The Versatile Master Artist

”Gu Weijing, not going to the studio again today? Looks like the small public studio can no longer satisfy our great artist Gu Weijing’s needs. You seem awfully confident about the college recruitment, not even wanting to prepare a portfolio.”

Miao Angwen stared at Gu Weijing’s face and asked coldly.

”Yes.”

Gu Weijing nodded.

It stunned Miao Angwen for a moment.

He didn’t know why Gu Weijing no longer went to the school’s public studio this semester.

Was it because he got dumped by his girlfriend and sunk into the misery of heartbreak? Or because he wasn’t selected by Mrs. Sakai’s advanced class and gave up on himself?

Miao Angwen’s words were originally meant to mock.

He was waiting to stab Gu Weijing in the chest a bit, then throw out a couple more sarcastically hurtful remarks.

Unexpectedly, the other party shamelessly admitted it.

”Then I really look forward to seeing your masterpiece at the college recruitment fair. With such confidence from you, it must be able to impress the judges, getting offers from ten or eight schools should be a piece of cake.” Miao Angwen sneered.

”Alright, I’ll invite you to enjoy it then.” Gu Weijing continued to nod.

Damn it! Truly shameless.

A piece of trash who wasn’t even selected by Mrs. Sakai’s advanced class could admit it so shamelessly.

Getting offers from ten or eight schools?

Do you think the acceptance letters from the college recruitment fair are like cabbages on the roadside!

Miao Angwen felt like punching a cotton ball, a fire stuck in his chest.

He really wanted these delinquents around to beat up Gu Weijing, tear that gentle and annoying mask off his face.

But, he couldn’t do that yet.

Miao Angwen had a task today.

For some reason, Bald specifically instructed him, hoping Gu Weijing could be invited to his pool party at school.

”I’m having a party this Friday.”

”Yeah, I know.”

”I didn’t see you signing up in the group, Seaside Holiday Village, with sunshine, pool, and professional resident singers. Such a grand party, you rarely have the opportunity to participate, right? Why haven’t you signed up?”

Miao Angwen used a provoking method: ”Or is it that you can’t even afford the admission fee of 150,000 Myanmar Kyat? I know your family is poor, Gu, but it’s not to this extent, right?”

He knew these once poor students’ pride too well.

The less money they have, the more afraid they are of others laughing at them. Even if it means spending their last copper coin, they have to keep up appearances.

As Miao Angwen spoke, the delinquents around burst into laughter.

”You can’t even get 150,000 Myanmar Kyat, what are you doing at Fitz.”

”Noble schools aren’t that great, this money isn’t even enough to buy a drink for a girl at the bar.”

”So poor...”

Gu Weijing was silent for a moment, unexpectedly not showing any sign of shame, instead nodding as if it was only natural.

”You’re right, we indeed don’t have money, but I won’t feel ashamed because of it. I’ve never pretended to be a rich family’s son, nor have I belittled myself or brown-nosed anyone because of it. I can’t afford your party, so I won’t go, it’s that simple.”

Gu Weijing didn’t consider himself rich at all.

Over the past two months, he indeed made a considerable amount of money by painting.

However, he’s already donated this money.

Gu Weijing wasn’t the type to eat poorly himself for the better life of orphans, acting like some moral Saint.

If it was a candlelit dinner with a girl he liked, whether it was seventy-five dollars or seven hundred and fifty dollars, he wouldn’t mind it at all.

He wanted to give the best to the person he liked.

But for unnecessary spending like this, Gu Weijing thought it was pointless.

The hundred dollars grandpa gave would be enough to cover Little Girl Mo Li’s HIV cocktail treatment for several months, or pay for a professional speech correction class for Bu Dao.

This fulfilled him more than attending Miao Angwen’s party would.

Gu Weijing’s words were spoken calmly.

Open and honest, with integrity.

[I’ve never belittled myself, never brown-nosed anyone, your party is something I can’t afford, so I won’t go, it’s that simple.]

Self-esteem is a rather mysterious quality.

Even the idle youths around were momentarily stunned.

They wanted to continue mocking him for being poor, but could only muster dry laughs in response to his calm tone.

”Gu Weijing, you look down on me that much?”

Miao Angwen was so infuriated by Gu Weijing that veins popped on his forehead, thinking the other was mocking him on purpose.

”Forget it.”

Miao Angwen kept reminding himself to prioritize, took deep breaths, forced a smile, and waved his hand: ”As classmates, I’ll cover your drink expenses, consider it a free invitation.”

”Sorry, not going.” Gu Weijing shook his head.

”Why?”

Miao Angwen gritted his teeth, staring angrily.

”No time, I need to work to earn money.”

On Friday night, he still had to discuss the final touches on the Little Prince painting with Mr. Tree Sloth, where would he find the time?

”Fine, fine, fine.”

Miao Angwen’s face twisted, but he forced himself to ask, ”Where do you work, waiting tables at Pizza Hut or cashier at a coffee shop, can you earn a thousand Myanmar Kyat an hour? I’ll pay you five thousand Myanmar Kyat, consider it an invitation, okay?”

”Give me five thousand dollars and I’ll go.”

Gu Weijing was getting a little impatient with Miao Angwen’s pestering, he wasn’t some pretty girl, why would the other insist on him going.

He could sense the unfriendly tone in Miao Angwen’s voice.