The various art performances and service experiences in the square attracted many local residents and tourists alike.

The violin performance that accompanied the afternoon sun provided a unique background music for the entire square.

A local resident who happened to be passing by spontaneously began to dance to the enchanting melody.

Upon seeing someone happily join in his performance, the performer immediately adapted his dance moves and actions.

The fusion of music and dance drew applause and cheers from the surrounding crowd.

However, in this bustling square, only Mia's sketching stall seemed to be deserted.

Perhaps it's because Mia looks too young, lacking the sense of age and experience that is commonly associated with great painters.

She makes others think she looks more like an established painter than a famous one.

It's more like students who are learning to paint and have come to the square during the holiday, trying to earn money by using their newly acquired painting skills.

Another reason why Mia's sketching stall was deserted was...

Gu Xinghe felt that it might be because she seemed too quiet and "Buddhist-like".

But amidst the extreme noise around them, their own small corner at the edge of the square remained relatively quiet.

Mia's expression, however, did not seem to care much.

At this moment, she even turned her head with great interest and spoke to Gu Xinghe, who was standing next to her.

"Since no one is around right now, why don't I draw a sketch of you?"

"I never imagined that as an employed assistant, I would be able to enjoy services from my boss."

"Of course, it's rare to find a boss as kind-hearted as me these days."

In response to Gu Xinghe's teasing words, Mia also gave a witty retort.

Indeed, Mia is now not just making empty promises, but is actually making promises to Gu Xinghe in a real sense.

At present, aside from Mia being very interested in drawing a sketch of Gu Xinghe.

The interaction between the two was partly due to Gu Xinghe pretending to be a customer and acting as a "shill".

This creates the impression that the stall is frequented by others, and that the customer base isn't dwindling; there are still signs of business coming in.

Thus, whether acting as a "supporting character" or simply as the object being depicted.

Gu Xinghe tried his best to maintain his composure, fully demonstrating the self-cultivation of a tool.

But after the two quietly took on the roles of painter and depicted.

Gu Xinghe now had a better chance to carefully observe Mia, who was currently painting—

Although the street artist's business had become so dismal that Gu Xinghe, his assistant, had to personally step in as the "customer" to be depicted.

But Mia didn't seem anxious or worried about the lack of support for her business.

She was simply enjoying the tranquility that came with the painting process.

At this moment, Gu Xinghe could sense that her thoughts were completely focused, without any extraneous content or ideas.

Just as she had told Gu Xinghe before she set off—

"He may not be a great painter; he may just be an unknown, wandering artist."

Just like a painter who is very famous, but almost no one knows what she really looks like.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, the quiet and the solitude, Mia savored this moment of solitude amidst the chaos and noise.

The moments they shared, so different from their previous interactions, allowed Gu Xinghe to experience another side of Mia as a painter—

The main purpose of sketching is to depict what one sees.

But looking at Mia's gentle expression, Gu Xinghe seemed to have given this originally monotonous sketch a different kind of color.

However, the current sketch is not a full-body depiction, but only a head sketch.

There is no need for Gu Xinghe to act as a model for the painting, maintaining the same pose for an extended period of time.

So, watching Mia make detailed modifications, Gu Xinghe tentatively asked.

"Speaking of which, do you often come to the square to set up a stall and work as a street artist?"

Upon hearing this, Mia didn't feel that Gu Xinghe had disturbed her painting process.

She didn't stop what she was doing, but answered directly.

"That's basically it, but sometimes they might not come if there are special circumstances such as bad weather or holiday celebrations."

"For example, I didn't come yesterday."

When she finished speaking, Mia paused deliberately for a moment in her otherwise fluent and natural speech.

Then she looked up from the original portrait and gazed at Gu Xinghe, her eyes seemingly holding a deeper meaning.

Gu Xinghe's question was intended as a way to indirectly inquire about the note.

Mia's current answer seems to have a hidden meaning.

There was no bad weather or holiday celebrations yesterday, so why didn't she come?

Her words were tantamount to admitting that instead of going to the square to be a street artist yesterday, she actually went to his room to leave a note.

After all, if the delivery was targeted at him.

That means only Fils and Mia, who knew his address and whereabouts, were aware of it.

Only then could the notes be "precisely delivered" without him noticing while he was away from the hotel gathering information in the town.

After confirming from various sources that the person seeking help was most likely Mia, Gu Xinghe was still somewhat unclear about her purpose.

But if he couldn't figure it out right now, he decided to put the question aside for the time being and instead, based on Mia's words, he couldn't help but think of—

Compared to her formal career as a painter, Mia's main job seems to be setting up a street sketching stall in the square almost every day.

So, this is roughly what it means to use a profitable side hustle to support a non-profitable main job that's fueled by passion.

However, at this moment, the two tacitly skipped the discussion about street artists.

Gu Xinghe pointed to the painting that Mia was creating in front of him and said.

"So this is my payment?"

Gu Xinghe remembered that the reward for the main quest of this game instance was a painting personally drawn by the painter Mia.

Although he knew that the rewards from the main storyline were definitely not issued by the system.

But the mission is not yet complete, and one of the paintings in the exhibition is still missing.

Is Mia going to hand over the actual reward to him so soon?

"Of course not, the real masterpiece is still in the planning stages."

Mia simply shook her head, refuting Gu Xinghe's words.

"Then I'll have to look forward to it."