Zhong Yu's pupils trembled.
Sketching was a fundamental skill all art students had to master. Many painting masters believed that to excel in painting, one must first excel in sketching. Sketching formed the bedrock upon which all great paintings were built.
Some even went so far as to assert:
Sketching is everything if color is absent.
Regardless of the veracity of this statement, it underscored the importance of sketching in the world of painting. This was why Zhong Yu, a junior in the Art Department, still dedicated time to honing his sketching skills.
For someone like Zhong Yu, who had devoted years to drawing, he believed his skills were above average.
Yet, in just ten minutes, this belief was shattered by a sophomore student!
"...?"
Lin Yuan fixed his gaze on Zhong Yu's feet.
Zhong Yu's senses snapped back, and his face broke into a smile. He swiftly grabbed the cleaning tool from Lin Yuan's hand. "Great God, how can you dirty your hands with such menial tasks? Let me handle the cleaning!"
Before Lin Yuan could respond, Zhong Yu retrieved the eraser from under his seat and began cleaning.
Then, he motioned for Lin Yuan to take his seat and said eagerly, "My name's Zhong Yu, a junior in the Fine Arts Department!"
"I'm Lin Yuan."
"Okay, Great God Lin Yuan, take a seat first. Let's chat after I finish cleaning!"
With that, Zhong Yu hurried to the next student and, without any preamble, gestured for them to vacate their seat.
"Brother Zhong?"
The student was taken aback but quickly acquiesced. "Let me do it instead. You don't have to—"
"No need."
Zhong Yu swiftly cleaned the spot and moved on to the next. His calm demeanor left no room for refusal. "Please move."
"Alright."
Zhong Yu's efficiency in cleaning far surpassed Lin Yuan's.
He managed to clear each spot effortlessly. Sometimes, without even saying a word, the seated members would rise on their own accord.
Once the cleaning was done, Zhong Yu returned to his broom. He then fetched a small chair out of thin air, sat beside Lin Yuan, and beamed:
"Great God! Can you teach me sketching?"
Lin Yuan shook his head. "It's too much hassle."
Undeterred, Zhong Yu maintained his smile. "All you need to do is correct my painting, just like you did earlier."
Lin Yuan furrowed his brows. "There's too much to correct."
The task was daunting.
Zhong Yu's smile faltered, his shock evident. "Is my painting that bad?"
Lin Yuan nodded solemnly. "Yes."
A crestfallen Zhong Yu pleaded, "Great God, you must teach me more. Of course, I won't let your efforts go to waste. If you need anything—"
Experts could discern quality.
Ten minutes sufficed for Zhong Yu to witness Lin Yuan's prowess firsthand.
Even if an art department teacher intervened, they might not achieve what Lin Yuan had in ten minutes. Zhong Yu was convinced he had encountered a true deity.
With guidance from such a deity, progress was inevitable!
Lin Yuan's interest was piqued. "Teaching you isn't entirely out of the question."
Zhong Yu's face lit up. "Just name your terms."
Lin Yuan stated earnestly, "You'll have to pay for lessons."
Zhong Yu tensed up. "How much does the Great God charge...?"
After a moment's thought, Lin Yuan proposed, "200 yuan per hour."
Zhong Yu was taken aback.
Thinking he might have overpriced his services, Lin Yuan was about to reconsider when Zhong Yu hurriedly agreed, fearing Lin Yuan might retract the offer:
"Deal!"
Initially, Zhong Yu expected Lin Yuan's fee to be exorbitant, so the 200 yuan per hour seemed quite reasonable.
Too conscientious!
In Qinzhou's art scene, a deity of Lin Yuan's caliber could easily charge ten times that amount per hour and still find eager learners!
"Deal!"
Lin Yuan was equally pleased. The fee was certainly more lucrative than setting up a stool and sketching for passersby, which he had considered as a means of income. Having scouted the market, he now realized the potential.
The system had the right idea after all.
Teaching a man to fish indeed proved more beneficial than simply handing him a fish!
Though painting skills might not yield immediate returns like songs or novels, Lin Yuan could steadily accumulate income by tutoring others.
A lucrative venture!
Consulting his phone for the time, Lin Yuan suggested, "Let's begin. It's almost one o'clock. How many hours do you want to book?"
Operating with integrity was paramount.
Since Lin Yuan charged a fee, he intended to deliver quality instruction.
"In that case, Great God, first copy this painting, and we'll tally the hours at the end."
Zhong Yu flipped through an album and selected the most challenging image—a man with curly hair and a beard.
The intricacies of the hair alone were enough to daunt 80% of art students.
"Alright."
Lin Yuan didn't find it overly challenging. It might require extra time, but he could handle the flowing hair naturally.
"The pencils are here."
Twenty-one varieties of pencils lay at the ready, some with dulled tips from prior use. Zhong Yu promptly prepared them.
Lin Yuan commenced painting.
The fact that these copying materials appeared in art students' albums indicated they were crafted by sketching masters. Lin Yuan didn't claim to surpass them, but copying their work proved relatively easy.
Initially, Zhong Yu posed questions.
As Lin Yuan's pen delineated the outline, Zhong Yu grew increasingly silent, entranced by the unfolding masterpiece. Occasionally, he emitted a gasp of awe.
"Swoosh."
Lin Yuan's dedication to the task was unwavering. His wrist moved swiftly, executing details flawlessly. His speed outpaced that of an average artist.
Unbeknownst to Lin Yuan, a member of the club passed by, casually glancing at his canvas. Unable to tear his gaze away, he stopped in his tracks, mouth agape.
Another member followed suit.
After a brief glance, he set his belongings aside and stood transfixed, awestruck by Lin Yuan's work.
One by one...
More and more members gathered within a 180-degree radius around Lin Yuan. All eyes were fixed on him, some even leaning forward in anticipation.
"All done."
Lin Yuan had been so engrossed in painting that he hadn't noticed the growing crowd until he completed the copy. Roughly estimating, over two dozen people surrounded him, some pressed against the periphery.
"Wow!"
"Incredible!"
"Who's this deity?"
"Isn't this the legendary master of copying... I've never seen anyone replicate an image of this complexity so accurately!"
"The resemblance is uncanny!"
"Is this our painting club's new deity? And he's still a student? His skill rivals that of our faculty!"
"..."
Exclamations erupted once Lin Yuan finished his painting. Finally sensing the anomaly, Zhong Yu rose to disperse the crowd, shooing them away. "What are you all doing here? Move along!"
Reluctantly, the onlookers dispersed.
Although Zhong Yu held a senior position in the club, there were members more senior than him who could override his authority. Helplessly, he watched as the crowd continued to gaze at Lin Yuan's work, some even attempting to inch closer to greet him.
"What's going on?"
At that moment, a voice rang out from behind, causing the crowd to stop and look back, their expressions a mix of awe and apprehension.
"The vice president."