Xuan Congnan saw the paparazzi photos of Gu Shi stepping out of the car.
Fans at the scene were all asking whether his outfit was available for purchase anywhere.
This presented a golden business opportunity. Even though he had already pocketed five million from signing the marriage contract, saving money was as natural as eating and drinking for Xuan Congnan.
Whenever he saw money, he wanted to stash it away.
If he were to discuss it with Gu Shi.
“There won’t be a replica. It’s just for me,” Gu Shi said coldly in the video.
Xuan Congnan: “…”
“Such a great moneymaking opportunity, and he’s just passing it up?” he muttered quietly. “It’s not like I’d rip the fans off, I’d just sell it at cost.”
Buzz.
Scavenger: [Picture]
Gu Shi’s hair was swept entirely back by the makeup artist, paired with his aloof expression, projecting an overwhelming aura of restrained asceticism.
Others were visible in the photo, fussing over Gu Shi’s face.
Xuan Congnan long-pressed to save the image first, then typed out a reply: What do you call this? You seemed to have mentioned it to me before. Styling and makeup?
Scavenger: Right.
Xuan Congnan: Looks good.
Scavenger: I haven’t even started working yet. Are you painting?
Xuan Congnan: No.
Scavenger: Can you keep me company and chat for a bit.
Xuan Congnan: I’m keeping you company right now.
Gu Shi, who had been sitting obediently in front of the mirror letting the makeup artist fuss over him, suddenly smiled.
The makeup artist, who had just turned around with a dark eyebrow pencil in hand, was hit with a critical blow and stammered, “Teacher Gu, did something happy happen?”
Without even lifting his head, Gu Shi typed rapidly on his phone. “Mm.”
His eyebrows were thick and dark, with sharp arches that required no pencil; today’s styling matched Gu Shi’s naturally aloof aura to perfection.
The makeup artist simply didn’t want to stay idle, lest a guilty conscience made her feel she was taking her pay for nothing.
Scavenger: Do you think it looks good?
Xuan Congnan praised him again: Mm, it looks good.
Scavenger: Mm.
The next two weeks were exam week. With classes finished, all students were free to arrange their own schedules.
Xuan Congnan reviewed his materials at home and headed to the library in the afternoons.
Xuan Congnan: I want to discuss something with you.
Scavenger: Go ahead. I’ll agree to it.
Seeing that promise of agreement, Xuan Congnan figured Gu Shi would definitely be reasonable.
Xuan Congnan: Can your clothes be released as a replica version for others?
Just as the dark eyebrow pencil traced the tail of Gu Shi’s eyebrow, those ink-splashed eyes suddenly clouded with displeasure, a stark contrast to his earlier good mood.
The makeup artist watched in sheer terror, stammering even more: “Teacher Gu… you’re upset again?”
Gu Shi tilted his head slightly to dodge the pencil and simply said, “Stop drawing.”
“Oh, right, you don’t really need your eyebrows filled in anyway,” the makeup artist hurriedly packed her tools into her makeup case and said. “All done, we can start shooting shortly.”
Once outside, she muttered to Hu Yue standing by the door, “Teacher Gu pulled a long face again. Terrifying.”
Hu Yue waved a hand. “Let him be. Always wearing a sour face, and now he doesn’t even want to go to work, he just wants to be lovesick all day long.”
The makeup artist was startled. “Huh?!”
Back at home, Xuan Congnan received a message from Gu Shi.
Scavenger: Can we not make a replica for them?
Scavenger: [Softly pitiful.jpg]
Xuan Congnan: “…”
As he unpacked the Windsor & Newton paints from the box, looking at the sticker emoji Gu Shi had sent, Xuan Congnan couldn’t help but think, it was rather cute.
Scavenger: This was a gift you gave me.
Scavenger: It’s not a gift for them.
Scavenger: Don’t make replicas.
Scavenger: Congnan, don’t make replicas.
Xuan Congnan: You said you’d agree to me just a moment ago.
Scavenger: Manually recalled.
Scavenger: Recall successful.
With his long legs braced on the floor, Xuan Congnan sat on a high stool, quietly reading those messages until he couldn’t help asking: Are you acting spoiled?
Scavenger: I can be.
A second later, Gu Shi replied: Yes, I am acting spoiled.
Xuan Congnan deliberately baited him: I can paint other things for you, you know.
Scavenger: I want those other things too, but this one has to belong to me alone.
Xuan Congnan: Turning down money when it’s right in front of you?
Scavenger: ‘Scavenger’ transferred 52,000 yuan to you.
Scavenger: No replicas allowed. If you need money, ask me for it.
Xuan Congnan drew in a small breath.
He had merely thought Gu Shi admitting to acting spoiled was somewhat amusing and had wanted to tease him a bit.
Matters involving merchandise required the consent of the involved party; since Gu Shi wasn’t willing, Xuan Congnan naturally wouldn’t go through with it.
Xuan Congnan: I didn’t mean I needed money, just teasing you.
He clicked to refund the 52,000 yuan.
Buzz-[‘Scavenger’ transferred 52,000 yuan to you]
Gu Shi transferred it back again.
Scavenger: I want to give it to you.
Staring at the funds, Xuan Congnan typed: Why is it 52,000?
Scavenger: I am your partner now, and this number is very fitting.
The paintbrush hovered over the blank canvas for a long time without descending. Xuan Congnan knew he was supposed to paint, but Gu Shi’s message kept echoing in his mind.
Had Gu Shi really gotten used to his new role this quickly?
Partner.
Xuan Congnan scratched the bridge of his nose. Having no idea what to paint anymore, he gave up.
Up to now, his contact name for Gu Shi was still “Scavenger”, should he change it to something new? He needed to get used to this one-year relationship as soon as possible.
During his two days of work, Gu Shi kept running back and forth between the two cities, yet he hadn’t missed a single meal. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all eaten together with Xuan Congnan.
Having mentioned previously that this was too much of a hassle, Xuan Congnan had suggested Gu Shi stay in the neighboring city instead, but that was met with a stern rejection, prompting him never to bring up anything similar again.
During dinner, he urged Gu Shi to eat more so he wouldn’t lose weight from all the traveling.
Before returning from the neighboring city, Gu Shi had changed back into his own clothes and asked, “How much do you weigh now?”
Xuan Congnan had weighed himself right before dinner and announced with a good mood, “57.3 kilograms.”
“Mm, eat a bit more,” Gu Shi said.
“You eat more too.”
He took a sip of water and asked, “Are you heading anywhere else for work soon?”
Gu Shi shook his head. “My schedule for the near future is cleared, I can rest.”
Xuan Congnan nodded. “Then stay home properly and stop running around.”
“Alright,” Gu Shi said.
Next week was his college department exams, and a fine arts assignment needed to be completed. With various theoretical and practical classes to review, Xuan Congnan had his hands full.
He had been relatively self-disciplined since childhood; whatever he set his mind to do, he would invariably see through to completion.
The home art studio was spacious enough for Xuan Congnan to review his finals, but Zhang Que lacked self-control and required supervision.
Half a month earlier, Zhang Que had told him that when exam season rolled around, he must come to the school library to study with him, vowing eternal gratitude for the favor.
So Xuan Congnan went back to paint at the school’s art studio.
Having not visited in a while, it felt entirely different.
Inspiration was a wondrous thing. As his brush continuously met the canvas, Xuan Congnan completely lost track of how fast time was flying. Many classmates were pulling overtime here, so everyone had their phones set to silent in advance to avoid disturbing others.
“Is something wrong with mine? The longer I look at it, the weirder it gets,” Zhang Que muttered, studying his own painting and asking in a breathy whisper.
Xuan Congnan glanced at it. “Lighting’s not enough.”
Zhang Que had an epiphany. “Ah, right.”
After a moment, he asked, “Have you already planned out your summer? How many students are you taking this time?”
“Two.” Xuan Congnan thought of the boy and girl he had already met. “Both are exceptional and easy to teach.”
Zhang Que sighed miserably. “Teacher Jin criticized my color usage the day before yesterday. I wouldn’t dare tutor anyone else for fear of misleading them.”
How bad could someone who managed to enter a prestigious art academy really be? Xuan Congnan kept his eyes fixed forward. “You’re being modest, cut the act.”
Zhang Que shrugged with a grin. “Anyway, I definitely can’t compare to you.”
“Different circumstances. Someone used to give me private tutoring when I was little,” Xuan Congnan said.
“I know, your mom was an artist,” Zhang Que said.
Xuan Congnan answered softly, “Mm.”
“Without talent, even private tutoring from your mom wouldn’t save you. Don’t be modest,” Zhang Que added.
As dusk fell, the oil painting was a third finished; Xuan Congnan decided to tackle the rest tomorrow.
When he checked his phone for the time, he gave a start.
Missed calls: 5.
WeChat messages: 8.
Scavenger: Congnan, aren’t you coming back for lunch today?
Scavenger: You didn’t tell me in advance yesterday or today.
Scavenger: Are you painting at school?
Scavenger: Congnan, it’s time for lunch.
Scavenger: Congnan, I’m hungry.
Scavenger: Congnan, hurry back.
Scavenger: [Pitiful, weak, helpless, and starving to death.jpg]
Panicking, Xuan Congnan hurriedly packed up his things. A paintbrush slipped to the floor, and he practically scrambled to pick it up with hands and feet.
“What’s wrong?” Zhang Que asked. “Something up? Where are you rushing off to?”
“Someone at home starved to death,” Xuan Congnan declared.
Zhang Que: “???”
He shouted at Xuan Congnan’s retreating back as he bolted for the studio door, “Who the heck is at your house?!”
Along the way, Xuan Congnan messaged Gu Shi back.
Sorry, my phone was on silent.
I’m heading back right now.
I’ll buy you food.
Skipping the cafeteria, Xuan Congnan bought dinner outside the campus gates, as if trying to make up for the lunch Gu Shi had missed.
In the past, when they were merely flatmates, missing a meal meant nothing. But now that they were each other’s. letting Gu Shi go hungry left Xuan Congnan with a tinge of guilt.
Upon returning home, Gu Shi was sitting all alone on the living room sofa. Hearing the door click open, he emerged hugging a throw pillow to greet him. “You’re back.”
His tone was dejected, as if he lacked the strength to go on from hunger. Xuan Congnan lowered his head. “I’m really sorry.”
“Did you just spend the whole day painting at the art studio?” Gu Shi asked.
“Right,” Xuan Congnan said. “There are a lot of people in the studio before exams, and I didn’t want to disturb anyone, so I put my phone on silent.”
“It’s fine,” Gu Shi said.
“Must be starving, right?”
Gu Shi nodded. “Mm. Starving.”
Xuan Congnan hurriedly carried the food over to the dining table next to the living room and said, “Come eat.”
Gu Shi followed right behind him like a shadow, answering, “Alright.”
After sitting down, he didn’t pick up his chopsticks, just stared pitifully at Xuan Congnan.
Though his words didn’t blame Xuan Congnan for not coming home, his demeanor carried a heavy grievance.
He pushed a small, exquisite box he had bought alongside dinner over to Gu Shi.
Inside was a mini cake topped with a tiny dolphin figurine, extraordinarily cute.
Xuan Congnan murmured, “Eating sweet things makes you feel better, really. Don’t be upset, I’m back now, aren’t I?”
Gu Shi’s gaze deepened as he looked at Xuan Congnan, managing to keep it hidden from him.
“I am upset,” he said.
Such directness left Xuan Congnan completely disarmed. After racking his brain for a moment, he asked, “Then, what kind of compensation do you want?”
Gu Shi said, “Can I sleep in the same bedroom as you?”