The Versatile Master Artist

The mountains blossomed all around.

But Gu Weijing’s mood couldn’t settle down.

Thoughts are the most mischievous little children in the world; they disrupt your creation when you need peace and power the most.

And you’re completely helpless.

The strongest mixed martial arts champions couldn’t possibly catch and beat the annoying imp named ”irritation” out of the hall of thought.

He wasn’t fighting a tangible enemy but the ”big walnut” weighing 1400 grams wrapped inside his skull made of grey matter, white matter, and ventricles, fighting against himself.

Struggling with oneself, the more you exert, the more off course you become.

In the end, there’s no other way but the exhaustion of thought.

Gu Weijing just faced the transplantation of the wisteria tree in the Royal Botanical Garden.

An insignificant matter.

An unfortunate mishap on the path of painting that any painter might encounter anytime.

Huang Binhong went blind, Beethoven went deaf, Monet suffered from cataracts, and Matisse, due to severe arthritis, lost the use of his right hand later in life, having to relearn holding a brush with his left hand.

Compared to the tragedies encountered by these great artists in history, this is nothing at all.

But Gu Weijing was indeed terribly upset.

The flower tree in the botanical garden was just a trigger for his irritation; what truly unsettled him was Lady Tangning’s statements in the interview.

After watching the video, Gu Weijing maintained a surface calm during his visit to the botanical garden, but something deep within was stung by Lady Tangning’s arrogant tone.

The young man’s pride was only a small part of the reason.

A youngster born and raised in a poor rural area like him didn’t have that strong pride; his grandfather Gu Tongxiang had gone through all kinds of hardships in his youth.

Gu Weijing could disregard being trampled by Tangning.

What truly provoked him was the buried self-doubt deep inside.

”You are just mediocre.”

”You are destined never to become me.”

”Smiling at children randomly gives them too many unrealistic fantasies.”

”Unconvinced? The ’Hundred Flowers Painting’ is right there; go ahead and try painting it!”

The words from the interview seemed to echo incessantly, unable to disperse, wandering repeatedly in his mind.

With each stroke, the voice sounded louder.

Gu Weijing imagined.

If in her shoes, faced with similar mockery, how would Koizumi Katsuko react?

She would probably calmly pick up her pen to fight.

You want me to paint for you?

Fine.

I’ll paint it for you.

If one day isn’t enough, then two; if two days aren’t enough, then two months, and if that isn’t enough, then a year. Someday, Koizumi Katsuko will surely manage to slap a lifelike painting onto their face, with her graceful neck raised high, welcoming the applause and cheers of the world.

No, more likely, she might just laugh it off.

Truly gifted individuals have strong enough hearts; they’re powerful enough that she doesn’t need to prove her ability through any particular task.

Gu Weijing isn’t sure how Miss Sakai would react.

But he believes Shengzi wouldn’t be as agitated as him, nor would she be...

Equally afraid.

Because Lady Tangning’s words were bluntly truthful.

In Elder Cao’s eyes, Gu Weijing is a promising art talent who could mix the most suitable mural paint through simply a half-day trial.

In Koizumi Katsuko’s eyes, Gu Weijing is a young talent distinguished in technique, flourishing in oil painting, sketches, and Chinese Painting.

Because of the mutual attraction between geniuses, Miss Shengzi fell for the young boy who brought her a unique sensation other peers couldn’t provide.

Only late at night, alone in a room washing his face, brushing his teeth, and staring at his reflection in the mirror.

Does Gu Weijing realize?

The boy in the mirror is truly not as gifted as Tang Ning who could paint the ’Hundred Flowers Painting’ at twenty, nor as ambitious as Koizumi Katsuko.

Without the system.

He is nothing.

All of Gu Weijing’s techniques were accumulated by points. What Elder Cao valued and what Miss Sakai admired was the virtual attire provided by the system.

If life were a fairy tale.

Then surely the script Gu Weijing obtained wouldn’t be that of the ’Little Prince,’ but of ’Cinderella.’

He’s like Cinderella in the fairy tale, who suddenly acquired a crystal shoe and a pumpkin carriage.

Gu Weijing played a role that wasn’t his at a stolen ball.

Every sentence from Senior Tangning was indeed accurate.

In this ball, every character was splendid, strong, except only him who feigned strength.

Thinking this way, Gu Weijing might perhaps be lesser than Cinderella.

The real Miss Cinderella had a beauty that genuinely captivated the Prince.

And what he created with the cover of ’The Little Prince’ that was most commendable was really just borrowed from Mr. Tree Sloth’s insight.

Change someone else, anyone could achieve it.

Previously when Gu Weijing painted alongside Koizumi Katsuko, he was astonished by Miss Shengzi’s natural creative prowess, further triggering self-doubt deep inside.

In the field of art, 1% inspiration greatly outweighs 99% perspiration.

True geniuses casually devise the idea of using fingers to handle the color transition between oil painting and Chinese Painting, whereas he only labored tirelessly in front of the easel.

Since then, Gu Weijing discovered a lack of aura in himself.