Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, I became a legend in the entertainment industry by avo

Zhang Qilin was not surprised to hear the reprimand on the other end of the phone.

The original owner only called home when he was short of money.

He would get scolded by his father every time.

He interrupted his father before he could finish speaking:

"Dad, I didn't come here to ask for money..."

"It's free?" Mr. Zhang asked suspiciously. "Then why are you making that call so late at night?"

"I'm preparing for the civil service exam..." Zhang Qilin said calmly.

"What! You want to take the civil service exam?" Upon hearing his son's words, Mr. Zhang's voice suddenly rose.

For a moment, he almost doubted that he was hallucinating.

After a brief silence, as if he had thought of something, he said in a serious tone:

"Tell me honestly, are you in debt from gambling...? How much money do you need?"

Mr. Zhang preferred to believe that his son was making up excuses to scam money rather than believe that he would voluntarily take the civil service exam.

He used to try to persuade his son every time he called, but his son always ignored him.

How come you've suddenly changed your attitude after only a few days of no contact?

Zhang Qilin explained:

"It was my teachers at school who helped me clarify my future career path and made me understand which route was best. To express my gratitude to my two teachers, I would like to present them with a calligraphy piece..."

After listening to his son's explanation, Zhang's father remained silent for a long time.

Is the Zhang family's ancestral grave... emitting auspicious smoke?

My son is actually going to take the civil service exam?

Mr. Zhang was still somewhat skeptical, so he continued to ask:

"Really, just calligraphy? No money required?"

"It's free."

After confirming repeatedly, Zhang's father said again:

"How about your mother and I go to Kyoto tomorrow to thank the two teachers in person?"

"No need. I have the opportunity to intern at the Beijing People's Art Theatre to pave the way for taking the entrance exam for a permanent position there next year. Your arrival would cause too much of a stir, and if everyone knows about it, it will have a negative impact."

The other end of the phone fell silent as Mr. Zhang processed his son's words.

After a moment, Zhang's father said:

"What words do you want? I'll have someone write them and send them to you tomorrow."

"I need it by tomorrow morning. Do you know anyone in Kyoto?"

"Why the rush?"

"The internship opportunity ends the day after tomorrow, and there are quite a few people competing for it."

Upon hearing this, Zhang's father immediately understood what was going on and readily agreed.

"Wait a moment, I'll contact my friend in Kyoto. What do you need to write?"

"One piece should be a stage design, and the other should simply be a song praising the teacher and expressing respect."

"Then you wait, I'll call you back once I've made contact."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Qilin breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed he had gotten past the original owner's father.

The original owner's father was a full-time painter employed by the Shandong Provincial Government, responsible for the image promotion paintings of government departments. He was a worldly man.

His behavior just now was as much as possible imitating the original owner.

As of now, Zhang's father has no doubts about his identity.

This is a good start, giving him more confidence to integrate into the world as soon as possible.

Half an hour later, the phone vibrated again.

"Dalin," Zhang's father's voice rang out, "go to your Uncle Chen's office at 8:30 tomorrow morning to pick it up."

Zhang Qilin was stunned after hearing this.

Uncle Chen is Chen Xiujie, a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. He was a good classmate of the original owner's father and took good care of the original owner during his years of study in Kyoto.

But the key point is...

Zhang Qilin raised the following question:

"Dad, Uncle Chen is a painter, but I need calligraphy... Should we find a calligrapher?"

"Your Uncle Chen is a council member of the China Artists Association and a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. How could his status and position be so inferior?"

Zhang Qilin wanted to say something, but then he realized what was going on.

Uncle Chen's paintings are highly valued, and many people are willing to pay high prices to buy them, but his calligraphy has never been sold, and its market price is unknown.

Even so, his father still didn't trust him, fearing that he would resell the famous paintings and calligraphy after acquiring them.

As Zhang Qilin was pondering this, his father's voice rang out again:

"Your mom will deposit 10,000 yuan into your card tomorrow morning. This is a rare opportunity, so don't skimp on spending money where necessary."

"Okay, it's getting late, I'll hang up now. You and Mom should get some rest too."

The next morning.

7:30

Zhang Qilin took a taxi to the campus of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. The clear and soft morning light of early spring gilded the artistic buildings with a faint golden edge.

He walked to the door of Room 207, Building 3, East District.

Knock gently on the door.

The door opened with a sound, and a pair of affectionate, peach blossom eyes suddenly came into view.

Upon seeing those eyes, Zhang Qilin felt a strange sense of familiarity and couldn't help but scrutinize the other person closely.

The girl had long, smooth hair with slightly curled ends, casually draped over her shoulders, with a few wisps of hair falling naturally in front of her forehead, making her face look fair and beautiful.

It gives people a feeling that is both fashionable and gentle.

She wore a light blue, front-opening, narrow-sleeved blouse with delicate white piping at the collar and cuffs, embroidered with continuous, light patterns that were faintly visible.

A brocade belt around her waist perfectly accentuated her slender figure.

Her lower body was clad in a light pink silk long skirt, the skirt surface embroidered with a pattern of "green bamboo leaning against peach branches", which was elegant and unique.

Zhang Qilin was surprised.

In recent years, television screens have been filled with various Qing Dynasty dramas, and the public's understanding of ancient costumes is mostly limited to the styles of the late Qing Dynasty.

It's refreshing to see people here wearing well-designed and appropriately matched Hanfu.

At that moment, the girl's soft voice rang out:

"You're looking for Teacher Chen, right?"

Zhang Qilin snapped out of his thoughts:

"Yes, I made an appointment with Teacher Chen."

The girl stepped slightly to the side, making way for her.

"Please come in, Teacher Chen is waiting for you inside."

Stepping into the office, a rich, mellow scent of ink fills the air.

This is a spacious art studio.

In the center of the room, a huge painting table occupies the main position.

The surface was covered with dark gray felt, and the inkstone, brush washer, and paperweight were neatly arranged.

Near the door is a chair, and on the painting table in front of it is a four-foot-long sheet of Xuan paper, with an open book next to it.

As Zhang Qilin passed by, he glimpsed an unfinished painting on the Xuan paper, depicting an ancient girl squatting by the water, holding a flower in her hand.

Just as he was about to look at the book's title, a hearty laugh rang out:

"Qi Lin has arrived."

Zhang Qilin looked up and saw a middle-aged man dressed in navy blue casual clothes walk out of the inner room.

He was around forty years old, with a neat hairstyle, a lean face, and bright, piercing eyes, exuding the refined air unique to painters.

"Hello, Uncle Chen," Zhang Qilin greeted immediately.

"Yes, you look much more energetic than the last time I saw you," Chen Xiujie nodded, walked to the drawing table, and pointed to the two rolled-up paper tubes:

"One is 'Voice, Form, and Appearance,' and the other is 'Peach and Plum Trees All Over the World.' Your dad said you wanted to give them to your teacher. I specially selected the best antique-style Xuan paper, and the ink is also old pine soot. Your teacher should like them when he sees them."

Zhang Qilin stepped forward and carefully unrolled the scroll.

The four characters of "Shengtai Xingbiao" are written in semi-cursive script, with vigorous strokes and a spacious layout.

"Peach and Plum Trees All Over the World" is written in running script, with warm and moist ink and flowing rhythm.

"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Chen," Zhang Qilin said sincerely after reading the calligraphy. "Both of these two pieces of calligraphy are excellent, both in terms of brushwork and meaning."

Chen Xiujie's gaze lingered on Zhang Qilin's face for a moment, then she suddenly lowered her voice:

"Your father said on the phone that you want to take the civil service exam. Tell Uncle Chen the truth, is it because you've really thought things through this time, or is it because of a certain girl?"

Zhang Qilin laughed.

The two usually joked around, but this time it was clear that the father had specially invited Uncle Chen to sound him out.

He didn't respond to Chen Xiujie's words, but instead changed the subject:

"Uncle Chen, who is that girl? She has such an outstanding presence. Could she be my future auntie...?"

The art world is known for its informality, and many older people are often seen with younger partners, which is not unusual.

Chen Xiujie, however, didn't joke as usual. Instead, she explained in a low, serious voice:

"Don't talk nonsense. Qiyu is Old Master Dong's granddaughter. I'm just responsible for teaching her some basic lines."

"What! That painter who can't paint has such a big granddaughter?" Zhang Qilin couldn't help but look up at the girl.

The girl was holding a calligraphy brush, her head bowed as she intently sketched on the rice paper.

Chen Xiujie immediately gestured for him to be quiet with her eyes:

"Keep your voice down, or it'll get back to her grandfather and you'll be in trouble."

"I'm not involved in the art world, so why should I be afraid of him?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Mr. Dong has connections with the upper echelons, and his influence extends far beyond the art and calligraphy circles."

"Tch~ What influence? It's just having a good disciple..."

"Shut up, is this something you can discuss?" Chen Xiujie looked at Zhang Qilin sternly.

Zhang Qilin shrugged and didn't say anything more.

Chen Xiujie knew she had spoken too harshly, so she whispered a word of advice:

"With your personality, I'm really worried about how far you can go in the entertainment industry. You should take my advice and come to the calligraphy and painting circle. With your master and your father and I protecting you, it will be much easier than you venturing out on your own."

Zhang Qilin didn't respond, and put the two paintings into the paper bag:

"Uncle Chen, I have to go now. Call me if you need anything."

"Be careful on the road," Chen Xiujie said, having gotten used to it, without saying anything more.

In the past, whenever this topic came up, Zhang Qilin would always find various excuses to slip away.

He turned to Dong Qiyu, who was drawing with her head down, and instructed her:

"Qiyu, please see Qilin off for me."

Dong Qiyu raised her head and replied:

"Okay, Teacher Chen."

After the two left the office, Chen Xiujie suddenly realized that the question she wanted to ask had been glossed over by the boy in just a few words, and she hadn't even realized it.

He watched Zhang Qilin's departing figure and couldn't help but smile.

The child has really grown up; Old Zhang can finally rest easy.

Zhang Qilin and the girl walked out of the office building in silence.

As they stepped outside the building, Zhang Qilin said to Dong Qiyu in a deliberately polite manner:

"Thank you for your trouble, this is enough."

After saying that, without waiting for Dong Qiyu to speak, he turned around and tried to leave.

"I heard you!"

Dong Qiyu's silvery voice suddenly rang out from behind.

Zhang Qilin paused, but he quickly recovered.

With a perfectly measured look of bewilderment on his face, he slowly turned around:

"What do you mean?"

At this moment, Dong Qiyu was no longer the gentle and quiet painting student in the office.

She raised her chin, her eyes gleaming with cunning, like a little fox that had caught its opponent red-handed, with an expression of absolute certainty:

"I heard you saying bad things about my grandfather."

After saying that, her peach blossom eyes smiled even more broadly, as if to say, "Come and beg me."

She looked at Zhang Qilin, who was standing still, waiting for him to take the initiative to admit his mistake.

But they found that the other person had a blank and confused expression on their face.

He would occasionally furrow his brow, as if trying to understand the meaning behind Dong Qiyu's words.

The confused look on his face didn't seem like an act at all.

After a moment, Zhang Qilin looked at Dong Qiyu with a puzzled expression:

"Who is your grandfather? Is he famous?"

Upon hearing this, Dong Qiyu was taken aback.

In the past, any young people who came to Teacher Chen's clinic would apologize and offer compensation as soon as they said those words, just begging her not to tell Grandpa.

But why is this person reacting like this?

Does he really not know who his grandfather is?

That shouldn't be the case.

With her looks and demeanor, the boys would secretly ask Teacher Chen about her.

When they find out who her grandfather is, they will subconsciously say that sentence.

She wasn't really after their apology gifts.

Instead, it was an opportunity to teach those people a lesson, to let them know that trouble comes from careless words.

However, the current situation is completely deviating from her pre-planned script and is showing signs of getting out of her control.

What went wrong?

Unable to figure it out, Dong Qiyu put her hands behind her back and forcefully straightened her chest:

"I heard you whispering to Teacher Chen, and you even glanced in my direction several times. Don't try to deny it."

Zhang Qilin smiled as he looked at the other person:

"I am a Hanfu enthusiast. The Hanfu you are wearing is very exquisite, and I couldn't help but take a few more glances. That's perfectly reasonable, isn't it?"

"If I've offended you, I apologize, but I genuinely don't know who your grandfather is. If you have a recording, you can listen to it."

"you……"

Dong Qiyu was speechless for a moment, staring at him but not knowing how to refute him.

If she had a recording, would she need to waste her breath arguing with him like this?

"I'll be going now if there's nothing else."

Zhang Qilin, seeing that he had succeeded, nodded and turned to leave.

Dong Qiyu stood there, watching his receding figure, and couldn't help but stomp her foot.

"What kind of person is he? He's so handsome, but he acts like a... scoundrel," she muttered under her breath.

Only after seeing Zhang Qilin get into the taxi did she slowly extend her hands from behind her back.

The screen of the latest iPhone in my hand is still lit up.

With a tap of his finger on the screen, Zhang Qilin's voice came through the phone:

"I am a Hanfu enthusiast..."

After listening to the recording, Dong Qiyu's peach blossom eyes revealed a sly and bright smile:

"I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise..."

Zhang Qilin got into a taxi and called his homeroom teacher, Wang Chunzi.

Several calls were made, but no one answered.

She was a key figure in easing tensions with Teacher Zhang Hua.

If I can't get in touch, my plans...