eurekapd Chapter 533: My painting is finished too.
Chapter 533: My painting is finished too.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, lifting the hem of Fang Xiaoxiao's clothes. She subconsciously touched a worn-out sketchbook that she always kept in her arms. She had obtained it by chance when she was a child. It contained some novel paintings that she had never seen before. Although the paper was yellowed and the edges were worn, she had always treasured it.
In her spare time, she would often open it, stare at the paintings inside, and dream that one day she could create works like those.
However, due to the trivialities of life, she forgot about the sketchbook in a corner until she decided to participate in this competition. She then remembered it again and, as if by some strange twist of fate, brought it with her.
Meanwhile, while the sycophantic scholar was painting, he inadvertently revealed a piece of paper hidden in his sleeve. It seemed to contain some painting techniques and key points, and the handwriting was crooked, as if it had been written in a hurry.
When he realized someone had noticed, he quickly stuffed the note back in his hand, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.
In a corner of the crowd, a mysterious old man was quietly observing everything. He wore a black mask, revealing only a pair of deep eyes with an unfathomable look in them.
He held a cane in his hand, the top of which was carved with a lifelike phoenix. In the dim light, the phoenix seemed ready to take flight at any moment.
He nodded slightly from time to time, seemingly making some kind of judgment on Fang Xiaoxiao's performance.
Fang Xiaoxiao took a deep breath. She knew that the outcome of this competition was not only about winning or losing, but also about her dignity and her long-standing perseverance.
She glanced at the charcoal in her hand, then touched the sketchbook in her arms, silently making a decision in her heart. A confident smile appeared on her lips...
Fang Xiaoxiao glanced around at the malicious gazes, her eyes resolute, before fixing her gaze on Princess Li Wan'er.
She gently patted Li Wan'er's hand and said softly, "Wan'er, would you please be my model for a moment?"
Li Wan'er was slightly taken aback. Looking at Fang Xiaoxiao's firm and confident eyes, her worries instantly dissipated. She nodded vigorously and walked to the center of the field.
Fang Xiaoxiao held a piece of charcoal in her hand, stood in front of the Xuan paper, and squinted slightly as she carefully examined Li Wan'er's appearance.
The next moment, she began to write and draw on the rice paper.
Her hands moved like nimble butterflies, swiftly across the rice paper. The charcoal rubbed against the paper, making a soft, rustling sound. The speed was astonishing; those around her stared wide-eyed in disbelief, whispering amongst themselves.
"What is she doing? Drawing so fast, she must be just going through the motions."
"I think she's just given up. She can't win anyway, so she'll just draw something to get it over with."
The murmurs of the crowd rose and fell, shooting at Fang Xiaoxiao like cold arrows, but she paid no attention to them, completely absorbed in her creation.
Time passed second by second, and an hour was over in the blink of an eye.
The sycophantic scholar put down his paintbrush with satisfaction, a smug smile spreading across his face.
He stepped back a few paces, admiring his own painting. It was a vibrant and colorful masterpiece, depicting Liu Ruyan dressed in gorgeous attire, her posture elegant and lifelike, as if she would step out of the painting at any moment.
Liu Ruyan leaned closer, looking at herself in the painting, her eyes sparkling with surprise. She couldn't help but clap her hands and exclaim, "Wonderful! It's so lifelike, it's practically a drawing! You truly have a talent for painting!"
People gathered around and praised the scholar's paintings.
"The painting skills are absolutely amazing! It's truly a meticulously crafted work."
"Yes, the use of color and the handling of details are absolutely perfect!"
Just as everyone was immersed in admiring the painting by the sycophantic scholar, Fang Xiaoxiao also stopped what she was doing. She let out a long sigh and put down the charcoal block in her hand.
With a confident smile on her face and her eyes sparkling, she slowly said, "My painting is finished too."
After Fang Xiaoxiao finished her sketch, everyone reacted in different ways, creating a lively and bustling scene.
First, the scholars who had previously mocked Fang Xiaoxiao were now filled with shock and disbelief.
Just moments ago they were mocking Fang Xiaoxiao, but now their eyes were wide open and their mouths were agape, as if their jaws were about to drop.
They looked at each other, their eyes filled with astonishment. The sarcastic remarks they had prepared were now stuck in their throats, and they couldn't utter a single word.
Some scholars even rubbed their eyes, thinking they were seeing things and couldn't believe that the stunning sketch in front of them was drawn by Fang Xiaoxiao, whom they had just thought had no chance of winning.
The sycophantic scholar's face turned deathly pale instantly, and his hands trembled involuntarily as he looked at Fang Xiaoxiao's painting, his heart filled with resentment and anger.
He thought victory was assured, but Fang Xiaoxiao has now thoroughly humiliated him.
His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something in rebuttal, but he couldn't find the right words. He could only stand there, like a deflated balloon.
Liu Ruyan's expression was even more interesting. Her face first showed jealousy, and then it turned into anger.
Biting his lip, his eyes flashed with a fierce light as he glared at Fang Xiaoxiao's painting, as if he wanted to burn it with his gaze.
She stamped her foot and shrieked, "That's impossible! She must have used some underhanded methods!"
However, her words did not gain much recognition. Those around her were stunned by Fang Xiaoxiao's paintings and were immersed in amazement.