Chapter 300: Visiting the President of the Painting a.s.sociation
Li Yan swaggered out of Imperial University with Chu Luo in his arms. The two of them didn’t care how many jealous people were behind them.
After getting into the car, Li Yan asked Chu Luo, “Are you still doing the experiment tonight?”
“Yes.” Chu Luo suddenly thought of something and asked Li Yan, “Did you send someone to protect Professor Wu and the others?”
“Mm, don’t worry,” Li Yan told her. “The Duanmu family is restraining the Qin family. At most, they’ll find an excuse to make them stop their research.”
Chu Luo was relieved.
Just then, her phone suddenly rang.
It was a call from w.a.n.g Mingtao.
The moment Chu Luo swiped the answer b.u.t.ton, w.a.n.g Mingtao’s anxious voice could be heard. “Sister Chu, I’ve already asked around. My father planted flowers in a few painters’ houses before and has a good relations.h.i.+p with one or two of them. When you want to see them, my father will bring you there.”
Chu Luo thought for a while and said, “Tell Uncle w.a.n.g that I want to see them tomorrow morning.”
“Alright.” After w.a.n.g Mingtao agreed, he asked, “Sister Chu, what else do you need my help with? Although I can’t help with the technical aspects, I can definitely do the physical work.”
Chu Luo didn’t intend to be polite. “Alright, wait for me at the Student Union at four in the afternoon tomorrow.”
w.a.n.g Mingtao quickly agreed. “Okay, okay. I’ll definitely be there on time.”
Chu Luo smiled and hung up.
At this moment, Li Yan glanced at her and asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”
Chu Luo glanced at him and blinked. She deliberately asked, “I’m to contact master painters to be the judges for the National University Painting and Calligraphy Compet.i.tion held by our school this weekend. Do you know anyone in this field?”
Li Yan nodded. “I can help you contact the president of the Painting a.s.sociation. If you want to look for a judge, why don’t you look for the president directly?”
Chu Luo looked at him in surprise.
Li Yan’s lips curled up. “If you want to see him, I’ll help you ask him out tonight.”
“Can I?”
“Sure.”
As Li Yan spoke, he took out his phone and made a call. The other party picked up quickly. Li Yan said that he wanted to see the president of the Painting a.s.sociation. No one else knew what the other party said, but Li Yan hung up and quickly turned the steering wheel.
To Chu Luo’s surprise, they went straight to the old district.
“The president of the Painting a.s.sociation you mentioned lives in the old district?”
“Mm.”
“How did you meet him?” Chu Luo was extremely curious.
“The president of the Painting a.s.sociation is Tan Yinfei’s uncle.”
“…So, who did you call just now?”
“Tan Yinfei.”
Chu Luo was silent for a few seconds before suddenly laughing.
“So should I thank your secretary?”
“No need.”
Li Yan would never mistreat the people around him. Even if the public didn’t have a good impression of him, no one could poach the people working for him because he had the ability to gain the loyalty of his men.
The home of the president of the Painting a.s.sociation and Chu Luo’s residence weren’t on the same street, but they weren’t too far away.
When the car arrived outside the door of the president’s house, a white car stopped just in front of them.
Then, she saw Secretary Tan, who looked like an elite, get out of the car and walk over.
Chu Luo and Li Yan alighted at the same time.
Secretary Tan said to the two of them, “CEO, Miss Chu, I’ve already greeted my uncle. He’s waiting for you at home.”
After saying this, he said to Chu Luo, “Miss Chu, can I ask you why you want to see my uncle?”
“Our school is holding a National University Painting and Calligraphy Compet.i.tion this weekend. I want to invite a few judges.”
Secretary Tan nodded and warned her, “Although I can help introduce you to him, I can’t guarantee that my uncle will agree to be a judge. As an artist, he has his own pride. Whether you can persuade him or not depends on your ability.”
Chu Luo nodded in understanding.
Secretary Tan led the two of them towards the door.
They had just walked to the door when it was opened.
A middle-aged woman with a good disposition and wearing a cheongsam stood inside.
Secretary Tan greeted respectfully, “Aunt.”
Secretary Tan’s aunt complained with a smile, “Yinfei, why didn’t you call me earlier? If you had called earlier, I could have prepared your favorite dishes.”
“Aunt, I’ve already eaten.”
Tan Yinfei then said to Chu Luo and Li Yan, “This is my aunt. You can call her Madam Zhang.” He then pointed at Li Yan and Chu Luo. “Aunt, these are my boss and Chu Luo. I brought them to see Uncle.”
Madam Zhang was a little surprised. She sized up the two of them and was first stunned by Li Yan’s aura. Then, she looked at Chu Luo and couldn’t help but praise, “The young lady is really beautiful.”
Chu Luo greeted her politely, “h.e.l.lo.”
Secretary Tan’s aunt nodded at her and said, “Come in. Old He is drawing in the living room.”
The three of them followed Madam Zhang into the courtyard.
The residences in the old district were mostly two-way courtyards, but the layout of each residence was different.
There were a lot of vigorous bamboos planted in the front yard of the He residence. The bamboos looked especially artistic when blown by the evening wind.
They walked into the courtyard and saw a small bridge over flowing water. It was ancient-looking.
The three of them walked towards the opposite door.
When they walked in, they saw many calligraphy paintings in the living room.
Chu Luo glanced at the calligraphy paintings before retracting her gaze to look at the middle-aged man who was standing by the desk on the left and painting seriously.
He Zhiqian was 52 years old this year. As he had been immersed in art for a long time, he had a proud disposition unique to scholars.
“Old He, Yinfei and the others are here.”
After Madam Zhang spoke to He Zhiqian, she said to Secretary Tan, “Yinfei, take the two guests over there to sit. I’ll make tea.”
“Okay, Aunt.”
After Madam Zhang turned around and left, Tan Yinfei led the two of them to He Zhiqian.
He Zhiqian didn’t stop. When the three of them walked over, he only glanced at Chu Luo and Li Yan and said warmly, “Yinfei, take the two of them over there to sit.”
“Okay, Uncle.”
Tan Yinfei said to the two of them, “Let’s go over there and wait for a while.”
Chu Luo looked at the artwork He Zhiqian was drawing and said to Li Yan and Tan Yinfei, “Go over and sit. I’ll take a look at Mr. He’s artwork.”
Tan Yinfei wanted to say something, but Li Yan glanced at him and he immediately shut his mouth. He brought Li Yan to the sofa and sat down.
Chu Luo didn’t disturb He Zhiqian. She stood more than a meter away from the desk and watched.
There were mountains and rivers, flowers, and gra.s.s in He Zhiqian’s painting. The biggest highlight was those frolicking mountain sparrows.
Every sparrow gave one a different feeling, but it also made one feel their current joy.
Chu Luo looked at the painting seriously. He Zhiqian kept drawing and didn’t look up at her.
When he was painting the last sparrow, He Zhiqian’s hand suddenly trembled. The entire painting became especially eye-catching because of that stroke.
He Zhiqian sighed and was about to tear the painting apart.
“Mr. He, wait.”
Chu Luo walked closer to the desk and looked at the painting. “Since Mr. He doesn’t want this painting anymore, can you let me add a stroke?”
He Zhiqian finally looked up at Chu Luo. His expression was a little irritable since his efforts today had been destroyed. His tone wasn’t very good. “You want to draw like this?”
“Mr. He, lend me your drawing brush.”
“No. Although this painting has been ruined, I don’t want it to be ruined completely.”
“How does Mr. He know that I would destroy this painting? Would you believe me if I said that I could save it?”
“What an arrogant tone.”
“Then should we make a bet?” Chu Luo stared at him and smiled confidently. “As long as I save this painting, you will agree to be a judge at the University Painting and Calligraphy Compet.i.tion organized by Imperial University this weekend.”
This was the first time He Zhiqian had met someone as confident as Chu Luo. He wanted to teach her a lesson and said, “What if you can’t save it?”
“If I can’t, I’ll take responsibility by treating Mr. He’s hand disease.”
He Zhiqian finally looked surprised. “How did you know I have a hand disease?”
“I can tell you about this later, Mr. He.”
After saying that, Chu Luo extended her hand to him. “Mr. He, please lend me your paintbrush.”
He Zhiqian stared at Chu Luo, not believing her at all.
At this moment, Tan Yinfei, who was sitting at the side, said, “Uncle, I can vouch for Chu Luo.”
He Zhiqian was a little surprised that his nephew, who had always asked for perfection, would say this. After thinking for a while, he handed the paintbrush to Chu Luo and stepped aside.
Chu Luo walked over with a paintbrush and quickly started drawing.
Soon, two mountain sparrows were chasing and playing on the paper.
A mountain sparrow that was at a disadvantage had one of its tail feathers pecked off by another mountain sparrow. The mountain sparrow whose feathers had been pecked off looked at the fallen feather in a daze. The brushstroke that He Zhiqian had drawn just happened to become the middle of the fallen feather.
Two mountain sparrows and one fallen feather. Not only did it not destroy the entire painting, but instead, it made one feel even more delighted.
After a while, He Zhiqian suddenly praised loudly, “Brilliant!”
He was simply stunned by Chu Luo’s addition of the two mountain sparrows and the fallen feathers. His previous aloofness was instantly put away. When he looked at Chu Luo, his gaze became fervent. “Young friend, how did you think of adding these?”
Chu Luo pointed at the drawing. “I drew only according to Mr. He’s intentions.”
He Zhiqian nodded. Admiration flashed across his eyes as he gestured to her. “Let’s go and sit.”