The leader on stage kept talking, while Cheyenne happily received her money off stage.


    The sound of the software transfer continued to ring in the background for about twenty minutes.


    When thest payment was transferred into Cheyenne’s ount, Sean sitting in front of her couldn’t take it anymore and turned around to look at her.


    He saw that annoying woman sitting there with a country bumpkin look on her face, holding her phone and giggling. In stark contrast was a red-haired young man with tears in his eyes looking very upset.


    Sean raised his eyebrows with disgust and impatience. “Cheyenne, why are you so annoying? Can you put your phone on silent? Don’t you see that someone’s speaking up there?”


    Cheyenne sneered and thought, ‘Wasn’t he chatting andughing with his girlfriend Mika? Pot calling kettle ck!’


    Without a doubt, Cheyenne gave him an eye roll and then she opened up Paypal to check her bnce. It showed over ten million dors!


    Not bad at all.


    “If you find it annoying, you can plug your ears. I love the crisp sound when money is transferred into my ount; it’s simply the most beautiful music in this world!”


    Sean gritted his teeth; this little bitch was showing off how rich she was!


    Jerry felt heartbroken but listened anyway as coins clinked onto the ground…


    Finally, after much anticipation, the paintingpetition began. Thousands of college students came to register for participation.


    In order to ensure fairness and transparency during judging process, the organizers decided that all participants must submit their works on site for review before being admitted into one of four groups: oil painting group, traditional painting group, calligraphy group, and creative art group.


    Nora studied oil paintings; over these past ten years or so she had won numerous awards among young people which made her quite aplished in this field.


    Her appearance caused quite a stir – it really looked like an idol walking through an airport terminal surrounded by fans asking for autographs.


    Mika followed behind Nora along with her friend Eleanor Sharp as they went together to register their works.


    “Nora is so pretty and talented, really makes me envious,” said Eleanor admiringly.


    Hearing her friend’s admiration, Mika replied expressionlessly, “Hmm.” A dark glint shed quickly across her clear cold eyes like mist rising from water covering Mika’s eyes.


    Meanwhile, Cheyenne stood up elegantly, stretchingzily before stepping forward towards registration booth in slippers. As soon as Nora submitted hers work, the judges’ eyes lit up simultaneously while ncing at each other approvingly.


    “Great! This piece has the master’s style, with perfectposition, color and handling of light and shadow. It’s her!” The other two also nodded in agreement.


    “It would be impossible for this young girl to have such painting skills without at least ten years of practice. There aren’t many young people nowadays who have this kind of perseverance,” one judgemented.


    “Her rmender is Xzavier Rivera. Miss Nora, may I ask what your rtionship is with Mr. Rivera?” The elderly judge asked while stroking his beard, his eyes filled with admiration.


    “I am Mr. Rivera’s student,” Nora timidly replied.


    The three judges all had a look of understanding on their faces.


    “Well done! No wonder you are Mr. Rivera’s student, Miss Lawrence. Your painting also embodies the consistent style of your teacher and is a rare masterpiece,” said the elderly man whose white beard covered his face that was full of wrinkles except for his eyebrows which were missing altogether.


    He wore a crystal badge on his chest with his name written on it – Theo Roberts – which made Nora feel hot-headed, almost losing herposure as she realized that this ordinary-looking old man was actually the vice president of Che Art College and one of eightmissioners for Onistead Calligraphy and Painting Association.


    His father Stanley Roberts studied oil painting and became famous both domestically and internationally. He founded an art gallery which has now be one must-visit tourist attraction in Onistead where many previous famous artworks including works by the Roberts family can be found, each costing no less than six figures.


    In front of many participants, Theo ced Nora’s artwork separately. He divided the several hundred thick stack of artworks into three categories: one for those that could advance to the next round, another for those to be discarded and eliminated, and the third category had only two or three pieces, which they believed had the potential to win awards. In the minds of these three judges, Nora’s painting was undoubtedly a top contender for the gold prize.


    The weather was scorching hot, and the other contestants were queuing under the zing sun to submit their artwork. However, the person under the eaves instantly became the center of attention for everyone. The woman took out a table from the promotional service area, and after saying something to the people around her, the security guard stepped aside.


    A few minutester, the security guard hurriedly brought a pile of things to Cheyenne.


    On stage, Layne felt a headache watching his granddaughter who just started working on her painting.


    Standing next to him was his arch-nemesis, Theo.


    They had known each other for years and conflicted because of thepetition for vice president of the association.


    The former president actually favored Layne’s traditional painting. However, for some unknown reason, Theo became the vice president while Layne chose to leave the association altogether.


    For years, they hadn’t crossed paths. However, Theo had silently kept an eye on Layne for over a decade, including learning about the news that Layne’s painting “Summer Retreat” had recently sold for several million dors.


    In response, he painted his own version hoping to prove that he was better than Layne but ended up getting embarrassed instead.


    Summer Retreat is all about capturing the coolness and tranquility through spiritual means – using objects as carriers of emotions and giving people room for imagination. On the other hand, oil paintings are straightforward representations of reality where uracy in depicting objects and people determines its quality. His Summer Retreat failed miserably against Layne’s work.


    “I remember that girl is your own granddaughter, Layne? I wonder which category she’llpete in today?”


    Whispers from those waiting behind them could be heard murmuring among themselves.


    “I saw her materials were all new and unopened earlier on! Is she going to paint live?”All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    “That can’t be right! A painting takes at least half a day; there’s no way she can finish it within an hour.”


    “Hurry up! Look at how fast her hands are moving!”


    Amidst everyone’s amazement, Cheyenne calmly prepared her colors before picking up two brushes simultaneously to start painting with her hair tied back using one brush as a holder while sitting confidently on a blue stic chair facing away from everyone else around her.


    The dark shadow cast by the eaves divided this bustlingpetition scene outside from inside where time flowed peacefully like music ying softly in one’s ears.