Morning sunlight filtered through the courtyard of the studio, scattering golden specks across the bamboo leaves still glistening with dew. Li Ming crouched on the ground, tinkering with a pile of strange-looking materials. His brow was furrowed in focus, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He muttered under his breath, "If only I had silver halide... no, that doesn't exist yet here. Man, I wish I had film!"
Xiao An stood nearby, watching curiously, occasionally standing on tiptoe to get a better look. Ah Tao came over holding a copper plate, eyes sparkling. "Senior brother, can we use this?"
"Yeah, let's give it a shot," Li Ming said, taking the plate while mentally sighing:
**\[Inner monologue: If only I could just order a photography kit online—I'd outclass every artist in this city in no time.]**
He skillfully clamped the copper plate into a handmade wooden frame. Around him were egg whites, lime, charcoal powder, and a mess of other "ancient high-tech" materials.
Su Ran strolled over, carrying tea with a gentle smile on her lips. "Master Li, what's the new invention today?" Her soft voice felt like it could smooth over all of Li Ming's frustration.
"Trying to get paintings to draw themselves," he said with a straight face.
**\[Inner monologue: In reality, I'm trying to build a camera—but this thing's more like an ancient scanner at best.]**
He took the tea from her, fingers brushing against hers, feeling a little flustered but grateful for her kindness.
Ah Tao tilted her head and blinked. "Are you trying to trick us again into thinking you're some celestial being?"
"At most, I'm like… half a celestial," Li Ming joked as he handed Su Ran a recent "light and shadow experiment sketch." On the paper, the lighting and contours made the figure almost leap off the page.
Su Ran examined it carefully. "This image... the lighting is vivid, like it's alive." Her eyes held a mix of admiration—and concern.
"That's the magic of HDR," Li Ming said smugly, flashing a grin. "High Dynamic Range, ever heard of it?"
Just then, a commotion broke out at the gate. Xiao An burst in, out of breath, his face flushed with excitement and nerves. "Senior brother! A high-ranking official just arrived!"
Li Ming froze.
**\[Inner monologue: Please don't tell me they're here to audit me or something…]**
He instinctively hid the copper plate behind his back and quickly scanned the courtyard, planning his next move.
The gate creaked open. A middle-aged man in embroidered robes entered with a commanding presence, trailed by several attendants. His gaze was sharp as he sized up the scene, finally landing on Li Ming.
"I am Shen Huaijin, Imperial Inspector, tasked with surveying regional craftsmen under royal decree," the man announced, voice cold and authoritative.
Master rushed forward to greet him respectfully, and everyone quickly bowed.
**\[Inner monologue: An imperial inspector? This plot's escalating way too fast.]**
Li Ming remained calm on the surface and offered a courteous nod.
Inspector Shen's eyes lingered on the dark box Li Ming was holding. "I've heard your studio has a technique that captures light and shadow with uncanny realism. I've come to see it for myself."
Li Ming forced a smile. "Your Excellency overestimates me. It's just a small trick."
But inside, he was racing—was this a golden opportunity, or the beginning of serious trouble?
"Spare me the modesty," Shen said, waving a hand. "I want to see a demonstration. Now."
Su Ran leaned in and whispered in Li Ming's ear, her voice low and cautious. "Be careful. He's not someone you can underestimate."
Li Ming nodded slowly.
**\[Inner monologue: If this were a livestream, the comments would be blowing up with 'this is intense!']**
He took a deep breath and forced himself to stay cool.
He had Xiao An and Ah Tao help with the setup while he adjusted the dark box. Xiao An moved quickly and efficiently. Ah Tao, meanwhile, kept sneaking glances at Shen with wide-eyed curiosity.
Shen Huaijin sat down, expression serious. Li Ming took another deep breath and began. "This technique is called 'light capture.' It uses the principles of pinhole imaging, layered rendering, and careful control of contrast to produce images that mirror reality."
Ah Tao chimed in helpfully, "Basically, it's senior brother's weird invention. We've gotten used to it."
Xiao An nodded earnestly. "He can even make paintings do magic!"
"Hey! Don't blow my cover," Li Ming said with a laugh as he carefully adjusted the angle of the box, making sure everything was perfect.
Gradually, the image began to appear inside. Shen leaned forward, eyes narrowing. He reached out and brushed the paper gently. "Remarkable."
His attendants began whispering among themselves. Some suspected witchcraft, others were simply in awe. The whole studio was buzzing with tension and curiosity.
Then Shen asked, "Can this technique be mass-produced?"
Li Ming's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm. "It's still in the experimental phase. The materials are rare, and the process isn't stable yet."
He knew—once the imperial court took an interest, things could get dangerous very quickly.
Shen didn't respond. He gave Li Ming a long, unreadable look.
After the demonstration, Shen left a few attendants behind to secretly observe the studio. The atmosphere grew tight. Everyone spoke cautiously, afraid to say the wrong thing.
That night, Li Ming sat in the courtyard with Su Ran. She spoke softly. "Be careful. That inspector is not here just to admire your work."
Li Ming sighed. "I just wanted to paint quietly. Now I'm stuck in the middle of something much bigger." He looked up at the stars, emotions swirling in his chest.
Su Ran smiled faintly. "With a technique like yours… peace was never an option." Her voice was warm, but tinged with worry.
Xiao An brought over a midnight snack. "Senior brother, eat something to calm down!" Ah Tao started mimicking Shen's formal tone, making everyone laugh.
Later that night, Li Ming sat alone by the window. His phone glowed faintly—only one bar of battery left.
**\[Inner monologue: If only I could charge this thing... what next, build a wind-powered charger by foot pedals?]**
Suddenly, a letter slid under the door. Li Ming picked it up and opened it. It read:
"Someone is watching your light-and-shadow technique. Be extremely cautious. Do not walk alone after midnight."
A chill ran down his spine. The moonlight outside was pale and cold. Danger loomed silently.
The next day, a few unfamiliar faces appeared outside the studio, asking questions about Li Ming. Master grew anxious. Su Ran stepped in to help manage the business, while Xiao An and Ah Tao formed a "Studio Defense Team," taking turns patrolling.
Li Ming, meanwhile, dealt with the imperial guards' interrogations while continuing his experiments. He tried making light-sensitive materials using egg whites, lime, and charcoal—but the results were either blobs or chaotic abstract patterns.
Ah Tao quipped from the side, "Senior brother, your art looks wilder than my cooking!"
Li Ming chuckled. "Hey, art is all about innovation."
That evening, Shen returned again—with an imperial decree. "The court requires a portrait of an important official. You will accompany me to the estate tomorrow."
Master pulled Li Ming aside, voice serious. "Be very careful. Don't be reckless."
Su Ran handed him a bundle of special pigments. "Use this. It might give you an edge."
Li Ming took it with both hands, touched by the gesture.
That night, sleep wouldn't come. He scrolled through the photos on his phone—images of home, of friends, of the modern world he'd left behind...
**\[Inner monologue: What mark can I really leave on this world?]**
Bathed in moonlight, Li Ming made up his mind. No matter what challenges lay ahead, he would keep painting—and carve out his own legendary story of light and shadow.