"Old Zhang has kindly given us a ride back."
Alighting from the car at the hotel lobby entrance, Wan Yunting thanked Old Zhang, the general manager of Purple Bamboo Tea Garden.
"It's my pleasure."
Old Zhang smiled, "Then Mr. Wan, you all should rest early. I'll be heading back now."
"Alright, bye-bye..."
Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang waved goodbye, watching Old Zhang drive away. Qi Miaomiao eagerly took out the inscribed plaque from Gu Luotang's bag. "Wow, it's so exquisite! Is it inlaid with gold and jade?"
Wan Yunting glanced at it and nodded with a smile, "Brother Tang really is generous. This plaque alone is worth over a million!"
"Wow, it's that valuable?"
Qi Miaomiao held the inscribed plaque. Though not large, it was made with top-grade jade as a base, with gold inlaid to form the characters. The intricate carvings on the jade clearly showed its extraordinary quality.
"Quick, give it to me, don't let it drop."
Gu Luotang quickly took the inscribed plaque from Qi Miaomiao's hand and said to Wan Yunting, "Brother Yunting, this is too precious. You should keep it."
"Why would I keep it?"
Wan Yunting nudged her hand away and smiled, "I won't be going to such places often in the future, so you should keep it. You can then visit the Purple Bamboo Tea Garden and interact with other literati."
Gu Luotang raised an eyebrow, still feeling it was improper. "But President Tang gave this to you."
Wan Yunting ushered them into the elevator and smiled, "It's for you too."
"For me?"
Gu Luotang's eyes showed confusion. Qi Miaomiao immediately said, "Senior sister, you're so silly. President Tang sees that you and Brother Yunting are a couple!"
Wan Yunting immediately gave Qi Miaomiao a thumbs-up and laughed, "Miaomiao is indeed smart."
But Gu Luotang was still hesitant to accept it. Wan Yunting then put his arm around her waist, lowered his head, and whispered into her ear with a smile, "What's mine is yours, isn't it? Just take it."
Flustered by his action, Gu Luotang's pretty face blushed, and she felt very happy. She nodded with a soft hum and put the inscribed plaque back into her bag.
"Hey, can you two stop showing off in front of me?"
Qi Miaomiao, standing beside them, crossed her arms and glared at the couple with her almond eyes, pouting and grumbling unhappily.
Wan Yunting turned to look at her. Seeing her rosy and cute little face, he couldn't help but pinch it playfully, grinning mischievously. "If you're envious, you should hurry up and find a boyfriend."
"Tsk, don't pinch my face..."
Qi Miaomiao angrily swatted away his mischievous hand. Seeing the elevator door open, she immediately walked out. She turned back to glare at Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang, huffing, "You two lovebirds, I don't want to see you tonight. I'm leaving."
"Miaomiao..."
Gu Luotang chased after her, but Qi Miaomiao ran to the door of her room, took out her room card, opened the door, and entered. With a bang, she closed the door, adding, "Senior sister, you can sleep with him tonight..."
Wan Yunting walked over with a smile. Seeing that the hallway was empty, he put his arm around Gu Luotang's waist and smirked, "Miaomiao is so sensible."
Seeing his mischievous look, Gu Luotang knew what he wanted. She shot him a seductive glance, but her heart was brimming with happiness...
The room door opened and closed. Wan Yunting directly picked up Gu Luotang. They walked towards the bed kissing passionately. Suddenly, Gu Luotang said breathlessly, "Brother Yunting, I should go back to my room to sleep. I'm afraid President Fang might suddenly come looking for you..."
Wan Yunting smiled, "Don't worry, Uncle Fang just sent me a message. He's still at the cultural center reviewing works tonight and won't be back until very late. He won't disturb us..."
The next morning, around six o'clock, the two of them got up and practiced meditation together. It wasn't until nine o'clock that Gu Luotang quickly returned to the adjacent room. She found Qi Miaomiao with dark circles under her eyes, glaring resentfully at the returning Gu Luotang. She fumed, "Senior sister, you and Brother Yunting are too much! You were making noise until the early hours last night. I finally got a few hours of sleep, and then you two started again in the morning, waking me up again! Now I can't sleep at all..."
Her words made Gu Luotang look embarrassed and shy. Finally, she smiled, "How about I buy you that Song Dynasty Hanfu as an apology?"
"Hmph, that's more like it."
Qi Miaomiao snorted coldly, then lay down and pulled the covers over herself. She then lifted the covers again and warned Gu Luotang, "Don't make any more noise with Brother Yunting, let me sleep for a while."
"Oh, hurry up and sleep..."
Qi Miaomiao's words made Gu Luotang blush deeply. Thinking about the passionate night with the man, she felt embarrassed...
By noon, Gu Luotang was in Wan Yunting's room when Fang Guowen and Hu Tianchi entered. "Little Wan, Luotang, have you seen the competition rankings?"
"Yes, President Fang. We saw it. Both Brother Yunting and I have advanced to the top one hundred."
Gu Luotang was looking at the Lanting Award calligraphy competition website on her phone. The judging panel had announced the top one hundred qualifiers. She, Wan Yunting, Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, and Lin Yushu had all made it into the top one hundred. However, Qi Miaomiao and Hou Xuesong had been eliminated.
Fang Guowen nodded, "Entering the top one hundred isn't difficult. I'm just afraid of backroom dealings in the end!"
Hu Tianchi glared and snorted, "If that's the case, I won't be coming to the Lanting Award calligraphy competitions anymore."
These words made Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang exchange glances and smile without saying anything...
At two o'clock in the afternoon, the cultural center was already packed and bustling with excitement.
Although ninety percent of the participants had been eliminated in yesterday's first round, none of them had left. They all wanted to witness who would ultimately win first place in this Lanting Award.
Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang, along with Huang Yaodong and Zhao Yushi, and Lin Yushu, had already entered the cultural center. As for Qi Miaomiao, having not slept well last night and being eliminated, she was too lazy to come and decided to sleep soundly in the hotel.
The afternoon was the final round of live competition for the top one hundred qualifiers. Thus, the figures of Huangfu Hongfang and Ning Yuqing could be seen waiting at the venue.
As Fang Guowen and Hu Tianchi, members of the judging panel, arrived one after another, Yuan Degu, surrounded by an entourage, slowly took his seat in the center of the judges' table, flanked by the Chairman of the Arts Association, Shen He, and Vice Chairman, Liu Shuhuai, as usual.
"The contestants who have made it into the top one hundred, please enter the venue according to your table numbers," Liu Shuhuai stood up and called out to the contestants present through the microphone.
Huangfu Hongfang and Ning Yuqing were still at table numbers 1 and 2, with their writing supplies already prepared for them.
Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang were not seated together this time. The order of table selection had been rearranged, but it didn't matter.
Upon reaching the top one hundred, Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang had already discussed what poem or verse they would write in this round. Therefore, he had memorized the piece in advance, and would simply write it when the time came.
As it happened, Wan Yunting's table was next to Huangfu Hongfang and Ning Yuqing, at table number 15 behind them.
Huangfu Hongfang turned slightly, glancing at Wan Yunting behind him, and smiled, "Mr. Wan, what script will you be using this time? Still the Slender Gold script?"
"No."
Wan Yunting waved his hand at him and smiled, "This time I'll switch to Cursive script."
"Oh."
Huangfu Hongfang appeared surprised. He smiled, "I thought Mr. Wan only knew how to write the Slender Gold script. I didn't expect you to know Cursive script too. If that's the case, then I'll also switch to Cursive script."
Wan Yunting chuckled dismissively, knowing that Huangfu Hongfang was deliberately provoking him and being argumentative. He couldn't help but tease, "You'll only meet a very ugly end like this. I advise you to stick to the script you're most proficient in!"
Facing the teasing gaze of this fellow, Huangfu Hongfang's heart sank, but he maintained his composure. He smiled, "You're mistaken. The script I am most proficient in is Cursive script!"
"Is that so? Then I shall await with anticipation."
Wan Yunting put on a nonchalant demeanor and smiled.
Ning Yuqing, standing beside Huangfu Hongfang, also turned to watch their exchange. Her alluring peach blossom eyes fixed on Wan Yunting, and she smiled enchantingly, "This is interesting!"
"The competition rules are the same as yesterday, so I won't waste any more time with pleasantries. Everyone begin at your own pace. You have twenty minutes to submit your work," Vice Chairman Liu Shuhuai of the judging panel shouted loudly, announcing the official start of the second round of competition for the top one hundred qualifiers.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Wan Yunting raised his hand and called out to the judging panel, causing Huangfu Hongfang and Ning Yuqing in front, as well as other contestants, to turn and look at him, wondering what he intended to do.
Liu Shuhuai, who was about to sit down, looked at him and asked, "Contestant, do you have a question?"
Wan Yunting smiled, "Can I make a request?"
"A request?"
This remark caused everyone on the judging panel to be astonished. Fang Guowen and Hu Tianchi also exchanged glances, not knowing what Wan Yunting was up to.
"You may speak."
Shen He also wanted to see what request he could possibly make.
Wan Yunting grinned and said, "I just want to have some wine. That way, I can write poetry and calligraphy!"
"Drink wine?"
This request stunned everyone present. Shen He and Liu Shuhuai on the judging panel exchanged glances over Yuan Degu sitting between them, then simultaneously looked at him.
Yuan Degu looked at Wan Yunting with contempt in his old eyes and mockingly said, "Are you trying to write poetry fueled by wine, aspiring to be Li Bai?"
"Haha..."
This remark caused many people in the judging panel and the audience to burst into laughter, looking at Wan Yunting as if he were an idiot.
Huangfu Hongfang also turned his head to look at him, shaking his head and chuckling softly.
Wan Yunting ignored him and waved his hand at Yuan Degu and the others on the judging panel, smiling, "I can't be Li Bai. I just want a little wine to lift my spirits, so I can write the calligraphy that's in my heart. I wonder if the esteemed judges can grant my wish?"
However, Liu Shuhuai said, "Contestant, the competition rules do not prohibit drinking. But in all the competitions we've held, we've never had anyone request to drink like you. Perhaps you could let it go."
"Don't be like that. If he wants to drink, let him,"
Yuan Degu waved his hand indifferently and chuckled.
He seemed to be thinking, even if this young man wrote a masterpiece after drinking, with his word, he wouldn't win first prize in this Lanting Award calligraphy competition!