The Art of Teasing - Chapter 6
Chapter 6
After eating her fill, Wen Zhengyu took her bowl to the kitchen and saw that Old Master Wen was still sitting in the living room, seemingly waiting for her to discuss something. She sat down beside Old Master Wen, craned her neck to glance at the time on the grandfather clock, and said, "It's past eleven. Is something on your mind?"
Old Master Wen asked with a puzzled expression, "I noticed the painting you're working on now looks like the one from before? Did Ye Ling come looking for you?"
Wen Zhengyu nodded and said, "She came this afternoon." She recounted everything—how Ye Ling had sent someone to deliver a visiting card yesterday, and her visit today. She then recalled Fan Feng's warning to her and felt a vague sense that something was off. She asked thoughtfully, "Grandfather, does Ye Ling... have some kind of issue?"
Old Master Wen lifted his eyelids imperceptibly and asked, "What issue could she possibly have?"
Wen Zhengyu, having spotted her grandfather's tiny tell of lifting his eyelids, knew immediately that there was indeed something going on. She said, "Look, your granddaughter is about to start shouldering the family responsibilities..." She paused mid-sentence when she saw the corner of her grandfather's mouth twitch. Her voice faltered for a moment, but she ignored her grandfather's silent skepticism and continued, "If there's something, tell me. Knowing more is never a bad thing, right?"
Old Master Wen lifted his eyes and looked at Wen Zhengyu before finally saying, "You don't do business. It's difficult to explain the affairs of the business world to you in just a few words. When you interact with Ye Ling, keep your wits about you. The less contact, the better."
Wen Zhengyu thought to herself, You still haven't told me what the issue is.
Old Master Wen said, "It's very late. Get some rest." He then rose and returned to his bedroom.
Wen Zhengyu watched her grandfather's retreating figure as he went upstairs and thought about Ye Ling's matter again. As her grandfather had said, she wasn't in business, so she wouldn't have much interaction with Ye Ling. Aside from the previous house sale, her only connection with Ye Ling was this painting-related contact. Ye Ling had commissioned her to paint, she accepted payment, both parties signed a contract in black and white—a fair transaction, no fraud or deception involved. But Fan Feng had warned her, and her grandfather had warned her. Something significant must have happened, something she didn't know about.
After thinking it over, she returned to her bedroom, picked up her phone, and sent Wen Li a text: "Sister Lili, are you still awake?"
In terms of seniority, Wen Li was her paternal cousin. Wen Li's grandfather and her own grandfather were full brothers. Wen Li's grandfather had died early, and her grandfather, as the eldest son, naturally felt he had to look after his younger brother's children more closely. When they were young, Wen Li's father was often busy with business, so he frequently left Wen Li in their care. Wen Zhengyu and Wen Li were only two or three years apart in age, so they got along quite well.
In less than two minutes, Wen Li replied with a text: "You're still not asleep? Busy painting again?"
Afraid of being scolded, Wen Zhengyu hastily replied: "About to go to sleep." Then she sent another message: "I'm asking you about someone."
Wen Li quickly texted back: "!!! You? Asking about someone?"
Followed by another: "Who do you want to ask about? Come on, tell your sister."
Wen Zhengyu ignored Wen Li's teasing and sent another message: "Ye Ling of Yushan Group."
After about a minute or two, Wen Li finally sent a message: "Why are you asking about her?"
Wen Zhengyu replied: "She bought my paintings for an art exhibition. This afternoon, she brought back a half-finished painting of mine and asked me to continue it. I think there's something a bit strange about this person."
Wen Li sent another text: "!!!"
Wen Zhengyu replied: "Don't just send exclamation marks. If you know something, spill it. I'm about to go to sleep."
Another text from Wen Li arrived: "!!!"
After a brief pause, Wen Li sent another: "Then you should go to sleep."
Wen Zhengyu dialed Wen Li's number.
The call connected quickly, and Wen Li's voice came through: "Still not asleep?"
Wen Zhengyu said, "Worrying about things affects my sleep quality."
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before Wen Li sighed softly and said, "Fine, I'll tell you then."
Wen Zhengyu responded, "Okay."
Wen Li said, "Third Uncle previously raised funds through private equity to boost the company's stock price. During his stock market operations, external capital intervened and affected the stock price. At the same time, a senior executive in Third Uncle's company—also a shareholder, a Vice Chairman surnamed Xiang—turned himself in and reported Third Uncle under his real name for illegal fundraising. This caused both Third Uncle's own funds and the money he had raised to become trapped in the stock market, where they quickly evaporated. After that, Third Uncle fled overseas, his assets were liquidated and auctioned, and Yushan Group took over his company, restructuring its assets and relisting it. That Vice Chairman Xiang, due to his voluntary surrender, meritorious reporting, and the fact that he was not the legal representative... he is now one of the major shareholders of the subsidiary under Yushan Group—that is, the company Third Uncle originally controlled—holding thirty percent of the shares. Ye Ling is the actual controlling party, holding fifty-four percent of the shares."
Wen Zhengyu was stunned for several seconds after hearing this before asking, "Private equity and illegal fundraising... how did those get linked together?" Even with no understanding of economics, she knew there was a fundamental difference between the two.
Wen Li said, "The inner workings are difficult to explain clearly in a few words. In short, Third Uncle was the actual person in charge. Certain details weren't managed properly, and the responsibility fell on him. That person surnamed Xiang and Ye Ling became the ultimate beneficiaries. That's how it is."
Wen Zhengyu held the phone, her face a mask of shock, speechless for a long moment.
Wen Li asked, "Are you still there?"
Wen Zhengyu came back to herself and said, "I'm here."
Wen Li said, "The business world is like a battlefield. Victory and defeat are just like that. Don't take it too much to heart."
Wen Zhengyu asked, "Are you trying to comfort me?"
Wen Li asked, "What else can you do?"
Wen Zhengyu: "..." She was momentarily stumped, then said, "Then I'm going to sleep."
Wen Li's reaction to Wen Zhengyu's response seemed to be within her expectations. Without any surprise, she said, "Good girl, get some sleep." Still worried about Wen Zhengyu's current situation, she added a reminder: "If that lunatic Ye Ling comes looking for you again, stay away from her. If you can't make ends meet, come to me. Your sister will support you."
Although Wen Zhengyu was determined to rely on herself to support herself and her grandfather, she couldn't bring herself to refuse Wen Li's kindness. She only said, "The day I can't even afford a meal, I'll definitely drag my suitcase over to you. Sleep now, good night."
Wen Li softened her voice and said, "Sleep, don't overthink things."
Wen Zhengyu responded softly with an "Mm," said good night to Wen Li, and hung up the phone. She sorted through her thoughts and quickly calmed her emotions.
Whether the methods Ye Ling used were honorable or dishonorable, it was all competition between Ye Ling and her father in the business arena. When two parties cannot achieve a win-win, there must inevitably be a victor and a loser. Her father was outmaneuvered and lost. No blame could be placed on others. Her father's business affairs were his own career. She and her grandfather had already paid the price for his business failure. Every person has their own career, their own life. What she and her grandfather could do for her father, they had done, they had given their all. Everything ended there. In this matter, all she had lost was financial support from her family. For her, this might cause temporary hardship, but a loss may turn out to be a gain.
Therefore, for her, knowing this matter served no purpose other than simply knowing it. From now on, her life would continue as it was meant to, regardless.
Wen Zhengyu sorted through her thoughts, calmed her mood a little, and then went to wash up and rest.
Gongbi painting was meticulous work; it couldn't be accomplished with a single flourish of inspired brushwork. Even a very small painting couldn't be completed in just three or five days. Her paintings often took over a month each. The painting that had taken her the longest, she had worked on for three years. Since the process was so time-consuming, paying attention to rest and maintaining good health was extremely important.
For the next few days, Wen Zhengyu immersed herself wholeheartedly in painting.
Now, painting was not only a spiritual anchor, an interest and hobby, but had also become her primary job, the means by which she supported her family.
Wen Zhengyu didn't think this was a bad thing. Being able to do what she loved and make it a job that could support her was, in fact, a very happy thing. However, perhaps because a bit of financial pressure had been added, the pressure transformed into motivation, allowing her to settle her mind even more deeply into her painting.
But even if her painting state was at its best, she still had to eat, sleep, and take appropriate breaks. With her grandfather keeping an eye on her, she didn't dare forget to eat or sleep.
After dinner, she accompanied Old Master Wen for a walk by the lake.
When she returned home, Sun Yuan told her that her phone had rung.
She went back to her room, picked up her charging phone, and saw it was a call from Fan Feng. She called Fan Feng back.
Fan Feng asked her about collaborating with Ye Ling.
Wen Zhengyu was completely baffled. Continuing to paint this half-finished painting—did that count as collaboration? Did it or didn't it?
Fan Feng said, "If you plan to consign your future paintings for sale, my place is also a good option."
Wen Zhengyu told Fan Feng that she hadn't yet considered future plans.
Fan Feng made a "Tsk?" sound and asked thoughtfully, "Haven't considered? You mean Ye Ling holding an art exhibition for you isn't a collaboration between you two?"
Wen Zhengyu was speechless and said, "Where is this coming from? She bought my paintings. Even if she wanted to take my paintings and burn them, all I could do is stare helplessly."
Fan Feng muttered, "Damn!" He paused, then said, "I'll send you something. Check your email."
Wen Zhengyu moved to her computer desk, opened her laptop, found the email Fan Feng had just sent in her inbox, and clicked it open to find a pile of web addresses. These URLs came from different websites, mostly forums where their peers communicated, and also some news links from major web portals. Clicking on these links revealed news articles about the emerging painter Kunlun Little Sprite's exhibition, where a painting had fetched a sky-high price.
Her "Kunlun Myriad Demons Scroll" had been auctioned for an astronomical price of over six million, purchased by a mysterious buyer.
Following that, an old painter of considerable renown in the Gongbi field had praised her work highly and even pointed out the Kunlun Little Sprite signature she hid in her paintings, saying that every one of her paintings contained such a hidden signature and inviting everyone to find them.
The news articles also included video attachments, featuring interviews with the exhibition organizers and an introduction of her. The person in charge of the organizing body was none other than Ye Ling.
The introduction of her was also delivered by Ye Ling.
Ye Ling's opening statement was: "I and Kunlun Little Sprite, Zhengyu, are the closest of friends, with no secrets between us, no topic undiscussed..."
Wen Zhengyu watched the impeccably dressed Ye Ling, her face full of seriousness, speaking as if it were only natural, and then recalled Ye Ling's behavior these past days and these very words. It took her a long while to recover, utterly astonished by Ye Ling. She ground her teeth and said, "I have never met someone so brazen and shameless." She had met one now!
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