"Hmm~hmm?"
Lin Yuyan was subconsciously about to nod when she felt sothing was off. She looked up at Lin Luolan and asked, "What... what do you an?"
Lin Luolan sighed. "It's your brother-in-law. He's been complaining that my backside is too small..."
Lin Yuyan blushed. Her second sister truly didn't treat her like an outsider. Ever since they were children, she had always said whatever was on her mind, no matter how crude. It always left her completely unprepared.
"Hurry up and tell , is it possible or not?" Lin Luolan urged.
Lin Yuyan shook her head. "How would I know? Mister Wang hasn't painted before, but I think... it should be possible, right?"
Without another word, Lin Luolan stord out the door. She returned only a mont later.
Puzzled, Lin Yuyan asked, "Second Sister, why are you back already?"
Lin Luolan sighed again. "I'd just gotten outside when I heard people talking. That wench from the Zhou Family, Zhou Yui, wanted him to paint her portrait, claiming it would be better than yours! But the gentleman refused and instead turned around to paint one for the Luo Family's second miss..."
Lin Yuyan covered her mouth. "Ah? Did that really happen?"
"Yes," Lin Luolan said. "Everyone thought Mister Wang was just trying to slight Zhou Yui by painting Luo Yunting instead. But then... he actually painted a portrait for Miss Luo, and they say the person in the painting was a beauty beyond compare, like a Heavenly Immortal descending to earth! And after he finished, Miss Luo truly transford. She's now a completely different person, a world apart from her forr self!"
Lin Yuyan smacked her lips. Considering what had happened to her, it didn't seem all that miraculous. She then asked nervously, "What about Mister Wang? Is he alright?"
She knew Zhou Yui's temperant all too well. Mister Wang defying her so openly was sure to infuriate her, and there was no telling what she might do.
"Don't worry," Lin Luolan said. "Your Mister Wang casually left after making a few sarcastic remarks at Zhou Yui's expense! Zhou Yui wanted to settle the score, but the Luo Family's second miss blocked her way. It was so dramatic!" She smacked her lips again, a look of regret on her face for having missed such a good show.
"That's a relief!" Lin Yuyan patted her chest, sighing in relief.
As she did, the movent caused ripples to form across her chest, and Lin Luolan couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. She pushed her sister into the room and shut the door.
Lin Yuyan yelped, "Second Sister, what are you doing?"
"Shh, keep your voice down," Lin Luolan said. "Just let play!"
"What is there to play with?" Lin Yuyan asked, flustered and embarrassed.
Lin Luolan glared. "Listen to you! As if you didn't ss with all the ti when we were little. Now, be a good girl!"
Lin Yuyan was speechless.
「A few days passed.」
This circle of theirs was both large and small. Before long, the entire White Jade City knew what had happened that day at Canglan Residence.
Wang Xiu had painted two portraits, one for the Lin Family's sixth miss and one for the Luo Family's second miss. The forr's transformation was like a skyscraper rising from flat ground, while the latter seed to have beco another person entirely. The girl once known for her ugliness had beco a Heavenly Immortal who seed to exist only in paintings.
The change was simply too drastic. At first, nobody believed it. It wasn't until Luo Yunting appeared at a banquet, her peerless beauty outshining all the other noble ladies and leaving them in the shade, that they finally realized the rumors were true.
The strange poison in Luo Yunting's body was really cured! Now, she was not only no longer ugly, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Overnight, every woman in White Jade City was captivated.
「Lou Family.」
From within a pink-decorated boudoir, a sultry, lodious voice drifted out. "You still haven't found out who he is?"
A servant responded from outside the door, "Miss, we have! His na is Wang Yitian, and he arrived in White Jade City only half a month ago. What he did before coming here or where he has been is unknown. We only know that for the past half-month, he's been frequenting the red-light district, often spending his nights at Yun Yu Pavilion! He is extrely generous and wealthy, and has befriended many profligate sons of noble families. He's earned quite a na for himself in the red-light district!"
The lodious voice spoke again. "It's hardly surprising. Since ancient tis, n of great talent have always enjoyed visiting brothels. Now that you've found him, pay him a visit and invite him to et tonight at Jade Pool Garden!"
The servant gave a wry laugh. "The invitation was sent long ago, but..."
"But what?"
"But there are simply too many people trying to engage his services now; they're practically beating down his door! Moreover, he has already announced that he will only paint three portraits a day, and only for those with whom he shares a 'destined connection.' He refuses to et anyone else!"
Silence fell within the room. After a long mont, the voice returned, icy. "What arrogance! Does he really think he's that impressive?"
Discerning the implied threat in her words, the servant hurriedly advised, "Miss, this man has a mysterious background and his painting skills are subli. Furthermore, judging by the thods he's displayed, he seems to have a subtle grasp of the legendary Law of Creation! His master must be soone extraordinary. It would be best not to act rashly until we've thoroughly investigated his background. Besides, the Luo Family's second miss owes him a great debt. Making a move against him would be very troubleso!"
Upon hearing this, the room fell silent once more. Finally, after a long pause, there was a stir. "Prepare the carriage. I shall pay him a visit myself!"
"Yes!"
「Similar scenes unfolded in various parts of White Jade City.」
Outside the Yuxuan Pavilion, the residence Wang Xiu was renting, a crowd gathered every single day. He no longer needed to go to Canglan Residence to paint. Young ladies from all the major families flocked to his doorstep, all hoping to request a painting from Wang Yitian.
"Mister Wang, open your eyes and look at ! We share a destined connection!"
"The mont I saw you, Mister Wang, my heart started to pound! I know... I've t my one true love!"
"Mister Wang, please let in! I am skilled in all the musical arts. I guarantee your satisfaction!"
[DING!]
[Nearby boasting detected. Congratulations to the Host for acquiring Mana 188!]
"Mister, if you paint a picture for , I would die for you this instant!"
"If it worked for Luo Yunting, it can work for ! Mister Wang, look at ! I also have the potential to beco the most beautiful woman in the world!"
[DING!]
[Nearby boasting detected. Congratulations to the Host for acquiring Mana 188!]
In front of the door, countless won had gathered. Each was a beauty in her own right, with a captivating figure. On the street, any one of them would be a fairy-like figure capable of turning heads.
But at this mont, they were like middle-aged won at a wet market, or like courtesans in a brothel desperate for clients. They were frantically promoting themselves to the young man inside the house, all for the chance to enter the white-robed gentleman's room.
True, they were already beautiful. But when it cos to beauty, what woman ever feels it's enough? Even the slimst woman will think she's fat. Even a woman with a perfect figure will grow insecure after a few criticisms. As a certain great man surnad Zhou once said—another na for a woman is Greed.
On the street, countless n watched this scene, grinding their teeth in frustration.
"Ladies, I may not be a genius, but I too have a grasp of the Dao of Painting, and I'm quite proficient at portraits!"
"That's right! I guarantee my paintings are no worse than that kid's!"
[DING!]
[Nearby boasting detected. Congratulations to the Host for acquiring Mana 188!]
"What's the use of painting well? Mister Wang can make the people in his paintings real. Can you do that?" a woman with sharp, phoenix-like eyes and a fiery figure shot back, her eyes full of disdain.
The group of male artists was instantly silenced. Seething with resentnt, one of them spat, "What's so great about him?"
"A true painter should depict the mountains and rivers, the Great Dao, and nature itself! To use his skills to pander to these won... it's a disgrace! He is a stain on our profession! I, Zhang, refuse to be associated with such a person!" a painter declared, biting out the words.
[DING!]
[Nearby boasting detected. Congratulations to the Host for acquiring Mana 366!]
"I, Chen, feel the sa! In my life, I will paint the heavens, the earth, and the sages, but I will never paint won..."
[DING!]
[Nearby boasting detected. Congratulations to the Host for acquiring Mana 188!]
"You're just jealous!" soone sneered.
"Jealous, my ass!"
"I don't envy him one bit!"
[DING!]
[Nearby boasting detected. Congratulations to the Host for acquiring Mana 188!]
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