Exclusive Model for the Top Painter Chapter 1

Dew-Stained Skin

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Resort hotel, conference room.

On the clean white paper, with the slightest sound of the brush, Ji Xiuyuan's eyes were lowered as he drew, the darkness of dusk shining on the side of his face, accentuating the perfection of his face like an ancient Greek sculpture.

On the paper was a completely different scene, a young man smiling happily in the light, his eyes shining as bright as stars. He was wearing only very short swimming trunks, his feet sunk in the sand, and the sea water flowed over his ankles.

His body was full of the vitality of a young person, handsome and beautiful. His short, slightly curly black hair rested on his forehead, darkened by the water.

His white skin glistened with water, his Adam’s apple and collarbone were sultry and sensual. Further down, there was a firm chest, bright red and inviting buds, a flat, muscular belly and a waist that was so thin and seductive.

The most beautiful thing was that under his brush, the figure was not static, the whole scene possessed an indescribable power of attraction. Whether it was his bright smile, his dew-drenched body, his casually raised hands or the grains of sand on his ankles, there was something magical about him that made it impossible for anyone to look away.

Liang Jin stepped into the hall and noticed the person painting on the sofa.

At first it was because his appearance was striking, but later he realised that he was drawing him.

"Amazing," he muttered, "that's a great drawing!"

Noticing the young man's approach, Ji Xiuyuan frowned, slightly displeased.

Liang Jin apologised, "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you! It's just that..."

Ji Xiuyuan ignored his words and continued with the painting under his brush.

This indifferent attitude made Liang Jin a little uncomfortable, but he was super thick-skinned and persevered, "I'm sorry to disturb you, I just wanted to express my admiration for you. I didn't realise that I could be so sexy and handsome, although I am indeed handsome haha."

Ji Xiuyuan finally raised his eyes and looked up at him once, indifferent and calm.

Liang Jin was stunned, this painter was so unbelievably beautiful, he looked like a mixed-blood. What was the point of painting someone else if he looked like that, why not just take a mirror and paint himself?

As a professional model, Liang Jin was saddened for a while that his appearance had been overshadowed by the painter, but when he saw the painting, he was so happy that he pleaded in a small voice, "Can you sell me this painting?"

Ji Xiuyuan finished the last brushstroke and habitually signed his name in the lower right hand corner, his voice polite and detached, "Sorry, it's not for sale."

Liang Jin looked at his signature and was shocked beyond belief: was this man Ji Xiuyuan, a godlike painter who was at the top of the art world and had won international awards?

As an insider in the fashion world, Liang Jin didn't really know much about the art world. But he knew all too well about Ji Xiuyuan, as almost everyone he knew in his circle considered it an honour to collect his paintings. Even people outside the circle, including his parents, had paid huge sums of money to acquire a painting by Ji Xiuyuan for their collection.

Liang Jin was not good at hiding his emotions, and his face was full of admiration: "You are, Great God Ji Xiuyuan? I feel very honoured to be the subject of your painting and wonder if I might have the pleasure of getting to know you and becoming your friend?"

Ji Xiuyuan put away his painting tools and stood up.

Liang Jin immediately had to look up at him, and his pride as a model was once again trampled on mercilessly.

However, Ji Xiuyuan maintained his cold tone, "No, I don't make friends with people from unknown backgrounds."

It has long been said that people in the arts are often strange and difficult to get along with.

Liang Jin was not deterred by this rejection, and instead, he self-promoted with great vigour, "I'm actually a professional model, would you consider working with me? It's okay if we're not friends, we can still be colleagues."

He was wearing beach trunks, a white shirt and had sunglasses pinned to the pocket of his shirt, making him look very cool.

On the other hand, Ji Xiuyuan, dressed in a well-tailored pale grey suit, looked like a CEO out on a negotiation.

After a long moment of scrutinising Liang Jin, Ji Xiuyuan said, "You have a nice body, just my type."

Liang Jin almost spat out a lump in his throat; who in his right mind would say such a strange sentence with such a strange message, what did he mean, 'you have a nice body'? Those kinds of words sounded like it was the meat industry: "Ji Shen, you're talking about the type of model you like, aren't you? If you talk like that, it's going to be ambiguous." (Angel: Liang Jin refers to Ji Xiuyuan as God Ji, but I will be leaving it in its pinyin, Ji Shen.)

Ji Xiuyuan smiled indifferently, "I don't think there is any problem with my expression." He took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Liang Jin, "If you have ideas, we can talk about them in detail."

"Okay, I still need to make some more arrangements for the time. I'll call you when I've set a time."

Liang Jin took the business card in a calm manner and put it in his chest pocket. In fact, due to a certain change of circumstances, he had been idle for two consecutive months without notice, which was why he had come here to spend his time on holiday. But he was running out of money and Ji Xiuyuan was truly a godsend.

At night, Liang Jin returned to the hotel, looked at the four-digit balance in his own bank account, and without further hesitation, took out the white business card and dialled the number.

After beeping for a long time, a lazy, husky voice came from the other side: "Have you set a time?"

"I... Hmm? You know it's me?"

"Liang Jin."

“Mhmm, yeah. I've made arrangements and I'm free for the next few days."

"Come now, Ritz-Carlton, 601."

"Wait, now?"

The phone had already been hung up.

Liang Jin looked at the wall clock, 9 p.m., fortunately, it wasn't too late, maybe it was still normal working hours for such a busy person.

He thought that since he was talking about cooperation, he should wear something formal, so he deliberately put on his shirt and tie. He looked at himself in the mirror for a while and then took a taxi to the place designated by Ji Xiuyuan.

When he arrived at the destination, he only had one thought in his mind: isn't this too extravagant?

How much money did Ji Xiuyuan have?

Before he could ring the bell, the camera captured his face. A second later, the door opened automatically.

Inside was a simple but low-key luxuriously decorated room, where Ji Xiuyuan was sitting on a sofa, holding a document in his hand. When he saw Liang Jin, his eyes lit up, obviously not expecting him to have this kind of style: "The contract is ready, you can take a look."

At home, Ji Xiuyuan was not quite the same as the person he had seen before, wearing only a thin knitted sweater, but the silhouette of his body was clearly outlined and full, and the beautiful lines of his body were faintly visible.

Was this man really just a painter?

Liang Jin took the contract and looked through it, finding the normal terms and conditions, but when he saw the final payment, he could not help but be slightly surprised, as this was the highest salary he had ever received in his career.

Fearing that Ji Xiuyuan might back out, Liang Jin picked up the pen on his table and signed his name in a formal manner, "Thank you, Boss Ji, I look forward to working with you."

Ji Xiuyuan's eyes were deep and he nodded lightly, "Can we start working now?"

"What, work? Now?"

"Well," Ji Xiuyuan got up and gestured for Liang Jin to follow him, “the painting from this afternoon, there are still some details that need to be improved, and I need your cooperation."

He took Liang Jin to the bathroom and raised his chin in the air, "Take off your clothes yourself, there are swimming trunks inside. Style them more or less as you did this afternoon and call me when you're done."

Liang Jin wanted to cry, there really was no such thing as a free lunch. This Ji Xiuyuan is definitely a workaholic.

As he stripped himself naked and put on the swimming trunks, his beautiful body was reflected in the mirror, and Liang Jin felt that something was not right.

It was very different from the beach.

On the beach, everyone was wearing trunks, the beauties were dressed in bikinis, and everything looked so relaxed.

But this was a hotel room.

To be precise, this was Ji Xiuyuan's luxury villa suite.

The light colour of the décor accentuated the strong sexual and cold style of the owner. Dressed like this against such an ascetic background, Liang Jin felt a little perverted.

He brainwashed himself: this is art!!!

When he opened the door, Ji Xiuyuan had already set up his easel.

Liang Jin asked, "Is this okay, Ji Shen?"

Ji Xiuyuan's eyes were dark: "Move a little further in."

"Oh." Liang Jin took a step back into the bathroom.

Ji Xiuyuan touched a button on a screen with his finger, and with a loud clatter, the shower overhead poured water over Liang Jin.

Liang Jin exploded: "Please, can you give me a warning of what you're going to do? I was almost dazed by the water."

Ji Xiuyuan turned off the shower and slowly stepped inside, quietly approaching him and gently smoothing out his stray hair.

His expression was engrossed and focused, and his light breathing stimulated Liang Jin's senses.

Too close.

Ji Xiuyuan's fingers slid down his hair to his ears and then down to straighten the folds of his trunks.

The only fabric covering his torso was tugged by his fingertips, and Liang Jin's breathing was a little unsteady: "Still, not ready yet?"

"Shh," Ji Xiuyuan pressed his lips together, "be quiet."

He knew that he had already entered a state, so Liang Jin wisely shut up.

He thought that Ji Xiuyuan's obsessive look could only be found when he was looking at a painting.

When he thought of how his usually indifferent face could show such an expression, Liang Jin found it unbelievable.

What was even more incredible was that he kept this expression for two whole hours.

When he was done, Liang Jin asked him, “Boss Ji, when will you start work tomorrow?"

Ji Xiuyuan was packing his painting tools: "There is no fixed time, you can stay here."

"Huh?"

"There's a spare room downstairs, make yourself at home."

"Then where do you stay?"

Ji Xiuyuan didn't answer the question.

Liang Jin dried his body, changed his clothes and returned to the hall, and once he saw the wooden revolving staircase, he guessed the general idea:

Ji Xiuyuan stayed upstairs.

In other words, the entire first floor was his!

Free accommodation, high-speed internet, floor-to-ceiling windows, sea view, flexible working hours!

Liang Jin was shouting at the top of his lungs: Is this kind of work real? My spring has finally arrived!

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Hello everyone, welcome to my newest project! This is the fourth novel by Yi Xi that I have worked on, and I love all her work so far. I hope everyone else has been enjoying them too.

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: April 12, 2023