Mentor (2)

A good two years later after his disappearance, there was sudden appearance of some unreleased pictures of Lucas Ye at an exhibition in Guangzhou.

This new series again took the art world by storm. These new set of pictures were different from The Signature Lucas Style. There was tinge of sadness spread among them with a hope of survival.

Since last two years, his pictures were everywhere. Every famous art museum out there were eager to Collaborate with him. Every exhibition was successful and some of his pictures now even broke his previous records. His pictures were deal breakers with large amount of price even in auctions.

But this time his pictures were more about awaring people about mental health and survival irrespective of all odds. This concept also caught eyes. Lucas Ye was once again the topic of discussion everywhere. Everyone was eager to meet him or to hear some words from him.

Yet the world was not able to reach him. None know much about his private life or his residency.

The exhibitions were carefully held by his agents and they refused to speak anything about him. But there was no stopping of his pictures or in their deals.

He was searching for him since there was first news of reappearance of his pictures. His grandfather was eager to get a news of his precious acquaintice. After searching for a whole two years he finally got some leads about his location last night.

Last night his informant told that coincidentally the person he was looking for everywhere, was living in the same city as him. All this time he was living here in Z city. He decided visit him as soon as he got the news.

His grandfather's birthday was coming soon. He wanted to surprise him with his favorite artist's work and with his presence.

By the time he reached there , Lu Yang suddenly saw Lina running towards his direction on her bike. He was not surprised to see her here. Actually he knew Lina used to volunteer here.

But it was unexpected for him to face her suddenly here. Seeing her running towards his car, he immediately covered his face with sunglass and lowered his head. At that moment of surprise he even forgot that his car was covered with black tinted glass.

But to his amazement, Lina didn't even pay him a glance. Rather than that, he saw her cursing his car and leaving for the reception in anger.

After coming inside, he was looking for his assistant, when the woman crossed him without looking at the handsome young man and ran towards the old man wearing a traditional dress sitting in the middle of the pavillion with a canvas in front of him.

Lu Yang was surprised once again. He saw her calmly approaching the old man and sitting beside him and patiently waiting for him to turn to her.

Yang couldn't see the old man's face. As his back was facing him. But there was some sort of familiarity with him what made Yang to think harder about his identity.

He stood in the middle of the garden under a willow tree and watched the two person interacting with each other. The old man's words were full of affection while the girl was full of love and respect.

They were more like a lovely grandfather and daughter pair teasing each other and bickering about something.

His secretary finally appeared and found him standing here. He approached him from behind and saw him staring at the old man and a young girl in front.

He suddenly reminded him " Sir... This is the great artist Lucas Ye you have been looking for years... "

Lu Yang's brows twitched hearing that. No wonder this man was giving him Vibes of familiarity. Just that time, the man on the wheelchair turned around and the girl began pushing him from behind. Lu Yang could now see them clearly.

He saw them walking through the garden. The pair was too busy with bickering to pay heed to surroundings.

His eyes behind the sunglass showed a float of flash. He could understand that the girl in front of him, Lina is a caregiver here. But the scenario in front felt something different. These persons were way too familiar with eachother. This could not only be some causal relationship between part-time caregiver and her client. There was something else.

" But again, world famous artist Lucas Ye and Lina .. " How can they even ever be associated?? "

They seemed to be closer than normal acquaintance. How this girl know the world famous mysterious artist this close! Something was not right.

The man saw the old man walking towards a building opposite site. He slowly began to follow them with his assistant behind.

Lu Yang saw them entering the building made up of glass. He stood behind the Buddha statue and watched from there.

About over hundred children were sitting there with their drawing books and crayons and colours. The children were laughing merrily. It seemed like the children were sitting in an arrangement. Few people, probably their teachers were busy in teaching them in batches.

Lu Yang saw Lina helping the old man to settle on a sofa in a corner. Seeing the old man finally settled down, the children immediately ran towards him. " Yeye ! Yeye! ( 爷爷 = grandfather) "

Few children grabbed Lina and pulled her to sit down with them " Jie jie ! Lina jie jie! You are here! ( 姐姐 = elder sister )"

" Jie Jie we missed you."

" Jie Jie is so pretty."

" Why didn't you come last week?"

"Jie Jie where is my chocolate?"

There was various voices of complaints coming around. The girl sitting in the centre was puzzled and tried to calm down the children one by one.

The other teachers helplessly looked up at her. They were having hard time to suppress laughter seeing her among the sea of children.

The children began to pour their love on their beloved jiejie. Some had already opened their drawing books to show her their latest works.

" Jiejie see I drew it.!"

" Jiejie I learned oil painting last week. See how is it? "

" Jiejie I practiced what you told me last time. You know what jiejie it actually worked. Thank you jiejie."

Lina patiently listened to them and calmed them down. She opened her bag and distributed chocolates among them. The children cheered up.

She pleaded the teachers pitifully for some help. The teachers who were used to the scene began laughing and demanded their share in exchange of their help.

Actually it had been a tradition among them. Every time Lina came here, the children would go crazy. She was their favourite older sister. And when Lina would ask for their help, they would ask for their share of chocolate. 'Why the children will only get chocolates?' And Lina used to bring some for them too.

Lina opened her bag and handed them over their share. After receiving their fair share of those, the teachers told the children to go back to their seats. Lina promised to spend time with them when their lessons will be finished. The children returned to their seats with long faces.

Some even warned her " Don't forget your promise Jie Jie..!!"

Lina stood up to walk over to her shifu when a toddler approached her with a lollipop with his hand " Jiejie This is for you. I saved one for you. "

Lina watched her with curious eyes and immediately snatched the lollipop from him and unwrapped and put it in her mouth " xie xie ni " ( Thank you)

She ruffled his hairs and asked him to go back to his seat.

The old man who was watching them affectionately from his seat, suddenly sighed..... 'This silly girl never changes.'