Exclusive Model for the Top Painter Chapter 90

Standing Side by Side with Your Love

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It was summer again, and in the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun poured over the azure water of the swimming pool, creating lingering waves of light.

Ji Xiuyuan leaned against the side of the pool and took off his swimming goggles, the side of his well-defined face dripping with water droplets, and he smiled at the teenager on the edge, "Xiao Jin, do you want to join me?"

"Are you challenging me, Ji Shen?" Liang Jin was wearing swim trunks, his figure sexy and handsome. He stood barefoot by the pool, his slightly curly black hair obediently plastered to his forehead.

Ji Xiuyuan suddenly remembered the first time he saw him in early summer a few years ago.

At that moment, he was also standing on the beach like this, with a bright and open smile.

Like some kind of magical attraction, or fate, all the other people suddenly lost their colours.

In the eyes of the artist, only the figure of that person could be seen.

He had thought that he had simply stumbled upon an interesting subject to paint. Though he had detected subtle stirrings and hidden desires that were different from those of the past, he had thought that everything was just a normal summer fling.

After all, summer is the best time for burning passionate emotions.

But who had thought that when the first brushstroke regarding him landed, he was destined for an unstoppable sinking.

Liang Jin jumped into the water and deliberately made a huge splash.

Water droplets soaked each other's skin, and he patted Ji Xiuyuan's face, "Yuan Yuan, what are you thinking about, so engrossed?"

"Thinking about you."

"Am I not right in front of you?"

"You are in front of my eyes, in my heart, and in my mind."

Liang Jin's heart jumped violently, and then he secretly groaned at himself for not being good enough: how long have we been together? How is it that once I hear words of love, I still can't handle it? This won't work!!!

Ji Xiuyuan caught his reaction and couldn't help but kiss his reddened earlobes: "Xiao Jin, you're shy? So cute."

"No-no, how could it be? We're already an old married couple. Oh no, an old married couple? Why does it feel even weirder?"

"Xiao Jin, it has nothing to do with the passage of time. No matter how much time has passed, the way my heart feels when I see you is exactly as it was the first time."

Help!!! Why is his Yuan Yuan so good at saying affectionate words? Who can handle this???

Liang Jin immediately gave in, "Yuan Yuan, please spare me, if I listen to it any longer, I'll simply turn to stone."

"Is that so? That's good, do you want to stay here, or go back to our room?"

"Wait, the sun hasn't even set yet, Ji Shen! It's unseemly to be promoting sex in broad daylight!!!"

"Xiao Jin, are you saying that you want me to force myself on you?"

"???? How did you work out that I have this meaning?"

Ji Xiuyuan seriously analysed, "You're the one who told me that you have desire, and you're also the one who rejected me. Isn't this lustful refusal? Xiao Jin, is this your latest erotic preference?"

"No! I'm not!!!"

Ji Xiuyuan pressed him against the edge of the pool, "Let's conceptualise this scenario: I'm a swim team coach, and you're my student. Now, I'm going to force you to do something intimate that goes beyond the teacher-student bond, and you panic and try to refuse, struggling with the intention of resisting, but it's in vain, and you end up sinking in your desires. Xiao Jin, this plot, do you like it?"

Liang Jin gulped, his body had long since reacted to his low narration close to his ear, "It feels interesting, no, no, you can't seduce me! You are... mmph!"

Ji Xiuyuan kissed him, and Liang Jin half squinted his eyes to see Ji Shen's face near him.

His lover's eyes were slightly closed as he kissed him devoutly and fervently.

His heart beat faster and faster, just like the first time he was entwined with him.

It was so mesmerising, no matter how long it had been.

The studio was dimly lit at night, and the creator in front of the easel was focussed and obsessed.

It was a magnificent painting with what appeared to be a religious theme, but the protagonist was not any of the historically recorded gods.

He had a pair of beautiful red and gold wings, and was coming down from the clouds.

His body had such breathtaking beauty, and it was as if it had all the good qualities of divinity.

His smile was sincere and clear.

He had short black hair.

He had a clean, youthful look.

He had bright eyes, like those of an elf on a summer night.

Beneath the clouds, standing in front of the palace steps, was another figure.

That person's eyes were crimson, like Satan in hell.

But he had black wings, like hovering on the edge of good and evil.

One thought of heaven, one thought of evil.

He raised his eyes to look at the divine messenger who was guiding him, and his expression was one of deep love and fascination.

He sought the reconciliation of self, and the final path of destiny.

For he is the salvation.

This is the only painting in which he has ever visualised himself.

In no other work from his life could such a vision have been created.

Painter and model, Satan and God's messenger, running towards each other between light and shadow.

With the touch of their fingertips, heaven and earth mixed.

They became each other's destiny and salvation.

———

On the day of the Vogue gala, Wen Di said to Liang Jin, "I have a feeling that you will come out on top this year."

Liang Jin teased him, "Why do I remember that someone said that my chances of winning an award are not as good as buying a lottery ticket?"

Wen Di pushed up his glasses, "How long ago was that, why do you still bring it up? Are you planning to say it every year until I retire?"

"It's not impossible."

"To tell you the truth, I've been in Tian Han for so many years, and I've seen ten thousand if not nine thousand models. Speaking with a clear conscience, you're worth more than anyone else."

Liang Jin looked at him solemnly, "Thank you, Wen Di."

"You're welcome." Wen Di blessed, "Get ready for the award, Big Star Liang."

Ji Xiuyuan came down from upstairs, wearing a white tuxedo.

The rounded shawl-style satin lapel was paired with a bow tie of the same material, accessorised with a lavender pocket square. The slender figure looked more and more elegant and charming against the well-made garments.

Wen Di exclaimed, "Director Ji seldom wears white tuxedos, at least as far as I can remember, I've never seen him attend a Vogue dinner like this. So, I have reason to speculate, are you guys wearing couple's clothes on purpose?"

Liang Jin smiled and said, "What do you think?"

Wen Di was speechless: how come I'm the one who eats dog food every time???

The venue for the dinner had already been filled to capacity.

As soon as Liang Jin and Ji Xiuyuan appeared, there was an immediate cacophony of shutter sounds.

A burst of flashes dazzled their eyes, and Liang Jin asked, "Ji Shen, are they trying to photograph you, or me?"

"Us."

For entertainment reporters, this new top tier figure in the modelling world was too substantial.

Career or love, appearance or figure, experience or character, no matter which angle, it was enough to write a big book.

Ji Xiuyuan himself was a leading figure in the art world, and these two together were definitely the most powerful and explosive combination for this year's dinner party.

Reporters were asking questions, "Mr. Liang Jin, there are reports that you and Mr. Ji Xiuyuan have long since been married, may I ask if this is for publicity or the truth?"

Liang Jin immediately gripped Ji Xiuyuan's hand and held it in front of him, "See this pair of wedding rings? It's true! We are especially in love, we don't need any publicity at all!"

Ji Xiuyuan smiled gently and kissed the ring on Liang Jin's hand.

This action immediately ushered in a wave of gasps, followed by countless shutter sounds.

A black limousine slowly drove up, the door opened and out came Yu Shan wearing sunglasses.

Ever since his popularity had rebounded and his career had been revived, this guy's temper had come back. Although compared to the past, he had shed his flirtatious and mean-spirited ways, there were some things in his bones that were always true to his nature.

For example, at this time, he got out of the car and stepped on the red carpet, and there was an even crazier army of photographers behind him.

A reporter squeezed in front of him and loudly inquired, "Mr. Yu Shan, may I ask why you attended the Vogue dinner this time? Is it because of your personal relationship with Liang Jin? There are rumours that..."

Yu Shan interrupted him condescendingly, "Since it's a rumour, don't say it, I don't want to hear it. I came to the dinner party because of the company's arrangement, no comment on anything else. Also, you're blocking my way, please get out of the way, thank you."

Liang Jin: ......

Inside the venue, Shu Yue circled around Liang Jin and looked at him left and right, exaggerating, "Brother, you're too handsome tonight, aren't you! This is way too much isn't it, way too classy right, oh my god!"

Liang Jin asked, "Why did you come to the vogue dinner?"

"I followed Zhou Hai here."

Bei Sha wore a long ice blue dress and said with a smile, "A'Liang, are you ready for the big award?"

Liang Jin touched his nose in embarrassment, "Sister Bei Sha, I'm actually more nervous than last time."

"Relax, didn't you praise me for my accurate predictions? I believe you'll definitely be able to do it this time."

"But I still don't feel confident in my heart." Liang Jin sat in the candidates' area and looked towards the awards podium, where his Ji Shen was sitting in the VIP seat in the judges' area.

I really, really want to receive the trophy from his hands.

"Your achievements this year are unrivalled, both in terms of quality and quantity, it's a clean sweep." Bei Sha sat next to Liang Jin and teased him, "You were even busy from morning to night outside during the Spring Festival, and as soon as you signed up as the advertising model for the next international brand, you ran straight to Italy to participate in the Milan Fashion Week. I've been in the circle for so long, and I've only seen this from you."

Liang Jin laughed in embarrassment, "Sister Bei Sha, don't tease me, I'm nervous right now."

He looked towards the centre of the stage, where the white-haired jury chairman slowly opened the envelope in his hand.

In a low voice, he read, "Spring and summer, time rushes by. The autumn and winter of the past are still to be found. A rising star, but the industry's most powerful favourite. Over the past year, he has won a total of eighteen Top Shows and has been featured in magazines and advertorials. What's even more valuable is that at this year's Milan Fashion Week, he made a brilliant and artistic outstanding contribution..."

Hearing this, Liang Jin's palms were already breaking out in cold sweat.

The expert judge's powerful voice echoed throughout the venue hall, "Let's give our warmest applause to the winner of the Style of the Year Award, Mr. Liang Jin!"

The spotlight hit Liang Jin, and he stood up in a daze.

Under the gaze of the whole room, dressed in a white tuxedo, he slowly walked across the red carpet, and in the midst of applause and words of blessing, he stepped onto the stage and walked to his side.

The two of them stood opposite to each other, and in the light of the highest point, the only thing reflected in their eyes was each other's faces.

Finally, I have realised my long-cherished wish and hope of standing side by side with you.

From the moment we first met, we were destined to sink into each other, from painting to heart and soul.

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

That is the end of the main story! There are still five bonus chapters, which will be uploaded this week.

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

Translated: November 9, 2023