"Why doesn't this young master step forward to paint?" Just when Mei Qingxue was dying of boredom, a male voice rang in her ear.
Mei Qingxue was a bit confused and annoyed, but still looked at the speaker expressionlessly.
"My painting skills are poor. I dare not make a fool of myself by going forward," Mei Qingxue said deliberately in a low voice, fearing that others might recognize her voice.
There was nothing wrong with this sentence in itself, but she happened to say it when the whole mountaintop was at its quietest. In such a situation, it was likely to make people think she was just being modest.
"Don't underestimate yourself, young fellow. This painting gathering is just an exchange for painting enthusiasts. There's no need to be so serious," the man said.
Mei Qingxue looked at the bookish man in front of her and just wanted to kick him down the mountain! With his words, she had no choice but to go forward. If she didn't, it would seem that she looked down on this so - called painting gathering, thinking it was just a competition for some boring people to show off their talents.
But if she went up like this, wouldn't she lose all her face! What could she paint? Her hands would still tremble when she held a writing brush!
After much deliberation, Mei Qingxue took a deep breath.
Fine! Let the shame come! Anyway, the paintings would only be seen by a few people. She could just sign an alias casually!
"Then I'll make a fool of myself," Mei Qingxue said helplessly as she walked to a table and stood there. Originally, there were already enough people at this table, but now with her added, the others had to squeeze to make room for her. It was really embarrassing. If her presence affected others' performance, it would be a great sin. But it wasn't her fault. She should blame that meddling man!
The theme was "water". There were many kinds of water, but if we talked about the most precious water in the world... Ah, she got it!
Half an hour later, Mei Qingxue's painting, signed as Luofan, was collected.
After everyone had finished painting, they began to quietly wait for the final result. Mei Qingxue had absolutely no expectation for this result because she knew she couldn't be the first. Her painting skills were probably even worse than those of a five - year - old from a noble family.
Sure enough, not long after, someone announced the result. The first place went to a gentle - looking man. When he received the blood jade as a prize and the painting by the Jade - faced Gentleman, his pale face showed neither pride nor annoyance. One couldn't tell whether he was happy or sad.
Unexpectedly, this man was so calm. One wondered where he came from. But looking at the material of his clothes, it was just of average quality, and the clothes were slightly faded from being washed, which showed that he wasn't from a wealthy family. It was really remarkable that a man from an ordinary family could have such a demeanor.
"Lin Sheng, you're really something, buddy! This time you can go see your beauty again. Hahaha..." a somewhat dissolute young master stepped forward to tease the man called Lin Sheng after seeing him receive the prize.
Lin Sheng frowned in annoyance and didn't respond. A few people beside them, obviously knowing Lin Sheng, also laughed.
"I wonder which one is Young Master Luofan? Could you stay for a chat?"
The painting competition at the painting gathering was over, and everyone had witnessed the charm of the Jade - faced Gentleman. Although they couldn't watch him paint in person, just seeing him in the flesh was satisfying enough. Thus, this so - called painting gathering came to an end. So everyone began to walk down the mountain. But when they heard the old man's voice, they all stopped in their tracks and looked up at the mountaintop. They looked at each other, wondering who this Luofan was that the Jade - faced Gentleman wanted to meet?
Mei Qingxue was really surprised. Did the Jade - faced Gentleman know that she had come to find him? Was this his way of dealing with it?
"I'm Luofan," Mei Qingxue said. She would just see what the Jade - faced Gentleman wanted to do.
"Please follow me, young master," the old man said after bowing, then led the way.
Mei Qingxue followed. The four guards who were in charge of protecting her and Yue Ru also went with them. Seeing the five people following, the old man stopped and said, "The Jade - faced Gentleman said he wanted to meet Young Master Luofan alone. The rest of you can wait here."
"That's not possible. How can our young master just go with you as you say?" Yue Ru was the first to object to Mei Qingxue going alone. Although she believed that the Jade - faced Gentleman wouldn't do anything to her young lady, she couldn't take her young lady's safety lightly.
"Wait for me here. I'll just go and have a chat with the Jade - faced Gentleman and come back. It'll be okay," Mei Qingxue said.
"But..."
"Stop talking. Let's go." Her sixth sense told her that the Jade - faced Gentleman wouldn't do anything to her, and the guards were waiting not far away. There shouldn't be any problem.
The two walked along a small path. As soon as they turned a corner, she saw a tall and slender figure not far ahead. Mei Qingxue's eyes were involuntarily attracted by this back. His shoulders were broad, his back was straight, and his legs were long. A light cyan belt tightened his well - shaped waist. She was sure that under those layers of clothes was a firm and slender waist without a single bit of fat!
"Young Master Luo," when Mei Qingxue was three steps away from him, the Jade - faced Gentleman slowly turned around. Although she couldn't see his expression, she could feel that he was smiling.
"I wonder why the Jade - faced Gentleman wants to see me?"
After the old man brought Luofan there, he left consciously. Only Mei Qingxue and the Jade - faced Gentleman were left.
"I wonder what was on Young Master Luo's mind when you painted that picture just now?"
What? Did he dislike her painting because it was too ugly? It wasn't her fault. She had done her best. It was already quite an achievement to paint it that way!
"My painting skills are poor. I couldn't refuse just now, so I went up to make a fool of myself. Please don't laugh at me, Jade - faced Gentleman," Mei Qingxue said.
"Oh? Your painting skills are a bit lacking, but the artistic conception is beyond that of anyone who participated in today's painting competition," the Jade - faced Gentleman said.
What? Did he call her here to praise her? Was it really that clichéd, just like the rule for time - travelers? Was it true that everything a time - traveler did was good?
"You're overpraising me, Jade - faced Gentleman," Mei Qingxue said. It was safer to say some official and self - deprecating words when being praised by a famous person.
The Jade - faced Gentleman seemed to be able to see through her thoughts. A glint of amusement flashed in his black eyes, which were the only part of his face exposed to the sky. He took out the picture Mei Qingxue had painted just now and carefully unfolded it in front of her.
Seeing her rather bad painting being taken out again in such a situation, even though her face was a bit thicker than the moss in the deep mountains, it didn't mean she wouldn't feel embarrassed!