Chapter 94: Embroidery Contest, Splitting Threads for Colors

Chapter 94: Embroidery Contest, Splitting Threads for Colors

"Big Mao, I recall you loved Pixie's Spicy Eggplant the most," Lu Yan flipped through the menu, suggesting their disciple's favorite dish effortlessly.

"That was something I liked as a child. I don't eat it anymore," Wu Xia twisted her hands together tightly. She only wished her teacher would give up on her soon and not waste time on someone who couldn't even hold a needle.

Yet, seeing her teacher's hurt expression, she was overwhelmed with guilt and remorse.

"Then let's not order that. Big Mao, what do you like now?" Lu Yan was puzzled by her disciple's sudden rebellion, as if a long-delayed teenage phase had abruptly emerged in her twenties.

Wu Xia wished her teacher would despise and abandon her, but instead, she was showered with kindness. She yearned for her parents' concern and affection, yet they seemed oblivious to her existence.

Why isn't my teacher my parents?

Wu Xia pinched her own hands in frustration.

Upon hearing Wu Xia's words, Chen Ming felt the urge to lash out at this stranger before him, this twenty-year-old who seemed so alien. But Lu Yan held him back, urging him not to intervene.

Wu Xia lowered her head to study the menu, biting her lip fiercely. A sheen of unshed tears shimmered in her eyes as she looked at her teacher. "Teacher, I didn't mean anything personal. Lately, I've heard too much criticism and advice, and I overreacted. I'm sorry."

"Apologize for what? It's just a small matter," Lu Yan patted Wu Xia's hand. "What do you want to eat? Take your time. It's natural for preferences to change."

Lu Yan's gentle tone nearly made Wu Xia's tears fall. She turned her head away to sniffle. Ning Xiaodou, sitting in front, tsked. At first, she was so cool, but now she's losing face with this apology.

If you're not satisfied, just argue back. Nobody can force you.

What do these rigid, self-proclaimed elders know anyway?

Ning Xiaodou pursed her lips, silently voicing her discontent with the elders in her heart.

"Big Mao, why did you suddenly lose interest in embroidery?" Chen Ming persisted, asking from the side.

At this question, both Lu Yan and Wu Xia froze in their actions.

Wu Xia's grip on the menu tightened, crumpling it in her hand. Memories of her struggle to thread a needle, only to shake so violently that she pierced the delicate silk, made sweat bead on her forehead. Frazzled, she hid her hands in her sleeves.

"Big Mao? What's wrong?" Chen Ming asked.

"I just don't like it. Embroidery is too simple; I only need to put in a little effort, and already no one of my peers can beat me. It's not challenging enough. I want to do something more difficult, more stimulating," Wu Xia replied, her gaze wandering, feeling restless and uneasy sitting there.

Ning Xiaodou couldn't help but praise, "Awesome!"

A kindred spirit!

This was how young people should be. Why bother with so many reasons for liking or disliking something? Simple things could be picked up easily, but doing them repeatedly would become tedious.

Noticing Chen Ming's warning glance from the neighboring table, he slumped his shoulders, turned around, and pulled down his baseball cap.

Lu Yan looked at Wu Xia in shock. She had never imagined that her disciple would have such thoughts. Opening her mouth to say something, all Lu Yan could manage in the end was a long sigh.

It felt as if half her life's work had been lost in an instant.

After warning Ning Xiaodou, Chen Ming's anger flared. "Wu Xia, you're not a novice! You know the level of difficulty in this field. Just because you've achieved some success, does that mean you can get arrogant?"

"I've won the gold medal in the youth and junior categories for five consecutive years. Grandmaster, it might be hard for others, but can't it be easy for me?"

"You!"

Both Wu Xia and Chen Ming stood up. Wu Xia picked up her bag. "Teacher, Master Teacher, I thought it was just a farewell dinner. If there's something else to discuss, I don't think it's appropriate. I'll be leaving now."

Oh no!

This is going to fall apart!

Tang Fei leaned back on the seat, secretly observing while feeling anxious. But how could she intervene? How could she convey the situation to the Chen couple?

Of all times, someone had to cause trouble!

Over there, Ning Xiaodou seemed to have given up on salvaging the situation. She didn't care about her image in Chen Ming's eyes anymore as she stood up and clapped. "Well done!"

She was deliberately stirring up trouble!

Ning Xiaodou, you silly bear.

Seeing Wu Xia walk out of the booth with her bag, Tang Fei couldn't afford to ponder how to reasonably contribute information. She rushed to Wu Xia and stopped her in her tracks.

Wu Xia furrowed her brow and stepped to the left. Tang Fei followed suit, blocking her path on either side.

"Make way!"

Ning Xiaodou jumped out as well, "Alright... G, ahem, good people don't block the way, Tang Fei."

Three individuals are now setting the stage for a performance.

With arms crossed, Chen Ming observed the spectacle unfolding before him. Lu Yan sighed and shook her head; the youth of today were simply beyond her comprehension.

Tang Fei locked horns with Wu Xia.

Tang Fei's mind started spinning rapidly. Merely blocking the way wouldn't solve anything – she needed to expose Wu Xia's issue!

Only if Teacher Lu and the others knew the truth would they avoid misinterpreting the situation.

An idea struck her!

Tang Fei straightened her back. Standing before Tang Fei's tall figure, Wu Xia's haughty demeanor appeared diminished.

"You claim no one of your generation can defeat you? How arrogant! I can beat you!"

?

?

Everyone in the room, including He Zhou, was flabbergasted. Tang Fei (Auntie), what kind of joke are you playing?

Ning Xiaodou laughed so hard her waist bent. "Tang Fei, your acting skills are impressive. Your confidence is so convincing that I almost believed you were a master embroiderer."

"Who are you?" Wu Xia examined Tang Fei from head to toe, not recognizing her at all. There was no such figure in the embroidery circle.

"Never mind who I am. Let's have a match. If you win, then you can boast about being invincible among your peers."

The mental block she had against holding a needle vanished at the thought of a competition.

Tang Fei gave herself a mental thumbs up. I'm so clever.

"I don't compete with unknowns."

"You're not daring to compete."

Tang Fei, like a schoolyard bully, blocked the path, declaring, "You're not leaving until we compete."

"I can call the police," Wu Xia trembled with anger. How could such a fierce obstacle suddenly appear? Was there no sense of reason left in this world?

Wu Xia turned to Ning Xiaodou with a pleading look, hoping this young ally would lend a hand. Ning Xiaodou responded with a helpless glance and took three steps back, for the tales of Tang Fei's iron fists were known to be anything but forgiving.

What a coward!

Wu Xia turned to glance at her teacher and master, both of whom wore expressions that conveyed, "We don't understand the world of young people; you figure it out."

"You can't possibly be unbeatable among your peers; you're not even brave enough to compete with an unknown like me."

As Tang Fei spoke, her confidence grew. The smug expression on her face, as she bullied the seemingly helpless Wu Xia, made He Zhou feel that his cousin owed a good scolding.

Hurry up and admit that you're no match, that you can't handle the needle anymore, when in reality, you're still deeply in love with embroidery.

Tang Fei directed an expectant gaze towards Wu Xia.

Wu Xia's eyes reddened from holding back, feeling that Tang Fei was pushing her too far. The pride within her, combined with the frustration she had been bottling up, burst forth as she declared loudly, "Let's compete then!"

?

Tang Fei was taken aback. Was she really supposed to compete? She felt a wave of insecurity wash over her.

"What... what are we competing in?"

Her tone betrayed a hint of uncertainty and doubt.

Wu Xia gave her a glance. "We'll compete in thread splitting and color matching, right here, today!"

No needles? Tang Fei's eyes widened in surprise. Her meager knowledge of embroidery had been hastily acquired earlier that day at the exhibition. She knew that thread splitting and color matching didn't require needles!

She was in trouble.

Had her cleverness backfired on her?

She glanced at her card slots. She had the Peeping Card and Learning Card at her disposal, but her Skill Improvement Card wasn't skilled enough for this. With just a beginner's level today, how could she possibly defeat an embroidery master?

What to do now!

System!

This has gotten out of hand!

Especially that mischievous Ning Xiaodou, who raised her phone at this moment, "Here we go! It's Tang Fei's live competition. I'm sure many people want to watch it."

Yes, it was a grand spectacle of embarrassment! Everyone would surely enjoy the show.

Tang Fei composed herself. Even if she had to learn from scratch, she would die standing tall.

Just then, the system interface displayed before her eyes the Double Rewards Chest for the Underwater World.