The Art of Teasing - Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Although Wen Zhengyu had stayed out all night, with Wen Jing accompanying her and Ye Ling having found the art studio, Old Master Wen was not worried. Dating always involved conflicts of one kind or another; they just needed more time to work through them. At breakfast time, the two still hadn't returned, so he simply had the kitchen keep food warm for them.

Wen Zhengyu and Ye Ling arrived home, ate breakfast, and after Wen Zhengyu had washed up, she saw Ye Ling also take clothes and head to the bathroom. Soon, the sound of water came from the bathroom. She thought Ye Ling also looked like she hadn't slept all night and figured Ye Ling would need to catch up on sleep soon too. Listening to the sound of running water from the bathroom, she couldn't fight off her drowsiness any longer and drifted off to sleep in a daze.

When Ye Ling came out after her shower, Wen Zhengyu was already asleep. Seeing Wen Zhengyu's shoulders exposed outside the covers, she quietly and gently pulled the blanket up for her, then tiptoed to fetch her clothes and change into them. Afraid her footsteps would wake Wen Zhengyu, she wore slippers and carried her high heels out of the small courtyard before switching into the heels and heading out to the Lian family home.

The intense emotional reaction Wen Zhengyu had shown yesterday clearly meant that the Lian family's notoriously fiery-tempered old lady had exploded again.

When she arrived at the Lian residence, she found Lian Huaixin and several of his brothers all there. Only then did she learn that Grandmother had fallen ill.

Lian Huaixin glanced outside and, seeing no sign of Wen Zhengyu, asked Ye Ling: "Yu'er didn't come?"

Ye Ling said: "She doesn't know Grandmother is sick. She didn't sleep all last night, and had just fallen asleep when I came over."

The eldest, Lian Huairen, said: "I heard from Lian Xin that she wants to renounce the world and become a nun?"

Ye Ling said: "She broods deeply. I can't say for certain what she's thinking, but from what I can see, she probably just wants to go somewhere quiet to clear her mind." She sat with Wen Zhengyu's uncles for a while, chatting briefly and asking about Grandmother's condition.

The old lady's blood pressure had always been on the high side. Yesterday, angered by Wen Zhengyu, her blood pressure had spiked, causing dizziness and weakness that left her unable to get out of bed.

Lian Huaixin led Ye Ling to the old lady's room.

Old Master Lian was keeping the old lady company. An IV drip hung beside the bed, infusing fluids.

Lian Huaixin called out from the doorway: "Ma, Ye Ling is here."

Hearing that only Ye Ling had come, the old lady felt another surge of irritation.

Ye Ling stepped forward and greeted her: "Grandmother." She then inquired about the old lady's health.

The old lady asked: "That little worrywart didn't come?"

Ye Ling put on a pleasant smile and said: "The worrywart had some matters yesterday and just fell asleep this morning." She asked: "Shall we talk a bit about the worrywart's issues?"

The old lady nodded slightly.

Ye Ling first helped the old lady sit up and lean against the headboard, half-reclining in bed, then pulled a chair over to sit beside her and said: "Then shall we first discuss this renouncing-the-world business?"

The old lady made an "mm" sound and nodded again.

Ye Ling said: "If renouncing the world meant she couldn't paint anymore, I imagine she'd immediately abandon the idea. I went to the Daoist temple to look around. The only reason she could stay there so long was entirely because the temple has a Daoist Priest Yan who excels at mural painting. When I arrived, she was standing on a ladder following Daoist Priest Yan in painting murals. That Daoist Priest Yan is a married Daoist priest of the type who can live at home, practice cultivation, marry, and have children. The day before yesterday, I spoke a little with Zhengyu about this renouncing-the-world matter. Her attitude was very hesitant; even if she did it, she would only consider becoming a married Daoist priest. However, as far as I know, she doesn't actually believe in Daoism. When I've tried to pull her into a temple to worship the immortals, she wouldn't even bow."

The old lady's expression softened slightly. She asked: "So she's... still just being difficult?"

Ye Ling said: "She's unsettled in her heart and wants some peace, I think. After all, over this past year, she's experienced many upheavals, and on top of that... those things Wen Shiyi did... have affected her profoundly. Between her and Wen Shiyi... only Old Master Wen remains as a connection." She continued gently: "And then there's how she approaches matters of the heart—extremely cautious, profoundly careful. Every step she takes is made only after looking and looking again, thinking and thinking further, before finally daring to extend her foot. The slightest stir and she shrinks back in fright."

The old lady felt a pang of sorrow in her heart and let out a heavy sigh.

After a moment, she shifted the topic and asked: "How do you rate her business abilities?" Since Ye Ling and Wen Zhengyu were partners running the art studio, even setting up an office there, she wanted to hear Ye Ling's assessment.

Ye Ling immediately understood the old lady's worry and concern. Mentioning Wen Zhengyu's business skills brought an instant smile to Ye Ling's face. She said: "Speaking purely from a business partnership and investment perspective, cooperating with Zhengyu is a long-term, stable, low-risk, high-return type. Conservatively estimated, I'll recoup my investment in the studio within three years. This year's profit is at least thirty percent. And that's just in terms of the studio's finances. Zhengyu in business isn't the type to seek quick success and instant benefits. Her nature is slow and cautious, every step solidly grounded."

"When she first opened the studio, she personally visited the homes of famous painters to request paintings. And now, just one year later, many well-known painters deliver their work in person after completing it."

"The studio's reception hall has practically become a gathering spot in the industry. Groups of three, five, seven, or eight painters often arrange to meet there, enjoying tea and viewing paintings. Many come because of her reputation. Quite a few painters even create impromptu works, leaving them at the studio afterward. The studio later assesses the price, submits it for Wen Zhengyu's approval, and then transfers the payment to the painter. They enjoy a gathering and outing, earn money, and can also have their works displayed in the studio's exhibition hall and promoted at auctions for added fame. Multiple gains from a single endeavor."

"Her supply of paintings is abundant, her pricing is fair, she conducts business with integrity, and many people come to buy paintings. A great number are returning customers."

Ye Ling couldn't help laughing as she said: "She's not often at the studio, but when she is, she loves wandering around everywhere, and those eyes of hers are like Fiery Eyes of Discernment. If she arrives in the afternoon, she can tell at a single glance whether the cleaners wiped the glass windows that morning. Later, I even specifically asked her about it—the glass looked quite clean, so how did she know it hadn't been wiped? She said that glass wiped yesterday collects a different kind of dust than glass wiped today."

"She's someone who loves painting herself, and she's utterly thorough and knowledgeable about the painting and calligraphy trade."

The old lady could tell from the look in Ye Ling's eyes whenever she mentioned Wen Zhengyu that this was genuine affection from the heart. When speaking of Wen Zhengyu, Ye Ling's eyebrows danced and her whole being radiated light. Hearing Ye Ling's positive assessment of Wen Zhengyu, the old lady's mood improved somewhat. She sighed and said: "But I see her approach to doing things—she doesn't seem to put much heart into it, nor much ambition."

Ye Ling said: "Are you referring to those tasks you assigned her?"

The old lady said with some surprise: "She told you about that?" She was even discussing this with Ye Ling; it seemed their relationship truly was something special now.

Ye Ling said: "She mentioned it in passing." She understood where the old lady's anger toward Wen Zhengyu was coming from, and where her dissatisfaction lay. If she directly said that Wen Zhengyu suspected the old lady intended to give her money and didn't want to accept it, which was why she acted this way, the old lady would probably feel Wen Zhengyu was treating her like an outsider and would get angry again. She said: "Last year, when Old Master Wen's trouble happened and she urgently needed money, she mortgaged that pair of imperial green jadeite bangles her grandmother left her to me. Those bangles are worth at least over ten million, but she mortgaged them to me for seven million. At that time, she wasn't even certain she could repay the debt, and she made an agreement with me that if she couldn't repay within three years, the bangles would become mine—a written contract, in black and white. For Old Master Wen's matter, she only had to mention it to Wen Shishu; she wouldn't have needed to mortgage the bangles at all. In the Wen family, besides Old Master Wen, Wen Shishu and Wen Li are the ones closest to her. She was in such a difficult position, yet she didn't seek help from Wen Shishu or Wen Li."

"Now her business is doing passably well, and the money she earns is enough for her expenses. You have a houseful of descendants. As for the tasks you assign her, she's been privately puzzling over your intentions, worried you want to leave the company to her. This matter involves money and property, and she's reluctant to get involved in it." Ye Ling paused, then said: "But you are also at an advanced age, and she worries about you overworking yourself. Yet when you assign her tasks, it's hard for her to refuse."

The old lady raised her eyes to look at Ye Ling. Ye Ling knew quite a lot about the Lian family's internal affairs.

Seeing the look in the old lady's eyes, Ye Ling knew exactly what she was thinking. She said: "Lian Xin mentioned to me that Zhengyu's mother left her a dowry chest. I don't know if Zhengyu is aware of this, but she's always meticulous; it's not necessarily that she hasn't noticed. Moreover, your attitude, Grandmother, is quite obvious."

The old lady's eyebrows arched, and a hint of displeasure surfaced again. "So you're saying she doesn't want it?"

Ye Ling thought to herself that with the old lady's temperament and Wen Zhengyu's temperament combined, it would be hard for conflict not to arise. Even though she could see that Wen Zhengyu didn't want it, she couldn't say so outright. She could only try to counsel the old lady, saying: "Zhengyu's nature has always been such that she needs to thoroughly sort everything out clearly before she can make a decision. If it's not explained to her clearly, she'll inevitably consider whether it might cause misunderstandings among the cousins."

She sat with Grandmother for a while, talking about Wen Zhengyu's affairs. Once the old lady's mood had smoothed out, she originally intended to take her leave, but Wen Zhengyu's uncles insisted she stay for a meal. Not daring to refuse, she dined with her future uncles-in-law before finally departing.

During the meal, Lian Huaixin said a few things to Ye Ling: "Yesterday, the old lady gave Yu'er a thorough scolding. The moment Yu'er left, she returned the car the old lady had given her. That's what angered the old lady."

The fact that the old lady had a habit of driving people out when she got angry was also conveyed to Ye Ling.

Ye Ling often dealt with Lian Xi and Lian Xin, and Lian Xi had a loose tongue. Grandmother's ferociousness was something Ye Ling had heard plenty about. Last year, when Wen Zhengyu and her grandfather sold the family mansion, Grandmother scolded Lian Xin so brutally it left him bloodied and bruised, cursing him to the point where he didn't dare return to the old residence for three months.

Lian Xin and the others had been trained by scolding since childhood; they were all used to it. But Wen Zhengyu, who had barely ever been spoken to harshly a few times, couldn't bear it at all. Ye Ling sighed: "No wonder she was so miserable yesterday."

After dining at the Lian home, she went to attend to some business matters. By around three or four in the afternoon, figuring Wen Zhengyu had likely woken up from sleep, she finally headed back.

She hadn't even stepped into the small courtyard when she heard the melody of a zither drifting out. Quieting her footsteps and entering, she indeed found Wen Zhengyu playing the zither. She waited until Wen Zhengyu finished a piece and turned her head to look at her, then said: "I went to your grandmother's this morning. She's ill."

Wen Zhengyu's heart tightened. She asked: "Is it serious?" Putting aside the hurt over the old lady telling her to get out and that she didn't want her as a granddaughter anymore, she grabbed her coat, went to the dressing room to change into her shoes, and prepared to head out.

Ye Ling said: "Nothing serious. Yesterday, after scolding you, you went out the door and immediately returned the car and the bodyguards she assigned to you. Riled up by that, her blood pressure rose, and she felt a bit dizzy and unwell, that's all."

Wen Zhengyu's motion of putting on her shoes paused briefly, then she continued.

Ye Ling leaned against the doorway, watching Wen Zhengyu put on her shoes, and said: "Lian Xin and the others get beaten and thrown out regularly. They still act like nothing happened and go on doing what they need to do." She said gently: "The old lady simply has that kind of temper. When she's angry, striking and scolding people is common. Don't feel wronged. When I went over today, she asked about you the moment she saw me. I sat with her for a long time, and everything we talked about was you."

Wen Zhengyu made a soft "mm" sound and asked: "What did you talk about regarding me?"

Ye Ling said: "Worrying about you, of course. Afraid you don't know how to strive and earn money to support yourself. I told her the art studio is profitable."

Wen Zhengyu said: "I showed her the studio's financial reports."

Ye Ling said: "Then what's she still worried about?"

Wen Zhengyu glanced at Ye Ling. Ye Ling had seen the studio's monthly and quarterly reports. How much money she could earn in a year from the studio was clear as day to Ye Ling. "The studio is small-scale. My annual share of dividends plus salary and bonuses totals only about three million yuan. Keeping bodyguards takes away a third of that." With Ye Ling and Qi Wei buying antiques from her, she'd made some extra money, just enough to get by. But that was supplementary income, not a stable one, and not something long-term.

Ye Ling said: "That is rather worrisome. No wonder your grandmother calls you a worrywart. It's not without reason."

Wen Zhengyu: "..."

Ye Ling asked again: "Do you want me to go with you to see Grandmother?"

Wen Zhengyu said: "You just went this morning."

Ye Ling said: "This morning I went by myself. Now would be me accompanying you. If Grandmother is still angry and in a foul mood, I can help smooth things over."

Wen Zhengyu noticed the bags under Ye Ling's eyes had appeared, realizing Ye Ling had been busy all day arranging things for her without sleeping. She said: "I can go by myself just fine. You should catch up on sleep."

Ye Ling said: "Sleep can wait until tonight. Right now I'm busy seizing the chance to earn favor, too wired to sleep."

Wen Zhengyu thought to herself: "You're really quite blunt." She understood that Ye Ling was worried and wanted to accompany her. She said: "Then you can sleep in the car for a bit on the way." She paused, then asked: "Is my grandfather home?"

Ye Ling said: "Didn't see his car."

Wen Zhengyu said: "Then I'll need to borrow your car."

Ye Ling agreed cheerfully with a smile: "Done."

Wen Zhengyu then went to Old Master Wen's storeroom to find some health supplements suitable for elderly people with high blood pressure, loaded them into the car, and went with Ye Ling to the Lian residence. By the time she arrived, it was almost dinner time.

The old lady was still lying in bed.

Wen Zhengyu went straight to the old lady's room.

The old lady, whose anger had already dissipated, felt it flare up again the moment she saw Wen Zhengyu. She said: "You already returned the car. What are you still doing here?"

Wen Zhengyu glanced at the IV stand beside the bed, saw that the old lady's spirits were still decent, and felt somewhat relieved. However, the old lady telling her to get out still made her feel very awkward. She stood in the doorway, not venturing further in, and said: "Ye Ling said you were sick. I thought, after all, I am your biological granddaughter, so I must come to see you no matter what." She paused, then with awkwardness and a hint of grievance, added: "Also, don't tell me to get out anymore. In all my life, I... I've never been... never been spoken to like that."

The old lady saw her like this, and her heart softened. She asked: "Your feelings were hurt?"

Wen Zhengyu nodded, made an "mm" sound, and honestly admitted: "A little aggrieved, and I also felt a total loss of face." She paused, then said: "And you, you're over eighty and have high blood pressure, yet your temper is still so fierce. I'm the one who got scolded, and I'm fine, but here you are, bedridden."

The old lady, seeing that Wen Zhengyu was now even chastising her, was so angered she laughed. She thought about it and found she couldn't refute it. She said: "I'm fine."

Wen Zhengyu asked: "Then shall we make up?"

The old lady was both amused and annoyed. A grandmother scolding her own granddaughter—and now there needed to be a truce? She said: "Fine, fine, fine. Peace."

Only then did Wen Zhengyu sit down beside the old lady and say: "It's only because you're my own grandmother and at such an advanced age... But let's agree, next time no more scolding people like this."

The old lady turned her head to look at Wen Zhengyu and said: "Oh, so you're holding a grudge, nursing resentment?"

Wen Zhengyu glanced at the old lady and said: "No, but I don't want to be scolded again. If there's an issue, talk it through properly. Constant scolding—I feel miserable, and you end up making yourself sick with anger."

The old lady said: "If you hadn't thrown the car back at me, would I have gotten so angry?"

Wen Zhengyu said: "The insurance payout came through. I was thinking of buying a new car. I thought I'd buy one slightly cheaper. The grandfather and grandchild from that accident—their family situation is rather pitiful. I heard their circumstances aren't very good, and it seems Ye Che didn't give them any compensation. I want to have a lawyer send them some money."

The old lady said: "Sending some money is good, but just don't let them latch onto you. Have the lawyer handle it. If you want to buy a car, buy a good one. I'll subsidize it for you."

Wen Zhengyu opened her mouth, about to refuse, but caught the expression on the old lady's face that looked ready to flare up again. She hastily nodded. Thinking that the old lady was still bedridden, and wanting to motivate her to recover sooner, she said: "Then when you're feeling better, let's go look at cars together?"

The old lady, seeing that Wen Zhengyu wasn't treating her like an outsider, looked much more pleased. She said: "Done."

For an elderly person who's sick, the real fear is staying bedridden. Wen Zhengyu saw that the old lady's complexion was passable, so she picked up the blood pressure monitor beside the bed and took the old lady's blood pressure. Seeing it was already under control, she called the family doctor to confirm it was fine for the old lady to get up and move around. She then found clothes for the old lady, helped her out of bed, and supported her downstairs for dinner and some light activity.

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