Chapter Twenty-Six: The Painter's Song

"You... you... I... I..." Yang Qing stammered, staring at the woman before him who had shed her wrappings, revealing a face of exquisite beauty.
"Hello, I'm Wang Ying. It's a pleasure to meet you, Yang Qing."
"Y-you... hello." Yang Qing awkwardly shook that slender, delicate, snow-white hand.
As soon as their hands separated, he offered an embarrassed grin. "What I said earlier was just nonsense—please, don’t take it to heart."
"Hmm." Wang Ying’s smile was gentle, her eyes so clear and expressive they seemed to speak. She looked at Yang Qing and said, "What you said was very good, and very true. Compared to most people, I am indeed quite fortunate. So, may I be a little luckier?"
"Um, what?" Yang Qing was puzzled.
"Yang Qing, I know who you are. I’ve read about you in the media, so... I’d like to try one of your pancakes. Would that be all right?"
"Ah, well... my shop is about to..."
"It’s not convenient for me to come to your shop, you understand?"
"I..." Yang Qing was a bit lost. Not convenient? In what way, exactly?
"Well, all right then. I’ll bring one for you tomorrow, and I’ll bring the design drawings over at the same time."
Yang Qing nodded helplessly. After all, a single design drawing from her was worth fifty thousand.
"Very well, then you go ahead and get busy."
"Sure."
Yang Qing returned to working on the design drawings. Meanwhile, Wang Ming cast a peculiar look at his sister as she walked back, exclaiming in surprise,
"Didn’t he... recognize you?"
"No," Wang Ying replied with a smile and a shake of her head. "Judging by his eyes and expression, he really didn’t recognize me. Heh... and he’s something of a celebrity himself."
"A celebrity? How come I’ve never heard of him?" Wang Ming was stunned.
"You spend all day reading gossip, no wonder you don’t know!" Wang Ying rolled her eyes. "His pancakes have been featured in five media outlets, and the provincial TV station even called him Yang City’s first phenomenon!"
"Pancakes! He really sells pancakes?" Wang Ming squawked.
"Heh, you always thought he was lying to you."
Wang Ming: ...
Two hours later, Yang Qing straightened up, stretched his back, and handed the freshly drawn design draft to the siblings, who were absorbed with their phones.
"This is the initial draft. Take a look, and if anything isn’t to your liking, point it out. I’ll make adjustments at home tonight and bring you the final version tomorrow."
"Alright."
Wang Ming took the papers, and both siblings began to study them earnestly. After a while, they were both left dumbfounded.
"Brother Yang... this... we don’t understand it at all. Could you explain it to us?"
Yang Qing: "...You don’t understand? But earlier you..."
"Heh..." Wang Ming laughed awkwardly. "I just thought the other guy’s sketch looked messy and disharmonious."
Yang Qing: ...
What luck, running into someone with obsessive tendencies!
"Alright, look here. This section..."
After half an hour of explanation, and jotting down their requests, Yang Qing called it a day and was ready to go home.
"Wait..." Wang Ying stopped him. "You can finish the design by tomorrow?"
"Of course," Yang Qing replied as if it were obvious. "It’s quite simple."

Wang Ying: "...Doesn’t that make this fifty thousand a bit too easy for you to earn?"
Yang Qing scratched his nose, embarrassed. "Well... you were the one who offered. If you think it’s not right, I could help paint the walls too."
"You know how to paint?"
The siblings exclaimed in unison.
Yang Qing grinned sheepishly. "Uh... well, just a little..."
Wang Ying: ...
Wang Ming: I don’t believe you! A little? More like a whole lot!
When Yang Qing returned home, it was already half past five in the afternoon. Xiao Chun, Xiao Xia, and Bai Bai had been picked up by White Mama, and Wang Ke’er had also arrived.
Once again, Yang Qing transformed into the chef of the house. This time, he didn’t let White Mama into the kitchen—he wanted everyone to try his new culinary creation.
...
The next day, after dropping off Chun and Xia at school, Yang Qing took Xiao Dong in his arms and led Xiao Qiu by the hand onto the bus.
"Wouldn’t you be happier at Bai Bai’s house with White Mama? I’ll be busy at work and won’t have much time to look after you," Yang Qing said, holding the two little ones close as they sat on the bus.
"No," Xiao Qiu wriggled in her seat and piped up in a childish voice, "Bai Bai’s not home, and there’s no one to play with me."
"But you have Dong’er."
"Hmm, Dong’er’s so tiny, she always wants to be held. I’m still a kid myself, I can’t carry her around all day."
Xiao Dong: ಥ_ಥ
Yang Qing: ...
When they arrived at their destination and found the house empty, Yang Qing took out the renovation keys Wang Ming had given him, opened the door, and led the two children inside.
"Wow! What a big house! Brother, are we working here?"
Xiao Qiu ran around excitedly, looking here and there, full of curiosity.
"Yes, but keep an eye on Dong’er and don’t go upstairs."
"Got it!"
Xiao Qiu shouted happily, and Xiao Dong, like a little tail, wiggled along behind her, calling out, "Sister!" in a childish voice.
Yang Qing, seeing how much fun they were having, relaxed. Looking at the cans of paint stacked in the corner, he smiled wryly.
Earning money is truly no easy task.
He mixed the paint, stirred, and adjusted the colors...
Half an hour later, though the siblings hadn’t arrived, Yang Qing had finished preparing the paint.
"Qiu’er, Dong’er, come, let Brother put a little hat on you."
"Coming!"
Soon, two little painters with white caps stood before him, adorable and eager.
"Here’s a little bucket and brush for each of you. You can paint over there for fun."
"For fun?"
Xiao Qiu looked at the brush in her hand and the little bucket by her feet, her excitement barely contained.
"Brother! Really?"
"Of course."
Yang Qing smiled. "You can do a first coat, and then I’ll do the second. It won’t be wasted. Go ahead."
"Okay!"

Xiao Qiu was overjoyed. She grabbed the little bucket and hurried off to paint, singing in her sweet, childish voice.
"The monk rides a horse, dong dong, monkey catches demons, bang bang, piggy eats lunch, oink oink, Sha Sha carries the load, clang clang, Bai Bai sleeps, snore snore, we’re all good children, obedient and sweet...
Draw a sister, and a Bai Bai, and finally Dong’er, Dong’er wets the bed, shame, shame, shame..."
Xiao Dong: (/ω＼)
Meanwhile, Yang Qing painted the walls with practiced ease, his strokes smooth and confident.
In this moment, he couldn’t help but marvel—his skills truly were impressive!
"Qiu’er, what are you singing?"
"Hee hee, I don’t know! Bai Bai taught me. Does it sound good, brother?"
"It’s lovely!"
Yang Qing smiled as he painted. "Shall I teach you a song? Want to learn?"
"Yes!"
"Alright, let’s keep painting, and I’ll sing a line, then you repeat it, okay?"
"Okay!"
...
"Slow down, sis—it’s only nine. I bet Yang Qing isn’t even here yet," Wang Ming said as they approached the door.
Wang Ying glanced at him calmly. "Didn’t you call him Brother Yang yesterday?"
Wang Ming shrank back. "He... he’s not here now, is he?"
"One should be consistent in word and deed."
"Alright, I get it."
At nine o’clock, the Wang siblings arrived at the door. As Wang Ming was about to fetch his keys, Wang Ying grabbed his arm.
"Sis..."
"Shh, listen!"
They both fell silent, straining to hear.
"Did you learn it?"
"Not yet, hee hee..."
"Haha, then I’ll teach you again."
"Okay!"
"Ready now?"
"Qiu’er’s ready! Hee hee..."
Then a song rang out.
Man: I am a little painter...
Child’s voice: I am a little painter...
Man: My skills are strong, I’ll make this new house beautiful and bright...
Child’s voice: My skills are strong, I’ll make this new house beautiful and bright...
The man’s voice was deep and resonant, with a slight rasp that carried a gentle warmth.
The child’s voice was sweet and joyful, lit with the innocence only a child possesses.
Simple melody, simple lyrics—yet Wang Ying found herself momentarily transfixed.
"Oh my little nose, how it changes shape..."