The Versatile Master Artist

”No, of course not. Thank you, it’s a very valuable opportunity, I’m very grateful.”

Mona hesitated for a moment.

She showed a very polite smile, without kissing or hugging, just shook hands with the blond boy with a sense of propriety.

It was hard for her to say anything reproachful in such a situation.

If it were just a simple role as the female lead in an ordinary short film, Mona wouldn’t care that much. But a winning short film that was praised in an official newspaper report, she really couldn’t refuse.

Getting into Mrs. Sakai’s advanced class didn’t mean smooth sailing in university applications.

Or rather,

If Mona’s original goal was only Erasmus University Rotterdam, which was ranked in the top 150 universities of art and design worldwide, or ”second-rate prestigious universities” ranked around 150~200.

If that’s still the intention now, she felt the requirement was a bit too low.

A better university meant a better circle, better connections, and better development opportunities.

In the field of art, those geniuses who become the focus of everyone’s attention from the start, who shock the world from remote places, of course, exist, but they’re few and far between.

The reason true geniuses who make a splash at Biennales often attract super galleries like Gagosian, Lisson, and PACE, with annual sales in the ten billion dollar range, to chase them with astronomical sums is because such instances are too rare.

Talent that can influence the world is destined to be unrelated to 99.999% of people.

Many times, for two ordinary art students of similar level, it’s a matter of opportunity, who can be closer to the world art center, whose school is better, who can intern at higher-end studios...

Anyway, everyone’s work is about the same, neither good nor bad.

Without stunning talent,

whoever has a better circle, more opportunities, their life will be more likely to succeed.

With such a good starting point, Mona also has greater ambitions.

The higher the university, the harsher the application conditions. Everyone compares portfolios, GPAs, and community service hours, and the best students in the world are competing with you.

She indeed needs this social welfare experience.

But she doesn’t want Jerry to misunderstand.

”How about this, after school, I’ll treat you to dinner to show my gratitude.” She nodded at Jerry and said with a smile, ”You choose the restaurant, Mr. Jerry Lorenz, please pick dishes as expensive as possible, otherwise I’ll really be embarrassed to accept such a precious gift.”

Jerry was slightly disappointed.

Mona’s response was too distant, not as intimate as he imagined.

Although adding a name to the staff list was an inexpensive gift for Jerry.

But the response from the female student council president was overly appropriate.

Too appropriate, which made it seem distant.

He could hear from Mona’s body language and the deliberate emphasis on the restaurant price, a sense of coldness, and felt a bit frustrated inside.

”Oh well, having a meal together, after all, is a good step forward.”

Jerry chuckled to himself.

As a school team star, he’s had quite a few good-looking girlfriends during his student days, but he’s lost interest in girls who get into bed just for bags and lipsticks.

A difficult girl is what gives a man a sense of conquest.

He gently pulled Mona, and the two of them bowed towards the applauding audience like lead actors taking a curtain call in a stage play.

The lack of a passionate kiss scene slightly disappointed the onlooking classmates, but the scene still drew loud applause and cheers.

The hall resounded with clapping and laughter.

The atmosphere was so good that everyone seemed to feel that the charming couple on stage were naturally meant to be together.

Beautiful girls are already a scarce resource in school, and everyone subconsciously thought they should belong to a glorious boy like Jerry.

”I thought you’d be very unhappy at this point, and I wanted to run over to comfort you. Who knew you were secretly looking at pretty girl pics in the corner! Is this what boys are like, leaving the old for the new?”

A teasing voice came from the side.

Gu Weijing turned his head and saw a pair of charming, bright eyes looking down at him from above.

”Koukou?”

The light in the hall seating area was dim like a movie theater, and Gu Weijing hadn’t noticed when Koukou slipped over.

She was leaning lightly on the empty seat in front, her hands crossed on the backrest, staring at Gu Weijing... the screen of the iPad in his hand.

The screen was still on, showing swimsuit photos of Koizumi Katsuko on Instagram.

”Oh? I was originally thinking about art...” Gu Weijing awkwardly explained.

”Tch, the artwork you talk about is girls’ swimsuit photos?” Koukou rolled her eyes dramatically, showing disdain for Gu Weijing’s hypocritical excuse.

She said this, but her expression remained gentle.

Koukou reached out a hand, wanting to ruffle the boy’s hair, as if trying to comfort a small pet whose beloved yarn ball was taken.

”Alright, look all you want, Miss Shengzi really is a cute, soft, and sweet girl. Not just boys like you with raging hormones and unfulfilled desires. Even I find her quite alluring.”

Koukou grinned, playfully waving her small fist.

She tilted her head, gazing at the screen of the tablet, speaking in a tone reminiscent of an old man watching Victoria’s Secret models on TV, ”Too bad, the swimsuit style is too conservative. For such a voluptuous girl, with such great curves, she should boldly wear bikinis to really dazzle!”