I Rely on My Versatility to Reach the Top of the Entertainment Industry [Ancient Times to Modern] - Chapter 50

Inside the Calligraphy and Painting Association, uninvited reporters couldn’t enter, so everyone sent messages to their superiors while taking out their phones and entering Jing Yi’s short video livestream room to wait.

It was only then, under the guidance of the staff inside, that Jing Yi arrived at the painting venue.

Five elderly gentlemen with graying temples and three young men stood inside. One of the young men was the imposter from the short video.

“Mr. Jing, welcome, welcome.” One of the young men stepped forward to Jing Yi, extending his hand politely and courteously, “I am the president of the Calligraphy and Painting Association, and this is the vice president. These seniors are the pillars of our association—they served as judges in the previous calligraphy and painting competition.”

“Hello.” Jing Yi smiled faintly as he greeted them, briefly shaking the president’s hand before letting go, then directly asked, “Shall we begin the live painting session now?”

The president’s smile instantly turned awkward.

He had wanted to hold Jing Yi’s hand for a close-up shot by the invited reporters. With a handshake photo, no matter the outcome of today’s livestream, things would be easier to manage.

Unexpectedly, before the reporters could even press the shutter, Jing Yi had already withdrawn his hand, as if his hand were toxic.

There was nothing to be done about it.

The president sighed.

After all, today’s livestream wasn’t exactly friendly to begin with.

“Of course, of course. The livestream computer is ready. Just take your position, and you can begin.”

“Alright.”

Jing Yi directly walked to the prepared platform nearby.

The Calligraphy and Painting Association had clearly put in considerable effort—the livestream equipment was complete, even including a microphone.

Jing Yi logged into his account on the platform and clicked to start the livestream.

The moment the livestream screen appeared, deep-sea submarines flooded the chat.

Jing Yi smiled and said, “Thank you for the gifts, but please spend responsibly.”

After speaking, he lowered his head to inspect the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table.

Nearby, the five elderly gentlemen exchanged glances. One of them said to the imposter, “Wen Qing, he has started. You should begin too.”

Wen Qing shot a gloomy glance at Jing Yi, his face dark as he walked to another table.

The president then spoke up, “Mr. Jing, since the short video platform is aware of today’s livestream competition, they’ve specially enabled a split-screen feature to make it easier for netizens to monitor both of your paintings. Could you please activate this function?”

These words were simultaneously transmitted to the netizens waiting in the livestream room, who immediately flooded the chat: “Pfft, who wants to see that thief’s face?”

“Exactly, it’s disgusting.”

“Damn, I’m gonna f******…”

Jing Yi glanced at the censored curses on the screen and calmly said, “Promote civility and foster new trends—please refrain from using foul language.”

“Hahaha, my little Yi is so cute when he recites propaganda slogans!”

“Seeing how calm Little Yi is puts me at ease. Sitting back and waiting for the slap in the face.”

“Has anyone explained the rules yet?”

As if reading the netizens’ minds, the president spoke up, “Since the issue revolves around the work ‘Evening Lotus,’ the association has decided that both of you should paint another lotus piece…”

As soon as the president finished speaking, Wen Qing interjected, “Whoever painted ‘Evening Lotus’ should be able to recreate another identical piece. If you can’t do it, then you obviously aren’t the true creator of ‘Evening Lotus.'”

Jing Yi turned slightly and glanced at Wen Qing.

The narrow-eyed man was dressed in a long gown, adopting the appearance of a retro-style intellectual.

“Alright, please proceed.”

Jing Yi extended his hand, smiling politely to signal Wen Qing to begin painting. Then he turned around and leisurely began grinding the ink.

Fans were squealing with excitement.

“Yi Zai’s words were too concise this time.”

“Hahaha, our Yi Zai’s two-word reply to the thief was just right—neither too much nor too little, perfectly polite.”

“Wen Qing’s face has turned black with anger, pfft.”

“Off-topic, but Yi Zai is wearing a formal suit today ahhhhh, the suit looks so restrained and alluring.”

“Speaking of which, when Xie Qiyun went live before, he never held a press conference. Since Yi Zai’s filming ‘Northern Night City’ is a proper movie, there should be one, right?”

Fans chatted about this and that while keeping their eyes fixed on Jing Yi’s movements. Due to the split screen, it was inevitable to see Wen Qing as well.

“This Wen Qing’s movements are quite elegant.”

“Why is the person in front complimenting the thief?”

“Just a passerby, drawn in by the commotion. I just learned about what happened, and calling Wen Qing a thief before the outcome is decided makes you Jing Yi fans seem quite uncivilized.”

As soon as this comment appeared, the tone of the live chat shifted. Some jokesters copied the comment and added “This one costs fifty cents” at the end.

After the copying trend died down, several of Jing Yi’s major fans spoke up: “Thank you for the reminder. Calling someone a thief was our oversight. We’ve decided to start calling him Master Wen from now on, hoping Master Wen can work hard to prove himself.”

With someone leading the way, no one in the live stream called Wen Qing a thief anymore. Everyone addressed him as “Master,” and the live stream became incredibly harmonious.

Wen Qing, who was grinding ink while glancing at the live chat, felt his eyebrow twitch slightly.

The trolls he hired were utterly useless. Weren’t they supposed to stir up trouble and muddy the waters in the live chat? Why did they show up once and then disappear?

And why were Jing Yi’s fans so bizarre? They actually started complimenting him in the live chat? Are they insane?

“To give Master Wen some face, let’s send some of our people to Master Wen’s live stream,” a fan suggested. Sure enough, a large, well-trained group from Jing Yi’s live stream withdrew and flooded into Wen Qing’s chat.

The comment colors differed between the two live streams, making it easy to distinguish which stream the traffic came from.

Moreover, the netizens who entered Wen Qing’s live stream continued to “praise” him: “Oh, Master Wen’s shrimp painting is so beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it. If all shrimp looked like this, I wouldn’t even eat them.”

“The landscape painting is so artistic too. I’ve never seen the Three Gorges depicted like this. The waterfall effect is so immersive—if I were in the painting, I wouldn’t even need an umbrella.”

If Wen Qing couldn’t sense the sarcasm in these comments, he’d be a fool.

He glanced at Jing Yi, thinking he was incredibly scheming. If Jing Yi hadn’t prepped his fans to act this way, he’d eat his painting on the spot!

But it didn’t matter. He had practiced “Evening Lotus” for a long time, and this time he would definitely prove that “Evening Lotus” was his!

Once the ink was prepared, both began painting.

The live chat remained lively, with many passersby drawn in and immediately informed about the incident’s origins and progression. Someone had posted about it on international websites, and English comments began appearing in the chat.

The two painters couldn’t see “Evening Lotus,” but the short video platform, to stir up drama, had placed high-definition thumbnail screenshots of the painting on both live streams, making it convenient for viewers to compare.

Soon, the audience noticed that every stroke Wen Qing painted was identical to those in “Evening Lotus.” The distribution of lotus leaves, the arrangement of closed lotus flowers, the placement of seedpods, and even the ripples formed by petals fallen on the water surface—all were exactly the same as in “Evening Lotus.”

In contrast, the content on Jing Yi’s paper was completely different from “Evening Lotus”!

His painting depicted bare stems, cracked and withered lotus leaves, and shriveled seedpods—without a single lotus flower in bloom.

What was going on?

Fans were baffled, and the playful banter that usually lightened the mood disappeared, leaving the livestream unusually quiet. Then, a few viewers claiming to be passersby entered the chat and taunted, “This is hilarious. After checking the reason for this livestream, it’s clear this minor celebrity can’t even reproduce ‘Evening Lotus.'”

“What kind of garbage is this? How dare he challenge Master Wen for the copyright of ‘Evening Lotus’? Is he an idiot or what?”

Jing Yi’s loyal fans felt both upset and incredulous.

Why would Jing Yi paint something so different from the original? If he had just replicated it, wouldn’t he have won by referencing the techniques highlighted in that earlier exposé video?

One fan couldn’t resist voicing this question.

Soon, a painter in the audience replied, “Actually, I wanted to say from the start—it’s quite demanding to ask an artist to recreate their own painting exactly. Even copying one’s own work stroke by stroke is nearly impossible to do flawlessly.”

“Agree with the previous comment. I didn’t bring it up earlier because Xiao Yi seemed so confident. Honestly, the calligraphy association’s requirement to repaint the piece is fundamentally unreasonable.”

These explanations intertwined with the brazen trolling and insults from hired detractors, filling the livestream chat.

As time ticked by, Wen Qing was the first to set down his brush.

Beaming with pride, he invited the five judges to examine his work, confidence shining in his eyes.

Among the five judges was Wen Qing’s grandfather, who was glaring sideways at Jing Yi. Wen Qing failed to notice the disappointment in his grandfather’s expression.

After reviewing the painting, the five elders returned to their seats but remained silent.

“Grandpas, why haven’t you announced my victory?” Wen Qing asked with an ingratiating smile. “My painting is absolutely identical to the previous one.”

He had practiced day and night, copying the piece repeatedly, determined to replicate every detail of the four-foot scroll. His perseverance paid off—he had succeeded! He had even memorized every minor detail others had pointed out.

But the five elders ignored Wen Qing, their attention fixed on Jing Yi, who was cleaning his brushes and preparing to leave.

“I’m finished,” Jing Yi said with a faint smile. “Respected judges, I have an appointment this afternoon, so I’ll take my leave now.”

With that, Jing Yi ended his livestream, stepped back, bowed to the five elders, and turned to leave.

Surprised by Jing Yi’s actions, Old Man Wen called out to him, “Young man, why are you leaving? The results aren’t out yet.”

“Indeed, we haven’t even reviewed your painting. Aren’t you concerned?”

As the elders voiced their questions one after another, Jing Yi halted, turned back, and looked at them. “It’s impossible for two identical ‘Evening Lotus’ paintings to exist in this world. Even if the composition and layout are the same, the artistic conception they convey will differ. Today, I have presented my version of ‘Evening Lotus.’ Farewell.”

Jing Yi strode away.

The elders could find no words to respond, watching his retreating figure with regretful sighs.

The viewers who jumped into Wen Qing’s live stream went wild upon hearing Jing Yi’s final words.

“Yi Zai knew it was impossible but still came, wuwu.”

“What does today’s ‘Evening Lotus’ mean? Can any experts explain?”

“I screenshotted as soon as Yi Zai finished painting. Damn, is Yi Zai drawing something like a comic strip? The previous ‘Evening Lotus’ depicted a lotus pond at night, while this ‘Evening Lotus’ refers to lotuses that have missed their peak blooming period.”

“Now I get it after what the previous person said! In the earlier ‘Evening Lotus,’ the lotus petals were almost closed, but there was one tender stem. In what Yi Zai just painted, in a similar position, that lotus has bloomed while all the others have withered!”Holy crap, Yi Zai is such a peerless little genius!

“Yi Zai didn’t even stay to receive his award certificate.”

The audience kept commenting, and the reporters on site specifically filmed the live stream screen and gave the painting a close-up shot.

“Ah, he just left like that.” Several elderly gentlemen walked past Wen Qing’s painting to stand before Jing Yi’s table. “These two ‘Evening Lotus’ pieces have completely different artistic conceptions. He’s truly a genius.”

“It’s all your fault, Old Man Wen, for not teaching your grandson properly and making us miss out on such a great member.”

“My fault, my fault. Wen Qing, your grandfather is very disappointed in you. Go reflect on your actions at the police station.”

Wen Qing, standing nearby, turned pale: “Grandpa, what are you talking about? Why should I go to the police station? No, Grandpa, why don’t you believe that I painted it? My painting is different from the previous one too.”

“Ah.” Old Man Wen kept shaking his head. “A family disgrace, my apologies to everyone. Jing Yi’s first ‘Evening Lotus’ has already been selected as an exhibit for the international art exhibition. I will ensure Wen Qing faces legal punishment.”

The live stream erupted in cheers.

By this time, Jing Yi had already walked out the door with Lu Yuzhi. Reporters wanted interviews, but Jing Yi softly declined, pulling Lu Yuzhi through the crowd to their car.

Lu Yuzhi had arranged for a driver today and sat in the back seat with Jing Yi.

The man with amber eyes was full of smiles: “What would the first-place little friend like for lunch?”

Jing Yi: “Anything is fine.”

“Then can I have a bite of you first?” Lu Yuzhi’s eyes sparkled.

Jing Yi refused without hesitation, glancing at the man: “No.”

But this refusal was useless…