Chapter 9: The Grand Painting Competition for Two

“My name is Liu Mengxuan. I just returned from the Island Nation, and I’ve wanted to attend Sheng Yuliu High School for a long time. The atmosphere here is wonderful, and I hope we can all get along well.” Liu Mengxuan wrote her name and gave a slight bow.

“Welcome, welcome…”

“She’s so cute…”

“She’s different from Liu Mengyan—Liu Mengxuan is even gentler.”

The students in the class chatted among themselves, not noticing the frosty look on Liu Mengyan’s face.

Yun Xuan didn’t join the discussion; he simply smiled at Liu Mengxuan when she glanced his way.

“Liu Mengxuan, please find a seat for now,” the homeroom teacher said with a smile.

Liu Mengxuan nodded, looked around, and chose the empty seat behind Yun Xuan.

“There are no classes this morning or afternoon. Wednesday is the final exam, and it will determine your class placement and evaluations for next semester. Please be well prepared. For this painting competition, only two from our class have entered, which is quite unexpected. Later, let’s all cheer them on. Yun Xuan, Liu Mengyan, I wish you both success,” the teacher said, his eyes complicated.

The whole school knew about Yun Xuan and Liu Mengyan; the class generally sympathized with Yun Xuan, so no one discussed it openly.

Who would have thought Yun Xuan would compete against Liu Mengyan in the painting contest? Wasn’t that asking for humiliation?

“Teacher, may I say something?” Yun Xuan stood up with a smile.

“Go ahead, Yun Xuan,” the teacher said, surprised.

“First, about my confession to Liu Mengyan—I admit that was my mistake. I am indeed unworthy of someone so exceptional. Here, I apologize to Liu Mengyan.” With that, Yun Xuan bowed to her.

“Yun Xuan…”

“He’s so handsome…”

“He’s really such a good person…”

The girls in the class felt even more favorably toward Yun Xuan. Even Nangong Xiaomeng looked at him in surprise.

Just as everyone thought Liu Mengyan would reply…

“But, Liu Mengyan, for trampling on my feelings in front of the entire school—that, I cannot accept! Over the weekend, we agreed to a bet: if I lose, I’ll never come within five meters of you again. But if you lose, you must grant me one request.” Yun Xuan straightened, each word ringing clear.

“What?!”

“No way!”

“To challenge Liu Mengyan head-on? Yun Xuan, go for it!” Everyone froze, then stared excitedly at the two. This was huge—if Yun Xuan actually beat Liu Mengyan…what would he ask of her?

Some girls had thought Yun Xuan’s apology showed weakness, but now, with this declaration, they couldn’t help but be impressed. Among them were three other striking girls from Class 3, Grade One.

Besides Liu Mengyan and Nangong Xiaomeng, there was the library girl, the Island Nation girl, and finally, the one everyone kept their distance from: the black-haired girl Qin Yue.

Qin Yue sat in the last row, dressed in a black school uniform, utterly out of place among the other girls. Her hair, reminiscent of a certain animated character, fell over her eyes.

She was the fifth girl with a composite rating of seven.

Qin Yue watched Yun Xuan, a hint of a smile on her lips. The girls nearby nearly bolted in fright.

Qin Yue was indeed beautiful. If not for the incident at the start of term, she would be just as popular as the other four.

“Congratulations, Host! Qin Yue’s favorability has reached 50%.” The cat-eared girl’s virtual image appeared before him.

“Qin Yue?” Yun Xuan glanced over, meeting her gaze, and immediately felt a chill down his spine.

“Ahem, both of you, prepare yourselves. Everyone else, get ready. The class monitor will take you to the assigned area on the sports field shortly.” The teacher coughed. Compared to ordinary schools, Sheng Yuliu High placed even more emphasis on competition.

The library girl in the front row nodded slightly and closed her book, the desk beside her piled high with volumes.

Class 3, Grade One was filled with all sorts of oddities.

...

In less than ten minutes, the school broadcast sounded—a tradition kept only by Sheng Yuliu High.

The library girl stood up, and the students filed out in order.

Liu Mengyan and Yun Xuan were the last to leave. Liu Mengyan glanced at the smiling Yun Xuan, her brows furrowing.

Out on the sports field, the stage was already set, each seat prepared for one student. Classes sat according to grade and section; not a sound disturbed the order.

“Art and culture have always been at the heart of Sheng Yuliu High. Today, for our painting competition, we’re honored to welcome Mr. Ji Wen, who took second place in the Huaxia Star-Moon Cup; Ms. Baili Piaoxue, a popular manga artist; and, from our very own third-year, the seventeen-year-old prodigy and third-place winner of the Star-Moon Cup, Senior Qin Zhihua!” The first-year girl hosting the event wasted no time introducing the judges.

“Hello, I’m Ji Wen, author of ‘Bright Moon Begonia’,” Ji Wen said, standing and smiling, glasses perched on his nose, dressed in a suit, exuding a scholarly air.

“Hello everyone, I’m Fenghua Juedai, a manga artist. I hope you enjoy my works,” said Baili Piaoxue softly as she rose. Her professional attire was striking, hard to imagine on a comic creator.

“I can’t believe it’s Ji Wen, the author of ‘Bright Moon Begonia.’ If not for that mysterious artist Nangong Xiaoxiao, he would’ve won the Star-Moon Cup!”

“Baili Piaoxue, in person! I have to get her autograph later.”

“And the final judge is Senior Qin Zhihua…”

The students broke into animated discussion, all eyes turning to the third judge.

With long black hair and a cold, impassive face, Qin Zhihua was every bit as beautiful as her sister Qin Yue. Her icy demeanor set her apart even more.

“I am Qin Zhihua. This is the painting competition. If anyone dares present a piece of trash, they’ll withdraw from the school on the spot. Contestants who accept these terms, please come forward now.” Qin Zhihua stood and announced coldly.

The host froze, the other two judges hesitated, and the entire audience gaped—withdraw from school immediately?!

Footsteps sounded from behind the host.

“May I begin?” Yun Xuan walked to his easel.

The entire stadium was silent. Every participant backstage stared at Yun Xuan in shock. To step forward under these conditions?

Footsteps sounded again from the other side. Liu Mengyan appeared, taking her place at her own easel.

“It seems there are no other contestants. I declare the competition open—theme is free,” Qin Zhihua sneered, glancing behind the stage.

If you aren’t confident in your work, you don’t deserve to stand here.

“…” The host, the audience, the judges—all were speechless.

This was undoubtedly the most chaotic painting competition in Sheng Yuliu High’s history.

Qin Zhihua’s word at this school carried as much weight as the principal’s, especially since she was a judge.

The Qin family’s influence was well known. The other judges knew: even if Qin Zhihua threw a tantrum, the Qin family could cover it up.

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