Chapter 322 - Making Things Difficult for Chu Luo

Everyone felt that He Zhiqian was making things difficult for Chu Luo.

He Zhiqian was indeed making things difficult for Chu Luo. He wanted Chu Luo to know that in the world of painting and calligraphy, truly capable people relied on their own abilities.

When he heard Chu Luo speak, He Zhiqian’s slightly serious face relaxed a lot. He looked at Chu Luo and deliberately said, “Chu Luo, I think very highly of you. I hope you don’t disappoint me.”

“Whoa! President He has never said that he thinks highly of someone. Could it be that Chu Luo really has an incredible talent in painting?”

“If that’s the case, with Chu Luo’s popularity, the media would have reported it previously. Why didn’t they say that Chu Luo knew how to draw?”

“Didn’t you notice that President He’s gaze was too serious when he looked at Chu Luo? Did Chu Luo do something that made President He unhappy?”

“I heard that President He pays special attention to his paintings and especially doesn’t like people criticizing his paintings. Could it be that Chu Luo has violated his taboo and he’s bearing a grudge against her?”

“It’s very possible. After all, President He is famous for being calculative in the painting world.”

“It’s just that I heard that many foreign media outlets have applied for broadcasting rights for this competition. Under such circumstances, isn’t President He going a little overboard to make things difficult for Chu Luo?”

There was a flurry of discussion below the stage, but He Zhiqian looked at Chu Luo insistently.

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Chu Luo nodded at him with the same expression and gestured to the host, Yu Tong.

Yu Tong continued hosting.

“Since President He asked Chu Luo to participate in the competition and Chu Luo agreed, I wonder if the other school heads have any objections?”

The school heads sitting in front discussed softly and nodded at Yu Tong.

Yu Tong continued, “Coincidentally, a participant from our school had an accident this morning and her hand was injured. Now, Chu Luo is representing Imperial University. Next, let’s invite our robot team to make preparations for the contestants.”

As soon as Yu Tong finished speaking, Chu Luo pressed a button on the operation panel behind Roundy. Then, everyone watched in shock as more than ten robots walked up the stage in an orderly manner with drawing tools.

The entire big screen displayed the scene of spring flowers blooming, grass growing, and orioles flying. Even the floor on the stage had become a real green grassland, with sun shining from above, and even morning dew on it.

This time, not only were the people below the stage discussing, but even the audience watching the live broadcast was shocked.

“Heavens! How did they do that? The people from Imperial University are too amazing. They can actually simulate the competition scene into such an artistic scene. I feel inspired to draw just by looking at it!”

“I wonder who came up with this idea. I’ll give him full marks.”

“And those robots? Since when did Imperial University’s robot technology become so good? Looking at the way they carried the drawing table and paper, if it weren’t for the fact that their appearance was still that of a robot, I would have thought they were real people!”

“I have to say, the Painting and Calligraphy Competition organized by Imperial University has already stunned me even before it begins!”

“I’m looking forward to the performance of the participants this time. I’m even more looking forward to Chu Luo’s performance!”

“Can Chu Luo draw?”

“If Chu Luo can get a placing, I’ll eat my keyboard on a live broadcast!”

“Imperial University is simply playing to the gallery!”

…

Various comments flew everywhere, but everyone started to look forward to it.

After the robots delivered all the tools the participants needed, they left.

Then, all the participants went on stage.

The moment Chu Luo went on stage, everyone couldn’t take their eyes off her.

Everyone only had these words in their hearts: Beautiful like a fairy, drop-dead gorgeous!

The contestants walked to the corresponding place according to their assigned number and sat down.

Chu Luo’s seat was on the right.

The theme for the competition was announced by the people from the painting and calligraphy world. Someone handed the questions to He Zhiqian. “President He, come and read the theme.”

He Zhiqian raised his hand and pushed away the theme that person had given him. He stood up and took the microphone. “Since it’s a National University Student Painting and Calligraphy Competition, in order to ensure that the competition is fair, we won’t look at the theme that was prepared beforehand.”

When He Zhiqian said this, a few people’s expressions changed.

Although no one knew the theme in such a competition, they would know the general direction. The teacher would get the students to practice more according to this direction. He Zhiqian was simply deliberately not playing by the rules.

He Zhiqian glanced at all the contestants on the stage and his gaze finally stopped at Chu Luo, who had a calm expression. He continued, “For today’s theme, you will be drawing a painting that’s lively like the ‘Along the River During the Qingming Festival[1]’ painting.”

“Whoa!”

“Is President He crazy? Why would he come up with such a theme? Isn’t this making things difficult for all the participants?”

“Besides, how can three hours be enough to paint a similar scene!”

At this point, someone raised this loudly.

He Zhiqian replied sternly, “Since it’s a national competition, how high a standard can a painting that’s drawn in two to three hours be? Extend the time!”

“President He, this isn’t a good idea. No one is prepared.”

“Who isn’t prepared?”

He Zhiqian’s eyes narrowed. “This is a National University Student Painting Competition, not a competition for children to paint casually. Since you have the ability to participate in this competition, are you going to be stumped by the theme I set?”

At this point, he said forcefully, “Add another five hours. Those who can draw this painting in eight hours can directly join the Painting Association.”

“Whoa! Tsk…”

He Zhiqian’s words made many people gasp, and many people revealed excited expressions.

One had to know that not everyone could enter the Empire’s Painting Association. All of them were masters of calligraphy and paintings. As long as they joined the Painting Association, their reputation would increase and they would be elevated to the level of masters.

Before the people below the stage could react, a few contestants immediately expressed their stand.

“I accept President He’s competition theme.”

“I accept it too.”

“I accept it too.”

…

Soon, most of the students accepted the competition theme, and the others had nothing to say.

The competition began in this tense, excited, and expectant mood.

The reporter sitting below the stage quickly said to the cameraman, “Give every participant more close-ups, especially Imperial University’s Chu Luo.”

Not only were the people in the auditorium excited, even the reporters and students from Imperial University, who were stopped from entering by a group of robots and university students and who were watching the live broadcast outside, were also excited.

“The president of the Painting Association is too arrogant. He actually changed the topic just like that.”

“The president of the Painting Association is really bold. He actually said that whoever wins the competition will be allowed to join the Painting Association. This is a rare opportunity. The contestants must be extremely excited in private.”

“Definitely. Can’t you see that they’re all trying their best to conceptualize and paint?”

“To be honest, if someone can draw a lively scene similar to the ‘Along the River During the Qingming Festival’, their painting standards will indeed qualify them to enter the Painting Association. I hope Chu Luo can work hard for our Imperial University.”

Not only were there students from Imperial University guarding outside, but there were also people from the nearby art colleges who had rushed over. There were also people who had come with the team and a group of reporters. When everyone heard what that Imperial University student said, they looked at him with bright eyes.

It was clearly written in their eyes: “Are you daydreaming?”

Half an hour after the competition, Song Ci, who was sitting in the middle, suddenly dropped his drawing pencil and destroyed the paper in front of him.

The teacher who led Song Ci here quickly stood up and asked, “Song Ci, what’s wrong?”

Song Ci didn’t answer him. Instead, he lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and covered his right hand. His face quickly turned pale, and then cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He looked especially terrible.

Everyone was shocked by his current appearance.

“What’s wrong? That contestant has been covering his wrist. Is his wrist injured?”

The teacher who came with Song Ci quickly stood up and strode over with a school’s head from Imperial University.

“Song Ci, are you okay?”

“Student, if your hand feels uncomfortable, go to the school doctor immediately or the hospital.”

“No need.” Song Ci controlled his face that was about to twist from the pain and said calmly, “My hand is only cramping. I want to go backstage to rest for ten minutes.”

“Erm…”

Seeing their hesitation, Song Ci looked up at them. “I want to go and massage it. I’ll be fine soon.”

The teacher who brought Song Ci here couldn’t make the decision, so he turned to look at the Imperial University school’s head.

The Imperial University school’s head shook his head at him. “We have to ask the judges for their opinions.”

The teacher who brought Song Ci here quickly walked towards the judges in the front row and deliberately lowered his voice to tell them.

Song Ci’s family wasn’t a secret. A few of the judges wanted to give him face, but He Zhiqian, who was sitting in the middle, pulled a long face and said bluntly, “Since his hand is injured, he should go back and rest. Today’s competition will last for eight hours. If he grits his teeth and persists, his hand might be crippled in the future.”

There was nothing wrong with these words. Although He Zhiqian’s tone wasn’t very good, he was also being considerate of the participant. Many people agreed.

Seeing that the judges didn’t agree to him going backstage to rest, Song Ci’s expression turned ugly. He lowered his head and a haze flashed across his eyes. However, he said in a suppressed voice, “Then I’ll rest here.”

After saying that, he bent down to pick up the drawing pencil with his right hand, but his left hand reached into his pocket.

At the sight of this, Chu Luo flicked her finger.

Bang! Song Ci fell to the ground.

At the same time, his left pocket suddenly ignited.

“Ooh…”

[1] a Song dynasty painting that captures the daily life of people and the landscape of the capital, Bianjing during the Northern Song