The others woke up one after another, but Chu Mian and Yu Ran were nowhere to be seen when they went downstairs to eat. Considering that the young couple might be intimate when they wake up in the morning, everyone tacitly agrees that no one wants to knock on the door to disturb them.
When a few people were packing their things, they accidentally discovered that the two boys came back from outside, with a lot of white sand on their clothes. Yu Ran had just finished eating a big mango, his mouth turned yellow, and he rushed to the bathroom to wash it off.
"It's so early, where have you been?" Chu Heng asked.
Chu Mian threw away the wet towel in her hand, and calmly replied, "Follow Yu Ran to watch the sunrise, there are quite a lot of people on the beach."
"It's because there are so many people that I'm worried. Don't think that the scenic spots are all serious tourists."
Chu Mian nodded perfunctorily and went upstairs to change clothes.
Today we are going to Weizhou Island from Beihai, the weather is fine, and it will take less than an hour to take the fastest boat. Chu Heng booked an inn on the island in advance, and was directly taken there by the driver after getting off the boat. The sand on the island is not as good as Silver Beach, and there are a lot of gravel and dead branches, and it hurts to step on it with bare feet.
According to the travel plan, she was going to visit Dishui Danping in the afternoon. However, Chu Heng received a call from the editor before lunch, telling her to change a few pages of commercial manuscripts. This could have been ghostwritten by the studio, but others can only imitate her color matching style and cannot imitate the real technique, so the finished product does not seem to be from the deity.
Chu Heng emphasized many times that she was spending her holidays in other places without even a board by her side, but the editor-in-chief asked her to go home immediately. Chu Heng held up the phone and argued with the other party for a whole afternoon, and finally broke out impatiently: "If it doesn't work, I will terminate the contract. I have recorded all the calls. I really don't want to put these things on the table, but the benefits that the company gave me It’s far less stressful, and if it continues like this, I’ll have problems with my body.”
She sighed wearily, pulled out the calling card, and changed into a private one.
The afternoon sun was scorching, and everyone was resting in the inn to catch up on sleep. Chu Heng registered a small Weibo account, edited more than 2,000 words with long pictures, and recalled the company's various unreasonable treatment. After thinking about it, she first saved it in the draft box, and waited for the right time before deciding whether to send it out.
At four or five in the afternoon, the light was not as hot as before, Chu Heng asked everyone to put on sunscreen, and then went out to Dishui Danping. The innkeeper provided them with a battery car, and they walked along the path and saw the sea after a while.
The sea water here is gradually rising up, Yu Ran feels fresh about everything, he pulls on his slippers and strides up, not caring about his clothes getting wet. The waves beat against his body, and he almost lost his balance and fell down. Fortunately, Chu Heng was watching him from behind and reached out to help in time.
The young man smiled and asked him, "Sister Heng, do you travel several times a year?"
"Of course not, I only came out this year."
"I thought your job required flying all over the world." Yu Ran bent down slightly to resist the impact of the waves.
Chu Heng smiled lightly and said, "Do you think I'm collecting materials? I seldom have that leisurely heart. After the work stabilizes, there are so many manuscripts that I can't finish drawing every week. It is not easy to sleep well."
The hard work she talked about actually sounds like a kind of fulfillment. Most people hope to do what they like every day. It would be even better if they can make a living. But for Chu Heng, the word "like" has gradually become a burden, because she likes it, so she can't get rid of it. She is no longer satisfied with just relying on painting to survive, but has higher expectations for her career.
But the reality often does not go smoothly. Once she encounters setbacks and bottlenecks, she will suffer. For the sake of her future, she did not dare to directly disclose the overlord terms of the studio. This is related to a kind of unequal integrity. Whoever challenges the rules will definitely be condemned by the industry.
Yu Ran picked up a sapphire blue translucent stone by the sea, and he excitedly showed it to Chu Heng, who told him that it was just a piece of sea glass, which had been polished by water and sand to give it a rounded appearance.
"It's okay, I'll just treat it as a gem!" Yu Ran didn't mind, holding it in his palm and looking at it.
Chu Heng put on the sunglasses and asked Yu Ran: "Does your parents not support you to take the art test at all, or is there room for negotiation?"
"I don't know either. My dad doesn't seem to have an opinion, but it's much more difficult for my mother."
"I was the same back then. My parents looked down on my goal and didn't allow me to make paints and paint at home. On the day of registration, I sneaked out in the middle of the night, stayed overnight in an Internet cafe, and paid the fee when it was dawn." Chu Heng recalled, "Fortunately, there was not much competition in Ronggang that year, and my grades in CAFA were also good. I was lucky enough to pass the exam."
She turned her head and told Yu Ran: "For painting, self-study is definitely not enough. 'Talent' is not much different in the scope of ordinary people. Only hard work can bridge the gap."
"Yes, I know."
Chu Heng raised his hand to smooth the hair that was blown by the sea breeze, and asked again: "If you don't pass the exam next year, or if you don't take the exam at all, what are you going to do? Repeat the exam, or just take the culture class?"
"Of course it's a normal college entrance examination, I don't want to study for another year!" Yu Ran said while lowering his head to look for something, "Try to get into a university first, then you will have more free time in the future... and you can also work as an adult, If you save up, you can go to class."
"If you go to college, do you find any hobbies that attract you more?"
"There won't be." Yu Ran said firmly, "I must realize my dream in this life."
Chu Heng stared at the handsome face of the boy, and said slowly: "I thought about that before."
When she was the same age as Yu Ran, she had silently set her lofty ambitions, but now when she mentions her youthful goals, there are only four words "unrealistic" left to remind her to learn to be pragmatic.
The water rose again, and the frolicking crowd retreated. The white waves rolled up layer by layer, Chu Heng took off his sunglasses, looked into the distance, and couldn't help saying to Yu Ran: "Look, the end seems to lead to another world, every time I see the sea, I want to go to the other side .”
Yu Ran hesitated for a moment, then ran two steps suddenly, opened his arms to block her, and shouted urgently: "Don't think about doing stupid things!"
Chu Heng laughed, pushed him away, turned around and walked to the dry place.
After Yu Ran followed, he heard Chu Heng turn his head and ask, "Do you want me to teach you?"
"what?"
"Gouache and sketch, you need for the art exam." Chu Heng said with a smile, "Anyway, I guess I won't be able to get a new job for a long time."
Yu Ran suddenly stopped.
The sea water of Dishui Danping is crystal clear, and the snow-white foam rushes to the shore turbulently, and dissipates brilliantly in the sun.
"Brother!" Yu Jin rushed over just after experiencing coral reef diving, "My mouth hurts again! Help me! Apply medicine to me!"
He was able to touch the ground air again, so he took a deep breath, Yu Ran turned his face and saw that both sides of his nostrils were constricted.
Yu Ran ignored him, just took out the ointment in his pocket and handed it over, then turned to Chu Heng and said seriously: "I will pay the tuition."
That's what I said, but Yu Ran didn't know how much the teaching of first-line painters was worth. Yu Jin joined in the fun and asked "what's the tuition fee", but both of them ignored the boy's curiosity and chatted in detail.
On the way back, Yu Jin kept asking questions, while Yu Ran was deep in thought, completely oblivious to a person walking towards him on the steps.
Chu Mian stopped, lowered her head and stuffed a piece of coconut milk jelly into Yu Ran's arms, frowning and asked, "Where are your slippers?"
Yu Ran came back to his senses, raised his face and explained: "It was washed away, and I couldn't find it."
"Be careful there's glass on the floor."
His words reminded Yu Ran that he had just picked up a piece of beautiful sea glass, so he hurriedly took it out and handed it over.
Chu Mian thought it was dirty and didn't pick it up, so she turned around and squatted down, and said with a sideways face, "Come up, I'll carry you back."
Yu Ran jumped up and jumped onto Chu Mian's back, leaving Yu Jin running up the steps panting alone.
The fresh coconut milk jelly is sweet and cold, delicate and delicious. Yu Ran scooped up a spoonful, tilted his head and carefully put it into Chu Mian's mouth.
He said softly, "Your aunt said she could teach me how to draw."
"real?"
"Well, how much does she cost?"
"How could I ask you to charge me?" Chu Mian sneered.
"That's what I said, but it's still interesting... By the way, where can I find her for lessons?"
Chu Mian slowed down, thinking, "It should be... at my house."
Yu Ran opened his eyes wide, "Your home? Then, wouldn't I be able to see you every day!"
"Yes." Chu Mian smiled slightly, "So did you promise her?"
"Not yet... I'm going home and asking my mother."
The two talked and laughed on the road, completely forgetting that there was a lonely boy behind them. Yu Jin listened to the two of them with his ears upright, and finally understood his brother's current situation.
In the past few days on Weizhou Island, everyone has almost eaten up seafood for half of their lives. They have tried all kinds of grilling, oil frying, and stewing, which made them feel sick when they finally smelled the salty smell in the sea breeze.
On the island, electric vehicles are the most common means of transportation. Yu Ran dangled on the bicycle, rampaging on the road without people, which made Chu Mian in the back seat very worried. Both sides of the road are full of banana trees, which are said to be available for tourists to pick. However, the fruit is not yet fully ripe, and it is still green and bitter to bite.
After going around all the places that can be played on the island, they no longer want to go out to face the hot weather. They will lie contentedly in the inn, eat watermelon and use the air conditioner, or buy some souvenirs to take away when the night is cooler.
The short "May 1st" holiday is coming to an end, and Yu Ran has to face a mountain of homework again. This time, he no longer copies Chu Mian's answers, but slowly solves the results by himself. Although the correct rate is not high, the teacher It will really deepen the impression when you explain it.
Ronggang is also heating up in May, but compared with Beihai, it is completely cool and pleasant. The shadows of the trees are whirling, thousands of pink Albizia julienne flowers are blooming, and the road is filled with a faint fragrance, which only belongs to the taste of summer.
After getting off the return plane, the two brothers dragged their exhausted bodies into the house, threw themselves on the bed together, and never moved again.
Yu Hui opened the door and came in, squeezed a little bit over, and asked Yu Ran: "Hey, I heard from your mother the other day that you want to go to a special class, how much is it? I'll give it to you."
Yu Ran closed his eyes and said, "My mother still doesn't agree."
"You don't care if she agrees or not, I have the final say!" Yu Hui snorted dismissively, "How dare she object to what I have decided?"
Yu Jin rolled his eyes, and sighed softly behind Yu Ran's back: "Here we go again..."
Yu Ran chuckled.
Parents have completely different consumption concepts, and money is also the beginning of the differences between the two. My father has a good face and often hosts big banquets to invite friends and colleagues. He usually pays attention to brands rather than cost-effectiveness when buying things; my mother insists on the principle of "spending your money wisely". A one-time expenditure of more than 500 yuan has to be weighed for several days.
Therefore, in terms of children's education, Li Guirong felt that there was no need to spend more money for Yu Ran to learn a skill, and studying hard was better than anything else.
"Tell me how she is a mother. I haven't looked at you for a long time, and she made my son suffer so much." Yu Hui snorted again, "Parents should unconditionally support their children's dreams. She is like this, stopping you everywhere! There is a song called, 'Mom in the Candlelight', but what about your mother? Your mother is a fire pit!"
Yu Hui's outraged appearance made the two boys laugh. Li Guirong heard it in the living room, and immediately came over and kicked open the door and shouted, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I said you are picky! Picky on yourself and others is fine, how can you pick on your own son?"
Li Guirong said confidently: "I'm doing it for his own good. With his three-minute hot temper, if he spends tens of thousands of dollars to learn and can't persevere, and he regrets it with me when he comes back, then who is willing to refund your tuition?"
The two parents quickly quarreled over this matter again, and Yu Ran lay on the bed and listened silently, without expressing his opinion.
The one who broke their argument was Yu Jin. The boy sat on the edge of the bed and patted his thigh vigorously to attract their attention, "Are you guys stupid? Is this an issue of education? This is an issue of investment!"
He solemnly said: "Do you know who my brother is attracted to? China's first-line painters—you don't even know the name! Anyway, a picture can be sold for 100,000 yuan! If my brother learns from him seriously, then in the future Once you become a teacher, won't you be worth over 100 million in minutes?"
Li Guirong looked at Yu Jin with suspicion.
"Don't miss this opportunity. They don't accept all students. Mom, if your short-sightedness makes my brother miss this great opportunity, it will also prevent me from being successful in the future!" Yu Jin was heartbroken, "Think about it, How much have you lost? If my brother is depressed and unhappy in the future, he must have no intention of working, so he has no salary, is fired by the boss, lives on the street, kneels on Jiubao Street to beg for food... and me? I hold it next to him Singing with a microphone, at the end of the day, there is not even ten yuan in the bowl!"
"But it will be different if you let my brother learn painting. My brother is very talented and persistent. He will definitely achieve something in this field. When he becomes popular, you will follow him and go downstairs to buy vegetables Some people will look at you in surprise, 'God, isn't this the great painter Yu Ran? I thought it was Lin Chiling! Your son spent a lot of money on skin care products for you, right? It's really enviable!'”
Yu Jin's mouth was dry, he let out a long sigh of relief, and said, "Okay, I won't tell you any more, for the sake of the future of the whole family, you have to think carefully, Mom."
His serious appearance really made Li Guirong hesitate. She stood there and moved her lips a few times, looked at Yu Ran on the bed, then glanced at Yu Hui next to her, and finally whispered "I'll think about it again".
She turned and left the bedroom.
Yu Ran sat up suspiciously, "What are you bragging about with Mom?"
"Tsk, you really don't understand a woman's heart." Yu Jin said earnestly, "Is it you who cares about you? Mom cares about money! You have to tell her that painting can make a lot of money before she thinks about it. What do you think? , she is a layman, how can she understand the hardships in the industry, but she only cares about income."
"What about the 'hardship', keeping it from her?" Yu Ran asked, "Is this considered lying to her?"
"Of course it doesn't count. This is to pick the key points, report the good and not the bad. As for the hardship...you will overcome it yourself in the future." Yu Jin patted his brother on the shoulder twice to cheer him up.
That night, Yu Ran was called over by Li Guirong and asked about the art test.
Yu Ran will not imagine the future exaggeratedly like Yu Jin, but will tell Li Guirong what he knows in detail. As far as he could remember, the mother and son had never had such a long conversation like today, and they were even a little reserved when facing each other. Just like Li Guirong didn't know that her son had grown to this level, Yu Ran didn't expect her mother to have such a gentle side.
Finally, Li Guirong asked that question: "Where do you go to learn from the teacher, is it like the Children's Palace or..."
Yu Ran raised the corner of his mouth and said slowly, "Go to Chu Mian's house."
The two fell silent in unison.
Li Guirong cleared her throat and said, "This will cause trouble for people."
"Well, so I still have to give out a red envelope or something."
Li Guirong rested her chin in thought, wondering how much should be given to Chu Heng.
No matter how much the money was, Yu Ran finally got the understanding and support of his parents, the biggest stone in his heart finally landed smoothly, and immediately sent a text message to Chu Mian. According to Chu Heng's plan, after the final exam, she can go to class directly, and she doesn't need to bring her own drawing tools, she has everything there.
However, to Yu Ran's surprise, Chu Heng had always acquiesced that he would stay there until the art exam was over.
The next day at school, Yu Ran hesitated and said to Chu Mian, "You don't need to stay at your house, my house is not far away, and it takes 20 minutes to get there by car."
Chu Mian nodded, "I asked her, and she said that because you have to paint more than ten hours a day, tossing back and forth will waste time and easily affect your hand feel and state, so you simply use my study as a studio."
"Then I won't be able to see my family during the summer vacation?"
"You can go home and pick up things on weekends."
Yu Ran walked out of the school with his schoolbag in his hand, "Oh... so we seem to be living together."
"Yeah." Chu Mian tore off the wrapping of the cone, and fed Yu Ran the chocolate tip of the cone.
Yu Ran said, "I'm not ready yet."
"what?"
"See how you look at home."
Chu Mian turned her head blankly, and smiled at Yu Ran, "It's not a different person, what's the difference?"
"I thought it would be a long time before we saw it."
Today, Yu Ran was the same as usual, sending Chu Mian across the road after school, and then the two lingered on the opposite street for a few minutes before saying goodbye. It was still very bright at seven o'clock in the evening, the silver-gray moon hung in the sky, and on the other side was the remnant of the setting sun.
Chu Mian looked at the zebra crossing that the two of them had just stepped on together, and said in a deep voice, "We have been walking this road for two years, but you can only accompany me half way every time."
His eyes were deep, and suddenly his mood brightened again, and he tilted his head to look at Yu Ran.
"We can go home together in the future." Chu Mian smiled and stretched out her hand.
Yu Ran clenched her hands without thinking, with a refreshing smile.
"OK!"