Consider it my contribution to your painting.
"Hello, is this Jing Shu?"
An aged yet familiar voice came through the receiver to Jiang Jingshu's ears. Soon, Jiang Jingshu guessed who was on the other end of the phone, but she didn't want to deal with the person on the other end any further.
"You've got the wrong person." Jiang Jingshu quickly pressed the hang-up button.
Jiang Yuan, observing Jiang Jingshu's actions, said to her, "It must have been a call from Wang Shengli's family, right?"
“His grandfather.” Jiang Jingshu picked up another steamed bun and took a bite.
"Your teacher must have given him your phone number, right? The school doesn't want to make a big fuss and is trying to mediate," Jiang Yuan said, putting another steamed bun on Jiang Jingshu's plate.
Jiang Jingshu guessed it; she also guessed that Wang Shengli would definitely come to apologize to her tomorrow.
—
Just as Jiang Jingshu had guessed, Wang Shengli was waiting for her at her seat early the next morning.
She walked to her seat as usual, and Wang Shengli stood in front of her, bowed to her, and said in a seemingly sincere tone, "I'm sorry."
Jiang Jingshu couldn't help but laugh inwardly, and said sarcastically, "You looked at me with such displeasure yesterday, what are you doing today?"
Wang Shengli clenched his fists, lowered his head, and said in a muffled voice, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Can you drop the case?"
Jiang Jingshu noticed Wang Shengli's little actions, but she didn't respond to him. She remained seated, not giving him a single glance.
Wang Shengli was annoyed at being ignored, but he couldn't show it, so he could only stare angrily at Jiang Jingshu.
Jiang Jingshu ignored him, but suddenly remembered that she still had a few strokes left in the painting she had drawn for Xie Zhijin last night, so she started painting in front of him.
Wang Shengli found Jiang Jingshu's actions extremely irritating. As if provoked, he snatched the painting from her. "Stop painting this rubbish! I'm standing right in front of you, are you pretending to be blind? Can you please stop insulting me, Jiang Jingshu?"
"You think I'm pretty unhappy, don't you?" Jiang Jingshu stood up and moved slightly closer to Wang Shengli. Seeing that Wang Shengli's expression had changed from what it was at the beginning, Jiang Jingshu curled her lips slightly. "What's wrong? You were pretty unhappy that I didn't answer your phone yesterday?"
"Don't force me to slap you." Wang Shengli pointed his finger at Jiang Jingshu, as if he was about to devour her alive at any moment.
Jiang Jingshu wasn't afraid of him. On the contrary, she spoke with a provocative expression, "Sure, it's not like you haven't had that thought before. You can try it," Jiang Jingshu said slowly, her tone laced with provocation, "What do you think will happen if you slap me across the face?"
"Don't dream that I'll agree to mediation. Have you forgotten what I told you?" Jiang Jingshu said, each word distinct, as if warning Wang Shengli. "A few days ago, around this time, I said that I would definitely pursue this to the end."
The one who laughs last will definitely be Jiang Jingshu.
—
After a tedious day, Jiang Jingshu was going home with Xie Zhijin.
She was very curious about how Xie Zhijin obtained the hotel surveillance footage, as it saved her a lot of trouble.
As soon as the bell rang, she packed her things and walked over to Xie Zhijin's side.
The sunlight was blocked by the girl's figure. Xie Zhijin looked up and saw Jiang Jingshu standing in front of him against the light. Xie Zhijin was silent for a second, then said to Jiang Jingshu, "Shall we go home together?"
"Don't rush home yet, I have something for you." Before Xie Zhijin could finish packing, Jiang Jingshu handed him the painting.
Xie Zhijin looked at the painting in his hand, not opening it immediately, but smiling at Jiang Jingshu, "Are you going to thank me again?"
Jiang Jingshu nodded. "Or tell me what you like, and I'll give it to you as a thank you gift."
Xie Zhijin chuckled and unfolded the painting in his hand. It depicted him in the classroom, fiddling with a USB drive and talking to Wang Shengli.
Jiang Jingshu's painting skills became increasingly refined, and she became more and more adept at using modern painting tools. Even in sketches, she could capture Xie Zhijin's ease and mastery.
Xie Zhijin put the painting away. "You painted it so beautifully," he said, looking at Jiang Jingshu. He couldn't help but tease her. "You painted it so well that it doesn't even look like me."
"This is exactly you! You were practically glowing that day," Jiang Jingshu said to Xie Zhijin with admiration. "I think my painting skills are not good enough to capture your essence."
Xie Zhijin put the drawing in his schoolbag. "It's so beautiful. I'll help you from now on."
Jiang Jingshu smiled slightly and walked out of the classroom before him. Her voice still echoed in Xie Zhijin's ears. He heard Jiang Jingshu say...
"Then I have achieved my goal."
Xie Zhijin smiled and shook his head, then slung his backpack over his shoulder and quickly caught up with Jiang Jingshu.
On the way, Jiang Jingshu asked him how he obtained the hotel surveillance footage.
Actually, I saw you that day.
Upon hearing Xie Zhijin's words, Jiang Jingshu stopped in her tracks. "You saw me go to retrieve the surveillance footage?"
After receiving Xie Zhijin's affirmative answer, Jiang Jingshu spoke again, "Being kicked out is a bit embarrassing."
“You should be honest with the receptionist, but this matter has little to do with the hotel. She certainly won’t go to the trouble of checking the surveillance footage for this,” Xie Zhijin said, observing Jiang Jingshu’s expression.
Jiang Jingshu nodded. "I was being inconsiderate. Few people would get involved in this mess unless their own interests are involved."
After all, it's better to avoid trouble, and Jiang Jingshu knew this very well. She looked at Xie Zhijin and couldn't help but ask, "Then this matter has nothing to do with you, so why did you help me find evidence?"
"Does this even need a reason?" Xie Zhijin tightened his grip on his backpack. "I thought we were already friends."
Jiang Jingshu listened quietly to Xie Zhijin's words. "If I have to give a reason..." Xie Zhijin paused for a moment, "Just say it's because of your painting."
Jiang Jingshu laughed and skipped along, the conversation drifting further and further away. Just as they were about to reach the entrance of the residential area, Jiang Jingshu remembered the most important question, "You still haven't told me how you got it?"
“I told them that I had left something very valuable at the hotel and asked them to check the surveillance footage to find it.”
"They just agreed like that? Didn't they ask anything else?" Jiang Jingshu asked curiously, then, as if remembering something, she asked Xie Zhijin, "Have you stayed at this hotel recently?"
Xie Zhijin smiled slightly and nodded, "Yes, I've stayed at this hotel."
"Did you stay at the same hotel the day you went home with me?" Jiang Jingshu asked tentatively. She was very perceptive; only if someone had stayed at this hotel would the hotel receptionist recognize Xie Zhijin. Only if Xie Zhijin had stayed there on the day the things were stolen could they specifically check the surveillance footage for that day.
"When did you learn to draw? I never knew you could draw so well."
Sensing that the other party had changed the subject, Jiang Jingshu didn't press the matter further, saying, "I always do."
"I remember when you were chosen to draw in art class in the first year of high school, your drawing on the blackboard wasn't as good as it is now." Xie Zhijin seemed to be recalling it very seriously. Jiang Jingshu was a little nervous, but she calmed down. "I'm just not used to drawing on the blackboard. Plus, I've been practicing these past few days, so naturally my drawing has improved compared to before."
"But your drawing is really beautiful. Do you want to pursue art as a major in the college entrance examination?"
These words gave Jiang Jingshu a lot of inspiration. "I'm still discussing it with my dad."
"You draw so well, you must have a bright future," Xie Zhijin said sincerely.
Jiang Jingshu felt like she was floating on air from all the praise. Sure enough, no one could resist the so-called rainbow cannon attack.
—
Back home, Jiang Jingshu sat down at her desk and noticed that the agave had grown a little bit bigger than the last time she looked at it.
She excitedly called out to the system, and the system simply replied, "Thanks to Your Highness."
Jiang Jingshu lay on the table, picked up a pen and kept twirling it, thinking about what Xie Zhijin had said.
"Help, is it possible to take the art route in the college entrance examination?" Jiang Jingshu asked, her heart filled with excitement.
The system responded, "Yes, Your Highness."
"What's the difference between this and the regular college entrance exam?" Jiang Jingshu really couldn't understand. She searched a lot on her phone, but none of the results explained it to her.
The system told her that this meant she would be considered an art student, and the cutoff score would be lower than that of students who took the college entrance exam directly.
The exam covered a lot of material, including sketching, quick sketching, and color.
Apart from sketching, everything else was completely unfamiliar to Jiang Jingshu.
Fortunately, Jiang Jingshu is only in her second year of high school, and it's currently December, so there's plenty of time for her to start studying.
Moreover, Jiang Jingshu is quite intelligent and has a strong learning ability.
After making the decision, Jiang Jingshu decided to wait for Jiang Yuan to get off work and discuss it with him in detail.
Jiang Yuan is a parent who greatly respects and understands his child. As long as Jiang Jingshu speaks up and expresses what she wants, Jiang Yuan will not refuse.
Jiang Jingshu quickly told Jiang Yuan her idea, and Jiang Yuan readily agreed, telling Jiang Jingshu that he would contact an art institution for her in the next few days.
After all, Jiang Yuan had seen Jiang Jingshu's report card this time, and it was indeed quite poor; it would be difficult to succeed purely based on academic performance. However, he didn't put too much pressure on Jiang Jingshu; when it comes to learning, it's best to let things take their natural course.
However, in Jiang Yuan's eyes, his daughter had absolutely no talent for drawing. Therefore, when Jiang Jingshu suggested enrolling in an art institution, he hesitated but still agreed.
To Jiang Yuan's surprise, Jiang Jingshu took the initiative to tell him that she wanted to enroll in a tutoring class.
Jiang Yuan was naturally delighted and agreed to help him find an art institution and a few good private tutors as well.
Seemingly sensing that her daughter wasn't quite right, Jiang Yuan voiced her question, "Xiao Jing, I remember you used to hate drawing. Why do you suddenly want to learn?"
Jiang Jingshu had already prepared her answer. "Painting can cultivate one's character. Besides, I've been trying to paint these past few days, and I feel that painting is a very happy thing." As Jiang Jingshu spoke, for some reason her thoughts drifted back to what Xie Zhijin had said when she went home with him earlier. After a pause, she continued, "On the contrary, I feel that painting can make people feel better."
Jiang Yuan didn't say anything more. "If you like it, we'll apply. But I hope you really like it, and that you're not choosing it just because the art student cutoff score is low."
Jiang Jingshu: ...
Although she was reluctant to admit it, there was indeed a reason for it. However, Jiang Jingshu also had a strong interest in painting, and she believed in herself and would not regret it.
"You have no background in drawing, so you'll have to work much harder than others," Jiang Yuan advised.
"Don't worry, I can endure hardship," Jiang Jingshu said with a smile. "I didn't choose this because the score requirement was low; I chose it because I really like it."
Jiang Yuan was relieved. She had been worried that Jiang Jingshu would put too much pressure on herself because of her grades. Since the child really liked it, she decided to help her do everything she could.
Jiang Yuan was very efficient; he found an art institution and a tutor in just three days.
The tutor's surname was Zheng, and she was a freshman in college. When Jiang Jingshu first met her, she felt that she was a very serious older sister.
Especially when I looked at her math test paper.
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