Chapter 101 - MeowMeow, please keep my secret for me

As it was a congratulatory painting, the painting was geared toward the older generation from the very beginning.

And, the ones that it touched was everyone from the older generation.

It would be difficult for the ones of the younger generations, especially the ones who have not yet had their own children, to understand the joy of having children around from the painting.

That was Gu Shishi’s hypothesis, and her theory was quickly confirmed.

When she painted the orange tabby, MeowMeow, who was Chen Kexin’s pet, Chen Kexin reacted positively to it as well.

Or possibly, the reason she appreciated the painting as much as she did was because she had a cat in the past and that she had always loved cats.

It may not have the same effect on a different individual.

Different paintings have different effects on different individuals. It had a lot to do with the individual’s experiences, temperament, and personal preferences.

“Living the Painting” would not work for every single person.

“I felt that this painting was done by some Master anonymously. Look at this stamp over here – Ink Painting Guru. Guru, said my Keke, means someone who was very capable. Anyone who’d be so boastful must have real skills,” said Old Mrs. Chen as she continued to examine the painting.

“And look at the smoothness and roundness of these brush strokes. And how the colors blended together so naturally. Then there’s the expressions and movements of these characters. Especially this mythical peach, this was the first time I’ve seen skill level like this.

“I think this might be done by a disciple of the Huang’s or the Mi’s. What do you think, Zhao-jie?”

Old Mrs. Zhao frowned a little, then studied it again carefully, “Master Huang Si? Doesn’t look like it. It looked more like the handy work of Master Wen Pei. But, as skillful as these paint strokes were, some areas were also very bold. It didn’t look like the work of someone who’s in their 70s or 80s. Maybe someone young, like 50s or 60s.”

Old Mrs. Chen nodded in agreement, “That makes sense. 50s~60s, could it be the one from the Mo’s?”

Listening to them, Chen Kexin was about to have a nervous breakdown.

70s or 80? 50s or 60s?

The Huang’s? The Mi’s?”

She looked at her own grandmother and was about to start crying!

This was done by a 20 something girl, grandma. And she was standing right in front of you right now!

She had been debating about whether to tell her grandmother that Gu Shishi was the guru.

Now she couldn’t say it even if she wanted to.

Else she’d be putting her own grandmother and Grandma Zhao on the spot!

They thought the painting from a 20-something was from someone in their 50s or 60s…. and then talked about how skillful her brush strokes were. Ugh, that was awkward!

Chen Kexin could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

She worried that Gu Shishi would jump out and contradict her grandmother, but she had obviously overthought.

Gu Shishi had absolutely no intention to jump out.

After everybody had spent sufficient time appreciating the painting and spewed out all sorts of flattering words, Old Mrs. Chen, satisfied, had Chen Kexin carefully roll the painting back up and put an end to this appraisal conference.

Chen Kexin finally let out a sigh of relief and solemnly and quickly brought the painting back to the resting area.

Yet, as soon as she took a step out, a voice almost made her shudder.

“MeowMeow.”

All of Chen Kexin’s hair stood on their ends!

“What do you want?”

If Gu Shishi wanted to expose her identity as the painter of the painting and had her introduce her to her grandmother once again, she’d for sure, immediately, gained her grandmother’s favor!

She’d instakill Pingting and her crowd in just a second!

This was not a warfare of equal match.

It was a landslide!

“MeowMeow, please keep my secret for me.”

The request coming from Gu Shishi shocked Chen Kexin.

“Don’t tell anyone I am Ink Painting Guru for the time being.”

Chen Kexin was dumbfounded. “…. Oh, but why?”

She couldn’t comprehend that.

“I thought you wanted to fight for the Gu’s inheritance?”

If that was her intention, then the best way to achieve that was to show that she was more outstanding than Gu Wushuang and wrap up more individuals from the upper-class circle to be on her side!

“Silly, what do I want the Gu’s inheritance for?” said Gu Shishi with a you-are-so-naïve look.

###

Chapter 102 - Who was telling the truth here?

“Do you have any idea how much Master Huang Si’s painting auctioned for?”

Chen Kexin shuddered again and looked up at her in shock.

She did know!

Of course she did!

Her father bought a painting from Huang Si last year and paid as much as $67 million for it!

It was said that he had spent half a month on that painting.

That was half a month. He only had to paint two paintings a month for a 9-digit monthly income!

“MeowMeow, then do you know what is the necessary learning process for every painter?” Gu Shishi smiled.

Chen Kexin was baffled. “Huh?”

“You think about that. I am taking off now,” said Gu Shishi as she waved at her.

“You are not staying for the rest of the gathering?” Chen Kexin was dumbfounded all over again.

“Oh, nah. I am already 80% full. More will be too much. I must go now. The temptation here is too strong!”

Gu Shishi waved at her. With her hem in her hand, she walked down the stairs.

Her light-yellow hem floated and danced in the air, looking like a butterfly.

After Gu Shishi was gone, Chen Kexin continued to think about her question, baffled.

Until a familiar voice finally interrupted her.

“Kexin, why are you standing here spacing out? Where’s that woman Gu Shishi? I just came after a meeting in the office. Where’s my cousin?!”

The man who rushed over here out of breath was Luo Zheng!

He couldn’t wait to see Gu Shishi put on the spot!

“She left.”

“Huh? Already?” Luo Zheng’s face was filled with disappointment, but it was quickly replaced with excitement. “So how did my Pingting torture her? It hasn’t even been an hour yet and she left because she couldn't handle it? Quick, tell me everything.”

Chen Kexin had a peculiar look on her. She answered his question with a question, “Luo Zheng-ge, you have taken ink painting classes as well. What is the necessary learning process for every painter? Hmmm… it might have something to do with some well-known painting Masters.”

“Why do you ask?”

Luo Zheng frowned but gave her the answer in just a second.

“Masters? Then for sure it is copy painting other famous works. At the beginning stage, it was all copy painting, then…”

Chen Kexin didn’t hear what came after “then…”

She was shocked by the “copy painting” part!

Did Gu Shishi mean that she was very good at copy painting?

As long as she wanted, she could make money by copy painting other Master’s work?

If she wanted to throw away her moral constraint. At one painting every two weeks, she could be making hundreds of million dollars a year…

The Gu’s inheritance was nothing compared to what she could make from painting?!

Chen Kexin had a very complicated look on her.

Was Gu Shishi telling her that she had no interest in the Gu’s inheritance and wouldn’t be bothered to fight over it?

If that’s the case… why did Pingting say what she had said?

Why was it that Wushuang never rebutted Pingting’s way of thinking?

So… who was telling the truth here?

“Oh my gosh, I am going nuts!”

Chen Kexin scratched her head.

***

Gu Shishi, on the other hand, walked out of there light-heartedly.

She had eaten delicacies. She had received the fondness she needed to level up. All of her objectives of attending the banquet had been accomplished.

As for her leaving early, there was another reason. She saw the dang male lead Huo Wencheng.

Thinking about the scene in the closet, she really was in no mood to meet him.

And she wanted to meet the Huo’s elders even less!

She had been staying at the Huo’s for a while now and had never seen anyone else from the Huo’s.

They had abandoned Huo Sishen in the book.

Now that Huo Sishen didn’t come with her. When she ran into them, was she supposed to greet them or not greet them?

Tsk!

Gu Shishi didn’t feel like dealing with them as of yet, so she decided to just take off.

And, for the time being, she would like to keep her Ink Painting Guru alias a secret.

It’d be more interesting to reveal it later on when the mysterious level was higher~

When Gu Shishi walked out of the club, she saw a silver exotic car parked on the side of the road. Siyi was the one behind the wheel.

Her eyes beamed uncontrollably.

Did Boss Huo… came to pick her up?

___

Rambling of the author:

Boss: Take a detour on our way home.

Siyi: QAQ