The Art of Teasing - Chapter 117

Chapter 117

Leaving it like this protects against gentlemen but not against thieves.

Wen Zhengyu noticed the look in Ye Ling's eyes and explained, "The housekeeper is newly hired, and I haven't inventoried the items in the cases yet." To prevent anything from being pocketed.

Ye Ling swept a glance over the jewelry boxes arranged on Wen Zhengyu's dressing table. None of Wen Zhengyu's jewelry was cheap, yet it was all just left out on the dressing table like that. Her thoughts turned to the Wen family's security arrangements, and she let it go.

She hadn't known much about the Wen family before. Later, through Wen Zhengyu, she became acquainted with several major art collectors who were close to the family. From their casual remarks, she learned that before Wen Shiyi went bankrupt and fled, Old Master Wen was also someone who liked to display his wealth discreetly. The antique shelves in their living room were filled with genuine antiques—porcelain pieces worth millions or tens of millions were simply placed out in the open.

What truly devastated the Wen family was Wen Shiyi absconding with the funds, destroying both reputation and honor. Even though Old Master Wen and Wen Zhengyu came forward to repay his debts, this grandfather and granddaughter pair were one old, one young. No matter how anyone looked at Wen Zhengyu, she appeared to be a delicately raised young lady born to privilege, someone incapable of handling major crises. The consensus was that the Wen family had completely collapsed. Otherwise, someone like Zheng Dongsheng wouldn't have harbored such malicious intentions. If it hadn't been for her, Wen Shishu, and the Lian family openly and secretly protecting her, Wen Zhengyu likely wouldn't have been able to remain here and would have fled far from home.

Ye Ling's mind conjured an image of this little painter dragging a suitcase to distant lands. The thought filled her with heartache and a bittersweet ache, yet she also felt that even if Wen Zhengyu had fallen on hard times, she would still be different from everyone else.

A business friend of Ye Ling's called to invite her out for drinks. Ye Ling declined. The other party mentioned it was a birthday celebration. Ye Ling replied, "Still doesn't work. I'm a family man now. If I go out drinking tonight, what awaits me later will be far worse than kneeling at the foot of the bed."

Wen Zhengyu cast a sidelong glance at Ye Ling: You're ruining my reputation! She said, "If you have social obligations, go."

Ye Ling hurriedly smiled ingratiatingly. "How could I leave you home alone?" She hurriedly said a few more words into the phone, then hung up. Seeing the displeasure revealed in Wen Zhengyu's eyes, she explained, "Men afraid of their wives generally fall into two categories: those who depend on their wives for a living, and those who adore their wives. Look at me, I've now taken up both."

Wen Zhengyu was speechless. She turned and headed to the bathroom to wash up, refusing to listen to Ye Ling's nonsense. After two steps, she looked back and asked, "We agreed you would marry me. Why are you calling me your wife?"

Ye Ling winked mischievously and asked, "Should I call you husband instead?" She gave Wen Zhengyu a thorough once-over, from head to toe, and asked, "Are you planning to cut your hair into a buzz cut and switch to men's clothing?"

Wen Zhengyu felt a wave of revulsion. Without looking back, she entered the bathroom.

Ye Ling followed to the bathroom door and said, "Zhengyu, let's go get our hair cut together tomorrow."

Wen Zhengyu cast a cool glance at Ye Ling. "No." She added, "Whoever tries to cut my hair will become my mortal enemy."

Ye Ling couldn't contain her laughter. "So calling you my wife isn't wrong after all, is it? Or should I change it to 'my other half'? 'My beloved'?"

Wen Zhengyu closed the bathroom door, locked it, and washed up, ignoring Ye Ling.

With Ye Ling around, it was very difficult for Wen Zhengyu to find a moment of peace. Since it was still early, she decided to simply bring out the jewelry case the elderly lady had given her again, to inventory and catalog its contents.

Wen Zhengyu did the inventory on the round table in the bedroom, making no move to avoid Ye Ling. Ye Ling simply sat beside her, joining in the activity.

She first inventoried the jewelry chest. Inside the chest were six boxes, and at the very bottom, a layer of gold bars—ten in total. Two of the six boxes contained jade materials of supremely excellent quality. The remaining four held gemstones sorted by color. These were probably the items that had formed the bottom layer of her mother's dowry chest back in the day.

Ye Ling suggested to Wen Zhengyu, "We should get a safe brought in soon." The gemstones and jade materials in this chest that Wen Zhengyu had opened—even if she sent people out scouring the markets, she would have difficulty finding pieces of such superior quality. These had either been seized by raiding someone's home, or they were slowly accumulated by generations. Old Master Lian came from a middle-class family background, served in the war for a few years before being invalided out. Judging by his conduct and actions, he didn't seem like someone who could have gathered these things. As for Old Madam Zhang, it was said her father had been a rather formidable figure in his youth, during those chaotic times. His dealings included gambling dens, pawnshops, and even arms trading. Acquiring things like these wouldn't have been difficult for him. Old Madam Zhang had married Old Master Lian, a soldier who had shed blood for the country, and had peacefully weathered the turbulent years. Her dowry had been preserved. If Wen Zhengyu weren't a member of her family, with so many fiercely protective relatives, and if Ye Ling knew she possessed such items, she would certainly set traps for Wen Zhengyu, forcing her to sell these things in an emergency. The principle of not flaunting wealth exists precisely for this reason. Last year, when Wen Ru was selling family possessions, how many people swarmed in like vultures.

Wen Zhengyu made a soft sound of acknowledgment. Sensing Ye Ling's gaze, she looked up with a puzzled expression. "What is it?"

Ye Ling replied, "Nothing." She observed that this young lady showed not the slightest ripple of emotion while inventorying these valuable items, and seeing her practiced, familiar manner, it was clear she was thoroughly accustomed to such things. She asked, "You had quite a few items like this before too?"

Wen Zhengyu answered, "Not this many. Just a small chest, given by my grandmother. Last year, it was bought up, safe and all, in one sweeping purchase."

The corner of Ye Ling's mouth twitched. Her heart ached with regret. "You actually kept a safe in your room before?"

Wen Zhengyu replied, "I did. When grandmother passed away, she left me her dowry. The jewelry was all kept in the safe. The most valuable pieces, this pair of bracelets, and a few items for daily wear I kept. The rest were all sold." She paused, then added, "Those two storerooms by the courtyard gate were for storing larger items and ceremonial gifts." Observing Ye Ling's pain-filled expression, she said, "Though they were valuable, they weren't national treasures. They weren't worth that much money." As for these three chests on her table, if she wanted to buy them, even at an inflated price, Ye Ling could easily sweep them all up without batting an eye.

Ye Ling sighed emotionally, "The key is that supply exists without a market. It's very difficult to encounter anyone selling."

Wen Zhengyu caught on. "You want to buy some?"

Ye Ling nearly asked out of habit, "Are you willing to sell?" but caught herself in time and changed it to, "Yes. I have people stationed at the mine pits, but when good quality material comes out, the competition to snatch it up is fierce. It's not easy. I do have dealings with several jewelry merchants, but the pieces they can reserve for me are quite limited. Pieces with slightly inferior quality are rather unpresentable."

She had money, but no matter how much money she had, standing before Wen Zhengyu made her feel utterly impoverished in a very vivid way. Her family had been passed down to her as the third generation. She had turned herself into a nouveau riche, while the Second Branch clan was the perfect illustration of the proverb 'wealth doesn't last three generations'—now they had collapsed completely and utterly. The most obvious gap between her and Wen Zhengyu was this: she could present lavish gifts and beg to be received, yet people still wouldn't be willing to meet her. Wen Zhengyu could simply bring a box of pastries and easily accomplish what needed to be done.

Wen Zhengyu was acquainted with two jewelry merchants and recommended them to Ye Ling, saying, "Both of these establishments have quite nice things. Their master craftsmen possess skills passed down through generations. When I want jewelry custom-made, I prefer going to them. But buying things also sometimes depends on fate."

After she finished inventorying the gemstones and jade materials, she selected several rubies, placed them in a velvet box, and tossed it into her bag, planning to have a jewelry set made with them later.

Next came the inventory of the jewelry pieces themselves.

These were all items from her mother's dowry, and within this dowry were also items from her maternal grandmother's dowry. Some pieces featured styles that had been out of fashion for over a century. The gold pieces, due to their age, had taken on the patina of bygone years. Those whose provenance could be traced back over a century, Wen Zhengyu categorized as collectibles. As for the jewelry in older styles made twenty or thirty years ago—she guessed these were pieces her mother had worn—she kept them all as keepsakes, storing them away carefully. Necklaces, earrings, and bracelets whose styles weren't dated and could still be worn now she moved into a single chest and placed on her dressing table.

Wen Zhengyu wasn't the type to flaunt possessions, but neither was she someone who would hoard things, reluctant to use them. The most precious jewelry was meant to be worn. Items passed down from her elders, she would simply use.

The next day, when she went to the Lian family home, the old lady saw the bracelets on Wen Zhengyu's wrists. Delighted, she said repeatedly, "This is very good, this is very good." Just yesterday she had been worried that Wen Zhengyu's stubborn streak couldn't be untangled, and that she would take them home only to lock them in a cabinet, never to be taken out and used.

A hint of pleasure also appeared in Wen Zhengyu's eyes. Having ample means always made life a bit easier.

Over the next several days, the old lady took Wen Zhengyu with her, busying themselves with transferring titles, registering ownership, and getting acquainted with the properties, so that Wen Zhengyu wouldn't even know where her own assets were located. She also allowed the managers who oversaw these assets to meet her.

With the old lady personally guiding her every step of the way, it took Wen Zhengyu over a week to get these properties in order.

Perhaps due to exhaustion, or perhaps from catching a chill, the old lady suddenly fell ill.

Wen Zhengyu was terrified. Growing up accompanying her grandfather, grandmother, and master, she had spent years interacting with the elderly. She had witnessed many instances where familiar elderly gentlemen and ladies, seemingly in perfectly good health, would suddenly fall ill and pass away shortly after. Sometimes it was just a common cold that triggered pneumonia, which then inexplicably led to complications—the person would suddenly end up in the intensive care unit, and then, they would be gone. Her grandmother's passing had been the same: it began as a minor illness, a persistent feeling of bodily discomfort that couldn't be diagnosed. Over time, her health steadily declined. After being ill for over a year, she passed. Last year, Old Master Wen's blood pressure had spiked from anger. After being hospitalized for two or three days, his entire vitality seemed to drain away by more than half in an instant. He aged more than five years overnight. And that was Old Master Wen, who practiced martial arts every morning, walked every evening, and maintained his body meticulously year-round. The old lady's health had always been poor, and she was over eighty years old.

Wen Zhengyu was afraid, but she dared not let the old lady see it, worrying it would make the old lady fret instead. After reporting to Old Master Wen, she packed a few changes of clothes and moved into the hospital. Without taking her eyes off the old lady, she stood vigil until the old lady recovered and was discharged.

The old lady fell ill frequently. Her children and grandchildren were all accustomed to it. Unless the situation was critical, the grandchildren would arrange rotating shifts to accompany her in the hospital. Beyond that, everyone would frequently find time to visit. Caretaking duties were largely handled by the hospital's professional nursing staff. The grandchildren keeping vigil were mainly just there—to handle any unexpected matters that might arise, or to receive visitors who came to pay their respects.

Wen Zhengyu staying at the hospital to watch over the old lady meant she took over the duties of the professional nursing staff. She was naturally a meticulous person, and coupled with her fear, she dared not be the slightest bit careless, providing extraordinarily attentive care. The old lady was deeply moved. She kept telling Old Master Lian that her love for the girl hadn't been in vain, and that she should have brought Wen Zhengyu back into the fold earlier. Although Wen Zhengyu wasn't very capable in practical matters and always caused worry, seeing her in illness, staying vigilantly by her side with that anxious expression, the old lady's heart nearly melted. If it weren't for the fact that Old Man Wen only had Wen Zhengyu under his knee, and had raised her for over twenty years, with a profound bond between grandfather and granddaughter—a bond she knew she couldn't win against—she would have wanted to roll up her sleeves and snatch her granddaughter back to the Lian family.

The old lady was just lamenting that she couldn't compete with Wen Ru for her granddaughter when Wen Shiyi, the bankrupt fund-absconder, returned. He had fled back, taking refuge with Wen Ru. Wen Shishu sent people to break his legs, and it was said that Wen Zhengyu had a hand in it.

Wen Zhengyu accompanied the old lady out of the hospital and saw her safely home. Once she returned to her own home, she saw Wen Shiyi, disheveled and utterly defeated, and her whole body froze.

Last year, when she saw Wen Shiyi, he had still possessed the image of a mature, charming man of accomplishment, full of spirit and confidence. He had looked barely past forty then. Now, he looked older than his actual age, appearing over fifty, much thinner, and radiating the panicked desperation of a stray dog driven from its home.

Old Master Wen sat on the sofa, his expression dark and heavy. His slightly trembling hands betrayed some of his emotions.

Wen Zhengyu knew that Wen Shiyi hadn't been doing well out there, but she hadn't expected him to be reduced to such a state. Seeing him in such poor condition brought her both a sense of vindication and a pang of pain. She walked over, grasped Old Master Wen's trembling hand, and called out, "Grandfather."

Old Master Wen looked up at Wen Zhengyu and said, "Your father says that because of what happened with your mother and his situation before... you all..." His hand trembled more violently. "You want to break his legs. He fled abroad, and still... still you won't let him go?"

Wen Zhengyu's mouth fell open in shock. She stared at Wen Shiyi in astonishment, met by his resentful glare. Her thoughts turned over several times, and she quickly cooled down, saying evenly, "Tell me then, how much do you owe outside this time? How much money do you want from me? Don't even think about selling the residence. This mansion was a gift from Brother Xin and Ye Ling. I cannot sell this mansion to pay off your debts. As for my mother's dowry, don't get any ideas. You have no right to touch it. My own assets consist only of a bit over twenty percent of the shares in the studio. Nothing else." She tightened her grip on Old Master Wen's hand and said, "Grandfather, leave my father's matter to me and Second Aunt to handle." She held on tightly; her hand was also trembling, from anger.

Seeing the situation before him, how could Old Master Wen not understand? The conflict between these two, father and daughter, had reached such a state. He knew his own son and granddaughter. He grabbed his teacup, intending to hurl it at Wen Shiyi, but after lifting it and seeing Wen Shiyi's wretched, defeated appearance, he forcefully set it back down.

Tea splashed across the coffee table, and the cup tipped over. His face full of profound pain, he cried out to Wen Shiyi, "Shiyi, you weren't like this before."

Wen Shiyi, with equal pain, said, "Dad, look at this household. Even Ye Ling has moved into our home. I was doing business abroad, finally making some progress, and they sabotaged me from within. They said they'd pull my funding, and they pulled it. I almost couldn't make it back."

Wen Zhengyu would rather he hadn't come back at all. If she weren't worried about the Old Master suffering a medical crisis, she truly wanted to stand up and leave immediately, or order the bodyguards to throw Wen Shiyi out. She took out her phone and called Wen Shishu. "Second Aunt, Dad is back. He's at home now. Grandfather is also here."

Wen Shiyi gnashed his teeth in fury at this daughter who was so adept at stabbing him in the back, but with the Old Man shielding her, there was nothing he could do to her.

After finishing the call with Wen Shishu, Wen Zhengyu said to Old Master Wen, "Since Dad is back, let's have a reunion dinner. We can discuss things properly; there's always a solution. I'll go ask the kitchen to prepare a few extra dishes." With that, she rose and left the room. Outside, she summoned Wen Jing and Zhan Cheng, instructing them to keep a tight watch on the property, especially her courtyard. Wen Shiyi was not permitted to set even half a step inside. She also asked if Wen Shiyi had brought anyone else back with him.

Zhan Cheng replied, "Three people. Not sure who they are. The Master says they're friends and has arranged for them to stay in the guest courtyard."

Wen Zhengyu ordered, "Assign several men to guard the guest courtyard. They cannot be allowed to go anywhere beyond the guest courtyard."

Zhan Cheng acknowledged the order. He realized that the eldest young lady wasn't giving the Master even a shred of face. He had no idea what had transpired between them to make the father-daughter relationship so utterly rigid.

Wen Zhengyu knew very well why Wen Shiyi had returned. A man past fifty, with no money left in his hands and still carrying debts—wanting to stage a comeback would be exceedingly difficult. By coming home, the Old Master couldn't just stand by and watch him meet disaster. She had the dowry her mother left behind, and Second Aunt also had money. Somehow, they could pay off his debts. The Old Master, dabbling in antiques, could more or less earn a bit, and with the allowances given by Eldest Aunt and Second Aunt, he could subsidize Wen Shiyi somewhat. She herself had no shortage of jewelry. If Wen Shiyi were to carry off one chest of it to sell, he'd have his startup capital. Considering the Old Master, she couldn't expose the matter, much less call the police. If it was lost, it was simply lost for nothing. Once he had money, he would have capital to start again. Given the state of their relationship, the only thing he could count on from her was money.

Because she had to guard against a thief within the family, Wen Zhengyu bought an extra-large safe that very afternoon. She locked every valuable item in her rooms into the safe, not even leaving a single piece of everyday jewelry on the dressing table.

When Ye Ling heard from the bodyguards that Wen Shiyi had returned, she hurried home, only to find Wen Zhengyu, like a busy little ant, moving items into the safe that stood over a meter tall.

The safe was heavy. Transporting it from the front courtyard to Wen Zhengyu's bedroom required crossing numerous high thresholds. It couldn't be wheeled in; it had to be carried by manpower. The delivery workers and the bodyguards together carried it into Wen Zhengyu's bedroom. Such a grand spectacle was witnessed by everyone in the household, from top to bottom. Wen Shiyi returned in the morning. Wen Zhengyu put on this performance in the afternoon. Even Ye Ling was rendered speechless: This was truly cursing someone without making a sound.

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