Chapter 93: 091 Disgraced!【4 updates】
[And she still called these characters trash? Can’t understand.]
[To the one in front, you just don’t get it, huh? I study painting at the art academy, and every time I look back at my old paintings, I think they are trash.]
[Me too, me too, it’s unbearable to even look at them, wondering how I could have painted something so ugly.]
[Absolutely amazing, I’m in love with this classmate, didn’t you say the calligraphy wasn’t written by me? There you go calling the calligraphy you think is good trash, and then I write another one on the spot to slap your face, how painful is that?]
[Ouch ouch ouch, Lin Xi’s face has turned blue.]
Lin Xi became famous at a young age, full of pride.
He began his career early, and his teacher is a calligraphy master of the same generation as Sheng Qingtang.
This was the first time he had been scolded by Sheng Qingtang and criticized by so many others.
All just because of a “cheating” incident.
Lin Xi wasn’t a fool; he naturally thought of something.
Glancing around, his gaze fell upon Zhong Zhiwan sitting in the audience.
His eyes were extremely cold.
Zhong Zhiwan hurriedly avoided Lin Xi’s gaze, her face grew even paler, and she began to tremble.
The head of the Literature and Art Department noticed her discomfort and asked with concern, “Zhiwan, are you okay?”
Zhong Zhiwan forced a smile, “I’m fine.”
She pinched her palm and looked towards the stage.
Sheng Qingtang had a very high status in the art world, even Old Master Zhong couldn’t invite him.
Yet, Ying Zijin, a person like her, could actually know Sheng Qingtang?
And even invited Sheng Qingtang to appraise her calligraphy?
What a joke.
She had been learning calligraphy for fourteen years, and in the eyes of calligraphers, she was just getting started.
Ying Zijin who grew up in Qingshui County, without even having a teacher, could write such good calligraphy.
It was just too unfair.
Zhong Zhiwan released her hand and gripped her school uniform tighter, restless in her seat.
But, as the Student Council president, she couldn’t leave.
She could only stay put, enduring the torment of jealousy within her heart.
Wei Hou wasn’t faring any better than Zhong Zhiwan.
The barrage of questioning from Sheng Qingtang caught him off guard, leaving him with no room to salvage the situation.
Especially since he had publicly admitted the calligraphy was his, the evidence was simply a fatal blow.
“Wei Hou, oh Wei Hou, I didn’t expect that you would actually steal from little Ying’s work,” Sheng Qingtang grew even angrier. “And you even stamped your own seal over it, who do you think you are?”
“I didn’t steal it!” Wei Hou’s face turned beet red as he argued, “Someone gave it to me.”
The barrage mocked on Sheng Qingtang’s behalf.
[Give up, someone gives it to you, and you just take it, thinking your face is that big?]
[Let’s investigate this Wei Hou and his students, I guess there’s quite a few incidents.]
[Right, where are the few who were hyping up Wei Hou earlier? Too ashamed to show up now? Wei Hou isn’t just anyone, he’s a shameless piece of trash.]
[Is Wei Hou as amazing as this female high school student? Have you keyboard warriors seen the calligraphy she wrote?]
“Get out!” Sheng Qingtang didn’t want to hear another word from Wei Hou, “Stop disturbing the city’s appearances here.”
Two staff members again helped Wei Hou down.
“The rest of you, continue,” Sheng Qingtang still fuming, “I’m going to grab a melon to cool off.”
The Chairman of the Shanghai Art Association quickly said, “I’ll take you to the resting area.”
But just a few steps away, Sheng Qingtang stormed back, furious again: “This piece of calligraphy, I’m taking it, no one else think of touching it.”
Audience: “…”
They wouldn’t dare to touch it anyway.
Ying Zijin yawned and turned to go back to her seat.
Having just sat down, she looked up to see Xiu Yu and a group of his lackeys standing at a respectful distance away.
“…”
With a slight raise of her eyebrows and a soft voice tinged with amusement, Ying Zijin said, “Don’t be afraid.”
“Afraid, very afraid,” Xiu Yu wrapped his school uniform tighter, “Daddy Ying, you are seriously fierce, I can’t help but admire you.”
It has to be said, her mental fortitude was really strong.
Moreover, she even suspected that Daddy Ying had set a trap specifically, waiting for someone to fall into it.
And then Wei Hou had done exactly that.
“So, that piece of calligraphy was also yours?” Jiang Ran turned his head. “How did it end up in Wei Hou’s hands?”
Ying Zijin put on her baseball cap again, covering half her face and exposing only her chin: “Who knows.”
“We need to investigate this thoroughly,” Jiang Ran snorted coldly, “I would like to see—”
Xiu Yu picked up where he left off: “Who has dared to mess with our Daddy.”
Jiang Ran: “…”
God damn ‘our Daddy.’
It’s as if he had married into the family.
**
After the commotion, the opening ceremony finally began.
Outside the school gates, Zhong Manhua also arrived.
She got out of the car, still so angry she was dizzy, nearly bumping into a tree.
It was only the quick reflexes of the butler that saved her: “Madam, be careful.”
Zhong Manhua took a moment to compose herself: “When does the opening ceremony end?”
She wouldn’t go in at this time, letting others know she is Ying Zijin’s mother.
“If it starts at nine, it should be over by ten-thirty.” The butler glanced at his watch, “It’s half past nine now, Madam, would you like to sit in the coffee shop next door for a while?”
“Let’s go.” Zhong Manhua nodded.
She planned to wait in the coffee shop until the opening ceremony ended, then go in and drag Ying Zijin out.
Cheating!
Zhong Manhua’s expression was ugly.
Her own daughter, born to her, had done such a despicable thing.
How would the noble ladies of the social elite look at her?
“Madam Ying.”
A voice came from ahead, calling her.
Zhong Manhua’s steps faltered, and her first instinct was to hide.
But it was too late.
A noble lady approached her, very surprised: “Madam Ying, it really is you.”
Zhong Manhua stiffened for a moment and had no choice but to respond, “What a coincidence.”
“Madam Ying probably doesn’t remember me.” The noble lady didn’t mind and was very affectionate, “I saw Madam Ying at the New Year’s banquet.”
Zhong Manhua’s expression was cool.
Those she couldn’t remember were families she looked down upon.
She lost interest in exchanging pleasantries with the noble lady and wished to leave.
Just then, the noble lady said, “Madam Ying, you really are impressive. I didn’t expect that your foster daughter is also so outstanding, it’s all thanks to your good teaching.”
Zhong Manhua was shocked, doubting she had heard correctly, “What did you say?”
She had heard such comments plenty of times.
After all, Xiao Xuan made her proud, and everyone she knew would praise her.
But Ying Zijin?
It was good enough if she didn’t cause trouble, let alone be outstanding?
“Madam Ying, you don’t know?” The noble lady was surprised, “Isn’t Miss Zijin your foster daughter? Just now, I was watching the live broadcast, and she… ”
“I’m sorry, I’m in a hurry.” Zhong Manhua cut her off, “I have to go.”
After that, she hurried away, not even entering the coffee shop, but getting into a car.
She also closed the car door with an attitude that kept others at bay.
The noble lady’s eagerness resulted in loneliness, leaving her complexion somewhat unattractive.
“A casual compliment about your teaching, and you actually start to believe it, feeling proud for what…”
The noble lady huffed coldly and left.
**
Inside the lounge.
At four in the afternoon, the list of winners would be posted on the bulletin board.
The next day, trophies and prize money would be awarded throughout the school.
“President Sheng, since you’re here, why don’t you start off the award ceremony tomorrow?” The Chairman of the Shanghai Art Association said respectfully, “Apart from the many students with great talent, you can also see if there is anyone you take a liking to.”
“No, I won’t come, I don’t have time,” Sheng Qingtang refused without hesitation, “I have to go back to gardening.”
“…”
The Chairman of the Shanghai Art Association didn’t know what to say, so he could only speak of another matter, “About the thing with Master Wei Hou…”
“This matter isn’t over!” Sheng Qingtang’s anger flared again, “I won’t be merciful. Whoever dares to do it must dare to face the consequences.”
The Chairman of the Shanghai Art Association understood.
The stance of Sheng Qingtang directly determined the stance of the Hua Country Calligraphers Association.
The future for Wei Hou was over.
After some thought, the Chairman of the Shanghai Art Association probed, “President Sheng, do you want to take that student, Ying Zijin, as your disciple?”
“What?” Sheng Qingtang was shocked, “Do you actually think I’m fit to be her teacher?”
The Chairman of the Shanghai Art Association: “…”
There was no need for that.
“Hurry up, get out,” Sheng Qingtang shooed the man impatiently, “I haven’t finished my melon yet.”
The Chairman of the Shanghai Art Association quickly made himself scarce.
**
Elsewhere.
Several masters of the art world and the teachers of the art group were divided into several teams, evaluating the awards for each category.
The calligraphy team didn’t even need to look, the calligraphy that even Sheng Qingtang had praised, who else could the first-class award go to if not Ying Zijin?
“What a pity,” an art teacher picked up a piece of calligraphy, “Zhong Zhiwan’s writing is also quite good. If Ying Zijin wasn’t here this time, this first-class award would have definitely been hers.”
“How can they be compared?” another art teacher said, “Zhong Zhiwan’s writing is indeed not bad, but it’s only at an entry level, far inferior to Lin Xi, let alone compared to Ying Zijin.”
Who would have thought that Ying Zijin, at such a young age, could write such excellent calligraphy.
Even Sheng Qingtang was impressed; truly a rare talent.
A while later, the head of the art group entered the room.
He first courteously greeted the art masters, before asking, “Is the list of winners out yet?”
“It’s out,” the teachers hesitated for a moment, “this year’s list is a bit unusual.”
“What’s unusual?” the head of the art group took the list, starting from the first page.
His eyes froze instantly.
Calligraphy, First-class Award (1 person): Ying Zijin, Second Year Class 19
Traditional Chinese Painting, First-class Award (1 person): Ying Zijin, Second Year Class 19
Printmaking, First-class Award (1 person): Ying Zijin, Second Year Class 19
Oil Painting, First-class Award (1 person): Ying Zijin, Second Year Class 19