PPS Chapter 84
by VolareChapter 84: The Arrogant Chu Cat
There were ten contestants backstage, all sharing one large lounge.
Chu Zhaoyi was the last to arrive. When he entered, a group of people were standing around Xie Haoran.
Xie Haoran wore an apologetic and regretful expression: “It’s my fault for not taking care of myself. I went abroad with my family for a few days and accidentally fell, slightly injuring my hand. I’m afraid I’m not qualified to compete with you all this time.”
“Oh, the internet says you plagiarize all your paintings and don’t dare to paint live, so you’re pretending to be injured to avoid the competition?” The speaker was a short-haired girl, chewing on a lollipop, speaking casually with pure malice on her face.
Because these words were quite sharp, Chu Zhaoyi looked up at the girl.
Xie Haoran didn’t break down because of these words, but instead lowered his head with a wronged expression: “If that were really the case, why would I even come?”
“Who knows?” The girl shrugged nonchalantly, annoyed by Xie Haoran’s innocent act, she simply got up and went outside for some fresh air.
Unexpectedly, she met Chu Zhaoyi at the door. The young man had a head of bright red hair, with two strands specially dyed white behind his ears, full of youthful vitality and flamboyant personality, but his narrow eyes held dark pupils, so deep as if they were bottomless pits, without a trace of emotional fluctuation inside, like a pool of stagnant water, without ripples, without warmth, and even more without vitality.
“You are?” The girl was a little stunned by his outstanding appearance, she didn’t remember any of the contestants looking like this. But only contestants were allowed in here.
Chu Zhaoyi didn’t seem to hear, brushing past the girl without saying a word, found a sofa in the corner and sat down.
The girl stared blankly at Chu Zhaoyi’s figure, unable to recover for a long time.
Xie Haoran instantly saw Chu Zhaoyi, and the people in the room who had been surrounding him, upon seeing Chu Zhaoyi, had the same expression as the short-haired girl, all stunned.
That face was simply too exquisite, and the boy always exuded a strong aura of death, as if he was just a soulless shell, forming a huge contrast with his beautiful appearance, making people marvel at his beauty and fear the lifeless darkness in his eyes.
Especially in contrast with that flamboyant hair color, it seemed particularly… striking.
Xie Haoran’s face sank slightly, and a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes. He had been the focus of everyone’s attention, but as soon as Chu Zhaoyi appeared, everyone’s gaze was instantly drawn over, as if he had been instantly overshadowed.
It was always like this. Even though Chu Zhaoyi’s reputation had been ruined by him, every time the two stood together, everyone’s gaze fell on Chu Zhaoyi.
This feeling of being upstaged made him very uncomfortable, he quickly restrained this emotion, put on a smile again, and said loudly with a warm look, “Chu Zhaoyi! You’re here!”
Chu Zhaoyi, as usual, ignored him. After sitting down, he took out his phone and slowly typed a message to Gu Yusen.
The competition wouldn’t start for another half hour.
He had arrived too early.
In reality, it was difficult for people who had met Chu Zhaoyi to harbor any feelings of disgust towards him. That face was just too exquisite, and people are visual creatures after all.
Chu Zhaoyi’s appearance of not wanting to interact with anyone looked like a beautiful cat to others. He walked over arrogantly, found his place, sat down lazily wagging his tail, occasionally licking his fur, ignoring everyone equally.
Chu Cat didn’t like being stared at by so many people, so he put the hood behind him on his head and listlessly put on a mask.
Xie Haoran was used to Chu Zhaoyi’s disregard and, as usual, put on a pitiful act in front of everyone.
Before long, a staff member called them to the stage.
Xie Haoran took a deep look at Chu Zhaoyi. What was he here for this time?
If he didn’t come, he wouldn’t be able to clear the rumors about his plagiarism online. Rumors are the most terrifying, and as long as he had this stain, it would accompany him for life.
So he came. The paintings he had seen the most since he was a child were not the content in textbooks, but Chu Zhaoyi’s paintings.
He had been imitating since he was ten years old, and now almost ten years had passed. He believed that his level had completely surpassed Chu Zhaoyi, and even if it hadn’t, it wouldn’t be too far off.
But Li Ze’s constant questioning forced him to face the fact.
He couldn’t surpass Chu Zhaoyi.
So he made a wound on his wrist. The wound was real, but not serious. He could use this as an excuse to explain why the things he painted didn’t reach his previous level, and he could also gain a resilient image for insisting on participating despite his injury.
Moreover, with his level, if there was no Chu Zhaoyi, he could completely rely on his own ability to win first place.
He could endure the pain from his wrist and continue painting.
If he still won first place while injured.
He would undoubtedly be able to completely make a name for himself. Even if Zhang Anru asked him to go abroad, he could completely leave the Xie family and become a nationally famous young painter, embarking on a higher path that belonged to him.
Instead of begging for the Xie family’s pity.
Thinking of this, Xie Haoran’s anger grew stronger. He didn’t understand why he was the only son of the Xie family, why the family business had to be handed over to a woman, and he didn’t understand why his parents’ attitude towards him was gradually becoming distant. He was already much better than other wealthy heirs.
He didn’t understand why Zhang Anru, his mother, had a strong sense of disappointment in her eyes when looking at him.
He will prove to everyone.
Prove his ability.
Prove his talent in painting.
Prove… that he is the Xie family’s son.