After the boy’s self-introduction, Jian Sheng also learned.
The boy’s name was Xiao Huanchen, and he was thirteen years old.
He was a student at Hongxing Junior High School next door.
Because he had loved painting since he was a child, he had enrolled in Huawen Art Training classes since elementary school.
However, his aptitude was limited, and it wasn’t until last year that he managed to enter Huawen Art Studio’s junior class through sheer effort.
He was one of the onlookers during the big class skipping incident and was astonished by Jian Sheng’s effortless painting posture.
So, during the break, he hurried to get some money.
Then he immediately rushed to Jian Sheng, insisting on becoming her disciple to learn painting.
Jian Sheng cupped her small hands to her forehead in exasperation.
In the words of the elder, who were both mentor and friend in the cultivation world, describing her:
She had followed those elders and seen a lot.
She knew a little about everything, but was not proficient in anything.
It was difficult for her to learn something well herself, let alone be a teacher to others.
Wasn’t this misleading her disciples?
“I really don’t know anything. Rather than expecting me to teach you something, you’d be better off studying diligently with the teachers at the art studio.”
Jian Sheng hastily stacked the wad of red bills stuffed into her arms, a messy pile.
The thickness of the stack was almost too much for her small hands to hold.
She handed over the bright red banknotes, intending to return them to Xiao Huanchen.
Xiao Huanchen, however, took a step back.
His lips were pressed tightly together, and his hands were behind his back.
He was determined not to take back the money he had given away, no matter what.
There were onlookers all around, but not a single person stepped forward to intervene.
They even egged Jian Sheng on, urging her to accept this “great disciple.”
After all, if not for Jian Sheng’s face, they had the many red bills to consider.
Jian Sheng rolled her eyes.
Did she look like someone who lacked money?
Uh… in terms of purely worldly currency, she did seem to be rather short on cash.
In the end, because Xiao Huanchen refused to cooperate and even ran back to his own class without a second thought when Jian Sheng wouldn’t relent, money or no money, Jian Sheng had no choice but to find Teacher Su Liu.
Then, through Teacher Su Liu, she found Xiao Huanchen’s homeroom teacher, Bai Changfeng.
Su Liu placed a stack of cash in front of Bai Changfeng.
He had been thinking about how Bai Changfeng was worried about his student, and his expression wasn’t very good.
Under Bai Changfeng’s puzzled gaze, Jian Sheng explained what had just happened.
Bai Changfeng burst into laughter.
Then he waved his hand, directly telling Jian Sheng to take the money back.
In his words:
“If Xiao Huanchen wants to find other teachers for himself, that’s his own business.”
“It’s only natural for him to be happy when his student is willing to seek guidance from others privately, is proactive, eager to learn, and is willing to pay for knowledge.”
“How could I possibly dampen a student’s thirst for knowledge?”
Su Liu and Jian Sheng: “……”
They both felt that something was wrong with his words, yet they couldn’t refute them.
Thus, Jian Sheng gained a little follower in the art studio who trailed after her, calling her master.
As long as it was break time, Xiao Huanchen would come out to make his presence known.
When he didn’t have class, he would follow Jian Sheng around, leeching off her classes, and then take out his own drawings for Jian Sheng to critique.
Jian Sheng would then give her opinions based on her intuition.
When they had classes, they attended their respective classes. After class, Xiao Huanchen would run over to give Jian Sheng various snacks and treats.
“Master, these are the homemade candies and pastries I brought from home!”
“Master, I have chocolate for you!”
“Master, have some milk tea!”
Jian Sheng: “……”
So delicious!
In the afternoon, Cheng Yongtai personally arrived at the art studio.
The old man still had his disreputable demeanor and first listened to Su Liu recount Jian Sheng’s experiences at the studio.
He laughed so hard he couldn’t straighten up.
“Those two boys are quite interesting. They have good taste.”
Cheng Yongtai concluded, and then asked Su Liu to call Xiao Huanchen in.
Xiao Huanchen walked into the conference room and was stunned for a moment.
He hunched his neck and timidly called out, “Elder Cheng.”
Cheng Yongtai raised an eyebrow, “Xiao Huanchen? The young lad from the Xiao family?”
Xiao Huanchen nodded, then shook his head.
Seeing his hesitant demeanor, Cheng Yongtai waved his hand.
“I’m just curious. Your family background is not important to me.”
“If you want to learn from Sheng Sheng, it proves you have good judgment, and I won’t stop you.”
“She might be too young to teach you much right now, but I can guarantee her future is limitless.”
“However, your relationship should be limited to painting mentorship. Don’t harbor any other intentions.”
Xiao Huanchen nodded as if he understood, and Su Liu escorted him out.
Apart from Xiao Huanchen, Cheng Yongtai did not appear before any other teachers or students.
He only tutored Jian Sheng privately for over two hours. He also arranged her future study plan.
After Cheng Yongtai left, Jian Sheng continued to follow Su Liu, learning about the different art departments in the studio.
He also introduced her to teachers from different schools of thought.
By the end of the day, Jian Sheng had a general understanding of the art studio.
She had also left her legend in every classroom of the studio.
She had also made many new friends and a little follower who trailed after her, calling her master.
It was fulfilling and interesting.
Finally, Jian Sheng, carrying the same homework as the art studio, said goodbye to Su Liu with a bitter expression on her small face.
Jian Junruo was already waiting for her.
Jian Sheng ran over with her short legs and pounced into her mother’s arms.
“How was your day at the art studio, Sheng Sheng?”
“The teachers and the older brothers and sisters are all very nice.”
Jian Sheng nodded vigorously, then recounted her interesting experiences at the studio to her mother.
Upon hearing that her precious daughter had been watched by teachers and classmates from several classes as she painted on stage, Jian Junruo’s heart couldn’t help but tighten.
Upon hearing that her precious daughter had performed perfectly and received unanimous praise from teachers and students, Jian Junruo showed a proud expression.
When she heard that her precious daughter had even taken on a disciple at the art studio, Jian Junruo covered her mouth and chuckled gleefully.
She couldn’t help but feel fortunate.
Fortunately, she had chosen to have Sheng Sheng study at the art studio.
This way, Sheng Sheng could interact with more friends, which would be more beneficial for her psychological well-being and growth.
The two of them left, chatting and laughing.
It wasn’t until they reached the main gate.
Jian Junruo’s grip on Jian Sheng’s hand tightened unconsciously, and a trace of nervousness and complexity appeared on her face.
“Dad?”
Jian Sheng tilted her head and called out.
However, being held by Jian Junruo, she didn’t go over directly.
Gu Jiangyan’s eyes darkened, and he approached with long strides.
His gaze lingered on Jian Junruo for a moment before moving away expressionlessly.
He squatted down and pinched Jian Sheng’s cheek, pulling it slightly.
“What, you’ve come to the capital and forgotten your dad? Hmm?”
“I, didn’t……”
Jian Sheng retorted, her speech muffled.
Gu Jiangyan let out a cold laugh, “Then you’ve been in the capital for so long, and you haven’t even made a phone call?”
“If I don’t look for you, you won’t even contact me proactively?”
“And that big incident a few days ago, you didn’t even tell me about it?”
Gu Jiangyan asked one question after another:
“And when you last called me, why wasn’t there any emotion?”
“I came all this way to see you, and you’re this cold?”
The barrage of questions left Jian Sheng bewildered.
She tentatively extended her finger and hooked Gu Jiangyan’s large, well-defined hand.
“Dad, don’t be angry anymore?”
Gu Jiangyan turned his head and snorted coldly.
He then began to inquire about the specific details of the previous trending search incident from Jian Junruo.
Jian Sheng secretly rolled her eyes.
Who said women’s hearts were like needles at the bottom of the sea?
Clearly, this grown man, her scummy dad, wasn’t much better.
The three of them got into Gu Jiangyan’s car.
Gu Jiangyan and Jian Junruo chatted intermittently.
It was like friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time, asking each other questions with concern.
However, between them, one, even when asking what seemed like caring questions, remained expressionless throughout.
The other, with a smile in her eyes, spoke with politeness, making it seem as if she wasn’t truly happy.
Complex and insincere adults.
Jian Sheng sighed in her heart.
After listening for a while, she became bored and stopped paying attention.
She opened her small backpack and rummaged through the snacks Xiao Huanchen had “offered” her.
Suddenly, Jian Sheng felt a sense of being inexplicably watched.
She looked out the car window.
She saw a white car to her right, following them at a moderate distance.
In the driver’s seat was the rich second-generation heir she had seen at the exhibition.
As if sensing her gaze, Xu Shao looked over with sinister eyes.
The corner of his mouth curled up into a chilling smile.
This was Xu Lan’s boyfriend, wasn’t it?
Last time her mother was slandered online, Xu Lan and Xu Shao had joined in, buying a lot of fake accounts.
Later, after the matter had subsided, when she and her mother were at the Jian family’s house, her father had called.
He had said that those two had received their due punishment.
But why was he here now?
And why was he following them?
Jian Sheng furrowed her brows, a bad premonition surfacing in her heart.
“Dad! Behind us!” Jian Sheng shouted.
Gu Jiangyan also felt something was wrong. He glanced in the rearview mirror, saw the white car that had been following them,
and also saw Xu Shao, who was looking at them coldly.
Gu Jiangyan frowned, accelerated the car, and quickly weaved through other vehicles.
He tried to shake off the car behind them.
At a red light, Gu Jiangyan looked in the rearview mirror while opening his Bluetooth and calling Qin Wen.
He inquired about Xu Shao’s situation.
At this moment,
a large truck that was about to pass through the intersection from the front suddenly changed direction and accelerated towards their location.
Gu Jiangyan’s pupils constricted, and he quickly shifted gears.
But it was too late!
Amidst the horrified screams of passersby and other car owners, the large truck, with a bang, violently collided with their car.
The fierce impact and deafening roar of the collision.
Just before losing consciousness, Gu Jiangyan saw only a dazzling blue light screen, like an illusion, before him.
“Boom—”
“Bang—”
A series of collisions directly caused an explosion.
The black car, hit head-on, was completely engulfed in flames and dust.
Even the vehicles behind them, and the shops by the roadside, suffered collateral damage, swept up by the impact and flames.
The sounds of collisions, explosions, screams, and cries…
combined to create a scene that was like hell itself.
All those who had miraculously survived were completely stunned and frozen in place.
Until a trembling and tearful voice rang out.
“Hello, this is XX Road, XX Intersection. There has just been a car accident and a chain reaction explosion…”