The art studio was located west of the cafeteria. Behind this building stood a massive plane tree, providing ample shade and shielding the studio from the sun.
Because of this, even though autumn had just begun, the studio already felt a bit cool – refreshingly so.
Teacher Shen made her rounds in the studio, occasionally answering students’ questions and adding a few strokes to their work.
As the studio instructor, her workload was relatively light, giving her plenty of time to paint. Since the students were working on watercolour paintings this time, she set up her easel and painted alongside them, explaining key watercolour techniques as she worked.
“Teacher, your painting is amazing! It’s so beautiful!” Ji Lan, standing at the best spot to the left of Teacher Shen, praised her as she admired the painting.
Teacher Shen replied, “If you keep practising, you’ll be able to paint like me in the future.”
She was a student at Changqing Academy of Fine Arts, even pursuing a PhD there, so naturally, her skills were exceptional. However, she lacked ambition. While her senior classmates had already made a name for themselves in the art industry, she remained content teaching high school art. Every time her seniors mentioned her, they couldn’t help but sigh and shake their heads in regret.
But Teacher Shen felt satisfied with her life. It was peaceful, free from workplace scheming and she still had plenty of time to paint. Sometimes, she even came across exceptionally talented students.
Speaking of talent…
Teacher Shen turned her head and saw Yu Bing studying her painting with serious focus. Her face still carried the remnants of youthful innocence.
Yu Bing was undeniably gifted. Her mother loved painting, so she had been exposed to it since she was five. Now, her skills were already quite refined.
Naturally, Teacher Shen liked students with talent, but she couldn’t help feeling a sense of pity.
This child was skilled but too rigid in her approach. She confined herself within a strict framework and her paintings reflected that – precise but lacking vitality. In their words, her art had no ‘soul’. And a painting without soul could never truly move people.
In stark contrast to Yu Bing was another student in the studio.
Teacher Shen scanned the room and finally settled her gaze on one spot.
Jiang Yu…
This student had shocked her time and time again. From the moment she started painting, she displayed an extraordinary gift. Her work brimmed with vitality, capable of stirring emotions – completely different from Yu Bing.
Recently, Jiang Yu’s progress had been astonishing. Every assigned painting turned out spectacularly, so much so that even Teacher Shen was left in awe.
It seems… there’s nothing more I can teach her.
For the first time, Teacher Shen felt a sense of powerlessness. But it was quickly followed by excitement – the thrill of discovering a true talent. Perhaps she should introduce Jiang Yu to her own teacher. A prodigy like this shouldn’t be limited to her instruction; she needed a more skilled mentor to guide her.
As she pondered, she noticed Jiang Yu’s focused expression as she painted.
“I’ll stop here for now. You all continue painting and call me if you need help,” she said to the students before stepping away. They responded in unison and gradually dispersed.
Ji Lan had wanted to chat with Teacher Shen longer, but when she saw her walking in a certain direction, she looked up and realised she was heading toward Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu!
Ji Lan couldn’t help but stomp her foot in frustration. When had that girl arrived? She had stolen Teacher Shen’s attention the moment she stepped in!
“What is Jiang Yu painting?” Ji Lan asked curiously, feeling an itch to find out. She turned to Yu Bing and said, “Let’s go take a look.”
Yu Bing glanced at Jiang Yu briefly but quickly looked away. “No, I haven’t finished my own painting yet.”
With that, she returned to her seat, picked up her brush and pretended to focus on her work.
Ji Lan looked around. No one else was coming with her, so she decided to go alone.
Meanwhile, Yu Bing gripped her brush, staring at her unfinished watercolour. Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to put the brush to paper.
–
Teacher Shen stood behind Jiang Yu. As Ji Lan approached, she noticed that the teacher’s expression was a little strange – she was staring at Jiang Yu’s painting without blinking.
Ji Lan lifted her eyes to take a look. The moment she saw the painting, her pupils slightly contracted and a hint of astonishment appeared in her gaze.
On the pristine white canvas was a vase of red roses. However, the uppermost roses were not pure red but tinged with gold – a gold that blended subtly with crimson, forming a unique and mesmerising hue.
Among the bouquet, only the lower roses retained their natural red, a red so vivid and fiery it seemed to burn.
Ji Lan suddenly understood – the roses weren’t actually golden. The gold was sunlight, so bright that it made the flowers appear bathed in its brilliance. The ones untouched by sunlight retained their original colour – a deep, striking red.
The transition between gold and red was abrupt yet strangely harmonious. The sharp contrast between light and shadow created an astonishing beauty, making the sunlight feel even more radiant and intoxicating.
Ji Lan clutched her chest, feeling her heart pounding violently because of the painting – it was pure shock.
She turned her head and saw Yu Bing staring blankly at the painting, her face pale, her expression complex. She looked both astonished and shaken, but there was something else in her eyes… something that seemed like fear.
“Yu Bing…” Ji Lan murmured.
Her voice snapped Yu Bing back to reality. Her gaze flinched away as if burned and without another word, she turned and walked back to her seat, her posture betraying a hint of awkwardness.
Ji Lan watched her with concern. Even she had been deeply shaken by the painting, leaving her emotions tangled. Compared to that, Yu Bing’s feelings must have been even more complicated.
– Being surpassed by someone she had never even considered a rival must be a devastating blow for Yu Bing.
No, perhaps even Yu Bing herself hadn’t realised that, when it came to Jiang Yu, she had always been subconsciously resistant. And it was precisely this resistance that had made her so fixated on Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu had been painting for eight hours straight. The lights in the studio had already been turned on and most of the students had left. Only she and Teacher Shen remained.
She took a step back, carefully examining her painting. After adding a few final strokes, she finally felt satisfied and set her brush down.
The painting was nearly complete – a bouquet of golden roses stood out brilliantly, fading into dark red as they trailed downward. The entire piece was composed of gold and deep red, light and shadow, creating an overwhelming sense of impact.
Jiang Yu felt a deep sense of ease and contentment. Her body screamed of exhaustion, but her heart brimmed with satisfaction.
“What is the title of this painting?” Teacher Shen suddenly asked.
Jiang Yu turned around in surprise. “Teacher Shen, you’re still here?”
Teacher Shen sighed. “I’ve been here the whole time, but you were so focused on painting that you didn’t even notice me… You still haven’t answered my question. What’s the name of your painting?”
Jiang Yu thought for a moment and then replied, “This painting is called… Sunshine.”
“Sunshine…” Teacher Shen murmured, repeating the name. The more she said it, the more fitting it felt. She nodded approvingly. “Even though the subject is roses, it truly captures the essence of sunlight. It’s a great title.”
Jiang Yu smiled. The inspiration for the painting had indeed come from sunlight and anyone who viewed it would be able to feel its warmth.
It was precisely because of the sunlight that even the red roses seemed to glow golden, shining brilliantly beyond belief.
Teacher Shen looked at Jiang Yu, unable to suppress a sigh. “Jiang Yu, your progress is astonishing. I’m realising now that I have nothing left to teach you.”
Jiang Yu blinked in surprise.
She remembered how, not long ago, she had told Teacher Shen that she wasn’t learning much in the studio anymore. At the time, Teacher Shen hadn’t believed her and thought it was just an excuse. But now, she understood – Jiang Yu truly had outgrown her teaching. There was nothing more she could learn here.
At the same time, a deep sense of curiosity stirred within Teacher Shen. Jiang Yu’s progress had been nothing short of miraculous – so fast that it was almost terrifying.
“Jiang Yu, do you have another teacher?” Teacher Shen couldn’t help but ask.
Jiang Yu picked up a damp cloth and wiped her hands, shaking her head. “No, Teacher Shen, you are my only teacher.”
Teacher Shen was even more puzzled. “Then how have you improved so quickly? I can’t teach you anything anymore and honestly… your paintings are even better than mine.”
It was a little embarrassing to admit that her student had surpassed her, but she felt no shame – only pride. A student like this was something to be proud of.
Jiang Yu was momentarily at a loss for words. The truth was, she had cheated – thirteen years in the future, she was already a renowned artist both domestically and internationally. Now, having returned to her thirteen-year-old self, it only made sense that her skills appeared to be progressing at an unbelievable speed.
– Hearing such praise almost made her feel shameless.
“Uh… maybe I studied hard in my dreams?” Jiang Yu replied dryly, feeling her face heat up.
Of course, no one would ever suspect that she was actually the Jiang Yu from thirteen years in the future.
Teacher Shen sighed in admiration. “Geniuses like you really do make people jealous.”
Geniuses were simply built differently.
“Oh, right,” Teacher Shen suddenly said. “Can I borrow this painting?”
Jiang Yu was startled. “Of course, but it’s not finished yet. What do you need it for?”
Teacher Shen smiled. “I want to show it to my Master*. I may be just a third-rate painter, but my Master is different – he’s a true expert. I can’t teach you anymore, but as your teacher, the best thing I can do for you is find you someone even better.”
The story of the prodigy who failed due to lack of guidance – The Tragedy of Zhong Yong* – was well known. If a genius wasn’t nurtured properly, they would eventually fade into mediocrity. Teacher Shen refused to let Jiang Yu become another wasted talent.
It would be a lifelong regret if such a gifted student were to go untrained.
Jiang Yu froze.
Then, realisation dawned on her and excitement surged through her veins.
Teacher Shen’s master – wasn’t that the old gentleman?
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