Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Serial Face-slapping
As he finished speaking, the surrounding crowd and reporters all turned to look around.
’Whisperwind is here in the crowd?’
Not far away, Miles Everett also began to search the crowd.
He desperately wanted to know who Whisperwind was, to meet them just once.
’If Whisperwind knew that I’m the one who wants to buy "Rivers and Mountains Like a Painting," would they make an exception for me because I’m a Restorer and agree to sell it?’
Ophelia Warren grew curious as well. ’Who could this mysterious and brilliant female artist be?’
Fabian Vance stroked his graying beard, turned his head slightly, and looked toward Sienna Everett with a kind, amiable expression brimming with praise.
Realizing who Fabian Vance was looking at, Miles Everett’s pupils contracted sharply.
Mr. Vance was looking at... Sienna Everett!
’Could it be...?’
Ophelia Warren’s eyes widened in an instant, a flicker of undisguisable shock in their depths as her nails dug sharply into her palms.
’No... Impossible!’
’Sienna Everett, with her turtle-drawing skills, how could she possibly be the renowned traditional painting master, Whisperwind?’
’How could she be a better painter than me?!’
’Maybe... Maybe Mr. Vance is looking at the person behind Sienna Everett!’
The next second, however, Fabian Vance walked right up to Sienna Everett and called out affectionately, "Sierra—no, I should be calling you Whisperwind now. It’s my honor to have you attend The Azure Art Exhibition!"
The moment his words fell, the entire venue was plunged into dead silence.
’Ho... Holy crap!’
Sienna Everett is Whisperwind!!!
Whisperwind is Sienna Everett!!!
A second ago, Ophelia Warren’s fans were mocking how, even though their idol wasn’t as pretty as Sienna Everett, her artistic talent completely crushed Sienna’s. The next second, the rug was pulled out from under them. They all stood there dumbfounded, jaws agape, as if they’d been struck by lightning.
Even the sharpest reporters in the crowd couldn’t immediately recover from the shock.
Sienna Everett, the one who drew turtles... was the long-awaited traditional painting master, Whisperwind!
’Someone online once said Sienna Everett’s turtle-drawing skills were excellent. It turns out they were telling the truth!!’
It took a good twenty seconds for these reporters, as if waking from a dream, to raise their cameras with trembling hands and frantically take pictures of Sienna Everett.
Fabian Vance led Sienna Everett to stand before Whisperwind’s paintings.
Under the soft, bright lights from above, Sienna Everett’s skin appeared fair and her red lips vivid. She was like a proud, passionate rose, breathtakingly beautiful.
Her butterfly-wing-like lashes were slightly lowered, and her red lips curved into a small smile. "Hello, everyone. I’m Sienna Everett, and I’m also Whisperwind."
Her clear, pleasant voice carried to everyone’s ears.
The venue immediately erupted in thunderous applause!
The traditional painting enthusiasts were flushed with excitement. A few grown men even started cheering wildly for Sienna Everett on the spot.
"Whisperwind, I love your paintings! I’ve copied your ’Rivers and Mountains Like a Painting’ at least a hundred times!!"
"Me too, me too! With skills like that, I thought Whisperwind would be an elderly lady. I can’t believe she’s so young! She must be the youngest and most accomplished artist at the exhibition today!!"
"She’s this beautiful and this good at painting! Who was it that said Sienna Everett was just asking for humiliation by comparing her skills to Ophelia Warren’s? Come out here and take your punishment!"
"I’m not just bragging, but any single one of Whisperwind’s paintings could wipe the floor with Ophelia Warren, okay!"
"During the interview earlier, Ophelia Warren even said she wanted to teach Sienna Everett how to paint. Uh... Awkward..."
"Hahahaha! People were hyping up Ophelia Warren as the only female celebrity invited to the art exhibition, and they were saying Sienna Everett was just a visitor here to look at the art. Their faces must be swollen from the slap now!"
Ophelia Warren’s fans were so mortified they didn’t know where to hide. They had never imagined that Whisperwind would turn out to be Sienna Everett!
No wonder Sienna Everett came to the art exhibition!
At that moment, Ophelia Warren’s eyes were fixed on Sienna Everett. Her hands, hanging at her sides, were clenched so tightly it seemed she would crush her own palms.
Si... en... na...
’What a piece of work, that Sienna Everett!’
’I really underestimated her!’
Not far away, Miles Everett listened as Sienna Everett explained "Rivers and Mountains Like a Painting" to the crowd. Watching her elegant and poised figure, his mind went blank.
’The "Rivers and Mountains Like a Painting" that I love... was actually painted by my sister, Sienna Everett?!’
’If I were to tell Sienna Everett to her face, right now, that I want to buy this painting...’
’Would Sienna Everett... agree to sell it to me?’
A complex and peculiar feeling swelled in Miles Everett’s heart. Ever since Sienna Everett returned to the Everett Family, he had never once given his sister a proper look, nor had he paid any attention to her.
He was used to having Shannon by his side and gave most of his attention to her. Besides, Shannon was better at crying, making a fuss, and acting weak than Sienna Everett.
As the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. He had always habitually favored Shannon, feeling that his biological sister, Sienna Everett, was sensible and didn’t need much of his attention.
Even when he knew she was being bullied and mistreated by the Everetts, he never spoke up to stop it, nor did he ever take the initiative to help her.
But now, Sienna Everett was the creator of his beloved "Rivers and Mountains Like a Painting."
And on that variety show a few days ago, Sienna Everett had shown great skill in authenticating cultural relics.
These changes stirred a strange, irrepressible feeling in his heart.
’This biological sister of mine... perhaps she’s worth paying attention to...’
Just then, a staff member ran in, extremely excited, and reported to Fabian Vance, "Mr... Mr. Vance! Mr. Moss is here! He’s right outside!"
Hearing the name Moss, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
"Mr. Moss? The famous oil painter from Faeloria, Mr. Moss? What is he doing here?"
"Is Moss interested in our Celestria’s traditional paintings too?"
Amid the crowd’s whispers, Fabian Vance gave Sienna Everett a slight nod before leading the staff member out to greet their guest.
When Miles Everett heard the name Moss, he thought for a moment before walking over to Ophelia Warren. "Ophelia, is Moss here to see you?"
The moment Miles Everett said this, the surrounding crowd and reporters immediately looked over with curiosity.
Miles Everett explained in a calm voice, "Ophelia met Moss a few times at an art exhibition abroad. They even exchanged contact information, so you could say they’re friends."
As he finished, everyone’s eyes widened.
"Whoa, Ophelia Warren even knows a great oil painter like Moss! And they’re friends!"
"That’s incredible! It looks like Moss is here for Ophelia Warren then!"
Ophelia Warren smiled faintly and said softly, "Moss has mentioned before that he’s very interested in our Celestria’s traditional paintings. Perhaps he’s just here to see the exhibition."
Miles Everett smiled. "Ophelia, getting a foreigner like Moss, who loves oil painting, to pay attention to our Celestria’s traditional art is a great way to promote our culture. You deserve a lot of credit for that."
Someone nearby chimed in, "Exactly! Promoting our traditional culture and helping more people understand and appreciate it is a great achievement!"
Listening to these voices of agreement, Ophelia Warren glanced at Sienna Everett in the distance. The suffocating feeling she’d had moments ago eased considerably.
Ophelia Warren’s fans were suddenly energized, as if they’d been shot up with stimulants.
’So what if Sienna Everett is Whisperwind?’
’So what if Ophelia’s painting isn’t as good as Sienna Everett’s?’
’Our Ophelia knows the great oil painter Moss!’
’Moss came here specifically for our Ophelia! How glorious is that!’
A short while later, Fabian Vance walked in, leading a blond-haired, blue-eyed foreign man.
Moss was slightly heavyset and looked to be in his forties, but he had a refined, scholarly air and the reserved demeanor of an artist.
Fabian Vance whispered something in Moss’s ear, and Moss looked up toward the crowd in front of him, his eyes filled with eager anticipation.
At that moment, Sienna Everett, Ophelia Warren, and Miles Everett were all in the crowd.
As Moss looked up, the crowd became even more certain that he was looking for Ophelia Warren.
Ophelia Warren smiled gently and greeted him as he walked over, "Moss, long time no see."
"Ophelia?" Moss seemed to have only just noticed that Ophelia Warren was also at the exhibition. He gave a gentlemanly smile. "Long time no see!"
"Moss, why are you here today...?"
Before Ophelia Warren could finish, Moss cut her off anxiously, "Sorry, Ophelia, I’m in a bit of a hurry right now. We’ll talk later, okay?"
Ophelia Warren was taken aback for a second, then smiled understandingly. "You’re eager to see the traditional paintings, right? Of course, please go ahead."
Moss nodded, said no more, and immediately walked away.
Ophelia Warren thought Moss was just impatient to go admire the traditional paintings. But the very next moment, she saw Moss extend his hand toward Sienna Everett, wanting to shake her hand!
The look in Moss’s eyes as he gazed at Sienna Everett was filled with unconcealable excitement and joy. "Whisperwind, I finally have the honor of meeting you!"