Madam Funair furrowed her brow slightly.
She gazed at the portrait before her, seeming unusually sensitive to some subtle change in it, and thus becoming puzzled.
Judging a painting to be poor was a risky move in high society. Even if the work was truly mediocre, the moment someone of higher standing vouched for it, its critics could be branded as having "poor taste."
Everyone knew this, but they all tacitly followed the unwritten rule. So Madam Funair's lips moved, but she swallowed her words.
She lightly covered her lips with her hand, leaving only the unmistakable disappointment in her beautiful eyes... Though the exhibition had only just begun, the quality of the new works on display had already fallen short of her expectations.
Only when she was sure no one else was nearby did she quietly grumble to Yu Xing, "This painting has no life in it at all. Has Aiven been in an unstable state lately? Or have I lost my ability to appreciate beauty?"
"People experience art differently, and it may also depend on the viewer's state of mind." Yu Xing gave a deliberately vague explanation, then naturally changed the subject again. "Madam, look at that lake scene. The use of color is very bold."
He led Madam Funair, whose interest had waned a little, to a painting titled The Lake of Slumber Beneath the Moonlight.
The deep blue lake was smooth as a mirror, reflecting a pale, waning moon. Twisted trees lined the shore like sleeping shadows. The overall atmosphere was quiet and eerie, yet it held a strange allure.
"This painting has a very distinctive style," Madam Funair remarked. "It gives me the creeps a little, but I can't help wanting to keep looking. Mm, I like themes that have a sense of mystery."
Yu