Chapter 27 – She Got the Lowest Score!

Su Rong’s painting was, without question, the best among all the students. Judged purely on skill, even a score of 99 wouldn’t have been too much.

But Ye Shuyi held prejudice against Su Rong’s background. She deducted 9 points for that, another 10 points because of Sheng Qiye’s obvious appreciation of her—and the fact they had eaten together. In the end, she only gave Su Rong 80 points, without offering any meaningful feedback.

As a seasoned professor, this was the first time Ye Shuyi had ever let her bias affect her grading. She herself didn’t understand why—she just couldn’t stand Su Rong.

Since Su Rong asked, Ye Shuyi casually brushed her off:
“Your drawing is very realistic, almost like a photograph, but the lines are stiff, lacking beauty and soul. It’s just a lifeless copy.”

The words hit Su Rong like a bucket of cold water. If it had come from an ordinary teacher, she wouldn’t have minded. But this was from her idol—a renowned painter she had always admired. Now she couldn’t tell if her work was good or not.

Everyone else scored above 90. Only she had the lowest score.

Su Xue’er, who had received a 92, smugly leaned over.
“Sister, you need to work harder. Professor Ye is right—your painting lacks soul, too stiff. But really, it’s not your fault. After all, you just got out. Spending so long with those kinds of people, of course you’d seem cold and detached. I believe you’ll change though. We should give you a chance to start over.”

Her words pleased Ye Shuyi, who smiled faintly.

Liu Xu, however, bristled with anger.
“Su Xue’er, are you sick in the head? What did Su Rong do that she needs to ‘start over’? You’re the only one who keeps targeting her, sneaking in jabs whenever you can. Honestly, you’re the one who needs to go back and be remade—straight into your mother’s womb!”

Su Xue’er’s eyes instantly reddened, her voice trembling as if she might cry.
“I only said it for Sister’s own good. I just want her to have a chance to change. How could you speak to me like that?”

Liu Xu sneered.
“Cut the act. I’m not part of the Su family, I won’t play along with your little dramas. Try humiliating Su Rong again, and I’ll beat you up! Don’t think you can stir things up in front of Professor Ye either. She’s a highly respected lady of noble standing, a leading figure in the art world—you think she’d be fooled by your nonsense?”

Her words were also a reminder to Ye Shuyi—that as a senior figure in the art world, she ought to show more dignity.

Ye Shuyi had been about to sneer at Su Rong again, but with Liu Xu’s interruption, she swallowed the words back.
“Enough, is this a marketplace? Quiet down, all of you. Su Rong, if you don’t like my class, you can leave.”

Su Rong frowned, confused.
“Professor Ye, I really enjoy your lessons.”

Unable to press further, Ye Shuyi began the lecture. To her surprise, this true daughter of the Su family was proving rather interesting.

Just like yesterday, after the lecture came free drawing time. The subject was still figure sketching, but this time with a male model.

Su Rong hesitated for a long while before putting pen to paper. Her confidence had been shaken—Ye Shuyi’s denial still echoed in her mind. She didn’t believe her work lacked soul, but Ye Shuyi was the professional. Should she change her approach?

Ye Shuyi strolled over and saw her hesitating, and for some reason felt a surge of satisfaction. She had no real grudge against Su Rong, yet she couldn’t help but harbor a strong bias.

After thinking it over, Su Rong decided to stick with her own style. Immersed in the work, she poured herself into the sketch, bringing the figure vividly to life.

When it was time to collect the drawings, Liu Xu glanced at hers.
“I think it’s great. You’re better than all of us. Be confident.”

Su Rong took a deep breath.
“Let’s hope so.”

After handing in their work, the two walked out of the studio.
“Professor Ye clearly has it in for me,” Su Rong sighed.

“I noticed too,” Liu Xu replied, linking arms with her. “Could it be because she saw us eating with Sheng Qiye?”

Trailing behind, Su Xue’er piped up:
“That’s why you’d better stay away from Sheng Qiye. Don’t you know? He’s engaged to Professor Ye’s daughter. You really have no sense of boundaries!”

In fact, she had only just learned of it herself. The engagement between the Sheng and Xie families hadn’t been widely publicized. Few people knew.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The Xie family has ties to the underworld. If you dare covet Miss Xie’s fiancé, you must have a death wish!”

Su Rong couldn’t help but laugh. Did she really have so much charm that Ye Shuyi felt threatened? Yet, thinking back to how agitated Ye Shuyi had been when she saw them dining with Sheng Qiye yesterday, maybe Su Xue’er’s analysis wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Watch your mouth!” Liu Xu snapped. “Not everyone is like you, stealing other people’s fiancés!”

Su Xue’er huffed self-righteously.
“Qin Chufeng was originally engaged to the Su family’s eldest daughter—that’s me. It’s not stealing, it’s rightfully mine.”

“Shameless!” Liu Xu dragged Su Rong away.
“So Sheng Qiye was engaged to Xie Lijia? Still, we don’t have much to do with him. Isn’t Professor Ye being a little petty?”

Su Rong shook her head.
“Who knows. Doesn’t matter. We’ve got nothing to hide.”

“The problem,” Liu Xu muttered, “is that she’s the royal art instructor of Yu Palace. I’m afraid she’ll keep making trouble for you. Maybe… better not take her classes anymore?”

“Why not?” Su Rong said firmly. “If she really gave me low marks out of bias, then I don’t care. Otherwise, I might really start doubting my own skill.”

Still, her admiration for Ye Shuyi had faded. To think a renowned, respected professor could be so narrow-minded.

After lunch, the two of them went to visit Doctor Hua. This time, Su Rong brought him phoenix rolls from Gu Yizhai. He accepted them with satisfaction, thinking this little girl was quite considerate.

Su Rong mentioned visiting Li Nan earlier that morning.
“She asked me to tell you: ‘Qingdai admits her mistake. Qingdai wants to come home.’”

Doctor Hua’s hand trembled, and the needle slipped to the floor. Zhang Shuo quickly picked it up, disinfected it, and handed it back.

“What else did she say?”

“Just that one line.”

Doctor Hua resumed the treatment, voice steady.
“How is Li Nan?”

“She seems well. She’s skilled—no one dares to bully her inside. She’ll be out before long.”

Su Rong couldn’t help but wonder—what exactly was Li Nan’s relationship with Doctor Hua? That morning, when Li Nan mentioned him, her eyes had reddened, like she was speaking of a loved one.

Pulling the golden needle out, Doctor Hua suddenly asked,
“Girl, what do you think of traditional Chinese medicine?”

Su Rong’s eyes lit up.
“Chinese medicine is profound. It’s a life science that fuses natural philosophy with clinical practice. Using natural methods like herbs and acupuncture, it strengthens the body’s resistance to drive out disease…”

She shared her insights with enthusiasm.

Doctor Hua nodded. “Mm.” He asked no further, ending the treatment for the day.

After sending the girls out, Zhang Shuo turned back and asked quietly,
“Master Hua… are you thinking of taking Su Rong as your disciple?”