19
“You’re only a little better than me at painting, but your taste is terrible!” Hosh teased iter handling Dexter and boarding the plane again.
I shrugged, choosing not to ask about Dexter at all.
I couldn’t understand why Dexter was still searching for me. To me, that chapter was closed to
good! Even if Noah hadn’t shown up today, I would have made everything crystal clear with him,
Noah’s arrival had saved us from needless complications,
Seeing my silence, Noah didn’t mention Dexter again during the entire trip
We immersed ourselves in South Africa’s breathtaking landscapes, and our fieldwork went of without a hitch.
We stayed for two whole months.
By the time we returned, all the missing person posters of me had vanished from the streets, From the moment we landed, Noah and I went our separate ways, I had to follow Imogen and dive into preparing for our teacher’s art exhibition.
Noah vanished for two whole months. Meanwhile, I worked side by side with Imogen for those same long weeks.
No matter how late it got, Noah always managed to video call me.
I could tell he was flying across the globe. Sometimes, it was midnight for me but bright dayligh
for him.
Across our tangled black–and–white time zones, I’d see his weary face still smiling, patiently helping me solve every problem that popped up with the exhibition.
Sometimes, we’d simply chat through the screen, casually debating our takes on various painters.
He also sent me all kinds of gifts, flowers, delicate figurines, and even desserts he discovered with unusual flavors.
‘So jealous! I’ve freeloaded at the studio for years and Noah’s never sent me a single flower! That dessert looks amazing, but was it really worth air–shipping? The cost alone could hire a pastry chef for you!” Imogen joked, feigning envy as she grabbed the dessert I’d shared.
‘When are you going to accept his pursuit? Let him buy all of our teacher’s paintings, and we won’t have to work so hard getting this exhibition ready!”
I stared at Imogen, surprised. “Noah can afford to buy every single one of our teacher’s paintings? He has that much money? Then why is he always mooching food at the studio? What exactly does he do?”
“You still don’t know? What have you two even been talking about every day? He.. he’s been fighting a war! But it’s almost over, he should be back soon. Let him tell you himself!” Imogen said, dragging me back to the chaotic exhibition set up to keep working like crazy.
It wasn’t that I didn’t understand what Imogen meant, nor that I failed to notice Noah’s feelings for me.
22.08
3:34 pm
I just didn’t know if I was ready to accept him yet. Right now, something else mattered more: Completing Matilda’s final exhibition. Without her, I wouldn’t have found this new beginning.
I was about to step into her shoes and become the studio’s next rising star.
Until the exhibition opened, I didn’t see Noah. Only the congratulatory gift he sent to our teacher caught my eye.
The exhibition turned out to be a spectacular triumph.
With Matilda’s prestige and the fact that it was her final show, collectors and journalists flooded in from all corners of the globe. The teacher spared no effort in introducing me to the world
stage.
On opening day, buyers clamored to bid on my entire series of paintings.
Gallery owners vied fiercely for my work.
One piece, “Rebirth,” sold for a staggering price.
When the gavel fell, my hands trembled with nerves. A painting fetching over 100 million meant that from that moment, I had truly stepped into the ranks of top–tier artists.
“That was the new boss of the studio, the new head of the Tanner family who bought it! He wanted to buy the entire series but didn’t expect so many others to fight for your work,” Imogen whispered, squeezing my shaking hands.
“For your future, he held back a little! At the celebration party, you better thank our new boss properly!”
The Tanner family?
Sounds familiar! Foreign last names were so tricky I always ended up mixing them up.
The exhibition was a tremendous success. At the celebration party, Imogen proudly announced. The pieces sold at this exhibition would be temporarily loaned back to the studio for an exciting global tour!
Our mentor had chosen a semi–retired life, so Imogen and I would now lead the studio and work closely with the head office for the upcoming world tour.
“Blythe! Now that the studio had been acquired by the Tanner family, do you have a new career plan for your personal artistic journey?”
“Blythe, we heard the very first thing the new Tanner family chairman did after taking over was buy your studio. Is there any secret behind that you can share?”
Faced with the flood of media questions, I felt utterly baffled.
Then, a familiar voice called out from beyond the door.
“It’s better to ask me about that. Don’t scare my date like this, she might just run away!”
“Noah, the new chairman of the Tanner family!”
All the reporters instantly turned their cameras toward the man, stepping confidently toward me. After nearly three months apart, Noah had shed his usual roguish charm. Clad in a perfectly tailored designer suit that hugged his tall frame, he approached under the flashing lights and gently took my hand.
