A Sand Sculpture in the Red Dust - Chapter 16 PT2

Chapter 16 PT2 – Nudity Phobia

　　The air was quiet for a second.

　　Qin Jin found that he could never keep up with the other person’s thinking.

　　Li Xiangfu: “Not completely naked, just showing the upper body.”

　　Zhou Panbai wanted to throw dirty water on him, so he confirmed this guess. He just didn’t know what Judge Fang would think when he saw the painting in which Qin Jin was the model.

　　For someone with dirty thoughts, the first reaction would probably be that he and Qin Jin had an improper relationship, and if his “little lover” whispered something in Qin Jin’s ear, Qin Jin might make things difficult for him. Just thinking about these details would probably scare the idiot half to death.

　　As for the judges who knew the situation but did nothing, they couldn’t help feeling sad.

　　Li Xiangfu smiled slightly: “After the results of the first competition come out, Mr. Qin will come forward at an appropriate time to seriously explain the fairness of the competition and let them know that being willing to be a model for me is a warning to them. This will not only establish your great image, but also ensure the authenticity of the subsequent scoring.”

　　What is most torturous is letting your psychological defenses collapse bit by bit.

　　”When the field trip is over, I will accidentally reveal my identity as a rich second-generation on the way back, making Judge Fang even more anxious.”

　　Qin Jin actually laughed: “And then?”

　　Li Xiangfu: “Of course I will go home and tell my parents, and completely ruin them.”

　　An old guy actually had the guts to dream of using hidden rules. When Li Xiangfu turned ruthless, the other party wouldn’t even know how to escape.

　　Li Xiangfu’s tone was very gentle when he spoke, without any personal disgust, but with just a few words, he easily laid the foundation for Judge Fang’s tragic ending.

　　Qin Jin barely hesitated, and even clapped his hands to express his admiration: “Then do as you please.”

　　•|•

　　Li Xiangfu was worried about where to paint.

　　The surrounding scenery is very unique, but it doesn’t suit Qin Jin, and he doesn’t want to draw a simple sketch.

　　For some reason, there was a vague outline in Li Xiangfu’s mind, desolate, lonely… Whenever he tried to capture it, he always missed the inspiration.

　　For a creator, there is no feeling more painful than this.

　　Seeing his gloomy look, Qin Jin suddenly said, “If you want to see more unique scenery, I know a place.”

　　Li Xiangfu didn’t hold out much hope, but he followed anyway.

　　The two walked for a long way, and gradually they could no longer see any people around. In this deserted place, who knew what unknown dangers were hidden.

　　Walking behind Qin Jin, Li Xiangfu did not worry much about his personal safety. His mind was gradually attracted by the scene ahead.

　　”Snowy mountains?”

　　Qin Jin stopped and said, “It will take at least several days and nights to walk there. Let’s just walk around here and go back before dark.”

　　Li Xiangfu couldn’t help but take a few more steps forward. He always felt that there was something attracting him in front of him, as if there was a voice calling him from the dark.

　　At the last moment, reason prevailed.

　　Li Xiangfu stopped in his tracks, wondering if his adventurous nature had been released again?

　　He now views himself, who was always looking for excitement before he lost his memory, as a wild beast locked in a cage. Subconsciously, Li Xiangfu does not want this wild beast to get out of the cage.

　　After calming down, he began to observe his surroundings and soon discovered new surprises.

　　In the distance are endless snow-capped mountains, which make the grass and objects in the nearby world seem even more insignificant. Individuals are also like grass, swaying in the wind.

　　On the oblique side is a broken tree, half of which is charred and broken from the middle. One can imagine that a bolt of lightning once struck the tree, instantly taking away the life of the ancient tree.

　　The weather is clear and cloudless now, so there is naturally no risk of being struck by lightning.

　　Seeing something from his expression, Qin Jin asked calmly, “Where must I stand?”

　　His long hair fluttered in the wind, covering Li Xiangfu’s expression, but he could vaguely be seen nodding.

　　Qin Jin’s temperament matched the ancient tree surprisingly well, as if he was a green bud that emerged from the darkness. He tilted his head slightly, revealing his Adam’s apple, and his slender fingers easily unbuttoned the top button.

　　Li Xiangfu suddenly turned around, his shoulders shaking slightly, and leaned over and took several deep breaths.

　　Qin Jin raised his eyebrows and said in a teasing tone, “So excited?”

　　Li Xiangfu forced himself to ignore the feeling of tightness in his chest, bit his lower lip, and controlled his wrists with willpower to avoid shaking as much as possible.

　　Qin Jin narrowed his eyes, realizing that something was wrong. Before he could take a step forward, he saw Li Xiangfu stretching out his arm to stop him: “I’m fine, it’s just that you have such a good figure.”

　　As he spoke, he had already started drawing.

　　The first transaction went astray.

　　Li Xiangfu frowned, crumpled the paper into a ball and stuffed it into his pocket.

　　Qin Jin raised his eyebrows… He is quite environmentally conscious.

　　After a series of failed attempts, it was like the first time he tried to wear short sleeves, and that familiar feeling of suffocation lingered in his heart.

　　Conditioned reflexes are difficult to change. For example, a student who is about to whisper will first look at what the teacher is doing on the podium. Li Xiangfu lived in an era where women were superior for a moment, and where, the next moment he would be arrested and held accountable for “corrupting morals” and end up being condemned by everyone.

　　He still remembered that it was a winter day and when he was riding in a carriage passing through Chang Street, he saw someone dragging a corpse on a straw mat.

　　”What happened?” he asked, lifting the curtain.

　　The servant went to ask passers-by and came back with the news: “There was a poor painter who wanted to make a fortune by painting erotic pictures. She had no money to go to a brothel, so she forced her husband to do all kinds of indecent actions for her painting. The man fled back to his parents’ home but was driven out. He was homeless and finally froze to death. His body is now being dragged to a mass grave and buried.”

　　Li Xiangfu looked up and saw people on the street talking about bad luck.

　　”His body has been painted in pornographic paintings and he has been seen naked. This unclean man didn’t even find a place to hang himself, but ran back to his parents’ home. Isn’t this bringing shame to the family?”

　　”He met the wrong person, but it takes two to tango. When he was first asked to paint, he should have threatened to kill himself in order to preserve his chastity.”

　　Before Li Xiangfu was ten years old, the customs of the people were very strict. It was not until a new queen came to power that social customs began to be gradually relaxed and men were allowed to remarry.

　　The past came to his mind uncontrollably. His breathing became increasingly difficult, and the fear that he had suppressed in his heart was infinitely magnified by this vast world.

　　Li Xiangfu gradually began to feel uncertain.

　　Could it be that he did not travel back in time, but was just dreaming while drunk, and he was doing some indecent things in public?

　　A few feet away, Qin Jin took off his shirt and leaned lazily against a tree. His slightly pale skin made his well-proportioned and lean figure look sexy in another way, like a vampire with a faint glow.

　　Any painter will praise this golden ratio.

　　At this moment, Li Xiangfu’s gaze seemed to be fixed on his body and never moved away.

　　This extreme concentration made Qin Jin’s mouth curl up slightly: “You…”

　　Snap!

　　The pen fell to the ground and rolled all the way to Qin Jin’s feet.

　　Seeing Li Xiangfu’s frail appearance, Qin Jin quickly walked over to support him. When his fingertips touched the thin shirt soaked with sweat, he paused: “Is your heart feeling uncomfortable?”

　　As he said this, he prepared to give him first aid.

　　Li Xiangfu grabbed his arm and opened his mouth reluctantly: “Friend, have you… heard of nudity phobia?”

　　“…”

　　After confirming that it was not a heart problem, Qin Jin carried him on his back and walked to the hospital.

　　”Drawing, drawing board.”

　　Li Xiangfu was still thinking about the tools.

　　He lay on Qin Jin’s back, his face rubbing against the skin of the back of his neck. Shirts are the most wrinkle-prone, and the collar, which already had several buttons missing, was rubbed to the side, exposing the smooth skin on his shoulders to Li Xiangfu’s eyes.

　　The dizziness got worse.

　　”…Ok, easy to put on clothes.”

　　Qin Jin didn’t hear his murmur.

　　Although small, the village has everything. It is actually quite large and even has a small hospital.

　　Li Xiangfu lay on Qin Jin’s back, one hand hooked around his neck, the other hand holding a drawing board, the board brushing against Qin Jin’s waist from time to time, and even then he said vaguely: “Go around, don’t let other contestants see us.”

　　His plan of taking advantage of the power of Qin Jin cannot fail.

　　Listening to the mumbling of the person on his back, Qin Jin almost laughed out of anger.

　　There were not many people in the hospital. While waiting for the blood test results, Li Xiangfu drank a few sips of warm water and felt much better.

　　The doctor sitting opposite asked: “Suddenly dizzy and nauseous? Have you had similar experiences before?”

　　Li Xiangfu: “Occasionally.”

　　”What were you doing before you felt dizzy? Did you do any strenuous exercise? Running, fitness…”

　　Li Xiangfu glanced at Qin Jin subconsciously: “I was drawing a nude portrait of him.”

　　The doctor paused while writing the medical record. Although this question might make the patient unhappy, he still asked dutifully: “Is it just drawing?”

　　Li Xiangfu nodded. His lip was accidentally bitten when he was painting before, and it hurt when he touched it. He took a breath and asked seriously: “I suspect… I faint looking at people naked.”

　　The doctor’s eyelids jumped: “Tell me the details.”

　　Li Xiangfu responded honestly: “When he started to unbutton his shirt, I felt dizzy. When he unbuttoned about the fifth button, I broke out in a cold sweat. Then the shirt was thrown aside. I was having difficulty breathing and my limbs were cold. For a moment, I suddenly lost consciousness.”

　　”…” The doctor was incredulous: “Are you sure the above symptoms only appeared after the other person took off his clothes?

　　Li Xiangfu nodded affirmatively.

　　The doctor was a middle-aged man. He narrowed his eyes and looked Qin Jin up and down before frowning. He looked like he had a good figure, so how could he cause physical discomfort?

　　He posed a hypothesis: “Tattoo?”

　　Li Xiangfu immediately shook his head: “No, he has a very smooth body.”

　　”Have you ever had any unpleasant experiences in the past?”

　　Li Xiangfu felt that it was caused by the sense of restraint caused by traveling to a different era, and he concealed it but still shook his head.

　　The doctor was helpless: “Let’s wait until the blood test results come out and see.”

　　Then he called the next patient.

　　There were still a few minutes before the report was due. Li Xiangfu and Qin Jin sat on a bench, looking at each other in silence.

　　Occasionally, one or two people would pass by in front of him. Qin Jin suddenly turned his head and asked, “Is my body so unbearable to look at?”

　　“…”

　　Li Xiangfu said: “It’s my problem.”

　　Qin Jin retracted his gaze and looked straight ahead, and asked without warning: “Do you believe that medical students faint from seeing blood?”

　　Li Xiangfu shook his head.

　　Qin Jin asked in a calm voice: “Then do you think I would believe that art students faint looking at naked people?”

　　The former is still possible, but the probability of the latter happening is basically zero.

　　They gave the report to the doctor and found that the blood routine test was normal.

　　”Recently, be careful about what you eat, eat less meat and fish, and make sure you get enough rest and don’t stay up late.”

　　Li Xiangfu just nodded and bought some dried tangerine peel and put it in his mouth.

　　When he walked out of the hospital gate, his breathing had long since calmed down, and he said cheekily, “I’m much better now, I should be able to finish this painting.”

　　”The doctor told you not to eat that.”

　　Li Xiangfu subconsciously retorted: “But I’m not jealous of you.”

　　After saying that, he couldn’t help but look up and apologize for his careless words: “Sorry, I guess my logic is messed up due to insufficient blood supply to the brain.”

　　A gust of wind blew by, bringing coolness to his face. He half-closed his eyes, but was unable to extricate himself from the chaotic state.

　　His thoughts were interrupted by a deep voice beside me: “Let’s go.”

　　Li Xiangfu was stunned.

　　Qin Jin squinted at him and said, “Don’t you want to continue?”

　　Li Xiangfu opened his mouth, then realized it belatedly and followed his steps holding the drawing board.

　　The two of them walked one in front of the other, and this situation made him feel very relaxed.

　　They couldn’t see each other’s expressions, so he didn’t have to pretend, or even try to maintain a polite smile. Frankly speaking, the moment he emerged from the dizziness, Li Xiangfu tried to disguise himself as a painting, so that no one would notice his real flaws.

　　As long as Qin Jin didn’t turn around, he wouldn’t have to hide the fatigue and self-exhaustion on his face.

　　He didn’t know if it was possible for his inner voice to be conveyed, but Qin Jin did not look back along the way, not even once. He would only occasionally say a word or two when he saw some unique scenery along the way.

　　Li Xiangfu began to relax again and simply appreciated the natural scenery.

　　Qin Jin did not take him to return by the same route, but took him along a more deserted road, surrounded by a desolate beauty that was suitable for a poet to express his true feelings.

　　”You seem very familiar with this place?” Li Xiangfu took the initiative to talk to him.

　　”I’ve been here a few times before.” Qin Jin: “This place has remained the same for several years, and there is almost no change.”

　　Returning to the old tree that was charred by lightning, Li Xiangfu learned his lesson and walked neither slowly nor hurriedly. The time he had walked along the way was enough for him to clear his mind. In just one minute, he imagined Qin Jin taking off his shirt dozens of times in his mind. From the initial tight breathing, he gradually accepted it calmly.

　　”Okay,” he said.

　　Qin Jin noticed that when he was unbuttoning his clothes, the other person didn’t blink and was muttering something. From the way his lips were moving, Qin Jin could make out something like “be strong” or something like that.

　　Seeing Li Xiangfu looking like he was going to the battlefield, Qin Jin doubted his own figure for the first time in his life.

　　Hard work pays off, this time Li Xiangfu successfully got into the state.

　　When he was painting, his lips would be slightly pursed, and his eyes would wander over Qin Jin from time to time, as if he were looking at a fragile work of art. His long eyelashes would tremble slightly, and his hands would move non-stop.

　　Li Xiangfu is good at painting light and shadow effects. From the composition to the formation of the characters, there is nothing to criticize.

　　Once his attention was diverted and he temporarily ignored the psychological discomfort, it seemed as if for a moment Li Xiangfu’s world was filled with only the person in front of him and the painting he was drawing.

　　Focused, passionate, and a little stubborn.

　　Qin Jin suddenly remembered a moment in the past.

　　Li Xiangfu noticed the change in his expression and thought he was tired: “You can move a little.”

　　Qin Jin: “Walk a few steps or something?”

　　Li Xiangfu hesitated for a moment and said, “I’m afraid not.”

　　Qin Jin: “Where is the largest area of activity?”

　　”Blink your eyes, move your mouth…” Li Xiangfu couldn’t continue.

　　In fact, it is best not to change the micro-expressions, but the two people are already talking.

　　Qin Jin closed his eyes, and when he opened them he said, “Go on.”

　　Then he resumed his sculptural state.

　　Qin Jin has a kind of abyssal beauty. The painting by Li Xiangfu is between reality and illusion. The dead tree grows on the edge of the cliff, and the sky is full of dark clouds that seem to be sinking. Qin Jin stands under the tree, and half of his body is almost connected to the sea of clouds.

　　Li Xiangfu was very satisfied with the completion of his work. He waved his hand to indicate that it was finished. He wanted to wait for Qin Jin to come over and admire it, but because he couldn’t wait to share his work, he took the initiative to walk over and unfold the drawing paper: “How is it?”

　　The messy long hair scattered in the wind, and a few strands of black hair were entangled unruly on the back of Qin Jin’s neck, causing a sense of itchiness.

　　”It’s beautiful.” A small part of his gaze was on the work in the form of peripheral vision, and most of his gaze was focused on Li Xiangfu himself.

　　Li Xiangfu happened to look up, and their eyes met in mid-air. He asked curiously, “Is there something on my face?”

　　”Eyes.” Qin Jin: “Your eyes are very beautiful.”

　　Li Xiangfu was slightly stunned. He had mentioned the same words in the same tone to Li Shasha, but at that time he was describing Qin Jin.

　　As they walked back, the atmosphere between the two of them was somewhat strange, with a hint of awkwardness. For Li Xiangfu, this was a relatively new experience.

　　When they reached a fork in the road, Qin Jin seemed to have something else to deal with, so he went in another direction alone, while Li Xiangfu chose to go back first.

　　On the way, he thought about how he had been out for a few days and decided to call home. When he called, it was Li Shasha who answered the phone. His voice was weak.

　　”I’m going in tomorrow.”

　　”Um?”

　　”School.” Li Shasha’s speech was no longer as fluent as usual. He slowly asked about his situation: “Is everything going well for you?”

　　”There was a little incident.”

　　Li Shasha asked casually: “What episode?”

　　”I invited Qin Jin to be a nude model. He took off his clothes in front of me, and then I nearly fainted and was taken to the hospital.”

　　“…”

　　The author has something to say:

　　Qin Jin: Are you satisfied with what you see?

　　Li Xiangfu: …

　　Qin Jin: What’s wrong with you! ?

　　Li Xiangfu: I feel dizzy, nauseous and can’t breathe. Hurry, call an ambulance…