The Versatile Master Artist-Chapter 49 - 34: The Painter’s Path (3)

Mrs. Sakai, like Yakai Ichiro, studied art and fully understands how low the success rate in this field is.

Perhaps you need to plant a thousand seeds to have one grow into a large tree.

Regardless of the country, regardless of the culture, when a woman becomes a mother, those romantic ideas in her mind dissolve like cotton candy dropped in water.

During her girlhood, she might have been moved to tears by fairy tales of a princess falling in love with a poor boy.

But when it comes to her own daughter, Mrs. Sakai can only consider Prince A, Prince B, Prince C...

This is both materialistic and a part of life.

Koizumi Katsuko has also reached the age where she should understand what is a suitable match.

If she chooses someone unworthy, especially in Japan’s male-dominated society, where her future husband may remain obscure and achieve nothing, Mrs. Sakai believes that her daughter will not be happy.

Gu Weijing looked at his artwork being torn apart, and felt extremely angry.

Perhaps Koshiba Tarou was right, and Elder Cao also pointed out that he is currently only copying without knowledge and emotions, that there is too much craftsmanship and not enough art.

But in normal circumstances, for standards of a professional painter to insult a minor... he is not a fool and can hear the rudeness and arrogance in Xiaosong’s tone.

"I don’t like your tone. But I understand you lack proper upbringing, so it’s okay, I forgive you."

Gu Weijing ignored the Sakai siblings and turned to walk towards his car.

"You—"

Koshiba Tarou was enraged. In the Japanese painting world, even if not respecting him, people would respect his father, and no one dared to speak to him this way.

"Not even a single mistake can be pointed out, what kind of person is this, Shengzi." He turned and tried to grab Koizumi Katsuko’s hand, but she shook him off.

"I’m speaking for you, Shengzi, don’t be mad." Koshiba Tarou smiled.

Koizumi Katsuko did not smile.

She spoke in a cold tone: "I don’t need you to speak for me like this, Senior Xiaosong. Doing so embarrasses me, there’s no doubt that Mr. Gu just now showed much more upbringing than you."

After saying that, she ignored Koshiba Tarou and her parents calling her name and ran toward Gu Weijing.

"Gu Weijing, Gu Weijing, please wait a moment."

"Miss Sakai, do you have anything else?" Gu Weijing said coldly.

He was called over by Koizumi Katsuko, and then inexplicably suffered a heap of insults, which worsened his impression of the Sakai siblings.

"Koshiba...forget it, let’s not talk about that. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. Constant apologies are pointless."

Koizumi Katsuko handed over a sheet of A4-sized paper.

"I’m giving you a painting as compensation."

"What is this?" Gu Weijing noticed it was the other party’s pen-and-ink drawing of the Great Golden Pagoda from the day before.

It now bore a recently added signature along with a few hurriedly written words for friend Gu Weijing.

"You are the first peer I’ve met who makes me feel like I have a rival. Let this be a memento, and strive to see if you can defeat me, although honestly... I think this will be quite difficult."

Koizumi Katsuko’s tone was sincere: "At least right now, you are slightly inferior. Your strokes have yet to reveal their path."

"Path?"

Gu Weijing knew this was not the kind of elusive mysticism common in Japanese culture.

Not only Elder Cao mentioned skills, knowledge, emotions; his grandfather also told him similar theories, but always vaguely, without clarity.

Trying to convey something beyond mere technique in painting, this is already the domain of professional painters.

"That is the soul of the painting, the foundation of founding a sect. People like us will eventually have to forge our own path, Gu Weijing, I hope you won’t be left too far behind by me."

Koizumi Katsuko blinked her eyes, turned around, waved at Gu Weijing, and walked towards the direction of the Mercedes-Benz.

Gu Weijing saw a new panel appear before him.

[Linked Mission: First Glimpse - Path of Profession (1/3)]

[Current Mission Objective: Enhance any skill to lv.4 (Professional Painter)]

[Current Mission Reward: George Burriman’s "Human Anatomy"]

[You have obtained a linked mission; completing each part will grant corresponding rewards!]