The Art of Teasing - Chapter 176

Chapter 176

Wen Zhengyu and Qi Wei looked at paintings for a while until dinnertime arrived. She invited Qi Wei to stay for dinner, and afterward, Qi Wei took her leave.

Ye Ling wasn't home, and a fine, lingering drizzle was falling outside. Wen Zhengyu went to the study to practice calligraphy while waiting for Ye Ling to return.

Her hand was unsteady now. When she held the brush, her hand trembled slightly, enough to turn characters into smudged blobs. She had no other recourse but to practice more, starting from the very beginning like a novice, drilling the basic strokes—the dot, the horizontal, the vertical, the sweeping left, the pressing right, the hook.

She hadn't been practicing long when Wen Li arrived, saying she had come to check on her and to let her know that Wen Shiyi's trial would open tomorrow.

As children, she and Wen Li often huddled together reading books and doing homework. After reaching adulthood, each became caught up in her own affairs, no longer gathering so frequently, and the idle chatter between them diminished. Fortunately, Wen Li's home was practically Wen Zhengyu's second home. Wen Zhengyu didn't stand on ceremony with Wen Li, telling her to make herself comfortable. She finished the page she was working on before setting down her brush.

Wen Li stood to the side, watching Wen Zhengyu practice calligraphy from the rudiments. The characters were crooked and twisted, worse than what the two of them had written in elementary school. A pang of heartache gripped her. Even if she'd had more to say, she could no longer say it.

Wen Zhengyu guessed Wen Li had come with a purpose. Wen Shiyi's trial opened tomorrow; her lawyer had already informed her of that long ago. Wen Li didn't need to make a special trip—a phone call at most would have sufficed.

Only Wen Shiyi's affairs could have brought Wen Li here at a time like this.

The fact that Wen Li and her Fourth Uncle were willing to go to such lengths for Wen Shiyi stirred something in Wen Zhengyu. Perhaps this was what they meant by adversity revealing true hearts. When Wen Shiyi had schemed against her, Wen Li had stepped forward without hesitation to protect her. Now that she was past the danger and Wen Shiyi was in trouble, father and daughter, mindful of old bonds, were still willing to lend him this helping hand. In the end, Wen Shiyi was still her grandfather's biological son.

She couldn't pretend nothing had happened, nor could she bring herself to forgive Wen Shiyi, but she ultimately couldn't help feeling a shred of reluctance to see him suffer.

Wen Zhengyu retrieved the medical examination report she'd recently had done and handed it to Wen Li without a word.

In Wen Shiyi's case, she was the sole victim. And moreover, Wen Shiyi hadn't directly harmed her—it was Zhao Si and Cen Xun who had struck her. Zhao Si's case was retaliatory assault, and Cen Xun's was an accident; both were handled separately, unrelated to Wen Shiyi's case. Her lawyer said Wen Shiyi had evidence proving he had been coerced. Combined with the fact that she and Wen Li had reported it to the police promptly, his crime was deemed an attempted offense, and the sentence wouldn't be too severe.

Wen Li read the report meticulously, then hesitated, asking Wen Zhengyu, "You're really giving this to me?"

Wen Zhengyu nodded and said, "Let's consider it Grandfather watching over him."

Wen Li said nothing more. She took the report and left.

Wen Zhengyu returned to her calligraphy practice.

Ye Ling was extremely busy. Previously, she had slept in her office; now things were a little better, but she still only returned late at night.

Whenever Wen Zhengyu grew tired, she would go to sleep on her own.

Afraid of waking her, Ye Ling had a bathroom built in the wing. Upon returning, she would wash up there first, then slip directly into bed to hold her as she slept.

Wen Zhengyu felt that the happiest moment of every day was when Ye Ling held her and they slept together.

Except every day, Ye Ling would burrow under the covers, wrap her arms around her, give her a couple of kisses, then gently pat her back and coax in a soft voice, "Sleep now." She'd close her eyes and fall asleep in under two seconds.

Wen Zhengyu could only press close to Ye Ling's heartbeat and count sheep.

She went to bed early. Even if she woke during the night and lay awake for a short while, the next morning she would still rise bright and early, full of energy.

Ye Ling, on the other hand, was roused by the alarm clock with bleary, sleep-filled eyes, stumbling to wash up like a sleepwalker. After washing up, the first thing she did upon reaching the dining room was down a cup of strong coffee. If it weren't for keeping her company during breakfast, Wen Zhengyu suspected Ye Ling might just grab a piece of toast and head out the door.

After finishing breakfast, Ye Ling prepared to leave. She lifted her eyes to look at Wen Zhengyu, her gaze brimming with hope, and asked, "Come to work with me?"

Wen Zhengyu was unwilling. If she accompanied Ye Ling to work, she'd sit there understanding nothing, unable to read documents or learn anything, feeling like a fool.

She saw Ye Ling off, then continued to the Painting Hall to practice calligraphy.

Wen Shiyi's verdict came down. He was classified as a victim-turned-accessory, but because the crime was attempted and no direct harm resulted, he was sentenced to two years for extortion, with the sentence suspended. As for the termination of support obligations that Wen Zhengyu had petitioned for, it was still denied on the grounds that Wen Shiyi had caused her no direct harm.

With great effort, Wen Zhengyu read through the judgment document herself, character by character.

The lawyer asked her, "Shall we appeal?"

Wen Zhengyu shook her head and said, "No need." She rose and walked slowly back to the Painting Hall, continuing to practice calligraphy.

Familiar footsteps sounded from outside the Painting Hall. She turned her head to look and saw Ye Ling had returned. She glanced outside the room, noted that it was still early, and asked, "Back so soon?"

Ye Ling observed Wen Zhengyu's composed demeanor and asked, "Everything alright?"

Wen Zhengyu shook her head gently and said, "I'm fine." She set down her brush and casually crumpled the half-finished page of characters, tossing it into the wastepaper basket beside her.

Ye Ling's gaze swept over the basket, already mostly full, and stepped forward, spreading her arms toward Wen Zhengyu. "If you want to cry, I'll lend you my shoulder." She added, "I'll lend you my chest too, if you want."

Wen Zhengyu cast a flat glance at Ye Ling, then turned to brew tea. She said to Ye Ling, "There are some things I need to think through."

Ye Ling asked, "Regarding Wen Shiyi?"

Wen Zhengyu nodded and said, "I want to wait and see."

As the two were speaking, Qi Wei appeared at the doorway of the Painting Hall carrying pastries. Noticing Ye Ling was there, she let out an "Oh," and said, "The busy one actually has time to come home." She entered the room and placed the pastries in front of Wen Zhengyu, saying, "I was afraid you'd be upset, so I specially bought your favorite pastries and came to check on you." As she finished, she winked playfully at Wen Zhengyu.

Ye Ling looked up at Qi Wei, deeply perplexed. This person had come straight into her backyard, and no one had even announced her arrival.

Qi Wei opened the pastry box and popped a piece into Wen Zhengyu's mouth before taking one for herself. She moved to the side, looking at Ye Ling, and asked, "What's with that look?"

Seeing Qi Wei arrive, Wen Zhengyu knew it was about Wen Shiyi—both her maternal grandmother's side and Qi Wei's side were keeping an eye on the matter.

Ye Ling gave a faint "Hmph." Her gaze shifted from Qi Wei to the pensive Wen Zhengyu, and sourness bubbled forth in a steady stream. She didn't mind when others came, but it just had to be this Qi Nine-Tails. Even when Wen Zhengyu was unconscious, she had cried out the name Nine-Tails. Sour as she felt, she also knew Wen Zhengyu wasn't the type to easily shift affections, so she could only forcefully "hmph" a couple of times to register her displeasure.

Qi Wei asked Ye Ling, puzzled, "Did you take the wrong medicine?"

Ye Ling couldn't be bothered to engage her.

Qi Wei gave it a moment's thought, then suddenly realized with an enlightened "Oh," and said, "Isn't it just because Yu'er painted me? Why be so petty? Although she was worried I'd claim portrait rights and only captured a spiritual likeness, the eyes are rendered quite vividly, you know."

Wen Zhengyu turned her head toward Qi Wei and suddenly realized this was another thick-skinned person who liked to flatter herself.

Ye Ling stood up and walked out.

Qi Wei watched Ye Ling leave, stupefied, and asked Wen Zhengyu, "She can't be this petty, can she?"

Wen Zhengyu's mind was having trouble keeping up. She thought for a moment and said, "It seems... I've heard... Ye Ling has quite a temper." She herself had certainly never witnessed it. She said to Qi Wei, "Why do you insist on provoking Ye Ling?"

Qi Wei "hmph-ed" twice, pinched Wen Zhengyu's earlobe, and asked, "Which is closer—a god-sister or a live-in girlfriend?"

Wen Zhengyu recalled the extended implications of god-relative relationships and glanced at Qi Wei, not daring to say that just because you're my grandmother's god-daughter doesn't make you my god-sister. She merely explained, "Once the twelve sets of betrothal jewelry are finished, she'll be my official fiancée." As she spoke, she removed Qi Wei's hand from her ear.

Qi Wei "heh-heh-ed" a couple of times, instantly realizing that comparing who Wen Zhengyu favored more, her or Ye Ling, was pure masochism. But it still irked her a little.

Just as she settled back onto the sofa, Ye Ling, who had walked away, returned, bringing out two paintings to show her.

One was Wen Zhengyu's painting of Ye Ling—a bare back, with a glittering golden Phoenix Bird across her shoulder blades.

Qi Wei's eyes went wide. She bounded over to the Phoenix Battles the Heavens scroll that Wen Zhengyu had hung up and carefully compared the Phoenix Bird in the two paintings, discovering they looked remarkably like the same bird.

Ye Ling, smiling radiantly, invited Qi Wei—who was staring at her in disbelief—to admire the masterpiece of herself that Wen Zhengyu treasured.

Ye Ling's childish behavior and brilliant smile made Wen Zhengyu's heart quiver nervously. She didn't dare stop Ye Ling from showing off her masterpiece. She had wanted to cut out only the calligraphy and have it mounted, but Ye Ling, as if reading her mind, had told her very bluntly, "I was afraid you'd only mount the calligraphy," and amidst her overwhelming schedule, had personally delivered it to the mounting shop to have it done.

Ye Ling invited Qi Wei to witness what in the eyes of a lover, a beauty appears truly meant.

Qi Wei saw a picture that looked like some kind of mountain fiend, or a wild monkey, or a long-haired ghost. Were it not for the inscription and signature, she wouldn't have dared swear it was Wen Zhengyu even if her eyes were poked out. She further noted that the painting was entirely hand-mounted, clearly intended for careful preservation. She couldn't bring herself to say something like "For Wen Zhengyu to treasure this painting, her love for Ye Ling must be true." Thoroughly speechless, she asked Ye Ling, "Is this what Wen Zhengyu looks like in your eyes?"

The cold daggers in Ye Ling's eyes flew at Qi Wei like a blizzard.

Wen Zhengyu's gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them, suddenly realizing these two seemed to clash by nature. An image surfaced in her mind's eye: Nine-Tails reverting to her true form and leaping to claw at the Phoenix Bird. The nine-tailed fox and the Phoenix Bird fought every day, sending feathers and fur flying in chaos.

Wen Zhengyu shook her head vigorously, dispelling the image that had surfaced.

Even if she wanted to paint the two of them fighting, she couldn't right now.

Ye Ling and Qi Wei didn't actually come to blows, but the two traded barbs back and forth quite intensely. That they could still sit at the same table and eat after their quarrel impressed Wen Zhengyu greatly.

The next day, after Ye Ling had gone to work, Qi Wei came again, gossiping with particular curiosity to inquire, "Is that bird on Ye Ling's back really innate?"

Bird? Wen Zhengyu corrected her: "Phoenix Bird." She glanced at Qi Wei and said, "It's a tattoo."

Qi Wei said, "Lend me your Nine Tails for a few days. I'll return it."

Wen Zhengyu didn't sell paintings, but when there were exhibitions, she often lent them out for display, and she was generous with such loans. Besides, what Qi Wei was borrowing was Nine Tails. She thought perhaps Qi Wei and Nine Tails truly shared some destiny.

She lent Nine Tails to Qi Wei. A few days later, Qi Wei came back, pulling aside her collar to show Wen Zhengyu the tattoo on her shoulder.

Wen Zhengyu stared at the vividly lifelike nine-tailed fox tattooed on Qi Wei's shoulder, her whole mind going blank. She held it in for a long while before asking, "Weiwei-jie, you... toward me... don't..."

Before she could finish, Qi Wei tossed her an eye roll. "Don't flatter yourself."

Wen Zhengyu thought to herself: It's tattooed on your skin. I'm going to overthink this a little.

She quietly put the painting away, then said to Qi Wei, "I'll tell the gate guards not to let you in anymore."

Qi Wei asked, "Why?"

Wen Zhengyu answered honestly, "Afraid you might like me." After saying it, she felt her own face had instantly thickened a foot, though it still burned a little.

Qi Wei "hmph-ed" twice and asked, "Want to test that?"

Wen Zhengyu backed down. She didn't dare.

She had nothing going on in the afternoon and was feeling terribly stifled, so she called Qi Wei along and went to the jewelry shop once more to hurry them along on her betrothal gifts.

Neither Wen Li nor Fourth Brother Wen could have anticipated that after previously agreeing with Wen Shiyi that he would voluntarily relinquish Wen Zhengyu's support obligations in exchange for their team of lawyers doing everything to help him fight the case, Wen Shiyi would renege in court.

Even more unexpected was that Wen Shiyi had actually hired a lawyer to sue Wen Zhengyu, demanding his father's estate. Others might not know exactly how many paintings Old Master Wen had left behind, but Wen Shiyi was his biological son and had a rough idea of the number of paintings and other assets. Even though Old Master Wen had previously paid off his debts and his second sister was still in the country, his father had never been truly poor. His father had a wide circle of friends; his skills in calligraphy, painting, and antique appraisal were all profitable. With old friends lending support, while he might not have made a fortune, earning nearly ten million a year was achievable.

Wen Shiyi told Fourth Brother Wen and Wen Li, "Now I have no other thoughts. I just want to keep a little retirement money. Besides, my father's things should rightfully be mine. Only after I die would it be Xiaoyu's turn to inherit."

Wen Li said, "Third Uncle, if you want to reclaim Grand Uncle's belongings, I have no right to interfere or object. But I'll remind you of one thing: you've already ruined Xiaoyu, and now you've sold out me and my father. From now on, your survival or death has nothing more to do with us." She paused, then added, "I'll also remind you—while you were in detention, you received priority protective treatment. From now on, that treatment is gone." With that, she issued an eviction order directly, having someone escort Wen Shiyi out.

Fourth Brother Wen's face was ashen. He sighed and said, "I'll go talk to Xiaoyu myself." So much effort had been spent pulling him out, and the moment he was free, there was no peace.

Wen Li sent a bodyguard to tail Wen Shiyi and see who he contacted.

That evening, the bodyguard reported back: Wen Chen and her father, Second Brother Wen, had settled Wen Shiyi into a place.

Fourth Brother Wen went to see Wen Zhengyu that night. Before going, he had specifically called Ye Ling to explain the situation.

Wen Zhengyu wasn't the slightest bit surprised. Even if the court ordered her to pay Wen Shiyi support and she paid according to the legal statutes, the monthly support amount wouldn't even cover Wen Shiyi's clothing expenses. She asked, "Has he gone to pay respects to Grandfather?"

Fourth Brother Wen said, "He went the day after he got out." He added, "He cried." After saying this, he saw Wen Zhengyu sitting there, her eyes staring blankly into the courtyard, lost in who knows what thoughts.

A long time passed before Wen Zhengyu slowly rose. She stepped over the threshold of the guest hall and walked out into the persistent, gloomy drizzle.

Wen Li suddenly heard something: when Wen Shiyi had colluded with Wang Zidao, he had learned about some of Wang Zidao's dealings. Then she recalled the hidden recordings and videos Wen Shiyi had produced to prove he had been coerced by Wang Zidao. On that basis alone, certain people would start overthinking things—they'd likely prefer to kill the wrong person than risk letting him live.

Wen Shiyi disappeared without warning. Wen Chen and Second Brother Wen stirred up a commotion, claiming Wen Zhengyu had murdered her own father for the inheritance.

Wen Zhengyu had her lawyer sue the father and daughter for defamation.

Not long after, it was also exposed that Second Brother Wen and Wen Chen had instigated Wen Shiyi to come out and fight Wen Zhengyu in court over Old Master Wen's estate.

The Wen family staged yet another farce.

As for Wen Chen and Second Brother Wen accusing Wen Zhengyu of killing Wen Shiyi, or even claiming she'd murdered him to seize Wen Ru's meager inheritance, anyone familiar with the Wen family's circumstances found it absurd. Wen Ru's money had all gone to paying Wen Shiyi's debts; what he left behind wasn't even enough to cover Wen Zhengyu's bodyguard expenses. Many secretly speculated whether Wen Shiyi's excessive troublemaking had gotten him dealt with by the Lian family. Others guessed Ye Ling had acted. Guesses abounded. The police searched too, but there were no leads or progress.

Though family matters were plentiful, the turmoil played out externally. Whether it was lawsuits or swirling rumors, Wen Zhengyu didn't take it much to heart, quietly continuing to practice calligraphy and draw lines.

Ye Ling always had an endless stream of work. After dealing with the backlog, she began busying herself with selling the holding company shares. She, Vice Chairman Xu, and General Manager Zhang—the three largest shareholders—were packaging and selling eighty-four percent of the Holding Group's shares together in one lot.

A packaged sale, not sold piecemeal. Those minority shareholders who had been desperate to increase their stakes and squeeze Ye Ling out now wanted to buy shares. Fine—eighty-four percent of the Holding Group's equity. If they could swallow it in one gulp, the previously signed agreements stipulated that under equal conditions, Ye Ling and her partners would naturally sell to them first.

Ye Ling had only mentioned in passing the matter of selling the Holding Group shares. When she brought it up, they were still looking for a buyer. After that, she was so busy that Wen Zhengyu barely saw her anymore.

The weather gradually warmed. It wasn't until Wen Zhengyu changed into short sleeves that she realized with a start she had spent an entire spring nearly housebound, barely stepping outside.

She looked at the jewelry cases arranged in the room and recalled the betrothal gifts stored in the storeroom. Only then did she remember that Ye Ling had been busy the entire time. If she wanted to present the betrothal gifts, she not only needed Ye Ling's consent, but Ye Ling also had to be present for the marriage discussions. She could hardly remember the last time she'd seen Ye Ling—was it ten days, or two weeks?

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