“Well, then it seems we can only wait for the next painting competition.” Sheng Xia muttered regretfully, “It’s a bit troublesome to look up international competitions. Should I let your two brothers do it? Anyway, they are free every day to watch live broadcasts. They will definitely pay more attention to their little sister’s matters, right?”

The last sentence carried a hint of revengeful emotion.

【Host, I found it!】The system that had been silent suddenly…

Excitedly, the system said, “It turns out Feng Shaoyun’s work was swapped! The student who swapped works with her was the son of their department head. When they were sending their works to the competition, he swapped their paintings.”

It was obviously disgusting behavior and the system couldn’t help but angrily condemn, “Host, these father and son are too much. To actually do such a thing, their character is truly despicable!”

Feng Shaoyun was currently lying on her lap. Sheng Xia paused as she stroked her head. Her gaze was slightly cold, but her voice was calm, “Can you get evidence?”

The system confirmed and regretfully said, “There is no surveillance in their conversation room, and there are no relevant chat records online, so it is impossible to extract evidence.”

Sheng Xia, in contemplation, then asked in a low voice, “Shaoyun, is the work you submitted this time a painting of roses?”

Fei Shaoyun “Ah” sound, apparently thinking of the incident when Chen Chen and Ran Ran accidentally exposed her secret during the live broadcast, pursed her lips and replied softly, “Well, kind of…”

“Let’s go find your mentor now and get your painting back.” Sheng Xia lazily tapped her forehead and said confidently, “Isn’t that the gift you were preparing to give me? Since you can’t submit it for the final judging, it’s mine now.”

Fei Shaoyun, completely taken aback by the sudden turn of events, lifted her head in confusion. “Go, go now?”

Sheng Xia smiled at her.

…

…

At the A City Academy of Fine Arts.

“What? Retrieve the work?”

Upon hearing Sheng Xia and Feng Shaoyun’s mentor’s request, the head of the department’s expression was clearly panicked for a moment, then immediately pretended to be impatient, “For such international competitions, how could you still expect them to return the works?”

“Teacher Hao, you are also aware that such a request is obviously unreasonable. Yet you even brought the student’s parent here. Aren’t you making things difficult for me?” He accused Feng Shaoyun’s mentor coldly, his gaze stern. “You should explain it to the student’s parent quickly, shouldn’t you?”

Teacher Hao was already puzzled about how the student’s work could have been rejected. With the emotions she had poured into her painting, even if she didn’t win first prize, she should have at least received an award.

Then, upon hearing that the son of the department head, who was considered mediocre in talent, had been selected for the final judging, she became suspicious of the situation.

So, after hearing the department head’s accusation, he also hardened his face and spoke firmly, “I haven’t heard of such a thing. Isn’t it just a matter of voluntarily paying the fee to retrieve it?”

“Even if Shaoyun was rejected and did not receive an award, this painting is considered a breakthrough for her. I think it is very worthy of keeping as a memento. Shaoyun’s family has also said that as long as it can be retrieved, no matter how high the cost, they are willing to pay.”

Upon hearing this, the department head couldn’t help but look at Feng Shaoyun and the woman sitting in a wheelchair beside her.

Feng Shaoyun was very famous in their department. Due to personal reasons, she rarely came to school, but her academic performance always remained in the top three.

Before doing this, the department head naturally checked her background, but couldn’t find anything. He only knew that her parents were no longer alive, and apart from Teacher Hao, she had never communicated with anyone.

Such timid and reclusive people were the easiest to control. The department head knew this very well. Even if she was rejected, he didn’t have the courage to question her, especially with the threat of not graduating hanging over her.

Although Teacher Hao was very proficient in her profession and had a loud reputation outside, she was only obsessed with teaching and painting. She had no power or money to threaten him, so he naturally didn’t need to pay attention to her.

Furthermore, even if the problem was eventually discovered, they had no evidence, so they couldn’t do anything to him.

In fact, the department head didn’t want to do this kind of thing.

However, this painting competition was of extremely high value. As long as one could win an award, they could get to know those famous artists. If they were noticed and successfully accepted as a student, they would directly soar to success.

His son kept pleading, and coupled with the fact that Feng Shaoyun’s work this time was indeed different from before, and the style was somewhat similar to his son’s, he gradually wavered in his heart. In the end, he gritted his teeth and secretly swapped their names before sending the works for the competition.

Who would have thought that Feng Shaoyun, who was thought to be an orphan, would suddenly come up with a sister-in-law, and even come with Teacher Hao to request to take back the artwork?

The artwork was indeed can be returned, but it was his son’s painting. There was no way he could give it to them!

Especially Feng Shaoyun’s sister-in-law, who was obviously weak and pale, sitting in a wheelchair. Being with Feng Shaoyun, she couldn’t possibly pose any threat to him.

However, when he met those black-and-white eyes, as cold as ice, his back unconsciously felt cold.

The calmer and deeper her expression, the more she seemed like the calm before a storm, exuding an oppressive feeling that made people dare not look directly at her.

It’s like seeing a ghost!

He cursed inwardly and looked away, but his tone became even more firm, “In any case, it’s impossible for you to take back the artwork. Don’t make trouble for the school here. Leave now.”

“Are you making trouble for the school, or for yourself, Director?” Sheng Xia propped her chin up, seemingly curious. “Speaking of which, Director, your son also participated in the competition. I wonder what the name of his artwork is?”

“…That’s none of your business.” Terrified by her cryptic words, the department head broke out in a cold sweat and quickly waved his hand impatiently. “Enough, enough, don’t linger here. If every student were like you, what kind of order would there be?”

“Since the department head is unwilling to resolve this matter, then we can only escalate it.”

As the department head pondered in his heart about how to handle the situation…

As he was about to drive them away, he suddenly heard Sheng Xia’s seemingly light voice.

He wanted to laugh, intending to mock, “If you have the ability, go find it yourself.” However, before the words could leave his mouth, he suddenly saw the pale-faced principal push open the door and walk in.

Beside the principal was an elderly man in a tailcoat, exuding an extraordinary demeanor.

Following behind them was his son, Tang Ming.

Feeling a bad premonition, the department head hastily stood up and said, “Principal, what is this about…?”

The principal, however, didn’t even look at him. He walked up to Sheng Xia, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, and said apologetically, “I’m really sorry, Mrs. Feng. I have a rough idea of what happened, but without evidence, I may not be able to…”

After all, this painting competition was of high value, and the school naturally attached great importance to it. If a student’s work could really win an award, it would also be a good thing to publicize for the school.

Therefore, even though the Feng family was indeed very influential, until evidence came out, he couldn’t favor anyone.

The steward, after bringing the principal, also walked slowly behind Sheng Xia and bowed politely, “Madam, as per your request, the principal has called the organizers and confirmed that Mr. Tang Ming’s work is ‘Human World,’ while Miss Four’s submitted work is ‘Prosperous Garden.'”

Upon hearing the titles of the works, Feng Shaoyun, who had been silent, widened her eyes and subconsciously reached for Sheng Xia’s arm.

She was obviously very anxious, her tongue stumbling, “I-I am ‘Human World.'”

Sheng Xia nodded, then suddenly turned her gaze to the department head. “Director, do you have an explanation for this?”

What was the tone of her voice? Was she questioning him?!

The department head’s heart tightened. He couldn’t help but curse inwardly, but on the surface, he maintained a stiff smile. “Wh-what explanation? I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“Why, are you always so perfunctory at work, not listening properly?” Sheng Xia, somewhat surprised, covered her mouth and kindly explained in the face of his stern expression, “Didn’t our Shaoyun just say it? ‘Human World’ is her work, but now, inexplicably, when it was sent for judging, it became Tang Ming’s ‘Prosperous Garden.'”

“You were responsible for sending the entries. Shouldn’t you give us an explanation?”

Before the department head could speak, Tang Ming couldn’t hold back and loudly interjected, “Don’t wrongly accuse people! That ‘Human World’ is a masterpiece I painstakingly created, and all my previous works have been in the style of ‘Human World.’ You can tell at a glance!”

“Without any reason, you’re trying to slander me. Be careful, I’ll sue you!”

The butler timely sent over two photos of the works taken by the organizers. Sheng Xia clicked on the pictures to enlarge them, not knowing what she had discovered, her eyes flickering.

Then, she suddenly looked up, “Did Tang Ming say that ‘Human World’ and your previous style are similar? Is there any evidence?”

Tang Ming suddenly stiffened, his eyes flickering, “Of course there is; my previous works, aren’t they?”

Sheng Xia smiled, “Well, could you bring them out and let everyone have a look?”

“Tsk, just bring it out if you have it. Who do you think you are?” Tang Ming glanced at the head of the department, then at his father, and immediately refused disdainfully, “What if you tamper with or sabotage my work?!”

“But if Tang Ming doesn’t bring it out, it can only mean that you’re feeling guilty,” Sheng Xia raised an eyebrow slightly. “Just like you said, everyone has their own style and technique in painting, so I’m sure Tang Ming and Shaoyun do too.”

“You’re not willing to return the work to us, nor are you willing to produce your so-called evidence—Principal, don’t you think this is a bit too much?”

Tang Ming’s palms were sweating, and he gritted his teeth, “I think you’re not only disabled but also have a problem with your brain, right? I’m just worried, and you’re imagining so much, it’s just sick!”

“Enough.” The principal frowned, looking sternly at Tang Ming, “Tang Ming, you should understand that this matter is very important. If you’re worried about your work being tampered with, I can also guarantee its safety. Shouldn’t that put your mind at ease?”

“However–“

Before the head of the department could say anything else, he was immediately interrupted by the principal, “And you too, return the painting; where is it exactly? Don’t tell me you don’t have it; when I was in communication with the organizers, they confirmed that it had already been returned!”

The head of the department’s heart suddenly raced, and he panicked, breaking out in a cold sweat, “This, this… I didn’t notice either. We’ve never had a student ask for their work back after a competition; so I didn’t pay attention. Let me think carefully–“

“Since you all need to consider, let us first submit evidence to prove the relationship between Shaoyun and ‘Human World.”

Sheng Xia casually handed the painting of Shao Yun that had been given to her before to the principal, “This is a painting that Shao Yun just did not long ago; Principal, I think anyone familiar with painting should be able to see that their techniques and brushstrokes are the same; right?”

“Oh, by the way, how did you know I was sick? I do have nyctalopia and megalophobia.” She suddenly turned her head to look at Tang Ming, who looked anxious; she slowly emphasized each word, “I’ve always been afraid of the dark, of closed spaces, and of large, ominous objects, and you and your father happen to embody all of those fears. It’s truly karma, isn’t it?”

Sheng Xia covered her chest, her tone deep, “Wow, it’s really scary. I’m almost afraid I’ll develop autism and start fearing people.”