After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 308: Getting Straight to Writing

Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Getting Straight to Writing

As tables were laid out in front of the paintings the guests were to imitate, the screens in the judges’ observation room also lit up.

Li Wanxuan looked up at the environment on the screen and spoke with a smile before the PD could introduce, "Isn’t this at Nachu’s private painting and calligraphy museum?"

"Mr. Li, you have a keen eye," the PD quickly complimented, "Today’s guest recording location is indeed at Nachu’s private painting and calligraphy museum. There is also a challenge announced by the museum’s owner, Mr. Zhang, to imitate works on site."

"Imitation," Li Wanxuan said thoughtfully, looking at the guests who were preparing, "that indeed sounds like Teacher Zhang’s style."

"Teacher Zhang?"

Li Wanxuan gave a faint smile to the camera, "Teacher Zhang taught at the National Painting Institute for over thirty years, and I was one of his students in one of those years."

The people present suddenly showed a look of realization.

They hadn’t expected such a connection.

Li Wanxuan was already considered a highly esteemed veteran in the world of painting and calligraphy. For someone to be her teacher, the name Zhang Nachuan carried even more weight among those present.

Xu Qingmei quietly retracted her subtle gaze from the side. Even Li Wanxuan seemed to hold that gray-haired old man on the screen in high reverence, so she certainly couldn’t appear disrespectful.

Her gaze moved to the split screen, and the first thing she saw was that sky-blue figure that caught the eye, even when not standing at the forefront.

Her eyes couldn’t help but shift slightly to the side.

Initially, seeing Shen Yunqing again today, it didn’t seem strange to see them change outfits, as she herself changed outfits daily, never wearing the same clothes twice.

However, the other’s attire today also left her amazed.

Though a beauty looks good in anything, wearing the right style doubles the effect.

It made her feel even more determined.

Until she saw Jiang Lingxi on the split screen, also in a different outfit.

The sky-blue was calm and distant, and the clothes Shen Yunqing wore today, though not exactly sky-blue, had many similar elements.

Xu Qingmei couldn’t help but imagine the two standing together, briefly losing control of her expression.

Looking at the split screen again, she found that sky-blue figure particularly annoying.

Li Wanxuan’s slightly surprised voice came from the side: "Did the four of them choose the same painting to imitate?"

Only then did Xu Qingmei glance at Jing Huai in the same split screen as Jiang Lingxi and the other three. Stopping at Jing Huai’s gray shirt, she cleared her throat and spoke, "What painting is so popular?"

At this moment, one of the cameras obligingly moved to the painting hanging on the wall.

"So it’s Shen Qianshan’s ’Bibo Wanxiang,’" said a judge sitting next to Li Wanxuan with some confusion, "This painting is also said to be an imitation by Shen Qianshan of his ancestor’s work. Surprisingly, the most popular painting among the guests this time is this one."

"Although it’s an imitation, the original has been lost. This remains the only one in existence. Shen Qianshan was also a renowned painter in the Yuan Zhao Dynasty, and the techniques used in this painting are quite numerous, making it difficult to imitate."

Xu Qingmei glanced at Shen Yunqing, who was silent and kept his composure, and said with a smile, "This shows that our four guests are quite confident in themselves. They haven’t even started painting yet, and I’m already looking forward to the final products."

Imitating the same painting makes for comparison—among the four, two specialized in painting, and Jing Huai, having studied under famous masters of calligraphy and painting, she wanted to see how Jiang Lingxi would stand out among them!

Shen Yunqing listened to the voices coming from the side and, for once, mentally agreed with Xu Qingmei’s earlier words.

He, too, was looking forward to the final products, especially that of Your Majesty.

If he remembered correctly, Your Majesty should have seen the original of ’Bibo Wanxiang.’

Choosing this particular piece from so many works on the scene must hold some special meaning in his heart.

As for the other three who chose the same painting, they had already been spectacularly ignored by him.

*

Each guest had two cameras on them, one focused on them and the other on the table in front of them.

Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all ready. The more impatient seemed to have already soaked their brush in ink, ready to start sketching lines.

Lu Sen had not yet put brush to paper when a slap landed on his head.

He turned to see a face glaring at him, "Have you forgotten the first principle of imitation? So eager to start, are you rushing home for dinner?"

Lu Sen, feeling wronged, lowered his head, "I know, observe first." He quietly defended himself, "But I’m quite familiar with your old paintings!"

"Why did you pick my painting then, out of all others? Was it to save effort?"

Lu Sen: "..."

He was truly in a difficult spot!

In the neighboring exhibition hall.

Three heads were gathered in front of the same painting.

Simply appreciating the painting didn’t require being this close, but for imitation, one had to examine every detail before starting.

Qian Yaya studied the painting for a while, turning her head, before realizing someone was missing from the group.

Looking back, she saw Jiang Lingxi not far behind her, already dipping the mixed colors, ready to put brush to paper.

Suddenly, her eyes widened in surprise, "Teacher Jiang, aren’t you going to come closer for a while?"

Though it’s an imitation, it often results in many discarded drafts.

Ink painting, unlike oil or watercolor, cannot cover mistakes easily. If the ink is used incorrectly, one must start over, ensuring every stroke is made decisively.

But as she had just discovered, each person was only given one piece of Xuan paper.

This meant their imitation had to succeed in one go, with no chance of starting over again.

Even though from the beginning of her painting studies to now, she had imitated dozens of famous works, Qian Yaya didn’t dare claim she could surely succeed on the first try. That’s why she observed more carefully this time.

For Jiang Lingxi to not even come closer to observe but go straight to painting seemed to her like willingly forfeiting the challenge.

"I already looked," Jiang Lingxi replied.

Before she could stop, a stroke was already made.

Seeing this, Qian Yaya couldn’t say anything further and turned back to continue observing the painting and mentally sketching the details.

However, those words prompted Shen Huchen and Jing Huai, who were both carefully observing the painting, to glance back as well.

A layer of confusion and concern appeared in Shen Huchen’s eyes.

Jing Huai looked at the Xuan paper under Jiang Lingxi’s brush, seeing scattered strokes, and smirked inwardly.

Now was not the time to show off individuality. Who was she kidding to say she had already observed during the brief moment of viewing the painting?

Being so casual about painting, he was keen to see what she could produce in the end!

In the observation room, everyone could see the guests’ movements. Lu Sen had just been roundly scolded by Mr. Zhang for not observing before picking up the brush, and now he saw Jiang Lingxi already start painting.

Seeing Mr. Zhang in monitor mode coming over to the exhibition hall, Xu Qingmei couldn’t help but tap her fingers on the table in excitement, anticipating the coming scene.

Watch it, you’ll be the next to get scolded!