As Lin Yuan dialed his phone, he inquired, "Are you free at the moment?"
With his phone wedged between his ear and shoulder, Zhongyu replied, "I'm having lunch in the cafeteria. Let me know if you need anything."
"Once you're done, please gather all the gouache supplies and meet me at Classroom 52 in the East Building."
"What's the plan?" Zhong Yu queried.
"We're putting up a blackboard newspaper," Lin Yuan disclosed.
Zhong Yu's surprise was evident as he responded, "I'll be there right away."
Upon concluding the call, Zhong Yu stood up abruptly, announcing to his peers, "I need to go."
"What's going on?" his classmates inquired.
"It seems the Great God is putting up a blackboard," Zhong Yu revealed.
The news prompted laughter and excitement. "The Great God is from the sophomore class, right? Isn't the selection for the sophomore blackboard newspaper this afternoon? Isn't it too late?"
Zhong Yu chuckled, "Do you plan on starving?"
The group burst into laughter. "Of course not! We're a bunch of painting enthusiasts; a blackboard won't stump us. Is the Great God preparing to create a gouache masterpiece?"
"Exactly," Zhong Yu affirmed.
The response in the group chat was enthusiastic.
"Count me in!"
"When the Great God calls, you answer."
"I'm ready to showcase my gouache skills. Time to regain my dignity lost during sketching!"
"Let's not overdo it. The blackboard won't require so many people."
"Agreed. Let's keep it to a few, selecting those with the highest gouache scores."
"We have several hours before the Blackboard News. Seven or eight of us should be plenty."
The group chat buzzed with excitement.
Meanwhile, Zhong Yu, along with their classmates, headed to Classroom 52 of the East Building. These students were Lin Yuan's sketch students.
Upon their arrival, Cao Bin, the squad leader, watched in astonishment as Lin Yuan finished his phone call.
Lin Yuan explained, "A friend from the painting department."
Cao Bin's eyes widened in realization. "Of course, only someone from the painting department could pull this off in such a short time. And a skilled junior at that! Do you think you can call more? We need all the help we can get. Yan Mengjia, the organizer of the blackboard newspaper, took a break last semester due to health reasons and lacks the necessary credits. If the blackboard doesn't turn out well, it could affect her graduation. Despite this, she hasn't blamed the duty classmate..."
Cao Bin's urgency was palpable.
He was indeed a dedicated monitor.
However, as he spoke, Cao Bin's voice trailed off, and he stared out the window in astonishment.
A throng of students had materialized in the corridor, spilling into the classroom entrance. The crowd was so dense that it threatened to burst through the doorway.
"Is this what you meant by 'a friend'?" Cao Bin asked incredulously, turning to Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan was equally surprised. While Zhong Yu led the group, the individuals behind him seemed to be students from his own painting club.
"Great God," Zhong Yu greeted.
Lin Yuan nodded in agreement. "We're short on time. Please help organize the paints."
Zhong Yu, preoccupied with thoughts of the blackboard composition, seemed to overlook Lin Yuan's words, hastily instructing, "We're pressed for time. Let's get the paints ready quickly. And don't forget the water—let's work efficiently..."
As Zhong Yu spoke, he retrieved his phone to search for a suitable composition online. Creating a blackboard newspaper primarily involved copying, making it a relatively straightforward task.
After a few minutes of searching, Zhong Yu found a satisfactory image. However, upon turning around, he noticed the stunned silence in the room.
"What's wrong?" he inquired, turning to the blackboard.
The sight that met his eyes was nothing short of astonishing:
Lin Yuan stood atop a chair, swiftly applying a base coat with a large brush. Skipping the preliminary chalk outlines, he deftly outlined a vibrant green and gray mountain range, exuding an irresistible allure!
Two students assisted by holding the paintbox.
Unhesitatingly, Lin Yuan switched to a finer brush, meticulously blending colors and creating intricate layers to render the mountains in stunning detail!
Three minutes passed...
Seven minutes...
Fifteen minutes...
Thirty-two minutes...
Time seemed to stand still as everyone watched in awe. Lin Yuan's concentration was unwavering as he meticulously brought the landscape to life, stroke by stroke.
The students who had come prepared to assist found themselves reduced to mere spectators, awestruck by Lin Yuan's mastery of his craft.
Lin Yuan's technique was unparalleled—three brushes in hand, one held between his teeth, and one in each hand. Without pause, he seamlessly transitioned between brushes, effortlessly capturing the essence of the scene.
On the shoreline, distant buildings stood silhouetted against the horizon. Fish darted beneath the surface of the water, while crabs scuttled along the sandy shore. A billowing sail graced the distant horizon, propelled by an unseen wind.
As Lin Yuan completed the final stroke with a small brush, he felt the strain in his neck and wrists, a testament to the immense effort expended.
And on the blackboard...
The mountains seamlessly melded into the sea, pine trees shrouded in mist, and a kaleidoscope of hues adorning the sky. Seagulls soared overhead, while crashing waves lent the scene an air of vitality and grandeur.
The fall of Lin Yuan's brush had left everyone spellbound—a testament to his unparalleled talent.
As the students who had assisted Lin Yuan reflected on their roles—be it providing paints, pens, water, or cleaning palettes—they were torn between feelings of pride and humility.