Mixed Chapter 19
byRival
As the applause erupted, Qin Shanshu, the president of the Hua Guo Oil Painting Association, stepped onto the stage to speak.
Qin Shanshu slowly walked to the gooseneck microphone and tapped its surface with his hand. A deep voice transmitted through the microphone: “Everyone here is already very familiar with me, so there’s no need for further introductions!”
Qin Shanshu’s tone was humorous and witty.
“The content of this seminar will focus on contemporary themes and deeply explore the language of oil painting! Of course! We must also cultivate Hua Guo’s most creative young team, inject new blood, and strive to create brilliance once more!”
Qin Shanshu pushed the frame of his glasses up his nose bridge, his gaze sweeping across the crowd before settling on Song Shixue: “Speaking of which, I must mention our little Song! She is truly the leader of the current young generation!”
The seniors in the audience nodded in agreement, some chiming in, “That’s right! We all have high hopes for little Song! Hahaha!”
Song Shixue stood up. A smile graced her lips, and she placed her right hand over her left chest, leaning slightly forward to express her gratitude to everyone present.
…
Excluding the one-hour break in the middle, the entire conference didn’t conclude until five in the afternoon. Even after the meeting ended, Song Shixue was not free. She was surrounded by seniors He Lian and Zhou Qingli, exchanging experiences and techniques.
And, of course—insisting that Song Shixue join them for dinner.
Song Shixue smelled a rich blend of rose and jasmine in the air. It was getting closer to her.
A woman with large, wavy hair and fiery red lips strode quickly through the crowd toward Song Shixue.
Senior He Lian saw her and teased, “Oh my, little Jiang, how do you have the leisure to come chat with us old fogeys?”
“I also wanted to learn a thing or two from Teacher Song,” Jiang Luohe said without beating around the bush, using her naturally seductive voice.
“Then you young people chat. By the way, little Song and little Jiang, come join us for dinner later. We’ll sit nearby for a bit first!”
Song Shixue’s hands hung crossed in front of her: “Yes, alright.”
She merely glanced at Jiang Luohe.
Jiang Luohe extended her hand: “I’ve heard much about you, Teacher Song. I am Qin Shanshu’s disciple, Jiang Luohe.”
Song Shixue shook her hand out of politeness.
“Yes, I’ve heard of you.”
Qin Shanshu’s most favored disciple was just the most inconspicuous of Jiang Luohe’s many titles. What made people around her, including Song Shixue, aware of her was her other identity—the daughter of business mogul Jiang Chengjun.
“Teacher Song, I really love your works, Bitter Orange and Empty Eyes,” Jiang Luohe said, her gaze burning as if trying to see through Song Shixue.
Song Shixue’s expression was calm and indifferent, and her tone deliberately maintained a distance: “Thank you for liking them, but Miss Jiang, there’s no need to call me Teacher Song repeatedly. Just call me Song Shixue.”
Jiang Luohe’s eyes curved slightly, filled with amusement: “Oh~ fine. I’ll go call them for dinner.”
The two seniors were happily chatting and cracking melon seeds. As soon as they saw Jiang Luohe approaching, they smiled and stood up from their chairs: “Have you two young ones finished chatting!”
Before Jiang Luohe could speak, the two of them, like a gust of wind, grabbed their bags and scurried toward the door: “Little Song, little Jiang, hurry up and follow us!”
Seriously? Who exactly is in their fifties?!
/
The four were led by a waiter to a small private room reserved in advance.
Zhou Qingli handed the menu to Song Shixue and Jiang Luohe: “Order whatever you two want to eat.”
Jiang Luohe proactively took it and placed it flat in front of Song Shixue. Her words sounded particularly lazy and casual: “Then we won’t be shy.”
Song Shixue flipped through the menu and told the waiter, who was standing ready on the right with a pen: “One serving of boiled beef, thank you.”
“Add a serving of spicy fried crab,” Jiang Luohe added.
Song Shixue closed the menu and passed it to the two seniors. Only after returning to her seat did she finally have time to open WeChat. There were sixty-two messages in total, nearly thirty of which were from Chi Nuan.
“Is Teacher Song in a meeting?”
“Is Teacher Song eating properly?”
…
She scrolled to the last message—”Can I video call with Teacher Song tonight?”
Song Shixue held her phone under the table, her lips curving involuntarily.
“Yes, you can.”
“Sister Shixue, you look so happy. Is it a message from your partner?” Jiang Luohe asked.
Song Shixue slowly turned off her phone screen, turned her head, and smiled faintly at Jiang Luohe.
“No, just a friend.” She deliberately emphasized the last two words.
Jiang Luohe didn’t detect anything unusual and instead seemed relieved: “Oh, I see.”
“What are you two doing? If you don’t eat, the food will get cold,” the senior couldn’t help but scold them, seeing them exchange remarks.
Song Shixue picked up a piece of Mapo tofu, using her chopsticks to remove the scallions on top.
“Sister Shixue doesn’t eat scallions?”
“Ah, not really.”
Of course, she usually ate them, but ever since Chi Nuan had an allergic reaction to scallions, Song Shixue always subconsciously picked them out of her food.
Jiang Luohe took Song Shixue’s words to heart. She placed a garlic vermicelli shrimp in Song Shixue’s bowl, specifically choosing one without scallions.
“I can serve myself, Miss Jiang.”
“It’s just serving a dish, Sister Shixue, you’re too polite.”
“Aiya, I’ve never seen little Jiang treat other peers like this before. It seems you really like little Song,” He Lian pouted, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
“Aunt Lian, please don’t gossip about me. Just eat properly.”
Jiang Luohe looked at the remaining shrimp in Song Shixue’s bowl, and a faint sense of disappointment arose in her heart. This was the first time someone hadn’t appreciated her, Miss Jiang’s, gesture.
She smiled meaningfully.
“Hmm?” Song Shixue found Jiang Luohe’s behavior a bit strange.
“Oh, I was just wondering what time your flight is tomorrow, Sister Shixue.”
“Seven-thirty in the evening.”
“Hangcheng?”
“Yes.”
“Then we can go together, Sister Shixue. I happen to live in Hangcheng too.”
“No need,” Song Shixue’s tone was decisive.
“Alright.” Seeing Song Shixue’s firm attitude, Jiang Luohe didn’t press the matter.
After dinner, the four of them returned to the hotel.
“Little Song, little Jiang, sleep early!”
“Yes, Teacher He and Teacher Zhou, you too,” Song Shixue replied.
Jiang Luohe’s room was opposite Song Shixue’s. Before entering, she specifically wished Song Shixue goodnight. But Song Shixue merely raised her chin in acknowledgment, not even offering a verbal reply.
Song Shixue gently closed her door and messaged Chi Nuan, “Back at the hotel.”
Chi Nuan instantly replied: “Can we video call now!”
“I need to shower first.”
It was still early, so Chi Nuan wasn’t in a rush. Besides, Song Shixue agreeing to a video call was already enough to make her happy.
She replied: “Sounds good, Teacher Song. Take your time getting ready, no rush.”
The steam in the bathroom hadn’t completely dissipated, giving Song Shixue’s already fair skin a soft pink hue.
Wearing a champagne silk nightgown, she plugged in the hairdryer and then untied the absorbent towel on her head.
“Should I tell Chi Nuan about Jiang Luohe today?” Song Shixue pressed the medium warm setting on the hairdryer. “Forget it, she probably doesn’t want to know…”
Song Shixue got back into bed and tapped Chi Nuan’s profile picture.
“I’m ready.”
Chi Nuan had been glued to her phone, waiting for this moment. She walked onto the balcony, feeling three parts nervous and seven parts excited, and dialed the video call.
Chi Nuan put Song Shixue on the large screen.
She noticed Song Shixue’s nightgown; the neckline was somewhat low, allowing a clear view of the smooth, graceful curve of her collarbone, as well as a distinct “deep cleavage.”
Since Song Shixue was holding her phone at a slightly high angle, Chi Nuan had seen even more just now.
Chi Nuan quickly averted her eyes.
The half of her face visible in the camera, and the back of her ears, were already flushed crimson.
“Teacher Song, maybe you should use a pillow to cover your neckline first.”
Song Shixue looked down and let out a soft chuckle.
She wondered what was making this little black Shiba Inu blush.
Song Shixue and Chi Nuan were both women, so logically, there shouldn’t be any shyness.
But Chi Nuan was gay! Plus, she liked Song Shixue—a double buff stacked high.
She thought that if Song Shixue continued video calling her at this angle, she might end up with a nosebleed all night.
Chi Nuan saw Song Shixue place the pillow in front of her, and only then did she fully show her face again.
To ease her embarrassment, she changed the subject: “Teacher Song, I specifically watched the live coverage of your seminar today.”
“Oh? You’re paying that much attention to me.”
Chi Nuan’s eyes brightened, and her words conveyed an indescribable joy: “Of course! And it’s clear that the reporters and seniors all recognize your excellence and greatly admire your paintings.”
“And what do you think?” This question was flat, yet contained a subtle, hard-to-detect anticipation.
“Of course, I also think Teacher Song is outstanding. But this excellence isn’t measured against ordinary people; it’s at the pinnacle of the pyramid in your circle. Compared to those great seniors, you are in no way inferior.”
Chi Nuan watched Song Shixue intently.
Her gaze was soft, like slowly flowing creek water. As the evening breeze gently lifted Chi Nuan’s hair, her eyes were already shimmering with tears.
“I am proud of your achievements today, and I feel for the difficulties you overcame to reach this point.”
Song Shixue, perhaps I like you more than I thought. That’s why, when I think of the hardships you’ve faced over the years, I always end up crying before you do.