Yan Xi’s voice echoed in her mind: “The brush must become the boat, and the ink the water.”
He turned, and his eyes—deep as ink wells—met hers. Yan Xi’s voice echoed in her mind: “The
A shiver ran down Carol’s spine. She turned the paper over and discovered a hidden message, written in an elegant script that matched her own hand, as if the ink had written itself: “If you see this, the ink has chosen you. Follow the river to the old pier, where the night sky meets the water. There you will find the key to the dream you have drawn.” The date stamped at the bottom was , exactly the day she was working. The number 9061 glowed faintly under the lantern’s light, as if it were a code. Chapter 3: The Night River Walk Compelled by the mysterious note, Carol closed her studio and slipped into the night. She walked along the Huangpu River, the water reflecting the city’s neon constellations. The air was thick with humidity and distant music from street vendors. Follow the river to the old pier, where