Gu Beixian's dark eyes flickered with a trace of starlight as he rose from her figure.
Pressing his lips together, he silently gazed at her for a while.
He lowered his head, kissed her nose gently, and muttered, "Words must be kept."
Su Huai murmured in agreement.
Unsatisfied with her attitude, Gu Beixian remarked, "Too perfunctory, try again."
Su Huai wanted to laugh inwardly.
Clearly, the initiative was in his hands.
Yet somehow, it seemed as if she didn't want him.
After a moment of thought, she lifted her arm to loop around his neck, and her lips approached his ear as she whispered softly, "Many people like you because you're handsome, wealthy, influential, and charming. But some people like you because they've seen your hardships and feel for you. They silently sit beside you, wanting to share their shoulders and candies with you."
Gu Beixian's gaze hardened.
Slowly, he lifted her head, pressing his face against hers.
After a while, he spoke up, "I asked you to stimulate desire, not emotions. Now it's all lodged in the heart, not in the kidneys."
Su Huai was on the verge of tears from his teasing.
She only knew how to speak such heartfelt truths.
Those blunt and flirtatious words were beyond her.
She lightly poked his waist and tentatively said, "If it's lodged in the heart, shall we go home?"
"No need, this is sufficient." He lowered his head, kissing her lips and gently nibbling on their soft petals.
His kissing technique was excellent.
Su Huai was kissed into a soft and tender state, alluring as water.
Although her frame was slender, it was well-proportioned.
The most enticing aspects were her delicate and supple waist and graceful hip line.
Despite her appearance being pure and innocent, impervious to profanity, in Gu Beixian's eyes, she was the most alluring and captivating, resonating with one's heartstrings.
Outside the car, the river wind was fierce, the tree shadows swaying, and indigo-colored clouds veiled half of the moon.
Inside the car, the atmosphere was thick with romance and charm.
The next day,
Su Huai received a sudden text message from the bank, notifying her of a one million deposit into her account.
The remittance account belonged to: Kyoto Zhengrong Arts and Crafts Import and Export Trading Company.
This was the parent company of Zhengrong Auction House.
Su Huai found Gu Jinyao's business card and dialed the number on it.
After a ring, the call was answered.
"Su Huai." He called her name softly.
His voice was deep and manly, a pure bass.
For some reason, every time she heard him call her name, Su Huai felt a peculiar sensation.
It felt as though those two short words were brimming with deep affection.
But women tended to be overly sentimental, she thought she was probably overthinking it.
Su Huai politely said, "Mr. Gu, my account just received a one million deposit from your company. Did your finance department make a mistake?"
Gu Jinyao chuckled, "No mistake, it was me who instructed the transfer."
Su Huai was slightly puzzled, "But we've already settled the payment for the painting. Why transfer the money to me?"
"Your painting is still in my office. Before I could deliver it to my father, a regular client spotted it and wanted to buy it. They offered thirteen million, one million more than what I offered you."
Su Huai pondered for a moment before saying, "Doesn't the auction house usually charge a ten percent commission? I'll transfer the one million back to you."
With unfamiliar people, she preferred to keep accounts clear and avoid owing favors.
Gu Jinyao casually replied, "We didn't go through the auction channel, so I won't charge you a commission."
Su Huai hesitated, "But..."
"If you really want to thank me, just treat me to a meal."
This request was not unreasonable at all.
If it were someone else, Su Huai would have agreed.
But Gu Beixian said he didn't like her getting too close to him.
Su Huai politely declined, "You've helped me so much, I should treat you to a meal, but I'm a bit inconvenienced at the moment. How about this, since your father likes Ba Da Shan Ren's Ink Lotus, I'll copy one for him. It won't take long, maybe less than ten days. However, I'll only copy it, not fake it. You'll have to figure out the seals yourself."
Gu Jinyao paused for a moment, then said quietly, "Alright, I've taken a photo of the painting with my phone. I'll send it to you later."
"No need, I've already memorized it in my mind. I guarantee I can copy it exactly."
Gu Jinyao fell silent for a moment before saying very softly, "You're still as clever as ever."
Su Huai's heart trembled suddenly. "What did you say?"
Gu Jinyao chuckled and then raised his voice several degrees, saying, "I said, you're even smarter than I imagined."
Su Huai felt she might have misheard again and casually replied, "It's a skill developed from childhood, practice makes perfect."
"The seal on the painting, use yours. I believe that you'll become very famous in the future. When your reputation soars, the value of the Ink Lotus you copied will naturally skyrocket."
"You're too kind." Although she said this, Su Huai felt very happy inside. It was a feeling of being acknowledged.
After hanging up the phone, Su Huai walked into the study and hung a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door.
She ground ink by hand.
Grinding ink was the first step in painting, which could cultivate and calm the mind.
After grinding the ink, Su Huai held the brush and walked to the spacious desk.
A piece of ancient Xuan paper lay on the table.
Su Huai closed her eyes and slowly replayed the composition, strokes, and artistic conception of Ba Da Shan Ren's Ink Lotus in her mind.
His style was renowned for its bold ink strokes, drawing inspiration from nature, concise brushwork, grandeur, and originality.
Having copied so many ancient ink paintings from childhood to adulthood, Su Huai felt that Ba Da Shan Ren's paintings were the most difficult to emulate.
Chinese painting didn't emphasize perspective or three-dimensionality; instead, it had to resemble but not be exactly like the subject.
The most accurate copies were considered the lowest quality, while those with slight variations were deemed exquisite, and the highest level was called transcendent.
She believed that Ba Da Shan Ren's paintings were transcendent.
His paintings always conveyed a sense of desolation, loneliness, and sadness, reflecting his forlorn life and neglected feelings.
He was originally a descendant of the Zhu royal family, but his life was tumultuous and wandering.
In his own words, his paintings were "few ink dots but many tear dots, the mountains and rivers remain as they were. Amidst the turbulent times, coconut trees sway, leaving the delicate brushstrokes to carry the literary legacy."
A week later,
Su Huai completed two copies of Zhu Da's Ink Lotus.
The first
one lacked in artistic conception, so she had it framed and hung it in her own study.
The second one, she was particularly satisfied with. It captured the form, spirit, and charm perfectly, with its withered leaves and ink lotus evoking a desolate and chilling atmosphere.
After finishing, Su Huai called Gu Jinyao and said, "Mr. Gu, the painting is done. Shall I send it to you or would you like to send someone to pick it up?"
"Thank you for your hard work. How about we meet at a place for dinner, and you can hand the painting to me?"
Su Huai hesitated, "I..."
Gu Jinyao remained silent for a moment before saying, "Everyone needs to eat. It's just a dinner invitation, won't take up much of your time."
With the conversation at this point, if Su Huai continued to refuse, it would seem too ungrateful. She could only agree.
They agreed to meet at a private kitchen restaurant the next evening at six o'clock.
After hanging up the phone, Su Huai looked at the Ink Lotus on the table, deliberated for a moment, and then called Gu Beixian.
Once connected,
She said, "Do you have time tomorrow evening at six? I have a dinner engagement and I'd like you to accompany me."
Gu Beixian paused for a moment, then smiled and asked, "Whose dinner engagement requires you to go to such lengths?"
Su Huai whispered softly, "Gu Jinyao."
Gu Beixian paused, his grip on the phone gradually tightening, almost deforming it.