Taking Liu Yifei back to Northeast China for the Chinese New Year has sent the entire internet into

Lin Chen moved a few steps to the display case.

When it was first unveiled, he also thought it was a bit too frivolous.

After listening to Qi Wenhai and the others' analysis, Lin Chen looked back at the screen.

The bird's outline is clean and crisp, and the ink color transitions naturally between the feathers, with no harshness in the shades.

More importantly, it's the bird's expression.

It just stood there.

Lonely, but not humble.

Indifferent, yet not empty.

Lin Chen's breathing gradually softened.

He suddenly understood what Qi Wenhai meant by "the pride of calligraphy and painting".

The real brilliance of this painting lies not in how many things it depicts.

Fang Yu used minimal words to leave ample room for imagination.

Lin Chen stared at the painting for a full ten seconds before turning around.

"Teacher Fang's painting 'Lone Bird' is exquisite in its brushwork and has a unique charm."

"You truly deserve this core exhibition area."

As soon as these words were spoken, the young painters surrounding them all swarmed around him.

"This ink style is truly extraordinary."

"The bird's eye stroke is so precise. Any heavier and it would look deliberate, any lighter and it wouldn't capture the spirit."

"This use of white space is too bold."

"I'm impressed, I'm truly impressed this time."

One after another, young painters spoke up.

Their gazes toward Fang Yu gradually shifted from initial scrutiny to admiration.

Liu Yifei stood next to Fang Yu, still somewhat dazed.

Fang Yu tilted his head slightly, leaned close to her ear, and whispered in a low voice.

"Fairy Sister, it's done."

"You can go back and turn off the tap now."

Liu Yifei stared straight ahead, maintaining a dignified and proper smile. Her lips barely moved as she forced out a sentence through gritted teeth:

"I just remembered, my faucet is smart."

"The phone turns off automatically with a single press."

Fang Yu almost burst out laughing.

Good guy.

The fairy sister can now lie without batting an eye.

As an honest and upright young man, I really need to be more careful in the future, lest she lead me astray.

In front of the display case, several elderly gentlemen were still marveling at the painting "Lonely Bird".

The reporters below were looking at each other in bewilderment.

Finally, one of the bolder entertainment reporters raised the microphone and asked loudly:

"Mr. Qi, the artistic conception of this painting is indeed very profound. After listening to your explanation, we also feel that it makes a lot of sense."

"But to be honest, isn't this painting a bit too advanced? The average viewer might not understand it."

After these words were spoken, many reporters echoed them.

"Yes, are there any more visually striking examples?"

"The first painting is in the freehand style; what style is the second one?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Wenhai was not angry at all; instead, his eyes lit up.

"good!"

He laughed heartily and turned to walk towards the independent exhibition wall at the far end of Hall 1.

"You think 'The Lonely Bird' is too aloof and too highbrow."

"Then today, I'll show you what true grandeur and universal appeal really mean!"

On the exhibition wall hangs a huge central painting.

It was also completely covered by red silk.

Qi Wenhai walked up to the painting, raised his hand and grabbed the red silk, tearing it off without any preamble.

"Splash!"

The red silk fell to the ground.

Bright spotlights shone on the huge sheet of Xuan paper.

The entire exhibition hall fell silent.

If the previous painting, "Lonely Bird," was a minimalist blank space, then this painting in front of us is a powerful and overwhelming force.

In the center of the picture, a pine tree rises from the ground.

The pine trunk is thick and sturdy, its color as black as iron.

The pine needles spread out in layers, exuding a vigorous vitality.

A hawk perched on a pine branch.

Its beak was like a hook, its talons like iron, and its gaze was cold and sharp as it looked down at the front.

That wasn't a cold, aloof attitude.

Rather, it is the domineering aura of looking down upon all living beings.

What's even more remarkable is the four-character couplet in seal script on both sides of the painting.

"May people live long and healthy lives, and may the world be at peace!"

The eight large characters are arranged on the left and right, with vigorous strokes, ancient and profound style, and a sense of antiquity and antiquity accumulated over many years.

The painting and the calligraphy are completely integrated.

The fierceness of the eagle, the uprightness of the pine tree, and the profound and peaceful blessings in the seal script elevate the overall quality of the work.

This time, the reporters didn't need Qi Wenhai to explain.

Even a complete novice who knows nothing about calligraphy and painting can feel the overwhelming and powerful aura emanating from this work.

"Holy crap..."

One photographer, so engrossed in watching that he forgot to press the shutter, couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath.

"This eagle is drawn so powerfully!"

"These eight characters are so inspiring! May you live a long and healthy life, and may the world be at peace. The meaning is brilliant!"

The flashbulbs went off again, this time in a frenzy.

The scale was even larger than before.

Lin Chen stood at the front of the crowd, staring at the eight large seal characters, his palms already sweating profusely.

The young painters behind him were speechless at that moment.

A master of both calligraphy and painting!

There has always been a saying in the Chinese painting world that "calligraphy and painting share the same origin".

There are very few people in the entire National Academy of Painting who can truly reach the level of a master in both calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting, and perfectly integrate the two into the same work!

Lin Chen let out a long breath.

He turned around and looked at Fang Yu.

The scrutiny and doubt from before have all vanished, leaving only pure respect.

"Teacher Fang."

Lin Chen was the first to applaud.

Applause quickly spread.

Several young painters also clapped enthusiastically.

"At first, we discussed privately that we were worried that the seniors had relaxed the selection criteria in order to attract young people to pay attention to traditional culture."

Lin Chen chuckled self-deprecatingly, but his voice was quite frank.

"Now it seems that if works like yours need to be selected by relaxing the criteria, then our works don't deserve to be displayed in this exhibition hall at all."

Qi Wenhai stroked his beard, his face full of pride.

"So? Did you understand it now?"

He turned to look at Fang Yu.

"Xiao Fang, the academy plans to include your painting in their catalogue..."

"Old Qi."

Fang Yu raised his hand to interrupt him and glanced down at his watch.

"The painting has been delivered, and the exhibition has been opened."

"Is there anything else?"

Qi Wenhai was stunned for a moment.

"Oh? The opening ceremony is basically over. Now it's free time to tour the area..."

"Okay then."

Fang Yu put his hands in his long robe pockets and stretched lazily.

"Time to go home."

Qi Wenhai: "???"

Lin Chen: "..."

The crowd at the scene: "..."

Fang Yu, however, seemed not to notice their expressions, turned to look at Liu Yifei, and casually took her hand.

"Let's go, fairy sister."

"I got up too early this morning, and my stomach hurts from hunger. Let's go eat."

After taking two steps, Fang Yu seemed to remember something, turned around, and waved to Qi Wenhai.

"Mr. Qi, just have someone bring the exhibition back to my apartment when you take it down. Don't lose it!"

After saying this, he pulled Liu Yifei, whose face was flushed, and walked out of the exhibition hall under the stunned gazes of all the reporters and renowned figures in the Chinese painting world.

Inside Hall 1.

Qi Wenhai stretched out his arms, his beard trembling, but he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Lin Chen and his group looked at each other in bewilderment.

Is this the style of a grandmaster?

He regards fame and fortune as fleeting clouds, rejects the glory of being worshipped by the whole audience, and is too lazy to even deal with media group interviews. All he thinks about is getting a meal after get off work.