She is the Side Character! — Watch Her Change her fate!

Chapter 289: Chapter 288: Must You Marry the One Who Saved You from Drowning? (Final)

”Mr. Chenchen, what do you think of my painting?”

Ah Chen praised, ”Not bad, you’ve made great progress. But if you’re painting landscapes, just paint landscapes. Why do you insist on putting the two of us into it?”

”Yeah, if you’re including people, why not also add me?” Lin Daming joked with a grin.

At first, he worried he might be disturbing the two of them, but soon realized his son-in-law was quite thick-skinned.

Recently, Lin Daming also started learning how to paint. Occasionally, he would write to his friend Shen Dai, telling him about the scenic views across Lan Country, making Shen Dai envious.

Later, he felt writing wasn’t satisfying enough; he wanted to capture what he saw in paintings instead.

Thus, Ah Chen gained two students, both of whom turned out to have some talent.

Shen Xuan pointed at a rock behind him, ”I painted my father-in-law, see the edge of the robe peeking out? He’s sunbathing there.”

Lin Daming: ...

Ah Chen: ...

The picture Shen Hui later received looked like this: Brother, isn’t the water here beautiful? Chenchen and I are boating to enjoy the scenery, the ones on the boat are us. In the distance, you see a boat with just an edge of a robe? That’s the father-in-law.

Shen Hui: ...

Brother, how about this mountain? I specifically painted the sunrise. See the two people? That’s me and Chenchen.

Shen Hui: ...

Brother, it’s a bountiful harvest this year. Look at these golden rice stalks, aren’t they beautiful? So many people, can you find where Chenchen and I are?

Shen Hui opened his eyes wide and began searching, then chuckled.

After traveling for three years, Lan Country was rapidly changing, with more and more things Shen Xuan remembered, not anything outrageously epoch-making, but certainly Lan Country was progressing and would only continue to improve.

They first returned to Capital City, seeing familiar faces.

Ah Chen also heard a piece of news; Ying Bairong was demoted due to family matters.

”Curious about what happened? Come on, let’s go ask my brother.” Shen Xuan casually led Ah Chen into the palace, as they were planning to see Shen Hui there anyway.

Ah Chen was indeed a bit curious; given Ying Bairong’s character, it’s not easy for him to be demoted, even if his family members have caused trouble over the years, he could suppress it. However, surrounded by these family members and owing them nurturing, he indeed encountered difficulties.

One could say if things continued, Ying Family would definitely hinder him.

Shen Hui explained, ”He requested to be demoted himself.”

”A ploy.”

Indeed, he needed some bold individuals to accomplish tasks. Such individuals shouldn’t come from too powerful families; people like Ying Bairong were just right.

Smart people were scarce; almost none for now, and they wouldn’t cause much trouble.

Managing them is simple—just make them understand that Ying Bairong’s demotion was caused by them, and they’ll behave more than anyone in the future.

Ying Bairong was sent to a place where he needed to initiate some reforms.

”I knew it.” Shen Xuan realized, ”Brother, did you receive my paintings?”

Shen Hui chuckled, ”Of course I did.”

”Dear sister-in-law, I’m planning to have someone organize the paintings and letters from you and younger brother into a Lan Country scenery book. Do you have any objections?”

Ah Chen naturally had none.

But Shen Xuan couldn’t help but ask, ”Will my paintings’ secrets be discovered?”

Ah Chen teased, ”Didn’t you think about them being circulated when you painted? Why don’t you re-paint them?”

”Never mind, everyone knows I like Chenchen, let future generations know as well. By then, we’ll be dust, let them laugh.”

Shen Hui, seeing their strong bond, felt happy too.

Then he heard Shen Xuan say, ”Brother, aren’t you envious? We’ve advised you to date, and you’re not doing it.”

Shen Hui was helpless; dating isn’t something one can have just because they want it. If there’s no encounter, there’s no fate. He didn’t insist on it; he was full of enthusiasm for developing Lan Country.

After staying for a while, Ah Chen and Shen Xuan went to Lanru County.

Even if Shen Dai was no longer serving as the County Magistrate in Lanru County but was transferred back to Capital City for a promotion, they still loved Lanru County.

”Help! Someone fell into the water!”

Ah Chen and Shen Xuan stepped out of the carriage and rushed toward the riverbank, only to see a girl struggling in the water, about to sink. It was a bit cold today, and the river was deep, while people calling for help were also women who hadn’t learned to swim.

People were searching for tools, but unfortunately, they couldn’t find anything useful immediately.

As soon as Ah Chen and Shen Xuan appeared, many looked toward Shen Xuan.

Shen Xuan was about to instruct someone to rescue, when a young man rushed over from afar.

Ah Chen, thoughtful, moved slightly and leaped into the river, tapping on the water, grabbing the girl and jumping out.

Shen Xuan had already called for the maid’s clothes; seeing her come ashore, the maid wrapped the heavy clothes around the girl to keep her warm.

Meanwhile, the young man who rushed over intended to stop but fell due to inertia.

”Xiao Rui!” a woman’s voice shouted anxiously, ”Xiao Rui, the person has been saved, why did you jump down?”

Ah Chen turned back, looked at the woman with her head covered, and stepped to the riverbank, examining the young man who emerged. He looked familiar.

She asked, ”Shi Rui?”

Then looked at the woman shouting ”Shi Rui,” whose face couldn’t be seen clearly, she asked, ”Shi Wen?”

Previously, she heard the Shi Family had moved away from Lanru County.

For many reasons—embarrassment, untenable living, and Qin Family’s frequent trouble-making.

”I’m not Shi Wen.” Shi Wen hastily covered her face, pulled up Shi Rui, and attempted to escape.

Shen Xuan commanded, ”Catch those two!”

Shi Rui shouted, ”It was all my sister’s idea, not mine! You all know she’s always had this spiteful nature.”

Shi Wen fell to the ground, stopped struggling, her eyes coldly fixed on Shi Rui.

She acted, but the idea wasn’t hers this time; her dear brother can’t be relied upon at all.

Why is no one reliable?