The groomsmen’s wails and screams filled the air, mingling with laughter, creating a harmonious and lively atmosphere. It seemed as though joy itself had taken tangible form in the surroundings.
However, amidst the chaotic scene, the Little Girl remained nonchalant, casually munching on her cotton candy, oblivious to the shape the groomsmen were trying to form. This caused everyone to frantically rearrange themselves once again.
“Little Girl, stop eating and pay attention,” One of the groomsmen pleaded.
“Hmph, mean uncle, I won’t look at you anymore,” The Little Girl retorted defiantly.
“Ah, you little rascal, please look this way. I won’t be mean to you anymore. I apologize. Look carefully, and later I’ll give you a whole car full of cotton candy,” The groomsman pleaded, attempting to coax her.
They went through the process of rearranging themselves three times, and as the Little Girl finished her cotton candy, she seemed to be more focused. Finally, recognition dawned on her, and she shouted, “I love you!”
To everyone present, her voice was like the sweetest melody, and their joy knew no bounds. Slowly, they stood up, their limbs stiff and their waists twisted, resembling a group of sweat-drenched zombies.
“These girls are too ruthless,” Peng Ming exclaimed, his voice tinged with lingering fear.
“Jianhua, isn’t Liu Yin, one of the bridesmaids, your girlfriend? Can’t you ask her to go easy on us?” Lin Hao suggested, patting Zhu Jianhua sympathetically.
“She’s my fiancée, but she’s not on my side right now,” Zhu Jianhua replied while rubbing his sore waist, feeling utterly helpless.
“I hope we don’t have to endure something like this in the next two challenges,” Shi Lei added, his face filled with dread.
“I absolutely refuse to do it. Third Brother is a mastermind. Look at him, flawlessly forming an ‘O.’ It’s pure torture for the rest of us,” Xiao Rui chimed in, expressing his reluctance.
“The first challenge was bearable,” Lv Qingya nodded with an air of superiority. “Now, let’s move on to the second challenge. This time, you must complete it on your own. Even if the groomsmen want to help, I’m afraid they won’t be able to.” Hearing this, Zhu Jianhua, Peng Ming, and the others breathed a collective sigh of relief.
“What’s the second challenge?” Su Jing, who had been relatively relaxed until now, suddenly felt a hint of pressure. These girls were proving to be experts in creating daunting tasks.
“Close your eyes and draw a portrait of Qingqing. And of course, it must be recognized by Nini and impress us as well,” Lv Qingya giggled mischievously.
“This is going to be tough. Although Su Jing is skilled at painting, how can he possibly draw with his eyes closed?” one of the groomsmen wondered aloud.
“These girls are really something,” Another groomsman chimed in, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Haha, another spectacle awaits us,” Someone in the crowd remarked, their anticipation evident.
In the face of this challenge, Su Jing maintained a calm demeanor. Since Lv Qingya and the others had prepared the task, they had thoughtfully provided ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones at hand.
With the brush in his hand, Su Jing covered his eyes and began to paint. At first, onlookers believed that Su Jing, with his vision obscured, would struggle to create anything coherent.
It seemed nearly impossible for him to dip the brush into ink or find the right spot on the paper, let alone produce a recognizable image.
To everyone’s astonishment, however, Su Jing painted with ease. He dipped the brush into the ink, executing confident and smooth strokes. Within a few precise movements, a perfect outline emerged on the paper.
“Oh my God,” Lv Qingya, Yang Wei, Liu Yin, Dong Jiao, and the others exclaimed simultaneously. They had anticipated that this challenge would be difficult, testing not only Su Jing’s memory of Shi Qing but also his understanding of her features.
Yet, Su Jing made the seemingly arduous task appear astonishingly simple.
The spectators stood in awe, equally amazed by Su Jing’s artistic prowess.
Su Jing continued to paint, swiftly and without hesitation. His strokes displayed an unwavering certainty and it was as if he had a clear mental image of the subject.
In a remarkably short span of time, Shi Qing materialized on the paper, adorned in a white gown, exuding an otherworldly charm. Even if Su Jing were to stop now, he would have undoubtedly passed the challenge.
But Su Jing didn’t halt his artistic flow. He continued to refine and enhance the portrait, capturing the intricate details of Shi Qing’s temples, eyebrows, lips, and smile. With each stroke, the painting grew more lifelike, to the point where it seemed as if Shi Qing herself would step out of the canvas.
Everyone present was left astounded. Many of the girls couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy in their hearts. To render every minute detail so flawlessly, relying solely on memory, demonstrated the depth of Su Jing’s familiarity and knowledge of Shi Qing in his mind.
Nalan Fei and Wei Xiaoxuan, in particular, felt an intensified sense of envy in their hearts.
Wang Yan, on the other hand, experienced a mix of envy and various complex emotions. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if she hadn’t abandoned Su Jing in the past— perhaps she would be the one depicted in the painting?
After approximately twenty minutes, Su Jing finally ceased his artistic endeavor. Despite the prolonged period of standing, not a single person in the audience felt tired or bored. They all stood there, their gazes fixed on the masterpiece in a state of bewilderment.
Su Jing removed his blindfold, revealing a triumphant smile as he looked at Lv Qingya and the others. “Are you satisfied?” he asked.
“Satisfied… very satisfied,” Lv Qingya and the others responded in unison. How could they not be satisfied? Yang Wei brought Nini over to take a look at the painting. The little girl’s eyes widened with excitement as she exclaimed, “Auntie, auntie!”
She not only recognized Shi Qing but also felt an irresistible curiosity, yearning to reach out and touch her aunt in the painting.
However, Yang Wei gently restrained her, understanding that this freshly completed artwork, still wet with ink, was an invaluable treasure that mustn’t be damaged by the little girl’s touch.
Su Jing’s smile broadened as he turned to Lv Qingya. “What about the final challenge?” he inquired.
“The final challenge is relatively easy for you. You have to compose and perform a piece of music on the spot, expressing your feelings for Qingqing. If we are moved by your music, you will pass the challenge,” Lv Qingya explained.
Her words sparked excitement in Murong Xian’er, Gu Yue, Gu Yun, Li Xuan, Nalan Fei, and the others. Of course, the anticipation extended to everyone else present as well.
(End of this chapter)
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