Chapter 371: Face Slap
Dou Xiangling soon returned to her easel as well.
When she picked up her brush, Meng He, who was observing an antique piece on the other side, suddenly looked up at her. A dim glint flashed through his eyes and it then disappeared instantly. Shortly afterwards, he also made his way back to his easel.
Half an hour later, all the contestants had returned to their easels.
Those who could reach the finals were not easy opponents. Regardless of whether they had understood those antiques or not, the moment their brushes touched the canvas, the various antiques came to life one after another.
The camera had captured every detail as they painted.
All the spectators were carefully looking at their paintings. The majority of the contestants had fans of their own and the respective fans had shifted the broadcast to the painter they were rooting for.
Zi Yi was a newcomer in the circle and even though she had revealed her skills in M.Uni’s New Year event, there were not many people who knew of her.
Instead of her skills, everyone was looking at that beautiful face of hers and had ignored what she was painting.
Two hours later, Zi Yi suddenly stood up and announced, “I’m done.”
Everyone was stunned.
After a moment of silence, everyone’s gaze shifted to her canvas.
The painting was so lifelike as if the real antique had been placed on top of the canvas. It had stunned everyone.
The group of panel judges had gathered around her easel.
“This is the one and only painting I’ve ever seen that feels like it’s the real antique!”
“It’s so life-like. I feel like I have witnessed the culture and prosperity of that era.”
“It’s so similar that it’s simply exactly the same!”
…
The higher the judge’s evaluation of Zi Yi, the greater the pressure that the contestants felt.
Not to mention everyone was only basically half completed with their paintings.
Some of them started to get restless.
Meng He who was seated on one side had glanced in that direction and a fierce glint appeared in his eyes. He then shifted his gaze back to his easel and continued to paint.
He did not believe that with the preparations he had made in advance for the competition, he would not get first place.
The second one to complete the painting was Meng He.
When he stood up, he even checked out Dou Xiangling. When he saw that she was currently painting with full concentration, without being affected at all, the corner of his lips curved up indiscernibly.
Dou Xiangling, you’re sure to lose.
The third to finish the painting was Dou Xiangling.
At the end of the four hours, the judges started to give scores.
Without any surprise, Zi Yi got the highest score, while Dou Xiangling was the second and Meng He was the third.
During this round, ten contestants were eliminated.
Meng He could not accept such a result and started to question the judges loudly after they released the scores. “Impossible! How could I be the third?!”
Country X’s Chairman of the Painting and Calligraphy Association understood the contestants’ emotions and tried to calm him down. “Mr. Meng, the scores were unanimously decided by the judges and through online voting. If you haven’t done well this round, you can continue to work hard the following round.”
“Impossible!” Meng He repeated his words. He had obtained the content of the first round from Feiya and checked the historical background of the antiques in advance, which was why he could draw out the souls of the antiques.
Originally he was confident that his painting would be the best. Yet, he had been surpassed by the woman he always wanted to win against. This made him feel irritable to the extent that a type of explosive emotion surged forth in his chest.
Dou Xiangling looked at Meng He and said in a calm voice, “This is the result of all the judges’ selection. Meng He, I didn’t expect you to be so arrogant, to the extent that you’re unwilling to accept the reality.”
Meng He’s heart suddenly shook when he heard what she said.
He then looked at Dou Xiangling with those aggressive eyes of his, before he finally said, “Then we’ll see who can win the next round.”
Having said that, he shifted his gaze to Zi Yi. That gaze of his seemed as though he could pierce through her.
Zi Yi coldly looked in his direction and coldly said, “You can never win against me.”
Meng He’s hands clenched into fists and he sneered. “Then we’ll wait and see.”
He turned around and looked at the group of judges as he said, “I request for the audience voting to be revealed in the next round.”
The contestants were unable to see the audience voting and Meng He felt that the judges were being biased.
He then looked towards Dou Xiangling and thought about the Dou Family behind her. He felt that the Dou Family must have built a good relationship with the Painting and Calligraphy Association in advance.
Meng He’s request was not overboard and soon, his request was quickly agreed upon by the other contestants.
They were still immersed in the shock of being surpassed by Zi Yi.
She was clearly an unknown person so how could she possibly be more skilled than them, who were famous painters?”
The two Chairmen met gazes and discussed with the group of judges.
In the end, the Country X’s Association Chairman said, “Ok, during the competition, we will reveal the audience voting on the screen.”
When Meng He got the answer he wanted, he turned around and headed to the entrance.
When the group of reporters outside the museum saw that he was the first one to come out, they immediately surrounded him.
“Mr. Meng, you’ve obtained third place during the first round of the competition. Do you feel that this is not your true skill level?”
“Mr. Meng, what do you think of Zi Yi who won first place?”
“Mr. Meng, you and Miss Dou have been vying for first place ever since university. Now that you’ve lost to her in the first round, do you have anything you would like to say?”
…
With every question the reporters asked, Meng He’s expression sank slightly.
He tightened his fists and with a fierce glint in his eyes, he stared at those who were asking him questions.
The reporters were shocked by Meng He’s current expression, but soon they became even more excited.
Based on his reaction, it should be because he could not afford to lose.
“Mr. Meng, why are you looking at us like that? Could it be that you’re feeling upset after losing to two ladies?”
That question had directly detonated the violent fuse within Meng He. “You motherfuck-…”
“Meng He!”
A harsh voice sounded by his ears and shortly after, he saw Feiya coming over to his side swiftly with a group of bodyguards.
Feiya arrived beside him and pulled his hand to leave.
The group of bodyguards had quickly separated them from the excited reporters.
Feiya pulled Meng He into the car and said expressionlessly, “You were too impulsive… You merely lost the first round. You can just win the second and the third round.”
“What do you understand?” Meng He shouted at her and even his eyes were red.
He and Dou Xiangling joined the competition together and he must win against her!
Feiya stared at his expression and said, “I’ve contacted an internet army for the following two rounds. When the time comes, they will vote for you online. Rest assured, I guarantee that you’ll definitely emerge in the top three.”
Meng He immediately furrowed his brows at her words. His strong self-esteem made him dislike Feiya’s actions. “I don’t need an internet army. Moreover, I will get first place.”
Feiya used an extremely weak voice and analyzed the current situation for him. “Dou Xiangling is from the Dou Family and their students are all over the world. Many people should have yet to react in the first round, but there will definitely be more attention in the following rounds. When the time comes, do you think you’ll win against Dou Xiangling in the online audience voting?”
Speaking of this, she went silent for a few seconds before she added, “There’s someone backing that Zi Yi. That person wants her to win and we have no other options.”
Meng He’s first thought was that since Zi Yi had a backing, she must have cheated and he asked, “Who’s the person behind her?”