Chapter 145

Jiang Liangjin paused, not looking at the painting, his gaze soft falling on Mu Youyu, voice gentle: "It's right on my aesthetic point."

Mu Xin stood at the side, hearing this, he almost couldn't keep a straight face.

Is he talking about the painting?

…… Clearly he's talking about his sister.

Just as his words fell, a white-haired elder nearby suddenly turned his head, piercing gaze toward Mu Youyu: "Little girl… is this your painting?"

He could tell just from their undisguised discussion!

The elder's voice wasn't soft; the originally somewhat noisy corner of the exhibition hall instantly fell silent.

People around viewing the painting were drawn by the commotion, curious gazes all turning toward Mu Youyu and that painting, the whispering gradually ceased.

Mu Youyu nodded calmly: "Yes."

The elder's eyes flashed with delight; he hurriedly took out a business card from his pocket: "I am… a professor at the Art School, surname Yu! This painting's brushwork is special, having the atmosphere of traditional ink wash while incorporating oil painting characteristics; I rarely see such a spirited work!"

"Indeed!" a middle-aged man beside chimed in, eyes full of praise: "So young, yet formidable!"

Seeing this, Jiang Liangjin immediately stepped forward half a step, subtly blocking in front of Mu Youyu, neither appearing deliberate nor failing to shield her from the overly heated gazes of the crowd.

He took the card, voice polite: "Professor Yu, hello."

However, Professor Yu's attention was wholly on Mu Youyu, brushing past whoever had appeared, still eagerly gazing at her: "There's still an opening in the exhibition area of tomorrow's annual art forum; are you interested in participating? It would let more people see your work—how wonderful!"

Mu Youyu: "Oh, sorry, if nothing unexpected, I would be the main character that day."

Then her painting naturally should be placed in the center.

How could it be placed in an especially vacant spot?

Before she could speak, a slightly sharp female voice came from behind: "Professor Yu, isn't this inappropriate?"

The crowd followed the sound and saw a woman in a black professional suit walking briskly, her high-heeled steps urgent and heavy, her face bearing professional aloofness.

Her gaze swept critically over Mu Youyu, as if inspecting a defective product.

"The exhibitors at the forum are all selected through layers of strict screening; qualifications, experience, and influence of their work are indispensable—how could we casually let someone of unknown background join?"

If this got out, wouldn't it show their art circle forum is unprofessional?

Mu Xin's brows instantly furrowed; he stepped forward silently, standing left and right with Jiang Liangjin to shield Mu Youyu in the middle.

His ice-blue eyes coldly stared at Qiao Su, making her inexplicably feel a bit uneasy.

Professor Yu displeased: "Qiao Su, what are you saying? This little girl's painting being able to hang in the exhibition hall's center already shows her ability!"

Moreover, she has a connection with Old Lin!

The woman named Qiao Su gave a light chuckle, the corner of her mouth curling with derision, looking pointedly at Mu Youyu: "Professor Yu, you're too quick to trust people! Nowadays, who doesn't hang paintings in the exhibition hall by pulling strings? Who knows if this little girl is just borrowing Old Teacher Lin's name to get this chance? Maybe this painting was done by a ghostwriter!"

As her words fell, Jiang Liangjin's expression darkened instantly, the warmth in his eyes vanishing, leaving only icy stillness.

Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by the girl beside him lightly laughing: "Borrowing a name? Ghostwriting?"

He glanced sideways at Mu Youyu; seeing she didn't mind, the hostility in his eyes eased a little.

Mu Youyu raised her brows, leisurely took out her phone, and opened a chat called "Again and again".

The group has few members, only sixteen, but each avatar is not simple; anyone familiar with the art circle knows these people are all big shots in the art world!

There are lifetime judges of international art exhibitions, top masters in domestic ink-wash and oil painting fields……

Just pick any one at random, and they're existences Qiao Su could only look up to her whole life.

She scrolled to it.

The screen clearly showed several people in the art circle discussing this painting, as well as Lin Tingsong personally saying, "We should hang this painting in the most conspicuous place."

Qiao Su's face instantly turned ugly; still unwilling to concede, she forced a rebuttal: "Who knows if these people aren't ones you hired to pretend? Using a small account to pose as a big shot—this trick isn't rare nowadays!"

This girl is young and pretty—how could she possibly catch Old Lin's eye?

And how could she possibly know those big-shot figures?

Mu Youyu put away her phone, tone calm: "If you doubt my qualifications, you can directly contact Teacher Lin to confirm."

Qiao Su's face instantly stiffened, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes.

What level is Lin Tingsong? An internationally top-tier art master, capable of holding up half the sky in the international art world!

That's an existence she can't reach even on tiptoe—let alone contacting, she doesn't even have a chance to meet him!

Even if she really had contact info, they might not bother replying to her!

Mu Youyu faced the varied gazes of the crowd, stepped forward, posture straight, eyes clear, voice tinged with a faint provocation: "Besides, even if I really relied on connections, that's capital I have to rely on—what can you do about it?"

She gave a soft "tsk": "It's still better than some people who have neither ability nor connections, only able to sourly criticize others here."

Mu Xin stood at the side, wearing a doting expression, saying nothing.

Jiang Liangjin likewise.

Mu Youyu paused, her gaze sweeping over Qiao Su's chest badge: "This… auntie, are you the staff member responsible for screening behind the scenes? I'm curious—when you screen, do you look at artwork quality, or at personal connections behind the scenes?"

This hit Qiao Su's sore spot; she even forgot to be angry about being called "auntie," opening her mouth but unable to think of what to say for a moment.

The onlookers' gazes toward her instantly turned subtle; whispers rose again, mostly mocking her for making a fuss over nothing and bringing shame on herself.

Qiao Su cheered herself up, then quickly said: "Even if the group is real, maybe you just sneaked in by opportunism! Without solid awards and credentials, who would believe you have this level?"

Mu Youyu raised her brows, tapped her phone lightly, pulled up a screenshot of an award certificate, voice clear: "The… gold medal from two years ago at the International Art Competition, the judge was one of my uncles—do you need me to call him now on video to verify?"

Worried she might think it was a small contest, she kindly reminded: "It's that annual one held at Y Guo's Art School."

As soon as she said that, Qiao Su's face instantly drained of color.

That's an international top-tier competition; she's chased it for four years and still hasn't reached the edge!

And besides, how old was this girl two years ago?

The crowd erupted, someone whispering in astonishment: "No wonder the brushwork is superb—turns out she's a gold medalist!"

Mu Youyu put away her phone, her gaze sweeping over Qiao Su: "Credentials are shown by the painting, not by mouth."

Mu Xin said lightly: "Instead of fixating on my baby's background, you'd better look at your own identity and ability."

Jiang Liangjin added, "Her works have been in the National Art Museum's collection for several years already; would you like me to have someone send over a proof?"