“What’s wrong, baby? Why aren’t you talking?” Ouyi asked while eating a banana.
The video was silent again.
Cheng Yue glanced at the video and nervously explained to Ji Xu, “This is a classmate who’s with us.”
“Come here.” Ji Xu looked at the man whose half-body was visible in the video.
“…Huh?” Ouyi was taken aback.
Cheng Yue turned to him and, lowering his voice, explained, “This is my uncle.”
“Oh, okay, okay.” Ouyi glanced at the indifferent face of the man in the video and, scared, hid the banana behind his back before cautiously leaning closer.
“Who were you calling baby just now?” Ji Xu asked calmly.
“I… I…” Ouyi touched his beard, looking a bit frightened as he glanced at Cheng Yue.
“Our Cheng Yue is still underage, so please be mindful of your choice of words,” Ji Xu said, sounding somewhat stern.
“Okay!” Ouyi, for some reason, was instinctively scared of this man.
“How old are you?” Ji Xu looked at him, his disbelief growing at the sight of the bearded face, unable to believe he was a student.
“19,” Ouyi answered.
“You’re only 19?” Cheng Yue was stunned by Ouyi’s answer. This older brother had a full beard and wore a black vest, and yet he was only 19?
He had always thought this guy was in his thirties, looking much older than Ji Xu.
“My family tends to look mature, but when you hit your thirties, you start looking old, and I still look like this. It’s an advantage for us,” Ouyi seriously explained.
“I’d definitely look different even in my thirties,” Cheng Yue rolled his eyes.
After stepping out of the video frame, Ouyi patted his chest nervously, then took a bite of the banana he had hidden behind him, eating and patting himself intermittently.
Once Cheng Yue and Ji Xu’s video call ended, Ouyi finally dared to speak.
“Hey, baby, your uncle is really scary,” Ouyi poked Cheng Yue’s shoulder with his finger. “He scared me.”
Cheng Yue shivered at Ouyi’s description and couldn’t help but rub his arms. “What are you here for?”
“There’s an event at the exhibition later. We need to go,” Ouyi explained. “Wear a jacket, it’s a bit cold tonight.”
“Okay.” Cheng Yue agreed and ran to his suitcase. Ji Xu had packed it for him, and he quickly found a jacket at the bottom.
When he went downstairs, a group of people, without greeting Qi Kang, hurriedly got into the car. Cheng Yue felt uncomfortable seeing Qi Kang, the last one to board, alone.
At the venue, as Cheng Yue watched Qi Kang walk towards the event organizer, he looked at the group next to him, who were laughing and holding drinks. He still disapproved of their behavior and, lowering his voice, leaned closer to Ouyi.
“I think you guys are being too much…”
Cheng Yue spoke in a very low voice, not because he feared the group hearing him but because he was concerned about Qi Kang. He would feel hurt if he were in Qi Kang’s shoes.
“Do you misunderstand something…” Ouyi looked a bit awkward after listening.
“Professor Qi is usually serious and stern. He doesn’t like people who talk too much; everyone in the industry knows this. We were strictly instructed by our mentors not to speak to Professor Qi, and he has a cleanliness obsession and doesn’t like others touching his things. You’re the only one who hasn’t been scolded…”
Cheng Yue was taken aback, then pointed at the event organizer, who was speaking to Qi Kang with a stern face. “He seems to…”
“The organizer has personally visited three times to invite Professor Qi to be the main judge. Do you think they would dare disrespect him?” Ouyi answered before Cheng Yue could finish, his expression one of disbelief.
“Why would you think that?”
“I saw them ignoring Professor Qi last time…” Cheng Yue began to doubt his own observations.
“Pfft.” Ouyi curled his lips. “They’re scared, more timid than us. They wouldn’t dare say anything more than necessary in front of Professor Qi, afraid of offending him. I remember two years ago, my mentor told me about a not-so-famous competition. The organizer was very sincere in inviting Professor Qi, but talked too much, and Professor Qi left within ten minutes…”
Cheng Yue was stunned after hearing this. He looked back at the event organizer and the two well-dressed men behind him.
As he noticed the trembling hands of the organizer, the sweat beads on his nose, and the expression of fear he initially mistook for indifference…
Cheng Yue gulped down his drink, trying to suppress his overturned perception.
After the reception dinner, Cheng Yue arrived back at the hotel, lay down on the bed, and took out his phone to call Ji Xu.
Before he could make the call, another call came through.
It was Qi Kang.
Cheng Yue immediately felt embarrassed thinking about his own previous actions and hesitated for a while before finally answering the call.
“Hello, Professor Qi,” Cheng Yue said in a soft and polite tone, unlike his usual self.
“Hmm,” Qi Kang responded. “Come to my room.”
“…Huh?” Cheng Yue was stunned for a moment, then replied with an “Okay.”
After hanging up, Cheng Yue sat on the bed for a while before heading to Qi Kang’s room.
The door to Qi Kang’s room was open. Cheng Yue knocked and heard someone inside say “Come in,” before stepping inside.
In the room’s living area, there was an octagonal table with steam rising from it. Cheng Yue approached and realized Qi Kang was making tea.
As soon as Cheng Yue sat down, Qi Kang glanced at him and asked, “Do you have any schools in mind for the art exam?”
“Not yet.” Cheng Yue touched the small porcelain cup, which was a bit hot.
“Your paintings have spirit but lack experience,” Qi Kang suddenly criticized. “You’re not serious, not diligent, and can’t endure hardships. Look at how you hold your paintbrush—there’s no strength at all.”
Cheng Yue stared wide-eyed, slightly stunned by the sudden criticism.
“Do you have a mentor?” Qi Kang took another sip of tea, looking down.
“…No,” Cheng Yue said, feeling down after being criticized.
Qi Kang thought the kid was too clueless but couldn’t help but suggest, clearing his throat, “Have you considered finding a mentor?”
“A private tutor?” Cheng Yue asked. “My uncle mentioned he might look for one.”
Qi Kang sighed, clearly frustrated, “Alright, go back and rest.”
Cheng Yue had a vague sense of something but wasn’t sure. After leaving Qi Kang’s room, he immediately called Ji Xu to inform him of what happened.
Ji Xu was silent for a moment after hearing the news. “Go back to him…”
Cheng Yue had an inkling but didn’t dare to think further. Upon hearing Ji Xu, he rushed back to Qi Kang’s room.
Qi Kang wasn’t surprised by his sudden return.
He just smiled wryly and said, “Alright, I do have this intention. I’m not sure if you’re willing.”
“Willing, willing,” Cheng Yue nodded vigorously.
“Come over and have some tea, call me ‘Master,’” Qi Kang poured another cup of tea and placed it on the table in front of Cheng Yue.
Cheng Yue hurried over, drank the tea, and then sincerely called him “Master.”
Qi Kang smiled in response.
“Is it really that simple?” Cheng Yue was still a bit incredulous.
“If you want, you can also kowtow a few times as a formality,” Qi Kang said, taking a sip of tea.
Cheng Yue scratched his head and was almost inclined to kneel. Just as he was considering where to kneel, Qi Kang sighed.
“I’m old now, and you’re my sixth disciple, probably the last one,” Qi Kang said, standing up and bringing another cup of tea to Cheng Yue.
“Your painting isn’t great, and you’re not very sharp, but at least you’re straightforward. It’s fine to be a bit foolish. Later, make some time to meet your senior brothers; they’re very clever, so you can learn from them.”
Cheng Yue was genuinely happy to have a master, but after hearing the old man’s words, he wasn’t sure whether to smile or feel contrite.
It was quite a stroke of luck, indeed.
After leaving Qi Kang’s room, Cheng Yue savored the taste of tea in his mouth, his face flushed with excitement.
He bounced back to his room and immediately called Ji Xu.
The call was answered almost instantly. Ji Xu’s concerned voice came through, “How did it go?”
“Guess?” Cheng Yue replied, smiling, as he lay back on the bed and kicked his legs playfully.
“Successfully apprenticed,” Ji Xu said with a smile, clearly able to tell from Cheng Yue’s tone.
“It wasn’t like how it’s described in books. It was too easy,” Cheng Yue sighed. “I thought I’d have to kneel in the blazing sun, cut my palm with a knife, spill the blood into the wine, and drink it all at once.”
“…What book were you reading?” Ji Xu asked.
“Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils?” Cheng Yue inquired.
Ji Xu: “……”
Cheng Yue turned over and covered himself with the blanket, complaining in a slightly coquettish tone, “How many more days until we can go back? I’m so tired…”
“Considering how hard you’ve worked…” Ji Xu’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the long dress, wig, and a black leather box with a delicate collar inside.
“What?” Cheng Yue asked.
“I’ll reward you with a gift,” Ji Xu said.
Upon hearing the mention of a gift, Cheng Yue swallowed and awkwardly asked, “What’s the gift?”
“How about a trip to the amusement park?” Ji Xu asked, taking the collar out of the box and imagining it around Cheng Yue’s neck.
“Sounds good.” Cheng Yue agreed happily and sighed in relief.
As long as it’s not a dress.
Author’s note:
What do you think Ji Xu has planned for Cheng Yue in a dress? Hahaha!
It’s almost 3 a.m… I’m exhausted…
*T/N: Same thoughts, my eyelids are sticking together T v T
