The Art of Teasing - Chapter 101
Chapter 101
From an operational standpoint, the old lady's two businesses were quite stable, with complete staffing and general managers in charge of each. Even for new market development, comprehensive plans had been submitted. Her role was merely to review the accounts. With computer software handling analysis and comparisons, and detailed reports submitted by each department, she could review a month's worth of accounts in a single evening.
What puzzled her somewhat was her positioning within these two enterprises. She held no specific title, yet the old lady had her managing the accounts. All incoming and outgoing funds required no signature or approval from her. Major capital expenditures or new projects needed the old lady's signature, while daily operations were handled by the general managers. Her position was an inserted oversight role with considerable authority—she could supervise everyone from the general managers down to each branch. The old lady even paid this supervisory role a high salary plus profit sharing.
She didn't know if other enterprises had such arrangements. Ye Ling was experienced and worldly, so she consulted her. The old lady's arrangement had given her a vague suspicion.
Family matters of the Lian household were not something Ye Ling could casually comment on. She said, "You could understand it from an organizational structure perspective. In a large enterprise, above the general manager there is the board of directors, supervisory board, and shareholders' meeting. Your maternal grandmother's two businesses are modest in scale and are sole proprietorships, so as the owner, she concurrently holds all roles—shareholder, director, supervisor. Your position is equivalent to that of a supervisor."
Wen Zhengyu cast a subtle glance at Ye Ling, just in time to see Ye Ling's eyes curve upward, clearly smiling. She knew then that Ye Ling's words were indeed just fobbing her off, and that Ye Ling had guessed what she was thinking. After all, it was family business, and she couldn't very well discuss it with Ye Ling. Yet not speaking of it left Wen Zhengyu somewhat troubled. The old lady was already over eighty years old, and the modest assets in her hands would sooner or later have to be entrusted to her children and grandchildren for management. Among the old lady's descendants, including herself as a granddaughter, only Lian Xi and she were in business. Wen Shiyi had even set his sights on her mother's dowry, which meant that dowry must have been extraordinarily substantial.
If the old lady had told her these assets were to be given to her, she could simply refuse outright. But the old lady said nothing, only assigning her tasks, having her manage things, and gradually delegating authority step by step, letting her take over inch by inch.
This very tactic—the person beside her was currently employing it against her, and it had taken effect without her even realizing it. Now this person was convalescing right in her room.
Wen Zhengyu's heart was somewhat unsettled. She didn't want that dowry, nor did she want that money. Those things would remind her of her mother's passing, and it was precisely because of her mother's death that such a dowry had been left behind. If she were to say this to the old lady, the old lady would be heartbroken, and perhaps might even feel she was treating her like an outsider. These assets also contained the old lady's painstaking efforts.
Her situation with Ye Ling was also a tangled mess. She admitted she had fond feelings for Ye Ling, but she genuinely had no intention of being with her right now. Before, she hadn't thought it through. Later, after going to the Daoist temple, she discovered that living in a temple was actually quite nice. Quiet, simple—though materially somewhat less comfortable than at home, it wasn't unbearable.
She couldn't bear to see Ye Ling sick without anyone to care for her, yet by treating Ye Ling this way, she was instead giving Ye Ling hope and expectations, as if she were stringing her along.
She felt this was indecisiveness, failing to sever what should be severed.
Wen Zhengyu couldn't bring herself to tell the patient that she should move out once she recovered. She closed her laptop and went to wash up.
Ye Ling watched Wen Zhengyu enter the bathroom, somewhat unable to understand what Wen Zhengyu was agonizing over, that she could be lost in thought for so long. Wen Zhengyu was Lian Huaijin's daughter, the legal heir. If the Lian family was willing to give the dowry to Wen Zhengyu, Wen Zhengyu need only accept it. Judging by Wen Zhengyu's reaction, it seemed she didn't want it?
Ye Ling really wanted to crack open Wen Zhengyu's head to see how that brain circuitry was wired. She knew full well how desperately short of money Wen Zhengyu was right now—just maintaining this mansion alone could bankrupt her.
But she understood that this was simply Wen Zhengyu's nature, and she let Wen Zhengyu mull it over by herself. From her perspective, as long as Wen Zhengyu wasn't keeping her at arm's length, nothing was truly a problem. At the very least, Wen Zhengyu still had the art studio and antique brokering to fall back on—she wouldn't end up unable even to afford a meal.
Ye Ling took her medicine and was overcome with drowsiness. Unable even to focus on the movie, she moved the small table off the Arhat bed and lay down again, falling asleep.
When Wen Zhengyu came out after her shower, Ye Ling was already fast asleep. Watching Ye Ling's sleeping face, an indescribable emotion spread through her. She didn't want to be with Ye Ling, wanted to live her own quiet life, yet she didn't dislike Ye Ling's proximity. Even Ye Ling staying in her rooms to recover was simply a matter of convenient care for her. Ye Ling was not disturbing her.
Worried the bright light might sting the eyes and disturb Ye Ling's rest, she turned off the bedroom light, leaving only the bedside lamp. After finishing the reports and replying to emails, she too went to bed.
In the morning, she and Ye Ling went out together to the studio as usual. After finishing studio matters, she went to the old lady's place. The old lady didn't assign her any tasks, nor paid her much attention, merely asking whether Ye Ling was still at her house before dismissing her again.
After two consecutive instances like this, Wen Zhengyu understood that the old lady truly wasn't happy about her being with Ye Ling.
This stung a little.
Truth be told, Ye Ling was wonderful, truly wonderful. She had rarely encountered someone she could get along with so well. If not for her thoughts of renouncing the world and becoming a Daoist nun, she would seriously consider being with Ye Ling.
After two consecutive days of IV drips, Ye Ling finally stopped running fevers and was much more energetic.
After dinner, she even pulled her along to stroll through the courtyard for a walk.
She had been so busy that since moving back, she hadn't properly wandered around. So she accompanied Ye Ling on a walk through the courtyard. When they reached the studio, Ye Ling said she wanted to see her paintings.
Wen Zhengyu said, "My paintings, aside from the one in my office, are all at your place." Only after she spoke did she remember that Ye Ling had already returned the paintings.
Ye Ling pointed to the Painting Hall by the lakeshore and said, "When I bought the mansion back then, I bought your paintings along with it. When returning the mansion, naturally they had to be returned together."
Wen Zhengyu quickened her steps. Arriving at the door of the Painting Hall, she found it locked, so she ran to get the key. When she got the key and opened the Painting Hall door, she saw her painting cabinets and her paintings were all there. When she had sold the mansion, her paintings and cabinets were arranged exactly as they had been, and they were still arranged just the same now. Even the Kunlun Myriad Demons Scroll, which Ye Ling had personally hyped through self-buying and self-selling to several million yuan, still hung in its original position within the Painting Hall.
Her gaze settled on the Kunlun Myriad Demons Scroll for a long while before she came back to herself. She turned to look at Ye Ling and said, "I don't quite understand why you returned all the paintings." She added, "I know it's not for the reason you just gave."
Ye Ling immediately smiled until her eyes curved, saying, "That's why I always say you understand me."
Wen Zhengyu asked, "Because you like me?"
Ye Ling gently shook her head and said, "These are your paintings. Your paintings are different from most people's. This here is the world where your soul resides." Her gaze fell on the Kunlun Myriad Demons Scroll. She said, "You won't achieve great success in business. At most, it'll sustain your livelihood. But if you devote your mind to painting, you will surely achieve something in the future."
Wen Zhengyu's thoughts drifted for a moment before she quickly pulled them back. Somewhat defiantly, she asked, "Why wouldn't I achieve great success?"
Ye Ling cast her a smiling glance and said no more. She knew Wen Zhengyu understood.
Wen Zhengyu felt a bit embarrassed, but couldn't refute it. She paused, then said to Ye Ling, "Thank you."
Ye Ling glanced at Wen Zhengyu with an ambiguous smile, then turned and walked out of the studio.
Wen Zhengyu understood Ye Ling's meaning: When will you stop saying thank you to me?
She lifted her head again to gaze at the Kunlun Myriad Demons Scroll. She suddenly felt that it wasn't that she understood Ye Ling, but that Ye Ling understood her.
The two of them left the Painting Hall and strolled to the Liang Pavilion by the lake.
Ye Ling once again chose the seat she had occupied before and sat down. She said, "Zhengyu, I want to discuss something with you."
Wen Zhengyu's attention stirred. She asked, "What is it?"
Ye Ling said, "I don't have a break room at the studio. Before, I always napped here and got used to it. Could you spare a room for me?"
Wen Zhengyu said bluntly, "Your wine-lover's heart is not in the cup, is it?"
Ye Ling saw that Wen Zhengyu had shed her usual polite distance, even dispensing with tact to be so straightforward—truly no longer treating her as an outsider—and smiled so broadly her teeth showed. She nodded in acknowledgment. "It is." Then she added, "I'm afraid that once I'm better, you'll drive me away."
Wen Zhengyu was instantly speechless. She had indeed harbored that intention. She was silent for a moment, then said, "Ye Ling..." She paused, about to speak, when she heard Ye Ling say, "I know you want to renounce the world."
She opened her mouth in shock, stunned for a moment before reacting.
Ye Ling said, "I can see that you can't let go of your grandfather and maternal grandparents, but seeing the days you spent living at the Daoist temple, I knew you genuinely harbored the intention to renounce the world."
Wen Zhengyu was suddenly at a loss for words.
Ye Ling gazed at Wen Zhengyu and said, "Zhengyu, whatever you wish to do, so long as it's something you like, I won't stop you. Of course, given our relationship, I have neither the standing nor the position to stop you. That said, if I wanted to stop you, there are plenty of ways to do so. But I like seeing you live freely, doing what you want to do, what you like to do."
These words sounded pleasant, but carrying them out was no easy matter. Yet Wen Zhengyu felt that Ye Ling wouldn't use pretty words to deceive her. She asked, "Then if I want to renounce the world, you'd also be willing?"
Ye Ling thought for a moment and said, "When you took me to see the sunset glow... at that moment, you possessed a tranquility and harmony that merged with the heavens and earth. That version of you, and the little sprites in your paintings, seemed like the same person."
Wen Zhengyu fell silent. Ye Ling understood her, and also comprehended her. She remained silent for a good while before saying, "Then you..." She couldn't quite grasp what Ye Ling was thinking. Ye Ling liked her, but her own desire to renounce the world conflicted with being together with Ye Ling.
Ye Ling said, "You live the life you want, and I'll live the life I want. The reason I work myself to the bone to earn money is so I can live a bit better, a bit happier. Moving the office from the studio to the Daoist temple wouldn't cost much extra—just a bit more in incense donations, that's all."
Wen Zhengyu: "..."
Ye Ling continued, "Though if I were you, before renouncing the world, I'd definitely first go explore Kunlun, then visit the Mogao Caves and Dunhuang to see the murals. Travel all across this splendid land, take in the beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers, and then renounce the world. Monastic life has many rules and precepts—it's always less convenient than not renouncing." She even offered Wen Zhengyu several pieces of advice about renouncing the world, such as finding a good master. If she ended up with a master who made things difficult for her at every turn and wouldn't let her paint, life would be miserable. She also suggested that Wen Zhengyu would do best to take Daoist Priest Yan as her master.
Of course, Ye Ling didn't tell Wen Zhengyu that she had already inquired and learned that Daoist Priest Yan was a lay Daoist of the Zhengyi School, who could marry, eat meat, and practice at home.
Wen Zhengyu was rendered utterly speechless by Ye Ling. After a long while, she finally asked, "You're just going to..."
Ye Ling feigned incomprehension and asked, "What?"
Wen Zhengyu gritted her teeth before saying, "Wherever I go, you go?"
Ye Ling raised her brows in a smile and said, "It pleases me to."
Wen Zhengyu was silent for a long moment. After a while, she spoke. "Those two wing rooms flanking the entrance to my small courtyard are not guest quarters."
Ye Ling watched Wen Zhengyu impassively, waiting for her to continue.
Without looking at Ye Ling, Wen Zhengyu merely said flatly, "Those two wing rooms, opposite facing..."
The smile on Ye Ling's face grew even more delighted. She said, "Those two wing rooms are perfect." Her tone shifted as she asked, "May I add a bed and wardrobe?"
Wen Zhengyu's heart was in extreme turmoil. She wanted to nod, yet didn't dare nod. She understood all too clearly what it would mean if she nodded.
Ye Ling knew all too well the nature of Wen Zhengyu's squeeze-tube personality. If she didn't nudge forward a little, Wen Zhengyu would retreat again. But if she applied too much pressure, Wen Zhengyu wouldn't indulge her. So she patiently waited for Wen Zhengyu's answer.
Wen Zhengyu hesitated for a long time, unable either to nod or refuse. She said, "Let me think it over."
Ye Ling asked, "Until you've decided, can I still sleep on your Arhat bed?" If that family doctor weren't a Wen family retainer, she would genuinely wish he wouldn't come tomorrow. With Dr. Shen punctually coming to give her IV drips, and Wen Zhengyu watching her take medicine every day, it was too difficult to slow down her cold recovery—she couldn't even fake illness.
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