The Art of Teasing - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Wen Zhengyu disliked social obligations and networking, and even more so, being forced to engage with people she didn't like.

Ye Ling's behavior was a bit strange. Even now that they had become business partners, she still didn't want to have too much contact with Ye Ling.

When she dined with Ye Ling, Old Master Mu, and the others, she maintained only basic polite courtesy and went home immediately after the meal.

From Ye Ling buying the Old Family Mansion from her family, insisting on buying her paintings, to holding the art exhibition, then inviting Old Master Mu to approach her about opening an art studio together, to investing in shares—everything could actually be connected into a single thread. If she added in what happened with her father, it was very likely that she or her family had something Ye Ling wanted, and Ye Ling was using her as an entry point, slowly plotting her schemes.

The only thing she could truly offer was her painting. But as a young painter barely in her twenties, limited by age, life experience, and qualifications, she still had a very long road ahead. To put it in perspective, in terms of fine art professional ranking, one needed not only skill, strength, and achievements but also the accumulation of seniority to advance grade by grade. Her seniority was still far below the standard for a Second-Level Fine Artist. Supporting someone like her could, at best, only earn the label of "young and promising." There would be no significant returns within the next decade. If she could persist for twenty years, she might achieve something and perhaps squeeze into the ranks of First-Class painters. Based on Ye Ling's financial strength and standards, finding an already well-known painter to cooperate with would be far more practical.

As for her family, their family fortune had long been hollowed out. If her family really possessed something Ye Ling wanted, Ye Ling could have sent someone to buy it long ago, back when they were desperately raising money to pay off her father's debts.

She couldn't figure it out. She wanted to ask her grandfather for his opinion, but the old man told her to figure it out herself.

That night, after washing up and laying in bed before sleep, she held her phone, chatting with Wen Li on the messaging app. Once again, she brought up the topic of Ye Ling's possible schemes.

After hearing her out, Wen Li pondered for a long time before replying: "The way I see it, the most valuable thing your family has right now... is probably you."

Wen Zhengyu raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself: So I'm still just the signboard for opening the studio? Even though her family had no money left, after so many years, they still had some personal connections and relationships. At the very least, the fact that she could invite so many painters to contribute works proved that point. She typed back: "So, I'm not exactly worthless mud that can't be plastered onto a wall, right?"

Wen Li replied: "You're okay. Aside from being a bit slow, there's nothing really wrong."

Wen Zhengyu didn't know what to say to that.

A moment later, Wen Li sent another message: "Save the position of CFO for the studio for me."

Wen Zhengyu was startled, caught completely off guard. Given Wen Li's market value, the studio's small amount of shares simply could not afford to hire her as the Chief Financial Officer. That was why she hadn't even dared to ask Wen Li to take on a formal role, only hoping she would use her status as a shareholder to check the financials for her. That alone would have made her content. It immediately dawned on her: it was probably Ye Ling's entry into the venture that made Wen Li uneasy, prompting her to proactively offer to take the CFO position. Deeply moved, she replied: "Sister Lili, thank you."

Wen Li responded: "No need to thank me. You still have to pay my salary."

Not two days later, Ye Ling brought over the documents related to the share transfer procedures for Wen Zhengyu to sign.

Although Wen Zhengyu only held 27.5% of the shares, she was the enterprise legal representative, so many formalities still required her signature.

The art studio had just been established. This was the perfect window of opportunity for Ye Ling to plant her own people. She had originally assumed that after completing the share transfer formalities, Ye Ling would use her status as the major shareholder to meddle in the studio's affairs. However, after that, Ye Ling didn't show her face again. Almost everything regarding the studio's operations was handled entirely by her and Wen Li. Ye Ling said not a single word about appointing personnel. She didn't even arrange a position for herself, merely letting Wen Zhengyu give her a nominal, idle post.

Wen Zhengyu found this both surprising and baffling. But she couldn't untangle the logic on the spot. Moreover, there were too many anomalies in Ye Ling's behavior, and she herself was swamped with various tasks for opening the studio, leaving her neither the time nor the mood to worry about Ye Ling.

Time flew by in a blur of activity. In the blink of an eye, over a month passed.

The studio renovations were now complete. Office furniture, equipment, and other items had been moved in. Positions for receptionists, front desk staff, accountants, and other related roles were gradually filled. For some key positions, as she hadn't yet found suitable candidates, she temporarily took on the roles herself. Wen Li, along with her grandfather, her master, and her senior apprentice brothers and sisters, all served as advisors, offering opinions and guidance.

She rested fewer than five hours each day, but she learned a great deal about things she had never encountered or understood deeply before.

With the opening imminent, the paintings she had commissioned and purchased to lay the foundation for the studio's opening needed to be transported to the studio.

These paintings were of considerable value. Her family now only had Zhan Cheng left as a bodyguard, and he spent most of his time acting as a chauffeur for her grandfather, rarely home. Only Sun Yuan remained in the house. The residence was small, with few rooms, and lacked a secure, high-safety storeroom for valuables. She didn't dare leave the paintings at home, so she had stored them in a safety deposit box at the bank. Waiting until the studio renovations were complete, the security systems installed, and security personnel and facilities all set up, she then hired people from a security company to accompany her to the bank to retrieve the paintings and transport them to the studio's secure strongroom.

After counting, receiving, and registering the paintings into inventory, she locked the strongroom door. As she walked out of the now spotlessly clean studio, where even the potted plants were already in place, she saw Ye Ling standing motionless in front of the studio, head tilted up, looking at the signboard. It seemed as if she had fallen into a trance, a faint, neurotic smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Wen Zhengyu grew curious. Was there some issue with the signboard that was making Ye Ling laugh?

She walked over to Ye Ling's side and, following her line of sight, looked up at the signboard. The four characters meticulously painted in an antique, bold, and swirling style—"Kunlun Art Studio"—carried both profound charm and remarkable force. Set against the lakeside scenery, there was nothing inappropriate about it. She asked: "Miss Ye, is there a problem with the studio's signboard?"

Ye Ling turned her head to look at Wen Zhengyu and said: "There's no problem. I like it very much."

Hearing Ye Ling say "I like it very much" deeply displeased Wen Zhengyu, causing a slight blockage in her heart. Politely, she replied: "I'm glad Miss Ye likes it."

Ye Ling said: "The opening is soon. I came to take a look around."

When the largest shareholder came to have a look, Wen Zhengyu didn't dare not entertain her. She led Ye Ling into the studio and introduced her to its layout.

As she gave the tour, Ye Ling's gaze kept drifting to her. Her eyes held a meaning Wen Zhengyu couldn't quite decipher—as if evaluating her work efficacy, or perhaps implying "it seems to suit your style," and perhaps concealing some other emotions.

The first floor comprised the front desk, the exhibition hall, and a small reception area.

The second floor housed the offices, meeting rooms, conference hall, and other workspaces. The third floor contained more offices and the storage vaults.

She led Ye Ling through the first floor, then the second. After a tour of the third floor, they went to the strongroom to view the newly arrived paintings, and finally, she invited Ye Ling into her office.

The office was freshly renovated. The furniture, newly delivered only two days prior, still emitted a strong odor. Consequently, many formaldehyde-absorbing plants, sent over just yesterday, were arrayed throughout.

Upon entering, she opened all the windows to air the room out. She intended to make tea to serve her guest but recalled she hadn't officially moved into the office yet. There was no tea, and not even drinking water. She could only helplessly apologize and inform Ye Ling that the tea and water wouldn't be delivered until tomorrow.

Ye Ling indicated she didn't mind. Sitting down on the sofa, she said: "The reason I came this time is that I have a matter I'd like to discuss with you."

Wen Zhengyu didn't know why, but every time she heard Ye Ling say she wanted to discuss something, she instinctively felt it was trouble. Yet upon careful consideration, she couldn't pinpoint a single instance where Ye Ling had actually done anything detrimental to her. She sat down across from Ye Ling and said: "Miss Ye, please go ahead."

Ye Ling said: "Earlier, I noticed that the first-floor exhibition hall seems to have some empty spaces still?"

Wen Zhengyu nodded. "Yes, there are."

Ye Ling said: "I have some paintings in my private collection..." She paused here and stressed in an emphasized tone: "Not for sale." She continued: "I could select a dozen or so. I'd like to hang them in the studio as non-sale exhibits."

When dealing with Ye Ling, Wen Zhengyu inevitably kept a few extra layers of wariness on alert. She asked: "May I ask what kind of paintings and by whom? I assume, given Miss Ye's status, the paintings in your collection must be excellent, but remembering that Ye Ling was capable of bundling up her childhood doodles, she also felt Ye Ling's taste was rather peculiar. So, what kind of paintings she'd bring out was highly debatable. Out of caution, it was better to ask clearly.

Ye Ling hesitated slightly for two seconds before saying: "Your paintings."

Wen Zhengyu hadn't expected Ye Ling to offer her own paintings for display. Hearing this, she couldn't help but freeze for a moment. An indescribable emotion surged within her chest, but she forcefully suppressed it.

Ye Ling said: "I thought, since this is a studio you're fronting, and you're a young emerging painter with a certain reputation in the field, it would be a regrettable shortcoming if the opening exhibition didn't feature any of your own works."

Wen Zhengyu remained silent. A faint ache lingered in her heart. Her paintings were not in her own hands, and now, for the opening, she would have to rely on Ye Ling to provide them. She understood that Ye Ling was acting out of goodwill—this would benefit both her personally and the studio's operations. Otherwise, as a minor painter with some industry recognition, opening her own studio and hanging dozens of works by others, yet not a single painting of her own, would not only make her lose face but also invite excessive speculation. There was another issue: those paintings of hers, the world she had painted, that other world belonging to her alone—much of it she had no desire to reveal to the public eye. It was the world of her deepest heart, the emotions of her deepest core.

She lifted her head and saw Ye Ling watching her silently. The look in Ye Ling's eyes and her whole aura held an uncharacteristic quietude. When their eyes met, Ye Ling offered a gentle, polite smile, breaking the silence: "Is there some problem with my proposal?"

Wen Zhengyu asked: "Could I specify which paintings go on display?"

Ye Ling nodded. "You can."

Wen Zhengyu said: "Thank you."

Ye Ling replied: "You're welcome." She continued: "The opening is in just two days, so timing might be a bit tight. Shall we go to my house now to look at the paintings? I can have them delivered tomorrow."

Wen Zhengyu agreed, "Alright," and walked downstairs with Ye Ling.

As they exited the studio, Ye Ling asked: "Ride in my car?"

Wen Zhengyu said: "No, I'll have my driver follow your car." With that, she walked straight toward the Audi A6 she was renting on a long-term basis, complete with chauffeur.

Get instant access to all chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next