Almighty painter

Chapter 665 The End of Relationship

"What a late summer it was. I won't try to recall the exact month, because it would take me so much pain to get my mind back there, but one day, that long summer night twenty years ago will stretch its shadow over me... I hate the life that changed us and messed us up."

"Humans are so weird."

--Graham Greene, The End of the Affair
-
Strange to say.

Although Gu Weijing used to be a little mature beyond his years, in terms of the temperament of a superior who manages people, he is not even as good as Miss Sandenu, who has been a student leader for many years.

Especially at home.

Gu Weijing has always been just a junior.

Even though he signed with the gallery and caught the eye of Mr. Cao, his status in the family has risen sharply in the past six months. His family still treats him as a junior.

The only difference is that he has evolved from an "ordinary child" to a "promising child".

At the end of the day, kids are still kids.

Since you are a child, you should listen to your parents.

My aunt has always disliked him because he likes to nag about this and that and meddle in everything.

Even Gu Tongxiang, old man Gu, even though he practiced painting every day under the whipping of his grandson, was not "obedient". He was lazy when he should be lazy, shirked his responsibilities when he should be lazy, and still whined when he should be whined.

But now.

Maybe it was because the adults were too confused, or because today's events had drained their energy. Or maybe it was just that Gu Weijing's voice sounded too peaceful and majestic.

Gu Weijing's words really had the effect of an imperial order.

He said don't cry.

Grandpa really stopped crying, and even aunt held back her sobs. She stared at him silently with her red and swollen eyes like peaches.

"I made a phone call before I went home."

Gu Weijing sat on a wooden chair by the window, looking at the Yangon River reflecting the moonlight at night. "I learned something. Gu Lin was taken away because of online gambling. She now owes someone a debt of 980,000 US dollars. The cause of the incident was a few months ago..."

He told the causes and processes of the matter one by one - how Brother Hao set up the plan, how his cousin made the big mistake, including the conditions proposed by Brother Hao.

During the narration, Gu Weijing's tone remained calm.

There was no anger, no emotional accusations, no exaggeration, but there was also no intention to cover up for cousin Gu Lin.

Everything she had done, all the mistakes she had made, including everything Brother Hao had said about gamblers... Gu Weijing explained them all clearly.

Only half of the sentence was said.

My aunt couldn't help crying again.

She seemed afraid to cry too loudly next to Gu Weijing, and just sobbed while hugging the pillow.

"Why...why...she has never been short of money at home...why? We are going to live a good life soon..."

Her stuttering voice came from under the pillow, mixed with crying, like a huqin with broken strings and out of tune.

"why."

"why."

"why."

……

Aunt kept repeating why over and over again. Gu Weijing didn't know whether she was asking herself, her daughter, or just some mechanical mumbling.

He only knows——

original.

When a person is really sad, the tone of his voice doesn't sound like crying, but more like vomiting.

Gu Tongxiang didn't react much.

He huddled up on the sofa, looking as dull as a wooden sculpture. The expression in his eyes was more like a deathly calm than calm.

a long time.

a long time.

Mr. Gu's fingers moved, and he subconsciously went to smoke a cigarette, but the last one was empty.

Gu Tongxiang shook his head and gurgled in his throat.

"Fate."

He cried out sadly, "It's my fault that I didn't do my job well as a grandpa."

The old man stood up little by little by holding the back of the sofa, walked to the dressing mirror in the corner of the room, and tried hard to straighten his back.

The old man's movements were extremely slow at the beginning, like a slow-motion picture in an old-fashioned carousel, with his movements intermittently.

The further back.

The smoother his movements become.

Gu Tongxiang patted the cigarette ashes off his body, took out a comb and combed his hair vigorously. His dry fingers were so strong that strands of hair were on the comb teeth.

It's like a six-year-old trying to learn to walk again, or a sixty-three-year-old trying to force himself to go back to thirty-six.

When it came time to reach out for the tie, Old Man Gu's movements were no different from usual.

If it weren't for the trembling fingertips, the pale face and the fatigue that could not be concealed in the eyes.

Gu Weijing looked at his grandfather in the dressing mirror and almost thought that the Gu Tongxiang of the past was standing in front of him again.

"Dad, what are you going to do?"

The aunt looked at her father-in-law who was tying his tie, let go of the pillow beside her, and asked anxiously.

"You two should leave tonight and leave this place of trouble. There is no point for you to stay. Gu Weijing is going to be a great painter in the future, so don't get involved in these messy things."

Gu Tongxiang said softly.

"I?"

"I'm going to Xihe Club to find Brother Hao. I'll keep in touch with you if there's any situation." Gu Tongxiang said slowly.

"What's the point of going to Xihe Guild Hall?" Gu Weijing asked.

"Brother Hao." Gu Tongxiang's lips trembled. "Brother Hao may be a kind person."

Brother Hao is a kind-hearted person.

This is probably the most unfunny joke in the world.

But this was the only thing Gu Tongxiang could say.

Hao may be a kind-hearted person, as long as he begs, the other party will return his granddaughter to him. Just like those gamblers who have lost everything in gambling and comfort each other on the Internet forum - the owner of the casino is a kind-hearted person, as long as you beg him hard and make him feel sorry for it, he will return your money.

Powerless, dejected, and hopeless.

Everyone knows that this is a lie to deceive themselves, whether it is the person who says these words or the person who hears these words, everyone knows it.

Apart from deceiving myself, what else can I do at this point?

Gu Tongxiang probably knew himself that these words sounded too powerless.

The old man looked at his grandson through the dressing mirror.

"She is my granddaughter. For the record, you are my grandson and she is my granddaughter." Gu Tongxiang said softly, "In fact, Gu Lin is right about one thing. I have always been partial to you two. Over the years, I have never been a good grandfather."

Gu Weijing inherited his ancestral business and took up the paintbrush.

Gu Lin did not learn painting.

Gu Tongxiang knew that from childhood to adulthood, he had always liked his grandson more in his heart.

He often said at home that the family courtyard, painting shop, and other things passed down from ancestors would be handed over to Gu Weijing in the future, and would have no share in them.

Gu Lin has his parents and grandfather by his side, while Gu Weijing only has his grandfather by his side.

and so.

Gu Tongxiang got a box of imported ice cream from the calligraphy and painting association, and then he secretly gave it to his grandson behind closed doors. There was only one spot for an event, so he only took his grandson. Gu Lin said that when there was a party at the international school, everyone went, but Gu Weijing didn't go.

He was worried that Gu Weijing had no money and couldn't make friends, so he secretly put some money into his pocket when he got off the bus.

Between Gu Weijing and Gu Lin, Gu Weijing has always been the more ambitious one since childhood.

but.

Gu Tongxiang knew that as a grandfather, this was not a reason for him to be partial.

He is biased and he is not a good grandfather.

So Gu Lin resented him and felt that he was not valued, and he was right to resent him.

He is not a good grandfather.

So he should be the one to bear these things.

This is fate.

This is retribution.

Cause and effect are cyclical, and retribution in this world is always inevitable.

It's not unfair for him to suffer all this.

In fact, it doesn’t matter whether it is retribution or not, or whether it is injustice or not.

Just like what Gu Tongxiang said to Gu Weijing just now, "She is my granddaughter, Weijing, you are my grandson and she is my granddaughter."

She is my granddaughter...so Gu Tongxiang must go.

It would be useful for him to go, so he decided to go.

There was no point in going, he had to go anyway.

He is a grandfather.

A grandfather is someone who, no matter whether it is useful or not, no matter what he is facing, no matter who is right or wrong, will put on his coat and rush into the night to save his children.

This may be powerless, futile, and hopeless.

But this is also powerless, futile, and desperate love.

"Don't be funny, Grandpa, you're bald." Gu Weijing sighed, he walked over and patted the old man Gu on the shoulder, "Leave this matter to me."

……

The door of the inner room.

A man standing nearby, almost blocking half of the aisle, watched the scene in the room silently and couldn't help but sigh heavily.

Meow?
The cat in my arms turned its head and cried out in confusion.

Awang is a smart cat.

It could smell the strange and sluggish atmosphere in the air, the smell of men's depressed sadness, women's worries and tears, and burnt tobacco mixed together.

pity.

No matter how smart Awang is, he is just a cat.

From the cat's perspective, it is impossible for it to understand what is happening.

"Sometimes, not understanding anything is a very happy moment, isn't it?" Kazunari Sakai sighed softly in a Byronic tone, "When human nature was born from the hazy animal nature of a baby, the last pure happiness in history was gone forever."

He lowered his head.

Scratching Awang's ears with his fingers that were as fat as carrot sticks but very nimble, the tabby cat raised his eyes and looked at Kazunari Sakai.

The fat uncle and the fat cat in his arms looked at each other.

It was probably because of the natural sympathy between chubby creatures. Awang, such a majestic and domineering cat, who made Old Gu jump up and down when he was tickled, actually accepted Sakai Katsuko's father very easily.

It stuck out its tongue and licked Kazunari Sakai's fingers, as if to express its agreement.

“This cat is so gentle.”

Kazunari Sakai touched Awang's head, squatted down with all his strength, placed it carefully on the ground, and then knocked on the door.

Boom, boom, boom.

Kazunari Sakai looked at the two grandfather and grandson who were looking over at him from inside the room, and ignored Gu Tongxiang, and looked directly at Gu Weijing.

"Gu...Gu-san, can we chat? Just the two of us."

Gu Weijing nodded to his grandfather and aunt, signaling them to be patient and wait on the sofa, and walked to the outer room.

Uncle Sakai also turned around and said to his wife.

"Take Shengzi out and let her wait in the car. I want to talk to Gu Weijing for a few words."

The blonde aunt hesitated.

Katsuko Sakai also stood there without moving.

"Let your father and Xiao Gu handle this matter, man to man." Uncle Sakai looked at Katsuko and said again in a tone that did not allow for negotiation.

The weak Kazunari Sakai rarely showed his parental authority.

Finished speaking.

His tone softened again, and he said softly, "Shengzi, be obedient and leave it to Daddy, okay?"

The blonde aunt pulled her daughter.

Katsuko Sakai looked at Gu Weijing, who smiled at her and waved to her.

Ms. Sakai finally took a step forward.

She went out.

Mrs. Sakai opened the door of the blue four-wheel drive SUV for her daughter and let Katsuko get in.

Miss Sakai sat in the back seat, turned sideways, and looked behind her through the car window.

Kazunari Sakai and Weijing Gu, her father and her boyfriend stood under the eaves outside the gallery door, talking in low voices.

The blonde aunt didn't come over either.

It seemed that the conversation was completely left to the two men.

The female bodyguard sat silently in the driver's seat. The car was quiet, like an isolated little world, and no sound from the outside world could be heard.

All Sakai Katsuko could see was that Gu Weijing spoke first, then Sakai Kazunari spoke, and Gu Weijing shook his head after listening. The two talked for a while, and Gu Weijing shook his head gently again. Sakai Kazunari reached out and patted Gu Weijing on the shoulder...

The car driven by the female bodyguard should have undergone basic privacy modifications.

It looks like an ordinary SUV from the outside.

However, the glass on both sides was covered with dark anti-peeping film, including the rear windshield. When Ms. Sakai looked out from the car, everything outside seemed to be filtered through a dim layer.

The line of sight is stretched very long and far.

Katsuko Sakai felt like she was watching a silent shadow play.

Shadow painting drama is an art form that originated from the shadow play and puppetry of Dongxia.

The shadow puppeteer uses a yellow light to control various characters through a layer of polyester cloth, projecting different stage activities on the screen.

Just like now.

Through the thick car window glass, she watched the conversation between her father and Gu Weijing under the tungsten filament light at the entrance of Gu's calligraphy and painting shop.

silent.

Dusk.

Holding a long shadow.

Finally, Uncle Sakai seemed to have finished talking with Gu Weijing.

Gu Weijing stood there without moving, while Uncle Sakai walked to the car, opened the door, and said to the bodyguard in the driver's seat, "Take Shengzi to the airport."

"Father? Then Mr. Gu--" Katsuko Sakai did not finish her words.

Uncle Sakai slammed the car door shut.

The car had been started and in the forward gear. As Uncle Sakai finished speaking, the bodyguard silently released the electronic handbrake and stepped on the accelerator.

The car began to drive quickly along the road along the Yangon River.

"parking!"

Katsuko Sakai ordered.

The female bodyguard continued to drive in silence.

Her employer is the Sakai couple, not Sakai Katsuko, so she does not need to obey Katsuko's orders in this situation.

Katsuko Sakai pulled the car door, but it was locked. She wanted to open the window, but it was also locked.

This blue SUV became a cage that trapped her.

She stretched out her hand to smash the car window, but paused and turned to look at the rear windshield.

now.

The car had driven quite a distance, and Katsuko Sakai had to try very hard to see the figure of the young man standing under the light in the distance.

He was standing at the door, waving at him.

Katsuko Sakai suddenly had a premonition that this would be a long farewell.

The summer when I was eighteen, everything that had happened in the past six months, the boat in the botanical garden, the days and nights together in the orphanage, they all seemed like a beautiful dream, a fairy tale dream.

And it was finally time to wake up from the dream.

She felt that she should do something. She should smash the car window, lift her skirt and run towards the other person barefoot... just like in a fairy tale.

But when the palm fell on the car window, it turned into a weak caress.

She stroked Gu Weijing's shadow on the rear window.

"You don't feel the overwhelming pressure of life, so you are generous and confident in everything you do. You can be magnanimous, tolerant, and do whatever you want, because you know that everything will be yours in the end. So you never need to calculate-"

"Because there is no weight on you, any decision you make... is so calm and elegant, and you seem fearless."

"No, Ms. Sakai, you know what? You're not actually braver than me, not at all. You just have more than I was born with."

She suddenly thought of the coffee shop that day.

What Mona Shandenu said to her before she opened her umbrella and walked out into the heavy rain.

Tears flowed uncontrollably from Miss Sakai's eyes.

……

Uncle Sakai and his wife stood beside the black Mercedes-Benz, watching their daughter's car drive away.

"If Shengzi wants to blame someone, just blame me. There is no impenetrable wall in the world. She is at a critical period in her career, and so am I. We can't get involved in this matter. Otherwise, many contracts will be out of the question. Gu Weijing can understand that, too."

Uncle Sakai said in a low voice.

Previously, when faced with Hao Ge’s temptation of three million dollars, Gu Weijing refused because he just didn’t want to have any contact with the other party.

This is what Gu Weijing said.

Isn't it the same for Kazunari Sakai?

Not to mention the new contract that Uncle Sakai is negotiating with the gallery, just the anticipated fashion brand company that Salma is planning, if it gets involved with someone like Brother Hao, it will not be a matter of millions of dollars.

What Kanye did was at most inappropriate language, which is a personal moral issue.

If the media put Kazunari Sakai and money laundering gangs like Hao Ge together, it would be a huge scandal that would shake the world.

Some things are like yellow mud falling into your crotch. It’s shit, if not shit.

Two fists are no match for four hands.

And facing overwhelming criticism, you can't explain it clearly just by speaking.

You said that the $3 million was for buying paintings, so it is money for buying paintings? You said that the $1 million was for saving lives, so it is money for saving lives?

People also say that you two are in collusion and acting together!
Mrs. Sakai once told Katsuko that given her father's current situation, it would be difficult for ordinary things to shake his professional status.

It is inevitable that art prices will rise and fall.

But Kazunari Sakai now has a contract of 50 million US dollars, and he is a great painter.

Even if there was a price collapse and a drop of 90%, with a contract worth $5 million, he would still be a great painter.

This is certainly a heavy blow to one's artistic career, and one's career development may have regressed to ten years ago.

But this is for Kazunari Sakai himself.

Looking at the entire industry, he is still in the top 0.01% and is a heavyweight big shot, but his net worth ranking has fallen from the top in Asia to the lower middle level in Asia.

As long as he is broad-minded enough.

I can still drive a small yacht, eat roasted chicken, nibble on donuts, and live a happy life.

Even if one simply stops being a painter and becomes a full-time tenured professor at the Tama Academy of Art, it is still a respected, clean and noble profession in the Japanese social system.

With the tonnage of Kazunari Sakai, normal market shocks would hardly cause him serious damage.

No matter how stormy it is outside.

Uncle Sakai ran to his studio and lay down there, but it was really not easy to "blow him over".

But this kind of thing is just one of them.

Let’s talk seriously.

This isn't just a problem that affects Kazunari Sakai alone.

It may be enough to shake the foundation of the entire art world and make people question the operating model of the entire art industry.

Going back one or two hundred years, if Kazunari Sakai was unwilling to have a stomach surgery to save his life, someone might come to his house in the middle of the night to save his life.

He really has no choice now.

Uncle Sakai opened the car door for his wife.

Mrs. Sakai looked at her daughter's car driving away, then looked at the young man standing in front of the gallery and waving. She stood there without moving.

"Wife?"

Kazunari Sakai shouted.

The blonde aunt looked a little hesitant, but finally, she gently pulled her husband and spoke in his ear.

"Let's not talk about it then." Mrs. Sakai took a deep breath.

"Ok?"

"I say, why don't we just not discuss the contract? It's okay if we quit the trendy brand company."

The blonde aunt said slowly, "How much money can you earn to be satisfied? It doesn't matter whether you earn more or less. Our family is already rich enough, enough for our family to live in peace and happiness for centuries. In the past, when I was pregnant and you were not famous yet, we didn't have money, but we lived happily, didn't we?"

Mrs. Sakai pursed her lips.

Looking at Gu Weijing.

The woman sighed softly, "Xiao Gu has had a hard time. If we don't help him at this time, who else can help him? Yicheng, can you help him? Or should I contact the embassy?"

(End of this chapter)