Chapter 396: Last Round of the Competition; An Accident Happened
Aisha could not stay calm when she heard about Zi Yi. Chu Xian went on and told her about Zi Yi heading to Country X to participate in the Painting and Calligraphy Competition. Aisha simply collapsed from the news.
She instantly burst into tears. “Is what you say the truth? Brother Lu really fell in love with that woman named Zi Yi?”
“That’s right.”
Chu Xiang took out her phone and said, “Look, the International Painting and Calligraphy Competition is broadcasted live this time around and she’s Zi Yi.”
Aisha held her chest and her lips trembled. It was only after a long time did she speak. “She’s so beautiful. Do I really have no chance anymore?”
“Not necessarily so. You are of nobler birth than her and you do not have a bad past record. The marriages of the males in the Lu Family are all decided by Grandfather Lu. As long as you can get Grandfather Lu to agree on having Second Brother Lu marry you, he won’t be able to object.”
“But… as to whether you can capture Second Brother Lu’s heart back from Zi Yi’s hands… that would depend on if you have that capability to do so.”
Chu Xiang did not heed the First Madam’s intention to make Aisha give up immediately. She felt that her brother would have a better chance if Aisha were to hit against a brick wall.
Even though Aisha felt that it was not good to force Lu Jingye, she had loved Lu Jingye for so many years and even in her dreams, she wished to become his wife. Therefore, it wouldn’t be too much for her to use some underhanded means.
…
Zi Yi did now know what had happened in the capital.
The competition had already started and the five contestants were all seated before their easels.
The audience’s eyes were all on Zi Yi’s canvas and they watched her draw the outline of her painting.
Just as she drew a few lines, the netizens started mocking her.
“It’s similar to other people’s work. Based on her outline, I can’t see how shocking her painting would be.”
“Arrogant people would always get slapped in their faces. I find it funny when I think back to her last words. She’s merely the Dou Family’s granddaughter and Miss Dou hadn’t said anything so what rights did she have to speak?”
“That’s right, I don’t believe she can still win first place in the last round.”
“It’s possible that it’s because she’s pretty, so she has been praised up to the skies by other people.”
“Waiting to see Zi Yi flop.”
…
A wave of comments waiting for Zi Yi to get her face slapped, surfaced on the internet. The members of China’s Painting and Calligraphy Association were all furious as they saw the comments.
In particular, Elder Bai simply paced back and forth and constantly stomped his feet. “These people are simply outrageous. Who said that Zi Yi only has that face of hers! Clearly, besides that face, she is also a once-in-a-century genius!”
Elder Zhu then said, “Why don’t we announce the news that Zi Yi is a member of China’s Painting and Calligraphy Association?”
“That’s right. We might as well announce it immediately and we’ll see what else these people dare to say!”
The group of painting masters agreed in succession.
On the contrary, Elder Lu calmed down. He thought of something and his eyes shone. “We’ll definitely have to announce it, but not right now. We’ll announce it after Yiyi finishes painting. We’ll like to see if these people dare to say anything else afterwards.”
“That’s right, it’s a good idea.”
…
Around two hours or so into the competition, the gazes who had been scattered among the five contestants were all attracted by Zi Yi’s painting. Those netizens who were badmouthing her had also lost their motivation.
Zi Yi had finished drawing the outline and what was left was to color it in. Just as everyone was holding back their breaths and anxious to see the effect after she added the color, Zi Yi suddenly put down her pencil and said, “I’m hungry. I’ll draw after lunch.”
Having said that, she headed to one side.
Everyone blew up.
“How can she have lunch at this time? Can’t she eat later?”
“Only the adding of the color is left. Ahhhh~ why am I so excited? Just looking at those outlines she drew has already made my blood boil. I honestly wish that I can immediately see what the finished painting looks like.”
Accidents would always happen unexpectedly.
As soon as Zi Yi left the competition venue, a cat had suddenly ran over from the side.
Zi Yi heard its purring sounds and turned around to look at it.
However, that cat had directly run towards her painting and knocked over her palette. Its feet had even stepped on her painting.
Sounds of gasping could be heard from within the venue.
Zi Yi calmly looked at a few of the staff hastily catching the cat and bringing it away. The two Chairmen walked over and questioned, “What’s going on, why did a cat get into the art museum?”
“Who was the one who brought the cat in?!”
The expressions of the two Chairmen were rather ugly and the others were also looking at the ruined painting.
Just then, Lu Jingye walked over to Zi Yi’s side and said to her softly with his eyebrows furrowed, “That cat successfully avoided all the surveillance cameras. There should be judges who colluded with outsiders to bring it inside.”
“No… that’s a mechanical cat.” Zi Yi looked to the side and said with certainty, “The mechanical cat is installed with a barrier that blocks all monitoring devices. Moreover, it can transform itself. It should have used another shape that would not incur the suspicion of others when it came in.”
Lu Jingye’s expression turned even more serious at her words.
The appearance of the mechanical cat was too unexpected.
However, the corner of Zi Yi’s lips curled up and she said, “To be able to make such a mechanical cat that is capable of transforming, that person can be considered… a genius. I’d like to see what else they are capable of.”
She then said to Lu Jingye, “The smallest circular ball in my bag, taking it out and releasing it will do. We’ll be able to locate the person when the time comes.”
“Okay.” Lu Jingye did not immediately leave. Instead, he asked, “What about your painting?”
“It doesn’t matter, it hasn’t destroyed the painting that much and I can save it.”
Lu Jingye left after feeling relieved.
Zi Yi headed to her easel.
All the cameras were on her and everyone thought that she would fly into a rage. Unexpectedly, her expression was still as cold as before.
The two Chairmen quickly made way for her when they saw Zi Yi walking over.
Country X’s Association Chairman asked anxiously, “Miss Zi, your painting was ruined. What are your plans?”
The International Association’s Chairman was also looking at her with concern.
Zi Yi reached out a finger and touched the painting. The footprint and paint splashed by the cat earlier were still wet. She then said, “It’s not a big issue. I’ll salvage it after I finish my lunch.”
She then turned around and left under everyone’s gazes.
For a second, everyone fell into silence before they exploded.
“The painting has been destroyed by the paint that was splashed onto it and yet, Zi Yi actually said it wasn’t a big problem?”
“How conceited is she? If she can really salvage the painting, I’ll stream myself drinking paint!”
“I think that she’s deliberately trying to attract attention. She said it wasn’t a big problem and yet, she didn’t salvage it at once. It’s obvious that she is unable to salvage the painting.”
Be it online or outside the competition venue, everyone felt that Zi Yi was pretending to put on a façade. Moreover, it was one of those obvious façades that would cause her to get slapped in the face.
Everyone waited for Zi Yi to return. Those who planned to get lunch decided to stay.
They would like to see how Zi Yi would do what she says.