Exclusive Model for the Top Painter Chapter 69

A Feast of Skin Painting

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The finals of the Chinese region of the International Professional Model Competition came to an end last Sunday in B City; Liang Jin won third place in the men's modelling category with his excellent appearance, sexy body, full of tension acting style and outstanding artistic temperament.

Holding the third place trophy and standing on the podium for a group photo with the judges, Liang Jin was so happy that he wanted to fly; this was the first national-level award he had ever won!

The night he won the award, the A City Model Association and the A City Literary Federation sent him congratulatory letters.

At the final, he received several invitations to international and domestic fashion exhibitions, and more than a dozen brands conveyed their intention to work with him.

Liang Jin hugged Ji Xiuyuan with gusto and said: "Ji Shen! I'm going to be famous! I'm going to be popular!"

Ji Xiuyuan rubbed his hair, "Congratulations, Xiao Jin."

"I'm going to make lots and lots of money, buy Bo Bo the most luxurious cat tree in the world, the most delicious canned fish, and choose a consort for him!!!"

"What about me?"

"Ji Shen! You're already rich as hell okay, it feels like you don't lack anything."

"Xiao Jin, that's a misconception you have about me."

"Then what do you want?"

"You."

"... Don't we do happy activities every day?"

"I want more."

"Stop within moderation!"

"Xiao Jin, I understand how much you value your work. But you need to take a break once in a while and reserve some time for me."

During this period of time, it seemed like he had indeed been busy, and had caused Ji Shen to always run after him. From the film crew to B City, there was no stopping. Liang Jin guiltily said, "I'm sorry Yuan Yuan, it was my negligence. I'll be idle for the next few days, I'll accompany you in whatever you want to do."

"How about we go to America in a couple of days?"

"Is it a trip?"

"It can be considered a trip. Xiao Jin, do you remember Mr. Anderson, the director of the American Art Museum?"

"I don't remember. I think foreigners all look the same, especially old foreigners."

"Then do you remember the [Platonic love] series of paintings?"

"Of course I remember! Because of that I realised that Ancient Greece was full of homosexuals."

"Mr. Anderson is planning to hold an art exhibition next week, and my paintings are in it, so we're invited to go to it."

"Ah, that's great! Where is that art gallery? New York?"

"Washington D.C."

Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, is home of the Congress. The Congress of the United States is the highest legislative body in the United States, with supreme legislative, oversight, personnel and impeachment powers. It is also home to the headquarters of international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In addition, there are numerous museums and cultural venues.

Throughout the entire east coast of the United States, only Washington, D.C. has the strongest artistic atmosphere. Built in 1966, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the cultural centre of the entire country, and plays a significant role in the U.S. cultural scene.

Naturally, New York is not less prominent, but compared to Washington, it is more commercialised and less pure.

The American Art Museum, also known as the National Gallery of Art, is located in Washington, DC. It is free and open all year round, and is a truly public art museum.

The museum has a collection of more than forty thousand items, ranging from the early Renaissance, Impressionism, Parisian School to modern art, encompassing the essence of almost every period, with works by Leonardo da Vinci, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and many other masters.

The fact that Ji Xiuyuan's paintings would be displayed here is a sign of the international art world's high recognition of his achievements.

On the day of the exhibition, the two of them interlocked their fingers and strolled hand in hand through every corner of the exhibition hall.

They whispered intimately and even kissed each other openly.

Here, love is love.

The exhibition was called [Platonic Love], and in addition to Ji Xiuyuan's paintings, it also included creations with the same theme by other famous painters from around the world.

Liang Jin stood in front of the two oil paintings created with himself as the main character, and was immediately overcome with emotion.

The self in the paintings, and the painter whose name was signed in the lower right corner, seemed to have transcended the boundaries of time and space, and were forever connected in this art world.

———

In the afternoon, the two went to the Adams Morgan neighbourhood to hang out.

There was a thriving arts community culture here, filled with restaurants, bars, cafes and small fashion boutiques.

Coincidentally, in a shop selling artwork, Liang Jin actually found the set of postcards that Morgana had drawn for him.

Liang Jin still remembered her mentioning that she had printed many copies of this set of postcards, and that they had sold quite well in Giverny. But what he really didn't expect was that they were actually exported as far as the United States.

When he spoke to Ji Xiuyuan about this, the latter had a natural expression on his face: "There are many American painters in Giverny, not to mention that Morgana herself has had outstanding achievements in art postcards and has many fans. The owner of this shop is probably one of them."

At night, strolling down a street full of cafes, one was chosen at random to have dinner at.

Soothing violin music fluttered inside the cafe, mixed with softly whispered laughter and conversation.

Liang Jin propped his head up to enjoy the violinist's performance, while Ji Xiuyuan concentrated on cutting the steak for him.

After the song was finished, Liang Jin said, "Ji Shen, this song is so beautiful, do you know what it's called?"

Ji Xiuyuan had already cut the steak on his plate into small, regular, beautiful pieces. He poked one with his fork, and handed it to his lips, "Fritz Kreisler's 'Love's Joy'."

Liang Jin naturally accepted the feeding and grabbed Ji Xiuyuan's wine glass for another sip.

Why didn't he drink his own? It was purely because Ji Xiuyuan used the excuse of "you need to recuperate your body" to not allow him to drink at all, but he himself was allowed to have a drink, which made Liang Jin mentally very unbalanced.

Ji Xiuyuan acquiesced to his behaviour, but still whispered, "Xiao Jin, you can only drink this one glass tonight."

"Alright!"

Perhaps because the two were too close, or perhaps because they saw the pair of wedding rings on their hands, a pretty brown-haired young lady quietly approached, handed them a brochure, and whispered, "No offence, I hope. I just think you guys may like this!"

Liang Jin took the brochure and looked at it, and the cover featured a pair of handsome gay men!

He had passed his CET6 test, and although his practical ability to listen and speak was not good, his reading was still barely comprehensible.

The theme of the brochure was "Pride Parade", which translates to "Pride Parade". In addition to the handsome gay couple on the cover, there was also LGBT related content inside.

Ji Xiuyuan thanked her, and the young lady winked at them and wished, "Enjoy your night."

Liang Jin held up the brochure and studied it for half a day before asking Ji Xiuyuan, "Ji Shen, what is this Pride Parade?"

"An activity."

"Isn't this event a bit unusual?"

"The Pride Parade is a civil rights movement that originated in the United States, aiming to fight for the legal rights of homosexuals. In many countries around the world, similar parades are held every June."

"Why is everyone in the brochure holding a colourful flag?"

"It is the rainbow flag, which has now become a worldwide symbol for LGBT people. The flag has six colours in total, symbolising life, healing, sunshine, nature, harmony and spirituality."

"I saw the date and this parade starts tomorrow! It looks interesting!"

"Do you want to go and participate?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, then let's go together tomorrow."

———

It was late at night when they came out of the cafe.

There were a few youths in hoodies skateboarding along the street, and wandering guitarists singing in the corners.

There were some people gathered on the other side of the street, and every now and then there was a burst of applause.

The two men stopped to watch, only to see a blue-eyed painter selecting volunteers for his painting experience.

The volunteers could ask him to paint any part of their body. Of course, the large crowd did not show any disrespectful images, at most it was an arm or cheek.

Liang Jin complimented, "The painting is great. Ji Shen, does this also belong to body art?"

"Broadly speaking, it can be considered so. Do you want to try it?"

"Not really, I'll just appreciate it."

Ji Xiuyuan thought carefully for a while and squeezed Liang Jin's palm: "Xiao Jin, I have an idea."

"I don't agree."

"Disagree so quickly? Aren't you curious about what it is?"

"Ji Shen, from what I know about you, it's definitely something indecent again."

"Xiao Jin, it's art."

"I can't talk you out of it, anyways, it just won't work."

"Xiao Jin, do you want to go to the pride parade tomorrow?"

"... I do."

"So, be good."

Liang Jin: ......

Ji Xiuyuan bought the paints and tools for painting from the street painter, and carrying this pile of things, he brought Liang Jin to some deserted alley with great interest.

After mixing the colours properly, the palette was placed on top of a mailbox beside him.

Then he kissed Liang Jin on the lips, his fingertips gently sliding over that sensitive spot on his chest, and he said in a low voice, "Xiao Jin, I want to paint here on you."

Liang Jin nervously leaned against the wall of the alley as Ji Xiuyuan began to unbutton his shirt.

"Ji-Ji Shen, we won't be caught by anyone, right?"

Ji Xiuyuan calmed him down, "We won't. The other side of the alley is sealed off, and there's only this one entrance and exit. At night, almost no one walks around. And, I'll cover you."

Opening the young man's clean white shirt, he wrapped his arms around his waist and gently dropped a delicate kiss on his collarbone, "Xiao Jin, it's about to start."

"... Mhmm."

Ji Xiuyuan picked up the paintbrush and dipped it into the crimson paint.

The fine bristles of the paintbrush touched the delicate skin, provoking a flood of itchiness.

Liang Jin bit his lower lip, trying to hold back the low gasp that was spilling out.

Ji Xiuyuan's eyes were deep, and he said into his ear, "With you like this, I simply don't have the heart to paint." He licked Liang Jin's earlobe, "Just hold back a little longer, after the painting is finished, we'll do it right here..."

The thrilling sensation of being overly alert caused his body to become even more aroused.

Liang Jin buried his head in Ji Xiuyuan's shoulder, ripped open his collar, and bit down angrily.

‿︵‿︵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: August 29, 2023