The Versatile Master Artist

”They trust each other and domesticate each other.”

Gu Weijing pondered Mr. Tree Sloth’s words.

This was a perspective he had never heard before, the mutual trust and domestication between humans and beasts.

This peaceful and equal way of coexisting sounds incredible and goes against biological common sense.

”Does it sound a bit too idealistic like the Holy Mother? After all, this way of interaction doesn’t align with our usual thinking habits.”

Anna casually said, ”In nature, the way animals interact is Darwin’s law of survival of the fittest and the strong preying on the weak. The earliest records of humans domesticating pets can be traced back to the Stone Age thousands of years ago. There are examples in the murals along the Nile River of nobles taming wild beasts as hunting tools.”

”They are associated with power, nobility, and absolute control.”

”The nobles acted as if they supported the universe to display their strength. One of the elements of this universe is the beasts imprisoned in cages.”

”This domestication is not the same concept I mentioned before. This domestication is based on superiority and power. However, the relationship between Amy and Tony is a more closely-knit emotional bond, which is what makes them special.”

Miss Elina considered her words: ”The idea that pets are human friends isn’t novel. But a friend is always a mirror; the way a person treats their pet is a reflection of their own character.”

”Dominance and affection, love and abuse, cruelty and kindness. Different choices lead to different outcomes.”

”I think the relationship between Amy and Tony is perhaps different from what most people imagine. Long-term companionship makes them closer to the familial and friendly relationships in human social connections, as well as non-sexual love and companionship.”

”So, if you ask me if there is love between Amy and Tony, my answer is yes. Love is the noblest and most selfless emotional connection in the animal kingdom. Pets can also love a person.”

Anna grasped August’s big paw and gently removed a wool strand from the blue fabric carpet stuck on its pad. She recalled years ago when her aunt handed her a small silly puppy in a portable pet box at the pet store, telling her in a certain tone, ”Learn to love something.”

”Love makes everything special.”

Detective Cat repeated the phrase that sounded like it was from an inspirational TikTok short video.

”It is this unfathomable love that makes every relationship so special. If you consider Amy to be a person full of complex emotions, then it’s easier to understand the situation we are facing. Lady Detective Cat, imagine if your everyday companion, ’Amy,’ passed away. You can’t just casually pick someone up on the street, call her Amy, and expect her to seamlessly replace Amy’s place, right?”

”So what do you think I should do?” Detective Cat inquired.

”I think if you approach this task with the mindset of painting a portrait rather than a cartoon pet, maybe the result will be different.”

Miss Elina silently opened her arms.

August jumped into her embrace.

The girl held the heavy, fluffy dog and turned to look at Detective Cat’s avatar on the Zoom chatroom screen.

She didn’t hurry, gently waiting for the other’s thoughts.

”Painting a portrait rather than a pet painting, I think I’m starting to understand.” It took a long while before the voice of a middle-aged woman came through the headset.

”Yes, it’s just my personal thought. I look forward to seeing you interpret it with a different brilliance.”

Anna nodded happily: ”On n’a pas deux cœurs, l’un pour l’homme, l’autre pour l’animal. On a un cœur ou on n’en a pas.”

Before hanging up the phone.

She used a verse from the famous poem ”The Lake” by the French poet Lamartine to conclude this conversation.

He was an important name in the French Romantic art movement, influencing significant painters like Turner and Rude, and was the most admired person of the current President of France in media interviews.

This poem translates to ”We have only one heart pounding in our chest, loving animals is loving humans.” It is inscribed on Lamartine’s epitaph.

Lady Detective Cat probably understood.

A smiley face appeared in the text prompt box in the chatroom, then she exited the chat.

”What a mysterious person. It seems finding this Lady Detective Cat is not as simple as I thought.” Anna stroked August’s ear with one hand and picked up her phone with the other.

Several pages of social messages had already appeared in the chat box on her phone.

Those were messages between Anna and Gu Tongxiang. The reason for contacting him close to the Zoom video conference time point was partly with a thought of checking in.

She had just casually asked a few questions at the start.

That elderly painter named Gu Tongxiang seemed to be very excited.

Even now, he was still enthusiastically talking about the artistic status and painting history of the peony in Eastern art.

Anna was slightly disappointed.

Firstly, Detective Cat couldn’t possibly be chatting online and sending these messages simultaneously, providing an alibi in terms of timing.

Secondly, she noticed from the initial greetings.

This old man seemed to have no understanding of French at all.

In conclusion,

The painter of Chinese painting from Yangon, Gu Tongxiang, can basically be confirmed not to be the same person as Lady Detective Cat.