The Martial Artist Turned Movie Mogul-Chapter 726 - 725. Etiquette?

The competition venue was located in a large meeting room on the first floor, where the audience gradually entered and took their seats as directed, they began to notice the differences.

"Hey? Is that area covered with red cloth at the front the competition zone? There are so many individual small tables set up!"

"It seems like it, but it’s too far away to see the nameplates on the tables—"

"Let me see... The front row should be the Judges’ Area, I think I saw some judges’ names, followed by the contestants’ area, where writing brush, ink stick, paper, and inkstone have already been prepared on the tables!"

"Tsk tsk, this setting, worthy of the General Association indeed!"

"It’s just that the venue is a bit small, there aren’t many of us with voting devices, my number is 325, we’re seated together, right?"

"Yes, mine is 326, our current location is in the middle of the meeting room, so does that mean the venue can accommodate about 500 voting persons?"

"About that, 500 is already quite a lot, you know, calligraphy and painting are quite niche hobbies."

"True, and the people from the association are spread all over the country. The competition lasts for three days, and if you don’t have some savings, nobody would make this trip without a good reason."

Besides the finalists who were on an all-expenses-paid "trip," others had to pay for their return train tickets and expenses for three days’ food and accommodation, which all added up to a significant amount. Since there were originally few people in the association, those willing to come and watch the competition were even fewer.

After the audience found their own seats according to the numbers they held, they noticed that people had already entered the cordoned-off competition area in front.

"Hey, hey, look, isn’t that the little genius from our dorm?"

"Whoa! Did Qingyuan that rascal get up early to get his hair done? Why does he look more handsome than usual?"

"He has to look a bit more handsome, doesn’t he? Today is his stage after all!"

"That’s our Imperial University’s little genius, Xue Mingxi, and I heard he’s the youngest grandson of Master Xue!"

"Holy smokes! A family of repute, huh? Can’t underestimate that!"

"Absolutely, Xue Mingxi is ranked fifteen in the traditional Chinese painting rankings, you know? He’s only twenty-three this year, just graduated from university!"

...

Those who advanced to the finals were all the cream of the crop from various provinces and cities. For them, today was an opportunity to make a name for themselves, and many in the audience recognized these talented individuals whose names spoke for themselves.

"Stop talking, they’re coming, the judges’ area is filling up!"

"Where, where?"

Just as the 25 contestants sat down, several elderly people with white hair appeared at the entrance, clad in smart attire, their eyes radiating wisdom and clarity.

"Oh my god, are those the Calligraphy and Painting Association judges? Look at this presence, it’s impressive—"

"I got this feeling of them being hermits from another world, is that Master Xue in deep blue clothes? The one ranked third in traditional Chinese painting!"

"It’s Master Xue! I once attended his lecture at Imperial University, and it was incredibly enlightening!"

"I don’t care about any Master Xue or whatever elders, I just want to know which one is Uncle She!"

Suddenly, someone mentioned Uncle She’s name, and it was as if a beehive was stirred, with nearly half of the people starting the topic.

"Right, right, right! I came today just for Uncle She, really want to meet my idol in person!"

"I also became a fan in the last few months, I never miss his live streams, and I just think Uncle She is so freaking dominant—"

"Hey, which one is he? Could it be the third one in the black clothing?"

"That’s Professor Li from Electric University!"

"I’m telling you, the fourth one looks lively, and younger too, quite like Uncle She!"

"That’s Dean Wang from People’s University, alright? Bro, do you even recognize him or not?! Don’t just randomly point at people!"

"..."

I know Dean Wang, but my eyesight is not great, brother. Can’t you let me guess?

***

Meeting room.

As Tang Shu and others gradually entered the competition venue from inside, they could hear numerous whispers around them. Thanks to her excellent hearing, the chattering discussions reached her ears.

Hearing the name "Uncle She" live for the first time, she instantly felt a weird sense of meeting online friends in person.

By that time, the venue had filled up with people. The audience area was divided into two groups: in front were five hundred members of the Calligraphy and Painting Association with voting devices, and behind them in a semi-circular area were the ordinary people who hadn’t registered.

Of course, there were fewer of the latter than the former, as most of the spectators were people from the calligraphy and painting circles. Looking across the venue, there were approximately seven to eight hundred people—a dense crowd of heads.

Within the crowd, several people had already turned their attention to the distinct figure of Tang Shu. Due to the distance, her facial features weren’t clear, but that didn’t stop her from standing out.

"The girl following Elder Li seems to be quite young, doesn’t she?"

"So slim and with black hair, of course, it’s a girl, clearly young and pretty. But how come she’s coming out with Master Xue and the others?"

"Strange, who is she?"

"She must be one of the contestants, I guess. Somehow she got mixed in there!"

"Makes sense, this girl must have strayed from the group."

"I’m dying of laughter, she’s running around in such an event, could it be due to extreme nervousness?"

"You’re not kidding, I’m not even competing and I’m already nervous. If I were in the competition, I probably wouldn’t even be able to hold the brush steady."

Someone in the audience noticed the "outsider" mixed in with the Judges’ Area. The 25 contestants who were already seated in the competition area naturally also noticed the unique presence of Tang Shu.

At first, some had speculated she was a contestant, but when they realized that all 25 seats next to them were filled, they dismissed that thought.

"Who is that girl? Why does she look somewhat familiar?"

"She’s quite pretty, and she’s not a competing student... Could she be an award ceremony etiquette staff from the Calligraphy and Painting Association?"

"Very likely, that miss is wearing a white shirt, looks very professional!"

"So excited, so excited! I wonder whose hands will hold the trophy that the miss is carrying?"

Song Qingyuan rubbed his hands in excitement, and sitting next to him, Yang Fen also got stirred up, "I must keep an eye on the miss... Even if I can’t get the trophy in my hands, I’d be happy just to see it——"

"Tsk tsk, Classmate Yang Fen, have some ambition, will you?"

"Classmate Song whom I’ve just met, with the name containing Qingyuan, you’ve gotta fight for some prestige. At least get third place for me to see, okay?"

"..."

Song Qingyuan suddenly lost the urge to speak.

Ye Xiaohui, sitting next to the pair, couldn’t help but twitch the corners of her mouth upon hearing the banter. She looked at both of them and then shifted her gaze to Tang Shu, suddenly feeling that there would be a good show to watch later on.