The Versatile Master Artist

”Sorry.”

Gu Weijing sighed with deep sympathy.

”Sorry? Hey, why are you saying sorry?” Koukou tilted her head and asked curiously.

”I thought, stepmother...”

Gu Weijing was taken aback.

He was someone who rarely saw his parents from a young age.

His grandfather cared a lot about him, and his uncles and aunts weren’t particularly bad to him, but sometimes you just clearly feel the difference in how they treat their own daughter Gu Lin compared to him.

So,

He instinctively thought Koukou was the same.

Isn’t a stepmother supposed to be synonymous with a wicked old witch all over the world, irrespective of cultural differences?

”Hey, Gu, are you randomly imagining scenes from ’Snow White’? Don’t you see that I am not the timid kind who quietly suffers?”

Koukou glanced at the awkward expression on Gu Weijing’s face and chuckled lightly.

”Which homewrecker would dare to bully me? My dad might be a bit feudal, but he dotes on me a lot. He always believes that he can easily change little wives anytime, but his own precious daughter, his little padded jacket, is one of a kind. My stepmother is even a bit afraid of me, worried that I might unjustly tell my dad she treats me badly.”

Koukou proudly straightened her long neck.

”So, every year, my stepmother holds a very grand birthday party for me, showcasing to outsiders how good she is to me.”

”She also carefully selects all kinds of birthday gifts. Things like Lancôme cosmetics, Swarovski crystal jewelry...”

Koukou, counting on her fingers, listed all the expensive gifts she’s received at her birthday parties.

”I heard she’s getting me a Burberry shopping bag this year. She wouldn’t dare use such expensive luxury items herself to avoid suspicion.”

”Oh! That really sounds quite thoughtful.”

Gu Weijing compared it to his own aunt, and found that a stepmother like this, there really is nothing to criticize.

”Perhaps, but the meaning behind all these doesn’t compare to this bracelet.”

Koukou smiled, gently breathed on Gu Weijing’s wrist, and with the skin of her fingertip, softly wiped away the graphite dust smeared on the bracelet accidentally during a sketch.

”I actually know that as long as I ask, she will even go to the extent of using government connections at the Great Golden Pagoda’s heritage management bureau to get a few for me. But such things, when asked for, lose their meaning.”

”Only someone who truly wants to make you happy would stand in the sweltering heat for weeks, just to get you a wish for peace and smooth sailing.”

Koukou carefully cleaned the bracelet, then released Gu Weijing’s sleeve.

”Wear it well, the relative who used to give me a bracelet every year is no longer around, Gu, you must cherish it.”

Koukou patted Gu Weijing’s shoulder, stood up as the principal announced the end of the ceremony.

”Let’s go, this boring commendation ceremony is finally over, for the efforts of talking myself thirsty and guiding you, and even sharing childhood stories with you. Before we head to the advanced class, Mr. Gu, you should treat me to two cups of half-sugar taro ball milk tea at the campus water bar, and don’t forget to add pearls!”

”Is it drizzling?”

Gu Weijing looked out the window of the auditorium at the continuous rainy weather.

”Well, that’s just the right occasion for you to show some manly charm. Boys who want to line up to buy milk tea for a girl like me could circle the school three times.”

Koukou stuck out her tongue, revealing a mischievous expression like that of a cunning little fox: ”Hero, seize this opportunity to win a girl’s favor. I made star-shaped cookies again, used a measuring cup to add the salt, but it’s still a bit salty. They go perfectly with the sweet milk tea.”

”Don’t forget the pearls!”

She waved her hand, her long hair swaying behind her, disappearing into the dispersing crowd in the auditorium.

...

At this moment,

West River Clubhouse.

Among the students who didn’t come to school today, besides Koizumi Katsuko, there was also Miao Angwen.

He was being led by a blonde, blue-eyed club attendant through the long corridors of the clubhouse.

Miao Angwen’s gaze lingered greedily for a moment on the tall waist and hips of the white woman, feeling deep admiration for Brother Hao.

In Yangon, foreigners have always been a class above; it was true two hundred years ago, and it remains true two hundred years later.

Some travelogue on Google even states that this Southeast Asian city seems built on ”jade, pagodas, and cheap servants.”

Only a mafia magnate like Brother Hao can make those canary-like foreigners respectfully serve you in return.

”Brother Hao wants to see me.”

Miao Angwen quietly clenched his fists.

He had a conflict with Gu Weijing that day. This afternoon, he was suddenly brought to the West River Clubhouse by Bald, saying that Brother Hao wanted to see him.

Miao Angwen was very excited.

A black boss like Brother Hao, a Godfather figure with countless subordinates, is like an urban legend.

He joined Brother Hao’s counterfeit group for over a month and only had the chance to see Brother Hao’s back once.

At that time, Miao Angwen saw Brother Hao from a distance, surrounded by four or five black-suited bodyguards, getting into a bulletproof extended dark Mercedes, quite imposing, more like a respectable high-ranking official than a crime lord.

Today,

It was Miao Angwen’s first chance to have a close encounter with this master of the city’s shadowy society.

His heart was filled with anxiety, yet his ambition surged.

”Sir, the guest has arrived.”

The attendant girl pressed the doorbell in front of the suite’s door, pushed open the palm-colored wooden door, bowed slightly to Miao Angwen, and then quietly left.