Chapter 133: Let me teach you what true calligraphy is!

Not far away, Zhou Cheng’s eyes turned cold when he saw Ding Ran’s close actions with Fang Yu.

Fang Yu noticed Ding Ran getting closer and frowned as he took a step back.

“You can say what you need to say here, but I might not help you,” Fang Yu said.

Ding Ran glanced at Zhou Cheng behind her and anxiously said, “Fang Yu, I can’t say it here… Can you please help me? It’s really urgent!”

Following Ding Ran’s gaze, Fang Yu exchanged a glance with Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng’s expression was very cold.

It was obvious that Ding Ran had brought trouble again.

“If you can’t say it, then don’t say it,” Fang Yu replied indifferently.

Ding Ran didn’t expect Fang Yu to refuse so decisively, and she bit her lip in frustration.

At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted around them.

“Master Cai has come out!”

Everyone turned to look ahead, where an elderly man with gray hair, around sixty years old, was being supported by a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

As soon as he appeared, he became the center of attention in the exhibition hall.

This was the contemporary calligraphy master, Cai Gaoyang.

Many people rushed over to greet Cai Gaoyang.

“Master Cai, I am Zhang from the Dingsheng Group…”

“Master Cai, hello, I come from…”

“Master Cai…”

People clamored to greet Cai Gaoyang, hoping to be remembered by him.

Qin Yimo, however, stood still.

“Why aren’t you going? Don’t you really like his calligraphy?” Fang Yu asked.

“I’ll go later; there are too many people around him right now,” Qin Yimo replied, her face flushed with excitement as she stared at Cai Gaoyang.

“Everyone, please be quiet. My father has not been well lately and is not in good condition; he is afraid of noise,” the man supporting Cai Gaoyang said.

He was Cai Gaoyang’s son, Cai Zhengnan.

The surroundings immediately fell silent.

Cai Gaoyang cleared his throat and said, “Thank you all for coming today. The works on display are the culmination of my efforts over the past decade. Of course, there are many flaws, and I hope you all can understand.”

“Where are the flaws? There are absolutely no flaws! It’s just that Master Cai has set his standards too high!” people around responded in unison.

Cai Gaoyang chuckled, stroking his beard, and said, “I invite you all to appreciate them.”

Taking advantage of the fact that there weren’t too many people around Cai Gaoyang, Qin Yimo quickly stepped forward.

“Master Cai, hello, I am Qin Yimo,” she said respectfully to Cai Gaoyang.

“Qin Yimo? Are you the granddaughter of the late Qin Wudao?” Cai Gaoyang’s expression changed slightly as he asked.

“Qin Wudao is my grandfather,” Qin Yimo replied.

“Oh, really… The last time I had tea with your grandfather was three years ago… Time flies,” Cai Gaoyang remarked.

While Cai Gaoyang and Qin Yimo were conversing, Cai Zhengnan was staring intently at Qin Yimo, sizing her up, even swallowing hard.

What a beautiful woman.

And judging by his father’s tone, this woman has quite a strong background.

It would be great if he could have a deeper conversation with her.

Cai Zhengnan looked at Qin Yimo, his mind racing with thoughts.

“Oh, I forgot to introduce you. This is my son, Cai Zhengnan,” Cai Gaoyang said after chatting with Qin Yimo for a bit and glancing at Cai Zhengnan.

“Hello, Mr. Cai,” Qin Yimo nodded at Cai Zhengnan.

Cai Zhengnan looked at Qin Yimo, momentarily lost in thought.

Qin Yimo frowned slightly; she knew Cai Zhengnan was staring at her, and she didn’t like that kind of gaze. However, since he was Master Cai’s son, she didn’t show her discomfort too obviously.

After a brief greeting with Cai Zhengnan, Qin Yimo turned back to Cai Gaoyang and respectfully asked, “Master Cai, I really admire your calligraphy and would like to buy a piece to take home for study and appreciation. I wonder if you could…”

Cai Gaoyang was taken aback and chuckled.

Qin Yimo was the daughter of the Qin family; befriending her was equivalent to befriending the Qin family. A piece of calligraphy was nothing significant.

Thinking this, Cai Gaoyang was about to agree.

But at that moment, Cai Zhengnan spoke up, “Miss Qin, my father hasn’t sold calligraphy pieces in a long time. Your request might be…”

Qin Yimo’s eyes flashed with disappointment as she said, “I understand…”

“But we would be very willing to make an exception for Miss Qin. However, the calligraphy pieces here are not my father’s best works; his best works are at our home in Xiangcheng. If Miss Qin truly wants to buy a piece, you could accompany us back to Xiangcheng after today’s exhibition, and I can show you my father’s proud creations then.”

“Our home is in Qingliulin, and the scenery there is just as beautiful as here. I’m sure Miss Qin will love it,” Cai Zhengnan smiled.

Cai Gaoyang, who had been slightly puzzled, quickly understood Cai Zhengnan’s intentions.

It seemed his son had taken a liking to Qin Yimo and wanted to take the opportunity to get closer to her.

Cai Gaoyang naturally wouldn’t stop such a thing.

If Cai Zhengnan could succeed, it would only benefit the Cai family. After all, Qin Yimo was the daughter of the Qin family.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yimo hesitated.

She understood Cai Zhengnan’s intentions very well.

She was quite averse to such tactics.

However, she really wanted to obtain a piece of Cai Gaoyang’s calligraphy.

If she refused now, she might not get another chance.

What to do?

Cai Zhengnan smiled, looking at Qin Yimo.

From the look in her eyes, he knew she really wanted his father’s calligraphy.

He intended to use this to slowly close the distance with Qin Yimo and eventually win her over completely.

Previously, Cai Zhengnan had used similar tactics to toy with many so-called heiresses from all over Jiuzhou, and it had worked every time.

Of course, Qin Yimo’s status was several levels above those women he had dealt with before.

It was precisely because of this that he felt even more motivated.

“Hey, I already said I have several pieces of Huang Daoran’s calligraphy at home; I can sell you one. Why do you need to buy his?” At that moment, Fang Yu stepped forward and said to Qin Yimo.

Fang Yu’s voice was not low, and not only Qin Yimo but many people around heard him.

Cai Gaoyang and his son both changed their expressions.

This young man has Huang Daoran’s calligraphy?

How is that possible?

“Kid, do you know who Huang Daoran is? You have his calligraphy? What nonsense are you talking? There are only three authentic pieces left of Huang Daoran! How could you possibly have one?”

“Exactly, you’re just bragging! Even if you had one, it would definitely be a forgery, a copy made by later generations!”

A wave of discussion erupted around them.

“This kid is just talking nonsense. I chatted with him a bit earlier and found out he knows nothing about art! He has no appreciation ability at all,” a bald man who had spoken with Fang Yu earlier said loudly.

“Right, to describe Master Cai’s calligraphy as just ‘not bad’ and ‘good’ is truly laughable,” another middle-aged man mocked.

“Forgive me, but I really can’t think of any good adjectives. Because his calligraphy does indeed look quite ordinary,” Fang Yu said.

At this, everyone was taken aback.

Qin Yimo facepalmed.

Why did Fang Yu have to speak up at this moment!

What should they do now? Saying such things would not only offend Cai Gaoyang but also make them the laughingstock of everyone present!

Ding Ran, not far behind, looked at Fang Yu in shock.

He actually said that Master Cai’s calligraphy was ordinary in public…

Zhou Cheng walked over to Ding Ran, pointed at his head, and laughed, “Xiao Ran, your friend seems to have a bit of a problem here, right?”

In the crowd, Cai Gaoyang narrowed his eyes and looked at Fang Yu, asking, “Young man, do you think my calligraphy is ordinary?”

“Yes, I hope you won’t mind; I’m just expressing my personal opinion,” Fang Yu replied.

“Then who do you think writes well?” Cai Gaoyang asked, smiling instead of getting angry.

“Huang Daoran, I already said I have several of his pieces at home…” Fang Yu answered.

“Nonsense! Even my father can’t obtain the authentic works of the Sage of Calligraphy, how could you possibly have them?” Cai Zhengnan’s face darkened as he said.

Today was Cai Gaoyang’s personal calligraphy exhibition, and he never expected a young fool like Fang Yu to dare say that Cai Gaoyang’s calligraphy was ordinary!

What a ridiculous statement!

Cai Gaoyang was renowned both domestically and internationally; how many people wished to obtain a piece of his calligraphy but couldn’t?

This young man, so young, actually dared to speak such bold words!

Whose spoiled child is this? Truly unaware of the heights of heaven and depths of the earth!

People around pointed and whispered about Fang Yu.

“Young man, you keep saying you have Huang Daoran’s authentic works. Could you take them out for everyone to see? Huang the Sage of Calligraphy has always been my study object. I know there is indeed a gap between us. If you really have his authentic works, I sincerely ask you to show them to me for study…” Cai Gaoyang said.

“I didn’t bring the calligraphy with me, how can I show it to you?” Fang Yu raised an eyebrow and retorted.

A wave of laughter erupted around them.

This young man was simply nonsensical!

He talked a lot, but when it came to evidence, he had none.

So why say anything at all!

“Master Cai, don’t waste your breath on him. This person is just looking for trouble; just have security escort him out,” someone suggested.

Cai Gaoyang looked at Fang Yu, shook his head, and said, “I know that today’s young people are all proud and look down on this and that, but calligraphy is truly an art that you young people cannot understand. It is a tradition, an art that requires a certain level of accumulation and experience to appreciate…”

“You just said you wanted to learn, right? There’s no need to bring Huang Daoran into this; I can teach you what true calligraphy is,” Fang Yu interrupted Cai Gaoyang’s lecture, feeling a bit impatient.