In the anime, cultivating a girlfriend starts from childhood

Although I didn't show my profound knowledge to Her Royal Highness the Princess as Nozaki-senpai had said.

But judging from the results, this kind of Eriri seems to be pretty good.

This should be considered as completing the second item, right?

As for the third item.

"Hiratsuka, listen carefully. No girl can resist a wall-dong. This is the ultimate killer move to arouse a girl's heart. Even I can't help but start painting on the spot when I see this kind of scene, so save it for last. I'm sure that after experiencing this, Kashiwagi Eri will definitely be unable to resist picking up her paintbrush as soon as she gets home."

Wall bang?

It's too abrupt and rude.

He didn't want to do this unless it was absolutely necessary.

Because he felt that there was a high probability that Eriri would be scared.

While Hiratsuka Ryosuke was still struggling, Eriri suddenly stopped.

She turned around, with a hint of gloom in her eyes, and asked in a low voice: "Ryosuke, have you seen Yumeno Sakiko? What kind of person is she?"

Hiratsuka Ryosuke recalled the help that Nozaki Umetaro had given him, both in terms of giving him advice and giving him tickets to the art exhibition.

He cleared his mind and answered Eriri seriously, "Yumeno Sakiko is a gentle, kind, enthusiastic and reliable senior."

When Ying Lili heard this, she was stunned at first, but then she felt relieved.

She reluctantly let go of Ryosuke's hand and put her trembling hands behind her back.

Eriri drooped her eyelids, not daring to look directly into Ryosuke's eyes. She smiled unnaturally and her voice trembled a little.

"I'm sorry, Ryosuke... Actually, I haven't drawn in a long time."

The smile that Eriri was trying to maintain gradually disappeared from her face, and her voice even began to choke.

"I should say... Kashiwagi Eri doesn't seem to be very good at drawing anymore. Teacher Yumeno Sakiko might be more suitable for you."

Chapter 67: Eriri and Himawari

When Hiratsuka Ryosuke was about to speak.

Eriri suddenly took a step forward and pressed her index finger on Ryosuke's lips.

She put a smile back on her face, as if nothing had happened.

"Thank you for inviting me to the exhibition today. I am very happy. Can you accompany me to the exhibition?"

Before they knew it, they had reached the second floor of the exhibition hall.

Many people stopped in front of an oil painting.

This painting is also the highlight of today's exhibition.

Van Gogh's original work - "Sunflowers".

He is a legend in the art world.

He painted a total of 11 sunflowers in his lifetime, and 10 of them are still extant.

One of the original paintings is in this exhibition hall in Tokyo.

It is the treasure of this exhibition hall.

"Ryosuke, look, this is Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers', which is also my favorite oil painting. Do you know why?"

At this moment, Ying Lili's eyes seemed to be filled with stars and the sea. She stared at the oil painting with a longing look on her face.

"Because this work symbolizes the sunflower chasing the sun, the hope for life and the burning passion?"

Hiratsuka Ryosuke probed.

He still has some basic common sense about this world-famous work.

Eriri smiled and shook her head, a look of nostalgia in her eyes.

“The first time I saw Sunflowers was when my parents took me to London when I was a child.”

"At that time, my mother smiled and said to me: 'Lily, this painting is beautiful, isn't it? Sunflowers will actively chase the sun no matter where they are. Mom hopes that when you grow up, you will be as sunny and brave as a sunflower.'"

Hiratsuka Ryosuke thought secretly in his heart.

Lily?

Is this Eriri's nickname?

Sunflower has many flower languages, the most common one is "sunny and brave".

It means hoping that children will have a bright future and bravely pursue their dreams.

Another flower language is - "silent love".

Did she start learning to paint from that time?

Eriri didn't know what was going on in Ryosuke's mind, and continued to talk to herself, "When I was little, I didn't understand. I just thought sunflowers were beautiful. So many people liked them, so they must be amazing. From then on, I slowly started to learn to paint."

Ryosuke Hiratsuka vaguely guessed some of Eriri's past growth.

Kashiwagi Eri is a reclusive otaku who dares not reveal her identity, and Eriri is the princess who is the center of attention at school.

Just like the sunflower, it is a symbol of light in the darkness, and it also becomes Eriri's own sustenance and direction of growth.

"Sunflowers are always in the sun. Isn't that amazing, Ryosuke?" Eriri continued to speak with a smile.

Hearing this, Ryosuke glanced at Eriri beside him and felt something was wrong.

Sure enough, Eriri's next words confirmed his bad guess.

"I am the daughter of a British diplomat and I should live in the sunshine." Eriri looked straight at the oil painting in front of her and said confidently.

Then her eyes dimmed, she lowered her head and whispered: "I... don't want to be a dark otaku like Kashiwagi Eri."

Ying Lili suddenly felt the light in front of her dim.

She looked up and saw Hiratsuka Ryosuke standing right in front of her, blocking her view.

Ryosuke approached her step by step, and she stepped back guiltily.

Until her back hit the cold pillar in the middle of the exhibition hall on the second floor, and she had no way to retreat.

Boom!

Ryosuke put his hands on the pillar, and Eriri had nowhere to escape.

He stared at Eriri's flustered eyes, and his tone became a little cold, "Eriri, what are you afraid of? What's the sweat you shed all those days and nights painting?"

Ryosuke's tone became calm and firm, and he continued, "Life is a process of repeated falls, injuries, and scarring. If you don't go through the hardships, you will lose to yourself."

"Whether it's the princess Eriri who is the center of attention at school or the otaku at home, Kashiwagi Eri, the two are inseparable, and the person they form together is Sawamura Spencer Eriri."

Finally, he said softly to the girl in front of him in a positive tone: "And the Sawamura Spencer Eriri I know is not a girl who will give up easily."

Eriri turned her head away, not daring to look directly at Ryosuke. Tears welled up in her deep blue eyes.

Yeah, what am I afraid of?

There are so many painters who are better than me, am I really afraid of Yumeno Sakiko?

No, I'm just afraid of holding you back, so I don't want to delay you.

I am afraid that one day, when you go further and further away in the future, you will leave me, a burden, behind.

After trying again and again, I no longer see any hope of winning.

Obviously, the bond between you and me is just that of an illustrator and a novel author.

But why... do I feel so sad.

I am more afraid of being abandoned by you than the unbeatable Yumeno Sakiko.

Rather than being abandoned sooner or later, it is better to take the initiative to let go. Yinglili, you are really... terrible.

I clearly don't want this to happen at all. I clearly don't want this to happen at all.

Ying Lili clenched her fists, bit her lower lip with her little canine teeth, and was even unaware that bright red blood was flowing out.

Tears kept falling from the corners of her eyes, but she didn't make any sound.

Ryosuke forcibly turned Eriri's head over, held her face and made her look directly at him.

The determination in his voice was unquestionable. "I'll say it again, you are not alone, so don't always think about making decisions alone. We are the perfect pair."

Tears blocked her vision.

Now there is a hazy fog in front of Yinglili's eyes.

She couldn't see Ryosuke's face, but she could hear his voice.

Sorry, I'm a little greedy.

Ryosuke, I don’t know since when, the identity of a partner can no longer satisfy me.

She breathed heavily, but no sound came out.

Swish swish swish~

There came the sound of writing on paper and pen nearby.

They both turned their heads at the same time and looked towards the source of the sound.

"Nozaki-senpai, what are you doing?"

Hiratsuka Ryosuke asked calmly, looking at the tough guy squatting next to him.

"Ah, sorry, it's mainly because I was so moved by your scene that I unconsciously moved a little closer."

The appearance of Umetaro Nozaki destroyed the atmosphere between Ryosuke and Eriri.

Then he took out a pack of unopened tissues and handed it to Ryosuke.

Ryosuke opened the package, took out a piece of paper, and silently wiped the tears from Eriri's face.

The atmosphere was ruined, and Eriri didn't have time to feel sad.

He just looked at Nozaki with resentment.

Hiratsuka Ryosuke coughed lightly and began to introduce the two to each other.

"Nozaki-senpai, this is my partner, Kashiwagi Eri."

"Eri, this is Nozaki-senpai, also the popular manga artist Yumeno Sakiko."

Nozaki Umetaro was shocked. Is Kashiwagi Eri so young? That's incredible.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Umetaro Nozaki."

Ying Lili was struck by lightning, her eyes widened and her mouth opened so wide that even an egg could fit in it.

Yumeno Sakiko... is a man?!

It wasn't until Ryosuke tugged on her sleeve that she came to her senses and quickly returned the gesture.

"Hello, Nozaki-senpai, my name is Sawamura Spencer Eriri, and I'm Ryosuke's partner!"

For some reason, ever since I found out that Yumeno Sakiko was a man.

The haze in Ying Lili's heart suddenly dissipated.

At the same time, the brain becomes active.

Just now, was I pushed against the wall by Ryosuke?

Before this, he called her Her Royal Highness the Princess.

Wow! How embarrassing!

Yinglili, what were you doing just now? !

Her face was as red as the bright strawberries in the April fields, and steam kept coming out of her head.

No, I have to go home quickly and draw what I just did.

Ying Lili was surprised to find that her hands were no longer shaking.

The desire to create bursts out from the bottom of my heart and reaches my soul.

"Hey, Ryosuke, let's go back, I want to paint!"