"Old Huang, Old Lin, Old Hou, why are you all here?"
Wan Yunting, upon seeing Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong, walked up to them in surprise. At the same time, he attracted the attention of other talented men and women present, who focused their gazes on Wan Yunting's face, finding him somewhat familiar.
"Could he be Wan Yunting, the winner of this year's Lanting Award?"
"Yes, it's him! I didn't expect him to be here, and what's more, with Miss Fan and Miss Gu!"
Someone recognized Wan Yunting and immediately exclaimed in surprise.
Having won first place in the Lanting Award calligraphy competition and been lavished with praise by the elder Mr. Fan in front of the media, Wan Yunting became famous overnight. His calligraphy works were hyped to hundreds of millions, and at a charity auction in Huadu City, a piece of cursive calligraphy fetched a record-breaking 450 million yuan, completely shaking the entire art world of China. He was a household name, known by everyone.
"Brother Wan, it's normal for us to participate in the Wenchuang Tang cultural exchange activities," Huang Yaodong and Lin Yushu said, looking at Wan Yunting in surprise. "But your appearance truly catches us off guard."
"Indeed."
Zhao Yushi nodded and said, "Before, we contacted Luo Tang and Miaomiao, planning to invite them to join us. But she said you arrived in the capital yesterday to attend the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference, so we didn't contact you. We didn't expect you to come."
Wan Yunting smiled, knowing that Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong were all part of the literati and art circles. It was perfectly normal for them to be at such a gathering of scholars and artists for an exchange activity. He gestured to Gu Sinuo and Fan Shuyuan, who were with Shangguan Wenshan and Zhu Rong, and said with a smile, "They dragged me here."
Huang Yaodong naturally knew that Fan Shuyuan was the granddaughter of Fan Liren, and Gu Sinuo was also a renowned talented woman in the capital's art scene. In terms of beauty and temperament, she was definitely a goddess-level existence, no less than Gu Luotang.
Considering that Wan Yunting's arrival in the capital must have some connection with Fan Liren, his coming with Fan Shuyuan and Gu Sinuo didn't seem strange to Huang Yaodong and Zhao Yushi. They were just a little surprised that someone who wasn't involved in the literati circle had still come to Wenchuang Tang.
Over there, Shangguan Wenshan and Zhu Rong, surrounded by the two goddesses Fan Shuyuan and Gu Sinuo, were also sizing up Wan Yunting. His reputation as "Calligraphy Immortal Wan" and a master of youth calligraphy was widely known, spreading far and wide.
"Shuyuan, Sinuo, how is he with you?" Zhu Rong couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Oh, he seems to be here to attend some national TCM conference and is staying at Sinuo's grandfather's place," Fan Shuyuan introduced.
Gu Sinuo shot her a glance and corrected her with a smile, "It's the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference. He and Elder Gu are the Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Lingnan Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and they were invited to the capital for the conference. My grandfather asked them to stay with us."
"So that's how it is."
Shangguan Wenshan nodded. Although Wan Yunting's calligraphy was divine, external reports also mentioned that he didn't mingle in the literati and art circles and that his main professions were TCM doctor, TCM teacher, and Vice Chairman of the Lingnan Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
"So, Shuyuan, Sinuo, are you bringing him here to give us a show of force?"
Zhu Rong pointed at Wan Yunting, who was chatting with Huang Yaodong and the others, and said with a smile to Fan Shuyuan and Gu Sinuo.
Shangguan Wenshan understood his meaning and smiled, looking at Wan Yunting, "I've seen his calligraphy works. His Slender Gold style and Cursive script are indeed masterfully executed, reaching a level unmatched by anyone."
"Hmph."
At this, Fan Shuyuan became displeased. She gave Shangguan Wenshan a disdainful glance and said, "Masterfully executed, unmatched? Is his calligraphy better than mine?"
Zhu Rong, Shangguan Wenshan, and their other friends were taken aback. Seeing Fan Shuyuan's defiant look, it turned out this girl had brought Wan Yunting here today not to participate in their literati exchange event.
"Hey, you, come over here."
Fan Shuyuan turned her head and called out to Wan Yunting, who was chatting with Lin Yushu and the others. He looked back at the girl and Gu Sinuo and the others, so Wan Yunting, with Huang Yaodong and Zhao Yushi, walked over…
Shangguan Wenshan and Zhu Rong nodded politely to Wan Yunting as a greeting. He naturally smiled and nodded back. Fan Shuyuan provocatively cast a sideways glance at Wan Yunting with her peach blossom eyes and said, "Do you want to compete with me in Slender Gold style or Cursive script?"
Wan Yunting looked at the proud and headstrong girl and said, "You choose."
Fan Shuyuan rolled her eyes disdainfully and said, "I heard your cursive calligraphy sold for a sky-high price of 450 million yuan. I wonder if it was the endorsement of peers or if some fool had too much money with nowhere to spend it that they paid so much for your work. Let's compete in Cursive script then. I'll let you see today what true cursive calligraphy is!"
This time, Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, and the other talents realized that Fan Shuyuan had brought Wan Yunting here because they were going to have a calligraphy competition. This made Lin Yushu and Hou Xuesong exchange bewildered glances.
It was said that Grandfather Fan's granddaughter, Fan Shuyuan, was proficient in everything from Qin, Go, Calligraphy, and Painting, to poetry and song. Especially in her talent for calligraphy and painting, she was undoubtedly a genius.
The first prize winner of the previous Lanting Award was Fan Shuyuan. The reason she did not participate in this year's Lanting Award was that she disdained winning the award anymore, hence her absence.
Therefore, Huang Yaodong and Zhao Yushi, along with others, were well aware that Fan Shuyuan's calligraphy ranked among the top three young calligraphers of the current generation.
In the capital's art circles, among the younger generation, Fan Shuyuan, Shangguan Wenshan, and Gu Sinuo were considered joint first place.
"Why would Brother Wan compete in calligraphy with Grandfather Fan's granddaughter?"
Hou Xuesong whispered, not understanding what was going on between them.
Lin Yushu, fanning himself with his fan, looked at Fan Shuyuan, who was full of defiance towards Wan Yunting, and said with a smile, "Perhaps this granddaughter of Grandfather Fan is not convinced by Brother Wan's calligraphy, so she seized this opportunity to compete."
Zhao Yushi nodded and said, "I've seen Fan Shuyuan's cursive calligraphy. It's indeed better than what some old generation calligraphy masters write, but if compared to Brother Wan, then…"
She didn't finish her sentence, but Huang Yaodong, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong exchanged knowing smiles, implying the outcome.
Everyone present, seeing that Fan Shuyuan was going to compete with Wan Yunting in calligraphy, cheered with excitement. Most of them loudly cheered for Fan Shuyuan.
In the capital's literati and art circles, especially among some young people, there was a sense of disdain towards Wan Yunting. Particularly, the previous charity auctions in Huadu City, where his cursive calligraphy fetched a sky-high price of 450 million yuan, was seen by some as deliberate hype to inflate the price.
After all, even Fan Liren, a contemporary master, couldn't fetch such a sky-high price for his calligraphy and painting. Therefore, people believed that even if Wan Yunting's calligraphy was good, it wasn't worth such an astronomical sum.
Consequently, some young people were envious, jealous, and viewed Wan Yunting with hostility.
"Zhu Rong, quickly go prepare the Four Treasures of the Study."
Fan Shuyuan didn't waste any time and immediately asked Zhu Rong to prepare. Shortly after, two young men carried a writing desk and placed it in the center of the reception hall of the pavilion. The Four Treasures of the Study were neatly arranged on it.
Shangguan Wenshan, standing nearby, saw that Fan Shuyuan was determined to compete with Wan Yunting in calligraphy. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and pulled Gu Sinuo aside to whisper, "Why don't you stop Shuyuan?"
Gu Sinuo turned to look at the man and said, "Don't you think Shuyuan has a chance?"
Shangguan Wenshan turned back and exchanged a glance with her, smiling and not knowing what to say.
Then, Gu Sinuo smiled slightly and said, "Actually, I don't think she has a chance either, but you don't know her personality. If you haven't witnessed it with your own eyes, how can you be convinced?"
Shangguan Wenshan looked at her and said, "So, you've seen Mr. Wan's calligraphy?"
"Yes, my grandfather had him write something last night. I saw it, and it's indeed very good," Gu Sinuo nodded.
Last night, Gu Shiren, in a fit of enthusiasm for wine, had asked Wan Yunting to write two pieces to add to the merriment. However, upon seeing his calligraphy, Gu Sinuo felt a sense of inadequacy.
Although she admitted that Fan Shuyuan's calligraphy was excellent, even better than that of so-called masters, when compared to Wan Yunting's calligraphy, Gu Sinuo still believed that Fan Shuyuan couldn't compete!
"You first or me first?"
Fan Shuyuan had already rolled up her sleeves and turned to Wan Yunting, who was standing beside her.
Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong stood beside Wan Yunting, while Shangguan Wenshan, Gu Sinuo, and Zhu Rong stood beside Fan Shuyuan. The two sides formed opposing camps, surrounded by other talented men and women, all eagerly anticipating this calligraphy showdown.
"Ladies first."
Wan Yunting smiled nonchalantly.
"Then I'll go first."
Fan Shuyuan was unconcerned. She stepped forward, picked up a brush, and dipped it in ink. As if remembering something, she turned and cast a sideways glance at Wan Yunting, saying, "You can have some wine first and bring out all the skill you displayed in the calligraphy competition, so you won't complain if you lose."
"Is there any wine? Get him a couple of pots of wine…"
Zhu Rong, standing nearby, immediately turned and shouted to someone behind him.
"No need."
Wan Yunting waved his hands at them and said with a smile, "No need for wine, I have other things to do later, so I'll just write like this."
"Then don't cry if you lose," Fan Shuyuan gave him a look, which made Wan Yunting chuckle.
Zhu Rong stood beside her, using a paperweight to flatten the Xuan paper. Fan Shuyuan dipped her brush in ink and scraped the tip on the inkstone. Her peach blossom eyes suddenly lit up with a solemn and serious glow. Holding the brush in her right hand, she touched it to the Xuan paper. Immediately, her brush danced freely and gracefully across the paper. At the same time, she composed a poem on the spot. Her calligraphy techniques and the force behind her strokes caught Wan Yunting's eye as he stood nearby.
"Still possessing the grace of snow and frost, yet unwilling to be fully crimson…"
Wan Yunting murmured the poem Fan Shuyuan was writing, combined with her cursive calligraphy, conveying the unyielding spirit of resilience within the poem. As Fan Shuyuan lifted her final stroke, the surrounding young talents and ladies burst into thunderous applause: "Excellent calligraphy, excellent poem…"