Chapter 2007: Chapter 1967: I Want Them All

Unbeknownst to everyone—even Cao Long and Young Master Zhou—Ye Qiu has somehow formed a small circle while playing together.

Previously, Cao Long didn’t want to play with Young Master Zhou and his group, nor did Young Master Zhou want to play with Cao Long, as they felt they were not part of the same circle.

Yet now, due to Ye Qiu, they often play together.

Is this a case of birds of a feather flocking together, or is it their admiration for Ye Qiu?

They have to admit they admire Ye Qiu, so much so that they find this young man as mysterious as the leader of the Crown Prince’s Faction.

After enjoying the seafood feast personally crafted by Ye Qiu, Cao Long and Young Master Zhou were truly impressed by Ye Qiu’s cooking skills.

When Cao Long and Young Master Zhou were leaving, now full and satiated, they also prepared to rest in their rooms.

As Ye Qiu returned to his own room, Lin Xiang and Liu Lingxiu both glanced discreetly at Cao Ling and then returned to their own rooms, each having eavesdropped on those strange sounds last night.

Looking at Cao Ling’s expression now, it seemed different, nourished and more alluring.

However, the two girls were still sensible enough to know that girls and women are definitely different, especially when a girl becomes a woman, her walking and hip movements tend to open up more.

But, now as they watched, they found that Cao Ling’s walking was no different from before, and nothing indicated she had become a woman.

Back in her room, Cao Ling’s mind was fully occupied with thoughts of Ye Qiu, wanting to be with him all the time.

Uncertain whether it’s due to their close relationship or surrendering herself to him, her addiction and reliance on Ye Qiu seemed to be strengthening gradually.

Nevertheless, now at broad daylight, Cao Ling knew she couldn’t act recklessly.

After resting in her room for a while, she lay down for a good nap.

After returning to his room, Ye Qiu, having sweated from cooking seafood, headed straight to the bathroom for a shower, knowing the four ladies were resting.

Ye Qiu strolled out of the villa alone, not going far but wandering by the seaside near the villa.

Suddenly, considering he had nothing to do, he thought about gifting Cao Ling with a present.

After all, she had entrusted herself to him.

Upon returning to his car, Ye Qiu drove to the stationery shop in the center of Beidaihe, buying some tools for oil painting and traditional Chinese painting.

He got oil paint, canvas, and brushes, as well as ink, paper, and brush for Chinese painting.

It was evident they had everything here because there might be a lot of sketch painters around usually.

After buying everything and driving back to the villa entrance, it took no more than twenty minutes.

Back in his room, Ye Qiu planned to pleasantly surprise the four beauties, including Cao Ling.

Currently, Ye Qiu had plenty of inspiration, including yesterday’s Sunrise over the Sea, coastal landscapes, and Beidaihe’s scenery.

Thinking these ladies would definitely like Sunrise over the Sea.

Ye Qiu prepared to paint two oil pieces and two traditional paintings.

With inspiration haunting his mind, Ye Qiu first laid out a piece of Xuan Paper for the traditional painting, with specific size requirements.

Ye Qiu then cut the paper according to a set ratio and began painting traditionally.

Traditional painting was simpler compared to oil painting.

This wasn’t a simple scenery of sunrise but included tourists and seafood-selling boats, potentially making it more beautiful than other traditional images of Sunrise over the Sea.

Fluent in execution, Ye Qiu ceased his brushwork, a life-like traditional painting emerged.

This was poetry within a painting and painting within poetry.

The poem was created by Ye Qiu himself.

Of course, at a glance, an endless sea emerged with ships and a rising sun, with tiny fishing boats selling seafood on the shore and surrounded tourists.

As Ye Qiu began painting the second traditional piece, similar to the first, yet distinct upon scrutiny due to differing perspectives and focal points.

Upon completing and placing it aside, he prepared to frame them.

Having bought framing supplies from the stationery store earlier, Ye Qiu applied framing techniques from the Capital City style.

Even the best paintings rely on good framing, just like a beauty who shines in complementing attire.

With the two traditional pieces finished, only oil paintings were left.

For Ye Qiu, oil painting wasn’t difficult, requiring more paint and time rather than a smooth completion.

The size of this oil painting was not large, and there weren’t many figures to depict, taking about an hour at most to paint.

Furthermore, without disturbances from others, Ye Qiu could focus wholly on painting well.

After completing the first oil painting, aptly named Sunrise over the Sea, it beautifully took shape.

The second one concentrated on the small boats, seafood vendors, and tourists, also related to Sunrise over the Sea but in distinct perspectives.

This piece took Ye Qiu over two hours.

Upon finishing, Ye Qiu felt satisfied, naming it Sunrise over the Sea.

Despite both being oil paintings, they were indeed different.

Allowing them to dry, Ye Qiu went off to wash his hands.

Returning after washing, due to sunlight, the traditional pieces had dried by now.

They looked even more stunning.

Ye Qiu framed them himself, and at last stamped them with a seal.

The seal wasn’t carved by Ye Qiu, casually bought from the stationery store.

Seal carving is also a skillful artistry, particularly for traditional paintings. If Ye Qiu had the time to carve his seal, it would be better.

But now, Ye Qiu wasn’t willing to carve a radish, opting for purchased ones instead. After stamping, time showed it was five in the afternoon.

The four ladies should be awake now, having slept the afternoon away.

Ye Qiu packed all the remaining art supplies after, phoning Liu Lingxiu, Cao Ling, and Lin Xiang, advising them to get up for an evening walk by the seaside.

The four ladies got up, thinking they had slept the afternoon away.

Cao Ling, prying the door open to call Ye Qiu, was shocked upon first noticing the four paintings on the table—her eyes fixated unwavering.

"Ye, Ye Qiu, where did these paintings come from?"

"Hmm, I went for a stroll this afternoon, saw some art students sketching around, and paid for these paintings."

Afternoon?

That doesn’t sit right, does it?

This distinctly was morning’s Sunrise over the Sea. If he was buying, it should be morning buys, not afternoon.

"I love them all," Cao Ling remarked.

Clearly, she wanted all four oil paintings.

From her perspective, these paintings rivaled those Ye Qiu previously gifted to her grandfather for his birthday.