Lin Chen looked at the proud work in the gallery and smiled faintly, "I said your painting is trash."
"Bastard, what right do you have to criticize mine? If you're capable, paint one yourself!" the gallery owner roared hysterically.
The owner's lackeys also started shouting, "Right, if you're capable, you paint one too!"
"He's just a poor loser, he's jealous because he can't afford grapes and says they're sour. How could he possibly paint traditional Chinese paintings?"
The rich second-generation kids jeered in agreement.
Lin Chen smiled faintly, "The essence of traditional Chinese painting can only be captured by the hands of a Chinese. Watch closely, young master will now teach you how to paint traditional Chinese painting."
With these words, Lin Chen approached a piece of rice paper and picked up a writing brush.
"Popularity System, choose Master Qi's painting technique inheritance for me!"
Soon, streams of information flowed into Lin Chen's mind.
Seeing Lin Chen holding the brush without starting to paint, the gallery owner immediately laughed, "What's the matter? Can't paint anything, can you? Apologize to me honestly, kid, or I won't let you off the hook."
Lin Chen looked up at the gallery owner, smiled faintly, and said, "Pay close attention, and see what real traditional Chinese painting is."
As his voice fell, Lin Chen's brush started to move continuously across the rice paper.
At this moment, everyone gathered around to watch Lin Chen paint.
The several Chinese painting masters were also curiously standing among the crowd, and when they saw the lines on Lin Chen's canvas, they were stunned.
This young man's painting skills are too exquisite, simply on the level of a great master of traditional Chinese painting.
Very soon, a painting of a rainy Jiangnan scene appeared before everyone.
Under the drizzling rain, a small boat wandered on the river, by the riverbank an old man with a bamboo hat was fishing, and on the bridge, a young girl holding an umbrella was standing looking toward something in the distance. What was even more remarkable was that every figure in the painting was vividly alive.
Lin Chen, holding up the painting, said with a smile, "Master Xia, why don't you appraise our painting and see how it is!"
Xia Qingtian smiled, "There are several Chinese painting masters here; let them do the appraisal."
All three Chinese painting masters directly bypassed the gallery owner's painting and gathered in front of the one that Lin Chen painted.
"This painting fully conveys the essence of traditional Chinese painting, the lines, the ink strokes, everything is just perfect. It is absolutely the work of a master," the leading master praised incessantly.
Another master standing beside him also kept praising, "This young man must have inherited Master Qi's style. Whether it's the craftsmanship or the spirit, it is as if Master Qi himself were alive."
The last Chinese painting master sighed, "I won't say anything else. To summarize this young brother's style in one sentence: we are simply not in the same league."
Everyone present was astounded.
All three of them were renowned figures in Chinese painting, and they had voluntarily admitted that their skills were inferior to Lin Chen's; this was simply incredible."
At this time, one of the gallery owner's lackeys, trying to suck up, asked untimely, "What about our gallery owner's painting then?"
One of the Chinese painting masters glanced at it, "It's just at a beginner's level."
Laughter rippled through the crowd at the master's words.
Master level, beginner level, the two were worlds apart.
Hearing the master's words, the gallery owner wished he could find a hole to crawl into, while Sophina was staring at Lin Chen with a shocked expression.
Xia Qingtian looked at Lin Chen with a peculiar glint in his eyes, "Haha, it turns out we have a master of Chinese painting among us, Mr. Lin. You really are profound and inscrutable. I must admit, I'm beginning to find you quite unfathomable."
Lin Chen smiled modestly, "I'm just painting casually. The masters are flattering me too highly."
Taking the painting, Lin Chen handed it over to Sophina, "Miss Sophina, this painting is for you. I hope you like it."
Sophina's cheeks reddened when she saw Lin Chen's painting and, thinking about what she had just said about Lin Chen, stubbornly said, "I'm sorry, but I can't accept this painting without having done anything to deserve it."
"Who says that? You are the model in my painting." Saying this, Lin Chen pointed at the girl with the umbrella, "That's you!"
As he spoke, Lin Chen grabbed a magnifying glass and handed it to Sophina.
Sophina took the magnifying glass with a puzzled look, and her expression changed dramatically when she saw the girl with the umbrella.
Oh my God, that girl looks so much like me.
In Sophina's memory, Lin Chen had only used a few quick strokes when painting this girl, but how could he make it resemble her so closely was simply amazing.
At that moment, a master next to Sophina said with envy, "Young lady, you'd better take good care of this painting, I estimate it won't take long before it becomes a priceless treasure."
After hearing the words of the master painter, Sophina was stunned at first and then nodded, "Hmph, since you insist on giving it, then I'll accept it."
Watching Sophina's expression, Lin Chen was speechless for a moment; it felt as though he owed her something.
The art exhibition ended, and the lights in the dance floor lit up, accompanied by the melodious music, couples started moving to the dance floor to dance.
At this moment, Xia Qingtian walked over, extending his hand with a gentleman's expression.
"Sophina, may I have this dance with you?"
Xia Qingtian looked at Sophina passionately, with expectation in his eyes.
However, Sophina coldly said, "You should find someone else, I don't want to dance."
Xia Qingtian, having hit a soft spot, awkwardly chuckled, "Alright then, I'll join you for a drink."
As he spoke, Xia Qingtian poured a glass of red wine and was about to hand it to Sophina, but it was taken by Lin Chen instead.
"Thanks," Lin Chen said as he downed the red wine in one gulp.
"You! That wine wasn't poured for you," Xia Qingtian said angrily.
Lin Chen smiled lightly, "I know, but whether you pour it for my wife or for me, isn't it the same thing?"
"Come on, wife, let's dance," Lin Chen said, pulling Sophina's hand and heading towards the dance floor.
Sophina wanted to refuse, but Lin Chen didn't give her a chance.
By the time she realized what was happening, they were already on the dance floor.
"You jerk, who said I wanted to dance with you?" Sophina said coldly.
Lin Chen smiled faintly, "Wife, you didn't say, but in your heart, you definitely want to, so I just granted your wish."
With that, Lin Chen wrapped his arms around Sophina's slender waist and started twirling her around the dance floor.
Sophina was already on the thief's ship, and with people all around, she had no choice but to dance.
"Fine, but you'd better keep up with my rhythm!" Sophina's eyes twinkled as she made up her mind.
Back in college, she was on the school's dance team, and she didn't dance just any dances, but high-difficulty ones.
Sophina had wanted Lin Chen to back off, knowing that this kind of dance required professional training and was not something ordinary people could do.
However, the next moment, Sophina was stunned; Lin Chen not only kept up with her steps but also danced gracefully.
Seeing the two's dance moves, everyone was astounded and automatically cleared the dance floor.
In the center of the dance floor, two figures performed high-difficulty moves with great beauty, their coordination seamless.
Sudden warm applause erupted from the crowd, and Xia Qingtian's face turned an ashen blue.
"Did this jerk just use cheats? How the hell is he good at everything!"