Tan You’s smile brightened. "There’s a big bathtub at the house. You can take a nice soak later."

"That would be wonderful." Finding someone she clicked with, Wang Jue couldn’t help but speak a little more. "When I saw you dance this afternoon, my mind was just overflowing with inspiration."

"I’ll send you the video of Ali later," Xu Liang chimed in, clearly not wanting to be left out.

Wang Jue replied, "Okay, but it’s fine even if you don’t. I’ve already memorized Ali’s expression and her whole vibe. I can sculpt one tonight."

"Oh, great!" Tan You said enthusiastically. "Can I watch? I’m just really curious."

"Of course you can," Wang Jue said, happy to share her craft. She would be delighted if more people learned about dough sculpting and helped spread the art form.

The two of them chattered away. Wen Zhe could understand every word they said, yet he couldn’t grasp the meaning of their conversation, and he started to feel a bit stifled.

Poking at the glistening rice in his bowl, Wen Zhe scrambled for a topic. "Li Li, I never knew you could dance... I was stunned the first time I saw your video."

Tan You smiled. "When my parents were still around, they sent me to interest classes. Later, when I was looking for part-time jobs, I spent some time at a dance agency, but just as an assistant."

"Even friends don’t know every single thing about each other." After that brief comment, Tan You went back to talking with Wang Jue. Xu Liang would occasionally chime in, leaving Wen Zhe feeling completely out of place, like an outsider.

Wen Zhe found the atmosphere deeply uncomfortable. ’He and Ji Li had only been apart for a little over half a year. How did things end up like this?’

Tan You, however, paid no mind to Wen Zhe’s inner turmoil. She was in a great mood, perhaps because her personality was somewhat similar to Wang Jue’s. Neither of them was particularly talkative, and both preferred to express their inner worlds through art.

For Tan You, it was dance; for Wang Jue, it was dough sculpting. Tan You could see into Wang Jue’s inner world through her sculptures, just as Wang Jue could see the free, untamed spirit in her dancing.

Having finally gotten to eat the stew, Xu Liang helped himself to another bowl, and Wang Jue quickly followed. Seeing the dogs eating happily under the eaves, she suddenly remarked, "The dogs really love your cooking."

Xu Liang, who was just about to take a bite, looked up at Wang Jue. Only then did Wang Jue realize her words could be misinterpreted. But she didn’t seem the least bit awkward. Instead, she shoveled a large scoop of rice into her mouth and said indistinctly, "I like it too."

Xu Liang immediately broke into a smile, which grew wider and wider. "You... you’re really interesting."

"You’re the first person to ever call me interesting." Wang Jue shrugged. "My family and friends all describe me as quiet, introverted, even a bit rigid. No one has ever said I was interesting."

Xu Liang insisted, "Well, I think you’re very interesting."

Tan You added, "Whether someone is interesting or not doesn’t depend on other people’s opinions, but on how we see ourselves." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Wang Jue paused, then shoveled another bite of rice into her mouth. "You’re right. I’d like to think my inner world is quite rich and colorful."

As she spoke, she poked at the assorted meat and vegetables in her bowl. "I saw there was an egg yolk in the serving bowl earlier, and I was specifically looking for it..."

Xu Liang held up the egg yolk with his chopsticks and wiggled it. "Beat you to it."

Wang Jue looked a little disappointed, then turned to Tan You. "Ali, I want to eat this... stew again tomorrow."

Tan You smiled. "I’ll make something different for you tomorrow. You’ll get sick of it if you always eat the same thing. I’ll make some snacks tomorrow afternoon."

As long as there was food, Wang Jue didn’t ask questions. Hearing this, she smiled. "Great! Looks like I’m in for a real treat while I’m here."

"Ali, you’re so talented. Besides dough sculpting, I can’t do anything else."

Tan You gave a wry smile. "I don’t know that much either. I’m learning tea tasting from Uncle Qiao right now, and I feel like a total blockhead. And as for Teacher Xu’s editing and camera techniques, I’ve read the books he recommended, but it’s hard for me to get the hang of it anytime soon."

"Anyway, when Teacher Xu looks at my photos, he can only describe them as unremarkable."

Wang Jue said earnestly, "Unremarkable is already very good. Many people can’t even achieve that. Besides, while these things require talent and Spiritual Energy, accumulating experience is also very important."

"One’s aesthetic sense... it can be cultivated. You can broaden your horizons by visiting more museums or cultural exhibitions."

Tan You thought for a moment. "Maybe when I have more time. I can’t really get away right now."

Wang Jue didn’t press the issue. The biggest taboo between new friends is overstepping by giving deep advice. Besides, they were all adults and should have their own plans for their lives. Who was she to tell anyone what to do?

After dinner, Xu Liang started clearing the table on his own. Wen Zhe offered to help but was stopped by Xu Liang. "You’re the guest. It wouldn’t be right for you to help. Just focus on enjoying your stay here."

Wen Zhe was confused. "You... aren’t you a guest too?"

"He’s compensated me," Tan You explained. "I provide room and board, and Teacher Xu helps with things within his ability. Of course, at the end of the day, I’m the one who’s really profiting."

Xu Liang laughed. "Actually, I’m profiting too. Ever since I became your exclusive photographer, countless people have tried to hire me. It’s a pity I didn’t feel a connection with any of them. By the way, how about I take some pictures for you?"

"For free, of course. I get a good feeling about you." Xu Liang directed this at Wang Jue. He had seen her sculpting dough that afternoon, looking so earnest and focused.

Dough sculpting wasn’t as dazzlingly expressive as dance; completing a single piece often took a very long time. Dance, on the other hand, could touch a person’s soul in an instant. This was why Xu Liang was now so curious about what Wang Jue’s inner world was really like.

In fact, this slow, quiet method of expressing one’s inner world through art was something Xu Liang had never encountered before, so he was genuinely curious.

Wang Jue looked up. "Sure. For free?"

"But of course," Xu Liang said, raising an eyebrow smugly. "I’ve said it before, I only take photos for people I feel a connection with. As for those offering me a fortune, maybe I’ll consider them when I’m completely broke someday."

"Anyway, I’m not short on cash right now. Our Ali is a real genius. Following your financial advice has been incredible."

Tan You just smiled. "It was just good luck."

Xu Liang waved his hand dismissively. "Right. ’Luck’."

He said no more, just efficiently washed the dishes in the kitchen. The group chatted and laughed, existing in a world of their own.

That evening, in a guest room at Uncle Shen’s house, Wang Jue and Tan You sat facing each other. There was a ball of dough in front of each of them. While Wang Jue was absorbed in her creation, Tan You didn’t disturb her, content to knead her own dough.

It was just that her imagination was sorely lacking. In the end, all she could manage to form was a neat rectangular block or a cube. At her most ambitious, she might produce a five-pointed star. As for anything else, Tan You was completely hopeless.