"How is it, what does Brother Su think of this painting?"
Young Master Ning was especially proud, seemingly oblivious to the change in Su Ke’s expression. Instead, he shook the painting in his hand. "Let tell you the truth, Brother Su, this is a proud creation of mine just now. I was feeling quite poetic today, and upon seeing Miss Hani, I thought of this brilliant poem. It seems quite fitting now. Everyone, please co and judge its quality!"
Su Ke was called out and, looking at Qin Hui who was lavishing praise on the painting, could really not bring himself to say sothing he did not believe.
Under Young Master Ning’s intense gaze, he haphazardly nodded.
"Is it... alright?"
"Really? Hahaha... I knew it, I am naturally cut out to be a scholar!"
Young Master Ning burst into hearty laughter, imnsely pleased with himself.
His eyes repeatedly sought those of Miss Hani, seeming to want to see so admiration or sothing from her.
"Master Ning, although I am diocre in my scholarship, I really cannot bring myself to lie and say I like the painting very much when I don’t, forgive ."
Miss Hani, as he had hoped, finally spoke up, but only to let out a light, crisp laugh.
"If Master Ning is truly not skilled at painting, perhaps letting soone else try is also acceptable. Otherwise, once I step out of this door and word spreads that Master Ning and his companions were bested by a girl from Wentao Pavilion, the embarrassnt would be significant!"
During her speech, her wonderful eyes swept across the faces of everyone present, a disdainful look making it difficult for anyone to look up.
Driven by curiosity, Su Ke then learned from Qin Hui that after he had left, they had first listened to a little tune and then Miss Hani had suggested that everyone paint on the spot as a contest of skill.
The girls of Wentao Pavilion were proficient in all—zither, board gas, calligraphy, and painting. Each one was excellent.
Miss Hani had painted a painting of white cranes. With only a few light and delicate strokes, she had depicted a crane with one leg stuck in the mud vividly and lifelike, accompanied by a background of distant mountains and nearby scenes. Even if Su Ke went against his conscience, he could not say that this painting was inferior to Master Ning’s.
Young Master Ning was still stubbornly defending himself.
"As they say, no one is perfect, and no gold is pure. Since Master Ning cannot produce a good painting, why not invite soone else to try? Just surpass Miss Hani by a bit, and she will voluntarily drink three cups as a penalty. How about that?"
Miss Hani proposed again, this ti with a tone that was colder and clearly impatient.
However, none of those present felt confident in surpassing Miss Hani’s crane painting, so they all waved their hands and stepped back.
It was then Qin Hui’s gaze fell on Su Ke, suddenly as if he had rembered sothing!
"Ah! I rember now, isn’t there a painting of towering mountains and flowing streams that you made yourself hanging in your study, Young Master Qin? I think that painting is exceptionally good, why don’t you give it a try!"
Su Ke was taken aback, wondering when Qin Hui had been in his study?
Young Master Ning, eager for a scapegoat, didn’t wait to say anything and imdiately approved.
"Very well, since Young Master Qin is skilled in the art of painting, why not let him compete against Miss Hani?"
Without further discussion, everyone pushed Su Ke in front of the desk.
The desk was set with fine writing paper and ink, both ready for use. With no room to decline, Su Ke helplessly shook his head, "Let make it clear first, I’m not skilled at this either. Since you all want to paint, I shall paint."
While Su Ke couldn’t really claim expertise in painting, he did have his own understanding of it.
He picked up the writing brush and stood in front of the blank paper for a mont, collecting his thoughts, before finally beginning to paint.
Beneath the vast azure sky, with the distant peaks undulating, a white crane in the withered lotus field stretched its neck to sing, soaring into the sky. At that ultimate mont, as the brush in his hand fell, it vividly appeared on paper.
The posture of the crane, soaring with wings spread, was gracefully elegant. Its montum, as it surged upward through the clouds, was exceptionally strong. Its body, rising sharply through the sky, was agile and piercing, making one glance enough for anyone to clearly feel, from within the paper’s backing, the crane’s desire to break through the autumn’s desolate chill!
Where was this still a white crane?
The crane had co completely to life, as if it would leap out of the scroll in the next instant.
His painting complete, Su Ke silently set down his brush.
The people present said nothing; their gaze was drawn to the white crane in the painting, causing them to forget to blink or move.
They could only stare blankly at the scroll, completely losing the ability to react.
"Cough, cough!"
Su Ke coughed lightly twice, breaking everyone’s reverie.
"Miss Hani, what do you think of this painting? Does it compare to the one you painted just now? A re doodle, I hope Miss Hani won’t laugh..."
Miss Hani was clearly still not out of the spell of the painting.
She slowly stepped forward, her hand reaching out instinctively to touch the painting, but she stopped just before her hand touched the scroll.
In so panic, she pulled a silk handkerchief from her bosom, carefully wiped her hands, and then gingerly lifted the Immortal Crane Painting.
"How did you think to paint this?"
The question felt sowhat tricky.
Su Ke shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands, "It just ca out this way. Miss Hani, you haven’t yet said, who is the winner of this round?"
Miss Hani was obviously still moved by the scroll and held it without speaking for quite so ti.
Finally, she looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, "I really like this painting. Master Su, could you bear to part with it and sell it to Hani? Whatever you want, anything I have, I will gladly give. How about it?"
Uh...
What was this situation?
Su Ke touched his nose sowhat awkwardly, feeling helpless as he glanced around at the others.
Everyone looked at him with envy, and Young Master Ning’s eyes were filled with jealousy, wishing he could snatch the painting for himself. Today had truly been an oversight! Allowing this young man to gain the upper hand!
Seeing the fervor in Miss Hani’s eyes, Su Ke had to cough again to get her attention.
"Miss Hani, you still haven’t said, who won this round?"
"Do we still need to compare? Naturally, Master Su, you have won convincingly. Only today has Hani truly understood the saying ’there is always soone better.’ All this ti, Hani thought she excelled in painting cranes and took pride in the purity of the cranes she painted. Now she realizes how ignorant she once was..."
Miss Hani reflected, always considering herself akin to the crane mired yet unstained, with a noble character, untouched by worldly matters.
But at this mont, she realized she had been waiting!
Waiting for soone to appear, one who could let her soar into the sky, rising straight up for ninety thousand miles!
And today, that kindred spirit who understood her had appeared!
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