When they arrived at the gallery, Qi Yan was just about to express his gratitude to Jiang Shui when he saw him looking at the paintings on display on the wall with great interest.
Qi Yan walked over, pointed to a painting he was looking at, and said, "This was painted by a junior high school student in our gallery."
Hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed in Jiang Shui's eyes: "A junior high school student..."
"Yes, a very talented child." Qi Yan pointed around: "The ones hanging on the wall are all painted by children in the gallery. The oldest is in college, and the youngest has just entered the first year of junior high school."
Jiang Shui's eyes shone with yearning: "Hey, then they are really not bad..."
Faintly hearing a hint of longing and expectation in his tone, Qi Yan moved his eyes and stuttered: "If, if you want to learn, you can come and learn... Ah! I'm just expressing my gratitude to you. !Although you are nosy, but you still helped me anyway. I reluctantly let you come and learn, it doesn’t cost money... "
After saying that, Qi Yan felt regretful. Would it be like saying something like this suddenly like an invitation? What if he misunderstood...
Thinking about it, Qi Yan quietly looked at Jiang Shui and found that he was also looking at him unblinkingly.
Being caught red-handed, Qi Yan's face turned red suddenly: "You, what are you looking at me for? Who allowed you to look at me!"
Jiang Shuan shook his head with a dull expression and said softly, "I don't want to learn to paint."
Hearing his words, a trace of loneliness flashed across Qi Yan's face, but he covered it up well in the next second: "Of course it would be best not to come -"
"But I will come." Jiang Shui ignored Qi Yan's words and continued naturally: "I like it here."
Qi Yan choked, and the joy in his heart welled up, but he mumbled: "You don't want to learn painting, don't you? If you don't learn, then don't come. How can I have time to greet you, an idler..."
"But, I want to come." Jiang Shui said seriously, "Didn't you say you wanted to thank me?"
You have to be responsible for what you say. Jiang Shui's face was filled with the words "You must fulfill your promise", making Qi Yan unable to refuse.
After a long time, Qi Yan coughed twice and said: "Forget it, come if you want, but I won't entertain you."
"Yes, I will be good." Little did he know how misleading Jiang Shui's words were.
Qi Yan's ears turned red and he walked in the direction of his office in a random manner: "Follow, follow! I won't care about you if you are dawdling!"
Although I have given Jiang Shui a pass and can come to the gallery anytime and anywhere, if I have to say thank you, there is really no practical expression.
At noon, Qi Yan decided to treat Jiang Shui to dinner. Jiang Shui agreed without any excuse and ordered what he wanted to eat.
While Jiang Shui was speechless, he made a reservation for the restaurant. Just when he was about to put on his coat and leave, a painting teacher suddenly walked in.
"Mr. Qi, um..." The teacher hesitated and wanted to say something, glanced at the river, and then looked at Qi Yan, hesitant to speak.
Jiang Shui did not speak, but left the room minding his own business.
In fact, Qi Yan's original intention was that he did not need to leave, but Jiang Shui wanted to leave, which meant that he was not interested in what the teacher was about to say.
Looking directly at the female teacher, Qi Yan asked, "Teacher Xu, what can I do for you?"
"Mr. Qi... That's it. I want to know which teacher is in charge of our oil painting competition this year?"
Qi Yan's eyes darkened. He knew that many teachers in this competition were coveting the position of 'instructor'. If they become famous, people in this position will be more glorious than the contestants, and they will become famous in the world of calligraphy and painting.
In this competition, Qi Yan's gallery is bound to win, which means that a sure chance of success and fame will attract wolf-like looks to anyone who falls on it.
To be honest, Qi Yan hasn't decided which teacher he will give it to yet. After all, he hopes that the person who takes this position deserves it.
"Sorry, I can't reveal it yet." Qi Yan refused: "I will inform everyone as soon as there is news."
"Mr. Qi, let's be honest, I really need this opportunity." The female teacher looked embarrassed: "Mr. Qi, can you give me this opportunity? Please..."
The female teacher in front of me is young and has only been working in the gallery for two years. Her painting skills are good, but she doesn't know whether it's because she's young and energetic, or because she's a little impetuous. In short, her painting skills have remained at her original results, and even after two years, she hasn't made much progress.
Qi Yan excluded her from the position of mentor from the beginning.
"I'm sorry, I can't decide this matter myself. And it's unfair to other teachers for you to come to me privately like this."
Qi Yan's refusal made the female teacher extremely embarrassed. She tightened her clothes and said, "Mr. Qi, let's go out to discuss this matter sometime. I'll treat you to dinner. Please don't refuse."
"Oh no… "
"It's settled in Victoria at eight o'clock on Saturday night." After the female teacher finished speaking, she quickly turned around and walked out as if she was afraid that Qi Yan would refuse: "Then I won't disturb Mr. Qi. On Saturday night at eight o'clock See you there or not!”
The disappearing figure of the other party made Qi Yan frown. He didn't really like such a person, no matter what her reasons were.
His mood suddenly dropped to freezing point. Qi Yan squeezed the hand holding his coat, unable to calm down his emotions for a long time.
"Do you still want to eat?" Jiang Shui's indifferent voice came from the door: "Let's go and eat."
"... Well." Qi Yan put on his coat and walked over: "Since I'm inviting you to dinner, it shouldn't matter if you wait for a while."
Qi Yan wanted to say, 'Sorry, I've been waiting for a long time,' but after thinking about it, what he said didn't match what was in his heart.
Jiang Shui didn't say anything, but followed Qi Yan naturally. He didn't know if he heard the conversation between the female teacher and Qi Yan outside the half-open door.
Jiang Shui chose a unique clay pot restaurant, where the ingredients are all specially formulated and slowly cooked in clay pots. Just entering the store, you can smell the unique aroma.
After choosing a few dishes and ordering a bottle of sake, Qi Yan sat across the river and looked at the scenery outside the window with boredom.
The sky is blue, as if washed by water. The occasional cloud that floats over makes the sky bluer, bringing with it a hint of the freshness of nature.
"How long has the gallery been open?" Jiang Shui suddenly asked.
Qi Yan held up his chin and said, "Five years."
After autumn, it will be six years.
"But you don't look big." Jiang Shui stretched out his big hand and compared it in the air: "Whether it's appearance or size..."
"That's enough, shut up." Qi Yan glanced over and said, "Don't talk, just wait for your meal."