The Versatile Master Artist

Looking at the meticulously baked small cakes that Mona handed over, Miss Sakai’s mood turned cold.

”Sorry, it’s just that I... don’t want to eat sweets these days.”

Koizumi Katsuko was gentle by nature, even if she didn’t like Mona, she wasn’t a girl who would show disdain to a classmate giving her a gift.

She quickly thought of an excuse and then put the little cake back.

”You don’t want to eat sweets, are you watching your weight, Shengzi? But your figure is already good enough.” Mona was somewhat disappointed.

She pondered, ”Since that’s the case, I can make some more cake tomorrow, maybe with sweetener, or something lighter...”

”Thank you, Miss Sande Nu, but there’s no need, I don’t need it.”

Koizumi Katsuko pursed her lips and coldly rejected the kind offer, turning her head away and saying indifferently, ”By the way, though I apologize greatly, please address me by my surname, call me Miss Sakai.”

After speaking, Koizumi Katsuko turned and left.

”Tch... trying to win someone over with a cake, a toad lusting after swan meat.”

Maire happened to pass by and witnessed the scene.

She snorted with laughter.

Among the six advanced class students, there were only two girls, and their relationship wasn’t good.

She was the type who only knew how to paint diligently, and disliked Mona’s kind who was adept at managing relationships.

She had a terrible figure and was ugly, had been a nobody at Fitz for years, enviously watching Mona, who had mediocre painting skills, relying on a pretty face and help from her boyfriend to thrive in school.

Finally, after much effort, fate rewarded her.

Before graduation, she encountered the blessed chance of Mrs. Sakai wanting to start an advanced class at school, finally making a name for herself, yet Mona somehow managed to worm her way in.

She had long been displeased with Mona.

The hormone-driven boys liked to flatter pretty girls. While the girls schemed against each other, Maire was not the one to give Mona any face.

”Maire, do you have any opinions?” Mona glared angrily at Maire.

She wasn’t like Koukou, a master of scheming, but she was the student council president, the highest-ranking student, and had many ways to deal with petty people at Fitz Campus.

Just by monitoring their attendance and hair, or assigning them to clean the studio, many girls couldn’t stand it.

”Tch, about to graduate... People really don’t care about poor girls like you, acting all high and mighty.” Maire, not wanting a direct conflict with Mona, the student council president, avoided her fierce gaze.

”Sly bitch, bootlicker...” she muttered as she walked away.

Mona clutched the lunch box holding the cake tightly, her fingertips slightly pale.

Maire’s words stung her a bit.

Was Miss Sakai despising her?

In her mind, she recalled Gu Weijing’s clean smile; every time she handed him a cake, Gu Weijing would earnestly eat every piece and genuinely praise her craftsmanship.

If the cake was baked for Gu Weijing, regardless of the taste, he would definitely enjoy it happily.

The pity is,

Mona didn’t need a boyfriend who would praise her for being good.

She needed connections, support, a better stage and life. Gu Weijing couldn’t provide that, but Mrs. Sakai and Miss Sakai could.

So,

Even if Koizumi Katsuko behaved coldly and indifferently towards her, she could only pretend nothing happened and keep smiling through gritted teeth.

Mona put the lunch box into her backpack, opening the portfolio that Mrs. Sakai personally corrected.

Everyone’s portfolio was personally revised by Mrs. Sakai,

On almost everyone’s artworks, there were various critiques written, whether regarding composition proportions, brushwork details, or inspirational creativity.

They were required to correct according to the comments.

Even Miao Angwen, who was the most skilled at painting and had imitated 18 master’s works in his portfolio, was scolded by Mrs. Sakai for lack of creativity.

She wanted to see how her portfolio did after guidance from private tutors.

Mona flipped through her incomplete portfolio,

The first thing she saw was the giant cross and flamboyant comment written in red pen by Professor Cruz on the front page of her ”Self-portrait”.

Put the cart before the horse!!!

Mona recognized this as an English idiom, ”The carriage ran ahead of the horse,” roughly translating to ”putting the cart before the horse.”

This is a common art critique, but it’s the worst kind.

Mona’s expression turned a bit sour.

This was the painting she believed least likely to have issues, having spent weeks with the guidance from a senior who graduated from the Royal College of Art.

Especially with a self-portrait, a subject that never goes wrong.

Mona had always been satisfied with this painting.

However, Professor Cruz gave such a poor comment.

”How could my painting be so bad in the professor’s eyes?”

Mona couldn’t quite understand.

She trusted Mrs. Sakai’s artistic vision, just felt confused and bewildered, not knowing where the problem lay.

Mona pondered and walked to the side where Koshiba Tarou leaned against the window, playing with his phone.

”Assistant teacher, can I ask you what Mrs. Cruz’s comment means?” Mona consulted.

”The meaning is... your painting is very bad.”

Koshiba Tarou glanced at Mona, impatiently shaking his head.

He was texting Koizumi Katsuko to invite her out, not in the mood to teach a student painting.

”Sorry, Teacher, could you tell me how to correct it?” Mona pleaded.

”It’s almost time to end class, we’ll discuss next class.” Koshiba Tarou waved his hand.

”But, next class Professor Cruz wants us to submit a revised draft...”

”Don’t bother me, can’t you understand? I said next class.” Senior Xiaosong impatiently brushed off Mona’s plea and walked to Mrs. Sakai, who was packing things.

”Auntie, Shengzi specially did her makeup for me today, truly beautiful,” Koshiba Tarou said.

”For you—”

Mrs. Sakai paused her action of organizing her handbag, glancing at Koshiba Tarou before saying with an unclear intention: ”Perhaps.”

”Mr. Xiaomao, girls need to be pursued, you must find ways to make her happy, find common interests, find ways to make her like you. You’re older than Shengzi by several years and are experienced in romance.”

Pausing for a few seconds, looking at the complacent Xiaosong, Mrs. Sakai couldn’t help continuing.

”Auntie, this...” Koshiba Tarou’s face turned red.

”Alright, you don’t need to hide in front of me. As long as you cleanly break with others and have only Shengzi, I won’t pursue the previous absurdities.”

After admonishing Xiaosong, Mrs. Sakai said sympathetically: ”I’m just reminding you, Shengzi is the kind of girl who might run away if you don’t put in effort to pursue her.”

Run away?

Koshiba Tarou sensed something unsaid in Mrs. Sakai’s words, giving him a not so good feeling.

”What do I need to do to please Shengzi?”

”That’s your business.” Mrs. Sakai said no more, and exited the classroom with the sound of clacking heels.

”Professor, could you please wait for a moment? I’d like to take a few minutes of your time.” Mona waited at the classroom door.

She wanted to understand where her work’s problem was.

Mrs. Sakai hesitated for a moment, checked her watch.

”The hotel car has already arrived to pick me up, I’ll give you three minutes, what questions do you have?” Mrs. Sakai wasn’t very patient, yet taught conscientiously.

That aside, students like Mona who are serious, though limited in skills, do not annoy the teacher.

”I can’t quite understand your comment on my ’Self-portrait’.”

Mona handed over her portfolio.

”The comment?”

Mrs. Sakai tapped Mona’s portfolio with her finger.

”Miss Sande Nu, isn’t my comment clearly written on it? You’ve neglected the essential for the minor. Are you painting a self-portrait or showing off a fashion show? What’s crucial in a portrait is to return to the person.”

”You are a person, not a clothes hanger.” Mrs. Sakai criticized.