Chapter 40: Chapter 40
“Are you sure this is the place?” TangShi wandered around the beautiful scenic courtyard of the traditional building, looking like something out of a historical drama with a curved tiled roof. It framed with billowing cherry blossom, draped over the eaves, lit by the sun of the day in an almost magical scene and she pulled out her phone to take a picture. It was too pretty not to.
“Mmm hmmm” Linlin was already glued to her own cell, oblivious to this breathtaking view, checking the address and pulling up the details of the teacher she had been corresponding with. “We’re lucky he is going to meet with us. He rejects ninety percent of applications right off, but when I told him your name, he jumped to meet you. Seems you have a fan.” Linlin raised a brow but not her focus.
“He’s a teacher, a well-known one. Why would he want to meet me?” TangShi was dubious. She hadn’t been sure about this when Linlin called her yesterday, but she knew her best friend was only trying to make her life better. This is what Linlin did. She would chase something that she felt would make her friend happy and cut out the steps and inconvenience for her and hand it out on a platter for her to take if she wanted it.
“Why not? Your artwork is amazing and has a special quality to it that makes it stand out. It’s whimsical meets realism but with the soft quality of watercolors. It’s beautiful every time you create something.”
“If I’m so good then why do I need an art school? I think you’re exaggerating.” TangShi laughed and hooked Linlin through the arm, beaming with affection, when she finally put her phone in her bag. Linlin bopped her on the head with a playful smile and the two leaned in together in companiable comfiness. TangShi knew she was blessed and lucky to have her all these years.
“True, to me you’re already accomplished and don’t need a school, but I know you’ve been sad about giving up your scholarship and expanding your studies into painting. I want you to be happy and this is the best alternative I could find. He’s highly noted as a teacher and his students all become famous in their own right. He’s very picky.”
Linlin had listened to TangShi’s woes for the past weeks as she pined for the Californian school and how bored she was amusing herself everyday at the Leng manor. She was losing her motivation to paint the longer she lived there and Linlin could not let that happen.
“Hmmm. I’ll trust you. You never steer me wrong.” TangShi clung to Linlin as they walked the long length of the cobbled path to the inner garden, under an archway of ivy and flowers to very beautiful double doors that were flanked by overflowing plant pots of various sizes and colors. It felt like walking into a mini paradise and whoever tended to all this was a green thumb master of gardening. It was an idyllic setting for creative souls and painters.
Linlin rang the hanging brass bell that dangled on the porch roof, finding it quaint, and jumped when a young man approached from the side of them rather than opening the door.
“Miss Choi and Miss Lei I presume?” His smooth husky voice had them both turn and momentarily rendered mute for a second at the young handsome man standing there. He was not what either woman was expecting and both blinked hard for a minute in case he was a mirage. If he was the ‘teacher’ they couldn’t understand how. He looked barely thirty, was tall, dark haired with good bone structure, muscular, and boyish. He was dressed more like a rich casual weekend visitor on holiday than a stuffy old art major. Linlin had expected traditional clothes, white hair and a long tapered beard, judging by the rumors about him. Not this sexy young hotty who could give YuZhi a run for his money. He had something of the executive about him.
“Teacher Cai?” Linlin queried, confused that someone this youthful could be the legendary art master who churned out talent. Surely his experience was largely based on years, but that wasn’t possible if he was only thirty!
“Sort of. I’m Rong Cai, my father is Teacher Cai, but I am one of his ex-students. I help here. Well… I run things and he gets to paint all day.” He smiled, charming them effortlessly.
Rong Cai appraised the two very attractive women, comparing them in their differences. One was fashion conscious and bold, a daring bob haircut died light chestnut with artistic make up and accessories that hinted she loved being extra. The other was girl next door, long wavy dark hair, natural make up, delicate features and big eyes, and a simple summer dress and sandals that accentuated her feminine frame. They were so different, yet both beauties.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Cai. I’m TangShi Lei. The one who applied.” TangShi leaned forward extending her hand for the polite shake and smiled softly while bowing her head as they greeted one another. Always respectful and poised.
“I’m Linlin Choi the one who has been emailing and texting. You can call me Linlin.” Linlin purred seductively and gracefully flicked out her own hand in a demure manner, full on flirt, and was greeted with a friendly manner.
“Welcome. I’m a fan of your work Miss Lei. My father doesn’t really use technology so it’s me that deals with the applications and interviews. He’s old school and traditional about his life and craft so I became an assistant of sorts. I’m the one who evaluates the talent first and he will look over and agree or not if I like what I see.”
“I see. Linlin said she sent my portfolio, so I am assuming I passed one step to get here?” TangShi liked this man’s warm manner and non-intrusive energy. He was laid back, easy to relax around, and was good looking enough to be a pleasant view.
“Yes, I already knew your name first though and as soon as I saw your ‘fireworks over the pond’ piece, I was very excited to put two and two together. You are one of my favorite up and coming artists in China. I heard you had gone to the US to study but I guess not.”