By the time Liu Buli woke up, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
Upon regaining consciousness, he paid no mind to his aching body. The first thing he did was look down at himself.
Only when he confirmed the wedding dress was gone did Liu Buli breathe a sigh of relief. He glanced around the room before his gaze settled on Lu Wuming, who was behind the desk. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "Wuming, where did Master's wedding dress go? Did you hide it?"
Hearing his direct question, Lu Wuming did feel a moment of guilt. However, it lasted only a second before he adjusted his demeanor. Shaking his head vigorously, Lu Wuming replied, "Master, Wuming didn't hide it. It just got stained, so Wuming washed it. It's not dry yet."
His answer was seamless.
Liu Buli let out a cold laugh. "Even if it got stained, isn't that all your fault? I told you to take it off first, but you wouldn't listen. Now that my disciple has grown up and his wings have hardened, he doesn't listen to Master anymore. I'm so heartbroken."
As Liu Buli spoke, he put on a truly sorrowful expression.
Fortunately, Lu Wuming could tell whether he was acting or being genuine. Without much further tension, he simply chuckled and walked over to sit beside Liu Buli. He reached out and pulled the other man into his embrace, murmuring, "Master, how many times have I told you? These things are beyond my control. If it were any other issue, you'd tell me, and Wuming would correct it. But if I changed this, it would be like changing my love for you, and Wuming couldn't bear that."
Whenever this topic came up, the usually inarticulate Lu Wuming would become remarkably eloquent. Liu Buli was accustomed to this, so he pouted and changed the subject. "I saw you drawing earlier. Are you finished? Bring it over and let me see what you've drawn."
Lu Wuming immediately nodded and happily returned to the desk, retrieving the painting of the two of them standing together that he had started earlier. Then, like a student awaiting praise from a teacher, he looked at Liu Buli with anticipation and excitedly asked, "Master, look, how did Wuming draw? Did I make you look especially beautiful? Though you're even more beautiful in person."
As he spoke, Liu Buli carefully examined the painting. It was indeed as Lu Wuming boasted; he had drawn it beautifully.
Even if Liu Buli had wanted to find fault, he couldn't say anything displeasing upon seeing the painting. In the end, he could only nod and say, "It's drawn quite well, but is this the only one? I feel like I slept for a long time. Knowing you, with your speed, you shouldn't have only done this much, right?"
Liu Buli had actually asked casually. Even if Lu Wuming had told him there was nothing else, he wouldn't have thought much of it.
However, to his surprise, after he asked the question, Lu Wuming's cheeks suddenly flushed, and his expression became peculiar. It was a mixture of shyness and nervousness, an expression that clearly tried to hide something.
The moment he saw this reaction, Liu Buli realized something was wrong. He immediately narrowed his eyes and put on a displeased look. "Did you do something wrong again, you brat? What did you do? Tell me quickly, no hiding, understand?"
With several questions fired consecutively, Lu Wuming's guilty expression became even more pronounced.
Liu Buli immediately wanted to get up and check himself, but the tearing sensation from his still-healing body forced him to lie back down.
He glared angrily at Lu Wuming. He didn't need to say anything else; Lu Wuming immediately understood his intent.
Quickly putting down the painting, he leaned back in. He held Liu Buli in his arms and reached out to massage his back and waist, saying gently, "Master, you're still not feeling well. Don't keep doing things that worry me. If you need anything, just tell Wuming, and Wuming will handle it. You should be good and not hurt yourself further, or Wuming will be heartbroken."
He said it so earnestly that Liu Buli almost believed him.
But the problem was, wasn't Lu Wuming the one who had tired him out like this? Now, acting all obedient and cute and compliant wouldn't work at all. Liu Buli had been fooled by this act many times before. He told himself that one shouldn't stumble in the same place repeatedly. Therefore, he would absolutely not make the same mistake over and over again!
He reached out and slapped away Lu Wuming's hand that was massaging him, glaring. "Don't think you can play dumb with me. Show me everything else you've done. Don't hide anything. Otherwise, I'll never let you draw again."
Lu Wuming hesitated for a moment.
After a moment of thought, he asked softly, "Then... if I show you, can I still draw in the future? You won't confiscate what I've already drawn, right?"
Liu Buli let out a cold laugh, not answering.
Looking at this troublesome disciple of his, he hadn't learned much else, but he had certainly mastered the art of haggling.
Lu Wuming knew that if he continued, his Master would surely become unhappy. So, for his own happiness, Lu Wuming obediently chose to give up struggling. He then walked to the desk, brought over the many more paintings he had drawn, paintings he was reluctant to show anyone, and handed them to Liu Buli.
As mentioned before, Lu Wuming was undoubtedly talented in this regard.
What he drew was incredibly lifelike and realistic.
But it was precisely because of this that Liu Buli's face grew redder the more he looked, his fingers trembling, wishing he could tear up all the papers on the spot.
Perhaps because his anger was too obvious, Lu Wuming immediately saw his thoughts and unhesitatingly snatched the paintings back. "Master, these are things Wuming worked hard to create. You can't hurt them!"
Liu Buli's eyes widened. He really wanted to hit someone.
He had wanted him to learn to draw to record life. Who asked him to record *that* kind of life?! Aren't you ashamed?!