There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Chapter 33.1

The Gothic-style art exhibition in the art gallery was just a free public exhibition. Most of the works were reproductions by art college students paying homage to famous masterpieces of past painters, with limited viewing value.

Even so, Qin Ke could see that Huo Jingyan, who was accompanying her, didn’t show even the slightest impatience. This made Qin Ke reflect deeply – in her previous life, she thought it was due to age, but now she realized Huo Jingyan had probably always been a gentle elder figure like a father or brother.

How fortunate she was to have encountered such a good teacher and friend in both lives…

“You seem very interested in this painting?”

The voice beside her ear suddenly brought the distracted Qin Ke back to reality.

Qin Ke was stunned for a moment, turned around, and saw Huo Jingyan standing slightly behind her shoulder. As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the painting in front of Qin Ke.

Qin Ke had been lost in thought while looking at this painting, and Huo Jingyan obviously thought she was admiring this reproduction.

Not wanting to deny it, Qin Ke just made an “Mm” sound, then followed Huo Jingyan’s gaze to the painting.

“This should be a reproduction of Simone Martini’s work, ‘The Annunciation’,” Huo Jingyan explained to Qin Ke while his gaze traced the painter’s brushstrokes.

“Simone Martini was a very representative Italian painter, a typical Sienese school painter. Moreover, his teacher, Duccio di Buoninsegna, was the originator of the Sienese school, and Simone Martini’s painting style was greatly influenced by his teacher. Look here, the vibrant colors, gorgeous composition, elegant lines – this student has captured the essence of the Sienese school very well, which is also typical of the Sienese style.”

As he said this, Huo Jingyan straightened up and smiled at Qin Ke.

“These two, master and student, were important figures in advancing Gothic art. If you’re interested in Gothic art, they are milestone-level figures you can’t bypass.”

Qin Ke listened attentively and nodded at his words.

“Yes, thank you, teacher. I’ll remember that.”

Just as Huo Jingyan was about to speak again,

A voice laced with a hint of cold mockery suddenly interjected between the two.

“I’m also a bit interested in this painting – would Teacher Huo introduce it to me as well?”

“…”

Upon hearing this all-too-familiar voice, Qin Ke turned back to look behind her in slight bewilderment.

Standing in the corridor, wearing a white sports outfit and a black baseball cap, was a young man with his hands in his pockets, looking at Huo Jingyan beside her with a contemptuous and fierce gaze.

It took Qin Ke a few seconds to come back to her senses.

“Huo Jun? Why are you here?”

“…”

Hearing her voice, the young man slowly lowered his pitch-black eyes, the hint of hostility in them also sinking deeper. After making eye contact with the girl for two seconds, the young man turned his gaze away, his thin lips twitching slightly.

That mocking smile carried a hint of coolness.

“Am I not allowed to come see the exhibition?”

Qin Ke was stumped by these words.

Her gaze fell to the side, and she saw a boy of about twelve or thirteen standing next to Huo Jun.

…He looked a bit familiar.

Qin Ke blinked, suddenly realizing–

“Weren’t you the one who was with Lin Lin earlier?”

The little boy made a face at Qin Ke, “So what if it’s me?”

As if afraid Qin Ke would scold him, the little boy immediately pointed to Huo Jun –

“This is the big brother I just recognized, he told us to find you in the art plaza with a photo, I was the first one to find you!”

“Big… brother?”

Qin Ke looked at Huo Jun with a subtle expression.

Huo Jun was looking down with a dark face, “Who told you to call me that?”

The little boy, frightened by Huo Jun’s stern look, immediately cowered to the side, not forgetting to defend himself pitifully. “I said I don’t want money, I’ve seen you fight, I just wanted you to teach me how to fight…”

Qin Ke: “…”

Unable to bear witnessing this scene of a minor being corrupted, Qin Ke looked helplessly and pleadingly towards Huo Jingyan beside her.

Huo Jingyan, who had been watching the commotion as if it were a joke, saw Qin Ke’s gaze and, being a teacher after all, couldn’t continue to watch from the sidelines.

He smiled, “Which painting did you just mention?”

Huo Jun, who was frowning irritably at the little boy, looked up upon hearing this and impatiently pointed to the opposite side.

Huo Jingyan walked over, effectively separating the little boy to the other side.

“This is ‘A Roman Man Dancing’.”

Huo Jun couldn’t be bothered to respond, but the little boy’s attention was immediately drawn away. He looked up at Huo Jingyan curiously, “How do you know the dancer is Roman?”

Huo Jingyan was rarely caught off guard.

Qin Ke beside him laughed, stepping forward, “Teacher Huo means that the name of this painting is ‘A Roman Man Dancing’.”

Qin Ke looked at Huo Jingyan, “You mentioned its painter in the last class, it’s Cimabue, right?”

“Mm.”

Huo Jingyan nodded approvingly, “Giovanni Cimabue, he was an Italian representative painter from the same period as Duccio di Buoninsegna, the founder of the Sienese school we mentioned earlier. He’s also recognized as the first master-level figure who dared to rebel against the rigid Byzantine style art that was prevalent at the time.”

Huo Jingyan’s gaze fell on the painting before him.

After looking for a few seconds, he shook his head regretfully, “The level of this copyist is inferior to the student who copied the previous painting. Cimabue’s work style tends more towards ordinary and natural realism – a very distinctive feature is the sharp color contrast, which this student obviously hasn’t achieved well…”

Qin Ke, well aware of Huo Jingyan’s abilities and level, wasn’t surprised.

Huo Jun was indifferent to all this.

So only the twelve or thirteen-year-old boy was left, bewildered by Huo Jingyan’s erudite explanation. Before long, his gaze towards Huo Jingyan had reached a level of fascinated fervor.