Chapter 47: The Preliminary Round of the Star-Moon Cup Begins

At noon, Yun Xuan had Ye Shan, Yuan Ting, and San practicing in the kitchen while he was alone in his room sketching.

Just moments ago, Koukou Company had contacted him about launching a physical daily comic serial for Northern Sauce. Given his current pace, Yun Xuan needed to finish at least thirty chapters by early August.

This was quite unexpected for him, but since this would be the first physical comic for Northern Sauce, Yun Xuan started working on it without hesitation.

The emoticons had a fixed image in his mind, but this daily comic called "Northern Sauce" would require Yun Xuan to create everything himself.

Fortunately, he had read many novels and watched anime, so he skillfully borrowed some tropes from his previous life.

For example: A boy who obtains a magic lamp summons Northern Sauce, then...

Northern Sauce: Since you summoned me, you must grant one hundred of my wishes.

There was also Northern Sauce eating melon seeds, Northern Sauce who sings and dances, and her elder sister, Harbor.

As for ship girls, Yun Xuan had heard of them but never played the games, let alone drawn one.

"Thirty chapters—how can that be easy? If only I had an assistant," Yun Xuan thought of Qin Zhihua, who would be returning tomorrow to sign the maid contract with him.

His own pace allowed him to squeeze out six chapters a day, with the rest of the time devoted to other tasks.

If he had an assistant, his efficiency would soar and, best of all, he could slack off a bit.

...

That night, Yun Xuan needed to participate in the preliminary Star Moon Cup competition, so he went to sleep early. Ye Shan, Yuan Ting, and the others had already left. The restaurant's renovations were finished, and once Yun Xuan passed the Star Moon Cup preliminaries, they could officially open.

In the living room.

Yun Xue and Yun Xun'er watched television.

"Xue'er, have you ever wondered what your parents are like?" Yun Xun'er asked softly.

"No. Do you think about it often, Xun'er?" Yun Xue shook her head, unwilling to dwell on the parents who abandoned her.

"Mm, I used to imagine what they might be like, but lately I don't feel the need to anymore." Yun Xun'er smiled, glancing upstairs.

"Is it because of brother?" Yun Xue looked up at Yun Xun'er.

"Yes. Xiao Xuan is remarkable now; achieving all this is no small feat. I don’t know how he managed it, but I trust he hasn’t done anything wrong." Yun Xun'er nodded.

"Xun'er, you don’t need to work so hard anymore. Brother is doing so well—once the restaurant is running smoothly, we won’t have to worry." Yun Xue said earnestly.

"Xue’er, it’s you who shouldn’t worry. In the future, you’ll be the mistress of the restaurant. Don’t forget about your sister then—I'll be relying on you two for my retirement!" Yun Xun'er teased.

"Xun'er, brother doesn’t belong to just me. I’ve always thought, ever since long ago, that we’ll always be family." Yun Xue shook her head, speaking solemnly.

"Eh?" Yun Xun'er was caught off guard, her cheeks flushed red.

"Xun'er, do you like brother too?" Yun Xue whispered.

"No, not at all. Xiao Xuan is just a child in my eyes. I—I’m going to take a bath, Xue'er, you should sleep early." Yun Xun'er hurried away in a fluster.

Yun Xue watched her retreating figure and smiled gently.

Yun Xun'er entered the bathroom, lay in the tub, and pondered Yun Xue's words.

"Perhaps I do like him a little..." Yun Xun'er murmured.

...

July fifteenth, Fangyu City Gymnasium.

Before nine o’clock, nearly ten thousand people had already gathered outside the gymnasium.

Yun Xun'er, Yun Xue, Lin Qingyu, Nangong Xiaomeng, Qin Yue, and Alice, who had come to watch, walked into the gym.

As a contestant, Yun Xuan had already arrived backstage.

The official start was at ten o’clock, and the Fangyu City Star Moon Cup preliminary had attracted enormous attention.

No one knew the topic yet, not even the five judges; only Nangong Xiaoxiao was privy to it.

The theme would be announced after all contestants had taken the stage, so there was absolutely no way to learn it in advance.

Scoring would be conducted by the five judges as well as by the primary AI, Yue.

This AI belonged to Fangyu City’s Star Moon Cup committee—not as advanced as those in movies, but capable of evaluating and appraising artworks. Its appraisals were trusted by professional collectors.

...

Yun Xuan sat in a corner backstage, observing the more than a hundred participants. Only one could claim first place in the Star Moon Cup preliminaries.

All these people would become stepping stones for him alone.

"Hello, I’m Chang Yue, a student from the Academy of Fine Arts," said a nervous girl in ordinary attire beside Yun Xuan.

"My name is Yun Xuan, a student from Shengyu High," Yun Xuan replied, smiling after glancing at her.

Her looks were average, likely to score around five overall—a typical class beauty from an ordinary school.

"I heard whoever wins first place in the Star Moon Cup gets a hundred thousand yuan prize. Is that true?" Chang Yue asked quietly.

"It’s true. Do you really need the money?" Yun Xuan was surprised; art students usually came from well-off families, but Chang Yue seemed to dress quite modestly.

"Yes. If I don’t win, my father won’t have money for his surgery." Chang Yue’s face was clouded with worry. Seeing her nervousness, Yun Xuan realized the girl lacked confidence.

"I don’t mean to discourage you, but I will definitely win first place in the Star Moon Cup preliminaries," Yun Xuan said earnestly.

"Ah?" Chang Yue stared at Yun Xuan, mouth agape.

"It’s almost time to go on stage. Show me your best work," Yun Xuan said, checking the time.

At nine fifty-eight.

"Contestants, please come to the stage," the host announced loudly.

Yun Xuan and the others went up according to their numbers, each standing before their drawing boards, art supplies in hand.

The competition provided a set of tools, but considering personal habits, there was no restriction against bringing your own.

"It’s ten o’clock. Please look at the big screen for today’s topic," said the host, watching the clock. As soon as ten struck, Nangong Xiaoxiao sent the message.

Everyone looked up, Yun Xuan included. Two words appeared on the screen.

"War?" Yun Xuan frowned.

The other contestants also began to ponder.

In the audience, Nangong Xiaoxiao watched Yun Xuan, a smile on her lips.

Not far away.

"I didn’t expect him to be an artist," Dongfang Aoxue said coolly.

"His painting skills are probably on par with his cooking," Qin Zhihua commented.

...

Time ticked by; with only two hours total, contestants had little time to contemplate.

At the judges’ table.

"Nangong Xiaoxiao chose such a topic—it really makes one think. These children probably haven’t seen war," said the first judge, Nan Qingshan, president of Fangyu City’s Artists Association, with a smile.

"I haven’t seen war either." Ji Wen, author of "Bright Moon Begonia," said with a wry smile, his gaze fixed on Yun Xuan, recalling the last painting contest at Shengyu High that had left him deeply impressed.

"Regardless, if there are good works, none of you are allowed to snatch them from me," declared renowned collector Zhao Tian, with the air of an eccentric old man.

"Collectible value? Zhao Tian, you must be joking," said famous artist Mo Lan, shaking his head.

"Quiet," snapped Zhang Yuan, vice president of the Artists Association, with a cold grunt. The white-haired elder could not stand any noise.

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