"Do you have any paintings?" Zhuang Ruyu asked.
Manman didn't have time to answer before Mrs. Zhao interjected, "Her painting recently won second place at the National Annual Exhibition."
Zhuang Ruyu, upon hearing this, responded, "I'll go back and ask someone about it; I should be able to see it."
"The exhibition's promotional album has it," Mrs. Zhao said somewhat regretfully, lamenting that she hadn't brought Manman's award-winning album tonight to share and create some buzz for her.
Manman had only reluctantly participated in the competition, as she wasn't accustomed to being under the spotlight. Of course, she understood Mrs. Zhao's good intentions.
Unexpectedly, Zhuang Ruyu then remarked, "Lately, as you all know, I've been invited to give lectures at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Tsinghua University."
