The Versatile Master Artist

On watercolor paper,

The little cow cat, as if boneless liquid, rolls and plays agilely in the air, perfectly capturing its essence with a few lines.

Gu Weijing put down his brush and took a few steps back.

He glanced at the phone screen, then at the watercolor paper pinned on the painting stand.

Gu Weijing felt his heart melting from the cuteness!

"Oh?"

At this moment, Elder Gu Tongxiang pushed open the door of the small studio and stepped inside.

He initially intended to discuss other matters, but a casual glance at his grandson’s charcoal drawing made him unable to resist taking several more peeks.

The old man was never fond of small animals.

Having endured through wartime eras, as a child, he had barely enough to eat, let alone any excess fondness for cats or dogs.

Moreover, Gu Tongxiang was somewhat allergic to pet fur, prone to causing rhinitis.

Like his grandson, Gu Tongxiang, while playing chess at Old Wu’s, mischievously tried to grab a tail, only to have a fierce tabby cat from Old Wu’s yard smack him across the face.

Since then, he completely lost his fondness for pets.

Walking down the street, not kicking a stray dog or two was as good as it got.

For someone like Elder Gu, who felt nothing for companion pets, it was rare for him to find his grandson’s doodle on the wall so cute.

Gu Tongxiang had an interest in drawing horses, and he had never drawn nor understood much about cats or dogs.

He instinctively felt attracted to his grandson Gu Weijing’s doodle.

In the depths of human souls, regardless of age or gender, the extent of fondness for cute things is universally similar; it’s just if they can capture that moment of cuteness.

An excellent artist can eternally preserve this fleeting moment on paper.

These strokes are much cuter than the ill-mannered tabby cat at Old Wu’s house!

The old man entertained this thought.

"It was just a matter of convenience before, if you really want to keep a pet, it’s not absolutely impossible." Elder Gu hesitated a moment, stroked his chin, and said.

Gu Weijing put down his brush.

He looked at his grandfather curiously, not believing these were his grandfather’s words.

Gu Tongxiang was the typical Eastern-style parent.

He would provide everything good to his grandson, but usually maintained a certain demeanor towards his most cherished grandchild.

If something wasn’t allowed, it simply wasn’t allowed.

Gu Weijing knew Gu Tongxiang had no fondness for cats and dogs, and now he suddenly changed his tone.

Could a simple doodle of his have such power?

"Never mind, I’m about to start university soon, I wouldn’t have time to take care of a pet."

Gu Weijing shook his head and directly asked, "Grandpa, was there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Weijing, yes, there is something, but you must not consider my opinion. This decision is for you to make..."

Noticing Gu Weijing’s perplexed expression, Gu Tongxiang’s old face turned slightly red.

He embarrassedly scratched his head, hesitantly starting to speak, "Um... um..."

"Grandpa, just say it directly."

Rarely did Grandpa show such an expression in front of him, which left Gu Weijing even more puzzled.

As he placed the newly copied painting to dry in the corner, he carefully stored the watercolor paper and quietly asked, "What happened?"

"Never mind, let’s go out to the living room and talk."

Elder Gu stuttered for a long time without reaching a point.

He simply opened the studio’s door and walked into the small living room of the house.

Hanks, the agent from Ma Shi Gallery, had not left. The blond man, sitting at the table, had a mysterious smile as he watched the grandfather and grandson walk over.

"Mr. Ma Shi, go ahead and make the suggestion to Weijing."

"Is there a problem with the contract? Wasn’t it signed well?" Gu Weijing looked at the agent with questioning eyes.

"It’s like this, Mr. Xiao Gu. There’s no problem with our current contract, but I hope to sign another agency contract to represent Mr. Gu, your grandfather Gu Tongxiang’s art and painting pieces."

Hanks gestured with his hand toward a nervous-looking Gu Tongxiang.

"The old man said he wanted to seek your opinion."

Mr. Ma Shi III received his text message, yet did not personally call back to respond to Hanks’s report.

However, Hanks received a work email from Ma Shi III’s secretary a dozen minutes later, instructing him—[Continue maintaining a good relationship with Gu Weijing.]

Sensing the implication.

Hanks was likely to deduce that the boss had shown no impatience at being disturbed with the pretense of assessing "a young artist’s exceptional skill during signed copying works."

On the contrary, even upon seeing such trivial news, he seemed quite pleased.

In the heart of any major gallery’s sect leader, there’s a list full of renowned artist names in the art circle.

The names on the list, according to the gallery owner’s judgment and estimation of the artists’ current and future market conditions, are categorized into different levels of importance.

Generally, at least a cumulative sales amount of over three million US Dollars, only artists who are just a notch away in skill from the likes of Professor Yakai, enjoy the personal attention of Ma Shi III.

Such people are less than one hundred and fifty in the entire art world.

No more than ten in Ma Shi Gallery.

This signifies that in the eyes of the art giant, Ma Shi III, although Gu Weijing will formally join the family gallery in a few months.