Ning shixiong and the others all knew Jiang Yu was remarkable. To be praised so highly by the old master, she was the first in so many years. But just how much of a genius she really was, none of them had a clear idea. Now, hearing that Feitian was painted by her, they were completely stunned.
That painting, Feitian, was the best work Jiang Yu had painted since her rebirth. Her use of colour reached an absolute pinnacle, producing a beauty so breathtaking it was nothing short of astonishing. In every aspect, the painting was masterful, truly at a grandmaster’s level. Even now, many teachers used this very painting as instructional material for their students.
And one had to remember that when she painted Feitian, it was during a livestream. Her entire process, mixing colours, painting stroke by stroke, was recorded. People had replayed it over and over, yet even with all that, no one had been able to replicate the painting. That alone showed just how difficult it was to create.
Naturally, everyone had been curious about the artist. But who would have imagined it was Jiang Yu?
“This really is…” Han shixiong shook his head. He didn’t finish, but everyone understood what he meant.
Du Song burst into hearty laughter, his eyes practically glowing as he looked at Jiang Yu. “Shimei, you truly are a genius. No wonder Teacher likes you so much and values you so highly.”
Pang Yu shook her head. “You just keep surprising me again and again. With that painting alone, even if you failed the entrance exam, Changqing Academy of Fine Arts would still recruit you specially.”
“Where’s the painting now? Can I see it?” Ning shixiong asked eagerly.
Jiang Yu was taken aback. “That painting… it’s at the place I’m staying right now. Since I was still touching up some parts, I brought it along.”
“Then let’s go to your place now!” Ning shixiong blurted immediately.
Pang Yu quickly stopped him. “Hey, little shixiong, even if you’re in a hurry, at least finish your meal first. The rest of us are still hungry.”
“This… I’m not that hungry anyway,” Han shixiong said hesitantly.
Pang Yu: “…”
But their eagerness to see Feitian won out. In the end, they rushed through a few bites of food and headed straight to Jiang Yu’s place. Jiang Yu herself barely ate anything, just a few bites from a bowl filled to the brim. In the car, her stomach still rumbled. Ning shixiong noticed silently and shoved a custard pie into her hands.
“Eat this. Once you eat, you won’t be hungry anymore,” he said.
Jiang Yu: “…”
The car drove into the residential complex where Jiang Yu was living. Du Song looked around in surprise. “Shimei, this is the kind of place money alone can’t buy! Who would’ve thought you lived somewhere so fancy?”
Han shixiong and the others also nodded. Along the way, they had already passed several security checkpoints. Even the guards here were different from ordinary ones, each radiated a sharp, disciplined aura, clearly trained fighters.
A place like this was bound to cost a fortune.
“How could I afford somewhere like this? This is Mr. Lu’s residence. When I came, he lent it to me for a while,” Jiang Yu explained.
“Mr. Lu? You mean Lu Mingshen?” Ning shixiong asked.
Jiang Yu nodded.
Du Song’s expression shifted slightly. “So shimei has such a close relationship with Mr. Lu, huh?”
Jiang Yu shook her head calmly. “It’s all because of Teacher’s reputation.”
While speaking, they arrived at the base of the building. After registering downstairs, they were finally allowed up. The level of security made them all sigh in amazement, it was indeed strict.
Once upstairs, Jiang Yu unlocked the door. Ning shixiong and Han shixiong could barely contain their impatience, staring at her with eager eyes.
“…I’ll go get the painting,” Jiang Yu said, half-laughing, half-helpless under their gaze. She turned and went to her bedroom.
Meanwhile, Pang shijie wandered around the living room, marveling. “Our shimei isn’t just a genius, she’s incredibly hardworking too. Look, she’s only been in B City for a month, yet the walls are already covered with her paintings. Oh, and here’s a whole stack of sketches… let me see… tsk, at least several hundred pages!”
That meant Jiang Yu had drawn several hundred sketches in just one month.
Looking at the first sketch, she saw it was of a person. Suddenly she understood. “Ah, Daidai mentioned Teacher asked shimei to focus on figure sketching during this period. These must be it.”
The apartment was filled with paintings of all kinds, almost like a miniature art exhibition.
Jiang Yu came out carrying the painting. “I haven’t had time to mount it, so it’s still in its storage box.”
Ning shixiong and Han shixiong rushed over, not caring about framing. With utmost care, they unrolled the painting. It wasn’t small, half as tall as a person. As it spread open, the full image appeared before them.
Even usually stone-faced Ning shixiong now showed real emotion, excitement and even exhilaration.
Seeing them so absorbed, Jiang Yu went to the kitchen to boil water and prepare tea. The tea leaves here weren’t anything special, just ordinary ones. She wasn’t sure if they’d be used to them.
Pang Yu walked in to help, saying as she poured, “I see you’ve been painting a lot. Just take care of yourself and don’t overwork. Teacher really should let you rest during the holidays instead of piling on work.”
Jiang Yu quickly shook her head. “No, Teacher told me to rest too. I just wanted to paint on my own. For me, painting is like eating or drinking. If I don’t paint, I feel uncomfortable.”
Pang Yu gave her a helpless look and sighed. “As long as you feel good, that’s what matters. But don’t push yourself too hard, alright?”
She couldn’t help but think, even if Jiang Yu wasn’t famous now, it was only a matter of time. Someone like her could never remain unknown.
The two carried the tea out. Ning shixiong and Han shixiong were still glued to the painting, utterly entranced. Du Song was nowhere in sight. Jiang Yu glanced around and saw him out on the balcony, talking on the phone, his expression dark.
Pang Yu set the tea on the table and said, “Looks like those two will be a while. Among us, Ning shixiong is the most obsessed, Han shixiong the most hardworking. Both of them truly love painting and calligraphy from the bottom of their hearts. Compared to them, I lack that devotion. My own art has always been too utilitarian… that’s why I don’t paint much anymore.”
Because every time she painted, she felt as though she was insulting the very art of calligraphy and painting.
Jiang Yu looked at her and said, “Shijie, just the fact that you think this way means you truly love painting. In my view, painting should be about making yourself happy. As long as you like it, that’s enough, why worry about anything else?”
Pang Yu gazed at her, reached out to pat her head, and said softly, “…Maybe it’s because I no longer have the same pure heart as you do.”
Not just her. Really, how many people in the world could be as pure as Jiang Yu?
At that moment, Du Song came in from outside. The cold air followed him in, and his eyes carried a shadow, his whole person looking gloomy. Clearly, the phone call he had just taken hadn’t brought good news.
Pang Yu glanced at him but didn’t ask anything, instead turning back to continue talking with Jiang Yu. In truth, she didn’t like Du Song much. Many years ago, one could say Du Song only had a strange temper. But now, after being stained by the ways of society, he had become more calculating and worldly, making him even less likable.
“Shimei!” Du Song suddenly called out.
Jiang Yu lifted her head to look at him. “Du shixiong, what is it?”
Du Song made a low sound and then gave a gentle smile. “I do have something. Hmm… let’s step outside to talk.”
“What’s the need to go outside? Can’t you say it here?” Pang Yu asked.
Du Song’s expression grew impatient. He said: “I want shimei’s help with something work-related. I can’t let others know about it. Shimei, come on, let’s talk on the balcony.”
Hearing this, Pang Yu frowned slightly, a hint of suspicion in her heart.
After all, when they had first met, Du Song clearly looked down on shimei. Since when had he suddenly become so friendly?
As the saying goes: No one shows undue kindness unless they have an ulterior motive!
And Jiang Yu, coincidentally, was thinking the same thing. Last time, Du Song had said he wanted her to paint something for him. But why not ask Ning shixiong or the others? Why specifically her?
There must be some reason behind it.
“Du shixiong, what is it you want from me?” Jiang Yu asked.
Du Song looked at her and said, “Shimei, I know you’re very skilled at painting. This matter, only you can help me. You have to help me. We’re from the same sect. If you don’t help me, I’m finished.”
Jiang Yu didn’t immediately agree. Instead, she asked, “Du shixiong, first tell me what it is. I’m just a student, there are many things I might not be able to help with.”
“You definitely can help me. I want you to paint a picture for me!” Du Song said.
“Paint a picture? What kind of picture?”
“…Sui Ke’s Spring Outing!”
At this, Jiang Yu froze.
Sui Ke was a famous painter and calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty. His most renowned work was precisely this Spring Outing: young women in gorgeous long skirts, surrounded by blossoms and butterflies, dazzling in their beauty.
“Spring Outing? Du shixiong, why would you want me to paint that?” Jiang Yu asked, puzzled.
Du Song sighed. “I can’t compete with Ning shixiong and the others. Their talent is so high, they can sell one painting for a fortune. But me? Among us brothers, I’m the one with the least talent. Teacher has always been least satisfied with me. I know they all look down on me and think I’m too calculating. But what can I do? If I relied on painting to live, I would’ve starved long ago…”
“After graduating from university, I found a job at an antique shop. I was in charge of calligraphy and painting.” He grabbed his hair and spun in place twice, looking a little unhinged.
“…In that shop, there was Sui Ke’s Spring Outing. But not long ago, because of my carelessness, that painting was ruined. The boss doesn’t visit often, so he hasn’t discovered it yet… Shimei, if this is found out, I’m finished. That painting is priceless. If they hold me responsible, I’ll definitely be thrown in jail. I don’t want to go to jail. Shimei, you’re the only one who can help me now. I’m your shixiong, surely you wouldn’t just watch me be sent to prison?”
He spoke pitifully, his expression full of desperation. It was the kind of look that could easily soften someone’s heart.
But after thinking it through, Jiang Yu looked at him seriously and asked, “Shixiong, what you mean is… you want me to paint a fake to deceive people?”
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