"What?"
Wang Yue was shocked once again.
He said, "No, what are you trying to achieve?"
Shen Mushu's face flushed as if it could bleed: "I've already told you the reason, are you… are you going to date me or not?"
Wang Yue couldn't see Shen Mushu's current expression, or he would definitely have burst into laughter.
"You're willing to make such a big sacrifice for me to practice calligraphy?"
Wang Yue scratched his head.
He didn't quite understand Shen Mushu's thoughts.
Was his practice of calligraphy that important to her?
"You don't understand."
Shen Mushu said, "It's been too long since China has had a calligraphy grandmaster. You're still so young, and you have the potential to become a new grandmaster."
"Why are you so concerned about calligraphy?"
Wang Yue asked.
"I like calligraphy."
Shen Mushu said as a matter of course.
"Okay, I get it."
After a moment of silence, Wang Yue said, "I'll practice calligraphy."
"Goodnight."
"Goo... Goodnight."
After hanging up the phone, Shen Mushu's face still felt hot.
"So… have we confirmed our relationship?"
"Since he agreed to practice calligraphy, doesn't that mean we've reached an agreement?"
"Am I really going to kiss him!?"
"Ah… so annoying."
That night, Shen Mushu had insomnia.
She tossed and turned all night.
The next day, she went to school with dark circles under her eyes.
Shen Mushu had never been like this before.
When Xu Tiantian saw Shen Mushu, she exclaimed, "Shishi, did you go steal cows last night?"
Shen Mushu said listlessly, "I didn't sleep all night."
"Huh?"
Xu Tiantian connected it to what Shen Mushu had asked her yesterday and gossiped, "Shishi, did you confess? Even though you're young, you should still be moderate."
"Moderate what?"
Shen Mushu said inexplicably.
She had no idea what Xu Tiantian was talking about, but she felt that her expression was very irritating.
"You know, that."
Xu Tiantian leaned into Shen Mushu's ear and said.
"Xu Tiantian!"
Shen Mushu let out a scream.
Attracting the attention of the entire class.
Shen Mushu immediately lowered her voice by an octave and grabbed Xu Tiantian's waist: "What nonsense are you talking about? Are you trying to die!"
"Ouch, you're so fierce."
Xu Tiantian said innocently.
…
Wang Yue had no idea that Shen Mushu had insomnia.
On the contrary, he slept very well.
The next day, when he got to the classroom, he still received breakfast and a note.
Wang Yue couldn't help but marvel at how persistent this mysterious person was.
After sending breakfast for so long, the money must have been close to a thousand yuan.
A thousand yuan was a lot for a student.
But Wang Yue never ate these breakfasts. He gave them away when they were about to expire.
Hu Qianhao, the foodie, accepted anything.
School, after school.
The day quickly passed.
After sending Qiao Zixuan home, Wang Yue met An Ran again.
An Ran was also a persistent girl.
Even though Wang Yue had clearly expressed that he was not interested in her at the moment, An Ran was still enthusiastic.
She enjoyed these brief ten minutes, feeling content as long as she could talk to Wang Yue freely every day.
Meanwhile, Shen Mushu was distracted all day.
She was afraid that Wang Yue would suddenly come looking for her, in which case the news of them dating would likely spread throughout the school.
But she had proposed it herself, so Shen Mushu was prepared for it to be public.
After all, she had never dated before. If she had to choose someone to date, Wang Yue was indeed a good candidate.
However, Shen Mushu did not receive a visit from Wang Yue until school ended.
Instead, she felt a bit confused.
Upon returning home, Shen Mushu was still absent-minded.
After holding back for a long time, Shen Mushu couldn't resist calling Wang Yue.
"What's wrong?"
Wang Yue answered the phone.
"Why didn't you come to find me today?"
Shen Mushu asked.
"Why would I look for you?"
Wang Yue was a little clueless.
"Aren't we dating now?"
Shen Mushu asked.
"Huh? How would I know?"
Wang Yue was shocked once again.
"Didn't you say yesterday that you would practice calligraphy seriously!?"
Shen Mushu said.
"…"
Wang Yue then explained again.
Essentially, he expressed that he would practice diligently but did not want this kind of relationship.
Dating was a matter for two people, and it had to be a mutual effort.
While Shen Mushu breathed a sigh of relief, she also felt a nameless sense of loss.
So, her beauty, which she prided herself on, was also dispensable in Wang Yue's eyes?
She had practically thrown herself at him, and he didn't accept?
However, Shen Mushu quickly dismissed this thought from her mind.
Her original goal was for Wang Yue to practice calligraphy diligently. Since the goal was achieved, other things were no longer important.
…
In the blink of an eye, Wednesday arrived.
Wang Yue represented the Second High School in the city's calligraphy competition.
This was a competition for all the city's primary and secondary schools.
Calligraphy elites from various institutions gathered together to determine the final winner.
The scale was very high, and the judges were all prominent figures from the calligraphy association.
Today, Shen Linchuan, the president of the city's calligraphy association, also came.
He came for Wang Yue.
Shen Linchuan had repeatedly examined the piece of calligraphy brought back by Qin Chuan.
No matter how many times he looked at it, he was amazed.
If he hadn't known it was written by a high school student, he would have thought it was a copy of a work by a calligraphy master specializing in cursive script.
In an era of increasing computer prevalence, calligraphy was becoming less valued. After all, computer-generated text was not only cheap but also aesthetically pleasing.
It had been a long time since such a young and exceptionally talented person had appeared.
"Old Qin, if there's another good piece this time, you can't snatch it from me."
"Exactly, your 'Orchid Pavilion Preface' last time made us all so envious."
"To think a student could write such characters. Talent is truly unreasonable."
Qin Chuan said with a chuckle, "If there's a truly good piece, let's rely on our own abilities. I also really like that kid's calligraphy."
The competition was being held at the City Children's Palace.
Reporters from the local television station were ready, and overall, it was quite significant.
Wang Yue didn't have to attend classes today to participate in the competition. Other schools had teachers accompanying their students like precious treasures, but he disliked that.
He strolled over alone.
The City Children's Palace. Wang Yue felt a sense of nostalgia upon seeing the place.
He had attended remedial classes here before; that was an even more distant memory.
Upon entering the competition venue, Wang Yue saw that many people were already there.
Wang Yue glanced at his number, which was 2.
It was in the middle of the front row.
This was a prime spot, close not only to the judges' table but also to the reporters.
At position 1 was a young man with a slicked-back hairstyle.
He was dressed very formally, even wearing a suit.
However, Wang Yue felt that wearing a suit to write calligraphy was a bit incongruous.