The Versatile Master Artist

In order to conveniently bind the collection of works, Fitz School doesn’t use lightweight handheld staplers in the classroom. Instead, it uses a tabletop stapler entirely made of cast iron.

It weighs about seven or eight pounds, like a little dumbbell filled with lead.

Dropping from such a height, it immediately left a deep mark on Mona’s pale instep.

The student council president’s instep immediately swelled up, with traces of blood visible even through the thin stockings.

Mona still seemed unaware, feeling no pain at all.

She thought she understood every word Miss Sakai said, but the combined meaning left her bewildered and at a loss.

Gu Weijing, the little donkey she raised... the most outstanding young person?

"Koizumi Katsuko, then why don’t you tell me which part of my evaluation was wrong just now." Koshiba Tarou still gritted his teeth, breathing heavily.

As soon as he mentioned this wild boy Gu Weijing, he saw Koizumi Katsuko indeed look up and come over.

The evaluations behind Koshiba Tarou were directed at Koizumi Katsuko.

They all say that in a lover’s eyes, someone can appear perfect, but he wanted to see if Koizumi Katsuko could overlook all these flaws and shower Gu Weijing with praise!

Miss Sakai gently stepped forward.

The observing students of Fitz automatically moved aside, like the Red Sea parted by Moses.

Only Miss Sandunu still stood dumbfounded, as if she hadn’t seen anything.

"These flaws indeed exist, and this is not a perfect piece of work."

Koizumi Katsuko did not rack her brains to make excuses to defend Gu Weijing.

She took the tablet from Koshiba Tarou, tilted her head, looked at the painting, and gently shook her head.

"Ha, didn’t your mom like to praise him to the skies? So our Miss Sakai can also see Gu Weijing’s trash..."

Koshiba Tarou’s sneer was cut off halfway by Koizumi Katsuko.

"But no one can create a truly perfect piece, just like no one can rely solely on the beauty of the picture itself to move every viewer in the world. This is a right reserved for God."

"Gu Weijing can’t do it, you can’t do it, I can’t do it, and neither could my father."

"All of us painters are merely servants of the Muse Goddess. We can only do our best to paint each picture well and strive to touch the fringes of perfection in our long lives."

Koizumi Katsuko turned her head and looked straight into Koshiba Tarou’s eyes.

"So what you see is a picture full of flaws, but in my heart, I can see the surface of this canvas filled with the sincere, persistent strokes of a young boy. What he painted may be naive, but it has a good sense of space, accurate structural lines, and outlines. These are all the traits needed to become an excellent painter, which are also Gu Weijing’s strengths."

"Traits, huh. What use are traits; the world is full of people with good painting traits. How many of them really become great painters? How many are worthy of signing with our Xiaosong Gallery?"

Koshiba Tarou’s attitude was one of complete indifference.

Koizumi Katsuko hugged the tablet to her chest and said softly, "Gu Weijing possesses not only painting traits but is also transforming these traits into wonderful light and shadow with his brush at a miraculous speed."

"Senior Xiaosong, you look down on Gu Weijing, and so you came to Yangon for so long without seriously trying to understand him. If you really engaged with him and witnessed Mr. Gu’s incredible progress, you too would be moved by him from the bottom of your heart."

"His painting techniques have already surpassed you, and he is even slowly surpassing me. If he continues to progress at this rate, who’s to say he might not surpass my father one day in the future."

Koizumi Katsuko smiled, "I look forward to that day."

"You—"

"Since the day, you might have already guessed, or maybe you haven’t. But regardless of whether you know it or not, I want to tell you clearly. Gu Weijing is the reason why I am willing to come to Yangon this semester across the ocean."

Koshiba Tarou...

Jerry...

Miao Angwen...

Mona...

The faces of everyone in the classroom were filled with astonishment.

Some of them knew Gu Weijing, and some of them didn’t know him very well.

But when they all heard Koizumi Katsuko describe that thin figure they usually saw with a tone of admiration,

it was as if a perfectly ordinary classmate suddenly morphed into an X-Men or Spider-Man Peter Parker absurdity.

The whole crowd erupted,

The world was shocked.

Among Fitz’s students, perhaps the one reacting most normally was Miao Angwen.

This was not the first time Miao had his worldview refreshed by Gu Weijing.

The shock of these things, when experienced the first time, is novel; after a while, you start to get used to it.

No matter how surprising the words from Miss Sakai’s mouth were, could they be more shocking than Brother Hao having someone hold a gun to your head and pull the trigger?

Miao Angwen just thought it was a bit far-fetched.

Why the heck, TNND! For both Brother Hao and this beautiful little art princess here, they all seemed to want to hug Gu Weijing like a treasure and nibble at him.

Hey, hey, hey, look over here, I’m also painting with dedication and sincerity, aren’t I?

Jerry suddenly felt inexplicably defeated.

He had always somewhat looked down on Gu Weijing, thinking of himself as more handsome, with a better family background, more resources, and a bigger, stronger physique than Gu Weijing.