After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 272 Don’t Tell Me She Also Registered for the Calligraphy and Painting -

Chapter 272: Chapter 272 Don’t Tell Me She Also Registered for the Calligraphy and Painting Chapter

The film set is always noisy, especially in this hot weather, making it hard for people not to feel restless.

But there was one place that was an exception.

The three-legged incense burner emanated the cool aroma of mint, and the emperor sat relaxed in front of the large desk.

Xu Ling’an snagged the job of grinding ink on the side, watching as Jiang Lingxi leisurely spread the xuan paper on the desk, carefully placed the paperweight on it, and then picked up a sheep-hair brush of appropriate thickness suitable for painting, plucking out stray hairs from the tip.

Finally unable to resist asking, "Sister, what are you going to paint?"

Jiang Lingxi glanced up at her, teasing with a smile, "You’ll know in a moment. The ink is just right, An’an, you can stop now."

Xu Ling’an quickly picked up the ink stick, wiped off the water stains with a blotting cloth, and stood quietly to the side, watching as the sheep-hair brush absorbed the ink and then fell onto the xuan paper.

The surroundings were noisy, but at this moment, she felt all those clamorous sounds were blocked outside this small desk area, her mood unprecedentedly peaceful.

It wasn’t until later that she realized this was a mood only inadvertently created while painting.

Wei Xiao sat in front of the monitor, watching the two figures not far away that stood in stark contrast to the surrounding chaos, hesitated but didn’t go over to disturb them.

Instead, he gestured to a member of the camera crew and whispered a few instructions.

Soon, a camera that hadn’t been dismantled quietly began filming again, focusing on Jiang Lingxi painting and the desk in front of her.

Having filmed these past few days, Jiang Lingxi had developed some sense of the camera.

Almost as soon as the camera turned towards her, she noticed, but her brush continued to move across the xuan paper.

Half an hour, neither too long nor too short, just as a member of the props team appeared again, Jiang Lingxi happened to stop her brush.

She moved the paperweight aside and picked up the freshly completed painting.

The hot weather made the ink dry quickly.

After the staff tidied up the writing implements on the desk, they glanced at the painting in Jiang Lingxi’s hands, their eyes lighting up, "Ms. Jiang’s painting of this animal is so vivid!"

"Thank you."

Unable to resist taking a few more looks, the staff reluctantly left.

It would be great to take a photo, but they didn’t dare to ask.

Standing a few steps away, the staff dared only to take a look, but Xu Ling’an had no such scruples, walking straight up to her sister and peering over her shoulder.

"Is this the Cat Goose War?"

"Yes." Jiang Lingxi nodded and smiled at Xu Ling’an, "I was just wondering what to name this painting, and you came up with it perfectly."

Xu Ling’an: "...Isn’t this name a bit too simple?"

She really just blurted it out.

"The content of the painting is simple, so isn’t a simple name just right?"

Jiang Lingxi beckoned to Lu Zhengzheng, who was already squatting nearby, took a marker, wrote her name and the painting’s title on the back corner of the xuan paper, rolled it up, and handed it to Lu Zhengzheng, "Here’s a temporary task for you. Take the painting to the Imperial City TV’s ’Inheritance’ program team. Hire a cab, and I’ll reimburse you when you return."

Lu Zhengzheng carefully received the painting, her expression solemn, "I’ll ensure it’s completed smoothly!"

Jiang Lingxi patted her shoulder, "Go on."

Xu Ling’an watched as Lu Zhengzheng hurriedly departed, thinking of that lifelike ink painting just named, "Sister’s painting will surely stand out."

"You really have confidence in me."

"Doesn’t sister have confidence in herself?"

"Well, I do have some."

After all, she had once put in extra effort, even in the midst of busyness, to avoid being overshadowed in front of someone.

*

Three and a half pairs of eyes, hundreds of works of varying styles and levels.

It’s called three and a half because, among the four people evaluating the works in the room, although Old Shi had the ability to appreciate the works, he was not a special judge for the Calligraphy and Painting Chapter, and so only had the right to express his opinion, not to decide which works were selected, thus counting as half.

Li Wanxuan had already put on her reading glasses, reluctantly closing her eyes to rest for a while on her husband’s reminder, but within five minutes opened them again, "How many works are left to see?"

"There are more than ten physical submissions left, and then over twenty electronic ones," one of the judges replied cautiously, "Mr. Li, Old Shi, it’s almost noon. How about we finish watching these after lunch?"

Old Shi nodded along, "I agree."

He also felt for his wife’s eyes, they hadn’t been this tired in a long time!

Don’t think there are only two other judges aside from his wife, to him, these two seemed to lack any opinion of their own.

When Wanxuan said it was good, they echoed good; when Wanxuan said no, they shook their heads along.

So now, it’s only his Wanxuan who was exhausted, insisting on seeing every piece properly!

The two being secretly complained about: it’s not that they didn’t want to speak up, it’s just that, in terms of calligraphy and painting appreciation ability, they simply couldn’t compare to Mr. Li!

Having witnessed Mr. Li’s outburst at the program director before, they dared even less to say anything now.

Unexpectedly, Li Wanxuan herself shook her head, "No rush, let’s finish the remaining ten or so pieces before having lunch."

Old Shi: "..."

He glanced at the two onlookers with a glare, "What are you looking at me for, continue looking at the works!"

Even though he had to listen to Mr. Li at home, outside, he still had to comply!

After spending over half an hour viewing the remaining pieces, the four-person group exited the room.

"Why don’t we eat at Bamboo Fence near the TV station, my treat," one suggested.

Li Wanxuan looked puzzled at her husband, "I heard you mention there’s a cafeteria here at the TV station with good food."

"Ah yes, it’s on the second floor."

"Then let’s eat at the cafeteria, the weather’s so hot, no need to go out and back."

The one who proposed eating out awkwardly smiled, "That’s good too."

As it was lunchtime, the cafeteria served ready-made food, and the four discreetly grabbed their meals and ate, leaving without drawing any attention.

Reaching the elevator, as the door opened, Li Wanxuan’s gaze fell on the young girl in the corner.

Or more precisely, the roll of xuan paper in her hands.

Lu Zhengzheng felt uncomfortable under the stern gaze, subconsciously holding her breath and further shrinking back into the corner.

She feared messing up Lingxi’s work, all the way, she’d been holding it with sun-blocking gloves on.

Li Wanxuan, sensing the girl’s caution, smiled wryly and took the initiative to ask, "Little girl, is what you’re holding a submission for ’Inheritance of the World· Calligraphy and Painting’?"

Lu Zhengzheng dared to look up then, and seeing the elderly person standing at the elevator doors, her eyes, visible above the sun-blocking mask, widened in a gasp, "Old Shi!"

Old Shi, in the midst of pressing the elevator’s close button, turned at the sound, spotting Lu Zhengzheng whose face was flushed from the heat after taking off her mask, furrowed his eyebrows and thought for a moment before raising his bushy eyebrows, "I remember now, you’re the young assistant by Jiang’s side, called Zhengzheng right? How come you’re here alone at midday, where’s Jiang, didn’t she come?"

Seeing a familiar face, Lu Zhengzheng relaxed, "Old Shi, Sister Lingxi is still filming on set and couldn’t come, so I came to deliver her submission work."

"Submission? Work?" Old Shi’s gaze settled on the roll of xuan paper in Lu Zhengzheng’s hands, pausing before saying, "Don’t tell me Jiang also signed up for ’Inheritance’s Calligraphy and Painting Chapter!"

He was an old man, couldn’t afford such surprises!