Chapter 78

With just a few words, Feng Shao straightened out the chaos, which couldn't help but make one mention that this guy indeed had the mind of a politician, leaving the businesswoman, Miss Shangguan, completely stunned.

"Can you help me with something?" Shangguan Ruomeng asked.

Feng Shao reached out and took Shangguan Ruomeng's small hand, causing her to tense up immediately...

She instinctively tried to pull away but was somewhat reluctant.

But with everyone watching, how could she possibly do that?

This was the first time she had held a man's hand, and it felt very comfortable, yet also incredibly embarrassing...

"Follow me!" Feng Jueyu said, turning to the crowd: "Since Lord Xi's painting is of a beauty, I will also take a turn and paint a beauty. What do you all think?"

At this question, the crowd immediately burst into applause...

Looking at Feng Jueyu's crystal-clear eyes, Shangguan Ruomeng suddenly understood: It was just as she thought, she had overthought it. This troublemaker, why did he suddenly act so unexpectedly?

Following Feng Jueyu to a small pavilion, a spot had already been cleared for them. Feng Jueyu asked Shangguan Ruomeng to sit down and then said, "Just sit there, any pose will do, it will be quick..."

Shangguan Ruomeng nodded and sat down properly, but felt uncomfortable, fidgeting and feeling uneasy. Finally, she relaxed and placed one hand on the stone table and the other on her lap, smiling at Feng Jueyu with a tender gaze...

"Good, just like that, don't move..."

Seeing this, Feng Jueyu immediately said, not for any other reason, but because the pose was very natural...

Feng Jueyu took out a piece of paper, walked a distance away, and came to the Eight Treasures Cloud Locust Tree. He spread out the paper and had someone bring a thick, hard pad to lay down, then sat on the ground...

The crowd watched in amazement, and Wang Chongde couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Feng, you're not using ink and brush?"

Feng Jueyu leaned against the Eight Treasures Cloud Locust Tree and smiled, "Lord Wang, I don't know how to paint, just a piece of charcoal will do. If it's not good, please don't be offended."

Shangguan Lingyun outside was stunned. This guy was too clever, first saying he didn't know how to paint, so even if it was ugly, no one could say anything. And using charcoal, who could paint with charcoal?

Wang Chongde, however, didn't think Feng Jueyu was putting on an act. Instead, he admired his straightforwardness and honesty.

"Charcoal? Young Master Feng is truly innovative. Let's wait and see..."

Outside the crowd, Shangguan Lingyun poked Shangguan Ruofan with his thick, iron-like fingers, "Have you ever seen him paint? With charcoal."

"No," Shangguan Ruodan replied without taking her eyes off the scene.

"Damn, what have you seen then?"

"I've seen..." Shangguan Ruofan almost blurted out "practicing swordsmanship," but halfway through, she noticed her grandfather's gaze and turned to see Shangguan Lingyun staring at her. She quickly covered her mouth and thought for a moment before saying, "I've seen him eat osmanthus cake."

Shangguan Lingyun was so angry his nose was twisted, and he cursed, "Damn, you little monkey."

Under the cloud locust tree, the branches swayed, and the atmosphere around the small pavilion gradually quieted down. The faint fragrance of purple orchids filled the garden, and a few petals drifted down from the branches...

There was no sound in the courtyard, only the rustling of leaves, and the rustling of the pointed charcoal in Feng Jueyu's hand...

Stroke by stroke, he sketched out a youthful and beautiful appearance...

Line by line, he captured a charming and graceful figure...

The rustling sound continued, and a clear, elegant, and charming image emerged on the paper, revealing the strength beneath the pure appearance and the tenderness in the determined eyes, all perfectly depicted...

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Shangguan Ruomeng's portrait was perfectly completed. The painting had no pavilion, no tree, no flower, no wind, no scenery at all, but it highlighted Shangguan Ruomeng's beautiful and dignified appearance.

The brushwork in the painting was extremely simple, lacking the depth of ink wash painting, but precisely because of this, the person in the painting appeared more real and complete than any heavily detailed work, and anyone who saw it would recognize Shangguan Ruomeng...

"Finished, finished, it's so lifelike, really, really lifelike, the painting is so good..."

"Masterpiece, masterpiece, a peak work, unparalleled..."

A few old connoisseurs couldn't resist crowding behind Feng Jueyu. They wanted to see if this young man had the skills he boasted about. When they saw the painting, they were stunned.

The brushwork, which couldn't even be called brushwork, captured every angle, every side, and even the rough strokes and embellishments at the bottom, forming a perfect three-dimensional image...

Amazing!

Hearing the almost divine praise from the old connoisseurs, everyone couldn't resist gathering around, and when they saw the painting, they all drew in a sharp breath.

"Too lifelike... this is too lifelike..."

"Such a beautiful painting, such a beautiful person, so vivid, really, really vivid..."

Wang Chongde, excited, snatched the painting and examined it repeatedly, exclaiming, "Good, really good, very good, too good, unbelievable, this painting is made with just a piece of charcoal, amazing, truly amazing..."

Xu Zixiong, Ma Yuanru, Shang Gongjin, Chen Hongjie, and even Xi Ruiyun all crowded over. They didn't believe Feng Jueyu's painting could be this good, even the great painter Lord Wang praised it...

But when they saw Shangguan Ruomeng vividly depicted on the paper, they knew Xi Ruiyun had lost, completely and utterly...

There was no room for argument; this painting not only defeated Xi Ruiyun's but also surpassed the best works of all contemporary painters...

No painting could match the one in Feng Jueyu's hands...

Shangguan Lingyun, Mu Hongtu, and Xu Liefeng pushed their way through. They didn't need to get too close; just a glance was enough to shock them.

"Too lifelike... it's like a mold was used..." The three exchanged glances, rubbed their eyes, and looked toward the small pavilion.

At this moment, everyone's eyes were either on the paper or on Shangguan Ruomeng.

Shangguan Ruomeng hadn't moved, even when everyone gathered around. She didn't dare to move, but hearing the continuous praise and the almost envious looks, she finally couldn't resist standing up...

The crowd courteously made a path for Shangguan Ruomeng to walk in, approach Feng Jueyu, and take the painting from Wang Chongde to examine it closely.

Upon seeing it, Shangguan Ruomeng thought she was dreaming, covering her mouth in shock, and then looked at Feng Jueyu with eyes almost brimming with tears...

"This is me..."

"Yes, this is you, do you like it?"

"I like it..."

"As long as you like it." Saying this, Feng Jueyu rubbed the black ash off his hands, but it was hard to clean, so he simply bowed and said, "Gentlemen, please give your comments."

"Do we need to comment?" everyone thought in unison.

Wang Chongde laughed and said, "Young Master Feng, how can we comment on such a painting?" In other words, this painting was the best of the best, unparalleled, and didn't need any comments.

Everyone laughed...

"Does that mean it's good?" Feng Jueyu joked, then patted his chest and said, "That's good, that's good, I was afraid of embarrassing myself."

"This... ha ha..."

Feeling Feng Jueyu's humor, everyone laughed, and the tense atmosphere gradually turned joyful.

Wang Chongde: "Since that's the case, the winner is clear..."

Before he could finish, Feng Jueyu interjected, "Lord Wang, poetry, calligraphy, and painting are all for leisure, why do we need to determine a winner? As long as it's pleasing to the eye, the purpose is achieved, isn't it?"

"Oh? Uh, right, right, ha ha." Wang Chongde was momentarily stunned but then laughed. The more the old connoisseurs looked at Feng Jueyu, the more they liked him, and seeing the desperate and helpless Xi Ruiyun, they sighed, "Comparing people can be deadly, there's no comparison."

Wang Chongde continued, "Young Master Feng, may I ask, what is the technique used in this painting..."

"Technique, you say?"

Everyone looked at him...

Feng Jueyu said, "It's a story from my childhood. When I was very young, I once met a woodcutter in the mountains of my hometown. He couldn't afford a brush, so he used charcoal to draw on the ground. Over time, he mastered this unique skill. I was young and found it interesting, so I asked him to teach me. He taught me, and this technique is called 'sketching,' which is very good for portraits..."

"Sketching?" Everyone noted this term.

In fact, Feng Jueyu's sketching was just a bit more advanced than beginner level. In the past, he often disguised himself as a photography enthusiast or a painter to scout locations and observe targets, which helped him choose the right time and method to act. Over time, he became proficient, though he had only taken a few professional courses.

Today, he didn't use it to show off; if not for venting his anger, he wouldn't have bothered to paint.

As for the origin of sketching, it was a fabrication, and there was no way to verify it. Believe it or not, it was up to them.

Wang Chongde was shocked and then nodded in admiration, "The world is vast, and there are many things we don't know. I never imagined such a talented person could be found in a small mountain village. Young Master Feng, may I ask, can I have this painting?"

"Of course not..." Feng Jueyu casually refused.

Everyone, who had been happy to see Feng Jueyu's skills, now looked slightly disappointed.

Wang Chongde was a high-ranking official with a good reputation in the literary world. For him to ask for your painting was a great honor. Refusing so bluntly and directly was quite disrespectful.

Before anyone could ask why, Feng Jueyu quickly added, "Lord Wang, this painting is naturally for Miss Shangguan. If you like it, I can paint another one for you another day, how about that?"

"Uh, this..." Wang Chongde was instantly embarrassed and said, "Ah, I was too hasty. Young Master Feng is right; a painting should be given to the one who appreciates it. This painting should belong to Miss Shangguan..."

Shangguan Ruomeng, listening, felt a sweet sensation, hugging the painting and not wanting to let go. This fool, when did he learn to win my heart like this? But the painting really is beautiful...

Outside the crowd, Mu Hongtu blinked his big eyes and asked Shangguan Lingyun, "Old Shangguan, have you set a wedding date for them?"

Shangguan Lingyun: "In half a year, when she turns eighteen, what's the problem?"

Mu Hongtu: "Start preparing, the two kids are eager."

"Damn, right, right, right, why didn't I think of that? Should we change the date to tomorrow..."

Mu Hongtu: "..."

Just as everyone was enthusiastically discussing the "sketching" technique, a deep, elderly voice came from the inner hall, "I see everyone is here."