Chapter 598: Mixing Pigments

A new month arrived before long.

That morning, Mu Youyu changed her clothes, packed her things into her bag, and then went downstairs.

Today was the opening day of the Young Artists' Joint Exhibition, held at the C Shi Art School Hall.

The opening was set for ten a. m.; Nanran had sent a message the day before, telling her to go straight through the Guest passage upon arrival, so she wouldn't have to queue with ordinary visitors.

Mu Xi was already waiting in the living room; seeing her sister come downstairs, she rose at once and asked, "Did you bring everything?"

Mu Youyu nodded. "All set."

The two got into the car; Mu Xi drove out onto the main road, merged into the morning rush‑hour traffic, moving relatively slowly but smoothly.

The car arrived at the Art School Hall, and Mu Xi parked in the VIP spot at the entrance.

Both sides of the hall's front steps were already crowded with people taking photos, while some invited guests stood at the entrance chatting.

Mu Youyu didn't linger; Mu Xi opened the car door for her, and she headed straight for the Guest passage.

Mu Xi dropped her off at the entrance, didn't go in herself, and said, "Jiang Liangjin's company is nearby; after you're done, go there. If you'd like dinner, eat with him—I'll head back to the office first."

Mu Youyu waved with a smile. "Got it, big bro—bye."

"Bye." Mu Xi lifted her chin, turned, and got back into the car.

Mu Youyu walked down the corridor into the exhibition hall.

Inside the hall, the temperature was a few degrees lower than outside; the light was soft, falling on the paintings and reflecting an even texture.

She strolled slowly along the exhibition route, occasionally pausing to spend a few extra moments before a work, immersed in the dialogue of line and color.

While viewing one of Nanran's pieces, someone behind her called her name in a gentle voice.

She turned around—Nanran was standing a few steps away.

She wore a black dress whose cuffs were embroidered with a few extremely fine silver lines; the look was simple and neat, the hem fell to her knees, and it made her skin look even fairer.

"I thought you'd arrive a bit later." Nanran walked up beside her, saw that her friend's spot was close to her own painting, tilted her head, and said, "This is mine—have you finished looking at it?"

Mu Youyu gave a slight nod of her chin. "Just finished; the composition is interesting, and the handling of perspective feels more comfortable than in her earlier works."

Nanran tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Hearing that puts my mind at ease. When I handed over the paintings earlier I never had a chance to examine them closely; I always felt something was off, and now I realize it's my eyes that aren't quite right."

"You shouldn't say that either."

They walked side by side along the exhibition route for a while, and people kept entering the hall.

Nanran turned her head, her gaze sweeping over Mu Youyu's calm profile. "By the way, did you come alone? You didn't bring that person from your family, did you?"

Mu Youyu shook her head, though the corner of her mouth lifted involuntarily. "Yeah, I came by myself."

Nanran gave a little laugh and said no more.

When they turned to the west side of the main exhibition hall, Mu Youyu stopped walking.

Before them hung a figure painting: the person in it was leaning on a windowsill, slanting light streaming in, casting mottled shadows across the cheeks and arms, lifelike.

Mu Youyu stared at the painting for a moment, then noticed a small white label stuck beside the signature block, printed with two unfamiliar names.

She tilted her head, a touch curious. "I've never heard that name before."

Nanran glanced at it. "They're newcomers to the exhibition, recommended by the school—it's normal not to know them."

"Still pretty good," Mu Youyu remarked briefly, then turned and continued forward.

They had taken just a few steps when a young man in a white shirt came around from the side, stopped in front of them, gave a slight nod, and said, "Senior Nanran, Student Mu, sorry to bother you."

He looked to be in his early twenties, holding a folder, back straight. "I'm the volunteer coordinator for this joint exhibition; I'd like to confirm the seating arrangements for the afternoon forum with you."

Nanran took the schedule he handed over, glanced at it roughly, and said, "The seats are fine; the timing might shift, and if there are any changes I'll let you know in advance."

The volunteer answered with an acknowledgement, gave Mu Youyu a tiny nod, then turned and walked away.

Nanran slipped the schedule into her bag and asked, "Are you speaking at this afternoon's forum?"

Mu Youyu shook her head. "No, I'm just here to join the fun."

"Then I'll go." Nanran raised an eyebrow. "But saying that will probably make all those people scrambling to get on stage so angry they'll be speechless."

Mu Youyu blinked and kept walking.

They continued viewing a few more works; Nanran was called away, so Mu Youyu kept browsing on her own.

After a while, another person approached, dressed in formal attire, looking like a successful professional, smiling as they stood opposite Mu Youyu.

"Miss Mu, hello. I'm the curator from Huayi Culture Media; my surname is Liao."

Mu Youyu replied politely: "Mr. Liao, hello."

Mr. Liao leaned forward slightly. "I've long wanted to meet you; running into you at the exhibition today is truly an honor."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words: "Our company has recently been preparing a promotion project for young artists, and we're currently looking for suitable partners……"

Shifting tack, he realized that talking directly about collaboration would have a low success rate, so he quickly changed his angle.

"I've heard Miss Mu has recently been interested in researching how to mix pigments from minerals; coincidentally, our company has been studying this area as well—we could set aside some time to discuss it in detail."

Mu Youyu responded in a courteous yet detached tone: "Mr. Liao, your information is certainly up‑to‑date; I have indeed been looking into it lately, but for now it's merely a personal interest, not yet at the stage of commercial collaboration."

Mr. Liao's smile didn't fade; he had come prepared and pulled another document from his briefcase.

"I understand, of course we'll follow your wishes. Our company happens to have a consultant—a veteran domestic researcher of mineral pigments—who has collected several batches of ore samples from different eras."

"If Miss Mu is interested, we can arrange a private meeting for you to examine those raw materials; perhaps it will spark new ideas."

Rendering mineral pigments is not merely a technical reproduction; in artistic creation it must be combined with the painter's touch, color conception, and the way the canvas is prepared, in order to achieve a full synthesis.

Being able to handle actual specimens is indeed rare.

But who doesn't have a company these days……

Mu Youyu pondered for a moment, then took a simple business card from her small bag and handed it over: "Then please trouble Mr. Liao to arrange it; just coordinate the timing with my assistant."

Seeing her assent, Mr. Liao said okay repeatedly, carefully took the card, politely took his leave, and his retreating back showed his delight.

Mu Youyu watched his departing back, was about to resume looking at the paintings, when someone lightly tapped her shoulder.

She instinctively turned her head and heard a familiar voice, tinged with excitement: "Mu Jie?"

Mu Youyu turned her head; Yu Yu was standing half a step behind her, her hair shorter than last time they met, and she was still wearing Sheng Luo's uniform.