I Tied Up the Travel Check-In System - Chapter 16

That day, after Tang Siqi had her box of civil service textbooks delivered by courier, she began practicing line work, figures, and perspective, copying two more drawings. It must be said that with her new drawing tablet, her procrastination seemed to have eased considerably.

Tang Siqi remembered she still hadn’t finished the line drawing for the Changle Apartments she’d visited, so she dug out the photos she’d taken there on her phone and sketched a rough sketch based on them.

This kind of purely scenic painting wasn’t her forte, but despite some bumps and bruises, she eventually completed it.

She didn’t color it, instead sketching it in a pen and ink style, which better suited the retro, old-fashioned architecture of the area.

After finishing the drawing, Tang Siqi stretched and took a walk. The weather was beautiful today, perfect for staying home and watching anime and playing games!

Just as she had this thought, her phone rang with a new email.

Tang Siqi opened her email and saw that it had been sent by the couple she’d met at the wetland park the previous day, who had sent her the photo she’d taken the previous day.

Tang Siqi clicked on the photo and saw it was the same breathtaking Wusongkou sunrise she’d captured on camera the day before.

She’d already decided to use it as a model for a new piece of work when she first saw it.

Seeing it now still filled her with excitement.

“Got it, thank you, uncle,”

Tang Siqi replied, then plunged back into her work, even games and anime no longer catching up.

Unlike her work at Changle Apartment, this time she chose a watercolor illustration style, heavily rendered to capture the vibrant colors of the rising sun. The star attraction was the Wusongkou Lighthouse, which had stood by the river, guarding the waters for centuries.

She’d taken numerous detailed photos of the lighthouse yesterday, striving for greater detail.

The painting took her nearly two hours to complete.

However, Tang Siqi didn’t stop there. She created another layer and drew a middle-aged couple cuddling together on the beach. Although they were only silhouettes, their hairstyles and figures suggested they were the couple she’d met yesterday.

This was to thank them for sending her the photo, and she added it specifically for them.

After finishing the painting, Tang Siqi exported it and sent the original image over.

The uncle quickly replied to the email.

“Thank you, little girl, your painting is really great. We were so focused on photographing the sunrise yesterday that we forgot to take a photo of ourselves. You drawing us in has made up for our regret. Thank you so much.”

Tang Siqi read the message sent by the uncle, and an indescribable sense of accomplishment and joy gradually overflowed.

This is the joy of having your work praised by others, and it is also the heartfelt happiness of helping others with your hard work.

Being a professional painter feels really good.

Tang Siqi added the two pictures she had just completed to her previous post.

“Hahahaha, I didn’t expect the OP didn’t complain, but actually came back to update!”

“That’s great! I thought Changle Apartment was very distinctive when I saw the photos before, and I didn’t expect it to have a more unique charm after being painted. Such apartment structures are rare nowadays. Suddenly I feel that although it is more crowded, it is also very humane.”

“The OP’s painting style is really realistic. Even the sheets drying upstairs are painted! 233333~”

“Wow, my God, is the lighthouse in Wusongkou so beautiful?”

“Ahhh, lighthouse, I want to go to that lighthouse too!”

“What a poetic painting, I love it so much! Wait, Wusongkou is so remote, the OP can actually go there to see the sunrise. Did he set off very early?”

Tang Siqi looked at the comments from netizens and couldn’t help laughing. She replied, “This was created by me based on the sunrise photos taken by a couple of uncles and aunts who participated in the Senior Photography Association.” ”

Wow, I admire you. By the way, my mom also participated in the Senior University and studied paper-cutting all day long. I feel that compared to her, I am a nobody who even failed the course…”

“Hahahahaha, the original poster has such a rich source of material! I really envy such a life.”

After posting two paintings online today, netizens commented on them far more than yesterday.

Tang Siqi glanced at the gold coins awarded this morning. Indeed, they weren’t as many as yesterday’s. Her previous post had awarded 190 gold coins, but now it was only 237.

The food on sale today was still high-calorie desserts she couldn’t redeem. The daily necessities on sale were maternity and baby products that had nothing to do with her, especially for babies under three years old, which Junbao wouldn’t need. The electronic gadget on sale was a dishwasher, which she also didn’t need.

The apartment she and Xu Qianning shared was only a little over 60 square meters, which was already a bit cramped for three people, and she couldn’t just move in some less practical items.

Tang Siqi sighed, closed the gold coin mall, and casually posted the works she’d created over the past two days on Weibo and the Ge Huashi app.

Her Weibo followers now exceeded 200, and Ge Huashi had over 100 followers.

As soon as she finished posting, fans started leaving messages on Ge Huashi.

“Hey, I’m a novelist and I’m about to start a new book. I’ve been trying to find an illustrator who fits the bill, but I’ve been having trouble finding one. Today, I saw your painting of the Wusongkou sunrise and I absolutely love it. Could you draw me a cover? I’d like a seaside scene, with a blue ocean, small white houses, and a couple standing face to face. The girl should be wearing a long white dress and holding a bouquet of lisianthus flowers. If possible, please give me a quote.”

Wow!

Ge Huashi had even received an inquiry!

This was her first time receiving an inquiry on Ge Huashi. You know, it’s not easy to find on this platform, as it’s a gathering place for professional illustrators, and only those who have reached the pro level get noticed. I didn’t expect a beginner like her could even get an inquiry.

Tang Siqi reviewed her requirements, seeing that they had scenes and characters, not difficult, but rather tedious, so she quoted 80 yuan.

The other party readily paid the 20% deposit according to the app’s procedures, and the deal was sealed.

The feedback on her newly uploaded work seemed much better than before.

“Wow, this is a great concept!”

“You’re improving so quickly!”

“@Yiqi, I’m rooting for you! Please update more and practice more.”

“Not bad, not bad! Both the Changle Apartment and Wusongkou sunrise paintings are amazing! Much better than before.”

“Hahaha, I feel like I’m cultivating a future master.”

“The other day, when I saw your painting, I was thinking, ‘This is about my level, how dare you even take orders?’ Seeing it again today… oh, oh, we’re different… I’m still that little loser, and you’ve taken a big step towards becoming a master.”

Tang Siqi leaned back in her chair, feeling a mixture of emotions. She had learned to paint as a child, and she did have some talent.

However, her attempts at painting were sporadic, and she’d given up halfway through.

She’d learned and practiced all those basic skills, but painting is like that: if you don’t practice for a while, your hands become rusty. After a few years, even hands that tremble like Parkinson’s still shake.

Last year, when she decided to become a professional artist, she’d considered refining the basics, but procrastination had kept her muddled along. Unexpectedly, after switching to a drawing tablet today, she’d spent an entire afternoon practicing, taking advantage of the novelty. Everyone could see the difference.

Not only had she gained recognition from the professional community, she’d even landed a cover commission. While the price was still low, it was still a great achievement for her now.

It was a truly strange feeling…

Tang Siqi pulled out her long-abandoned notebook and wrote down a schedule for basic practice for the next few days.

Just as Tang Siqi was getting into her work, her phone rang.

[Attention! Host, if you don’t start exercising today, you won’t be able to claim first place on WeChat Sports!]

Tang Siqi: ???

She checked the time. It was only five in the afternoon, and there was still a long time until ten-thirty at night. How could she not get it?

She checked the WeChat Sports rankings again.

Oh my god!

Dad, who was ranked first, had already walked 22,000 steps, and the number of steps kept increasing.

What’s wrong with Dad lately?

Is he traveling? How can he walk so many steps in a day?

Tang Siqi once lamented that her homebody personality must be genetic, because Dad just loved staying home, tending to the garden, scrolling through Douyin headlines, and so on.

Unexpectedly, recently, Dad has become the obstacle to her getting the first place in WeChat Sports every day!

The former bronze player has transformed into a champion.

This made Tang Siqi laugh and cry.

After much hesitation, she finally picked up her phone and called her dad.

He hesitated for a moment before answering. The tone of the other party was emotionless: “Tang Siqi, you still remember to call back.”

“Dad, what are you doing?” Tang Siqi said guiltily.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles…

“I didn’t do anything,

I was just taking a walk outside.” “Where’s my mom?” Tang Siqi thought to herself, the old man was taking a walk outside alone, my mom should show up soon and take him home, don’t take a walk anymore.

“Your mom went to join the Sunset Red Tour Group and won’t be back until next month.” Tang Ruiqing took out a tissue to wipe the sweat off his face, trying his best to prevent his daughter from hearing his breathing.

Tang Siqi wanted to cry but had no tears, she remembered that her mother had joined the tour group with Xu Qianning’s mother.

“What’s the matter with the call?” This sentence was obviously in anger.

Tang Siqi braved the thunder and said with a stiff upper lip: “Dad, it’s nothing, I just haven’t contacted you for a long time, so I called to see how you are doing.”

“Oh, if it’s nothing, I’ll hang up.”

Tang Ruiqing said and was about to hang up the phone.

Tang Siqi quickly called out: “Hey, Dad, stop walking and go back…” She thought about it and told the truth: “Dad, I have to get first place in WeChat Sports today. Don’t go. If you go, I won’t be able to catch up.”

Tang Ruiqing was stunned and said unhappily: “If you want to get first place, you have to rely on your ability. What kind of hero is it to call me and ask me to let you win! I have something else to do, hang up.”

Haha, I thought my daughter really cared about him and called him, but I didn’t expect that she would contact him just to get first place in WeChat Sports.

Humph!

Although Tang Ruiqing was stubborn, he still adjusted his direction and walked towards home.

Oh, these old arms and legs, without exercise for a long time, walking 20,000 steps for several days in a row, are really a bit sore.

I’d better find a blind massage parlor to give me a massage before going home.