C7 Fugui's Illustrated Painting

She dipped her brush in thick ink, gracefully dancing as she painted. Her movements were light and her skirt flowed elegantly, making her seem like a breeze in the snow, full of charm and brilliance. When everyone turned their attention to the white paper, they were stunned.

The once pristine sheet seemed magically transformed, gradually filling with images. At first, it appeared to be a chaotic mess of black ink, but as more strokes were added, the picture's outline emerged. Beneath blooming peonies, butterflies fluttered around, and a playful cat seemed poised to pounce on them.

The entire painting was simple in its brushwork, without heavy embellishments, yet it was vivid and lifelike, almost leaping off the page. The Old Matriarch, seated above, could see the whole picture clearly. Upon closer inspection, the details were lively and interesting, and from a distance, it boldly formed the character for "longevity."

Everyone was amazed, especially Lan Qingwan and Lan Qinghe, who thought they knew Lan Qingjia's artistic skills well and were waiting to see her fail. They were nearly speechless with shock.

Lan Qingjia slowly removed the white cloth, smiled gracefully at the Old Matriarch, and bowed with poise, saying brightly, "The peony is known as the flower of wealth, and the cat and butterfly together sound like 'longevity.' Therefore, this painting can be called the 'Wealth and Longevity Picture.'"

The granddaughter presented the 'Prosperity and Longevity Painting' to her grandmother, wishing her happiness as vast as the ocean and a life as enduring as the mountains.

The Old Matriarch's eyes widened in undeniable surprise, which gradually transformed into delight. Her eyes and brows softened with a smile, and even the wrinkles on her face seemed to smooth out.

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Grandmother loves it very much; you are so thoughtful."

She repeated "wonderful" three times, her face brimming with joy, clearly more pleased than at any other moment before.

Everyone else snapped back to reality, feeling a wave of envy wash over them.

Lan Qingwan dug her fingers into her palm, seething with resentment. How could this be? When did she develop such a skill?

Lan Qingwan forced a stiff smile, "I never imagined my sister had such a hidden talent. Truly eye-opening!"

Mrs. Lau felt a surge of alarm and a sense of crisis. This girl, who had always seemed so timid, was actually hiding her abilities?

It seemed she had underestimated her all along.

Lan Zhenkun's expression was deep and complex. Watching her dance and paint with her face covered gave him a sense of déjà vu, as if he were seeing his late wife, Mrs. Li...

He always thought his daughter was timid and unremarkable, not someone who could stand out. But to his surprise, one day she truly shone, leaving Lan Zhenkun with mixed feelings.

Mrs. Zhou and Lan Qinghe from the second branch were practically grinding their teeth in envy. They had expected Lan Qingjia to embarrass herself, bringing disgrace to the first branch. Yet, this final gift turned out to be a spectacular success, making the Old Matriarch beam with joy, outshining everyone from the second branch.

Even they had to admit, seeing Lan Qingjia's exceptional talent firsthand, they couldn't find a single fault.

Feeling a pang of jealousy, Lan Qinghe couldn't hold back and remarked, "Wow, big sister, you never showed such brilliance at school. Were you hiding your talents from us all along?"

With a gentle smile, Lan Qingjia replied in a playful tone, "I was just worried you might spill the beans to Grandma too soon! If she had known earlier, how could we have surprised her and made her so happy today?"

Lan Qingjia's words deftly turned their veiled criticisms into nothing, effortlessly defusing the tension.

Lan Qinghe felt that Lan Qingjia was subtly accusing her of being too talkative. She wanted to argue back but was stopped by Mrs. Zhou.

"Can't you see the Old Matriarch is in a good mood? Causing a scene now would only ruin it for her," Mrs. Zhou, though chatty herself, wasn't foolish.

Reluctantly, Lan Qinghe held her tongue. Mrs. Zhou seized the moment before Mrs. Lau could speak, genuinely praising Lan Qingjia and even complimenting the Old Matriarch, which made the atmosphere in the room even more harmonious.

Meanwhile, Lan Qingwan twisted the handkerchief in her hands, her eyes filled with resentment and frustration. She sensed that Lan Qingjia had changed, slipping beyond her control, and it infuriated her that she hadn't noticed it sooner.

As Lan Qingjia watched the Old Matriarch's smiling face, she felt deeply moved.