Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 96 Dedication to Art

"What? Naked!" Wu Zhiyuan exclaimed in shock, staring at Xu Yunxi in disbelief. "Yunxi, are you kidding me?"

Just because you've never eaten pork doesn't mean you've never seen a pig walk.

Wu Zhiyuan doesn't understand art, but he knows that there is such a thing as nude models in figure drawing.

There is a Chinese painter named Li Zhuangping whose oil painting series "Eastern Goddess and Mountain Spirit" features his own daughter as the nude model, which once attracted a lot of attention and controversy.

Xu Yunxi chuckled and said, "Brother Zhiyuan, are you scared?"

In fact, in formal art training, drawing nude models is a very normal and serious matter, and it is a required course.

I've painted several nude models in my studio, including elderly men and women. This was purely for artistic research and basic skill training, and had absolutely nothing to do with pornography.

"Yunxi, you've also drawn nudes?"

"Yes, what's the big deal? As I just said, the models are all elderly men and women."

In the eyes of artists, the human body is the most beautiful and complex of all forms.

Drawing the human body is about understanding how the muscles under the skin move, how the bones support the body, and how light flows across curved surfaces.

When we draw, all we think about is structure, proportion, light and shadow, and spatial sense, just like a doctor studying anatomical diagrams or an architect studying building structures. It's a scientific and aesthetic study, and there are no distracting thoughts in our minds.

Xu Yunxi continued, "Clothes can conceal the structure of the human body. For example, when you are dressed, I can't see how your trapezius muscles bulge, the direction of your pectoralis major, or the shape of your abdominal muscles."

When light shines on the human body, it produces very subtle changes in brightness and darkness, reflections and transitions, which is the best way to practice observation and expression skills.

Starting with the masters of the Renaissance, such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, they all laid a solid foundation in modeling through extensive figure drawing.

This is one of the most effective training methods commonly used in art schools worldwide. In art schools, sketching from nude models is extremely commonplace.

Wu Zhiyuan chuckled awkwardly and said, "This spirit of dedication and research for art is remarkable."

However, while I understand and admire him, I'm afraid I can't help this nude model with this matter right now.

My inability to accept it intellectually at first is also related to my identity and our relationship.

I am your father's secretary, and your older brother.

No matter how pure our intentions were, if your father finds out, my career as a secretary will be over.

Wu Zhiyuan didn't say something: he wasn't a lecher, but he wasn't a saint either. If he were to appear naked in front of a beautiful young woman, embarrassing himself would be a minor matter; what would be worse was if he acted impulsively and did something wrong.

Xu Yunxi said with a smile, "Brother Zhiyuan, your thinking is too old-fashioned!"

You're not my biological brother. Even if you were, this is art, not pornography!

Do you know Li Zhuangping? His "Eastern Goddess and Mountain Spirit Series" used his own daughter, Li Qin, as a nude model. Although it caused some controversy, most people still supported it.

For example, the famous sociologist Li Yinhe said that being a nude model is a legitimate profession and an art form. What does it matter if the model and the painter are father and daughter?

As for your point about how it would be bad if my dad found out, he's not an unreasonable person. Besides, if you don't tell and I don't tell, how would he know?

Wu Zhiyuan, fearing that his direct refusal would embarrass and upset Xu Yunxi, explained, "Yunxi, you're right. From an artistic point of view, this is a very normal and noble thing."

The dedication of Li Zhuangping and his daughter to art is truly admirable.

It's not that I don't believe you, nor that I question art itself, nor that I'm hopelessly stubborn.

He paused for a moment, then continued to explain, "However, for me, it requires a psychological adjustment process."

My upbringing and environment made it difficult for me to accept this more direct way of expression all at once.

Just like asking someone who has never spoken in public before to suddenly stand in the center of a venue with thousands of people, it's inevitable that they will feel nervous and stage fright.

This is a long-established concept and habit, and changing it takes time.

Wu Zhiyuan couldn't be too definitive; he had to leave room for maneuver: "Yunxi, how about this? Give me some time to slowly digest and understand your artistic concepts."

"When I truly understand things and am mentally prepared, perhaps I will really muster the courage to dedicate myself to art."

Xu Yunxi pouted and said, "Brother Zhiyuan, is this just a delaying tactic? I understand you're having trouble accepting it right now. But you have to promise me later!"

"Yunxi, this isn't a delaying tactic. I agree to your request. Consider it a sacrifice for art."

"Words are no proof!" Xu Yunxi childishly stretched out her left hand, raising her fair fingers. "Come on, pinky swear, a hundred years from now! Whoever changes is a dog!"

Looking at Xu Yunxi's childlike expression, Wu Zhiyuan couldn't bear to refuse, so he reached out his right hand and hooked his fingers with hers.

"Pinky promise, never to change for a hundred years! Stamp!" Xu Yunxi solemnly pressed her thumb against Wu Zhiyuan's thumb.

……

Back to the rental house.

Thinking of Zhu Datong's request, Wu Zhiyuan made a phone call to Gan Simiao.

Gan Simiao is currently the Executive Deputy Director of the Municipal Party Committee's Publicity Department and concurrently the Director of the Municipal Cyberspace Administration. Her influence is stronger than that of the Director of the Municipal Forestry Bureau, but still weaker than that of positions such as the Director of the Finance Bureau or the Party Secretary of a district.

Wu Zhiyuan got straight to the point and started talking about Zhu Datong.

Back then, it was because Zhu Datong said "Gan Si Miao has become Gan the Cripple" that Gan Simiao happened to overhear.

Enraged, Gan Simiao soon used the pretext of "strengthening forest fire prevention" to "exile" Zhu Datong from the Municipal Forestry Resources Monitoring Center to Qinglongshan Forest Farm.

Gan Simiao did not shirk responsibility but readily agreed, promising to coordinate and handle the matter as soon as possible. If he wanted to shirk responsibility, he actually had sufficient reasons, such as the fact that he was no longer the director of the Municipal Forestry Bureau.

Wu Zhiyuan played a crucial role in his transfer to the Municipal Party Committee's Publicity Department.

Moreover, he also planned to use Wu Zhiyuan to obtain a more lucrative position.

……

While boiling water in the kitchen, Wu Zhiyuan noticed that a gap in one of the integrated ceiling panels had widened.

He stood on the chair, reached out to close the gap, and suddenly noticed a black plastic bag stuck deep inside. He then pulled it out.

When I opened the plastic bag and saw what was inside, I was struck dumb, frozen in place.

Inside was a USB drive and a letter.

The letter was written in Su Taohong's handwriting!

Judging from the date the letter was written, it was three days before she disappeared.

Wu Zhiyuan read the long letter word by word.

The opening paragraph alone was enough to shock him.

Dear Zhiyuan:

Please allow me to address you this way. Although I later betrayed you, I swear to God, there was a time when I truly loved you.

By the time you read this letter, I may no longer be alive.

I don't know if you'll feel sad for me. Sigh, maybe this is my karma.

But I must leave these words behind, because I don't want to die without knowing why.