Chapter 717: To Absent Friends

In his heart, it was as if there was a brush filled with endless ink, and a canvas that could stretch infinitely, continuously deconstructing the world before him.

Gu Weijing stared at the column with an old-fashioned bronze clock hanging at the train station.

If he wished, his mind could automatically dissect the scene before him, elegantly and with artistic flair, into countless interwoven points, lines, surfaces, and various colored blocks.

Imagining capturing it with different strokes of the brush.

He could use interlaced gray lines from a pen to draw the seams of the marble pillar filled with cement, while for the bronze clock, he could use engraving techniques, blacken the scene, and use a flat oil painting knife or a sharp carving knife to highlight and scrape the edges, capturing the slightly oxidized and corroded metallic luster from the passage of time… Or he could simply use the reverse white technique in his pen drawing, directly blackening all the dark parts except the object’s bright surface. This painting method, although without gray surfaces, has just two planes of light and dark. It’s clear and distinct, creating a moody atmosphere, suitable for depicting such scenes.

A simple marble pillar could be deconstructed into so much knowledge.

It wasn’t that the former Gu Weijing was unaware of this knowledge.

He just didn’t have that calm demeanor to observe the world; his mind couldn’t settle. Every time he picked up the pen, he only thought about completing his current goal, whether preparing for the Singapore art exhibition or illustrating for “The Little Prince”. Work was work; life was life.

Occasionally, he would have insights, but that was because the environment actively influenced Gu Weijing, and it was rare for Gu Weijing to actively immerse himself in the environment.

Art originates from life.

Ignoring the mindset of creating constantly also denies the joy of continuous discovery.

Not only was the cold marble pillar intriguing, but the crowd around was also an interesting subject. That guy selling balloons could be captured in a realistic style, showing the wear of life engraved on him and the warmth in his eyes.

The middle-aged aunt with sunglasses, wearing high heels, swinging her arms as she walked with an air of wind, presented an extreme contrast to the balloon seller.

She exuded an intimidating aura, giving the scene a sense of contrasting beauty.

That aunt?

Gu Weijing blinked his eyes.

Shengzi had already let go of his hand, trotted up, and threw herself into her mother’s arms.

“Mom, why did you come to pick me up yourself? I thought just the hotel driver would come.” Miss Shengzi buried her face in her mother’s neck, playfully nuzzling.

“With such a big incident this morning, of course, I had to come and get my daughter. Were you scared?”

The Blond Auntie touched her daughter’s cheek, took off her sunglasses, but her eyes were locked on Gu Weijing.

Gu Weijing quietly observed this scene of mother and daughter embracing.

When Mrs. Sakai’s gaze swept over to him, he smiled graciously at the woman and nodded.

“Hello, Auntie.”

“Hey, this kid…”

Mrs. Sakai snorted inwardly.

Before, Gu Weijing always flinched a bit when faced with her scrutinizing eyes; she didn’t blame him for that.

Young people, lacking confidence when facing those in authority, often avoid eye contact. When the teachers at school stared at you with their big eyes, it even made you feel chills down your spine.

Besides, Mrs. Sakai was always someone difficult to please, with a sharp gaze.

It’s not true that one could kill with a look, but she could certainly intimidate someone to tears.

The Blond Auntie once, without saying a word, just with her sharp gaze, made an intern who had impure motives and relied on her looks to try to climb up and bypass fifty years of hardship in her husband’s studio, cry.

Not to mention, Gu Weijing was somewhat naturally shy.

Even a womanizer like Koshiba Tarou felt uncomfortable and would avert his gaze after being stared down by Mrs. Sakai for a few seconds.

Yet, this little guy, despite Mrs. Sakai’s eyes feeling a bit sore from staring, still calmly smiled and greeted her.

“What kind of elixir did you take?”

The Blond Auntie had a certain admiration for the sudden appearance of composed demeanor in Gu Weijing.

However, she, in her inherent arrogance, also felt a slight competitiveness not to be outdone.

“Gu Weijing, how could you take care of Shengzi like this! I trusted you and let my precious daughter go out with you. And then something happened? Put yourself in my shoes, should I be angry? In my hometown, it’s extremely embarrassing for a boy not to take care of his date properly.”

Mrs. Cruz stroked her daughter’s hair in her arms, pulled a stern face, and questioned Gu Weijing.

“Mom, this morning’s incident wasn’t Mr. Gu’s fault, and he handled everything well. I wasn’t scared at all. I’m already eighteen, no longer the little girl you need to protect from harm all the time…”

“Miss Sakai, be quiet. I’m talking to Gu Weijing now.”

Mrs. Sakai admonished her daughter for siding with an outsider and then looked back at Gu Weijing, smugly curling her lips.

Little one.

Are you trying to act all poised and self-assured around me now?

If you want to date my daughter, you have to come over, all bashful and flattering, say nice things. Make the mother-in-law happy so she’ll let you take Shengzi out.

This is what they call a seller’s market!

Gu Weijing couldn’t understand why, just after smiling, Mrs. Sakai’s tone suddenly became severe.

However.

In his impression, this auntie always sounded like she was on edge, so it wasn’t surprising.