The grandfather and grandson quickly settled the upcoming arrangements for the studio, leaving the others utterly stunned.
As their identification details were recorded in the notebook, the old man's eyes crinkled into a smile.
This way, he wouldn't have to worry about the little one running off.
The old man pulled Sheng Sheng over and pressed her into the chair that Cheng Qiye had just vacated.
"Come, come, little one. I've already seen your eyesight and judgment. You can start drawing whatever you like, and I'll see how your practical skills are."
Cheng Qiye, ever the cooperative one, prepared to change the canvas.
However, before he could move, Jian Sheng had already picked up a brush and began drawing on the canvas where he had sketched a comical, large turtle.
Everyone watched with curiosity.
A large brush, laden with ink, was used to deepen the shading of the turtle's shell based on the original drawing. A few strokes outlined its limbs, and a massive serpent coiled around the turtle's back, its mouth agape towards the onlookers, exuding an aura of world-devouring power.
Those present who understood painting had shifting expressions.
Cheng Qiye's mouth hung open.
Was this truly a drawing altered from his own depiction of a turtle?
The young man with the glasses stared at the painting on the board for a long time, lost in thought. Suddenly, a realization dawned on him, "This painting feels so similar to that unsigned one outside."
Despite having no resemblance other than both being ink paintings, he couldn't shake the inexplicable familiarity.
As if prompted, the refined middle-aged man also suddenly came to a realization.
This lingering sense of familiarity – wasn't it the same feeling he often experienced with the works of his teacher, a master painter of national treasure status?
That sense of majestic spirit, capable of devouring heaven and earth, was the true differentiator between ordinary painters and masters.
It was just that this little one had it in reverse; she lacked much technique and relied entirely on her intuition, yet she had captured a spirit that many painters couldn't achieve in a lifetime.
The refined middle-aged man's eyes gleamed with shock.
This wasn't raw jade; it was already a finished gem, requiring only a little polishing to become the most astonishing of all.
"Hahahaha! Good, good, good! My Cheng Yongtai has successors!"
The old man clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "Come, little one, tell Grandpa who taught you all these skills? I'm incredibly curious now about which family you come from."
Jian Sheng glanced at her mother, a hint of shyness in her voice, "Just, just a few grandpas. They told me a lot, but I didn't study properly."
A few grandpas?
He named several people in succession, but Jian Sheng merely shook her head.
The old man mused. Perhaps the little one hadn't paid attention to their status, but surely her family would know?
However, when asked about Jian Junruo, she was also clueless. As Sheng Sheng's mother, she didn't even know when her precious Sheng Sheng had come into contact with so many highly skilled elders.
"That's strange. Where in the entirety of China could there be so many formidable individuals?"
The old man was baffled, "Wasn't it through your father's side of the family that she met them?"
Jian Junyu quickly stopped him, "Teacher, our family situation is a bit complicated. Sheng Sheng only met her father a few months ago, and their relationship isn't good."
The old man immediately ceased his questioning.
After exchanging contact information, Jian Sheng obediently said goodbye to everyone and left.
Upon exiting the art exhibition, Jian Junruo fell silent.
"What's wrong?" Jian Junyu asked worriedly.
Jian Junruo drooped her head dejectedly, "Little brother, am I a terrible mother?"
Jian Junyu frowned, "Why do you think that?"
Jian Junruo said with a sense of loss, "I brought Sheng Sheng alone to Jiangcheng, but I can't give her the best living environment or the best learning conditions. I don't even know what talents Sheng Sheng has or who she has been interacting with."
Jian Sheng held her hand, looked up at her mother earnestly, and said, "Mommy! This is my problem! It's not your problem!"
She had truly done her best for the original Jian Sheng.
This lack of knowledge was all due to her own arrival.
Jian Junruo gently stroked her daughter's fair and smooth cheek, her heart made up.
"Little brother, I want to go home."
She was naturally a sensitive person, and seeing her brother's gaze after her own ignorant display today, how could she not understand?
Her life was what it was, but she didn't want Sheng Sheng to be the same.
Only the Jian family could provide Sheng Sheng with the best conditions and the broadest horizons.
Jian Junyu affectionately ruffled his sister's hair.
"Alright, let's go home."
After getting into the car, the atmosphere among them remained peculiar.
Leaning against her mother, Jian Sheng opened her phone, intending to check the news and continue learning about the common knowledge of this world.
After buying the phone yesterday, her mother's secondary SIM card had been inserted, allowing for normal internet access.
Jian Sheng had already familiarized herself with the phone's operations last night. As she opened it, a push notification suddenly appeared at the top, capturing her attention.
#Domineering Cute Kid Protects Mommy#
Mom takes daughter to an art exhibition, gets provoked by someone; cute kid steps up to retort fiercely! You've protected me as I grew; now it's my turn to protect you [Expand] [Video]
"What kind of strange news is this?"
Jian Sheng muttered, about to scroll past, when she suddenly saw a familiar figure. Her hand slipped, and she clicked on it.
A familiar voice came from the video.
"...a renowned talented woman, with a double degree~ How could I possibly be worthy of being friends with the great Jian, the talented woman?"
This video was filmed quite completely. Apart from the initial provocative sentence from Xu Lan not being captured, Xu Lan's sarcastic remarks and Jian Sheng's strong counter-attack were all recorded.
Hearing the voices, Jian Xiuhuan and Jian Junruo, sitting in the back seat, both leaned in.
From Xu Lan's provocation to Jian Sheng's rebuttal and the warm embrace of mother and daughter, they watched the entire video.
The three of them quietly watched the video from an observer's perspective.
Jian Xiuhuan frowned, "Someone actually filmed it. Won't this have a negative impact on little aunt and cousin Sheng?"
As he spoke, he also opened his own phone and searched for this Weibo post.
It already had thousands of shares and over a hundred thousand likes.
He quickly looked at the comments below the video, worried that there might be negative comments that could affect Jian Sheng and the other girl.
What Xu Lan had said at the time was unpleasant, and if it got out, it might affect the reputations of his little aunt and cousin.
After a brief scan, however, the comments were different from what Jian Xiuhuan had imagined.
—Is this really a child? Don't lie to me if I'm ignorant.
—Suddenly realized, I might not even be able to win an argument against a child (sad).
—"Humanity's Max-Level Infant"
—Human evolution didn't wait for me (crying)!
—Sorry, I'm dragging down the average IQ of humanity.
—Hello, Meng Po? I'd like to report someone here for reincarnating without drinking Meng Po's soup!
—Although it wasn't said to me, why do I still feel so heartbroken (crying)!
—When I was this old, I was still learning Pinyin. As expected, the gap between people is bigger than the gap between people and dogs!
—Hahaha, using the softest and cutest voice, with the most polite tone, saying the harshest and most heartbreaking words – the effect is fully achieved.