Chapter 294 Extra 10 (Wang Ling)

"Hey, Wang Ling, you also like Wang Shan's works?"

During the break, a colleague passed by and suddenly saw the interface on Wang Ling's computer. He immediately stopped and asked.

Wang Shan is the most famous young Chinese painter in recent years, especially after her works won many awards.

"No, I just took a look." Wang Ling smiled unnaturally, "Do you like her work?"

"Of course! I'm her die-hard fan! Especially her landscape paintings, they are so beautiful! Every time she holds an exhibition, it's so hard to get tickets. Last time, the ticket-grabbing platform was completely paralyzed. Also, her works are hard to buy and the prices are very high." The colleague frantically recommended her favorite painter to Wang Ling.

Wang Ling smiled and nodded, but a hint of bitterness rose in her heart.

In fact, she didn't need her colleagues to recommend her because she knew Wang Shan too well.

The colleague continued, "By the way, I heard that she will be holding an art exhibition in our Star City soon. Are you planning to go and see it?"

Wang Ling's heart moved. She really wanted to see Wang Shan's art exhibition, but she was afraid of being recognized.

Finally, Wang Ling decided to go to the art exhibition secretly.

After entering the exhibition hall, she lowered her head, trying not to draw attention to herself.

However, when she saw a new work by Wang Shan, she couldn't help but be stunned.

The painting depicts an old man standing by a mountain stream, quietly gazing at the flowers blooming in a flower bed.

Wang Ling felt that the old man in the picture looked familiar, and she involuntarily took a step closer, wanting to see him more clearly.

Just then, someone tapped her on the shoulder.

Wang Ling was startled and turned around to find that it was Lin Huan standing behind her.

"I think your back looks a bit like you." Lin greeted her with a smile.

Although the two were relatives before, they rarely interacted with each other and it can be said that they had hardly even spoken to each other. But now that they teach in the same district, they have slowly become familiar with each other.

"What a coincidence, you are here to see the exhibition too." Wang Ling gave a polite smile.

"Yes, Shanshan is coming to Xingcheng to hold an exhibition. I can't miss it!" Lin Huan's face was full of pride. "You are here because of Shanshan, right?"

Wang Ling nodded somewhat uncomfortably.

"This painting is great." Lin Huan pointed at the painting Wang Ling had just looked at and said, "Shanshan said she painted this especially for my grandma."

Wang Ling was shocked, because it turned out that the old woman in the painting was Wang Shan’s grandmother.

"Alas, it's a pity that grandma didn't see Shanshan's current achievements." Lin Huan sighed, "But Shanshan is so talented and has worked very hard, so it's only natural that she has achieved what she has now!"

Wang Ling listened silently without saying anything.

She remembered that since she was a child, her father would always compare her with her cousin, always hoping that she could surpass her cousin, but she had never been as good as her.

Today, her sister has become a famous painter, but she is just an ordinary teacher.

"By the way, what do you think of this painting?" Lin Huan suddenly asked.

Wang Ling came back to her senses and said quickly, "Very good. The whole scene makes people feel calm and peaceful."

Lin Huan smiled and said, "Shanshan's painting skills are getting better and better. I believe she will achieve greater success in the future."

Wang Ling smiled in agreement, but her eyes could not be taken away from the painting.

She couldn't help but wonder, if she had such talent and opportunities, perhaps her life would be different?

"Oh, I was so busy talking about painting that I didn't ask you how your work is going recently?" Lin Huan patted Wang Ling on the shoulder.

"It's okay, just some daily teaching work." Wang Ling collected her thoughts and replied with a smile.

"Yeah, it's the same for us." Lin Huan nodded, "It's just that I've had a lot of checkups recently."

"Maybe it's because it's the end of the semester!" Wang Ling said softly.

"By the way, are you free later?" Lin Huan suddenly asked.

"Uh...yes." Wang Ling didn't quite understand why Lin Huan suddenly asked this.

"Shanshan told me before that we would have dinner together after the exhibition. You should come too!" Lin said with a smile.

"Thank you, but no thanks." Wang Ling quickly refused. She had never thought about having dinner with Wang Shan.

"Don't be embarrassed, we are all family." Lin Huan said enthusiastically.

Wang Ling felt helpless and could only nod perfunctorily. She thought to herself that she should finish viewing the exhibition and leave.

But she couldn't leave smoothly because the enthusiastic Lin Huan followed her to see the exhibition.

After staying in the exhibition hall for a long time, Lin Huan took Wang Ling to the nearby shopping mall to have a cup of milk tea.

When the time was almost up, Lin Huan took Wang Ling to the agreed restaurant, where Wang Shan was already waiting.

She was wearing a white dress and looked elegant and graceful.

"Lingling, long time no see." Wang Shan greeted Wang Ling with a smile.

"Sister Shanshan." Wang Ling responded somewhat stiffly.

During dinner, Wang Shan and Lin Huan were chatting happily, while Wang Ling was listening quietly on the side.

She looked at Wang Shan's confident and calm appearance, and couldn't help feeling a little envious.

Halfway through the meal, Lin Huan suddenly received a phone call. He said a few words and then hung up the phone somewhat unhappily.

"Shanshan, the school has an unexpected inspection and they want me to go over and deliver the materials. I have to go over first and will contact you later."

Wang Shan nodded. "Well, you go first. I'll stay at your house tonight. I haven't seen my uncle and aunt for a long time."

"Okay, I'll call them and tell them the good news later. Yesterday they wanted you to come over for dinner, but they were afraid it would interfere with your work." Lin Huan stood up and said with a smile, "I'll be leaving now, you guys take your time eating. Bye!"

"Bye-Bye!"

"Bye-Bye!"

Sisters Wang Shan and Wang Ling watched her leave.

After Wang Shan watched Lin Huan leave, she turned to look at Wang Ling, "Lingling, we haven't talked for a long time. Let's chat."

Wang Ling clenched the corner of her clothes nervously and said, "Okay."

"How are uncle and aunt now?" Wang Shan asked with a smile.

“They are all doing well in their hometown.”

Wang Ling added, "They are back home helping my older brother and younger brother take care of the kids. What about my uncle and aunt?"

"They are quite carefree. Now they are traveling around freely."

"That's great!" Wang Ling looked up at her cousin, "Sister Shanshan, how about you?"

"Me?" Wang Shan pointed at herself. "I'm fine. I usually paint. You know, I like painting very much. Now I can do what I like. I feel very happy."

Hearing Wang Shan's casual answer, Wang Ling was silent for a moment, but still couldn't help but speak, "It's great to be able to do what you like!"

"Actually, you can do it too."

Wang Shan held Wang Ling's hand and said earnestly, "Everyone has his or her own shining point. You have to find your own stage."

Wang Ling smiled bitterly, "I'm not as talented as you."

"Talent is not the only criterion," Wang Shan retorted. "Look at me. I didn't become famous right after my debut. I also went through many difficulties and setbacks. As long as you persevere, you will realize your dream."

Wang Ling nodded slightly, as if thinking about what Wang Shan said.

"Okay, let's eat first. The food is getting cold. We'll talk after we finish eating!"

After saying that, Wang Shan picked up a crayfish, took a bite of it, and then slowly peeled the shell.

Wang Ling also continued to pick up food and eat.

After dinner, the two sisters walked out of the restaurant and strolled on the street together.

"This seems to be the first time we hang out alone!" Wang Shan suddenly realized.

Wang Ling never thought that she would be strolling on the streets of Star City with her cousin.

It’s incredible when you think about it.

In more than 30 years, although they are cousins, this is the first time they have gone shopping together.

"Maybe it's because you have been in Pengcheng and I have been in my hometown!" Wang Ling replied.

"That's right! If I also went to school in my hometown, maybe we would be classmates!" Wang Shan nodded with a smile.

Wang Ling smiled and shook her head, "How could your uncle and aunt leave you to study in your hometown?"

“That’s right!”

Wang Ling did not respond, but followed Wang Shan and continued to walk slowly forward.

"Would you like something to drink?" Wang Shan gestured to a coffee shop in front of her with her eyes. Soft music and the tempting aroma of coffee floated in the air.

Wang Ling looked in the direction of Wang Shan's finger and nodded slightly in agreement. "Okay, let's go in and sit down."

The two opened the door of the coffee shop and were greeted by a rich aroma of coffee.

They found a seat by the window and Wang Shan ordered a latte as usual.

"I like to drink latte. Today I'm here to try the latte here." Wang Shan said with a smile, "What about you?"

"Same as you."

After ordering, the coffee was delivered quickly.

Wang Ling took a sip. The rich coffee aroma and the perfect amount of milk foam made her nod with satisfaction. "It's really good."

The two chatted while drinking coffee, enjoying this rare leisure time.

The soft music and surrounding atmosphere in the coffee shop made them feel relaxed and happy, as if the whole world had slowed down.

Wang Ling looked at her cousin who was so leisurely and contented, and felt deeply moved.

She thought over and over again, and finally said what she had kept in her heart for many years: "Sister Shanshan, I actually envy you."

"You envy me?" Wang Shan was obviously a little surprised. "Why?"

"I envy you for being able to live the life you like freely, and I envy your uncle and aunt for being able to love you wholeheartedly." Wang Ling's tone was full of envy and desire.

Wang Shan was silent for a moment, then stared at her seriously and asked, "Don't you like your current life? Or are your uncle and aunt not treating you well?"

Wang Ling smiled bitterly and shook her head: "That's not the case. My life is fine now, and my parents treat me well. It's just..."

She paused, as if looking for the right words, "I don't know if you still remember, one year when you and your uncle and aunt returned to your hometown for the New Year, and when you set off fireworks in front of the old house, I also told you that I envied you."

That memory seemed a little distant to Wang Shan. She frowned slightly and tried to recall the scene.

"Not only me, but almost all the children of our generation, especially the girls, envy you."

Wang Ling continued, "We envy you for being able to study and live in a big city, and for being the only child in your family, with all the love and resources given to you. More importantly, we envy you for not being favored over boys."

After hearing these words, Wang Shan couldn't help but feel a complex emotion in her heart. She never realized that she was such an enviable existence in the eyes of the children of her relatives in her hometown.

"You should know that there has always been a rift between our two families." Wang Ling looked at Wang Shan.

Wang Shan had guessed a little bit about her father's attitude towards his hometown, so she nodded.

"So, my dad has been secretly competing with my uncle. When he found that he couldn't beat my uncle, he started to compare me with you." Wang Ling talked about the past calmly.

"After learning from grandpa and grandma that you ranked first in every semester, he required me to get first place in the exams as well. If I failed, he would scold me for not living up to expectations. Knowing that you were learning to paint, he sent me to an art teacher to teach me. If I really had no talent in this area and my mother was reluctant to spend money, he might have let me follow your path. I finally got into a key university, but he said, what's the point? It's not Tsinghua University."

Wang Shan never knew that she was a reference for her cousin, nor did she know that her cousin had suffered so much injustice over the years.

Although this was not caused by her, she still couldn't help but say "sorry".

Wang Ling waved her hands. "This has nothing to do with you. You don't have to apologize to me. On the contrary, I have to thank you."

Wang Shan was a little confused and didn't know where her gratitude came from.

"If it weren't for you, my dad wouldn't have paid so much attention to my studies. I might not even be able to get into high school like my brothers and sisters. Not to mention, he would have spent a lot of money to ask you to help me with English lessons." Wang Huan explained.

"You know, many girls in my hometown were sent to work after only getting a junior high school diploma. My mother's preference for boys over girls made it impossible for her to spend money to train me. I am only able to benefit from you."

Wang Shan didn't know how to answer, so she could only pick up the coffee and take a sip.

Wang Ling looked at her and smiled, "I'm not lying. I really want to thank you."

"Although my father always compares me with you, which makes me feel pressured, it is also because of this that I study harder and want to surpass you. But later I found that the person I should really surpass is actually myself."

After hearing this, Wang Shan couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "Lingling, you are so strong inside. I admire you very much. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I were in your situation."

"I was forced to do this, and I'm glad that I was forced to say it." Wang Ling felt like she had unloaded a huge burden after she said what was in her heart, and now she felt extremely light inside.

Wang Shan felt it, and while she was happy for her cousin, she couldn't help but joked, "Do you still want to compare with me now?"

Wang Ling shook her head and smiled, "No, no, I have my own goals and pursuits now. I am no longer the little girl who wants to surpass you. Besides, I don't think there is any need for competition between us. It's good enough for everyone to live happily!"

Wang Shan reached out and gently held Wang Ling's hand, "You're right, just live happily!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, everything was said without words.