The Art of Teasing - Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Wen Zhengyu continued organizing the items and said, "If Second Brother Ye hadn't come to my studio making endless trouble, I wouldn't have wanted to get involved either." Her tone shifted. "Why did you buy so many things?"

The storeroom was empty, yet the grandfather and granddaughter both seemed completely accustomed to it, which showed what kind of life they had been living. Wen Shishu felt her heart tighten with a dull ache of bitterness, though her face betrayed nothing. "Making a rare trip back, I'm just supplementing his supplies," she said. Then she sighed inwardly.

She figured that since Wen Zhengyu was grown up now, and the family situation was what it was, it would be good to let her know more about these matters. So she said, "Second Brother Ye came to find you, but those words weren't meant for you. Someone like you, a little painter making her way in the cultural circles, isn't worth Second Brother Ye making a trip like this in person."

Wen Zhengyu looked at Wen Shishu with confusion. "Then who was it aimed at? Surely not Ye Ling either?"

Wen Shishu said, "Lao Kang and Ye Zhan aren't close personally, and their cooperation on this matter isn't that tight. They just happened to find themselves on the same path. They thought that after Ye Ling brought down Lao San and then came to protect you, it was because she didn't dare offend me too deeply, and they wanted to maintain this cooperation."

"Your mother passed away so many years ago. Nowadays, many people don't even know that Old Madam Zhang had a daughter. Not many people know about your connection to the Lian family, and even fewer know the inside story. When I came back this time, so many people asked me how you became the Lian family's maternal granddaughter."

Wen Zhengyu asked, stunned: "Zheng Dongsheng didn't tell Ye Che?"

Wen Shishu said, "Zheng Dongsheng was clutching at straws. Ye Ling wanted to stand up for you and deal with Zheng Dongsheng, and Ye Che had a grudge against Ye Ling, so they hit it off immediately. If he had told Ye Che, even if Ye Che's brain was full of water, he wouldn't have gotten involved in his mess. Now that this has blown up, the Ye family will certainly have to find a way to clean it up. If they can't clean it up, a desperate fight to the death is genuinely possible."

It was precisely these half-informed types who were truly terrifying when they acted, wielding devil's axes and divine blades, pulling strokes of mad genius out of nowhere. The trouble the Ye family's second branch had gotten into this time, after being stirred up by Wen Zhengyu, had truly been hacked at its vital points. When a wall is falling, everyone gives it a push, but wanting to drag a few scapegoats down with you before dying—that wasn't impossible.

Wen Zhengyu understood Wen Shishu's meaning. Her second aunt, the Ye Ling siblings, and Lian Xin—they were involved because there were enormous interests at stake. She wasn't someone who made her living in this arena, and she had no interests to gain in the matter of the Ye family's second branch, so her aunt didn't want her getting entangled.

Beyond interests, there were also personal bonds.

The way her second aunt treated her, the way her master treated her, her helping Ye Ling in this matter—none of it was about interests.

Her strength was limited. In this matter, what she could involve herself in was just this much.

Wen Zhengyu and Wen Shishu finished organizing the storeroom together, then prepared to return to her maternal grandmother's home.

Wen Shishu told Wen Zhengyu to wait a while before leaving. She had notified the clothing store people to come and make a few sets of clothes for Wen Zhengyu. "The seasons are changing. The least you can do is get a few new outfits. Our family hasn't fallen into poverty to that extent."

Wen Zhengyu, fearing being disciplined by her second aunt, didn't dare refuse and obediently accepted with a smile.

Making clothes for all four seasons cost quite a lot. Whether formal wear or casual clothes, several sets had to be made. You couldn't wear something just two days ago and then pull it out again two days later—that wouldn't be appropriate. Clothes for different occasions also needed to be prepared. She was currently strapped for cash. For everyday clothes worn at home, she saved where she could, even pulling out old clothes from two years ago to wear.

Wen Zhengyu had her measurements taken, chose the fabrics and colors, and clearly stated her requirements to the clothing store people, and then it was dinnertime.

The old gentleman had returned. She accompanied the old gentleman and her second aunt through dinner before heading back to her maternal grandmother's home.

After dinner, Madam Wen Shishu accompanied Old Master Wen on a walk and brought up Ye Ling again. "Xiao Yu seems to care quite a lot about Ye Ling."

Old Master Wen didn't even lift his eyelids. "Speak plainly."

Madam Wen Shishu said, "She's your precious granddaughter. I had to at least ask what your view on this matter is."

Old Master Wen said, "Let her do as she pleases."

Madam Wen Shishu turned her head and looked at Old Master Wen in surprise. That didn't sound like something her father would say.

Old Master Wen's voice rose, low and unhurried: "Back then, if we had let Shili choose for herself... After going through what happened with you three siblings, I've come to see things differently. As long as she finds someone worthy, finds a partner, and still lives here with me, where I can keep an eye on her and make sure no one bullies her, that's enough."

Wen Shishu asked, "Do you think highly of Ye Ling, old sir?"

Old Master Wen said, "If you can lend your strength in her family's matter, then lend it. It really is outrageous, coming all the way to the studio to threaten her today. Second Brother Ye coming to the studio to make trouble for her—that wasn't aimed at Ye Ling, was it?"

Wen Shishu, supporting the old gentleman's arm, said, "Alright, I'll recover this slight for your granddaughter. However, the fact that Ye Ling is a homosexual has been publicly used to attack her before."

Wen Ru remained silent.

Wen Shishu said no more.

Wen Zhengyu had two carloads of bodyguards with her. Safety was no longer a worry, but accommodations had truly become a problem. At the very least, her small courtyard home couldn't house them all. She had to temporarily stay at her maternal grandparents' home, but she couldn't live there every day.

Having her move to a bigger house and commute daily with two carloads of bodyguards in and out—that was truly unrealistic. She didn't have that much money and couldn't afford to support so many people.

She sat on the sofa, drinking the health tonic soup the elderly lady had saved for her, and said thoughtfully, "Grandmother, you know my income situation. Even with the salary you give me, I can't afford the room, board, and expenses for this many people. I was thinking, if I add one more bodyguard, have Wen Jing follow me 24 hours, and find one more person with a cheaper salary to handle daily outings, that should be safe enough, and it would be an expense I could bear."

The old lady said, "Wait until this period passes before you mull this over. Can you at least afford their meal costs?"

Wen Zhengyu said with melancholy, "Food doesn't cost much, but if I have to travel for work, round-trip airfare and hotels for over a dozen people, plus miscellaneous expenses, I'd have to add several hundred thousand in costs per month."

The old lady said, "How about I subsidize you a bit?"

Wen Zhengyu shook her head rapidly. "That wouldn't be appropriate. If I don't have the ability to earn this kind of money, I shouldn't put on such a grand display. Two bodyguards are enough. The Ye family's second branch might try something against me. I've also considered whether I could apply for protection from the Public Security Bureau. One armed police officer providing close protection is more effective than ten bodyguards. Do you think this is a viable idea?"

The old lady told Wen Zhengyu to handle it herself as she saw fit.

Wen Zhengyu contacted Lian Xi to consult about applying for police protection.

Lian Xi said the matter required approval from the bureau leadership and that he could first help her apply and see.

The next morning, just as she had finished handling studio matters, Lian Xi arrived with a police officer to see her. Two matters. First, to retrieve the studio's surveillance footage and collect evidence. Second, to assign a police officer to protect her 24 hours a day until the danger was resolved.

When Wen Zhengyu saw the police officer assigned to protect her, she stared blankly. A very young female officer, wearing civilian clothes, with the crisp, efficient appearance of a city girl. If the two of them stood side by side, one wouldn't know who was protecting whom.

Lian Xi said, "The best fighter among our bureau's female officers, assigned to protect you. Our bureau's number one police beauty."

The female officer's surname was Yang, called Yang Yu. She had studied criminal investigation in school and became a criminal police officer after graduation. Although young, she already had four or five years of work experience, and she had been studying sanshou martial arts since childhood. Her assignment was 24-hour close protection of Wen Zhengyu.

Now that Wen Zhengyu had police protection, she contacted Ye Ling and withdrew the bodyguards Ye Ling had assigned to her. At noon, she went back to her maternal grandmother's home for lunch.

She had Wen Jing pick one person to keep from the bodyguards the old lady had provided, and withdrew all the rest of the bodyguards.

She now had two bodyguards and one police officer protecting her. Coupled with the fact that the Ye family's second branch was already under police scrutiny, as long as they had any sense, they wouldn't do anything out of line again. She thus focused on continuing her own work with peace of mind.

Ye Ling was probably very busy these past few days and hadn't come to the studio for two days straight.

There was an industry conference in Shanghai. Wen Zhengyu received an invitation letter. Many partner enterprises and numerous renowned painters would be attending, and for the sake of business, she had to go too.

The hotel was arranged by the organizers. Her room was a single. Wen Jing and Yang Yu had a double, right next door to hers.

Wen Jing carried Wen Zhengyu's luggage into the room. Yang Yu, carrying her own luggage, followed into Wen Zhengyu's room.

Wen Zhengyu glanced at Yang Yu's suitcase with surprise and said to Yang Yu, who was examining the surroundings, "Officer Yang, your room is next door."

Without turning her head, Yang Yu said, "My assignment is close protection of you. That means you cannot leave my line of sight."

Wen Zhengyu said, "At my grandmother's house, you didn't share a room with me."

Yang Yu said, "Your grandmother's house has tight security. In a hotel, without even using technical methods, someone could casually open your door anytime." She turned her head to Wen Zhengyu and said, "If you have objections, you can apply to cancel the protection, and I can go back and report my assignment complete. Otherwise, please cooperate with my work."

Wen Zhengyu asked, "Then where will you sleep? This is a single room. There's only one bed."

Yang Yu said, "A two-meter-wide bed can fit two people. Don't worry, if you grind your teeth or snore, I'll kick you off the bed. You don't need to worry about disturbing me."

Wen Zhengyu was speechless. She put down her luggage and went out to eat with her two bodyguards and one police officer. Wen Jing and Ma Jun sat at one table. She invited this police comrade assigned to protect her to sit at her table and asked, "Officer Yang, do you perhaps have some issue with me?"

Yang Yu said, "So many cases to investigate, and we're wasting police resources on this trifling matter of yours."

Wen Zhengyu felt that the Ye family's second branch probably wouldn't try anything against her again, and her two bodyguards were sufficient. She said, "Then I'll contact Brother Xi to cancel the protection."

Yang Yu looked at Wen Zhengyu with great surprise and asked, "You're not afraid?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "Actually, it's mainly to set the elderly folks' minds at ease. My maternal grandparents' health isn't very good. They've seemed slightly better these past two months. I don't want them worrying about me. At their age, they can't withstand the strain. After I finish the industry conference and go back, I'll go to the Public Security Bureau to cancel the protection and have Brother Xi help me cover it up. I'll just treat this period as a business trip and temporarily stay in a hotel. That should work." She added with slight apology, "I'm very sorry to have wasted your time on this."

After dinner, Wen Zhengyu returned to her room to rest.

Wen Zhengyu finished washing up and saw Yang Yu half-lying on one side of the bed, tapping away at a laptop. Not accustomed to sharing a bed with someone, Wen Zhengyu silently took a pillow and retrieved her small thin blanket from her suitcase, heading for the sofa.

Yang Yu's gaze followed Wen Zhengyu all the way until she had lain down on the sofa before asking, "You're not coming to bed?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "I'm afraid you'll kick me off the bed in your sleep."

Yang Yu said, "I was joking. Just teasing you."

Wen Zhengyu rolled over, lay on her stomach on the sofa, and looked at Yang Yu. "I'm not used to sleeping with others. How about this: I sleep in the bed, and Officer Yang sleeps on the sofa?"

Yang Yu waved her hand, indicating Wen Zhengyu should continue sleeping on the sofa. Her tone shifted as she asked, "You won't file a complaint against me, will you?"

Wen Zhengyu glanced at Yang Yu with a face full of incomprehension. She heard her phone's text message alert and saw it was a message from Ye Ling.

Since she had withdrawn the bodyguards, after Ye Ling learned she was on a business trip, she was worried about her safety.

She explained her security situation to Ye Ling. A thought stirred, and she covertly sent another text message: "A very pretty female police officer, over a year younger than me. She's lying on my bed right now."

Very quickly, Ye Ling sent a text back: "A female officer? Lying on your bed?"

"Mm. Single room. She said that staying in a hotel, I can't leave her line of sight, so she's sharing a room with me. There's only one bed, so..."

Ye Ling suggested: "You could find a hotel yourself and switch to a suite."

Wen Zhengyu: "It's very late. If I change rooms, Wen Jing and Ma Jun would have to change too. Too much hassle. If the organizers find out, they might think I feel they haven't been hospitable enough."

Get instant access to all chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next