CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 72: APPRAISING THE PAINTING

Yongcheng University is very close to the neighborhood where Lin Wanwan lives, just a few minutes’ drive. However, it took a bit of time to walk from the main gate to the library, as the university is really large.

Lu Shouyue had been waiting at the library entrance early. Although he wore a mask and his clothes were not as glamorous as usual, with a bit of a travel-worn look, he appeared even more outstanding, attracting frequent glances from passing students.

Some daring girls were even secretly taking pictures of him while whispering to each other.

"Is he from our school? So tall, and still so handsome with a mask! You should go ask for his WeChat."

"You go, I don’t dare."

"Then how about we go together."

The girls hesitated for a long time, finally worked up the courage to approach him, but saw Lu Shouyue looking their way, waving at them with a crescent-eyed smile, clearly laughing.

"He actually greeted us actively!"

The girls instantly felt excited, raised their hands to respond, but saw Lu Shouyue stride over towards them. In that instant, their breath halted, hearts inexplicably tightened, faces flushed, sharing a blank look, unsure whom he was heading towards.

Even the air seemed to thin. Someone couldn’t help stepping forward to speak, yet Lu Shouyue directly bypassed the group and arrived behind them.

"You came quite quickly."

His voice was low and melodious like a clear spring, but it wasn’t directed at them.

The girls collectively turned around, realizing the handsome tall guy was speaking to someone behind them, feeling a mix of emotions.

Indeed, handsome guys are with beautiful girls!

The beauty also wore a mask, but just a glimpse of her brows and eyes unveiled her charm.

The exposed skin on her forehead was almost glowing white, and her eyes resembled stars in the azure sky.

Lin Wanwan, accustomed to being watched since childhood, paid no attention to others’ stares, smiling as she walked side by side with Lu Shouyue into the library, quickly disappearing from the crowd’s view.

"Wow, they are really easy on the eyes."

"Oh, pity those lovely flowers are already claimed."

While following Lu Shouyue into the library, Lin Wanwan whispered, "Are you planning to appraise the painting in the library?"

Lu Shouyue chuckled, "No, not really appraising, just appreciating. There’s something I need to tell you in advance, your painting might have some background. If it’s genuine, you might face a bit of trouble. Can the painting’s origin be clearly traced?"

Lin Wanwan replied, "It’s definitely not illegally obtained."

Lu Shouyue laughed, "That’s not what I meant, haha. Then let’s go directly to the fifth-floor office. There are several experts waiting to have a look together. Do you have any concerns?"

Lin Wanwan smiled, "Sure, I don’t understand art, so I need experts to offer some insights."

The office in the library was quite spacious, about forty square meters, filled with bookshelves and books, exuding a strong scholarly atmosphere.

In front of the desk was a small living area, with a set of antique wooden sofas and tea table, on which three elderly gentlemen sat, with the one in the center brewing tea. The scene resembled that famously down-to-earth depiction by the great poet Bai Juyi: "The room’s fragrance from herbal medicines, the stove warms with tea smoke."

"Xiao Lu, have you brought the person?"

"Yes, brought them. You haven’t started drinking the tea yet?"

"Waiting for you two."

Upon seeing them enter, the three elders raised their gaze, as Lu Shouyue and Lin Wanwan took off their masks together.

Lu Shouyue made a simple introduction between the parties, and Lin Wanwan greeted the three professors with a smile. Among them was Professor Cao Yong, whom she had met once when selling celadon in the past; the other two were big names from the Art Academy.

Cao Yong remembered her and laughed, "It’s you, little girl."

He turned his head to the other two professors, "Recently, Xiao Lu got several pieces of celadon from her. You’ve seen them, all genuine."

"You youngsters, come on, have a cup of tea first, then we’ll thoroughly examine the painting." The art academy professor surnamed He pointed to the freshly brewed tea, signaling them to come forward and take some.

Lu Shouyue softly said, "This tea has some background, just acquired by the old gentleman, a real treasure. You should savor it well."

Lin Wanwan chuckled, "I fear I can only enjoy it ignorantly."

After finishing the tea, Professor He couldn’t hold back and said, "Miss Lin, the painting? Come, come, spread it on the table, let us old folks have a good look."

Lin Wanwan promptly retrieved the painting and spread it out on the large solid wood desk.

The three elders and Lu Shouyue, with white gloves and anti-oxidants in hand, performed a dizzying array of operations, then bent their heads towards the painting, whispering among themselves, even taking out magnifying glasses to inspect inch by inch.

"Is it real?"

"Looks very real."

"The paper shows some age, but it’s hard to determine the era."

"It’s well-preserved, this type of paper definitely predates Tang paper. Look at the texture and technique, paper made nowadays isn’t like this."

"But no endorsement from later famous individuals."

"That’s a problem."

The four completely disregarded Lin Wanwan, engrossed in their discussion. Lin Wanwan simply sat back in her chair, leisurely sipping tea. Although she wasn’t acquainted with tea tasting, its subtle lingering sweetness made it indeed pleasant.

She then recalled the tea brewing techniques of the Great Tang, even handsome men like Xiao Chong, with otherworldly charm, brewed tea that was hard to swallow.

She couldn’t fathom Tang people’s taste buds, with teas mixed with salt, scallions, ginger, pepper, jujube, cinnamon, orange peel, mint leaves, etc., entirely masking the tea itself, what’s so good about that?

Yet, admittedly, watching Xiao Chong brew tea was still enjoyable. The entire elegant, noble tea-drinking process was visually captivating, no wonder it was favored by the literati in the Great Tang.

Tang Dynasty tea brewing was meticulous from the water selection, graded as mountain water up, river water middle, well water down.

Mountain water is spring water. Now, Lin Wanwan’s drinking water in the Great Tang was all volunteered by family members, daily taking turns fetching from the waterfall pool halfway up the mountain. The previously dug well was only used for washing now.

Regarding water, Lin Wanwan confidently thought she was more particular compared to Xiao Chong. In Xiaoxi Town, Xiao Chong didn’t have the conditions to fetch mountain water daily.

Deep in thought, a voice came to her ear, "Wanwan, Wanwan?"

"Hmm?" Lin Wanwan looked up at Lu Shouyue, "You’re done? So, what’s the deal with the painting?"

Lu Shouyue looked at her casually and said, "Smiling so contentedly, what are you thinking about? A boyfriend?"

"No, no, no." Lin Wanwan quickly denied, "So how’s the painting?"