"Qingjin, what's wrong? Why is your face so pale? What happened?" Qiao Zhizhi quickly helped Wu Qingjin up.
Wu Qingjin forced a smile and pushed her hand away: "I thought you were honest with me, but it turns out you've been secretly learning these good things. Now you're going to be famous throughout the capital, while I—"
Her smile was bitter.
Qiao Zhizhi did not expect Wu Qingjin to react so strongly.
While sincerity is important between friends, it doesn't mean that everything should be shared.
She had thought that Wu Qingjin would be happy for her, but it turned out that it wasn't what she had imagined.
Qiao Zhizhi finally realized that something was wrong.
She was a smart girl and knew how to read people's minds. Wu Qingjin's attitude seemed more like she didn't want to see this situation, rather than whether she would tell or not.
If that's the case, why did she urge her to hold an art exhibition and even set the venue at the Prince of Guangping's residence?
She clearly told her to focus on realism, and she did, but this is how she described it.
Could it be—Qiao Zhizhi had another guess in her mind.
Wu Qingjin didn't want her to be happy.
Then I thought about how those freehand paintings, after adding ink and brush, not only lost their beauty but were actually much inferior to the originals.
Qiao Zhizhi's heart gradually grew cold.
Everyone thought she was only seventeen, but in reality, she had matured for two more years and was much more accurate in judging a person or a matter than before.
She looked at Wu Qingjin earnestly: "Qingjin, don't you want my art exhibition to be a success?"
A bright light gleamed in Qiao Zhizhi's eyes, as if she had seen through something.
Wu Qingjin felt as if those eyes had seen right through her, making her extremely uncomfortable.
Qiao Zhizhi had never treated her this way before.
Her heart skipped a beat: "You're my friend, of course I want your art exhibition to be a success, but you've learned such great painting skills and you've never told me. We're friends, we're supposed to help each other improve."
"This is an innovative breakthrough. Before the exhibition, I didn't know whether it would succeed or fail. What if I taught you then and you went astray? Now you've seen everyone's reaction, which shows that this method is feasible. It's not too late for me to teach you then. Why are you so dissatisfied?"
"I—" Wu Qingjin couldn't utter a single word.
Qiao Lian'er almost couldn't help but applaud Qiao Zhizhi. In this family, Qiao Zhizhi also possessed a very clever mind. However, she was also a person who valued relationships. She may have sensed something was wrong earlier, but because she trusted Wu Qingjin, she didn't think much of it.
Now, having matured two years more mentally than her peers, and with Wu Qingjin's behavior becoming somewhat obvious, she recognized her intentions.
A handsome young man approached Qiao Zhizhi and said with admiration, "These paintings seem to be beyond the clouds and in a dream. They are unimaginable. Although it may sound exaggerated, it is my heartfelt opinion. This scene deserves the best praise in the world. To witness it once is a great honor."
He cupped his hands in greeting and said humbly, "I wonder if I could learn a thing or two from Miss Zhizhi?"
Qiao Zhizhi didn't recognize him and was wondering how to address him when the young man quickly realized this and said, "I am Lin Songyan, the third young master of the Yuhua Duke's Mansion."
Qiao Zhizhi glanced at Qiao Lian'er, who understood her meaning and nodded. This painting skill, once it was introduced to the world, should not be kept to oneself; otherwise, the Qiao family would be known for being stingy and narrow-minded.
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