Jiang Yu was dragged around shopping by Cui Mingzhu the whole afternoon. What they did that day could be summed up in a single word: “buy.” They kept buying and buying! Not only did Cui Mingzhu buy things for herself, but also for Jiang Yu. Naturally, Jiang Yu tried to refuse, but when Miss Cui threw a tantrum, she could only give in, ending up being pulled into buying several sets of clothes.
“…Jiang Yu is tall and has a great figure. She looks good in anything. That’s what they call a natural clothes hanger.” Sprawled on the sofa, she lay against the armrest by the old man’s side, chatting with him about the afternoon. “And she’s pretty too. Just a little less than me, of course. Sigh, when I think of such a beauty spending all day cooped up in your studio, Grandpa, it makes my heart ache.”
The old man gave a cold snort, poking her forehead. “Do you think everyone is like you, so obsessed with beauty?”
Cui Mingzhu actually had quite a talent for painting, something she had inherited from the old man. But ever since she was little, she had been vain, loving nothing more than to dress up beautifully so others would praise her.
Painting, however, inevitably meant getting paint on one’s hands and clothes, which wasn’t great for the skin. When she was eight, she somehow learned this and cried loudly that she didn’t want to learn painting anymore. The old man had no choice but to let her have her way, and even now, he still felt it was a great pity.
Cui Mingzhu sniffed. “Loving beauty is human nature. I’m just embracing that nature completely.”
“Nonsense!” The old man rolled his eyes. “All those things delivered this afternoon have already been moved to your bedroom. That room is nearly bursting. I can see plenty of clothes you’ve never even worn, yet you’re still buying more. What’s the point?”
Cui Mingzhu sat up straighter. “Grandpa, that’s where you don’t understand. I might not wear them, but I can’t not have them. Even if they just sit at the bottom of my chest, I must own them.”
The old man couldn’t make sense of such girlish thoughts. He looked up at Jiang Yu and asked, “This girl hasn’t bullied you, has she?”
At that, Cui Mingzhu pouted unhappily. “What do you mean bullied? Am I that sort of person? If I don’t like someone, I’d say it openly. Why would I pretend behind your back? Besides, you’re asking me right in front of her, aren’t you afraid I’ll take offence?”
The old man said, “I know both your temperaments. You’re good-natured girls, pretty and well-behaved. Nothing I say would leave you holding grudges.”
“Ah, I like it when you call me pretty.” Cui Mingzhu grinned.
Jiang Yu couldn’t help but laugh. “Mingzhu is very kind, openhearted. I like her.”
Cui Mingzhu shifted positions. “Speaking of which, I ran into Rong Xuan this afternoon. She’s still as unlikable as ever. Oh, come to think of it, Jiang Yu, you actually look a bit like her, around the eyes and brows. But you’re more striking, much prettier. And your personality is better, too. She wears her arrogance right on her face. So naive!”
The old man said, “Why do you always pick on her? Rong Xuan is a good girl, much more diligent than you. She’s stuck with painting for so many years, unlike you, who quit halfway over some silly thing.”
“Yes, she’s persistent. But she’s got no talent! With her family background, she should’ve made a name for herself by now. Yet she’s studied so long and accomplished nothing. Honestly, she’d be better off giving it up and trying something else. At least she might excel in another field.”
Cui Mingzhu shook her head, then turned back to talk with Jiang Yu about the Rong family. “And it’s not just Rong Xuan. None of their younger generation has any real talent. The only somewhat promising one is Rong Jue, and he insists on pursuing music. Looks like there’ll be no successors left.”
In the Rong family, children picked up brushes as soon as they were old enough to understand. But this generation had produced no standouts at all. Their abilities were mediocre, and as Mingzhu said, given their background and connections, if any of them were outstanding, they wouldn’t still be so obscure in the art world.
The old man couldn’t help shaking his head again at the thought. But when he looked at Jiang Yu, he felt a surge of pride. At least his own student was gifted, where else could one find such a talented pupil?
Still, her talent was so extraordinary that sometimes even he, as her teacher, was troubled, unsure of how best to guide her.
The next day, Cui Mingzhu had planned to take Jiang Yu out to eat delicious food. She’d even mapped out the route. But when they were about to leave, the old man stopped them.
“A-Yu has business this afternoon. No time to go eating and drinking with you. If you want to play, go find your girlfriends instead.” He waved her off with obvious disdain.
Cui Mingzhu froze, instinctively glancing at Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu nodded. “I do have something to do this afternoon.”
Mingzhu asked, “What is it?”
“I’m going out to sketch from life.” Jiang Yu smiled. She had already prepared everything she needed, though she hadn’t expected Cui Mingzhu to drag her off for fun.
“Sketching, huh…” Cui Mingzhu shrugged helplessly. “All right then. Since you’re busy, I won’t force you. Where are you going? It’s freezing outside. Be careful not to catch a cold. Better wear gloves.”
Jiang Yu nodded, keeping her words in mind.
The sketching was homework from the old man: she was to go where people gathered and draw people.
Her figure drawing was still lacking, which was why the old man sent her out. With thousands of different faces in the world, the more she sketched, the better sense she would develop.
As for where to go, Jiang Yu wasn’t sure. She carried her drawing board, ready to set up wherever seemed suitable. With so few people outside in winter, she finally settled on a lively square.
The square was large, with a fountain in the centre. Pigeons often gathered there, and when people rushed past, white and grey wings would beat the air in a sudden, breathtaking scene.
She set up her easel, rubbed her cold hands, slowly sharpened her pencil with a knife, and began sketching.
The square sat at a central crossroads, bustling with passersby. But since it was winter, few lingered.
Still, because of the beautiful musical fountain and the countless pigeons, it was usually a popular dating spot. Today, though, there was an extra sight to behold: a young, pretty girl, likely an art student, focused intently on her sketching, her serious expression lending her an air of quiet dedication.
That afternoon, Jiang Yu produced thirty portraits. The cold kept people from stopping long, so most of her subjects were captured in fleeting, hurried moments.
Yet each person looked different, each with unique expressions and gestures. Jiang Yu was skilled at capturing these small traits, a vital ability in portraiture.
In winter, the sky darkened quickly. Only when the streetlamps flickered on did Jiang Yu finally pack up her drawing board and head back.
In the days that followed, she almost always came here to paint. At first, the people passing by looked at her with curiosity, but later, they seemed to grow accustomed to her presence.
And the figures under her brush strokes grew increasingly vivid. Without question, she was improving. At a glance, the progress was hardly noticeable, but if one compared the work she had done over the past half-month, the improvement became strikingly clear.
Her speed of progress was enough to give the old master goosebumps. She was improving far too quickly. With painting, once you’ve formed your style, progress usually slows down, becoming harder and harder to achieve. But even at this stage, she was still making visible strides, this could only be described as frightening.
“This must be what they call a genius!” the old master stroked his chin, arriving at that conclusion.
He had always thought of himself as a genius. After all, many who study painting and calligraphy for a lifetime remain utterly unknown. For him to have the reputation he enjoyed now was already something he was quite proud of.
But compared to Jiang Yu, there were differences even among geniuses.
That day, the weather was fine and sunny. With the year’s end approaching, the streets were filled with a festive atmosphere, red lanterns and bright decorations giving the city the flavour of the New Year.
A white pigeon perched on Jiang Yu’s head. She tilted her head, and the pigeon followed, tilting in the same way, as if it had made her head its nest.
Jiang Yu was painting that very pigeon. From the day she had first come to the square, the bird seemed to have taken a liking to her, never afraid, always flying over each day to rest on her head, probably because of the fluffy hat she wore, which the pigeon must have found warm.
The bird was very clean. Its feathers weren’t entirely snow-white; instead, there was a touch of blue mixed in, the kind of gemstone-like blue that shimmered. Its bead-like eyes were jet black, giving off an innocent and well-behaved look when it gazed at people. Most striking of all was the faint yellow colouring beneath its eyes, like painted marks of shyness.
After finishing the last stroke, Jiang Yu reached up and carefully cupped the pigeon in her hands. The little creature wasn’t afraid, resting obediently in her palms. Jiang Yu couldn’t help but smile, holding it up and saying, “Look, this is the portrait I made of you!”
On the paper, the pigeon looked even more lively and endearing. Its feathers appeared fluffier than in reality, and with a few extra strokes beneath its eyes, it looked even shyer, truly adorable.
Of course, the little thing couldn’t understand her words, but it cooed back at her, each time answering when she spoke. To others watching, it looked just like a conversation between a girl and a bird.
This scene was completely visible from the café across the street.
“Hey, hey, hey, Lu Mingyu, look! A beauty!” Cheng Hu elbowed the man beside him, speaking in an exaggerated tone.
Lu Mingyu had only just been dragged out of bed and looked half-asleep. Hearing the dramatic words, he only gave a soft grunt and lazily turned his head to look, muttering, “I suppose as long as it’s a woman, you’ll call her beautiful…”
Lu Mingyu had no faith in Cheng Hu’s taste. The man always liked those plastic-looking internet celebrities with pointy chins and big eyes. The last influencer he’d been obsessed with looked downright grotesque, and the memory still haunted Lu Mingyu.
“This one’s really a beauty, though! Look, isn’t she painting? Could she be an art student? Wow, I love art students, so classy, so intellectual!”
“…Huh?” Lu Mingyu glanced over, and actually let out a sound of surprise. She looked… familiar.
“I wonder if I went over to ask her out, would she agree? I heard art types have high standards but love romance. Didn’t Chen Ge find himself an art student? Flowers and candlelit dinners every day. But then again, that girl was gorgeous, and he never stops bragging about her.”
Lu Mingyu rolled his eyes. “Forget it. That’s my da ge’s friend. If you so much as get ideas about her, be careful, my da ge will kill you.”
And then it clicked. This girl was Jiang Yu, the one he had seen at the airport when he went to pick up his brother. No wonder she looked so familiar.
“Your da ge’s friend?” At the mention of Lu Mingshen, Cheng Hu shrank his neck instinctively, his face showing a trace of guilty fear.
Well, it wasn’t without reason. For spoiled second- and third-generation rich kids like them, Lu Mingshen was truly terrifying. At the slightest displeasure, he would drag them off to military training to suffer. His cold, heavy gaze alone was enough to make people wet themselves.
“Is my da ge really that scary?” Lu Mingyu asked, a little puzzled.
Cheng Hu nodded hard. Not just scary, very scary. And growing scarier by the day.
Lu Mingyu thought about it. Perhaps it was the “big brother filter.” Though he did think his brother was stricter these days, he didn’t find him all that frightening.
“I still don’t even know this young lady’s name. Last time I asked, my brother completely ignored me.” Lu Mingyu wore a thoughtful look, then suddenly stood, straightened his clothes, and with a smile strolled out of the café, heading straight toward Jiang Yu.
Cheng Hu gaped. “Are you out of your mind? Didn’t you just say if you even thought about her, your da ge would kill you? If Mingshen ge finds out, you’re dead for sure!”
Lu Mingyu snorted. “So what if she’s my brother’s friend? What’s wrong with me going over to say hello? I’m not like you guys.”
That was true enough. But it also meant he’d be the one most likely to get beaten by his own brother. Good luck with that, pal.
Seeing that there was no saving his friend from himself, Cheng Hu gave up trying to stop him. After all, someone determined to dig their own grave couldn’t be stopped.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yu was sitting on a little stool, stroking the pigeon. Its feathers weren’t soft, but sleek and a bit stiff, though pleasantly warm, like holding a tiny hand-warmer.
She even fed it some bread she had brought along. The little bird nestled in her palm, diligently performing its “duties” as a pocket heater.
From afar, Lu Mingyu thought she looked like a pretty girl. But up close, he realised she wasn’t just pretty, she was stunning, radiant. Seeing her face clearly, he couldn’t help but whistle in his mind.
“…Fate brings people together from a thousand miles away. Da ge, you wouldn’t give me her contact info, but look, I’ve run into her again myself! This must be destiny.”
He secretly snapped a photo and sent it to his brother, then walked briskly toward Jiang Yu, light-footed with excitement.
A pair of feet entered her sight. Jiang Yu looked up and saw a young man standing in front of her. He wore a camel-coloured coat, his teeth white as he smiled, looking bright and cheerful.
“Hello, miss,” he greeted. “I’m Lu Mingyu, Lu Mingshen’s younger brother.”
Lu Mingshen’s brother?
Jiang Yu’s eyes showed a trace of surprise. Tilting her head, she studied him and indeed found a resemblance. She asked, “Mr. Lu’s younger brother, what do you want with me?”
But… the name Lu Mingyu sounded somewhat familiar.
Lu Mingyu flashed a wide grin, showing all his teeth. “I saw you last time at the airport. Um… are you sketching from life? That’s what it’s called, right? I don’t really know much about this stuff… Oh? In this drawing, are you painting that pigeon?”
He pointed at the pigeon nestled in Jiang Yu’s arms.
Jiang Yu nodded. He immediately gave an exaggerated compliment. “Wow, you’re really good! Look at this pigeon, it looks exactly like the real thing, so lively, plump, and healthy. It almost looks delicious, hahaha!”
He racked his brain trying to think of praise, but since he didn’t understand art at all, he fumbled around and ended up not even knowing what he was saying.
Jiang Yu: “…”
Lu Mingyu: “…”
He let out an awkward laugh, pointing at the pigeon. “Sorry… I was talking to the pigeon.”
Jiang Yu chuckled. She found him rather amusing. “So, what is it you came to find me for?”
In her past life, she had already been thirty. Though her appearance was now young, her heart was old, and looking at Lu Mingyu, she couldn’t help but see him as just a child, making her feel indulgent toward him.
But in Lu Mingyu’s eyes, her calm gaze carried a resemblance to his elder brother’s. To be honest, it made him feel a little pressured.
Still, he had just spoken toughly to Cheng Hu earlier; if he shrank back now, wouldn’t that be too embarrassing?
With that in mind, Lu Mingyu crouched beside Jiang Yu and said, “I just wanted to get to know you… Since you’re painting, could you paint me too?”
Jiang Yu arched a brow, nodded. “Sure.”
After all, she had come out to sketch people. Whoever it was didn’t matter. Painting Lu Mingyu was the same as painting anyone else.
Lu Mingyu stood up, trying to strike a handsome pose. He chose one he thought looked especially cool and asked, “Like this?”
Jiang Yu nodded, set the pigeon down, studied him carefully for a moment, then began to draw.
“Do I have to hold this pose the whole time?” Lu Mingyu asked, starting to regret it. Holding such a silly posture was both awkward and uncomfortable.
“No need,” Jiang Yu replied. “I’ve already memorised your pose. You can move however you like.”
His phone buzzed. Squatting there, Lu Mingyu saw a message from his elder brother. He perked up instantly.
“Where are you two?”
Lu Mingyu grinned and typed back: “Not telling you, nya nya!”
Reading the reply, Lu Mingshen was half angry, half amused. That brat, did he really think that by not saying, he wouldn’t figure it out?
Meanwhile, Jiang Yu’s sketch of Lu Mingyu was finished before he even completed a single round of his game.
“So fast?” Lu Mingyu exclaimed in surprise, reaching out to take the drawing.
It was just a quick sketch, with a few details, but at first glance, he could clearly tell it was him. The pair of peach-blossom eyes carried a mischievous smile, a little unruly, yet still with traces of boyish innocence.
Scratching his head, Lu Mingyu suddenly felt embarrassed. “So… is this how I look in your eyes?”
He carefully put the sketch away and said, “To thank you for drawing me, let me treat you to a meal, okay?”
“No need, ”
“How could there be no need? If my brother finds out, he’ll definitely scold me. Besides, it’s already dinnertime. Aren’t you hungry? Come on, come on, I’ll help you pack your things. I know a restaurant that’s super delicious!”
Eagerly, Lu Mingyu rushed to pack up Jiang Yu’s things for her, brimming with enthusiasm, not giving her any chance to refuse.
Jiang Yu checked the time. It was already 4:30. The days turned dark early, and soon it really would be night. Today’s weather had been good, but now it was growing gloomy, like it was going to rain.
The forecast had said it would be clear, but it seemed that wasn’t accurate.
Her phone chimed with another message. It was from Lu Mingshen.
“That really is my younger brother. Just ignore him.”
Lu Mingyu was still chattering on, persuading her. “Let’s go, let’s go. Looks like it’s about to rain. If you don’t leave now, you’ll end up soaked like a drowned rat.”
The sky was indeed darkening. Jiang Yu thought a moment, then nodded, accepting his invitation.
It was just dinner, after all, and she had been wondering what to eat anyway.
Lu Mingyu happily carried her drawing board. The two had just left when Lu Mingshen arrived. He looked around but saw no familiar figure, and his brows furrowed. Lu Mingyu was always unreliable, while Jiang Yu was far too well-behaved. He worried his brother might lead her astray.
A pigeon perched on his shoe. Lu Mingshen crouched down and noticed the bird wasn’t afraid of people at all, cooing up at him.
Hmm. He remembered that in the photo Lu Mingyu had taken, Jiang Yu was holding this very pigeon. The bright blue under its eyes was too distinctive to miss.
Could it be Jiang Yu’s pigeon?
Thinking this, Lu Mingshen simply tucked the pigeon into his coat pocket.
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