Chapter 20:Strategy for Dugu Yan
"Paint for me?"
Ye Lingling was momentarily taken aback, her delicate, cold face and purple eyes brimming with curiosity.
"Ye Yu, you can paint?"
"Of course!"
Ye Yu grinned confidently.
"I'm not bragging, but I think my painting skills are quite impressive!"
"I funded those hundred-year-old ginseng and Ganoderma lucidum purchases in Notting City mostly with money earned from teaching painting classes!"
This surprised Ye Lingling.
"Really? That's incredible!"
"Haha, Lingling, you'll see if you give it a try!"
At Ye Yu's urging,
Ye Lingling, in her blue long dress, tall and curvaceous with a delicate, cold demeanor, blushed slightly. She stood a bit shyly in front of a vibrant flower bush, holding a book.
Nearby, Ye Yu set up his prepared drawing board and charcoal pencils, sketching and coloring with focus.
Over an hour later,
Ye Yu finished the portrait and handed it to Ye Lingling with a smile.
"Take a look—how is it?"
Taking the portrait,
Ye Lingling saw a blue-haired girl, a near-perfect miniature of herself, holding a book,
standing shyly before a colorful flower bush.
Her cherry lips parted in shock, her heart astounded.
This painting was phenomenal!
The depicted version of herself was almost identical to her real self.
Such artistry was unprecedented!
"Lingling, this painting is for you. I hope it brings you more joy and less sorrow each day!"
After presenting the painting,
Ye Yu's handsome face beamed as he offered his blessing.
Hearing this, Ye Lingling's nose tingled, and she replied in her cool voice,
"Ye Yu, thank you for the painting and your kind words!"
They parted ways afterward.
Ye Lingling headed to meet Dugu Yan to return to Tiandou Imperial City together,
while Ye Yu left Tiandou Royal Academy for a dense Blue Silver Grass meadow he'd recently found in a nearby forest,
using this natural Spirit mimicry training field to practice his inner alchemy method.
Ye Lingling waited outside the Spirit mimicry training field for Dugu Yan.
Since it was their usual meeting time,
Dugu Yan soon emerged.
On their walk back,
Dugu Yan noticed the portrait Ye Lingling held atop her book.
"Lingling, what's that?"
Dugu Yan's emerald eyes sparkled with curiosity on her delicate, striking face.
"A painting Ye Yu made for me!"
Ye Lingling's eyes softened as she replied coolly.
"A portrait of you? Let me see!"
"This guy can paint?"
Dugu Yan's curiosity piqued. Snatching the painting, she was stunned.
"My gosh! This guy paints *that* well?!"
"It's better than the court painters I know!"
Dugu Yan hadn't paid much attention to Ye Yu before,
but after seeing his painting, she grabbed Ye Lingling's hand, playfully pleading,
"Lingling! Introduce me to your little artist friend. I want him to paint me one too~"
"Yanzi, don't tease. Ye Yu and I are just friends!"
Ye Lingling's cold, delicate face flushed.
"Alright, alright! Friends, friends!"
"But I don't care—I want a painting like that!"
Reluctantly, Ye Lingling agreed to introduce Ye Yu to Dugu Yan the next day.
The following day,
after morning classes ended
and others left,
Ye Lingling brought Dugu Yan to Ye Yu, saying in an embarrassed, cool tone,
"Ye Yu, this is Yanzi."
"She saw the painting you made for me yesterday and thinks you're talented. She hopes you'll paint one for her too."
"Hello, classmate Ye Yu, I'm Dugu Yan!"
Dugu Yan smiled warmly, extending her hand.
"Hello!"
Ye Yu shook her hand lightly.
This left Dugu Yan with a positive impression.
This guy's good-looking and polite!
"Classmate Ye Yu, when can you paint one for me?"
After the handshake, Dugu Yan asked eagerly.
Ye Yu smiled inwardly, unsurprised.
Painting for Ye Lingling yesterday was a calculated move to draw Dugu Yan's interest,
prompting her to approach him主动.
For a proud, aloof girl like Dugu Yan,
her personality likely stemmed from never facing rejection, only admiration, growing up.
To win her heart,
he needed to leave a unique, lasting impression.
So, Ye Yu smiled and said,
"Classmate Dugu Yan, you want me to paint a portrait like Lingling's and give it to you?"
"Exactly!"
Dugu Yan stood proudly, hands on hips, declaring
that as Ye Lingling's close friend, she couldn't be left out!
"In that case, I'm sorry!"
Ye Yu shook his head.
"I'm afraid I can't do it right now!"
"Creating a perfect painting isn't easy."
"To paint a great landscape, you must hold the scene in your mind."
"To paint a great portrait, you need to know the person deeply."
"Lingling and I often read together, so I know her well and could paint her accurately."
"But I'm still too unfamiliar with you, classmate Dugu Yan. I'm afraid I wouldn't capture you well."
"Oh!"
Dugu Yan was disappointed.
But Ye Yu's words implied not refusal but unfamiliarity,
a simple issue to resolve!
"Then I'll join you and Lingling in the library to read!"
"And on holidays, we can hang out in Tiandou Imperial City."
Dugu Yan frowned, thought, and proposed.
"Alright!"
Ye Yu agreed readily.
Thereafter, the trio frequently visited the library together.
Through their interactions,
Ye Yu soon became friends with Dugu Yan.
After learning about Ye Yu's Soul Ring Origin Completion Evolution Theory, Dugu Yan found it logical and admired it greatly.
The Jade Phosphorus Snake Spirit also had flaws,
yet their clan had found no solutions over generations.
But Ye Yu devised a theoretically viable path to evolve his Blue Silver Grass Spirit,
delaying soul ring absorption for months to ensure optimal development.
Such willpower and perseverance were truly impressive!
Learning of Ye Yu's orphan background,
Dugu Yan felt sympathy and deep pity.
She had her grandfather, despite losing her parents,
but Ye Yu had no family at all.
After befriending Dugu Yan,
as Ye Yu gathered more insights about her, he crafted a tailored strategy.
Dugu Yan, having lost her parents young,
craved care and attention, despite her grandfather Dugu Bo's love, as he was often preoccupied with cultivation.
As a child, before Dugu Bo became a Titled Douluo,
Dugu Yan faced ostracism at the Royal Academy due to her clan's Jade Phosphorus poison,
making her insecure and sensitive.
To shield herself, she adopted a proud, aloof demeanor, keeping others at bay.
Deep down, however, she likely yearned for care, concern, and protection.
Knowing this, Ye Yu tailored his approach.
As a modern traverser,
he excelled at showing care and attentiveness to girls.
Protecting Dugu Yan wasn't feasible now,
since no one in Tiandou Imperial City dared bully her after Dugu Bo's rise to Titled Douluo.
But her desire for protection
reflected, to some extent, an admiration for strength.
Though Ye Yu's current power was limited,
inspired by Yu Xiaogang's example, he knew
that demonstrating strength wasn't just about raw power but could shine through other qualities!
Read 20+ Advanced Chapters at P@ Tre On
FictionTimeo
(End of this chapter)