From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Yan Rugo felt a ticklish sensation in her heart, like being scratched by a kitten, a mixture of unease and a sense of unease.

She looked around at the noble ladies, each with a mysteriously confident smile on their face, as if victory was already in their grasp.

Miss Su raised her chin smugly, her eyes filled with contempt, as if to say, "You think you can compete with me?" Young Master Hua also smiled sarcastically, his eyes practically screaming, "I knew this was going to happen."

Seeing their confident demeanor, Yan Rugo felt immense pressure, and fine beads of sweat involuntarily appeared on her forehead.

She frowned slightly, her hand gripping the folding fan tightened, her fingertips turned slightly white, and her lips were pressed into a thin line, making her appear somewhat tense.

The atmosphere in the room became heavy, and the lively conversation gradually disappeared, replaced by a sense of impending doom.

The competition venue was arranged in a solemn and dignified manner, with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones placed on an antique sandalwood table, and a faint fragrance of ink permeating the air.

Sunlight streamed through the window frames, casting a blinding glow on the smooth floor and adding to the tense atmosphere.

A crisp gong sounded, breaking the tense atmosphere. Master Bai stroked his beard, cleared his throat, and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, today's poetry gathering will have a special competition. The topic is—to compose a poem based on a painting!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a servant brought in a huge scroll, which was slowly unfurled.

Yan Rugo stared intently and saw that the scroll depicted overlapping mountains, swirling clouds and mist, flying birds and running beasts, figures and scenery, all intricately intertwined and obscure, making one's scalp tingle.

This isn't a painting at all; it's a complete mess!

Looking at Miss Su, she had already picked up her brush and was wielding it on the rice paper with great enthusiasm. Her smooth and flowing movements suggested that she was confident and assured of victory.

Young Master Hua went even further, his mouth practically stretched to his ears in a wide grin—a blatant provocation.

Yan Rugo felt like a little white rabbit that had wandered into a pack of wolves, being stared at by them with predatory eyes, and a chill ran down her spine.

"What... what kind of rubbish is this?!" Yan Rugo couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"Oh dear, what are we going to do?" Yan Rugo frowned, feeling like she was being roasted over a fire. Just then, she heard a voice from beside her: "Hey, little girl, you're really at a loss now, aren't you?"

Hearing this sarcastic voice, Yan Rugo almost rolled her eyes. She thought to herself, "What I feared most has come to pass. Does this Young Master Hua want to die even faster?" She took a deep breath and told herself to stay calm. Now was not the time to argue with them.

She remained outwardly calm, but inwardly she was frantically calling out to the system: "System, help! This drawing looks like scribbles to me, give me a hint!"

The system did not disappoint her and immediately gave her a prompt: "Host, this painting is called 'Cloud and Mountain Landscape'. The key features are the swirling clouds and layered mountains, creating a profound artistic conception. You can approach it from the perspective of 'combining reality and illusion'."

Upon hearing this, Yan Rugo suddenly understood, feeling as if an electric current had surged through her body, instantly clearing her mind.

She ignored the mocking glances around her and focused intently on the painting before her.

Her gaze became sharp and focused, as if a general were commanding thousands of troops on the battlefield.

She picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and began to wield it on the rice paper.

Her wrist moved nimbly, and the pen tip danced across the paper like a butterfly in flight.

Sometimes she would concentrate deeply, and other times she would write with lightning speed, the poetic inspiration in her heart bursting forth like a volcanic eruption.

Her poems depict both the misty mountains in the painting: "Clouds and mist entwine, mountains are layered and verdant, the winding path leads into the painting." They also elevate the artistic conception of the painting: "Illusion and reality complement each other, true and false, worldly affairs are like a game of chess, hard to predict." The poems are grand and magnificent, with profound artistic conception, as if vividly presenting the scene in the painting to everyone.

When she put down her pen, all was quiet.

Master Bai broke the silence first, stroking his beard. Miss Su, in particular, stared intently at Yan Rugo's poem, as if trying to see a hole through it.

Young Master Hua's face turned ashen, his teeth grinding together as if he were about to rush up and tear Yan Rugo to pieces.

At this moment, Xu, the male protagonist who had been watching Yan Rugo intently, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

A slight smile played on his lips as he walked to Yan Rugo's side and gently took her hand. His palm was warm and dry, giving her an unparalleled sense of security.

Yan Rugo looked up at him and felt the deep concern in his eyes, which filled her heart with warmth.

Those around them, seeing their interaction, all looked on with envy and blessings, as if they were a match made in heaven.

Just then, Madam Qin suddenly stood up, smiled meaningfully, and slowly said, "Interesting, this is getting more and more interesting..."

As Yan Rugo's poems gained recognition, her reputation at the poetry gathering further increased.

Madam Qin admired her even more, her eyes sparkling with smiles, and said slowly, "Little Yan, your poem today is truly admirable. There happens to be a small cultural gathering at my home; would you be so kind as to invite me?" This was an opportunity that many noble ladies dreamed of, but Madam Qin took the initiative to invite Yan Rugo.

A murmur of envy immediately arose from all around, and countless envious glances were cast at Yan Rugo, as if she had become the focus of the entire event.

Yan Rugo felt a surge of joy, and a bright smile bloomed on her face. She nodded and replied, "Madam Qin, it is my honor. I will definitely attend on time!" Her smile was like the warm spring sun, warm and bright, instantly illuminating the entire venue.

The male protagonist stood beside her, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes filled with pride and love.

He gently took her hand, and the warmth from his palm strengthened her resolve.

Those who had previously made things difficult for her, such as Miss Su and Young Master Hua, all fell silent and looked embarrassed.

Miss Su's face was ashen, and she gripped the edge of the table tightly, as if she wanted to scratch the wooden table with her hands.

Young Master Hua's face darkened, his teeth grinding together. They no longer dared to provoke Yan Rugo, as if they were completely overwhelmed by her aura.

The noble ladies and young masters around her all cast respectful glances at Yan Rugo. She proudly raised her head, feeling an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

She finally proved her worth with her own strength and no longer needed to live timidly.

However, just as Yan Rugo was immersed in the joy of victory, she suddenly felt a slight vibration from the system on her wrist.

She frowned slightly, looked down, and saw a warning flashing on the system screen: "Host, a new crisis is approaching. It is recommended to prepare in advance." Her smile froze instantly, and a wave of unease washed over her.

She quickly concealed her emotions, but a hint of wariness flashed in her sharp eyes.

"Xu Yun," she whispered to the male protagonist beside her, a hint of worry in her eyes, "it seems we have even greater challenges ahead."