The Versatile Master Artist

But only with brave perseverance until the end, will hope fly out from the box.

”Truly flavorful.”

Dr. Jin nodded slowly.

The charm of art indeed reaches places that cold medical forms cannot.

That night, Tony sat silently in front of the television for a long time, a very long time.

He gazed at the draft on the screen for a long time, then lowered his head to look at the shadow cast at his feet by the light for a long time.

Tony just stood there without a word, like a silent old monk in meditation, determined to stand until the end of time.

But even the most eccentric Professor Boggs didn’t jump up to make trouble. Everyone quietly accompanied, suppressing their excitement, eager to witness the final result of this magical draft.

”We, everyone... are hungry, let’s go eat.”

After a long pause, Tony finally turned his head to look at his father. He placed the gray old cloth doll he was holding on the table in the living room and gently shook his head.

This sentence was neither ordinary nor plain.

It didn’t seem to match the insightful experience one could have from viewing Detective Cat’s illustrative drafts.

Even in the quiet, solemn atmosphere of anticipation, Tony’s words seemed a bit inexplicable.

But in that instant,

Jean Arnou closed his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks.

This simple statement landed in the illustrator’s heart, akin to Martin Luther King saying ”I have a dream” or John F. Kennedy waving his arm and passionately declaring ”We choose to go to the moon,” both enduring and greatly inspirational (Note).

[Note: ’I have a dream’ and ’We choose to go to the moon’ are some of the most classic and well-known speeches in Western cultural context.]

”Alright, I’ll go to the kitchen and make it. Whatever you want to eat, we’ll make it.” The old gentleman patted his son’s back, choking back tears.

Seeing the illustrator sob like this.

Everyone present felt a bit of bitterness in their hearts.

Which father in the world doesn’t hope for his child to succeed?

Jean Arnou is the most successful illustrator in human history.

He doesn’t wish for his son to become a great man, nor does he expect Tony to go to the moon like Armstrong.

Jean Arnou’s wealth is enough for Tony to live comfortably for several centuries.

He only hopes that his child can live a normal, self-sufficient life, smile when happy, cry when sad, and eat when hungry.

That is enough.

That’s already very satisfying for the old gentleman.

Truly satisfying.

Everyone filed out from the living room. Dr. Jin stayed over tonight as usual to prepare for some follow-up treatment work after having supper together.

”A miraculous piece of art.” Lady Anya felt like she had witnessed a great performance.

The assistant, on the other hand, was more tactful.

He’s a doer, and Tony’s reaction wasn’t so important to him. However, after seeing the employer moved to tears, he was already determined to start licking.

[Lady Detective Cat, congratulations! Jean Arnou the old gentleman really liked your work, and Tony too. Let me share a bit of news with you: among the three artists, your work ”Pandora” was the best.

I’ll tell you secretly, even the renowned Professor Boggs felt inferior (but don’t tell anyone).

Honestly, while others might find it incredible, I—I personally am not surprised by this news at all.

From seeing the work sent to us, I knew you are the world’s best painting knife artist.

I absolutely adore you!

The painting is just so beautiful. Especially the design of the cat transforming into a shadow, it’s the most ingenious plot arrangement I’ve seen this year.

Big thumbs up!!!

I knew inviting you was the wisest choice Jean Arnou made.

...]

The assistant pulled out his phone from his pocket and began pounding away as he walked, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

The illustration industry is a relatively independent field within the art circle.

With the support of the Scholastic Group and Jean Arnou, the negative impact of the ”Oil Painting” magazine isn’t that significant.

Seeing this woman about to soar.

If you don’t stick your tongue out and rush up now, are you really going to wait until after she takes off to start licking!

As long as you build a good relationship, these will all be golden relationships that can be monetized in the future.

In the scene of ”All’s Well That Ends Well,” Professor Boggs looked slightly regretful.

After everyone had left the living room, only the professor turned back once again to look at the draft still remaining on the television screen.

”Perhaps... I can’t have her come over to be my student, right?”

The old man shook his head wistfully.

”Hmph, at least there’s still the cat.”

Professor Boggs took a stroll, found the little ”Amy” also still looking at the painting under the table, and squatted down to take the little cat away.

”Not being my student is her loss, wouldn’t you agree?”

Professor Boggs put the cat back on his head and pouted as he spoke.

-----------------

A few time zones away, the sun shined in the eastern hemisphere as usual.

From the gates of Fitz School, walking two blocks to the west, lies the largest train station in Yangon.

From 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., every half hour, there’s a train headed towards the various scenic spots around the city, a small train making a city loop.

The kind of antique train without doors, worthy of a place in a railway museum, with connections between carriages adorned with historical black mildew stains, where sufficiently observant visitors might even find the 1942 Japanese occupation-era ”Kururi Line Railway Company” markings.

The train itself and the tracks exude an even older aura, as does the Yangon Central Railway Station, ordered to be built in 1882 by a British Governor stationed in the Far East, an authentic Victorian Era product.

George Orwell once served as a privileged British police officer in the area around this station, witnessing the bloody colonial past, which inspired his novel ”Burmese Years.”

Such ancient buildings make for a great museum.

But as a trade hub for a modern city with millions of residents, it’s somewhat inconvenient.

”Travel permit... NO, NO, sumimasen, not a passport... need a permit...”

Under a sky clear as a mirror, a bearded policeman was gabbling at Koizumi Katsuko’s female bodyguard, seemingly trying to demonstrate his professionalism and international flair. Though the bodyguard could speak fluent Burmese, the policeman insisted on inserting a few clumsy English and Japanese words into his speech, frequently shaking his finger at Miss Sakai watching.

”Is there a problem?”

Koizumi Katsuko, carrying a small backpack.

She looked at the policeman a few meters away entangled with the bodyguard, worriedly turning her head to look at the boy beside her. ”I brought my passport, but does taking the train require any special permit? Should I call my mom and have her contact the embassy?”

Gu Weijing patted the steaming engine on his chest, startling Miaomiao into a catcall.

Today was strictly speaking his first couple’s weekend trip with Miss Sakai, going to the Yangon Royal Botanical Garden for field sketching.

The journey wasn’t far.

And Koizumi Katsuko suggested experiencing the sightseeing train.

Google Maps said that the scenery along the railway was very nice, running through dense forests and over river bridges, as if traversing an Impressionist landscape painting.

Moreover, objectively speaking.

This is possibly the oldest still-operating old-style train line in all of Asia, with such a retro experience hard to find elsewhere.

To be precise, this wasn’t even retro, but genuinely ancient.

Mrs. Sakai studied the itinerary, the botanical garden was only a few dozen kilometers from Yangon City Center, enough to go in the morning and return before dinner.

She assessed there was no risk of her daughter being secretly whisked away by a local farm boy.

Blond Auntie waved her hand generously, reluctantly approving Shengzi and Gu Weijing’s idea of a sketching trip together, but this parent Mrs. Sakai could refrain from being a third wheel.

However, the bodyguard must be brought, there was no room for negotiation.

Besides following them for safety, carrying some equipment as a laborer, the bodyguard could also serve as Mrs. Sakai’s spy, tracking and reporting the duo’s itinerary at all times, preventing any ”accidental misfires.”

Since a couple’s world was surely out of the question,

Gu Weijing extinguished futile romantic thoughts, and invited Uncle Ah Lai along with Jasmine, not even forgetting to bring the cat, to prevent Ah Wang from getting lost.

He mounted it like a small baby with a pet carrier on his chest.

The couple’s trip turned into a completely family outing sketching tour.