Yu Qingchuan immediately grew nervous. Although Z University had won, what he wanted to know even more was whether Teacher Chen had taken a liking to his work.
Ever since learning about the competition, he had researched Teacher Chen Shujun's painting style and famous works. Just as Professor Kong had said, his own style leaned more toward romanticism and was a very good match for Teacher Chen's.
But Teacher Chen was a nationally renowned painter. Yu Qingchuan had no formal training, and he did not know whether his work would catch his eye.
Fortunately, their class representative, Song Zhiran, was not one to keep people in suspense. He immediately announced the winning works. Their two winning entries were Qi Bai's "Heavenly Horse" and Yu Qingchuan's "Eight-Winged Holy Angel."
Qi Bai had an exceptionally solid foundation in painting. His family worked in the arts, and he had learned to paint from childhood.
The lighting and composition of his work were almost perfect. A pure white, winged heavenly horse galloped through a brilliant river of stars, dreamlike and ethereal. He had even managed to paint the streaming light.
Yet the moment the results came out, countless question marks flooded the class group chat.
Yu Qingchuan's work had not been among the previously announced shortlisted entries.
Classmate 1: Did you get something wrong, class rep?
Classmate 2: Yeah, wasn't Yu Qingchuan's painting not even on the list before?
Everyone still thought of Yu Qingchuan as the rich kid who never came to class, knew nothing, and was ridiculously fat, so they all expressed their confusion.
Song Zhiran could only reply: These are the results Teacher Chen Shujun gave us. Anyway, we won, so let the music play and keep dancing.
Then he photographed Yu Qingchuan's painting and sent it to the group. The moment their classmates saw it, they started exclaiming, "Holy shit!"
Classmate 3: Yu Qingchuan painted this? This is really good!
Classmate 4: No wonder Teacher Chen liked it.
Innocent, gullible college students always believed whatever they heard and trusted people readily. None of them suspected that Yu Qingchuan had hired someone to paint it for him. They even thought he was a hidden master.
Song Zhiran was conflicted too. He did not know how Yu Qingchuan had managed to submit his work, yet Teacher Chen Shujun had selected it-and even ranked it first.
He wanted to message Yu Qingchuan privately and tell him he absolutely had to keep the ghost-painting secret. Otherwise, Z University would be embroiled in a cheating scandal, and neighboring Q University would nail them to the pillar of shame.
But if he said that, would Yu Qingchuan lash out in humiliation?
Song Zhiran agonized over it for a long time but ultimately said nothing.
He could only hope the matter would never be exposed and would end here.
Since the competition had attracted attention online, Qi Bai and Ashley soon posted videos announcing the results. Ashley acknowledged the loss, and the students of Z University were overjoyed.
Once the three paintings were posted, countless oil-painting enthusiasts began admiring and analyzing them. Yu Qingchuan's work in particular drew expressions of affection from everyone who saw it.
[The pink tones are absolutely brilliant. It's as though a lofty god suddenly became tender and within reach! The emotion practically leaps off the canvas!]
["Eight-Winged Holy Angel" really got me. This noble, gentle, romantic holy angel is painted so beautifully. Could some amazing cosplayer cosplay him? I want to see him in real life.]
[Girl above, you've said exactly what I was thinking. I want to see a cosplay too.]
The comments also tagged a whole bunch of fairly well-known cosplayers.
Qi Bai and Ashley already had enormous followings, and this competition concerned the rankings of their two universities. No one had expected neither of their works to take first place, only for Yu Qingchuan to win instead. Interest in Yu Qingchuan instantly surged.
Countless people grew curious not only about his painting, but also about him and whether he had any other works.
There really were no secrets on the internet. In just half an hour, people dug up the fact that Yu Qingchuan was the Yu Family's Eldest Young Master.
But when netizens saw old photos of Yu Qingchuan still circulating online, they immediately felt rather disappointed.
What the hell? Why does this guy look so fat and greasy? What's that on his face, a heart-shaped birthmark?
And how should we put his demeanor? He looks frivolous and has no presence at all. He doesn't look anything like someone who could paint "Eight-Winged Holy Angel."
Apparently, Yu Qingchuan never even goes to class, and his family used their connections to shoehorn him into Z University. Could he have hired someone to paint this for him?
After learning from Li Chengze that Yu Qingchuan's painting had been eliminated, Su Ningyue had stopped paying attention. But while arranging flowers that day, she suddenly received a call from Li Chengze. He told her that Yu Qingchuan had somehow used his connections to get the painting to Chen Shujun-and had even won first place.
Su Ningyue immediately frowned and opened her phone to follow developments online.
When she saw everyone praising Yu Qingchuan, she immediately thought of a solution. She arranged for someone to pose as an informant and leak Yu Qingchuan's old photos and grades.
She had handled everything so discreetly that no one suspected a thing. As soon as doubts about ghost-painting emerged, Ashley's fans seized on them, flooding the comment sections of Qi Bai's account and even Z University's official account, accusing them of cheating and hiring someone else to paint the entry.
A pleased smile curled Su Ningyue's lips. She did not care why Yu Qingchuan had gotten involved in this competition, but since he had handed her leverage, she had to make use of it.
From what she knew of Yu Chenyi, if Yu Qingchuan's reputation was ruined, Yu Chenyi would surely throw him out of the house in a fit of rage.
Wealthy families cared about their reputations above all else.
Yu Qingchuan had not been following any of this. He was peacefully painting when Song Zhiran unexpectedly called.
"Yu Qingchuan, your personal information has been dug up. There's a huge uproar online, and everyone is saying you hired someone to paint for you. If you really did, you need to apologize and make it clear that this was entirely your own doing and had nothing to do with the university."
There was a barely perceptible trace of anger in Song Zhiran's voice. He had just called their academic counselor, who could not find a good solution either and had only suggested contacting Yu Qingchuan and asking him to apologize publicly.
Song Zhiran practically hated Yu Qingchuan. He had been worried all along that the ghost-painting would be exposed, and now his worst fear had come true. Whose connections had Yu Qingchuan used to get that painting submitted?
Yu Qingchuan had already had his suspicions. While taking the call, he quickly opened the short-video platform and searched the relevant keywords. Sure enough, Qi Bai's latest post already had over thirty thousand comments, and the number was rising rapidly. Some people had even edited his painting into memes, calling him shameless for hiring someone else to paint it.
He did not panic. His voice remained gentle and steady. "Class rep, I didn't hire anyone to paint for me. As for clearing things up, I need to discuss it with my boyfriend first. Once we've decided, I'll call you back."
Yu Qingchuan's voice was clear, pure, and very pleasant. Strangely, it made Song Zhiran want to believe him despite himself.
In a daze, he thought that Yu Qingchuan really had changed a great deal.
"All right. As long as you can prove it, everything will be fine." Song Zhiran's tone softened too. "But if you can't give everyone a satisfactory explanation, we hope you'll withdraw from the university yourself."
Yu Qingchuan chuckled. In the past, or back when he had been a student, he might truly have been afraid. But not anymore. "All right. You have my word."
After hanging up, Yu Qingchuan was just about to call Lu Shiyi when, as though their minds were connected, Lu Shiyi called him instead. "Qingchuan, I saw what happened online. As for clearing things up, my suggestion is to hold a livestream. As the model for the holy angel in your painting, I can appear on camera too. Haven't you always wanted to start an account? This attention is an opportunity. I've already arranged the staff and procedures. Whenever you need them, we can get started."
His words were clear and organized, steady and composed, leaving Yu Qingchuan utterly dazzled by him again.
His Brother Yi was truly capable and charming.
"Mm, thank you, Brother Yi. That's what I was thinking too." Yu Qingchuan smiled. "We really are on the same wavelength."
Lu Shiyi gave a low chuckle that sounded even more alluring over the phone. "But Qingchuan, I've made a list of unexpected questions that might come up. One of them is how to explain this painting talent you've suddenly revealed."
As he spoke, an investigation report lay in front of Lu Shiyi. A photograph was attached to it, and the name field beside it clearly read "Yu Qingchuan."
Lu Shiyi was extremely intelligent and perceptive. He had heard of Yu Qingchuan before and knew him as a spoiled rich kid, but after spending time with him, he had discovered that Yu Qingchuan was nothing like the rumors.
It was not that he distrusted his young boyfriend. He was simply accustomed to getting a clear understanding of everything.
Lu Shiyi was utterly certain that he liked the Yu Qingchuan of the present. And because this Yu Qingchuan's personality was the polar opposite of the one described in the report, he had begun to harbor a few suspicions.
But whatever the truth was, he still needed Yu Qingchuan to tell him himself.
Yu Qingchuan had not expected Lu Shiyi to ask that question. A chill instantly ran down his spine, and he broke into a cold sweat.
He did not know how to answer. Was he supposed to say he had transmigrated here? But he did not want to lie to Lu Shiyi either.
Just then, Lu Shiyi offered him a way out. "Qingchuan, I really like who you are now. It's all right if you don't tell me yet. I understand. But I'm sorry-I investigated your family. Does Su Ningyue treat you badly?"
For some reason, Yu Qingchuan suddenly felt his eyes sting. How could Lu Shiyi be so kind and considerate?
"Mm, not very well," Yu Qingchuan replied.
Listening to his voice, Lu Shiyi wished he could pull him into his arms. His expression softened as he reassured him. "She's nothing but a petty clown, Qingchuan. You have a bright, brilliant future ahead of you. You don't need to care about her, but we can take this opportunity to teach her a lesson. Let's go over the livestream plan and any unexpected situations that might arise. Can you come to my office? I'll send a driver to pick you up."
Yu Qingchuan nodded immediately. "Okay!"
He could hardly wait to see Su Ningyue humiliated by him.
Before you continue