The Versatile Master Artist

Among the senior students at Fitz, having a motorcycle at home isn’t uncommon, but they’re mostly 250cc, 400cc small displacement fun type motorcycles.

Whether it’s a Yamaha R1 or a Ducati Devil.

These types of heavy-duty motorcycles are top-tier in the motorcycle world, not cheaper than a four-wheeled van.

The high-end sports cars in European and American movies are just too far away from Yangon.

During student days at Fitz, whoever can ride such a motorcycle is like riding a big pile of cash.

It’s really like the knight on a purebred horse in European knight novels, all the girls on the street look at you with admiration and affection.

Quite glamorous.

Many girls couldn’t help but comment in the group.

For the first time, they began to focus on this once unnoticed, dark and skinny classmate.

”The bike is really nice, there’s a track day over in South City next week, let’s go play, we can swap bikes to try. Forget about the bikini dancers at the party, there are also school girls, I can contact a professional bar DJ, who’s great at mixing and scratching.”

Jerry started to suggest ideas.

The classmates in the group began to enthusiastically discuss the details of the party.

For some reason,

Miao Angwen, who usually didn’t interact much with him, even specially @messaged him once.

”@Gu Weijing, haven’t seen you in the public art studio recently, not picked by Mrs. Cruz and started giving up on yourself, huh? It must not feel good to be stepped on by me, but I’m a generous person. Rest assured, my party won’t exclude losers like you.”

”Haha, his girlfriend ran off with someone else, how could he have the mood to attend a party.”

”You just don’t understand, heartbroken people need alcohol to drown their sorrows even more, if Miss Sande Nu, such a beautiful girl, dumped me, I would want to drink myself to death in beer.”

”They weren’t a good match to begin with, don’t know what he was dreaming about. If I were the student council president, I wouldn’t have noticed someone so unremarkable in the first place.”

”$75 might not be easy for his family to come up with.”

Gu Weijing ignored the sarcastic remarks from Jerry’s underlings below, his gaze lingered on the message for a moment.

It seemed like Miao Angwen was casually teasing him.

But he could feel a faint hint of hostility in his words.

Have I offended him?

Gu Weijing shrugged.

Perhaps because of the grades.

The difference in scholarships between first and second place at Fitz School might be enough reason for Miao to dislike him.

The remaining hundreds of chat records were mostly about the party arrangements and everyone’s sign-up.

Gu Weijing glanced at it twice, lost interest, closed the screen, and just nodded to his aunt, affirming Gu Lin’s claim.

”Someone’s really planning a party, Aunt.”

”Alright, Mom, hurry up and give me the money, I’ve long wanted to go to a party villa.” Gu Lin continued rummaging through her aunt’s coat for the wallet, eager for Friday’s party.

”1, 2, 3, 4, 5...”

Gu Lin counted the money: ”The money in the wallet is not enough, we’re short by 30,000 Myanmar Kyat.”

”150,000 Myanmar Kyat, just for a drink, so expensive... Besides, you’re in grade 13 now, it’s time to study.”

His budget-conscious aunt was reluctant to shell out the money.

For a wealthy family, $75 is just a sum for a tomahawk steak.

But for ordinary Myanmar people, it’s enough for a whole family to live on for a month.

According to United Nations statistics, the monthly income across Myanmar is only $100 and 57 US cents.

”Can’t stand you guys, during spring festival, you didn’t buy me the iPad I wanted because it was too expensive. $75, many classmates have more pocket money than that in a week. Everyone’s going, but not me, how do you expect me to face my friends at school?”

Gu Lin pouted immediately, protesting.

She grumbled unhappily: ”If I get isolated and mocked by classmates, have psychological problems, it’s all because of your parental irresponsibility.”

”All classmates are going?”

His aunt, though worried about money, hesitated since it’s about her precious daughter’s mental health.

”I’m not going.”

Gu Weijing saw his aunt looking at him for an opinion.

Shook his head.

Gu Weijing didn’t sign up in the group.

He was already occupied mostly with painting.

He needed to prepare for the art exhibition and do some oil painting imitations.

Even though his thesis had temporarily concluded, his schedule was still packed tightly with various tasks.

No time for a pool party.

Hearing Gu Weijing say this, the eagerly anticipating Gu Lin became angry.

The grand party at the seaside holiday village, for the slightly vain Gu Lin, was like a Cinderella’s ball, something rare and valuable.

In her original thoughts, her cousin had saved enough New Year’s money over the years, $75 should be no problem. Surely, he would attend the party.

Her aunt disliked favoring just her cousin.

Traditionally, what her cousin had, she would have too.

Perfect for persuading her parents.

Never expected Gu Weijing to give such an answer.

”Xiaolin, see your cousin’s not going, maybe you shouldn’t either...” Her uncle shook his head too.

”What do you mean he’s not going, so I shouldn’t go either!”

”Gu Weijing not going? Hm, cousin is just that kind of dummy, who likes him at school? He doesn’t like socializing, this semester even the Miss Mona who used to frequently visit, isn’t willing to have contact with him anymore.”

Gu Lin angrily waved her hand, slapping the table.

”Do you want me to become this kind of loser?” Gu Lin accused unreservedly.

The whole breakfast, Gu Lin kept fussing with her uncle and aunt.

Finally, unable to endure her daughter’s pestering, her aunt handed 150,000 Myanmar Kyat to her daughter from the cash register drawer.

”At the party, don’t drink opened beverages, come home by night. Keep your phone with you, only allowed to drink a little beer...” Her aunt kept nagging Gu Lin on precautions.

Casting a glance at Gu Weijing, she pursed her lips.

”It’s not that I’m biased as your aunt not to give you money, but you said you weren’t going. Anyway, the old man must have secretly given you quite some money...”

”It’s fine, doesn’t matter, I don’t need it.”

Gu Weijing responded succinctly, interrupting his aunt’s rambling.

Before heading out,

Gu Weijing was called aside by his grandfather.

”I heard from Gu Lin that Mona she... you two young people had an argument? Miss Sande Nu is a good girl, if there’s some misunderstanding that upset her and you’re too shy to apologize, should I call the girl and have a word?”

Gu Tongxiang asked with concern.

The old man particularly liked Mona, the Indian girl who frequently visited their house.

Pretty, neat, very smart, methodical in doing things, very considerate.

Her family background was also great.

Such an ’upper-class’ good girl coming into the family pleased the old man 120%.

Miss Sakai was certainly good too, but her family background was just too far off, like an ungrounded fairy in the clouds, feeling unreal.

Too mismatched families, even if Gu Weijing was willing to be their resident son-in-law, might not lead to happiness.

Traditional Eastern elders always think far ahead.

”No need, she just doesn’t want to be friends with me anymore.” Gu Weijing shook his head.

”Is that so, sigh, you young kids...” Old man Gu Tongxiang opened his mouth but didn’t say anything, just let out a faint sigh.

However, the old man secretly tucked two fifty-dollar bills into the pocket of Gu Weijing’s school blazer.

”Take it and have fun, don’t let your aunt see it. In school, take part in more social activities, make friends, it won’t hurt.”

Gu Weijing didn’t refuse his grandfather’s goodwill.

Even though he still didn’t plan to attend any party, his grandfather’s intention warmed his heart.

But Gu Weijing didn’t expect that even though he wanted to avoid trouble, trouble came to him.