Chapter 18: The Private Tutelage

“Alright.”

Ye Qing took the paintbrush, instinctively avoiding Shen Congqing’s clear, emerald-like eyes.

While she felt fortunate to be granted a second chance, Ye Qing had to admit that for a fleeting moment after hearing Shen Congqing’s words, her thoughts had strayed.

‘Ahem, it must be because I’ve been constantly surrounded by those mischievous lesbians lately,’ she mused. ‘How could a proper lady and a true gentlewoman like Teacher Shen possibly harbor such notions?’

Shen Congqing pondered for a moment. The old art studio, which she had repurposed for individual tutoring, was quite dilapidated, offering few suitable references for a drawing.

“Then just draw me.”

With that, Shen Congqing unbuttoned a few buttons of her blazer and removed her glasses. She sat before Ye Qing with a hint of languor, her clothes slightly open.

The thin white shirt struggled to fully conceal her ample curves, its buttons stretched almost to their breaking point.

She considered herself a beauty, having been invited to several exhibitions as Magical Girl Qing, and understood how to present her most captivating side before a camera.

Even when posing for a student’s nascent sketch, she instinctively demanded nothing less than perfection from herself.

Seeing this, Ye Qing gripped her pencil softly, her pretty face flushing with warmth.

‘Apologies,’ she thought. ‘It seems I, Ye Qing, am not quite the proper lady myself…’

“Don’t just stand there gawking. Start drawing.”

“Oh…”

Ye Qing hastily reined in her shyness, secretly blaming the multitude of girls who had led her astray.

She narrowed her eyes, meticulously observing Shen Congqing’s body proportions.

Following the curves of her figure, Ye Qing swiftly sketched a basic framework. Gazing at the stick figure she had produced, she couldn’t help but feel a fresh wave of astonishment.

Shen Congqing’s inherently graceful proportions were artfully displayed by her seemingly casual pose. Even as a stick figure, her physique appeared outstanding, with a beautifully extended waist.

The simple elegance evoked the same enchantment Ye Qing felt when first beholding the sculpture of Venus, the Goddess of Beauty, captivated by her sensuality and grace.

However, when comparing her drawing to the flawless model before her, Ye Qing found it riddled with errors, lacking the true spirit. Yet, to finish quickly, she could only continue drawing.

As she sketched the facial features, Ye Qing vaguely sensed from the corner of her eye that Shen Congqing was smiling at her.

But when she glanced up, Shen Congqing still wore that same languid, enigmatic expression, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed. Though she hadn’t touched alcohol, there was a hint of tipsy allure about her.

Regardless of Shen Congqing’s demeanor, Ye Qing herself felt as if she were intoxicated, her cheeks flushed crimson and shyly hidden behind her drawing board.

‘Would Teacher Shen notice?’ she wondered.

The alluring curve of her prominent bust was rendered with a precise, elegant line. Ye Qing dared not stare, fearing she might become lost in its depths.

Beneath the hem of her clothes, exquisite black stockings and high heels were visible, making her slender calves appear even more enticing beneath the translucent fabric.

However, Ye Qing, who had maintained dry underwear for a thousand consecutive days, was no ordinary person.

Even as vivid, sensual images flickered through her mind, her pencil remained tightly clutched, landing with unerring accuracy on every detail.

“Are you almost finished?”

Noticing that Ye Qing was no longer surreptitiously glancing at her, Shen Congqing straightened her collar and approached Ye Qing from behind, a hint of expectation in her gaze.

Her eyes were always sharp; from Ye Qing’s deft movements, she could discern that the black-haired girl was even more surprisingly talented than she had imagined.

Shen Congqing rested her chin on her elbow, leaning her weight against the back of Ye Qing’s chair. A few strands of her dazzling golden hair brushed against Ye Qing’s neck, tickling her and making her almost turn around.

“Don’t turn around. Keep drawing.”

Shen Congqing’s voice came from behind her, a reminder tinged with approval, indicating her clear satisfaction.

The entire drawing only required a few minor refinements. As it was a sketch, Ye Qing didn’t need to over-detail superfluous areas; instead, she focused on key features.

Such as Shen Congqing’s captivating eyes, her sensual lips…

Suddenly, her small hand was gently enveloped. The warm, soft sensation made Ye Qing’s delicate fingers go limp, almost causing her to drop the pencil.

Yet, Shen Congqing, seemingly oblivious, somewhat forcefully guided her hand.

“Here, you should draw it like this…”

With just a few strokes, the final, crucial touch was completed. The extraordinary presence of the woman in the drawing was fully awakened by this single line, leaping to life on the paper, captivating anyone who beheld it.

However, compared to the real person, it still fell far short.

Ye Qing’s eyes were dazed. Only when Shen Congqing released her hand did she gradually manage to calm her racing heart.

Although she could no longer maintain her composure, she was unsure what expression to make, merely staring blankly with her cherry-like mouth slightly agape.

‘The expressive power of two-dimensional art is still too lacking…’

Unlike her previous habit of admiring herself in the mirror with a mix of shyness and curiosity, to draw Shen Congqing, Ye Qing had to keep her gaze fixed on the woman, seeking out the source of her charm.

Even after putting down her pencil, Shen Congqing’s figure remained deeply etched in her mind, refusing to fade.

“Ye Qing, you’ve given me a delightful surprise.”

Sketching was merely a foundational aspect of art, and using it to gauge Ye Qing’s full skill might not be entirely accurate. Yet, she had achieved a level that compelled even the highly discerning Shen Congqing to praise her work.

Even without relying on connections, she could still shine brightly in this field. It was just uncertain in what form that brilliance would manifest.

“Have you tried publishing your work?”

Ye Qing was about to nod, but then hastily shook her head like a rattle-drum.

‘Yes, I have,’ she thought, ‘but I certainly wouldn’t dare let Shen Congqing know.’

‘The student she favors is secretly a popular welfare illustrator adored by countless people…’

While many students likely did something similar, Ye Qing, being among the most prominent, naturally dared not utter a word.

“That’s a pity, I would have liked to see it… Nevertheless, your sketching class is passed.”

“Pa-passed?”

Ye Qing froze. Did this mean she wouldn’t even have to attend the regular classes anymore?

“Yes, ordinary lessons hold little meaning for you. From now on, I will personally guide you.”

A captivating smile curved Shen Congqing’s lips, utterly irresistible. It seemed that even someone as coolly elegant as her possessed such an amiable side.

Ye Qing replayed Shen Congqing’s words in her mind, staring blankly, not even blinking.

‘Personally… personally!’

This meant that from now on, every day, she would be tutored one-on-one in this very art studio.

“What, are you unwilling? Then I’ll unfortunately have to follow the original procedures…”

“I’m willing!”

Ye Qing quickly replied, unsure if it was due to fear of failing the course or some other ineffable emotion.

Before Gu Xuanyu’s fifteenth birthday, Ye Qing had rarely engaged in intimate physical contact with her. She wouldn’t stare fixedly at her, nor would she feel shy even when occasionally holding hands.

Lin Shaoyao also exhibited similar boundary-crossing intimacy with her, though that was purely mischievous.

However, when her small hand was intentionally or unintentionally held by a mature woman like Shen Congqing, Ye Qing felt as if her face was burning.

“Then… at this same time every day, I will wait for you here.”

“Mm.”