Proofread by Zhou Zhijie

As soon as Ding Manman enters the exhibition, she wanders around like a free butterfly in a garden full of flowers. The exhibition is laid out elegantly. Leaving An Manrou’s unfriendly personality aside, her capacity in painting can’t be underestimated indeed.

"Sister Manman, in my opinion, few of these paintings are better than the one you painted." Says Sun Ling'er, finding Ding staring at those works with her shining eyes. But Sun still thinks that Ding’s painting is the best.

Sun Ling’er wonders about An Manrou’s facial expressions when seeing the painting --- she must be very ashamed. After all, Sister Manman’s painting is the best of the best.

For Sun’s compliment, Ding just responds with a smile and proceeds to appreciate the colorful and abundant works in various styles. So does Sun Ling’er.

But Sun gives up in less than five minutes. She has to admit that she really has no talent for such profound things as art.

Just then, Jens Johnson suddenly appears in front of them, followed by the panting An Manrou. Jens has been looking for the painter excitedly, even frantically in the exhibition zone since he saw that painting.

Though a little unwilling, An Manrou cannot say anything but follows Jens to look into every corner of the exhibition zone.

"What’s up, Mr. Johnson?" Ding Manman asks politely for she finds that Jens Johnson is staring intensely at her, which renders her a kind of bewilderment and can’t help wondering whether she has done something wrong.

Jens doesn’t answer her directly. Instead, he hands her the painting in his hands and asks her in a slightly excited voice.

"Was this painted by you?" The predominant background color of the whole painting is black. From the infinite pitch-darkness a person in white, with enormous pain on her face, is struggling to get free. Yet her legs have been eroded by the blackness.

A trace of despair mingles with the painful expression. Although she is desperately clear that she will be devoured by the darkness sooner or later, it can be seen from her struggle that she won’t reconcile with Fate and will keep fighting in order to escape from the darkness.

In fact, Jens has seen a lot of paintings on the similar theme, but Ding is very bold in the use of colors in this painting. A striking contrast is formed with the use of white and black, giving people a strong visual impact at first sight.

Then a careful observation unveils even more amazing striking points of the painting--- the painful look of the struggling person in white is absolutely lifelike.

After a long observation, viewers will even feel like they’re on the scene personally. Although the painting skill still need practising, the overall colors match perfectly. As for the painting skill, practice makes perfect.

To Jens Johnson’s surprise, he feels Ding’s infinite potentials from this painting. Ding is still young just like a piece of raw diamond, and with proper carving and polishing, she will surely amaze the whole world.

"Yes, it was. Anything needs improving?" Ding Manman says with a little embarrassment and nervousness, seeing her painting held by her idol.

It feels like that a pupil’s doodle appears in her art teacher’s hand and she's afraid that the teacher will laugh at it for her poor drawing.

Although she thinks the painting is OK herself, she doesn’t dare to be a little arrogant in front of the real master.

She thought the painting must need some improvement, but Jens Johnson's words stun everyone.

"Would you like to learn from me?" Jens says directly. He is so straightforward that he totally neglects the feelings of the person who is listening.

"Wha…t? To be… your student?” It is totally beyond Ding’s imagination that Jens has come for this. Well, the person standing in front of her is the world-famous painter, Jens Johnson, who has won the Queen Medal.

Such an prestigious person said that he wants to be her teacher. It is too much for Ding Manman for the moment. And it is out of her expectation that such a lucky thing will happen to her out of the blue.

"Yes, I appreciate your painting very much. Although you are still green in skill, you will make great progress as long as you are carefully and properly instructed."

People who are familiar with Jens Johnson know that he is unbelievably strict with painting and he never praises others on his own initiative. When he sees a painting he appreciates, he will only nod his head but rarely expresses his praise aloud.

It is said that a painting once created by An Manrou won a famous international award as well as praise from many people, but it only received two simple words from Jens.

"Not bad." Even these two words are enough for An Manrou to be complacent for a long time in front of others. However, Jens Johnson’s generous praise for Ding's painting astonishes Ding Manman as well as all the onlookers present.

Hearing Jens Johnson’s words, An Manrou who stands behind Jens turns livid with anger and clenches her fists.

This woman is really an eyesore who has not only stolen attention which should have been paid to her but also gained Jens’s favor. An Manrou’s eyes become more and more malicious.

It's such a glory to be chosen by Jens that the people present dare not even think about it. Thinking of learning together with this unknown woman from Jens in the future, An Manrou feels quite displeased immediately.

Wait, learn together? An idea flashes through An Manrou’s mind suddenly. Looking at Ding’s stupefied appearance, An puts on a smile with an obscure intention.

Then she abruptly steps forward and takes hold of Ding's hand in a rather intimate way. In Sun Ling'er's shocked stare, she says in a well-behaved way, "Although I don't know who you are, since the master likes your painting, I will be your senior then. Let's get along well then."

An Manrou’s genial behavior makes Sun drop her jaw. Is this the insufferably arrogant woman just now? How can she put on such a face so fast?

Ding Manman is also stunned, but An’s words wake her up. If she becomes Jens’s student, it means that she will have to go study abroad. But thinking of her current situation, Ding lowers her head subconsciously.

"I'm sorry." The sudden apology takes everyone aback, including Jens Johnson and An Manrou. An’s hands on Ding Manman’s freeze, together with her decent smile.

"For what do you apologize?" Jens didn't expect such an answer from Ding. Normally speaking, shouldn’t she have said “yes” excitedly?