To forge a new path

Seated defeated on a bench, Shui stared at her painting that hung on the wall with a vacant gaze. The number of guests visiting the gallery was steadily declining as the day was coming to an end and few and few people passed by her now.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to see Xinyi smiling at her. "What are you doing here all alone? Zhiyuan was looking for you."

"Ah…nothing," she smiled back. "I was looking at my painting from a guest's perspective rather than an artist's."

Xinyi stared at her pale expression and asked, "Did something happen, Shui?"

"Huh? What would happen?" Shui lied. "Oh don't worry, Mom. It's just the painting that makes me emotional sometimes, haha."

She knitted her brows, understanding that Shui was definitely keeping something from her.

She pulled her head against her stomach and softly said, "Don't overwhelm yourself, okay? We are all ready to leave. Come by when you are ready."