Back to 1993: The family splits up at the start, and the ingrates regret it so much they cry.

"What are you doing?" Li Mingzhu exclaimed, reaching out to snatch her painting.

"Buying a painting," Wang Peng said, holding up a sheet of paper with one hand. "I'm paying for the artwork I like, what's wrong with that?"

The two are very different in height; Li Mingzhu's head only reaches Wang Peng's chest, and she can't reach the painting even if she jumps.

Just then, a chubby boy rushed out of the pine forest opposite.

"What are you doing?" he yelled, quickening his pace as he ran towards them.

"What do you want to do? Are you trying to bully me?" The chubby boy clenched his fists and glared fiercely at Wang Peng.

This is Li Mingzhu's cousin, Duan Hongxing.

He was short and stocky, with a body like a bucket, and his fists, as big as sandbags, were quite intimidating.

"Brother Hongxing, don't misunderstand." Li Mingzhu quickly grabbed her cousin's hand.

Wang Peng waved the drawing paper in his hand and pointed to the money in Li Mingzhu's hand.

“I like her painting, so I bought it for two hundred yuan. Is there a problem?” Wang Peng looked at Duan Hongxing with a half-smile.

"Huh?" Duan Hongxing was completely dumbfounded.

The air was suddenly quiet.

A moment later, he quickly loosened his fist.

"Brother, you're not kidding, are you? That's two hundred yuan for just a few sheets of paper?" Duan Hongxing's head was buzzing.

Wang Peng smiled slightly.

"It's my money, so I can buy whatever I like. There's nothing wrong with that."

"You say it's not worth two hundred, that's your perspective."

"I said it's worth two hundred. That's my opinion. Do you have a problem with that?"

Duan Hongxing shook his head and gave Wang Peng a thumbs up, saying, "No, no, you're really something else."

At this moment, Li Mingzhu felt only gratitude, and her eyes welled up with tears.

This 200 yuan is not just money, but also recognition of the work.

She, who has loved drawing since childhood, was truly moved.

"Wang Peng, I brought my easel. Let me paint another portrait of you," Li Mingzhu quickly added. "This one is free; it's a gift."

"Okay, make me look handsome, give me one..."

Wang Peng looked back at the banyan tree and said, "I'll drive my car over here and take a picture of the banyan tree, the luxury car, and the handsome guy."

"puff!"

Li Mingzhu laughed out loud, "Yes, yes, you are very handsome."

After saying that, she opened her backpack and took out her drawing board, pencils, and other drawing tools.

"Little cousin, go find a stool, I'll sit here and sketch, okay?" Wang Peng said with a smile.

"OK, OK, there are benches in the woods." Duan Hongxing turned and ran.

Li Mingzhu came here under the guise of sketching, and naturally brought a small stool with her.

"You get ready first, I'll go get the car." Wang Peng took out his car keys and hummed a little tune as he drove across the street.

He drove the car to the banyan tree.

Duan Hongxing had already brought over a stool.

Li Mingzhu also prepared pencils and drawing paper.

There are many types of pencils: 4B, 6B, 8B, and 2B pencils.

Sure enough, the poor students had more stationery.

However, it looks like it's for drawing a sketch.

"Mingzhu, do you need me to pose?" Wang Peng asked.

"Come sit down first," Li Mingzhu said, patting the stool. "I'll finish drawing the banyan tree and the car first, then I'll draw you on top."

Wang Peng nodded, agreeing that it made sense.

Painting is different from taking photos; being a model is also very tiring.

So he and Duan Hongxing sat down on either side of Li Mingzhu.

Li Mingzhu took a deep breath and officially began writing.

Gradually, countless lines appeared on the pristine white paper, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

The chaotic lines gradually outlined the shapes of the banyan tree and the car.

A smile also blossomed on Li Mingzhu's face.

Wang Peng stopped looking at the painting and started looking at Li Mingzhu's profile.

Men who work hard are handsome, and women who work hard are beautiful.

"These two are flirting!" Duan Hongxing couldn't stand it anymore, so he picked up a pencil and drawing paper from the ground and quickly wrote a line of words.

He patted Wang Peng on the shoulder from behind and handed him the drawing paper.

The words written in ugly pencil on it read, "Hey bro, don't get all smitten, I'm still here."

Wang Peng took out a ballpoint pen from his pocket and wrote, "Don't you think you're superfluous? What are you doing, acting like a third wheel? Also, your handwriting is really ugly."

After reading it, Duan Hongxing couldn't help but roll his eyes.

He thought to himself, "I'll endure it, not for any other reason than you spending two hundred yuan to buy my cousin's painting."

He carried his stool away, went outside the woods, sat down, and looked over there.

A moment later, he was stunned again.

The boy and girl sat on the bench, very close to each other.

The girls were creating, and the boys were watching them create; it was so harmonious and heartwarming.

“Okay, you’re right, I’m the extra one.” He picked up his stool and went back to play in the mud in the woods.

Time passed by, and Li Mingzhu had completed half of her sketch.

—A tall banyan tree, a shiny black Santana sedan.

"Wang Peng, go to the car and strike a pose, it'll be quick," Li Mingzhu said.

"Okay!" Wang Peng walked to the front of the car, patted the hood, and plopped down on it.

Modern cars are very durable and won't get dented.

"Smile..."

"Smile, just smile, but don't be so exaggerated..."

"Oh, don't be so reserved, just smile normally."

After much fuss, Li Mingzhu finally said, "OK, that's it."

Wang Peng was both amused and exasperated. He tried his best to keep smiling, but then he laughed until his arms went numb.

Two minutes later, Li Mingzhu said, "Stop smiling. I've already redrawn the smile. Relax."

Wang Peng was laughing so hard his cheeks were sore.

Another ten minutes passed.

"It's all done! Come and take a look!" Li Mingzhu said with a smile.

Wang Peng jumped out of the car and sat down next to her.

"Um...is this me?" He scratched his head. "Am I that handsome?"

The boy in the painting is beaming with joy, giving off a vibrant feeling, like the sun at seven in the morning.

At this moment, art has been created.

"Art originates from life, but transcends it."

Li Mingzhu carefully rolled up the painting and tied it with a red ribbon. "It's for you, it's free."

"Thank you. Now let me guess your dream."

Wang Peng said, "Your dream is to hold your own art exhibition in New York, the art capital."

"Wow! How did you know?" Li Mingzhu exclaimed in surprise.

"I guessed it." Wang Peng gave her a thumbs up. "Keep it up, you'll definitely succeed."

"Thank you!" Li Mingzhu was overjoyed.

Just then, Duan Mingxing jumped out and ruined the mood.

"Mingzhu, we should go back now, or my aunt will get angry again," he shouted.

"I'm sorry." Li Mingzhu quickly packed her things. "Wang Peng, my mom won't let me stay out for too long."

"I'll drive you home," Wang Peng said, pointing to the car.

"No, no," Li Mingzhu hurriedly waved her hand. "If my mom finds out, she'll beat me to death."

She packed her art supplies into her schoolbag, slung the schoolbag over her shoulder, and hugged the stool.

"Wang Peng, I'm very happy today, thank you."

"I'm very happy too, and thank you." Wang Peng waved goodbye to her. "If you're feeling down, just write to me, okay?"

"Mmm!" Li Mingzhu sniffed. "Goodbye, Wang Peng."

Wang Peng watched her retreating figure until it disappeared into the forest.

Li Mingzhu and Duan Hongxing returned home.

"Second Aunt, clothes! Just now, a guy in a Santana bought Mingzhu's painting for two hundred yuan," Duan Hongxing called out.

"You're talking?" Li Mingzhu's parents exclaimed in surprise at the same time.