Chapter 99: 097 O Continent Oil Painting Master Personally Slaps Face [3 Updates]

He really didn’t want to take a poor student to the O-State, especially to a top-tier university like the Royal Academy of Arts in O-State.

Moreover, the Royal Academy of Arts in O-State is not the kind of place where you get the qualification to enter just because you won a first-class award at an ordinary art festival.

Even the top students in the art class are questionable.

He Xun naturally had not paid attention to the art festival.

He didn’t have the time, after all, he was in charge of the International Classes for all three grades at Verdant High School.

He Xun was even less aware that this time, the Verdant Art Festival had caused a stir at Sheng Qingtang.

The principal’s eyebrows tightened imperceptibly.

He hadn’t expected He Xun to have such a big problem with Ying Zijin.

Not every student excels at studying, so why bother?

“It was my oversight,” the principal sighed and took off his glasses, “Teacher He, let’s discuss the Norton University interview instead.”

He Xun’s expression finally eased.

Just at that moment, the office phone rang.

The principal answered and after hearing just one sentence, his expression changed, “What? Yes, yes, I’ll be right there.”

He Xun looked up, his eyes showing a trace of confusion.

“Teacher He, please excuse me for a moment,” the principal stood up and straightened his clothing, “We have an important guest, I need to attend to it.”

He had taken a few steps when it seemed as if he remembered something, “The guest is from O-State. Teacher He, your English is good, come with me.”

O-State?

But all of Verdant’s teachers, regardless of which administrative level, are required to be fluent in English. So why call on him?

He Xun was taken aback, “Okay, I will first visit the International Class of second year high school.”

With time pressing, the principal had no opportunity to say more and nodded before hurrying off.

He Xun followed suit and went to the teaching building of the second-year classes.

After distributing today’s practice topics to the International Class, he went to the reception room the principal had told him about.

Along the way, he naturally passed by Class 19 of the second year.

Remembering what the principal had said, He Xun subconsciously glanced through the back window.

At the last row by the window, a girl dressed in a short-sleeved school uniform with a blazer draped over her was lying on the desk, fast asleep.

He Xun withdrew his gaze indifferently.

Still sleeping in class, her bad habits indeed never change.

Such a student was beyond salvation, after all.

**

The call that had summoned the principal was from the head of the art department.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and pointing inside the room, whispered,”Principal, this is Mr. Berg Blaine, from the Royal Academy of Arts in O-State.”

Berg Blaine, honorary teacher of the Royal Academy of Arts in O-State, usually holds a sinecure and does not teach.

He’s occasionally invited by other schools to give lectures.

It was always others who invited him; there had never been word of him personally making a visit.

Berg specialized in Baroque style oil paintings and was also a Romanticism painter.

Baroque art was an artistic style that flourished in O-State from 1600 to 1750, deeply influencing subsequent generations.

Baroque art encompassed more than just oil painting; it also included architecture, music, and decoration.

Even if someone didn’t know what Baroque art was, they wouldn’t be unaware of Qinuo Feng, a painter famous throughout the world at the time.

However, Qinuo Feng’s style of oil painting was so distinctive, so unique that it was impossible for anyone to imitate.

And Berg Blaine was recognized in the modern world as the oil painter closest to Qinuo Feng.

“I know him, but—” the principal looked over, hesitated, “what is he… doing?”

Inside the room.

A foreign man in his thirties was pressed against the wall, hands spread out, caressing it as if in a trance.

“Principal,” the head of the art department’s voice caught in his throat, with some difficulty he said, “What he’s embracing is not the wall, it’s the oil painting by Ying Zijin.”

The principal was stunned.

Before he had a chance to react, he heard the man’s excited shouting.

“Bravo! Bravo!” Berg clung even tighter, as if he wanted to merge with the painting, “Oh my God, my God, what a marvelous painting.”

“This is simply the hand of God, Qinuo Feng alive.”

Principal: “…”

Head of the art department: “…”

No need for that.

The head of the art department coughed a few times, unable to help but interrupt his self-indulgence,”Mr. Berg, the principal is here. If you have any requests, please just say.”

“Oh.” As if only just noticing that there were other people around, Berg turned and asked directly, “Is this your work?”

The principal was still a bit confused, “No, this is…”

“If it’s not your work, then why are you here?” Berg was impatient, “Quick, quick, quick, I want to meet the person who painted this.”

“Mr. Berg, please wait a moment.” The principal finally realized why he had come and asked in English, “How did you find this place?”

“Isn’t there some kind of art festival?” Berg replied, somewhat impatiently, “Didn’t I come because I saw the paintings? Who else would bother coming here?”

He hugged the painting tighter and looked around disdainfully: “There’s no good ice cream here either.”

“…”

Wiping his sweat, the head of the art department whispered, “Principal, artists are a bit eccentric; you can’t let him lead you astray.”

“I see, I understand now,” the principal regained his composure, “May I know why you are looking for the person who painted this?”

“Why do you talk so much?” Berg was getting angry, “Just let me meet them first.”

“The student who painted it is in class right now,” the principal said after some consideration, “You’ll have to wait a moment.”

This time, Berg agreed quite readily: “Fine, I’ll wait.”

Just then, He Xun came back and was taken aback: “Mr. Berg?”

“Who? I’m busy, no time,” Berg didn’t even give He Xun a glance, waving his hand, “Where is this student’s class? Take me there quickly.”

The principal had no choice but to lead him away.

He Xun didn’t even get a chance to speak from beginning to end. He frowned and turned around: “Why would Mr. Berg come here?”

“Doesn’t Teacher He know?” Having sent off a big headache, the head of the art department heaved a sigh of relief and said with some pride, “He came especially for Ying Zijin. I think he probably wants to take Classmate Ying as his student.”

He Xun’s body jerked violently, freezing on the spot, hardly able to believe what he had heard. His ears were buzzing as if struck by a thunderclap.

What kind of person was Berg, and how could he possibly come in person just for a student?

The head of the art department didn’t notice the change in his expression and walked out with his hands behind his back: “Ah, I have to go apologize to Classmate Ying.”

**

Self-study had ended, and Ying Zijin had woken up.

She yawned and checked her phone for the time, finding a message from Sheng Qingtang.

[Little Divine Doctor, are you interested in the Hua Country Calligraphers Association? If you want to join, I can have them give you the position of vice president right away. What do you think? =w=]

“…”

Ying Zijin treated the emoticon as if she hadn’t seen it and casually replied with two words.

[Not going.]

Upon receiving the reply, Sheng Qingtang became anxious.

[Ah!!! Why? Little Divine Doctor, honestly, those old fellows in our association, none of them paint as well as you. It’s a real waste of your talent if you don’t join!]

Ying Zijin didn’t change her mind. She propped her head up, looking detached.

[Because it would hinder my retirement.]

[…QAQ]

[Stop sending such emoticons or I’ll block you.]

[Little Divine Doctor, it wasn’t me. It was my bald son who sent that. Look, whenever you change your mind, just contact me. I’ve got all the documents ready for you. You just need to sign.]

Ying Zijin yawned again, and her phoenix eyes became slightly blurred.

“Daddy Ying.” A younger student popped his head through the back door of the classroom, “The principal is looking for you. Are you going?”

“I’m busy with something today, no time available.”

“Oh.” The younger student scratched his head, “Then I’ll just turn him down now.”

He also noticed a foreigner, but had no idea what that was about.

Ying Zijin grunted in acknowledgement, opened up the NOK forum, and took on that C-class bounty.

**

The Ying Family’s old mansion.

Zhong Manhua had not gone out these past few days, fearing she would again encounter someone who would stop her to discuss the Verdant Art Festival.

To prevent anything that might embarrass her from happening, she had cut off all internet and telephone connections.

After all, she didn’t want to bother with Ying Zijin anymore. With time, everyone would forget the matter of plagiarizing the work.

Zhong Manhua picked up the phone, intending to call Ying Zhenting.

The doorbell rang, and the butler hurried to answer the door.

The person who returned was Ying Luwei.

Old Madam Ying was still in the hospital these days, and Ying Luwei, because of the Weibo incident, had been avoiding public appearances, so she would go from the old mansion to the hospital every day, bringing Zhong Manhua’s prepared medicinal dishes.

“It’s Luwei.” Zhong Manhua put down the phone, “The medicinal dish is ready; it’s being kept warm on a low flame in the kitchen. I’ll have the servant bring it to you.”

“Thank you, sister-in-law,” Ying Luwei tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and suddenly said, “By the way, sister-in-law, I went to Verdant today. I heard Oceania’s Royal Academy of Arts’ professor is looking for Xiao Jin.”

Zhong Manhua halted, astonished: “Oceania’s Royal Academy of Arts?”

Because it specialized in art, Oceania’s Royal Academy of Arts didn’t rank in the world’s top ten, but it was still a university many students dreamt of attending.

“I’ve also heard of this Mr. Berg. He is a master of oil painting, the kind that you can’t even invite if you want to.” Ying Luwei was puzzled, “Sister-in-law, Xiao Jin doesn’t even want to learn oil painting, calligraphy, or traditional painting. Why would Mr. Berg come looking for her?”

Zhong Manhua’s complexion instantly changed, and her chest heaved heavily.

How else could it have happened?

She must have cheated again.