Chapter 29: Elementary School Level

Myron had also been a drama participant in the "Survive Retreat" work. Creating it was a bit difficult for his parents. The so-called "bummer" patient was a large watermelon that Grandpa had drawn. If you looked closely, there were a few more watermelon seeds on the area where a small piece had been bitten off. Haven had bitten a piece because she was busy and left after only one bite.

Grandpa suddenly had the idea to turn it into a painting, and, unexpectedly, he won a gold medal for it. Cheyenne thought to herself that the painting was unremarkable. Malaya smiled warmly and said, "Oh my goodness, Mr. Edwards, you're really modest. Your paintings are all masterpieces."

Grandpa smiled but said nothing, waiting for her next words. Sure enough, Malaya mentioned Nora with pride, saying, "Mr. Edwards, my little daughter has been studying painting for over ten years. She has always admired you and finally gets to meet you today. Why don't you take some time to see how good her painting skills are? She just won a youth art award last week and is planning on participating in a national college student painting competition next month."

As Malaya spoke, she gestured for Nora to retrieve her artwork. Sean, previously lethargic, perked up slightly, a twitch of his lips betraying his interest.

"Mom, my sister and Cheyenne's grandfather aren't painting the same kind of painting. How can he give advice?" Sean's bluntness and lack of manners were evident in his reference to Layne as "Cheyenne's grandfather." Layne, considering his age, felt he should have been addressed as "Mr. Edwards." Malaya likely favored her son, leading to his impertinence.

Fortunately, Layne had secretly trained his granddaughter; otherwise, she might have become a spoiled, useless young woman, just as Malaya had predicted.

Caught off guard, Malaya felt embarrassed and annoyed, glaring at Sean. "What do you know? You're just a kid!" she scolded angrily.

Sean, dissatisfied, muttered, "I told the truth!" He had overheard his mother and sister trying to curry favor with Cheyenne's grandfather to gain admission to the Royal Academy of Arts abroad. He considered them naive, knowing Cheyenne's selfish and vicious nature and her jealousy of Nora. Nora, he believed, could have gained admission on her own merit. Their mother's intervention was unnecessary.

Cheyenne, catching his reaction, cursed under her breath, "Idiot!"

After a while, Nora came down, having chosen her favorite painting after some deliberation upstairs. It was a Western-style portrait oil painting, reminiscent of 18th-century style, depicting herself at a banquet in a bright yellow strapless gown, with delicate makeup. The well-dressed people around her danced, portraying a scene of high-society luxury and extravagance.

Malaya grinned, pushing Nora toward Layne. "You're here! Show Grandpa your painting Isn't this the one that won an award last week?" George, proud of his daughter, wanted to impress his father-in-law. He feigned helplessness, saying, "Didn't you see your grandpa eating?"

Layne smiled faintly, put down his cutlery, and looked at the painting. "It's okay. I'm old and don't have a big appetite. Just looking at a painting won't take much time."

Cheyenne finished her meal and sat upright, looking at Nora's painting. With a glance, she withdrew her gaze, thinking, "She has the courage to show off such a bad painting in front of my grandfather!"

Layne, after a moment, politely praised it: "It's pretty good. The colors are accurate and saturated. The lines are smooth, and the layout of the picture is well thought out." Even the top masters' praise further pleased Malaya.

George, fearing Layne would question why Nora was a better painter than Cheyenne, hurriedly explained, "Well, we wanted Cheyenne to learn to paint with Nora; we even paid for it. Maybe drawing was too boring for Cheyenne, so she came back after only two days. But Nora has good patience; she persisted."

Cheyenne listened coldly as her father praised Nora and disparaged her. "I disagree, Father. I didn't want to learn there because the teacher was incapable," she declared seriously.

Nora and her brother exchanged glances, as if hearing a joke. Nora, maintaining her composure, silently mocked Cheyenne's audacity. Sean, however, was less reserved.

"You really know how to flatter yourself," he quipped. "How old were you then? The teacher was at least twenty years older than you. How dare you say she couldn't teach you anything? What a vain liar you are!"

Layne felt more disgusted with the Lawrence family, wondering how much Cheyenne must have endured. Malaya lectured Cheyenne seriously, painting an image of a disrespectful, arrogant child – a deliberate attempt to mislead Layne. However, Layne knew better.

As the family continued to belittle Cheyenne, Layne laughed at their narrow-mindedness. "If Malaya thinks I'm lying, then let me prove it," Cheyenne said lazily, rising and looking at Nora's painting with a sneer. "This is just my elementary school level. Is that really something worth showing off?"

Chapter 30: Reece, Are You Crazy?

Silence fell. Malaya's smile faded as she realized Cheyenne's foolishness. Sean sighed in disbelief. "Your elementary school level? I remember when you drew a watermelon that looked like a plate! You have some nerve talking big now."

Nora's expression turned cold. "What did you say?"

"Am I wrong?" Cheyenne raised her chin. "First, your visual center is off. The general visual center should be two-thirds into the picture, and you occupy the entire frame alone. You want to highlight yourself as the protagonist, so you depicted your attire as luxurious. Unfortunately, lighting is paramount in portraiture! You only focus on color, neglecting texture and contrast brought by light and shadow. Your painting is imitative; that's why it's at a primary school level."

Nora's mentor had said similar things, but she hadn't grasped the concept of "texture." Cheyenne's assessment was accurate. The thought that Cheyenne understood art flashed through Nora's mind. She reasoned that understanding art didn't necessarily mean exceptional drawing skills. Sean, recovering from his shock, pointed at Cheyenne. "Don't think we'll believe your nonsense. My sister won an award for this! Go ahead and join the competition if you have what it takes. Bring back a prize to show us!"

Nora and Layne knew Cheyenne wasn't bluffing.

"Just one prize? Fine, I'll do it. But on one condition: Sean, you have to bark like a dog."

Malaya was surprised. She wanted to help her daughter gain admission, but now the focus was on Cheyenne, and Cheyenne demanded Sean bark like a dog.

"Cheyenne, don't argue with your brother. He's still little," Malaya said.

"Little? He's turning eighteen soon and has his college entrance exams this year!" Cheyenne sneered, contrasting Sean's immaturity with her own accomplishments at eighteen.

"Mom, don't bother. I bet this loser can't even draw!"

Layne's expression turned cold. He then said to Cheyenne, "Maybe you should enter a competition for some fun. The college art contest is starting next month, and registration is still open."

Sean, convinced Cheyenne was boasting, had a smug look. "I lose and bark like a dog, what about you, Cheyenne? If you lose, what will you do?"

"I won't lose!" she replied confidently.

Nora added sarcastically, "Don't be too confident, Cheyenne. You might end up eating your words."

Sean was pleased. "If you lose, Cheyenne, you'll have to apologize and kneel before my sister."

Layne was furious at Sean's audacity. Then Cheyenne, reassuring her grandfather with a look, agreed with a smile. "Okay, I promise you!"

Layne felt it was unnecessary, but he wouldn't stop her. "Grandfather, I'm not a pushover. I won't let anyone just step on me."

"I see."

The matter of Layne taking Nora as an apprentice ended unsatisfactorily. Malaya felt frustrated. After returning Cheyenne home, she stayed overnight to sort through her antiques. After washing up, she put on her pajamas and logged online, where she saw Reece's LINE avatar—a husky rolling its eyes, username: GiantDog.