[Infrastructure] Rose kissed Barcelona

When Joey found out that he was being followed, he really panicked and stood in front of the window for a while.Before that, she had also been wandering in the cat's end alley, within the view of the window.Apart from street vendors, she is probably the most suitable person to be a sketch model.

But she was not included in his sketches.

Antonio's charcoal sketching technique is very proficient, by no means a novice.Joey himself has copied many buildings, and he can tell at a glance that this sketch will only take a few minutes.

What's more, the rosy paint on his fingers and cheeks was still fresh enough to come off with a single wipe.Sketching with charcoal, can you rub red paint?Strange.

So, what could be the reason why he drew a picture but concealed it from her to see, and even dared not draw her in the landscape sketch with a guilty conscience?

Joey smiled with satisfaction.Seeing that the little kid who deserves to be beaten has been shocked by himself, he can accept it as soon as he sees it, and don't forget the main contradiction.

She handed the painting back and at the same time took out the French rose behind her.

"Send you a rose, and I won't pursue the painting. But you have to help me."

Hit a stick and send a sweet date.She didn't want to reveal her identity, she wanted to get out of the current predicament as low-key as possible, and it would be best if she could get rid of the man in black quietly.She needs help.

Antonio was about to raise his hand to pick up the painting, he was taken aback when he heard this, and looked up at Joey.

The girl held a fresh rose in her hand, and half of the satin sleeves with English lace slid down, revealing a pair of creamy white and delicate round arms.She smiled like a cat stealing a fish: "Antonio, I can trust you, can't I?"

She poked her head in like this from the sun-dazzled street, the white veil on her thick black hair shone with blinding golden luster, as if an angel had descended.

Antonio's bushy eyelashes trembled suddenly, and he looked away unnaturally.After a while, he put away the paintings and roses, and then whispered, "At your service."

Good guy, all the honorifics are out.

Did you push yourself a little too hard?Joey reflected insincerely.

After a few minutes.

"Can you keep your veil off?" Joey muttered dissatisfiedly, subconsciously covering the comb on his head.

Antonio raised his forehead and said, "Didn't you notice that you are wearing a mantilla on the street? It's too conspicuous."

The mantilla is the traditional veil of the warm south of Spain, not the Catalan style.Queen Isabella II liked this kind of veil very much, and vigorously promoted it throughout the country during her reign.But with the overthrow of the Bourbon royal family, five years later, girls in the north took the lead in abandoning this custom.

"Okay." Joey mumbled.

Antonio didn't notice her strangeness, carefully pulled out the comb, took off the white lace gauze, and put it on the shelf, "Put the veil here, and you can vaguely see a corner from the outside, that gentleman probably thinks I'm giving it to you." You paint a portrait. You can buy at least ten minutes, which is enough."

The market outside was too lively, and there was no one in the cafe except for a few dimly lit oil lamps burning feebly.According to Antonio, the owner of the store also set up a stall outside the door to sell roses and flower chocolates.

He picked up a silver-gray cloak and handed it to Joey: "This cafe is not big, and there is only one exit. The gentleman will not come in, and will only observe the door from a distance."

"Then we'll be spotted when we go out? He's not blind. Could it be that if I change my hairstyle and wear a cloak, I won't be able to recognize him?" Joey felt cheated.

"Of course we don't go through the door." Antonio's tone of course made Joey feel that he seemed to be missing some childhood experience.

Then she was drawn to the fireplace.Looking at the chimney leading straight to the blue sky, she was silent.

Is this man a rescuer brought by the monkey?

Come on, walk the way of Santa Claus, let Santa Claus have no way to go.

"You go first." She said angrily.She is wearing a skirt, although there are many layers of petticoats, and there is no such exaggerated fluffy pannier, but the essence of being easily exposed has not changed.

Antonio shrugged, "Listen to you."

He grabbed the handle of the ladder, and quickly climbed up first.Joey followed behind.

Although this skirt is not very convenient, but she is a person who has gone through five years of college physical examination, and it is not a problem to climb a chimney.

Antonio held the top of the chimney with both hands, and turned it over with all his strength.He poked his head out of the square blue sky, and stretched out his hand to Joey: "Come on, be careful."

When she looked up, he froze. "your eyes……"

The sunlight shone on the girl's white and plump forehead, and also illuminated a pair of purple eyes.It is as clear as amethyst in the sun, and it is reminiscent of a misty lavender field.

It's dreamlike, and more importantly, rare.

He understood why she was so reluctant to take off her veil.If someone wants to harm her, these eyes are an important marker to find her.

"What did you just say?" Joey was pulled up to the roof by him, and looked around cautiously.Fortunately, the chimney was on the other side of the roof, and the cat's end could not be seen.According to the reversibility of the light path, the tracker can't see them either.

"Nothing." Antonio smiled.No need to worry about this mysterious Southern girl.

Joey: "..." This conversation seemed familiar.

The setting sun spreads gentle warm colors on the high and low roofs, and the colors of the buildings are surprisingly harmonious—snow white, ocher yellow, brick red, shell powder, and the blue Mediterranean Sea in the distance.A flock of white doves flies across the orange-red skyline in the distance.

It is almost exactly the same as the scene in her memory when she came to Barcelona to sketch with a pilgrimage mentality.

Oh, this gentle and charming city.

After the golden cicada has successfully escaped its shell, the next step is very simple.Slip down from the roof and walk along the path between the houses to the inclined alley on the other side. "That alley is a stop for the carriage, and it will be easy after you get on the carriage. It will take you out of this area." Antonio had already jumped to the ground, looking up at the girl sitting on the edge of the roof.

Joey looked at his feet uncertainly, the height of the suspension caused sudden dizziness and rapid heartbeat.

Fear of heights is terrific.

Antonio noticed her hesitation, and raised his eyebrows: "No way? How tall is this? You can't expect me to bring a pile of straw here now. And I can't hold you."

Joey: "..." You can shut up now.

She took a deep breath and made mental construction for herself.No matter how high or not, you will always jump off.Rubbing the buttocks to the edge a little bit, let go of the hand holding the bricks and tiles a little bit.

A helpless voice came from below: "Okay, okay, I'll continue..."

"Ah!" Joey touched a movable brick and fell straight down.

Unscrupulous tofu dregs project!She cried out in grief and indignation.

The next moment, she was caught by a pair of powerful arms.The huge momentum brought by gravity made the two stagger a few steps one after another, and fell down in the dense crocus bushes.Lavender petals rustled all over them.

Joey's heart was still pounding because of the sudden weightlessness just now, "Ah, I was scared to death. Thank you!"

"You're welcome. Oh, by the way, this is someone else's flower bush." ​​Antonio wrote lightly, with a narrow light shining in his light blue eyes.

Joey and him looked at each other for a moment, and they laughed at the same time: "Run!"

"Sir, for three copper pesos, you can give your beloved girl a rose." The sound of selling and whispering of lovers, accompanied by the fresh fragrance of roses, filled the entire St. George's Day market.

Joey tugged down the hood of his silver-gray cloak, tugged at Antonio's sleeve, and blended in with the jubilant crowd.Now that there is no fear of her life, she looked around curiously, and asked in a low voice: "Is there a custom of sending roses on St. George's Day?"

The ladies who passed by her wore Panama hats decorated with ears of wheat and forget-me-nots, and their cake-like tutu skirts glistened like honey in the sun.They elegantly held the arm of the man beside them with one hand, and held a rose full of love in the other.

"You don't know?" Antonio looked down at her in surprise, and pulled up the cuffs—the little girl almost pulled the collar of his shirt away. "Oh, you're from the south. It's a Catalan holiday."

"It's the old fairy tale, the tradition that's been passed down through the centuries."

It is said that a long time ago, in the small town of Montblanc, there was an evil dragon that ravaged the people and asked people to sacrifice young girls for him.On the day the princess was sent away, George, a brave young man riding a white horse, appeared.After a fierce duel, George plunged the sword into the dragon's throat, and the dragon's blood flowed to the city gate, and a red rose grew.

George took the rose and dedicated it to the princess he had saved.

Later, St. George became the patron saint of Catalonia, and St. George's Day on April 4 also became a festival for people to exchange roses.

"It is indeed a classic routine with a happy ending." Joey commented.The elements are complete - princess, dragon, prince charming, blood and red rose.It satisfies all the stereotyped imaginations of romance and excitement of the ancients who lacked entertainment.

They passed an ice cream truck, and a small vendor in a top hat scooped out ice cream balls with a large round spoon, put them into colorful cardboard cups, and handed them to the drooling children next to them.Next to the ice cream truck is an old bookstall filled with romance novels and romantically sprinkled with rose petals.

"Speaking of which, today is also the anniversary of Shakespeare's death."

She just remembered, isn't April 4 the World Book Day?It is said that it is based on the date of Shakespeare's death.It appears that people in the nineteenth century hadn't started celebrating Book Day yet.

"It's also the anniversary of Cervantes' death. ——Well, the carriage is ahead." He stretched out his hand in a gentlemanly manner, helping Joey to sit in the carriage.

Joey got into the carriage, raised the curtain unwillingly and glanced out again.Such a lively and happy festival market, it would be great if we could go shopping again.She was a little sullen.

"Happy St. George's Day!" A bouquet of roses appeared in front of her like a conjuring.

Joey raised his head in surprise and saw Antonio's chestnut-brown shattered hair reflecting the golden silhouette in the setting sun, fluttering against the breeze, "I'll keep that painting. But on this day, roses should be given to girls of."

Joey laughed heartily: "Thank you, Antonio."

"Dangdangdang!" A loud bell rang in the distance, startling a large group of white pigeons, and their pure white feathers were also dyed a gentle pink under the setting sun.

"Oh, it's 05:30." Antonio looked in the direction of the bell, "Finally get out of class is over. This is the bell for school dismissal."

Huh?The meaning of this sentence is—"Aren't you going to school?" Joey asked.

"Miss, the carriage behind is urging." The driver in the black top hat urged back.

"Let's go!" Antonio took a step back and beckoned to her.

The carriage staggered away immediately, leaving the boy's casual voice behind: "For me, most of the classes are just a waste of time."

...Okay, it seems that he is a guy who skips classes.Judging by his narcissistic appearance, he is either a god of learning or a scumbag.

Joey leans towards the latter.

Wait, how do I return the cloak to him?