I Became a Top-Tier Star Painter Through Marketing

Both transmigrate: [Adorable artist bottom x scheming marketing-account top]

In his previous life, Shen Yun sold only a handful of paintings, then literally starved to death.

When he opens his eyes again, he's transmigrated into the body of a young concubine-born son about to be married off, forced to wed the down-on-his-luck young master Zhao Qizhi.

Rumor has it that Young Master Zhao was bedridden for two years and isn't quite right in the head.

On their wedding day, the two of them both give up in the face of the guests' provocations.

Zhao Qizhi's calligraphy is worse than a first grader's, while Shen Yun draws a modern children's picture on the spot.

The guests: It's over. The Zhao family is finished.

The painting is supposed to be presented to the Carefree Prince. That very night, the couple is summoned and threatened into signing a wager.

Shen Yun has to raise the market value of his children's picture to 500 taels of silver, saving the prince's face in the process.

Shen Yun: "For an artist's painting to be worth money, I have to be dead!"

Zhao Qizhi: "Let's not go that far."

One day, Shen Yun's luck suddenly turns around after a lifetime of poverty in his previous life.

He creates a thrilling superhero comic, and Zhao Qizhi passes it along to children at all the academies in the capital. They're soon clamoring for the next installment.

He designs new Impressionist prints, and Zhao Qizhi immediately gets in touch with a princess. They "livestream a sales pitch" at a banquet, and noblewomen rush to place orders within a day.

He creates art depicting the struggles of ordinary people, and Zhao Qizhi takes it right to the imperial examination grounds to sell. The great scholars of the age all burst into tears when they see it.

In less than half a year, Shen Yun has become a top-tier star in the capital.

The Carefree Prince brings out that children's picture for an exhibition. After seeing it, everyone praises him:

"No wonder he's a top artist with the whole world in his heart."

Shen Yun: Fine, then...

As a matter of fact, one day Shen Yun climbed a mountain to look at the stars. When he got home, he painted Starry Night.

Zhao Qizhi stares at it for half a minute, then quietly says two words: "Van Gogh?"

Shen Yun: "...?!"

Could his husband really be the legendary internet marketing specialist?

#Extra Scene#

Shen Yun collapses, exhausted, into Zhao Qizhi's arms and pulls a little booklet from under the pillow.

Zhao Qizhi's voice tightens. "Where did you get this?"

Shen Yun: "One of the maids left it in the kitchen when she was in a hurry. I took it, but I haven't read it yet."

He flips through a few pages. His drowsiness fades, and Shen Yun sits up, pointing at the character in the little picture book. "Isn't that line something I said when I got up the other morning?"

Reader's guide:

An alternate setting, one-on-one romance.

Theme: Love life and make the most of every day.