Chapter 59: Learning to Draw
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Lin Xiaowan thought about it for a long time. She sadly realized that she did not have anything she liked that could be turned into a job.
Seeing her silence, Gu Yuwu said, “You have to choose a job that you like. Otherwise, every day will be a torture. Do you have any hobbies?”
Lin Xiaowan thought about her hobbies before she said, “I… I don’t seem to be good at them though…”
“What’s so difficult about that? You can always learn!”
‘But what should I learn?’
Lin Xiaowan felt a little troubled. She liked drawing, but she also liked musical instruments and photography. Learning how to farm or bake sounds fun as well. She sighed heavily.
Gu Yuwu looked at her with a questioning gaze.
Lin Xiaowan reflected on herself and said with a sigh, “I’m too indecisive and fickle-minded. I want to learn everything…”
Gu Yuwu laughed. “You can’t say that. It’s not fickle or indecisive; it’s called having a wide range of interests. Moreover, you have to try many things to find out what you like.”
Lin Xiaowan nodded thoughtfully and asked, “Did you try a lot of things before?”
Gu Yuwu thought about it for a moment before she said, “Of course. I wanted to learn many things when I was a kid… Hmmm, when was it… I think when I was in the second or third grade, I insisted on learning how to play the drums. I thought it’d look cool for a girl to play drums.”
Gu Yuwu laughed before she continued to say, “However, after a few months, I quit because I fell in love with Latin dance costumes. After that, I went to learn Latin dance.”
“That’s not all. I later found Latin dance classes tiring so I stopped going. Not long after that, I saw a classmate of mine who always participated in chess competitions. I thought he looked really impressive and cool so I learned that as well!”
Lin Xiaowan’s eyes widened, and she felt a little envious. It was amazing that Gu Yuwu could learn whatever she wanted. Not only did she feel stupid because she had a difficult time learning in school, but she also did not have the money for tuition, let alone for hobby classes.
Gu Yuwu thought about her past willful self, and many memories flooded her mind. Looking back, she realized she had many experiences when she was young. She said, “I learned chess for a few years and quit when I was in the sixth grade. At that time, I wanted to learn to play the piano because I thought that I’d look like a princess.”
“At the same time, I also picked up drums again and worked very hard. I even formed a band with a few of my classmates in junior high school. We even participated in many competitions and won many awards!”
Up until now, Gu Yuwu still had yet to speak about photography so Lin Xiaowan was curious how Gu Yuwu became interested in photography.
Coincidentally, Gu Yuwu said at this time, “During the summer break in my first year of high school, I visited a meadow. It was evening when I arrived. I remember I was amazed when I got out of the car and looked at the sky. With the way the clouds were scattered in the sky at sunset, it felt as though I was looking at two worlds. One side of the sky was blue while the other side was tinged with red and orange from the setting sun. At that time, I thought to myself it would be a pity not to capture such a scene. Gradually, I began to learn photography. This hobby continued even after I graduated from university…”
At night.
Lin Xiaowan moved to Huo Zheng’s side and leaned against him, looking listless.
Huo Zheng, who was reading an industry analysis report, pinched her nose and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. You can continue reading your report. I’ll watch you.”
The report was written in a foreign language with professional jargon. It would have been strange if Lin Xiaowan could understand it.
Huo Zheng put the report aside. Thinking that Lin Xiaowan was bored, he said, “I heard you earned a lot of money today.”
“These words sound really strange coming from you. You earn much, much, much, much, much more money than me,” Lin Xiaowan said, repeating the word ‘much’, “When you praise me like that, it doesn’t sound sincere.”
“Well, I’m sincerely praising you.”
After a moment, Lin Xiaowan said, “I want to learn how to draw.”
Huo Zheng nodded without hesitation. “Alright. I’ll look for a teacher for you tomorrow.”
“I also want to learn photography.”
“Okay.”
“… I also want to learn to play the piano!”
“Okay.”
“What about learning how to play drums?”
“Okay.”
Lin Xiaowan reached out and patted his body with a suspicious expression as she said, “Is there a recorder hidden on you? Do you only know how to say the word ‘okay’?”
Huo Zheng looked at her indulgently and said, “You can learn whatever you want. Why reason is there for me to say no?”
••
The next day, Huo Zheng really found a teacher for Lin Xiaowan.
The other party was an old professor from the Shengjing Academy of Fine Arts. She was a kind-looking old lady. She was thin and small, and she was dressed very well. She was a fashionable old lady. Despite her age, she was strong. When she spoke, she was very gentle.
When she was approached by accepting a student, she did not agree immediately. Instead, she said she wanted to meet Lin Xiaowan first before making a decision.
Huo Zheng asked Lin Xiaowan if she wanted to meet the professor, and Lin Xiaowan was shocked.
“You found a teacher so quickly?!”
They had just spoken about this the night before, and the conversation was very casual. He continued to ask about what she wanted to learn, and she kept coming back to drawing and painting. Before they could talk more about it, she had fallen asleep. She did not expect Huo Zheng to work so fast.
“This teacher is very good at drawing portraits as well. Why don’t you meet her first?”
In the end, they met in an empty studio in the Shengjing Academy of Fine Arts.
Lin Xiaowan did not have any experience at all, and she was going to meet such a professional as soon as she started. It was not surprising that she was nervous. Her starting point was too high after all.
The professor did not put on any air and looked at Lin Xiaowan kindly as she said, “Don’t be nervous. Why don’t you tell Grandma why you want to learn painting and drawing?”
‘Grandma?!’
Lin Xiaowan became even more nervous. Was it not impolite to address the other party so casually?
“I… I just think that paintings are very beautiful. The mix of colors is really beautiful,” Lin Xiaowan said, not knowing how to express her thoughts.
The professor smiled kindly and handed her a sketchbook and a few art supplies. “Just draw or paint something for me to have a look.”
Lin Xiaowan really had no experience at all. She had briefly experimented with acrylic paint; that was all. She knew nothing about drawing or the various media of painting.
She instinctively looked at Huo Zheng for help.
“It doesn’t matter. You can draw whatever you want.”
Lin Xiaowan still did not dare to move. She looked at the smiling professor blankly.
The professor said encouragingly, “Just draw. This sketchbook belongs to you now so you can do whatever you want. It doesn’t matter even if you fill the entire page with colors without drawing..”