The Romance of a Young Painter

In the past, he praised others like this when he was painting, but now he was praised directly like this, Zhou Nianjiu felt a little embarrassed.Could it be that the person who was stared at by me before also felt this way?Zhou Nianjiu unintentionally developed empathy for the subject for the first time.

This recognition made him let go of the embarrassment just now, and continued to perform his duties as a model calmly. He sat quietly and changed roles, as if many things were different. Just imagine, if the painter was him , the model being painted is also him, so how would a painter portray him as a model?As a model, what kind of side will he present in front of the painter?Such thoughts fascinated Zhou Nianjiu.

Shen Guangji noticed Zhou Nianjiu's changes. He had painted many portraits, but Zhou Nianjiu was the first one who could quickly enter this state of being alone in this situation.

Zhou Nianjiu, how many surprises are you going to bring me today?Shen Guangji thought to himself.

Suddenly there was a crisp bird song, followed by a crisp ding-dong sound. It was the Western chiming clock hanging on the wall in the water bar that was chiming the hour.

No way? !It's two o'clock!

Zhou Nianjiu came back to his senses, stood up in a hurry and said, "Mr. Shen, there is an exchange meeting over there at the art exhibition, and I promised my brother that I would go there." Do you want to go and have a look together?"

Shen Guangji said: "No. They didn't know I would come over there, and it would be very troublesome to explain if they caught me. Classmate Zhou, remember to keep things secret when you see me."

Zhou Nianjiu couldn't force it, and after saying goodbye to Shen Guangji, he returned to the exhibition hall. He noticed that Li Xiang was in the entrance hall, and he seemed to be waiting for someone.

"Zhou Nianjiu." Li Xiang waved at him and ran over.

"Are you waiting for me?" Zhou Nianjiu didn't remember making an appointment with him.

Li Xiang nodded: "The salon has already started, and my uncle told me to wait for you here."

"Salon?" Zhou Nianjiu was puzzled.

Li Xiang explained: "It was the exchange meeting that was originally scheduled. My uncle said that the way of domestic exchange meetings is a bit old-fashioned, so he asked someone to arrange the venue quietly, and arranged snacks and drinks to surprise the participants in a while."

"So it is."

"Uncle also said that there are only two of us underage in the meeting place, let us take care of each other as a companion." Li Xiang smiled embarrassedly, and then said, "The original words of my uncle are actually asking us to supervise each other and not to drink alcohol. .”

Zhou Nianjiu had no interest in drinking, while Li Xiang looked like a good boy, and he didn't seem to be able to drink secretly, but he still said: "Mr. Zheng is very thoughtful."

On the second floor, Zhou Nianjiu's eyes lit up. The previously simple special exhibition area was decorated with delicate and beautiful flowers, the vinyl in the record player was slowly turning, and the music with rich layers flowed like velvet.In the exhibition area, the communication works as the protagonists are illuminated by more professional spotlights than before, which perfectly highlights the original beauty of the works. The sofas and benches are placed just right, and the waiters in black and white uniforms Carrying trays and deftly walking through it, light-colored champagne is bubbling in crystal glasses, painters and art brokers are looking for works of interest, and they either admire alone or discuss in twos and threes together in a low voice.

Zhou Nianjiu had to admit that the atmosphere of this salon was much better than the exchange meeting he had attended before. He noticed that there were several people next to his works, so he took Li Xiang there.Although he doesn't like to socialize, after the contact with Shen Guangji just now, he also has expectations for communicating with other painters.

However, he was quickly disappointed. The talented Shen Guangji was just an exception, and most of the others were dull.Realizing this, Zhou Nianjiu quietly moved himself to a corner that was not so noticeable, and started to enter the wallflower mode.

Li Xiang came over with a glass of juice for him, as if he wanted to carry out the "partnership" to the end, Zhou Nianjiu couldn't just leave him alone, and the two of them talked one after another.

"Zhou Nianjiu, don't you like this kind of occasion?" After getting along for a while, the two people of the same age got to know each other a lot, and Li Xiang was not as reserved as before.

So did Zhou Nianjiu. He nodded and said frankly: "It's quite boring, and I feel a headache after staying for a long time."

"Actually, I don't like it either. If it's possible, I really hope that I don't have these things. I just need to draw quietly." Li Xiang came over and whispered, "Anyway, no one is paying attention, why don't we sneak around..."

Before he finished speaking, he heard Zheng Jing's voice: "Think about it, what are you whispering?"

"Wow, uncle, when did you come here?" Li Xiang looked like he was caught doing something bad.

"While you were talking about your little Uncle Zhou's paintings."

"Uncle, how can you eavesdrop." Li Xiang protested softly.

"I saw that you guys were chatting so speculatively, so I didn't bother you," Zheng Jing said, "Think about it, didn't you realize that your volume was louder than usual just now?"

"Is there?" Li Xiang said to Zhou Nianjiu in embarrassment, "I'm sorry, I seem to have lost my mind."

Of course Zhou Nianjiu wouldn't bother with him about this, if not for Li Xiang, he would be really bored to death.

"Think about it, so it seems that you really like your little Uncle Zhou," Zheng Jing turned his head and said to Zhou Nianjiu, "Little Uncle Zhou, after thinking about it, my family will ask you to take care of me."

Zhou Nianjiu didn't particularly want to take on this issue. Firstly, he has limited energy recently. Secondly, although Li Xiang looks young, he is actually older than him. He is still a bit awkward to be a teacher to someone older than himself. Yes, just like when Li Xiang called him "Uncle Zhou" before, but thinking of Sha Jianguo's friendship with him before, and Li Xiang's look of anticipation now, he was embarrassed to refuse directly, so he thought about Wenming When dealing with Yuan Yuan, he said ambiguously, "Mr. Zheng is polite."

According to Zhou Nianjiu's cognition, the conversation can be ended after saying this sentence, but Zheng Jing finally got in touch with Zhou Nianjiu, how could he let him go so easily, so he led the topic to other places just right, without any trace After inquiring about Zhou Nianjiu's preferences, he finally said thoughtfully: If Zhou Nianjiu is tired, he can leave the venue first, and he will send him and Li Xiang back.

Zhou Nianjiu said: "Thank you Mr. Zheng for your kindness, you and Li Xiang can go first, my family will come to pick me up, so don't bother me."

Zheng Jing didn't insist either.

Li Xiang asked, "Are you coming tomorrow?"

Zhou Nianjiu said: "I've seen everything I want to see, so I won't come here."

Hearing this answer, Li Xiang looked very disappointed.

Zheng Jing patted his nephew's shoulder reassuringly, then glanced at Zhou Nianjiu's paintings, which were still being appreciated and judged by others, and said, "Mr. After it's over, I'll keep it for you, and when you're free, I'll come to you with my thoughts and send you the painting by the way."

Zhou Nianjiu found that this way of handling could really save him a lot of trouble, so he agreed.

"Then let's go first, Teacher Xiao Zhou, take care." Zheng Jing took Li Xiang to say goodbye to him, looking like a gentleman and a model elder.

After they left, Zhou Nianjiu went out and called Wen Ju'an: "Brother, my side is finished... 15 minutes?...Okay, I'll wait for you by the side of the road."

Zhou Nianjiu waited for a short while before Wen Juan arrived. He quickly opened the door and got into the car, fastening his seat belt while saying, "It's over, bro, I really don't like to participate in this kind of activities."

Wen Juan said: "It's not this kind of activity, but all activities."

The corners of Zhou Nianjiu's mouth curled up, and he said, "The one who knows me is also the elder brother."

Wen Juan said: "This time you participated in the event by yourself, and you didn't ask me and Dad to save the scene, it is very commendable."

Zhou Nianjiu lazily sat on the seat and said, "It's better not to praise me, I can't bear it, if it wasn't for the students of the senior brother who followed me all the time, I would have left a long time ago."

Wen Ju'an let out a "huh" and said, "Student of Mr. Sha? I haven't heard you say that before."

Zhou Nianjiu said: "It's also the first time I've met him. He's about my age. His name is Li Xiang."

Wen Juan said: "It seems that you have a good impression of him."

Zhou Nianjiu remembered Li Xiang's attitude of putting him first, and said, "Well, it would be nice to have a nephew."

Wen Ju'an smiled and said, "Didn't you just say that you are as old as you, and now you are setting up the spectrum of the elders?"

Zhou Nianjiu said, "He insisted on calling me Shishu."

Wen Ju'an knew that he was playing tricks, and deliberately teased him, saying: "Other people recognize juniors as gifts, what gift did you give them as a meeting gift?"

Zhou Nianjiu was taken aback, and said, "Is there such a thing?"

Wen Ju'an said: "When you first met Mr. Sha, he gave you an authentic painting by Wang Shimin, right?"

"Yes," Zhou Nianjiu said with a bitter face, "That's bad, what do I want to send Li? Why don't I send Wang Shimin back?"

Wen Ju'an saw enough of his troubled look, and then said: "I'm just kidding, when Lao Sha asks you to attend the apprenticeship ceremony, you don't have to worry about this anymore." Ju An knows better than Zhou Nianjiu.

Zhou Nianjiu gave Wen Ju'an a slap: "Brother, you are really scaring me even though you know I don't understand these things."

Wen Juan said: "I will meet you sooner or later, and I will give you a vaccination first."

Zhou Nianjiu looked hopeless: "It's too complicated. Brother, I'm so tired after such a short time today. Dad usually has so many entertainments. I really don't know how he persisted."

Wen Juan said: "No one is born knowing how to do it. You learn by watching. Practice makes perfect. Dad needs it for business. Like you, there is no interest relationship. As long as you don't behave too rudely, others will not care about it. "

Zhou Nianjiu said, "Is that so?"

"Adults have their own set of rules of communication. Most of the time, they pretend to be ignorant and pretend to be confused. Everyone knows it." Wen Juan didn't want to put too much pressure on his younger brother, so he said, "You don't have to deliberately Go learn, just let nature take its course, besides, if it doesn’t work, I’ll take care of it for you, just do what you like to do.”

Zhou Nianjiu smiled and said, "Thank you bro."