The Art of Teasing - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

She couldn't very well forcibly push Ye Ling away again, so she could only silently endure it, letting Ye Ling lean against her the entire way, until the car arrived at the hotel before she finally woke Ye Ling.

By the time they returned to the hotel, it was already past midnight.

After washing up, Wen Zhengyu lay on the bed, opened her laptop, and dealt with the documents various departments of the studio had sent via email. She then remembered she hadn't yet told her Second Aunt about her business trip to the capital.

If her Second Aunt found out she'd come to the capital without contacting her, she'd probably be skinned alive by her Second Aunt.

Worried she'd be busy with matters the next day and forget again, and worried that sending a text message or something might disturb her Second Aunt's rest, Wen Zhengyu hurriedly wrote an email to report to her Second Aunt. Because Ye Ling and her father had once been business rivals and had defeated her father, taking over his company, which led to her family's current financial crisis, Ye Ling had accompanied her this time. If she didn't give her Second Aunt a heads-up first and her Second Aunt found out, she'd inevitably be subjected to a lecture.

By the time she finished dealing with the emails, it was already past three in the morning. Only then did she close her computer and rest.

She went to bed late, and when she fell asleep she was so tired and groggy that she forgot to set an alarm. The next morning, she was woken up by a phone call from her Second Aunt. Fortunately, her Second Aunt's call came relatively early, waking her at seven-thirty.

The downside was that it was too early—her Second Aunt hadn't yet started work and naturally wouldn't have checked emails or anything. As soon as the call connected, she was scolded by her Second Aunt. She was so thoroughly berated that she didn't even dare mention the matter of her having sent an email to inform her Second Aunt. When her Second Aunt asked about Ye Ling, she was completely compliant, answering whatever her Second Aunt asked. Of course, such wild speculation as her suspicion that Ye Ling might have feelings for her was something she absolutely could not voice.

After her Second Aunt finished asking about Ye Ling, she told her to invite Ye Ling out for lunch.

How could Wen Zhengyu know whether Ye Ling was willing to socialize with her family? She didn't dare agree, only saying that she would be there at noon, but whether she could get Ye Ling to come would depend on asking.

When she went to the restaurant for breakfast, she ran into Ye Ling. She said to Ye Ling: "My Second Aunt wants to invite us out for lunch."

Ye Ling said: "I've already arranged to have lunch with my brother."

Wen Zhengyu had been prepared for Ye Ling's refusal, but she hadn't expected that Ye Ling actually had a brother. However, this was a private matter in Ye Ling's family, and though curious, she felt too embarrassed to pry. The two finished breakfast and continued on to purchase paintings.

The painter they met with this time employed a contour-drawing style and specialized in painting fish. He was in his fifties, and his manner of dress was as if he and Ye Ling had been trained by the same master—immaculately dressed. If not for his hair being kept slightly long and tied into a small bun at the back of his head, Wen Zhengyu wouldn't have been able to discern any trace of artistic temperament in him.

This one's style was all about talking money.

Probably due to the promotional effect of the Kunlun Myriad Demons Scroll and the grand spectacle of Kunlun Art Studio, making it seem as if the words "Plenty of Money, Simple-minded, Come Quickly" were plastered on her forehead, this one opened his mouth with a quoted price fifty percent above the usual market rate.

Wen Zhengyu had only recently entered business and didn't understand many operational details. She could only rely on hard work, doing thorough preparatory work. Before coming, she had made detailed inquiries into the situation of each painter she was to meet, carefully reviewing whatever information and materials she could find regarding the paintings they had sold over the years, their price ranges, and their buyers.

Regarding such blatantly exorbitant demands, she didn't say it was unacceptable. Set a high asking price, then negotiate down—isn't that how it goes? She indicated she wanted to view the paintings first. Only after viewing them would she appraise a valuation in her mind based on the painter's standing and the level of skill demonstrated in the piece, then make an offer thirty percent lower.

The painter immediately shook his head, sighed, and picked up his teacup, ready to see his guests out.

Wen Zhengyu thought it over and said: "I give you an honest price, you give me an honest price. If the price is suitable, we can establish a long-term collaboration. What do you think?" She made a gesture, offering a ten percent discount.

The painter lowered his price from one hundred fifty percent to one hundred twenty percent.

Wen Zhengyu found this somewhat difficult to accept. Haggling down from this price would take considerable effort. She pondered and decided to pursue another approach. She quoted a pre-payment price, essentially a security deposit. The painting would go to auction, and the profit generated after the sale would be split fifty-fifty, or she would take a certain percentage as a handling fee. She presented all three options for the other party to choose from.

In the end, after negotiations, the painting would go to auction with a starting bid twenty percent above the standard market price. If the painting sold, any profit exceeding this price would be split fifty-fifty. If the painting failed to sell at auction, it would go to Kunlun Art Studio at a twenty percent discount. If a painting failed to sell at auction, it would affect its value, and selling it afterward would require a long, slow wait. After consideration, Wen Zhengyu negotiated it down to a thirty percent discount. The two parties went back and forth, haggling for half a day, finally settling on a price of twenty-five percent off and a starting auction price of ten percent above the standard market price.

After coming out of the price negotiation, Wen Zhengyu was completely wilted. Talking money and haggling—one hour was more exhausting than the ten hours the day before.

She and Ye Ling each had their own lunch engagements. After leaving the painter's place, Ye Ling lent her driver and car to Wen Zhengyu and departed in another vehicle that had come specifically to pick her up.

At noon, she had a meal with her Second Aunt, her cousin, and his family of three.

Her uncle-in-law was in politics and had already divorced her aunt, but because of their children and grandchildren as a bond, their interactions remained very close, and their current relationship was more akin to business partners. Her cousin had passed the civil service examination and worked in a government agency. Her cousin's wife stayed at home taking care of their child. The little one, five years old this year, was very adorable and loved to pull her aside to chat upon seeing her, like a curious little baby incessantly asking her questions.

Eating with family was naturally not as silent as eating with Ye Ling. They chatted a bit about the studio's operational situation and the family's circumstances, and also discussed her Second Aunt's and cousin's family situations. The conversation was mostly about domestic matters. When her Second Aunt learned she was staying at a hotel, she immediately gave her an exasperated glare and asked: "Is there no room for you at my place?"

Wen Zhengyu smiled apologetically: "Second Aunt, I'm on a business trip here. Who stays at home on a business trip? Wouldn't it be bad if it delayed work?"

Her Second Aunt seemed somewhat skeptical and asked Zhan Cheng: "Is she really that busy?"

The taciturn Zhan Cheng gave an "Mm" and then shut his mouth tight as a clam.

After the meal, she continued purchasing paintings in the afternoon.

Ye Ling had matters to attend to and didn't come along. She didn't accompany her the next day either.

She stayed in the capital for four days. The results were quite good—she acquired four paintings. Her next stop was Tianjin, accessible by high-speed train.

She had already bought her high-speed train ticket when Ye Ling contacted her again, saying her matters were finished and she would accompany her to Tianjin.

Boss Ye had a car, so she had no choice but to refund her high-speed train ticket and ride in Boss Ye's car to Tianjin.

As the instances of buying paintings and negotiating business increased, and as she came into contact with a greater variety of people, her experience gradually accumulated, and she became increasingly adept at handling situations.

Overall, the results of this trip were quite good, essentially a successful completion of the mission. However, it was genuinely exhausting. Her return flight ticket was booked by Ye Ling—an evening flight. After finishing business in the morning, she rested at the hotel in the afternoon. She caught up on sleep all afternoon and was only invited out to dinner by Ye Ling in the evening. Ye Ling even specially opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

It was a rare moment of relaxation, and Wen Zhengyu's sense of aversion towards Ye Ling dissipated considerably. She asked: "Ye Ling, I'm a little curious. Why did you come with me on this trip?"

Ye Ling replied: "To clear my mind."

Wen Zhengyu asked, dumbfounded: "Shouldn't clearing your mind involve going traveling or something?"

Ye Ling said: "This counts as well, and I can also broaden my horizons a bit along the way."

Wen Zhengyu thought to herself: "I'll believe you for now." Her phone rang. She signaled to Ye Ling, picked up the phone, and saw it was the landline from home. She took the call and quietly called out: "Grandfather." Then she heard Sun Yuan's slightly anxious and alarmed voice on the line: "Eldest Miss, the Old Master is ill."

Wen Zhengyu froze for a moment, somewhat in disbelief, and said: "He was fine at noon, wasn't he? What's the situation?" Hearing the siren of an ambulance faintly in the background, she hurriedly asked: "Is it serious?" She also vaguely heard a voice coming through the line: "Family member? Family member, come along." She called to Sun Yuan: "Aunt Sun, take Grandfather to the hospital first. I'll head back shortly." She paused, then asked: "Have you contacted Sister Lili?"

Sun Yuan said: "The Old Master won't allow it. He wouldn't even let me tell you. Eldest Miss, I'm hanging up now. Please hurry back." With that, she hastily ended the call.

Wen Zhengyu gripped her phone and let out a long breath, forcing herself to stay calm.

Ye Ling stood up and said: "Let's go. Pack your luggage. We'll head to the airport now."

Wen Zhengyu notified Zhan Cheng, then rushed back to her room to pack.

They hurried to the airport. The earliest available flight was the one they had already booked.

While waiting in the departure lounge, Wen Zhengyu called Sun Yuan again to ask about the situation. Sun Yuan told her they were still running tests and would have to wait and see. She also couldn't clearly explain what had happened. The Old Master had only been back for a few minutes. She had been in the kitchen cooking, Li Bin had been in the bathroom, when she heard a "bang"—the sound of someone hitting the floor—and the sound of shattering porcelain. When she rushed out, she saw the Old Master lying on the ground, his forehead having struck the coffee table and been gashed open, his complexion ashen, struggling to breathe.

Sun Yuan didn't have a clear grasp of the situation and couldn't explain it well over the phone. They spoke briefly before hanging up.

Uncertain of her grandfather's condition, Wen Zhengyu hesitated and decided not to notify her Second Aunt and the others for now, lest they be just like her, worrying anxiously without understanding the situation.

Ye Ling arranged for a car to be waiting at the airport. After getting off the plane, Wen Zhengyu got into Ye Ling's car and headed straight for the hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, she first went to the ward to see her grandfather.

The Old Master lay on the hospital bed, gauze affixed to his forehead, an IV drip in the back of his hand, still unconscious.

Wen Zhengyu sat at the bedside, looking at the Old Master who had suddenly collapsed. Tears, very disobediently, rolled down her cheeks. She choked them back, wiped the corner of her eye with her finger, and went first to the doctor to understand the situation.

The doctor told her that elderly individuals, with advanced age, experiencing agitation, causing a sudden spike in blood pressure, had led to the sudden fainting and fall.

Agitated? Even such a major incident with her father hadn't agitated her grandfather to this extent.

Wen Zhengyu then asked if her grandfather was in any danger.

The doctor told her there was no immediate danger. As for whether there were other physical issues, they would have to wait for the test results and observe further before knowing.

Wen Zhengyu breathed a slight sigh of relief. Seeing Li Bin still waiting nearby and hadn't left, she then asked Li Bin for more details about what had happened.

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