Exclusive Model for the Top Painter Chapter 52

Turn of Events on Christmas Eve

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The day before Christmas Eve, Morgana had already decorated the villa in an extraordinarily homely manner.

The Christmas tree in the living room was decorated with small and exquisite works of art, and she had prepared Christmas stockings for gift-giving and handmade Christmas hats, which gave off a strong festive atmosphere all over the house.

In order to add Chinese elements, Morgana specially learnt paper-cutting online. She told Liang Jin, "This is ancient Chinese wisdom, the essence of excellent culture. It contains good wishes and has a wonderful artistic flavour. Especially the character 囍, it's great! I'm going to cut lots and lots of them and stick them all over the windows."

Liang Jin politely suggested, "In fact, this 囍 is only used when organising happy events."

"Isn't a holiday a kind of happy event?"

"But it's usually used at weddings, when the bridal chamber is filled with candles."

"Great!" Morgana said excitedly, "Then tomorrow night, you'll have your wedding night! How do you say it in Chinese? Double happiness?"

Liang Jin: ... Forget it, as long as you're happy.

The fridge in the kitchen was piled high with freshly purchased ingredients, and Morgana enthusiastically introduced, "Xiao Jin, Vincent and I will make you the most authentic French Christmas dinner! Foie gras, oysters, caviar, smoked salmon, truffle omelette, Breton blue lobster, leg of lamb, cheese and champagne! And a special dessert~"

She changed her tone and said, slightly ruefully, "When Vincent was a child, this was his favourite thing. But at that time, his father and I were very busy and didn't have much time for him. Every year, we could only make it for him to eat on Christmas Eve. Xiao Jin, how about I teach you to make this dessert?"

Although Liang Jin's cooking skills were extremely bad, hearing that this was something that Ji Shen liked, he was naturally interested. Usually, it was always Ji Shen who cooked, and occasionally, he wanted to do something for him, "Okay. Is it difficult? I'm not very good at cooking..."

Morgana smiled softly, "It's okay, I'll teach you by hand!"

This dessert is called bûche de Noël, which translated into Chinese was called tree trunk cake, and is an essential Christmas food in France. According to legend, the shape of the tree trunk originated from the tree trunk used to warm the sheep shed when Jesus was born. Another theory traces its roots to the Black Iron Age before the Middle Ages, when people burned tree trunks to beg for peace and good luck in the coming year.

All in all, it is a sweet dish with good luck.

Liang Jin spent the whole night under the careful guidance of Morgana, and finally learnt the general idea.

The chocolate mousse used for decoration needs to be chilled overnight in the refrigerator and then taken out the next day for decorating.

After the big job was done, Morgana admonished, "Tomorrow night, on Christmas Eve, Vincent will be able to taste your love for himself! Xiao Jin, get off work early!"

———

On the day of Christmas Eve, Liang Jin was filming on the set of 'The Legend of the Changqing Swordsman'.

The content of this day's filming is that Qin Hongyi has shown outstanding martial arts talent, and his master Hua Junhao is jealous. He specially sends him to travel with the youngest disciple in the sect, and he arranges for a secret assassination halfway through the journey.

The role of the youngest disciple was played by a nine year old boy, nicknamed Hang Hang. His eyes were dark and round, making him particularly adorable. After coming to the set, he was very quiet, didn't cry and didn't make any trouble, and he especially liked to stick to Liang Jin.

This was because Liang Jin always loved to tease him and always brought him snacks to eat.

On this day, when Liang Jin had just changed into his costume, Hang Hang ran towards him, hugged his legs, and said in a milky voice: "Xiao Jin Ge Ge, are we filming with you today?"

Liang Jin knelt down and pinched his face, "Yeah."

The bottom of Hang Hang's eyes shone brightly, "I like Xiao Jin Ge Ge."

"Why do you like me?"

"Xiao Jin Ge Ge, is beautiful."

Liang Jin corrected, "Hang Hang, beautiful is usually used to describe a young lady, you have to praise me for being handsome."

"Xiao Jin Ge Ge is handsome and especially nice."

Liang Jin was very happy and pointed to Yu Shan over there, "Is Yu Shan Ge Ge not nice to you?"

Hang Hang shrank towards Liang Jin's side: "He's so mean! He's a bad guy!"

Yu Shan's angry roar immediately sounded in his ears, "Liang Jin! Don't teach the child nonsense!"

Directly ignoring the anger of the emperor, Liang Jin smiled brightly and touched Hang Hang's head, "Don't be afraid, your Xiao Jin Ge Ge will protect you."

The morning's filming went very smoothly, and in the middle of the day, everyone took a lunch break in their respective lounges.

When Liang Jin was halfway through his nap, he was suddenly awakened by the loud noise on the radio, "Emergency notice! Emergency notice! A fire broke out in the studio! The fire is dangerous! Please evacuate to a safe area quickly!!!"

Liang Jin immediately jumped off the bed and rushed out the door.

A strong, pungent odour filled the corridor, Liang Jin leaned over and followed the safety exit signs the entire way.

His room was on the ground floor, close to the exit, and in no time, he felt his way to the front door and escaped smoothly from inside.

The open area outside was already crowded with a lot of people, and the director, Zheng Yangping, was very anxious.

Liang Jin asked him: ''Director Zheng, when will the fire department arrive? Has everyone come out? Where's Hang Hang?"

Zheng Yangping said, "The fire department is already on its way and we are counting the number of people. Some people have switched off their radios in their rooms, so it's impossible to be sure for a while. That boy, Hang Hang, should be in his room with his mother, we haven't seen him or his mother yet..."

Liang Jin calmly said, "What's the room number?"

Zheng Yangping checked on his cellphone, "203. Xiao Liang, you want to go inside? It's so dangerous! Why don't we wait..."

"Every minute is precious right now, I can't wait." Liang Jin said, "Is there a wet towel or something?"

Zheng Yangping found him a dampened towel: "Xiao Liang ah, you must be careful!"

Liang Jin nodded, covered his mouth and nose with the wet towel and rushed back into the fire.

Entering the ground floor, the smoke was already so thick that he couldn't open his eyes.

He heard someone shouting, "Brother Yu! Brother Yu!"

Liang Jin had met that person and vaguely remembered that he was Yu Shan's assistant, Ruan Jun.

Liang Jin asked, "Yu Shan hasn't come out??"

Ruan Jun said anxiously, "I haven't seen Brother Yu, he's not in his room, he's gone."

Liang Jin said, "Let's split up and look for him. I'll go from this side and go up to the second floor. You go from that end and meet me on the second floor."

Ruan Jun nodded and ran in the other direction.

At the end of the corridor, Liang Jin saw a figure slowly limping forward while holding onto the wall, "Yu Shan???"

"Liang... Jin?"

"Are you injured?" Liang Jin walked in front of him, only to see that Yu Shan's delicate face was currently blackened from the smoke and had a downcast expression. Without saying a word, he immediately held Yu Shan's shoulders, "The exit is over here, hold on."

Yu Shan was silent for a while and asked, "You already went out and came back to save me?"

"Don't flatter yourself, I'm here to find Hang Hang."

Ruan Jun heard the sound and took the initiative to approach, taking Yu Shan from Liang Jin's hand with a tearful expression, "Brother Yu, are you… in pain?"

Liang Jin pointed upstairs and said to Ruan Jun, "Yu Shan is in your hands, I still have to go upstairs to take a look."

Yu Shan roared, "Upstairs? Liang Jin, do you want to die?"

"Hang Hang and the others might still be up there, I'm worried."

"Other people's lives are theirs, but your life isn't yours?" Yu Shan angrily said, "No, I don't agree, you must come out with me!"

"Alright, Emperor Yu, I know you're worried about me. It's fine, I'm very capable. Stop talking nonsense." Liang Jin gestured at Ruan Jun, "Hurry up and invite your ancestor out, I'm going upstairs."

Ruan Jun wrapped his arms around Yu Shan and held him in his embrace, "Brother Yu, let's go first."

Liang Jin's figure disappeared into the corridor and Yu Shan shouted after him, "Liang Jin, cough cough, you idiot!!!"

The second floor was just as filled with smoke and visibility was extremely low.

Liang Jin followed the order of the room numbers in his memory and found his way to the door of room 203.

Constant cries for help came from inside: "Is anyone there? Help us! Cough, help..."

Liang Jin asked through the door, "Hang Hang? Are you in there?"

Hang Hang shouted at the top of his lungs, "Xiao Jin Ge Ge, have you come to save Hang Hang? Hang Hang and Mommy are inside, I'm so scared, the door won't open!"

In the presence of fire, the air expands with heat causing the air pressure in the room to rise. The pressure acts on the door, preventing the door panel from opening properly.

Liang Jin said, "Hang Hang, a man should be strong. You and your mother stand away from each other, I'll kick the door open right away."

"Okay, Hang Hang will listen to Xiao Jin Ge Ge."

Liang Jin took a few steps backward and fiercely exerted his strength, kicking the door.

The door was deformed by the kick, but it didn't open completely.

Liang Jin tried a few more times, only to hear a bang as the door panel was completely kicked down and fell to the ground.

Liang Jin rushed in and handed the damp towel to Hang Hang, while asking his mother with concern, "How are you? Are you okay?"

Hang Hang's mother excitedly held Liang Jin's hand, "I'm fine, young man, thank you. Let's hurry out."

"Mhmm, you guys go first, I'll follow behind."

The group of people cautiously descended from the second floor to the ground floor. As they passed through the corridor, the huge ceiling light post suddenly loosened due to the baking heat and violently slammed down towards them.

"Be careful!" Liang Jin reacted quickly, pushing Hang Hang's mother to the side and shielding Hang Hang with his body.

The entire skeleton of the aluminium alloy light post smashed onto Liang Jin, and he fell to his knees violently, his mind becoming dizzy.

Hang Hang cried out in fear, "Xiao Jin Ge Ge!!!"

Liang Jin forced himself to pull himself together and smiled, "I'm fine."

He moved the lamp post out of the way and stood up shakily, "Let's go, the exit is over there."

Severe pain gradually spread from his head to his whole body, Liang Jin clenched his palms deathly tight: we're almost there, we're almost out.

I can't fall down.

He held Hang Hang's small hand, and with a firm stride, he led the mother and child towards the door.

After reaching the safe area, Hang Hang's tender voice trembled violently, "Xiao Jin Ge Ge, you're bleeding!"

He cried and hugged Liang Jin, "Someone save Xiao Jin Ge Ge, he's bleeding a lot!!!"

Liang Jin still wanted to comfort him, this is no big deal, just go to the hospital and bandage it up.

The pain from the wound suddenly exploded and raged on, and the moment he fainted, he seemed to see the cheerful figure of Santa Claus driving his sleigh.

Today is Christmas Eve.

Liang Jin thought,

I can't fall down.

I still have to go back and make a cake for Ji Shen.

I haven't seen him for a day, I miss him so much.

If he finds out, will he blame me again?

Ji Shen, I'm sorry.

I'm going to make you worry again.

But I couldn't abandon him, could I?

I definitely couldn't do that.

At worst, I'll let you bully me some more.

Don't be mad at me.

I really,

I really love you.

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

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

Translated: July 25, 2023