He unexpectedly becomes a father at the start of his life, and the mother of his child is a national

In the studio, the soft light shines on the tabletop, neither dazzling nor dim, just enough to see every inch of the Xuan paper's texture.

Chen Hao rolled up his sleeves, took out a four-foot-long sheet of Xuan paper from the cabinet, and gently laid it on the painting table. He then took out two rectangular paperweights and placed them on the four corners of the Xuan paper, making it flat and smooth without any wrinkles.

He scooped some water from the inkstone, picked up the ink stick, and slowly ground it in the inkstone, round and round, his movements unhurried and calm. The ink gradually became thicker and emitted a faint fragrance.

After grinding the ink, he selected a medium-sized wolf-hair brush, placed it in the brush washer, gently stirred it to spread the bristles, and then gently scraped off the excess water. He took a deep breath and calmed himself.

He wants to paint "Pine and Crane for Longevity".

This painting wasn't for himself; it was a gift prepared for Lin Caiwei's grandfather.

Chen Hao knew that elders liked auspicious and long-lived symbols. Pine trees symbolized longevity and immortality, while cranes represented good fortune and happiness. Painting these two together and giving it to the old man would be the perfect gift.

Moreover, his painting skills have now reached the master level, so he must show his true abilities and create a work that is truly presentable. He cannot be perfunctory, nor can he lose face. He must also let Lin Caiwei and her grandfather see his true feelings.

With everything ready, the brush tip gently touches the paper, landing on the upper left side.

The first stroke depicts the trunk of a pine tree.

He dipped his brush in thick ink, his hand holding the brush steady and unwavering. He used the side of the brush to gently rub the paper, and with one stroke, the ink was rich and the lines were bold and powerful, like the branches of an old pine tree taking root and sprouting on the paper.

The tree trunk is not perfectly straight, but slightly curved, a natural curve that conveys a sense of resilience that has endured the elements yet remains upright. It has an air of age and doesn't look like a sapling that was just casually drawn.

[Ding! Created "Pine and Crane Longevity" - Pine Tree Trunk, Drawing Skill Experience +280]

Beside her, Sisi moved a small plastic stool and sat steadily next to the drawing table, resting her chin on her hands and quietly watching her father draw, not daring to even breathe loudly.

She knew from a young age that she shouldn't disturb her father when he was painting, because if she did, he would get distracted and his paintings wouldn't look good.

So she sat obediently, occasionally blinking her big eyes, watching the ink slowly spread on the rice paper, from dark to light, from thick to thin, gradually turning into the shape of a tree trunk, her eyes full of curiosity and admiration.

After finishing the main trunk, Chen Hao put down the medium-sized wolf-hair brush, switched to a slightly finer brush, and began to draw pine branches.

Pine branches shouldn't be drawn soft and limp; they should be upright and strong to capture the spirit of a pine tree.

He held the pen, using the center of the brush to outline stroke by stroke, each stroke crisp and clean, without any unnecessary lines.

The pine branches branch off from the main trunk, some long, some short, some thick, some thin, distributed in varying densities, looking very natural, just like real pine branches stretching out in the direction of the wind.

[Ding! Created "Pine and Crane Longevity" - Pine Branches, drawing skill experience points +320]

After finishing the pine branches, the next step is to draw the pine needles, which will be the most challenging part of the painting.

The pine needles should be drawn in a dense but not messy manner. Each cluster should have a sense of depth and not be crowded together or too far apart, otherwise it will not look like a pine tree.

Chen Hao switched to a smaller brush, dipped it in thick ink, and gently turned the brush handle with his fingertips to begin drawing pine needles one cluster at a time.

His wrist was incredibly nimble; the pen tip touched, flicked, and swished lightly on the paper, each stroke precise and accurate without the slightest deviation.

The pine needles grow in clusters of three or five. Some grow upwards, as if stretching towards the sun; some hang downwards, as if slightly bent by the wind; and some lie flat, as if stretching their bodies.

The ink color also matters. Use dark ink for the pine needles in the foreground so they are clearly visible, and use light ink for the needles in the distance so they are hazy. In this way, the pine tree has a sense of depth and looks three-dimensional and realistic.

[Ding! Created "Longevity of Pine and Crane" - Pine Needles, drawing skill experience points +380]

Sisi was completely absorbed in watching, her eyes fixed on her father's hand, her little mouth slightly open.

She felt as if her father's hands were dancing; with a gentle movement, the ink obediently spread across the paper, gradually transforming into a living pine tree, vigorous and beautiful.

She couldn't help but mutter softly, "Daddy is so amazing," her voice barely audible, as if afraid of disturbing him.

After finishing the last cluster of pine needles, Chen Hao put down his pen, took two steps back, and squinted at the finished pine tree.

The main body of the pine tree is complete; it is vigorous and powerful, exuding an imposing presence that gives one a sense of peace.

But he didn't stop; he picked up his pen again and began to draw the stones next to the pine tree.

The rocks don't need to be painted too complicatedly; just use light ink. The texturing techniques should be loose and scattered, not too solid, otherwise it will look stiff.

He held the pen and casually rubbed it a few times on the paper with the side of the tip, and the outline and texture of the stone came out, looking rough, just like a real stone.

After wiping it clean, he dipped his brush in some burnt ink and lightly dotted a few moss spots in the crevices of the stone. With just a few simple dots, the stone immediately came to life, no longer a cold, lifeless block, but instead perfectly complementing the pine tree next to it.

[Ding! Created "Pine and Crane Longevity" - Rocks, Painting Skill Experience +260]

Now, it's time to paint the cranes. This is the finishing touch of the whole painting, and how well it's painted directly affects the overall effect.

Chen Hao dared not be careless. He switched to a finer outlining brush, dipped it in light ink, and carefully sketched the outline of the crane.

He first drew a crane standing next to a pine tree. The crane held its head high and its posture was very elegant. Its neck was long and slightly bent, as if it was gazing into the distance or admiring the surrounding scenery.

Its body is round and plump, with full feathers and long, flowing tail feathers that make it look very lively.

[Ding! Created "Longevity with Pine and Crane" - Crane outline, drawing skill experience points +340]

After finishing the outline, he began to render the crane's feathers.

This step requires patience and cannot be rushed. Use very light ink to apply the color layer by layer, and each stroke must follow the direction of feather growth, not be applied randomly.

He applied the dye stroke by stroke, and the crane's body gradually gained volume, its feathers looking fluffy and soft, as if you could touch them and feel their soft texture.

The most striking part is the crest of a crane.

He took out cinnabar, dipped the tip of his brush in it, and lightly touched the top of the crane's head.

That single bright red dot instantly brought the entire crane to life, transforming it from a monotonous black into something exceptionally vibrant.

The white feathers (the effect of light ink wash), the red crane crest, and the dark pine branches—the three colors contrast sharply yet harmonize remarkably, creating a particularly pleasing visual effect.

[Ding! Created "Longevity with Pine and Crane" - Crane rendering, drawing skill experience points +400]