✅ A star Reborn: The Queen's return (Completed)

971-980

Chapter 971: Talent
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Perhaps it was her bright smile that influenced the child. Li Rui hesitated before nodding.

Li Lei pulled him to sit by his side, stroking his head and giving him more pieces of the dessert while smiling. Li Rui was not often treated this way by Father. He was flattered and immediately straightened his back, working hard to showcase his best side so that Father and Aunt Ling would take a greater liking to him.

“Xiao Rui is so cute.” Xia Ling praised before wielding her brushes to paint.

The drawing of portraits required patience. It was not only hard on the painter, but on the models as well, for they had to stay still for one to two hours. Xia Ling took into consideration that the child was still young, so she did not have high expectations of him. “Xiao Rui, you can eat some dessert and chat with Father.” Only then would the child be able to stand sitting there and hopefully develop an interest.

The child obeyed happily and chatted with Father while eating the desserts. After a while, his feelings of restriction and timidness disappeared. He would even burst into laughter from time to time. Li Lei pitied the child for having been neglected by his mother and was more patient towards him. He deliberately chose some interesting topics to talk about with him. Time passed quickly.

Xia Ling drew her final stroke on the canvas and announced, “Done.”

Both the young and old rushed to look at it in excitement. Under the light and shadow, beautiful showers clustered. A handsome man was talking with his head turned to the side to a child. His expression was focused yet gentle, as if he treated the child beside him as the world’s most precious treasure. The child was looking up at him, full of admiration and respect.

“Great drawing.” Li Lei complimented his wife. “Turns out I’m so handsome.”

Xia Ling smiled while glaring lightly at him. “You’re just standing under Xiao Rui’s spotlight. Xiao Rui’s such a cute child, how could he admire an ugly person? That’s why I had to draw you a little more handsome.”

The two joked around.

Li Rui listened to them talk while glancing at the painting. He did indeed look incredibly cute in the painting. He was wearing clean clothes inside and holding onto the dainty dessert. The sunlight shone on his face as if the whole world was lit up. However, that was not what moved him most. What touched him most was the expression of Li Lei as he looked at him, so focused and gentle. It made him feel as though he were genuinely loved.

It turns out that Father really did like him…

Warmth rose in Li Rui’s heart. He reached out his hand to touch the painting.

“The painting hasn’t dried yet.” Xia Ling smiled and pulled his hand back. “Xiao Rui, if you like it, I’ll give this painting to you. I’ll get the maids to hang it in your room.”

“Really?” The child raised his head in joy.

“Of course,” Xia Ling said. “Xiao Rui, do you like to paint?”

“Yes!” The child nodded fiercely.

“Then these are yours. I’ll give these painting tools and dyes to you. If you’re interested, you can try painting yourself.” Xia Ling smiled sweetly. “You could become a great painter in the future.”

“Yes!” The child nodded fiercely again before taking the brushes from her solemnly.

In the days that followed, Li Rui did indeed develop an interest in painting. When Shaohui was in class he would be painting by himself. At first, he started painting abstract color blocks, then when he had acquired the art of composition, his painting became more realistic.