Chapter 311 - 202: The Entire Department Discusses Silu! Sifan Desperately Seeks Help! What’s the Matter?

Chapter 311: Chapter 202: The Entire Department Discusses Silu! Sifan Desperately Seeks Help! What’s the Matter?

The next morning, the landscape architecture department’s building was already buzzing with activity.

In the lobby of the Xingnong Building, over a dozen display boards were lined up in a row, covered with design drawings.

There were initial drafts, revised drafts, and final versions. Each sheet was marked with the creator’s name and the date of creation.

In the very center was the complete design portfolio for Jiang Silu’s gold-medal-winning project, featuring everything from the initial concept sketches to the final product.

Word spread quickly. In less than half an hour, the lobby was packed with people.

Some came to see what the commotion was about, some came to learn, and quite a few were there for the drama.

Everyone wanted to see what the freshman Shen Hong had questioned was truly capable of.

"Excuse me, coming through." A boy with glasses squeezed to the front, stared at the drawings for a good while, and then let out a gasp of amazement.

The person next to him quickly asked, "What is it? Did you see something?"

The boy with glasses pointed to one of the drawings, his voice filled with disbelief. "Look at this partial design, this technique for handling space. My professor only taught us this in our third year, and I still haven’t mastered it. How did a freshman draw this?"

His words piqued everyone’s interest, and they all crowded in for a closer look.

A girl studied them for a long time before murmuring, "It’s not just the technique. Look at the overall layout, the sense of rhythm... I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before..."

"Spring Glow Garden," someone next to her chimed in excitedly. "Did you guys forget? Teacher Chen took our class to visit Spring Glow Garden a while ago. That feeling of spatial progression is exactly the same as in this design."

A wave of discussion rippled through the crowd.

"Right, right, I remember now! It was Jiang Silu who helped contact Elder Meng back then, which is how Teacher Chen was able to get our whole class in."

"No wonder. Silu must have studied it carefully during our last trip to Spring Glow Garden."

"Exactly. Look at the handling of these details. It’s obvious she did an in-depth study."

"No wonder. With Elder Meng’s resources and her own hard work, it’s not surprising she’s improved so quickly."

"Guidance is one thing, but you still have to do the drawing yourself. Look at these drafts—she went through seven or eight revisions. You couldn’t endure that without talent."

A chubby guy squeezed to the front, stared for a long time, and suddenly blurted out, "Honestly, this is better than what most of us third-years can do. I know I couldn’t draw this."

Someone next to him laughed. "You? You even copy your homework. It’d be a miracle if you could draw this."

The chubby guy wasn’t offended and just chuckled. "I’m just telling the truth. See for yourselves—the lines, the details. You have to admit it’s impressive."

There had initially been some sour, jealous voices in the crowd, but as they continued to look, those voices gradually faded away.

In their place were gasps of amazement and sighs of admiration.

"This design concept is insane."

"How did I not think of handling it like this?"

"Look at this corner. This use of ’borrowed scenery’ is brilliant."

"I’m convinced. I’m totally convinced."

Suddenly, someone remembered something and looked around. "Where’s Shen Hong? Did she not come today?"

The person next to them whispered, "Come? Why would she come? She’s probably hiding in her dorm, too scared to show her face."

"True. She made such a big fuss, and it turns out the person actually has real talent. Talk about a slap in the face."

"Sigh, it’s a shame, really. She’s not untalented, just too petty."

"Forget about her. Let’s hurry up and study this. Try to learn from her thought process."

The crowd gathered close again, chattering and discussing.

In a corner, a figure wearing a face mask had been standing for a long time. Finally, they turned and silently left.

It was Shen Hong.

In truth, when she saw the manuscripts Elder Meng had brought yesterday afternoon, she already felt a sense of inadequacy.

Now, looking at all the initial drafts and the design concepts, she was utterly speechless.

Those design concepts, those techniques for execution... some she could understand, but some she couldn’t even fully grasp.

She thought about the things she had said, about those long, self-righteous posts in the group chat, and her face burned with shame.

She lowered her head and quickly walked out of the academic building, her feelings a complicated mess.

...

「Meanwhile, in Qingshan Village.」

Lu Fan’s car pulled up to Jiang Guoqiang’s house. Just as he got out, he saw Pan Lanfang come out to greet him.

"Xiaolu, you’re here! Come in, come in." Pan Lanfang said with a smile, pulling him inside by the hand.

Lu Fan chuckled. "Auntie, I wasn’t busy today, so I came to see you and Uncle."

As they walked, Pan Lanfang remarked, "You silly boy. You’re so busy with work, yet you’re always running out to the village. It must be so tiring."

"Not at all. Coming to the village to relax is much more comfortable than being in the city," Lu Fan said with a smile.

Inside, Jiang Guoqiang was sitting in the main hall drinking tea. When he saw Lu Fan enter, his face broke into a smile. "Xiaolu’s here? Sit, sit."

Lu Fan sat down, took the tea Pan Lanfang offered, and took a sip before asking, "Uncle, how has your health been?"

Jiang Guoqiang nodded. "It’s been good. Thanks to your help, the irrigation ditch is fixed, and the vegetables in the fields have all perked up."

"That’s good, that’s good," Lu Fan said, pleased.

Pan Lanfang sat down nearby, glanced at Jiang Guoqiang, then back at Lu Fan. After a moment’s hesitation, she finally spoke up. "Xiaolu, ah, Auntie wanted to talk to you about something."

Lu Fan put down his teacup and looked at her. "Please, go ahead."

Pan Lanfang sighed, her tone apologetic. "Well... about that thing Auntie mentioned to you last time... my daughter is... a little resistant."

Lu Fan was taken aback for a moment, then he broke into a smile. "Auntie, don’t worry. These things take time."