Teacher Shen took leave and went to B City, so another teacher took over the studio. However, this teacher was far less responsible than Teacher Shen. Young and playful, she simply set up a model on the platform for students to draw while she ran to the window to paint her nails – since the sunlight there was good, her nails would dry quickly.
Jiang Yu sat in her chair sharpening a pencil. A nearby classmate glanced at her several times before finally approaching hesitantly. “Jiang Yu, you sharpen pencils so well. Can you help me with mine?”
Sharpening a pencil was simple, but doing it well – making it both aesthetically pleasing and practical – required experience.
Jiang Yu glanced at the poorly sharpened pencil in the classmate’s hand and said, “Give it to me.”
It was just a small favour and she was happy to help.
The girl who had asked was Yi Ruzhi, a graceful and elegant young woman. Besides drawing, she also studied dance and had won numerous awards over the years.
Holding the freshly sharpened pencil, Yi Ruzhi thanked Jiang Yu and moved her drawing board closer, sitting a little nearer to her. While sketching, she spoke softly.
“I have no idea when Teacher Shen will be back. This Teacher Hu is nothing like her. You know, my parents sent me to this studio specifically because of Teacher Shen. But unfortunately, I don’t have much talent in drawing – no matter how much I practice, I don’t improve much.”
She sighed and then looked at Jiang Yu with admiration. “You’re different, though. You have real talent, just like Yu Bing. You both can draw so quickly. Jiang Yu, do you have any tips for learning how to draw?”
Jiang Yu had already sketched a simple shape on her paper. Hearing the question, she smiled and said, “There are no shortcuts in drawing. It’s just like your dancing – it all comes down to daily practice. You see me drawing well now, but I put in a lot of effort behind the scenes. For two consecutive years, I did fifty quick sketches every single day without fail. During that time, I completely lost feeling in my hand…”
Yes, she had talent, but without hard work, she wouldn’t have become the Jiang Yu she was today.
“Fifty sketches every day for two years straight?”
Yi Ruzhi gasped, murmuring, “I can’t even imagine that…”
But after thinking about it, she realised she could relate. “Actually, it’s the same with dance – just endless repetition of basic exercises. As they say, ‘ten minutes on stage takes ten years of practice behind the scenes.’ That describes us perfectly.”
Jiang Yu glanced at her and asked, “If you’re so dedicated to dance, why did you start learning to draw?”
Yi Ruzhi sighed in frustration, her face showing her annoyance. “I don’t really like drawing and I’m not talented at it. But my parents want me to learn. In their minds, their daughter has to be good at everything – dance, art, you name it. Do they think I have three heads and six arms?”
Her tone was full of resentment, clearly dissatisfied with her parents’ decision.
“Let’s not talk about this anymore… Oh, by the way, do you know Yu Bing from our studio?” She gestured toward Yu Bing, who wasn’t far away. “She’s been painting since she was a child. We went to the same school and she’s won so many art competitions. My mom told me that she came to this studio specifically because of Teacher Shen.”
Yi Ruzhi paused and then leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “My mom also said that Yu Bing isn’t just here to learn from Teacher Shen – she’s aiming for someone higher.”
Her wording was a bit convoluted and it took Jiang Yu a few seconds to understand. So, Yu Bing wanted to become a student of Teacher Shen’s master?
“Is that so…” Jiang Yu murmured.
Yi Ruzhi widened her eyes at her. “That’s all you have to say?”
Jiang Yu looked at her curiously and asked, “What else should I say? It has nothing to do with me, right?”
Yi Ruzhi had an expression of speechlessness. “What do you mean it has nothing to do with you? It has everything to do with you! Before you joined, Yu Bing was Teacher Shen’s favourite student. But now, everyone can see that Teacher Shen values you the most. So, if her mentor is looking for a student, who do you think Teacher Shen will recommend first? You! And do you think Yu Bing will be happy about that?”
Jiang Yu was indifferent. “I don’t know her that well. Whether she likes me or not doesn’t really affect me.”
“I just hope she doesn’t try anything behind your back,” Yi Ruzhi said with a sneer. “Some people, when they can’t succeed themselves, will sabotage others so no one can have the opportunity.”
After a pause, Yi Ruzhi added, “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you. Be careful.”
She clearly had personal experience with something like this, but Jiang Yu didn’t press for details. She simply accepted Yi Ruzhi’s goodwill.
However, Jiang Yu didn’t believe Yu Bing was that type of person. The prouder someone was, the less likely they were to resort to underhanded tactics – because that would be an insult to their own dignity.
–
Teacher Shen returned the next day. That afternoon, she came straight to the studio, but Jiang Yu wasn’t there – only Yu Bing and Ji Lan were.
“Teacher Shen, you’re back so soon?” Ji Lan said happily.
Teacher Shen greeted them, then glanced around the room and asked, “Is Jiang Yu not here?”
Hearing that she was looking for Jiang Yu immediately after returning, Ji Lan felt a little unhappy but hid it well. “No, she usually comes after all her afternoon classes. She’s talented – she doesn’t need to practice as much as we do.”
By the end of her sentence, her tone was already laced with envy.
Teacher Shen didn’t notice the bitterness in her words. Without hesitation, she said, “Since she’s not here, I’ll go find her in her classroom.”
After saying a few more words, she left impatiently.
As soon as she was gone, Ji Lan’s expression darkened. She frowned and muttered, “Why is Teacher Shen in such a hurry to find Jiang Yu? Does she have something important to tell her?”
Turning her head, she noticed Yu Bing’s face was pale. “Yu Bing, why do you look so awful?”
Yu Bing forced a smile. “I’m fine.”
She absentmindedly returned to her seat, staring blankly at her drawing.
Yu Bing was thinking about something much deeper. She remembered when Teacher Shen had taken leave – it was right after Jiang Yu finished her painting Sunshine. Before leaving, she had taken the painting with her. So, where had she taken it?
Yi Ruzhi wasn’t wrong – Yu Bing didn’t come to the studio just to learn. As she had said, she wanted to connect with Teacher Shen in hopes of getting closer to her master, Master Cui. If possible, she hoped to be accepted as his student. That would be her golden ticket to success.
Of course, this was an idea planted by her parents. She had never thought this way before.
Few people knew that Teacher Shen’s master was Master Cui. The Yu family had used their connections to find out and immediately enrolled Yu Bing in the studio, urging her to impress Teacher Shen.
Yu Bing had always been the most outstanding among her peers. She had never imagined that one day, someone even more exceptional than her would appear.
Her parents always told her she must become Master Cui’s student. But now, she realised she might disappoint them – because the one Teacher Shen truly valued wasn’t her.
That thought sent a wave of panic through her. She had no idea what to do.
…
Teacher Shen reached the classroom building and checked her watch. There were still ten minutes left before class ended. Only then did her initial excitement cool down a little.
By the time Jiang Yu saw her, Teacher Shen had already regained her usual calm and composed demeanour.
“Teacher Shen!” Seeing her, Jiang Yu suddenly felt nervous.
Master Cui wasn’t just any artist. Anyone who studied painting dreamed of becoming his student. But Jiang Yu wasn’t sure if she was good enough – there were so many talented people in the world.
“Teacher Shen, what did Master Cui say? What did he think of my painting?”
She was confident in Sunshine. More than anything, she wanted to know what Master Cui thought of it.
During her previous life, she had never even met him. Now, she just wanted to know – how many points would he give her work?
Teacher Shen’s expression was unreadable as she looked at Jiang Yu and said, “Jiang Yu…”
Jiang Yu’s eyes flickered slightly. She smiled and replied, “Teacher Shen, whether the old master accepts me as a student or not isn’t that important to me. Just a bit of his guidance has already benefited me immensely.”
Having finally managed to calm herself and maintain a composed expression, Teacher Shen froze. “…”
“Wait, how can it not be important?” Teacher Shen widened her eyes at her. “I went through so much trouble to get the old master to accept you!”
Jiang Yu: “…”
It took her a moment to fully grasp Teacher Shen’s words and she asked in surprise, “The old master – he’s willing to take me as his disciple?”
Teacher Shen nodded. Seeing Jiang Yu’s stunned expression, she finally felt a bit more satisfied and said, “From now on, you’re my shimei… Heh, I’m no longer Master’s youngest disciple.”
Jiang Yu took a deep breath and sincerely thanked her. “Teacher Shen, thank you!”
Teacher Shen replied, “No need to thank me. I didn’t really do much – I just showed your words to Master… Honestly, by the time I got there, I had already given up on convincing him to take you as a student.”
She looked at Jiang Yu with a slightly embarrassed smile. “Master is getting old and I didn’t want to trouble him anymore.”
Jiang Yu nodded, expressing her understanding.
Teacher Shen continued, “…But then, after he saw your painting, he took the initiative to say he wanted to guide you. So really, I didn’t do anything… Why are you so calm?”
Jiang Yu was not truly a child and she was naturally reserved. Although she was thrilled to hear the news, she kept her composure. However, to Teacher Shen, she seemed almost too calm.
Jiang Yu touched her own face and couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m actually not calm at all. I’m very happy and excited… I’ve dreamed of being guided by the old master.”
Teacher Shen: “…It really doesn’t show at all.”
“Oh, right – ” Teacher Shen suddenly remembered something. “Your painting was taken by Master. He said he wanted to keep it for a few days to admire… Honestly, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him like a painting so much. Your work is truly amazing, much better than mine.”
Jiang Yu smiled and said, “I also think that painting turned out well. When I was drawing it, I already had a feeling it would be a good piece.”
Sometimes, that kind of feeling is hard to describe. But the moment the brush touches the paper, there’s already a faint sense of whether the work will turn out good or not.
Although Jiang Yu showed no outward reaction to Teacher Shen’s good news, she was genuinely delighted. This could be seen in her painting that night. After school in the afternoon, she bought a bouquet of pink daffodils from a flower shop. When she got home, she placed them in a transparent glass vase, filling it halfway with water.
Then, she used coloured pencils to draw the daffodils.
In her drawing, the daffodils sat in the glass vase, the transparent texture of the glass and the water beautifully captured through the use of coloured pencils. The flowers looked even more delicate and vibrant in contrast. Most importantly, the painting exuded an incredibly soothing and joyful atmosphere – just looking at it was enough to lift one’s spirits.
[Wow, you haven’t updated their portfolio in days and there haven’t been any food illustrations either. I’m crying.]
[You seem to be in a great mood! This painting makes me feel so light and happy. I wonder if it’s for sale? I’d love to buy it and hang it in my house – seeing it every day would definitely put me in a good mood!]
Beautiful things always bring people joy and paintings that touch the heart can stir emotions and influence one’s feelings. What people felt from Jiang Yu’s daffodil painting was lightness and happiness – a very comforting sensation.
Many fans were tempted upon seeing the painting and really wanted to buy it.
Lu Mingyu was lounging on a chair, scrolling through his phone, shaking his foot absentmindedly. He had just returned from a few days of military training under his eldest brother’s orders and he looked noticeably tanner. Still, his demeanour remained just as carefree.
“This painting… huh, it’s actually pretty good.” When he came across Jiang Yu’s painting, Lu Mingyu’s eyes lit up.
Lu Mingshen glanced at him, then shifted his focus to his restless foot. In a deep voice, he said, “Put your foot down. What kind of posture is that?”
Hearing this, Lu Mingyu instinctively put his foot down and sat up straight like a rigid pole. Then he realised how silly he looked, so he relaxed his posture again and grinned at his older brother. “I wasn’t looking at anything inappropriate. I was looking at a painting… Big brother, look, the painting in my bedroom is from this artist. It’s really well done.”
Lu Mingshen gave it a casual glance, but his gaze lingered on it longer than expected.
Lu Mingyu continued praising it enthusiastically, “I really think her work is amazing. Unlike some so-called young genius painters – I don’t even understand what they’re drawing…”
He was referring to the abstract paintings he saw at an exhibition he attended with his aunt. To him, they were just a mess of distorted shapes that made no sense at all.
“This is indeed well done,” Lu Mingshen commented.
“Right? I told you it was good! Last time, I bought one of her pieces for just five thousand yuan – what a steal… Huh?” Midway through his bragging, Lu Mingyu felt something was off and turned to look at Lu Mingshen.
– His older brother actually gave a compliment!!!
Three exclamation marks were not enough to convey his shock. In all his years, he had never heard his big brother praise anything. The Lu family wasn’t exactly artistic – his mother had some appreciation for the arts, but none of the three brothers had inherited that interest. They completely lacked an eye for paintings. This was the first time he had ever heard Lu Mingshen say a painting was good.
However, after that one comment, Lu Mingshen didn’t say anything else. He sat in the living room for a while before heading upstairs to his study.
“Aunt Li, bring my brother some soup later. He’s probably going to have another sleepless night,” Lu Mingyu said, watching his older brother go upstairs with a concerned expression.
Aunt Li immediately responded, “Got it… Ah, when will the young master’s condition improve? Forget about the health issues – how’s he supposed to find a wife like this? People would be scared just looking at him.”
Lu Mingyu shared the same worry. He was deeply troubled – when would he finally get a sister-in-law? Hopefully, someone strong enough to keep his big brother in check!
Upstairs, Lu Mingshen sat at his desk and took a deep breath. His eyes were bloodshot, his mind was a tangled mess of restless emotions and his frustration was overwhelming. His expression was twisted and his throbbing headache only made things worse. He looked utterly tormented.
Right now, he was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at the slightest trigger. That was why he usually avoided interacting with others – to prevent himself from losing his temper at them. At times like this, he would lock himself in his room, trying his best to calm down.
– Three years ago, after a drug enforcement mission, he developed this condition. It was also the reason he left the military and transitioned into a desk job.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Lu Mingshen leaned back against the chair, his brows furrowed tightly.
He was well aware of his condition – it was a psychological issue that required guidance and personal effort to overcome. Over the past three years, he had been seeing a therapist regularly. Though there had been some improvement, the progress was not very significant.
Opening his eyes, he stared at the ceiling before reaching for his phone and downloading Weibo. Having spent most of his life in the military, he had never been interested in social media. In fact, he had never used Weibo before. However, he had seen others using it, so he wasn’t completely unfamiliar with it.
He recalled that the artist of the painting was called… [A Fleeting Dream]?
Searching for the name, he quickly found her latest post featuring the daffodil painting. The delicate flowers, placed in a glass vase, exuded a refined transparency. The entire piece was incredibly clean, with bright colours that gave off an uplifting feeling. Just by looking at it, he felt a bit of the heaviness in his chest lighten.
The tight crease in Lu Mingshen’s brows relaxed slightly. As he stared at the painting, he could feel his agitation subside. It was as if he could sense the artist’s emotions through the artwork – she must have been feeling carefree and joyful. Did something good happen to her?
…Was this painting for sale?
With that thought, Lu Mingshen sent a private message to the artist, asking if the painting was available for purchase. He waited for a while but didn’t receive a reply. Not bothered, he continued scrolling through her Weibo feed, admiring her other artworks.
By the time he had looked through all her pieces, he let out a long exhale, suddenly realising that his headache had eased significantly. The restless, violent emotions inside him had also calmed.
Lu Mingshen thought to himself – this [A Fleeting Dream] must be a person with an incredibly peaceful and gentle heart. Her paintings gave off that exact kind of feeling – soothing and pleasant.
As he continued browsing, he noticed that the artist was holding a giveaway – the prize was one of her paintings. Instantly intrigued, he entered the draw without hesitation. If he won, he would definitely request the daffodil painting!
…
Jiang Yu didn’t spend much time on Weibo. For her, the platform was merely a place to document her artwork and occasionally take commissions to earn some pocket money. Still, seeing her cute and enthusiastic fans always lifted her mood.
Around noon, Zhou Xing called her. Naturally, it was about the collaboration on The Ladle Chronicles.
After more than a week, Jiang Yu had nearly forgotten about it. If he hadn’t called, she probably wouldn’t have thought of it at all.
Not one to beat around the bush, Jiang Yu said directly, “Mr. Zhou, I appreciate your interest, but I’m not planning to collaborate. I don’t have much interest in drawing manhua.”
Zhou Xing was stunned. His first thought was that Jiang Yu was still upset. He quickly asked, “Miss Jiang, are you still mad about what happened last time? That was a serious oversight on our part. I didn’t expect our staff to leak the information and cause you trouble. I sincerely apologise.”
“I’m not someone who holds grudges over small things. While I wasn’t happy about what happened, it’s not enough for me to dwell on it,” Jiang Yu replied. She walked over to a bench in the garden and sat down. “I’m just genuinely not interested. Besides, I doubt you could afford me. My paintings are quite expensive.”
Back when she first priced her paintings at three thousand, Jiang Yu had already considered it a bargain. Now, she wasn’t short on money, so she had no intention of selling her artwork cheaply. In her past life, people had offered her millions for a single painting and her work was undoubtedly worth that price.
Zhou Xing hesitated before asking, “If I may ask… how much does one of your paintings cost?”
Jiang Yu chuckled and didn’t bother to be coy. “A manhua series might make a few hundred thousand at most. But one of my paintings? That alone is worth the same amount.”
Zhou Xing: “…I see. Sorry for disturbing you!”
They couldn’t afford her. They really couldn’t.
After hanging up, Zhou Xing let out a long sigh, feeling utterly dejected. If this collaboration fell through, where was he supposed to find another artist that fit Xia An’s taste? That girl was notoriously picky.
After some thought, Zhou Xing called Xia An to inform her.
“It’s not that I didn’t try. The artist is just out of our league. Her paintings cost hundreds of thousands each – our little manhua project isn’t even worth her time. Honestly, when I first saw her work, I already suspected she wasn’t the type to do manhua. She’s a traditional painter, through and through. You should pick another artist that fits your style.” Zhou Xing sighed.
Tang Yiyi’s voice was full of disappointment, but she quickly perked up. “I knew she was my ideal artist! She’s a true master… Ah, should I ask her to paint something for me? I really, really want one of her pieces.”
Zhou Xing said helplessly, “Don’t get too excited. I’m going to look for another artist. But this time, you can’t be so picky. Otherwise, you might as well just kill me now.”
Tang Yiyi nodded listlessly. “Fine, just find someone suitable.”
To her, [A Fleeting Dream] was the perfect artist. Compared to her work, all other artists seemed to lack something – none of them moved her heart the way Jiang Yu’s paintings did.
Since she knew she wouldn’t be satisfied with anyone else, she decided to let Zhou Xing handle the decision.
Zhou Xing, on the other hand, was stunned that she had actually given up so easily. He immediately resolved to finalise an artist as quickly as possible – before Tang Yiyi could change her mind!
Leave a Reply