Wen Feiran grew even more flustered, while the viewers in the livestream laughed without the slightest concern for him.
[There goes the illusion. I thought a master of traditional Chinese painting would be aloof and unapproachable, but he turned out to be an overgrown child.]
[Hahahahaha, Wen Feiran looks like he's about to find a rope and hang himself.]
[This is way too forced and over the top. A highly respected master of traditional Chinese painting asking some unknown amateur in his twenties to take him on as a disciple? Would you believe it if someone told you that?]
[+1 I think it's scripted too.]
[Even so, imagining myself in his shoes feels so good my scalp is tingling. If there's something this good again, let me act in a couple of episodes too.]
Mu Qianyu, who had remained silent the whole time, finally spoke, but instead of questioning Wen Feiran, she actually came to his aid. "Don't let your talent and hard work go to waste. If you want to make a career in the art world, you can ask Haoran for help."
She turned to look at her husband. "What do you think?"
Duan Haoran was already in an awkward position, and his smile grew even stiffer when he heard her. He laughed it off. "Of course. Wen, um... I have high hopes for you."
Mu Qianyu turned back and met Wen Feiran's eyes. Her features were striking, and she wore a faint smile, but Wen Feiran read something else in his eyes.
Before he could give it any thought, however, Mu Qianyu turned and left.
Mu Qianyu and Duan Haoran were married, so her attempt to comfort Wen Feiran also represented Duan Haoran's attitude to some extent. Having lost so much face, Duan Haoran couldn't very well lash out and could only slink away.
Elder Zeng was advanced in years, yet he put on no airs as an elder. Instead, he refused to back down and sulked. Worried that his anger might harm his health, Wen Feiran could only grit his teeth and, in a highly disrespectful act, unilaterally stand in for his master and make Elder Zeng his senior brother.
He knew his own limits. He wasn't qualified to be Elder Zeng's master, but he could pass his master's teachings on to him. Given Elder Zeng's level and skill, he might even become something of a kindred spirit to his teacher.
Only after Elder Zeng had left his contact information did he let them go.
The production team hadn't expected such a turn of events either. They canceled the remaining arrangements at short notice and prepared a barbecue for them to ease the atmosphere.
The afternoon's events had drained almost all of Wen Feiran's energy. He lay on his bed, staring blankly into space, and rested alone for a long time before finally recharging.
Before dinner, Wen Feiran returned to the Dreamy Cottage. Although he still acted like the socially anxious passerby he had been before, staying out of the camera's view with no presence to speak of, people glanced at him from time to time with meaningful expressions.
On the surface, Wen Feiran still looked like the same dull, honest, and awkward man, pushing up his constantly slipping black-framed glasses, but his scalp was already tingling and his mind was racing.
As soon as the meat skewers were ready, he said, "I'm going out for some air."
His voice was as quiet as a mosquito's hum, but this time the others heard him.
Only after leaving the living room did Wen Feiran breathe a sigh of relief. But the cameras everywhere still made him uncomfortable, and with nowhere else to go, he climbed up to the roof he had visited before.
But he had miscalculated. As soon as he looked up, he saw a slender figure.
"..."
Wen Feiran froze awkwardly and didn't move for a long while. Mu Qianyu, on the other hand, gave him a friendly smile. "Come sit down."
Wen Feiran pressed his lips together and stiffly shuffled over.
Mu Qianyu chuckled, her tone as matter-of-fact as if she were discussing the weather. "I'll tell you a secret. I want a divorce."
Those two words had no business appearing in a conversation like this. Wen Feiran failed to process them and instinctively responded, "A di..." Divorce?!!!
Like a sloth in a movie, he was so shocked that his brain shut down. He opened his mouth very slowly and, a moment later, let out an "Ah."
Wait, is this a topic I can take part in discussing?!!
Wen Feiran desperately hoped it was only a joke, but Mu Qianyu's gaze was resolute, and there wasn't a trace of a smile on her face.
Wen Feiran sucked in a sharp breath.
Oh no, this is about to turn into a divorce variety show!
Chapter 5: Giving the Scumbag a Beating!
Wen Feiran returned to the living room in a daze, still unable to make sense of it.
Before this, he and Mu Qianyu had had no dealings with each other. They had exchanged only a couple of sentences, so why had she told him such a huge secret?
Fortunately, Mu Qianyu had turned off the camera and microphone. Otherwise, everyone would have known her secret.
Wen Feiran had wanted to dodge the cameras and the crowd and zone out for a while, but instead his brain was stuffed full of explosive gossip, and the way he looked at Duan Haoran had become rather strange.
Duan Haoran had just finished a phone call and hurried inside, the night and frosty dew clinging to him.
He was in a very awkward position now. He couldn't become a renowned painter, but given his age and seniority, calling himself one of the best painters of the younger generation would give people grounds to ridicule him. Moreover, new painters were constantly emerging, and if he didn't work harder to compete, he might no longer have a place in the industry.
He had chosen to take part in the variety show and sacrifice his fee to have the production team arrange a segment like this, partly because of his irrepressible charm. More importantly, he needed fame so his works would sell for high prices and help him reach the next level. He hadn't expected Elder Zeng to give him no face at all, or for an unknown newcomer to steal the spotlight.
It was like lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot—a tremendous humiliation!
Duan Haoran had barely managed to maintain his composure in front of the cameras, but he had hidden away and gone mad, making phone calls and calling on every connection he had. He was determined to knock Wen Feiran down a peg.
Even so, Duan Haoran's anger had yet to subside. But staying away from the cameras would arouse suspicion, so he had reluctantly returned.
The moment he came back, he met Wen Feiran's gaze.
Worry, shock, and several other complicated emotions were intertwined in it, along with a meaningful look he couldn't understand.
Duan Haoran's eyebrows shot up.
Wen Feiran must have seen the flood of negative comments online and regretted being young and hotheaded, unaware of his own limitations. Now he wanted to beg Duan Haoran for mercy.
The anger lodged in his chest finally eased somewhat. Duan Haoran was just about to feel pleased with himself when he noticed that Wen Feiran's gaze had changed again.
This time it was full of sympathy and pity, as if he were looking at a landlord's foolish son who didn't even realize his family was gone.