Listening to the surrounding voices, Xin Yu tried her best to maintain her upright posture.
She didn't want anyone to see her dejected mood, especially the gentleman beside her.
She remained silent until the charity gala began, the host speaking eloquently on stage.
Xin Yu turned her head, intending to take this opportunity to leave, but just as she bent down to stand up, a spotlight shone on her.
"You!" someone on stage pointed at her and loudly announced, "I want to compete with you!"
Frowning, she looked up at the stage—it was Qi Qianjin! The talented Qi Qianjin!
Her head was held high, her large buck teeth even more prominent under the spotlight, and her makeup, as always, was heavy.
"Do you dare come up on stage?" she continued to shout.
Xin Yu really didn't want to be in the limelight. She adjusted her shawl and stood still.
"Don't want to go? I can take you away," the eldest gentleman said calmly.
She paused, her gaze falling on Mu Yichuan in the front seat. He didn't turn around, but stared straight at the stage.
Was he looking at Qi Qianjin?
If anyone other than the eldest gentleman had asked her, Xin Yu would have turned away, but…
She had no choice but to steel herself and walk towards the stage.
Step by step, she walked with ease, but her heart ached terribly.
Undoubtedly, she was influenced by the eldest gentleman's earlier words.
"What are we competing in?" Xin Yu forced herself to look at Qi Qianjin with composure.
But before she could answer, the audience erupted in a cacophony of whispers.
"Wow, who's that woman? She's so beautiful!"
"Don't judge a book by its cover. It's a talent competition, not a beauty pageant!"
Before the competition even started, the audience had automatically divided into two factions…
"A traditional Chinese painting competition."
Pfft.
Xin Yu chuckled, covering her mouth in a slightly unkind way. This wasn't just boasting; it truly was a contest of her skill.
"Are you sure?" she countered, though Qi Qianjin seemed more confident than she was.
As if pre-arranged, the hostesses brought out all the art supplies and paper—everything was provided.
"What's the theme?" Xin Yu glanced at the canvas, which was as tall as one person and as long as the other, and raised an eyebrow.
"Anything." Qi Qianjin smiled dismissively, her prominent buck teeth gleaming.
Xin Yu subconsciously turned around and looked at Mu Yichuan, who stood calmly in the audience.
He subtly curled his lips into a smile, a dark glint flashing in his dark eyes.
The competition began so hastily…
Xin Yu stood before the canvas, pondering for a moment, then picked up a small white cloud and began to paint a corner. At first, people watched intently, holding their breath, but gradually, hushed discussions began to emerge.
"Ladies, please note that we have ten minutes left in our competition."
The host's announcement practically ignited the entire venue.
Xin Yu paused, looking at her canvas, which was less than a tenth full…
However, she became increasingly certain that today's competition was deliberately orchestrated; otherwise, why would they only announce the time limit at the very end?
"Beautiful lady, hurry up and paint! I'm rooting for you!" someone in the audience shouted anxiously at Xin Yu, seemingly even more impatient than she was.
This sparked a huge reaction.
"Qi Qianjin will definitely win!"
The two sides began to shout.
Xin Yu turned to grab the wolf-hair brush, only to find both brushes held by Qi Qianjin.
She looked at her with some surprise; she really did have some skill, working with both hands simultaneously! "What, are you admitting defeat?" Qi Qianjin turned around, looking arrogantly at Xin Yu, her hands slightly lowered. "If you're going to admit defeat now, I won't win by much and will stop here."
"There are still eight minutes," Xin Yu said calmly, her eyes fixed on her canvas, her mind rapidly forming ideas.
"Oh?" A flicker of surprise crossed Qi Qianjin's eyes at Xin Yu's composure and defiance, but only for a moment. She turned and resumed her flourishes.
This was her signature technique!
She was determined to beat Xin Yu today!
She tore off her shawl, rolled up a corner, and dipped it in ink.
No one said you had to use a wolf-hair brush…
Xin Yu turned back and forth, constantly dipping her brush in ink, her hands moving at lightning speed. She completely forgot her surroundings and didn't hear the commotion below the stage.
But Mu Yichuan heard it. Ever since she tore off her shawl, gasps and exclamations of admiration had filled the air.
Undeniably, Xin Yu's figure was flawless.
Especially since she was wearing a tight-fitting halter-neck dress today.
Especially when compared to Qi Qianjin.
Especially when she and her painting gradually became one.
His fingers on his knees trembled, his brows furrowed, and he emanated a chilling aura and low pressure—the result of a man's possessiveness of a woman!
"Ladies, please note, there are two and a half minutes left." The host's voice was excited, his eyes darting back and forth between Xin Yu and Qi Qianjin.
Both were painting freely, yet one's work was delicate and gentle, the other grand and imposing.
"Time's up!"
With the host's shout, both stopped painting simultaneously, and the audience fell silent.
Whew…
Xin Yu threw her shawl on the ground, making a fist-opening and stretching motion. Undoubtedly, this was the most tiring competition she had ever experienced.
After all, if shawls could replace wolf-hair brushes, then no one would need to buy brushes anymore.
"Everyone, which lady's painting would you like to see first?" the host teased, his eyes darting between the two paintings like shooting stars. "I must say, Miss Qi has met her match this time."
Hearing the host's words, Xin Yu finally snapped out of her daze. It seemed Miss Qi's reputation was indeed widespread, and this kind of competition was probably not the first or second time.
She just wondered if not providing enough wolf-hair brushes was a first.
"I'm betting on Lady Qi! I'll bet she'll win!"
"Me too! If Lady Qi wins, I'll bet fifty million on her painting!"
"I choose the beauty!"
"Me too! I never knew our S country had such a beautiful and charming girl!"
The clamor from below rose and fell...
"Then, as the hostess, let's first look at Miss Xin's painting!"
When the hostess turned Xin Yu's painting around, the audience erupted in cheers. Even Mu Yichuan in the front row was slightly shocked by Xin Yu's skill.
Her painting was dominated by black tones and bold lines. He recognized the building in the corner immediately—it was the stadium that the Mu Group was investing in.
The so-called commanding presence, the magnificent landscape—nothing could be more impressive than this.
"Bravo!" A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from below.
"I bid 80 million!"
The host waved to the audience, "Please calm down, everyone. Let's look at Qi Qianjin's painting."
When Qi Qianjin's painting was turned around, the audience suddenly fell silent.
Not a sound was uttered; everyone's eyes were wide open.
After a long while, someone shouted, "I bid 100 million!"
Xin Yu stood there, her dark eyes unmoving, staring blankly at Qi Qianjin's painting. Standing on the canvas, taller than a person…
It was her.
Wearing a red, form-fitting Chinese cheongsam, her hands clasped, her hair gently tucked behind her ear, a sweet smile playing on her lips.
It was as if she were stepping out of the canvas to shake hands with the real Xin Yu.
"You win," Xin Yu approached Qi Qianjin, leaning down to whisper.
"Good that you understand!" she said haughtily, then threw the wolf-hair brush in her hands to the ground. "Anyone who can paint better than me hasn't been born yet!"
"No," Xin Yu remained close, "you didn't win the painting, you just figured out a way to successfully humiliate me."
That's all.
After saying that, she walked back to her seat.
She listened calmly as the bids from the audience continued to rise, eventually reaching a staggering ten billion!
"Qi Laosan, are you crazy! So eager to win the beauty's heart! Haha!" Those who couldn't afford it naturally became jealous, sourly nitpicking.
"I'm willing! What's it to you? If you want the beauty, bid eleven billion!"
Mu Yichuan jumped up, his cold, sword-like gaze sweeping across the audience. Next up was Mayor Qi, who stood on the stage with a gloomy expression, pointing at two paintings. "I believe in everyone's enthusiasm for this charity gala, but the host is an irresponsible one; he didn't explain the rules clearly."
"The rules were as follows: Mr. Jiu would choose one of the two paintings as the winner. Only the painting without a winner would be auctioned off," the host quickly added, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Why did it suddenly get so hot?
"Mr. Jiu, which one do you think is the lucky winner?"
Xin Yu picked up a glass of water, taking small sips, her dark eyes fixed on the stage, her smile unconsciously widening.
It seemed this person was targeting either her or Mu Yichuan.
Which one should she choose to win?
It seemed difficult.
If she chose Mayor Qi to win, she, Xin Yu, would lose.
If she chose herself to win, she, Xin Yu, would be the one auctioned off.
Glug.
She gulped down the water, no longer caring about the final result.
Mu Yichuan's gaze followed the light to Xin Yu, his eyes flickering, his emotions unreadable.
"Mr. Jiu..." Mayor Qi greeted respectfully.
Mu Yichuan glanced at her indifferently, pointing to Xin Yu's painting. "If I were to choose, this painting better suits my aesthetic."
Qi Qianjin clenched her fists, her face instantly flushing red.
She had spent so much time persuading him, threatening him, bribing him, but it had all been ineffective.
"Oh, Mr. Jiu, could you explain why?" the host asked curiously.
"The beauty of the landscape comes first, then the beauty of one's hometown, and only then the beauty of one's people."
Xin Yu's hand holding the cup trembled, and the water spilled out.
"Are you alright?" Mr. Da quickly handed her a tissue.
"Hiss..." Xin Yu didn't take it, instead clutching her head; her headache had returned.
This time, there was no gunshot; only Mu Yichuan's words echoed repeatedly.
The mountains and rivers are beautiful, the people are beautiful…
"Are you alright?" The old man's pupils contracted as he reached out to support the swaying Xin Yu. "What happened?"
She was perfectly fine just now?
"The mountains and rivers are beautiful, the people are beautiful!" Xin Yu closed her eyes, as if she could see the pain flashing in her head, and the figure behind that pain, tall and upright, brimming with youthful energy, "Ayu is beautiful!"
No!
Xin Yu tried to stop the voice in her head…
Why do these words sound so familiar? It's as if someone has said them to her before?
Who is it? Is it… Liu Shuihan?