She glanced subconsciously at the man beside her—the damned Bo Yeyuan stared at her thoughtfully, exuding an air of cruel indifference as if the matter didn't concern him at all!
"Mr. Bo, do you think this demonstration is necessary... I don't want to steal the spotlight at Grandma's birthday banquet."
Bo Yeyuan's lips curled into a ruthless smile, utterly heartless, "You've made the mess, now clean it up."
At the critical moment, the man was useless; she would have to rely on herself.
"All show but no substance," Qiyu muttered under her breath. Marrying this man was indeed a blind move.
Bo Yeyuan frowned, "What did you say?"
"To put it plainly—a wolf in sheep's clothing, a beast in human attire."
The Bo family was detestable, all tarred with the same brush!
Qiyu left proudly and walked toward the easel that the servants had prepared.
People in the banquet hall stood around the easel, forming a circle, all waiting to see her make a fool of herself.
Qiyu's mind was crammed with a jumble of emotions as she sat down in front of the easel and started mixing colors on her palette.
If she pretended to twist her hand and play injured, could she avoid painting?
Strangely enough, her movements were practiced, as natural as breathing...
A spark of inspiration flashed in her mind, and her hand seemed to move beyond her control.
In just a few minutes, the paper was filled with tender green grass and wildflowers dotted among them, the gradation of colors, the shifting light and shadows...
The finer the details, the more they showcased the profound depth of her artistic talent.
It was as if the petals were quivering and the grass swaying in the wind; the scattered sunlight seemed to leap out of the painting, refreshing and invigorating.
Qiyu was astounded by her own brilliance; it seemed she wasn't utterly worthless after all.
The attendees were from illustrious families, many of whom had studied painting, and they could instantly recognize Qiyu's skillfulness! To achieve this level of artistry in such a short time couldn't be the result of merely a few years of lessons.
Madam Bo had invited a highly respected elderly gentleman, famous for his landscape paintings in Bin City.
The elderly gentleman, studying the painting with a magnifying glass, remarked, "A remarkable talent in painting. Many artists, even after decades of practice, could not achieve her level."
Talented people are like stars that shine; there will always be those who appreciate them.
Qiyu could clearly feel that those who had looked down on her were now regarding her with a hint of respect...
Bo Yeyuan watched this woman, whose smile seemed to radiate light, his gaze deepening. She was dazzlingly radiant tonight.
"The ambiance of the painting is beautiful, it makes one want to live in it!"
"So what if you can paint?"
"As the Young Lady of the Bo family, of course, she should be well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; it's standard."
"I could paint like that after a few months of practice."
Qiyu played with the paintbrush with a smile, "Elder gentleman, how do you judge it?"
"In my more than forty years of painting, I can attest that given time, Mrs. Bo could finish that painting within half a month," the old man praised unabashedly. "Mrs. Bo, perhaps we can discuss our hobbies some other day?"
"To be friends with someone as virtuous and talented as you would be a pleasure."
Audience: ...
Qiyu noticed someone was about to leave: "Grandma~"
Madam Bo's spine stiffened, and she nearly lost her grip on the crutch.
"No need for the cane punishment to be too harsh, just a token twenty lashes will do. It's getting late, let's begin now—"
Madam Bo's face turned ashen with anger. If it weren't for the banquet, with so many people watching, she would have swung her crutch at Qiyu already!
The younger members of the Bo family were stunned—had Qiyu lost her mind?
Upon hearing this, Aunt Pan's face fell and she knelt on the ground: "Madam, it's my fault. I'm willing to accept the punishment."