C7 On the Stage to Give a Comment

Time gradually slipped by, and a steady stream of influential and wealthy individuals made their way to the event. The villa's grand hall buzzed with excitement and chatter.

By eight o'clock in the evening, all guests had taken their places, their attention fixed on the front of the red carpet. There, a somewhat portly middle-aged man stood out in his opulent attire, adorned with gold and silver from head to toe.

This was Wang Baiwan, a real estate tycoon from Quanzhou's East City Region. Despite only having a primary school education, his diligence and shrewdness led him to become a company's general manager before the age of twenty. Over the following years, he seized opportunities to establish his own company and invested his earnings in the real estate market. His unique vision and savvy development strategies propelled his company to the top, making it the largest in the East City Region.

From a humble primary school graduate to a billionaire magnate, Wang Baiwan's life story was nothing short of legendary.

As Wang Baiwan made his entrance, attendees rose from their seats to present their gifts—each ranging from a few million to tens of millions, with none falling below the million mark. Bai Wenling's gift was a diamond necklace valued at tens of millions, a generous gesture Su Hao knew was driven by her pursuit of a contract.

After five minutes, the gift presentation concluded. Wang Baiwan, microphone in hand, expressed his gratitude to those gathered, introduced several business heavyweights, and finally, welcomed two spirited elderly gentlemen to the stage.

Their arrival sent a wave of excitement through the crowd. "My goodness, aren't those the esteemed calligraphy masters of Quanzhou, Elder Zhao and Elder Lau?" someone exclaimed.

"Elder Zhao, a virtuoso of running script who has penned exquisite verses for the governor of Quanzhou, is a celebrated guest of the governor himself. And Elder Lau's reputation is even more remarkable, having served under the deputy governor of Haibei City for many years, earning the title of cursive script master. The prestige of these two elders is unmatched by anyone here."

The buzz of conversation grew as the audience was visibly awestruck. Wang Baiwan, basking in the admiration from the stage, beamed and declared with a hearty laugh, "Today, on the occasion of my birthday, I've had the honor of inviting Elder Zhao and Elder Lau to compose and inscribe for me. Those of you in attendance are indeed fortunate to witness this."

As he finished speaking, he clapped his hands, signaling the servants to bring two sandalwood calligraphy tables onto the stage.

Each table was neatly arranged with a long scroll of calligraphy paper, and beside it, the four treasures of the study were displayed in full array.

Wang Baiwan turned to the two venerable gentlemen and bowed respectfully. "Elder Zhao, Elder Lau, we are honored by your presence."

The elders nodded in acknowledgment, grasped their brushes, and began to paint the paper with strokes that were slender, firm, and full of vitality.

The audience watched in awe as the elders' brushes danced across the paper.

"Elder Zhao truly exemplifies the art of running script, masterfully weaving solid and implied connections between characters, creating a dance of push and pull, a perfect fusion of tradition and innovation," someone remarked.

"Elder Lau's cursive script is bold yet graceful, with twists and turns that never stray from the underlying structure. His strokes range from square to round to sharp, all executed with precision, resulting in a harmonious and orderly composition," another observed.

"Whether it's Elder Zhao's running script or Elder Lau's cursive, both are leagues beyond their contemporaries. Witnessing such masterpieces in our lifetime is indeed a privilege," a third voice added.

Compliments filled the air, some sincere, others tinged with flattery.

Yet, the two elders remained unaffected, their spirits tranquil as they continued their work, exuding an air of serene detachment.

In time, both elders set down their brushes, their creations complete.

"The lines vary from long to short, thick to thin, with perfect balance and harmony. Elder Zhao's running script lives up to its esteemed reputation," Wang Baiwan observed, giving a nod of approval with a thumbs-up.

Elder Zhao, with a modest wave of his hand and a gentle smile, replied, "It's but a humble attempt. I beg your pardon if it falls short."

"Elder Zhao's humility is unsurpassed," Wang Baiwan responded with a courteous smile, then turned to Elder Lau's work, expressing admiration. "Elder Lau's cursive script is both succinct and tranquil, yet it flows freely, capturing the essence of the characters while breaking free from the confines of strict form. It is indeed the epitome of calligraphy."

"Mr. Wang, you're too kind. My fingers have grown a bit rusty lately, so there may be some imperfections. I ask for your understanding," Elder Lau said, shaking his head with a modest smile.

"Elder Zhao and Elder Lau possess not only a profound mastery of calligraphy but also an admirable stature in character. They truly set an example for future generations," Wang Baiwan declared with a hearty laugh, turning to address the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's a rare opportunity to have both Elder Zhao and Elder Lau here with us. I invite those among you who appreciate calligraphy to offer your insights and engage in a discussion with these esteemed masters. What do you say?"

His invitation was met with an immediate air of reverence from the crowd.

Elder Zhao was a leading figure in running script, and Elder Lau in cursive script—both were giants in the world of calligraphy.

Commenting on their work would require a delicate balance—highlighting strengths without exposing any weaknesses, and ensuring one elder wasn't overshadowed by praise for the other.

Sensing the crowd's eagerness, Wang Baiwan pressed on, "Who would like to be the first to step up and share their thoughts?"

A moment of hesitation rippled through the audience. To be the first to speak was to risk criticism—if one lacked the eloquence or the presence to critique effectively, the endeavor could backfire spectacularly.

No one wanted to risk offending Elder Zhao or Elder Lau.

As the silence stretched, Wang Baiwan's face betrayed a flicker of embarrassment. He scanned the room, ready to select someone at random, when suddenly, the man sitting opposite Lin Yilun spoke up: "I've heard that the CEO of Butterfly Loving Flower Company, Bai Wenling, is a Harvard graduate with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in many areas. Perhaps Miss Bai could grace the stage with her insights on the works of Elder Zhao and Elder Lau, allowing us all a glimpse of her talents?"

With those words, the spotlight pivoted, illuminating Bai Wenling as all eyes turned her way.

Under the intense scrutiny of the lights and the audience, Bai Wenling's expression soured.

She had no talent for calligraphy, much less critiquing it. The man with the buzz cut clearly wanted to see her make a fool of herself.

"Miss Bai, since there's interest in your critique, why not grace the stage with your insights?" Wang Baiwan gestured invitingly with a smile from the stage.

He knew Bai Wenling well—a woman of eloquence and manifold gifts, achieving heights most could only dream of, all by the age of twenty.

She was the ideal candidate to serve as the inaugural critic.

Wang Baiwan's suggestion visibly worsened Bai Wenling's expression. In this predicament, refusing to take the stage could stir discontent among the audience and give her rivals ammunition to use against her.

Yet, her superficial grasp of calligraphy could lead to a faux pas in front of the works of two esteemed masters, potentially offending them both.

Elder Zhao and Elder Lau were highly esteemed in Quanzhou; crossing them would be tantamount to career suicide.

Lin Yilun, seated in the front row, watched the unfolding drama with a smirk, a glint of triumph in his eyes.

His plan was unfolding just as he'd anticipated.

As Bai Wenling wavered, Lin Yilun sensed his moment to intervene was near.

But before he could rise, another figure preempted him, standing up.

"Miss Bai has been under the weather lately, and her mental state is far from ideal for critiquing on stage. Please accept our apologies, Elder Zhao, Elder Lau, and distinguished guests."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to the figure beside Bai Wenling.

With a fair, chiseled face and eyes dark and penetrating, her slender frame commanded an air of defiance against the world.

The speaker was none other than Bai Wenling's fiancé—Su Hao!

A wave of surprise rippled through the crowd.

Everyone was aware of Bai Wenling's engagement, and her fiancé's reputation was well known to them.

Yet, no one expected the notorious playboy to step up and shield Bai Wenling in her time of need.

Bai Wenling never anticipated that Su Hao would come to her aid during her moment of indecision. She was deeply moved.

This marked the second time Su Hao had stepped up to protect her from the storm!

In stark contrast to Bai Wenling's emotional gratitude, Lin Yilun's face darkened with displeasure.

Just one second!

He was a mere second away from rising to the occasion!

Yet, in that fleeting moment, Su Hao had swiftly outmaneuvered him!

The chance he had crafted was effortlessly usurped by Su Hao, an act he found utterly infuriating.

Taking a deep breath to quell the rage boiling within him, Lin Yilun shifted his approach, "I understand Mr. Su is Miss Bai's betrothed. No doubt you've absorbed a wealth of calligraphic knowledge from her. Why not step in for Miss Bai and offer some commentary on the esteemed elders' calligraphy?"

Bai Wenling's face paled at the suggestion.

She was all too aware of Su Hao's limitations. Having him critique Elder Zhao and Elder Lau's calligraphy was tantamount to a death wish. One misstep could drag the Butterfly Loving Flower Company down with him.

With this in mind, Bai Wenling was ready to disregard everything and take the stage herself.

Though she wasn't a calligraphy expert, she had studied numerous ancient texts on the subject. Certainly, her taking the stage would be a far safer bet than Su Hao.

But before she could act, Su Hao had already risen from his seat.

"If Director Lin holds me in such regard, then I shall honor Miss Bai by offering my commentary on stage. Should there be any inaccuracies, I ask for your understanding," he said.

The crowd was taken aback by this development, their eyes quickly filling with derision.

Those truly skilled in calligraphy were often well into their years, their extensive reading granting them a modest understanding.

Yet Su Hao, ever since he arrived in Quanzhou's East City Region, had been labeled as utterly incompetent.

It's fair to say that his literary prowess might well be on par with that of an elementary school composition.

If he were indeed to critique the work on stage, it was likely he'd provoke Elder Zhao and Elder Lau immediately.

Given the two elders' standing in Quanzhou's calligraphy circles, to offend them would be to flirt with disaster.

Reflecting on this, everyone's eyes softened with pity for Su Hao.

Bai Wenling's pupils contracted sharply as she watched the scene unfold, her face betraying her deep concern.

Su Hao's grasp of calligraphy was far from sufficient to critique the works of two grandmasters. His decision to step onto the stage was nothing short of hubris, a path to his own undoing.

She longed to intervene, to hold Su Hao back, but he had already ascended the platform, and it was too late for second thoughts.

"Su Hao, must you always be so stubborn?" Bai Wenling sighed as she gazed at his slender silhouette on stage, her expression tinged with unmistakable disappointment.

Lin Yilun was incredulous at the sight of Su Hao taking the stage.

Surely, Su Hao was aware of his limitations and would have declined the offer.

Yet, contrary to expectations, Su Hao didn't refuse; he ascended with a willing stride.

Could he actually be a master of calligraphy?

"Impossible!" Lin Yilun dismissed the thought as soon as it surfaced. His investigations over the past two months had consistently painted Su Hao as nothing more than a worthless nobody.

Su Hao's decision to critique was likely driven by his oversized ego.

Intelligence reports painted Su Hao as a man of towering pride, unable to endure even the slightest insult. This had been proven in their previous confrontations.

With this in mind, Lin Yilun's eyes narrowed, a trace of schadenfreude flickering within.

Su Hao, this time I will ensure your complete and utter humiliation!

Onstage, Su Hao's gaze swept over the audience, meeting the smirks, sneers, and scornful looks that surfaced on each face.

His eyes moved beyond them, settling on Bai Wenling, where he noted her anxious and disheartened expression.

Perhaps, in her eyes, he was nothing more than a reckless show-off.

"If this were my past life, your mockery would be justified. But in this life, I am no longer that person!" Su Hao's eyes sparkled with mischief, and his lips curled into a self-assured grin.

"System, activate the Pretentious Experience Card!"