Chapter 241: Chapter 146: Mona’s Portfolio Comments

"Gu Weijing..."

Mona felt a brief sadness, but she quickly expelled that name from her mind.

The past is just the past.

Since she had made up her mind to ensure that their lives no longer had any entanglements, just like the message she had sent to the boy with a heavy heart.

Everyone should part ways amicably, with no need to look back. Lingering would benefit neither party.

"Wow, that looks great. Can I have a cupcake?" Jerry’s voice came from behind, pulling Mona out of her momentary daze.

Mona nodded, without refusal.

She opened the lid of the Lock & Lock container, took out a refined little cupcake with shake toppings, and left the rest for the classmates to help themselves.

"Miss Sakai, [カツコ], is this how Shengzi’s name is spelled in Japanese? Check for me, is there a mistake in the spelling?"

Mona handed the paper cup cake to Miss Sakai.

On this little cupcake, pink edible coloring had been used to meticulously carve Shengzi’s Japanese name on the shake floral pattern during baking.

She hadn’t attended specialized culinary classes like Koukou. At home, all dining and living arrangements were managed by servants brought from Mumbai, so she only made simple cupcakes in the oven.

But Mona was extremely diligent in everything she did.

Whether it was baking cupcakes, handling interpersonal relationships, or managing romantic feelings, if she set her mind to it, she would do it meticulously.

Once, she had carefully selected a suitable birthday gift for Gu Weijing.

It had to neither be so expensive as to burden the recipient psychologically in returning the favor, nor too casual, lacking sincerity.

A few years ago, Mona had deliberately spent time following tutorials from food bloggers on YouTube, learning systematically how to carve floral patterns on paper cup cakes and write with food coloring.

"MY LITTLE BOY FRIEND!"

"BEST WISHES!"

"SPECIAL DAY!"

...

Whenever his birthday came around, Mona would painstakingly bake a small tray of paper cup cakes, adorned with all sorts of different blessing phrases.

Sometimes,

The cake base would contain one or two slips of paper with birthday wishes or lucky coins inside, like fortune cookies sold in supermarkets (note), with different heartfelt intentions every year.

(Note: Fortune cookies, FORTUNE COOKIE, a type of cookie with slips of paper containing various wishes or lucky cards in the center, popular in Western countries.)

This year, Mona no longer needed to bake cakes for anyone.

The technique of carving floral patterns on cakes was conveniently used by her to please Miss Sakai.

Mona looked up the Japanese writing of Miss Sakai’s name online, and placed a common Japanese blessing phrase "{May your body be healthy}" in the cake filling.

She believed that even the coldest of girls could be touched by such thoughtfulness.

Bridging the gap and even becoming friends seemed to be a natural progression.

Mona thought her plan was quite workable.

Especially so, judging by her observations over time, Miss Sakai was definitely not the kind of wealthy spoiled girl in the school that looked down on others.

Despite her reticence, and feeling indifferent toward anything besides painting,

She was actually quite easygoing, well-mannered, and had a gentle personality.

Like a quiet flower cat or a fluffy stuffed doll, she was completely unlike Mrs. Sakai, sharp-tongued and fond of sarcasm.

In the advanced class, anyone who sought advice from her would receive earnest answers, proving her high level of artistry—the genius young painter who had swept nearly all the youth awards in Japan.

Being able to become confidantes with such a girl meant benefits in connections, needless to say, and Mona believed it would be a very comfortable affair in itself.

Worth her effort and dedication.

"Shengzi, give it a taste? It’s really delicious." Mona said with a smile.

Mona thought she had been lucky lately.

Not only had she successfully entered Mrs. Sakai’s advanced class, but when she aimed to get closer to Miss Sakai,

Miss Sakai seemed to be in a particularly good mood today.

With a female’s sensitivity, Mona noticed upon entering the classroom that Miss Sakai had unusually applied light makeup this afternoon.

Usually bare-faced, Yakai Shengzi now had a touch of lipstick on, appearing quite joyful and occasionally rubbing the small bracelet on her wrist.

While painting, a slight curve formed at the corner of her lips, and she would occasionally hum little tunes.

Such a cheerful mood was perfect for making friends.

"Miss Sande Nu..."

While Mona contemplated how to approach Miss Sakai, Yakai Shengzi was also quietly observing this supposed...well, "good friend" of Gu Weijing.

Delicate features, fair skin—an emerging beauty.

More importantly, she was confident and assertive. While perhaps a bit calculating, if she were a boy, she might appreciate such a girl.

However, she didn’t quite like Mona.

Aside from some girlish thoughts,

Sakaye Shengzi had heard that after Mona was invited to join the advanced class, she immediately clarified in a cold tone to her mother about her lack of entanglements with Gu Weijing.

She both liked and disliked that answer.

As if the treasure you fancy—you fear others discovering its worth and competing with you for it, yet you detest seeing it casually discarded like trash.

A girl’s feelings are always complicated.

In any case, Sakai Shengzi indeed held a poor impression of Mona.