The Art of Teasing - Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Wen Zhengyu neither agreed nor refused. She simply led Ye Ling to continue touring the residence.
Her family home was a classic Jiangnan architectal garden style. The grounds were not vast, but their strength lay in ingenious layout, encompassing pavilions, terraces, and towers; rockeries and covered corridors; waterside gazebos and a small lake.
Ye Ling said she wanted to see the lakeside.
The sky continued to drizzle, a soft pitter-patter. Droplets falling from the eaves strung together like beaded curtains.
Ye Ling was the buyer, the client, the one calling the shots. She had the final say, and Wen Zhengyu offered no objection.
Wen Zhengyu noticed Ye Ling's attendant was carrying an umbrella, so she didn't worry about Ye Ling. She casually picked up the umbrella always kept ready at the Painting Hall entrance and led the way.
The rainy scenery of Jiangnan is naturally enchanting. Mist draped like light gauze; lake water rippling gently, meeting the cool, slowly penetrating spring breeze. Thread after thread of fine rain brushed softly against their cheeks.
Slightly cold.
Wen Zhengyu liked rainy scenes. She often savored tea while appreciating the rain, occasionally even playing a few zither pieces when the mood struck. However, this did not mean she enjoyed strolling in the rain. Rainy days made the ground slippery. The one thing her family's residence had in abundance was moss visible everywhere. Her grandfather, for the sake of artistic ambiance, had allowed it to flourish unchecked. Whenever it rained and became damp, the paths in her family's garden became so slippery that only the narrowest strip in the very center remained safe to walk on.
Wen Zhengyu didn't know if Ye Ling was doing it intentionally or not. Ye Ling insisted on walking shoulder-to-shoulder with her around the lake in this rainy weather. When Wen Zhengyu pulled ahead slightly to create distance, Ye Ling caught up. When she fell half a step behind, Ye Ling would slow her pace, waiting for her to step forward and match her stride, seemingly unconcerned that the attendant behind them couldn't keep the umbrella fully over her. As the host, Wen Zhengyu, out of courtesy, could only shift her own umbrella to the right, sharing half of it to cover Ye Ling.
Her gaze inadvertently swept over the high heels on Ye Ling's feet and the rain-slicked, exceptionally slippery path. She was very reluctant to remind Ye Ling to mind the slippery ground.
Ground slippery on rainy days—even a three-year-old knows that. No need for me to remind her, right? Wen Zhengyu thought to herself, then treated it as if Ye Ling already knew the ground was slippery. Still, it wouldn't look good if someone took a fall at her home, so she secretly stayed vigilant.
She wasn't sure if she was being overly sensitive or imagining things, but Ye Ling's line of sight seemed to fall constantly upon her and her wrist. Yet when Wen Zhengyu looked toward Ye Ling, Ye Ling's gaze was directed elsewhere. Probably just her imagination. There was no flower painted on her face; Ye Ling wouldn't have any reason to stare at her. On her hands, she wore only a pair of bracelets left to her by her grandmother. Items left by her grandmother—these jadeite bangles were all that remained.
Beside her, Ye Ling suddenly slipped. Her body pitched sideways, about to tumble toward the lake. Wen Zhengyu, with sharp eyes and quick hands, immediately grabbed Ye Ling and pulled her back.
Ye Ling's reaction was not slow either. One hand gripped Wen Zhengyu's wrist in return, and the attendant behind them also steadied her in time, preventing her from falling into the lake.
Wen Zhengyu said, "Rainy days make the ground slippery. Be careful." She looked down at Ye Ling's feet and asked, "Are you alright?"
Ye Ling gave a soft hiss and said, "Seems like I twisted my ankle." She spoke, then raised her head to glance at Wen Zhengyu again. "Seems like I can't walk."
Wen Zhengyu took the hint and quickly stepped aside, making way for Ye Ling's attendant.
Ye Ling raised her hand slightly, gesturing for the attendant who had stepped forward to carry her to stop. "Just help me to the pavilion to rest a moment," she said. She looked toward Wen Zhengyu and asked softly, "Could you help me?"
Since Ye Ling had spoken, Wen Zhengyu couldn't easily refuse. She stepped forward to support Ye Ling toward the pavilion, saying, "The ground is slippery. Step on the center where there's no moss."
Ye Ling said quietly, "You didn't mention that earlier."
Wen Zhengyu instantly felt a guilty conscience. Her ears immediately burned with heat. She kept a straight face, pretending not to have heard, and helped Ye Ling into the pavilion to sit down.
Once seated, Ye Ling rubbed her ankle and said, "Did you have to go that far? Business is business; haggling is only natural. The moment we turn around, you're putting me in a tight spot. Couldn't even warn me about the slippery ground."
Wen Zhengyu was momentarily speechless. Her mouth opened slightly in astonishment. She paused for two seconds before saying, "Rainy days make the ground slippery. I thought you knew. Forgive my lack of attentive hospitality." She looked again at Ye Ling's ankle. "Need to go to the hospital?"
Ye Ling shook her head. "It'll be fine after resting a while."
Wen Zhengyu said nothing, quietly keeping her company.
After two minutes, Ye Ling spoke again. "I really like your paintings."
Wen Zhengyu's elegant brows lifted slightly. You like them, yet you're treating my paintings as a freebie throw-in?
Ye Ling continued, "I also like this residence very much. The price you've set isn't high. I'll buy this residence at the price you gave. For your paintings, you could sell them to me at half-price, a partial sale and partial gift, for two million. How about it? Consider it making a friend."
Wen Zhengyu said slowly, "This residence belongs to my grandfather. How it's sold depends on his wishes."
Ye Ling fell silent again, continuing to rub her ankle.
Wen Zhengyu sat in the pavilion, gazing at the misty fine rain falling upon the lake's surface. A slight sense of loss stirred within her. Her paintings—twenty years of painstaking effort. Each scroll carried not only her life's blood but also her spiritual world, another world that belonged entirely to her. Selling her paintings, to her, was like taking a small knife and slowly peeling away her heart, bit by bit. It pained her. She couldn't bear to part with them.
Inside the pavilion, a sudden silence fell.
Wen Zhengyu pondered for a long time before finally speaking. "To be honest, twenty years of work poured into them—I never once thought of selling my paintings."
Ye Ling looked full of regret and said, "An Exemplary Person does not seize what others cherish. Since that's the case, I can hardly insist."
Wen Zhengyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet vaguely felt something was slightly odd. But what exactly was odd, she couldn't quite put her finger on.
Ye Ling stood up, testing her foot by taking a few steps on the ground.
Seeing that Ye Ling's foot could walk again and that they had covered most of the residence worth seeing, Wen Zhengyu led Ye Ling back.
Ye Ling told her she wanted to see her grandfather again to discuss the residence matter.
Wen Zhengyu led Ye Ling to the Guest Hall.
Before long, Ye Ling was discussing the residence's price with her grandfather.
With a change of location, Ye Ling's stance on the price shifted from "I also like this residence very much; the price you've set isn't high" to "Regarding the price, I'd like to discuss it further with Old Master Wen." The price she then offered was directly pushed down to the psychological minimum her grandfather had privately told her about. She even maintained an expression of sincere intention to buy, yet stubbornly bit down on the price without loosening her grip.
Her grandfather naturally refused to let it go at this ultra-low price. The two parried back and forth, cup after cup of tea refilled, the negotiation falling into a deadlock.
Wen Zhengyu finally understood where the earlier strange feeling had come from. Ye Ling still wanted the paintings. Unable to reach an agreement with her, Ye Ling was now using the price to pressure her grandfather. What surprised her most was how drastically different Ye Ling's offered price was depending on whether her paintings were included. She suddenly found herself caught in a dilemma, extremely hesitant.
The old man had always been able to keep his composure. Seeing the negotiation reach a deadlock, he actually picked up his teacup, preparing to send the guest on her way.
Wen Zhengyu expected Ye Ling to tactfully rise and take her leave. Unexpectedly, Ye Ling simply lowered her head to drink tea, not even lifting her gaze.
Wen Zhengyu watched Ye Ling intently.
Ye Ling finally looked up. Her expression was simultaneously conflicted and troubled, yet also brimming with sincerity as she said, "Elder Wen, I'm truly, wholeheartedly fond of this residence. I genuinely and sincerely wish to buy it."
Wen Zhengyu saw it clearly now. Before her goal was achieved, Ye Ling had not the slightest intention of leaving. She was sticking like glue. Wen Zhengyu couldn't quite understand Ye Ling. She wasn't a famous master; her paintings couldn't be considered monumental works. Yet the price difference for this residence, with or without her paintings added, was so vast. Was Ye Ling truly that fixated on her paintings? Yet, reality was what it was.
Actually, considering the price Ye Ling had previously offered her, under her family's current circumstances, that price truly was generous.
Wen Zhengyu deliberated for a long time, then slowly asked, "And if my paintings are included?" As soon as she spoke, she suddenly saw Ye Ling's eyes brighten briefly. There seemed to be a flash of triumphant delight, yet she couldn't discern the slightest abnormality from Ye Ling's expression.
Ye Ling turned her head toward her and said, very calmly, "Then it will be at the previously discussed price."
Ye Ling had gotten what she wished for and finally rose to take her leave.
Wen Zhengyu, out of courtesy, saw Ye Ling to the entrance.
Ye Ling stepped outside, then turned and said to her, "Please, don't bother seeing me further."
Wen Zhengyu nodded. "Take care."
Ye Ling's gaze swept down toward Wen Zhengyu's wrist. "Miss Wen, if you are inclined to sell that pair of bracelets on your hands, I hope you will contact me. I like them very much." As she spoke, she gave a slight, formal bow, then turned and walked toward the vehicle parked outside the courtyard gate.
Wen Zhengyu stood at the doorway, watching Ye Ling's departing figure. A knot formed in her chest from Ye Ling's words, and she couldn't swallow it down for a long while. The words she least wanted to hear right now were Ye Ling saying, "I like them very much."
All property registered under her father's name had been sealed and auctioned. The properties and cars under her name, her grandfather's residence and car, along with the collected antiques and artworks—all sold. Finally, her father's debts were fully repaid, settling the matter.
The residence transaction had been completed and the title transferred, the funds paid in full. Wen Zhengyu and her grandfather had to move out by the deadline stipulated in the contract.
Wen Zhengyu was in the bedroom packing her belongings when she suddenly heard the sound of high heels on the floor, a steady stride entering all the way until it stopped at her bedroom door. She turned her head and saw a poised, charming, middle-aged beauty standing with her arms crossed, looking at her with exasperation. "Already packing? Do you and your grandfather even have somewhere to go?"
Wen Zhengyu knew her Second Aunt was angry and heartbroken. She didn't dare make a sound. Her Eldest Aunt and Second Aunt had wanted to pool money to keep this residence, but grandfather hadn't agreed. They had tried to make Wen Zhengyu act as a mediator, but instead, she had stood with her grandfather, and the two of them together had sold the residence.
Wen Shishu came to her side and poked Wen Zhengyu's forehead with her finger. "I'd like to see how the two of you, grandfather and granddaughter, survive if you end up on the streets." Her gaze swept over Wen Zhengyu's bare wrists. Her expression changed slightly. "Where are the bracelets on your hands?"
Hearing the edge in her Second Aunt's tone, Wen Zhengyu quickly said, "I was afraid they'd get damaged while packing, so I put them away. They're in the jewelry box."
Wen Shishu said, "If you sold your grandmother's pair of bracelets too, I'll just—I'll throttle you."
Wen Zhengyu stood up and hugged Wen Shishu, coaxing, "Alright, Second Aunt, my own dear Second Aunt, don't be angry." She leaned her face in. "Or, would you like to throttle me?"
Wen Shishu cast her a sidelong, exasperated glance, then lightly tapped that snow-white, delicate forehead again. She turned, looking for a place to sit, only to find not a single stool or chair left in the room. Even the set of furniture that had been placed in the bedroom—the Babu Canopy Bed, the Arhat Chairs, all from her mother's dowry—was gone. A sudden pang of bitterness hit her. She pressed her hand to her chest, feigning heartache. "I knew I shouldn't have come to see you two."
Wen Zhengyu didn't dare provoke her troubled Second Aunt and continued packing her luggage in a subdued manner.
Wen Shishu said, "That apartment you had someone look for—I went to see it. Your grandfather likes quiet. That area is far too noisy, he wouldn't be comfortable. It's not suitable; I've already canceled it for you. I have a place by the lake; I've already sent someone to clean it. You can move in within a couple of days. This car of mine, you drive it first. Your grandfather is getting on in years; it's inconvenient not to have a car." As she finished, she pressed the house key, car key, and a bank card into Wen Zhengyu's hand.
Wen Zhengyu accepted the house key and car key. She brandished the bank card and pushed it back into Wen Shishu's hand. "If you're going to give me this, you might as well just throttle me."
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