Chapter 2179: You Are My Only Color 14

The air suddenly grew still, Wen Jin unconsciously rubbed his cuff with his fingertips.

"I miss you." Wen Jin eventually conceded, willingly admitting it, even his tone took on a tenderness that outsiders found unbelievable.

It wasn't that he hadn't noticed Jin Chen's guidance and step‑by‑step probing in this regard; it was like touching a scorching flame that melted the ice in his heart.

Thus he felt all the more that his own cooperation was unbelievable.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -1, total 97!】

"What did you do yesterday?" Jin Chen sat up, and only after receiving an answer could he speak properly.

Wen Jin's gaze lingered vaguely on the screen, recalling, then he said, "I had coffee with a few old friends and discussed a business deal."

He skirted the main point, not mentioning that those old friends were high‑ranking mafia members, nor did he mention the scene where the negotiation table almost saw a gunfight.

Of course, he didn't say it, but Jin Chen knew as well.

"Alright, I hope the professor continues to keep it up." Jin Chen pushed his advantage, unilaterally gaining the right to share Wen Jin's life, even though hardly any of it was true.

But being able to start is already a good omen; Jin Chen isn't in a hurry at all.

Wen Jin glanced at his wristwatch: "It's getting late, you should rest early."

"Good." Jin Chen leaned close to the camera, "Good night."

"Good night." Wen Jin watched the screen go dark, his fingertips lightly brushing over where Jin Chen had been in the video.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 32!】

——

The finals venue.

All the judges and the live audience from the art world were very familiar with Jin Chen, this contestant.

The first two rounds had already shown Jin Chen's unique talent; calling him the dark horse of this edition is not an overstatement—he possesses both spirituality and skill, and many veteran artists have already extended olive branches to him in advance.

The theme of the finals was announced on site, requiring contestants to quickly conceive and complete their works within the limited time, with the judging panel conducting on‑site evaluation and holding an award ceremony.

Wu You knew the finals theme half a month in advance, on the day he demanded a fair quota to compete with Jin Chen.

Thus he handled things with ease, having already taken extra lessons from a nationally renowned master.

I have nothing; I need this first‑place honor. Wu You convinced himself of this in his heart.

He overlooked one thing.

In the face of absolute strength, even early preparation only leaves him to be compared.

Jin Chen painted so well that anyone who learned he wasn't first would on the spot doubt the competition's authenticity.

However…

"The champion of this Oil Painting Competition is…" the host's voice trembled, sure he hadn't misread, "Wu You!"

On the judges' bench, the white‑haired old professor slammed the table and shouted, "Absurd!"

He pointed at Jin Chen's painting, furious: "A work of this caliber belongs in any international competition! What are you choosing?!"

"Wu You has the edge in technique…" the bribe‑taking judge wiped cold sweat and interrupted, "Jin Chen's painting is too… sentimental."

The sentimental Jin Chen curled his lip, watching this farce.

【"Eh, right! If you angle it a bit more to the side, how broken it is!" Ling Gun Gun gave online guidance.】

Security approached silently, trying to escort Jin Chen away from the scene, but when the camera swept over, he simply lowered his gaze, exuding a broken feeling.

Wu You's face darkened; he hadn't expected the judges to be so unsparing.

The crowd shouting about a black‑box surged with overwhelming waves.

"Wu You, I heard you and Jin Chen are from the same school—may I ask where your competition slot came from?"

"Wu You, what do you think of your own championship?"

"Wu You…"

The media rushed in for interviews; Wu You was surrounded, nearly angry enough to curse, but he couldn't let that give Gu Xi a bad impression.

Which media outlet is this! How sharp their questioning is!

It's Jin Chen's.

The latest acquisition, just waiting for today.

Jin Chen stood beside the judges' platform, tapping his cuff with his fingertips, he glanced through the crowd at Gu Xi seated in the audience and raised an eyebrow slightly.

【"Ready… fire!" Ling Gun Gun let out a cry.】

In the next instant.

The countdown screen suddenly flickered, and a piercing audio rang throughout the venue:

"Gu CEO, rest assured, the judging panel has already taken care of things…"

"As long as Wu You's painting doesn't show a major mistake…"

"Yes, yes, yes, I'm in charge of this edition, I'll make sure…"

An uproar rose from the crowd.

Wu You clutched the trophy and stepped back, his expression shifting to shock, instinctively looking toward the audience.

But Gu Xi sensed something was off the moment the audio played, and hurriedly left.

Wu You drew a deep breath, bewildered at how something like this could have leaked!

Reporters swarmed forward, the flashbulbs stinging his eyes so he could barely open them: "May I ask how you explain this recording?"

"This is forged!" Wu You's voice trembled, the trophy base leaving a deep dent in his palm: "I… my painting really…"

Better than Jin Chen's.

Wu You didn't have the courage to say those words.

Jin Chen stood in the shadows, his fingertips lightly rubbing the edge of the canvas, he let out a soft sigh, just barely picked up by the nearest camera.

The youth, naturally gifted, now found this grievance impossible to voice, a helpless helplessness that even made many art‑working audience members red‑eyed.

The old professor took off their glasses, pointed at the organizers, and angrily denounced: "You are desecrating art!"

Under the gaze of everyone and isolated without aid, Wu You could only set down the trophy and flee the stage in panic.

After another tens of minutes of internal discussion, in the end, under the witness of all the audience and judges, the trophy was delivered into Jin Chen's hands, and the award ceremony was held again.

And as they were leaving, Jin Chen, holding the trophy, bumped into Wu You, who was trembling all over from fright, and Jin Chen's steps halted.

Look, I've advised you before; when you have free time, you'd better improve your painting skills.

But you still embarrassed yourself in the competition.

An unprecedented embarrassment.

The competition gathered so many big names from the art world that Wu You dare not even think about it.

Wu You grabbed their hair, voice hoarse: "Is it you! Or... or Wen Jin? How did you get the call records?"

【Obviously because of the wise and martial auspicious beast lord.】

Ling Gun Gun patted their chest, not at all proud.

"Really strange," Jin Chen still quite surprised, "I'm just exposing you, not framing you."

What are you angry about?

Wu You: "……"

Wu You clutched their chest, nearly fainted from anger.