"Wow, isn't that Huangfu Hongfang?"
"It is him, so handsome..."
A group of young men and women waiting in a side room of the cultural hall looked on as Huangfu Hongfang and Gao Jiaxu accompanied Yuan Deyou inside. Their arrival immediately caused many infatuated women present to excitedly stare at him, their eyes fixed on him.
"Mr. Yuan..."
Many young talents recognized Yuan Deyou and rushed forward to pay their respects and greet him excitedly...
Yuan Deyou nodded. He completely ignored the greetings from these juniors and said to Huangfu Hongfang, "Hongfang, wait here for the competition to begin. I'm going up for a meeting."
"Yes, teacher."
Huangfu Hongfang and Gao Jiaxu bowed slightly. Yuan Deyou then went towards the stairs to the second floor with the middle-aged man.
"Brother Huangfu, long time no see. I admire you greatly..."
Immediately, the young men and women around them came forward, surrounding Huangfu Hongfang and greeting him. Each of them was fawning and desperately trying to please him, much like fans mobbing their idol celebrity. Seeing this, Huang Yaodong, sitting on the other side, said with disdain, "He relies on Yuan Deyou's fame to make himself seem so renowned."
"What can you do? He's the grandson of Huangfu Xueyi, a master of the Lingnan School of Painting,"
A young man with Huang Yaodong, named Lin Yushu, holding a folding fan, looked at Huangfu Hongfang, who was being surrounded by people in the distance, and said with a smile.
"I heard his father is also a prominent figure in politics. Luotang, you should know this best," Huang Yaodong's girlfriend, Zhao Yushi, turned and said.
Gu Luotang nodded. There was no need to elaborate on Huangfu Hongfang's family background; he was truly from a prestigious family.
"Speaking of which, doesn't Brother Dong also have a good grandfather? And Fairy Luotang's grandfather is a renowned doctor in the Lingnan region."
Another young man with Huang Yaodong, named Hou Xuesong, then said to Wan Yunting, "I remember reading the news that Brother Yunting is also studying medicine and even founded the Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association with Fairy Luotang's grandfather. Is that true?"
"Of course, it's true."
Qi Miaomiao answered for Wan Yunting. She said, "My Brother Yunting's medical skills are superb, and his Slender Gold script calligraphy is even more exceptional. Our President Fang says he is comparable to the reincarnation of Emperor Huizong of Song!"
"Wow, that's quite a high evaluation."
Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, and Lin Yushu turned to look at Wan Yunting. Since they hadn't attended the Mid-Autumn Festival gala in Huadu City before, they hadn't seen his Slender Gold script calligraphy.
Despite Qi Miaomiao's words, Huang Yaodong didn't quite believe it.
However, he noticed that Gu Luotang and Wan Yunting seemed to be good friends. He even sensed a look of affection in Gu Luotang's eyes when she looked at Wan Yunting, leading him to guess that their relationship was definitely not simple. Therefore, he didn't say anything further.
"Then, let's take this opportunity of the calligraphy competition to witness Brother Yunting's calligraphy," Huang Yaodong said with a smile.
Wan Yunting smiled and was about to be modest, but then Huangfu Hongfang and Gao Jiaxu, along with the crowd surrounding him, walked over. Gao Jiaxu provocatively said, "What reincarnation of Emperor Huizong of Song? Those people are just hyping him up. If we're talking about writing Slender Gold script, our Brother Huangfu is no worse than you!"
"Moreover, our Brother Huangfu not only has profound achievements in Slender Gold script calligraphy but is also exceptional in other scripts. In painting, he has inherited the legacy of old Mr. Huangfu and is poised to become the next leader of our Lingnan School of Painting. Can you, Wan Yunting, compare to such accomplishments?"
These provocative words caused Huangfu Hongfang's supporters behind him to point and whisper about Wan Yunting. Someone even said, "Isn't he a doctor? Why is he participating in a calligraphy competition?"
"I don't know. He probably came with Fairy Luotang and the others?"
"Heh, a doctor trying to force his way into the literary and artistic circles. Aren't they afraid of being ridiculed..."
For a moment, those young men and women pointed at Wan Yunting, their discussions laced with sarcasm, as they had never seen Wan Yunting's Slender Gold script calligraphy and all considered him merely a doctor.
However, in the face of Gao Jiaxu's provocation, Wan Yunting simply smiled and didn't take it to heart.
Just as they said, he was just a doctor, not someone in the literary and artistic circles, so there was no need to care about Gao Jiaxu's words.
"Tsk, if you're going to say that, my Brother Yunting also knows traditional Chinese medicine. Does your Huangfu Hongfang?"
Qi Miaomiao became angry, her almond-shaped eyes wide with indignation as she glared at Gao Jiaxu and Huangfu Hongfang. She continued, "Also, he is a缉毒 hero in Huadu City. Does your Huangfu Hongfang have this title? I'm afraid you would wet your pants if you encountered drug dealers."
"Haha, Miaomiao, well said..."
Huang Yaodong, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong burst into laughter...
In fact, Huang Yaodong had never been fond of Huangfu Hongfang and even found him a bit pretentious. If it weren't for his grandfather Huangfu Xueyi and his tutelage under Yuan Deyou in the capital, Huangfu Hongfang's personal abilities would have been mediocre.
The reason so many people fawned over him was simply because of his family background and his connection to Yuan Deyou. If Huangfu Hongfang lost these two factors, he would be nothing.
However, it was precisely because of this that Huangfu Hongfang presented himself as a top-tier talent in the literary and artistic circles, with an air of self-importance. His hypocrisy made Huang Yaodong, Lin Yushu, and the others very displeased, even hostile towards him!
Furthermore, two years ago, Huangfu Hongfang had publicly commented on Huang Yaodong's grandfather, Huang Jiayu's, painting. His words subtly implied that Huang Yaodong's grandfather was inferior to his own grandfather, Huangfu Xueyi!
After that incident, Huang Yaodong and Huangfu Hongfang became adversaries. They had publicly insulted each other in the circles, and once, at an event, they almost came to blows when they met. Thus, their confrontations were commonplace within the circle.
"Huangfu Hongfang, if you didn't rely on your grandfather and Mr. Yuan, you would be nothing in front of me!" Huang Yaodong stepped forward, looked directly at Huangfu Hongfang, and said with a cold, sarcastic smile.
"Heh heh..."
In response to his provocation, Huangfu Hongfang simply smiled and looked at Huang Yaodong, saying, "Likewise."
"Hmph."
Huang Yaodong snorted coldly, "Let's wait and see who wins a place in this Lanting Award calligraphy competition!"
Huangfu Hongfang nodded and smiled, "This is the fairest judgment. However, Huang Yaodong, you are not my target!"
"What do you mean?"
Huang Yaodong raised an eyebrow and glared. Huangfu Hongfang pointed behind him at Wan Yunting, who was standing with Gu Luotang, and smiled, "He is my target!"
Instantly, all eyes in the venue focused on Wan Yunting. Those who were unaware looked confused, wondering why Huangfu Hongfang would say that. Could this Wan Yunting truly be a dark horse?
Seeing Huangfu Hongfang openly pointing at him, Wan Yunting's lips curved into a slight smile, and he rubbed his nose without speaking.
Huangfu Hongfang, with a smile on his face, said, "Mr. Wan, I will defeat you in Slender Gold script calligraphy in the fairest way possible!"
However, his gaze towards Wan Yunting revealed extreme confidence and arrogance.
Wan Yunting, however, smiled, appearing indifferent, and chuckled, "Then I shall eagerly await it."
Huangfu Hongfang smiled at the corners of his mouth, cast a glance at Gu Luotang, and then said nothing more, turning and leaving with Gao Jiaxu and the others.
"Brother Yunting, do you also have a grudge against Huangfu Hongfang?"
Watching Huangfu Hongfang and his group leave, Huang Yaodong, Lin Yushu, and the others turned to look at Wan Yunting with puzzled expressions.
"It's all because of my senior sister..."
Then, Qi Miaomiao explained how, at the Mid-Autumn Festival gala, Wan Yunting had humiliated Huangfu Hongfang with his calligraphy, and because Gu Luotang liked Wan Yunting, Huangfu Hongfang held a grudge.
"Oh, I didn't realize. Are Sister Luotang and Brother Yunting really a couple?" Huang Yaodong looked at Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang and said with surprise and a smile.
The two exchanged glances. Gu Luotang lowered her head slightly and smiled without explaining. In her heart, she certainly liked the idea of being Wan Yunting's girlfriend.
"To have gone through life and death together in the disaster area and forged such a beautiful story truly earns my admiration. If one could weave your story into a book, it might become an enviable love story," Lin Yushu said, fanning himself, pointing at Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang with a smile, exuding the demeanor of a scholar.
"What, is your new novel going to feature Brother Yunting and my senior sister as the main characters?" Qi Miaomiao asked him.
"If possible, I certainly would like to," Lin Yushu said with a smile.
Gu Luotang smiled gently and then said to Wan Yunting, "Yushu is a web novelist. His pen name is Qi Lai!"
"Wow, so you're a writer. It's an honor,"
Upon hearing that he was a novelist, Wan Yunting couldn't help but feel admiration. Lin Yushu said humbly with a smile, "I wouldn't dare call myself a writer; I just write novels to make a living and practice calligraphy in my spare time. I don't dare to claim the title of writer; I don't have the qualifications yet."
"Hey Old Lin, would you die if you weren't so humble? With an annual royalty income of several million, you call that just making a living? I despise you," Qi Miaomiao rolled her eyes at him, her almond eyes full of disdain.
"Hahaha..."
This remark made Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, and Hou Xuesong burst into laughter. Wan Yunting, upon hearing that Lin Yushu's annual royalty income was several million, realized he was indeed remarkable.
For most of the young men and women present, they were mostly engaged in cultural work, such as teachers, novelists, painters, professional calligraphers, and so on...
Of course, there were also a few enthusiasts who loved calligraphy. Although they had not received professional and systematic calligraphy training, they could still write beautiful characters through their own unremitting efforts and talent.
Wan Yunting was one such individual. He had spent most of his time studying medicine with his master in prison, practicing meditation and martial arts in his free time, and only a small amount of time was dedicated to practicing calligraphy.
However, he was a naturally gifted talent, the kind that heaven showered with blessings. With just a few practices, he could write beautiful calligraphy. Even his master, Gongsun Xiuliang, had praised him back then, saying that if he hadn't pursued traditional Chinese medicine, he could have made a living solely through his calligraphy...