Chapter 90: Grand Finals

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the International Youth Art Grand Finals.

Mu Youyu wore casual clothes, her hair tied up in a high bun, sitting in the car with Mu Xi on her left and Lu Yuchu on her right.

Mu Youyu looked like she hadn't slept well, her head nodding, almost leaning onto Mu Xi's shoulder.

Mu Xi wasn't much better off, her eyes half-closed, but she still gathered her spirits and used one hand to support her sister so she wouldn't fall.

Lu Yuchu, sitting one person away, could clearly see and helplessly lowered his voice: 'Xiao Xi, what did you do last night? Why didn't Youbao sleep well either?'

Mu Xi spoke softly: 'Youbao couldn't sleep yesterday, so I stayed up playing games with her.'

He, she, and Jiang Liangjin played a three-person mini-game together.

As soon as his words fell, Mu Youyu leaned against Mu Xi's shoulder, humming indistinctly, found a more comfortable position, and her eyelashes fluttered.

And just like that, she fell asleep.

Lu Yuchu watched this scene, waved his hand, and said, 'Alright you two, we still have twenty minutes; let her sleep a bit.'

The car slowly entered the Art Center where the competition was held, the entrance already crowded with reporters and parents who had come to watch.

Seeing they had arrived, Mu Xi took out a mask, put it on, covering most of her face, leaving only a pair of deep, cold eyes visible.

Lu Yuchu beside her also put on a mask, sunglasses, and a baseball cap, but just as he was about to get out, he was stopped: 'With your status, you'd better not get out.'

Lu Yuchu tugged at his cap, raised an eyebrow nonchalantly, and said, 'It's fine, my fans won't recognize me.'

He wore all red—mask, cap, and even the rims of his sunglasses were red—for good luck.

So he didn't think he'd be recognized!

'... Fine, if you get recognized, I won't care about you.' Mu Xi then stopped worrying about him.

He picked up his sister's light jacket, gently tapped Mu Youyu's shoulder, and called softly: 'Youbao, wake up, we're at the venue.'

Mu Youyu woke up a bit at the call and then got out of the car.

Lu Yuchu walked to her side and said, 'Don't worry!'

He bent down, gave Mu Youyu an encouraging thumbs‑up, his voice full of encouragement: 'Youbao, relax, you'll definitely get first place today! I'm cheering for you from outside!'

Mu Xi had already arranged bodyguards in advance; now several black‑suit bodyguards stood neatly beside the car.

Seeing them get out, they immediately and tacitly cleared a path ahead, separating the crowded crowd.

Just as the three stepped into the crowd, a scream erupted.

'Ahhh, it's Chu Chu—Chu Chu got even more handsome!'

'Lu Yuchu!'

'How come Chu Chu is here too—is he here to compete, or just to see someone off?'

As the words fell, the crowd that had been gathered at the entrance instantly erupted, reporters and fans surging forward to surround Lu Yuchu.

Mu Xi reacted extremely fast, almost at the instant the scream rang out, she placed one hand on Mu Youyu's back and pulled her away a bit.

But she didn't really ignore Lu Yuchu.

He gave a glance to the two bodyguards beside him, signaling them to go over and protect him.

Mu Youyu instinctively wanted to turn back to check on Lu Yuchu's situation, but Mu Xi lightly pressed her shoulder.

She soothed softly: 'It's fine, Youbao, don't worry about him—at most he'll be surrounded for autographs and photos; the bodyguards will handle it. Let's head to the competition area first, don't waste your time.'

Hearing her brother's words, Mu Youyu relaxed a little, turned her head, and obediently followed him toward the competition area.

As Mu Youyu followed Mu Xi into the competition area, several gazes involuntarily stuck to them.

'Damn, these two are so pale—why are they wearing masks to the competition?'

'That guy's eyes are gorgeous—take off the mask and he's definitely a handsome guy……'

'The girl is also beautiful! Her eyes are so big, she looks soft and squishy!'

'Are they here to compete? They look so unfamiliar—I've never seen them before……'

'Probably from another region—there are so many experts in this grand finals; I just hope I can perform normally!'

The chatter came and went, mostly amazed and curious about their looks, with no real malice.

Mu Xi was already used to this; she simply, without changing expression, pulled Mu Youyu a bit closer to herself to block those gazes.

Then the exam supervisor began organizing the contestants' identity checks, and the line instantly fell silent, the earlier chatter stopping as well.

The contestants dutifully lined up, their gazes tense as they looked toward the examiner.

Mu Xi raised a hand to ruffle Mu Youyu's hair, then whispered: 'Your brother is waiting in the lounge over there—don't rush your drawing, just treat it as play; if you want to come out, come straight out and find your brother.'

Mu Youyu nodded, 'I know, brother!'

'Youbao, go for it!' Mu Xi gave a small smile, then glanced at the bodyguard beside her.

The bodyguard hurriedly handed over the art supplies he was holding.

She took them, and Mu Xi walked off to the lounge a few rooms away.

Mu Youyu observed that the competition area had about ten people per room, with participants from different countries.

Since it's the youth grand finals, they all appeared to be around fifteen years old.

Mu Youyu walked in the middle of the line, holding her art supplies; her loose casual clothes accentuated her slender figure, and the eyes visible above her mask were clear and bright.

When it was her turn, she stepped forward, removed her mask, and her delicate features looked like a doll's.

She handed over her documents; as the examiner checked the information, his gaze unintentionally swept over her face, he paused for a moment before quickly finishing the verification.

'... Seat number one.'

Inside, a few curious contestants who were looking out gasped at the sight of her appearance.

Ahhhhh, a fairy!

Why hadn't I seen her in previous matches?

Mu Youyu put her mask back on and went to her seat.

Not long after, the examiner walked in holding the topic card.

Place the topic cards on each contestant's desk.

Not to copy a given material, but to draw according to the theme's requirements.

Mu Youyu glanced; she had drawn something similar for this topic before.

Thus, she put brush to paper decisively; soon, the lines smoothly outlined the scene.

Contestants sitting around or behind her occasionally glanced up, caught sight of her finished work on the paper, couldn't help but stare, even their hand movements slowed a beat.

Wow?

Whoa?

Wha whoa?

Not long after an hour and a half had passed, Mu Youyu put down her brush.

She glanced over, confirmed nothing needed fixing, then packed up her art supplies and stood, walking toward the front.

"Finished so quickly?" the supervising teacher in front was somewhat surprised, lowered his head to glance at her work, a flash of amazement crossing his eyes.

Instinctively lowering his voice: "Go out."

Mu Youyu walked out holding her art supplies.

Some contestants who had drawn less than half heard this, their brushes nearly dropping to the ground:! wc

Where did this master come from!

In previous competitions I've never seen this, how could they finish in just an hour?

This makes it impossible for those who've been drawing half a day and still have nothing formed to survive!