, I will ask the teacher in advance."
Liu Yumei smiled affectionately.
But she thought to herself: How come I didn’t understand the metaphor this kid just made?
After breakfast, Li Zhiyuan left there and went back to the dormitory.
While going to wash his hands, he encountered Lin Shuyou who was washing clothes, and they were new costumes.
Lin Shuyou had a strong reaction when he saw Li Zhiyuan, shrinking back.
In fact, the time he and Tan Wenbin were bathing here, calling him "big brother" was also a natural act.
Binbin had told him before, this guy might have a split personality.
"Hello," Li Zhiyuan greeted him.
"Hello... Li Zhi... Brother Xiao Yuan."
Ever since being beaten into the infirmary that time, Lin Shuyou had been mainly recuperating in the dormitory, and hadn’t really encountered Li Zhiyuan again.
He now didn’t feel... no, even when he was bold, facing this young man, he seemed to be overwhelmed.
Suddenly being called by his full name, Lin Shuyou was so startled that he showed his military training behavior.
"I just cast a Divination, and judging by the Array, there might be an evil spirit causing trouble soon, be more cautious."
"Yes, I understand," Lin Shuyou nodded emphatically.
"If you notice anything wrong, please tell me on time. Although we have friction, our goal to safeguard the Righteous path is the same.
In any case, don’t be shy, ask for help directly when needed."
"Thank you," Lin Shuyou nodded again, this time with slightly reddening eyes.
These scenes of turning hostility into kindness are most moving, especially for someone like him who was on the receiving end of the "hostility," restoring his sense of defeat.