Chapter 795: Chapter 794: Unconvinced_1 Chapter 795: Chapter 794: Unconvinced_1 Autumn Gallery —-
In these two recent days, the gallery’s series of significant moves has shaken the whole Imperial City. The invitation to the art appreciation meeting on the 10th of September was much sought after; even some masters who usually don’t venture out frequently and intentionally called the gallery to request an invitation.
And today, the dean of the Fine Arts College, the famous painter Professor Yu Jingyi, even took the initiative to come to the gallery. Accompanying him was Dai Jinhai, who has just been transferred back to the First Art Academy from Nan Da.
Several Fine Arts students followed behind them, each one an outstanding talent in their own right, displaying remarkable abilities at such a young age. They are the ambitious young painters, the brilliant young talents of the Fine Arts College.
“Professor Yu, what brought you here?” Huo Kewei descended from upstairs, saw a group of people coming in, and couldn’t help but let out a smile that was neither smiling nor not.
Yu Jingyi subtly averted his eyes. Although he knew that Huo Kewei was a decent man and had the spirit of comradeship, his appreciation of art was also good. But his smile still irked him.
The three students following Yu Jingyi stared intently at Huo Kewei.
Dai Jinhai disdained Yu Jingyi’s sanctimoniousness, greeted Huo Kewei warmly. Since he brought Nan Fei over once before, the two of them have established a close relationship. Also, both families stayed within the same compound and were already acquainted with each other.
While others are afraid of Huo Kewei’s villainous appearance, He, the old man, is not.
Huo Kewei saw the look in Yu Jingyi’s eyes, but kept his poker face, leading people in while casually saying, “Professor Yu, feel free to have a look around. We bought a work by Van Gogh from the Paris auction last month.”
As he was about to walk away, Shi Xueyun, who came with Yu Jingyi, spoke up: “Mr. Huo, we…”
She stopped mid-sentence, secretly glanced at her teacher, and after confirming he wasn’t impatient, she continued, “We’ve seen Van Gogh’s work before, you weren’t here at that time, so you wouldn’t know.”
She visits the gallery once a week, always being the first to know when there are new pieces.
“Oh! So, that’s how it is!” Huo Kewei pretended to suddenly realize, while he completely understood in his heart.
Wasn’t Professor Yu itching to see the piece by his niece and promising artist? He had heard rumors that if it weren’t for his rivalry with old Mr. Mi, he would have rushed to Nan Da Fine Arts College to see the painting “Young Maiden” as soon as he could.
It’s said that even though he didn’t see the original, he still watched a lot of imitations and image materials.
But he could understand Yu Jingyi’s mindset – if a painter suddenly appeared with a similar style as his own but with superior skills, anyone would be tempted to see for themselves and test whose work is better.
It seemed that the old man’s self-restraint was not yet up to the mark.
Yu Jingyi gazed at Huo Kewei with deep wisdom, feeling more and more that he was mocking himself. He regretted impulsively allowing Dai Jinhai to coax him into coming here. Thinking this, he cast a stern look at Dai Jinhai.
“Ahem…” Dai Jinhai pretended not to see Yu Jingyi’s look and started speaking, “Ke Wei, why don’t you show everyone my apprentice’s work?”
“Alright!” Guessing it was about time that everyone saw it, Huo Kewei turned and led the group towards the modern art gallery.
On their way, Shi Xueyun and the other students were holding their breaths. This visit was an opportunity for them to witness first-hand the audacious upstart who has risen by riding their teacher’s coattails. They didn’t object to him seeking fame, but they refused to accept that he dared to proclaim that his work was better than their teacher’s.
They were not convinced.