Chapter 127: She Acted on Lust

"What was Zhou Shuyao's reaction?" Lin Wei asked in a rush.

Gu Yan recalled that pale face and curled the corners of her lips: "Her complexion wasn't very good; she smashed a teacup when she left."

Lin Wei laughed uncontrollably: "Speaking of which, the teacups at the South City Club aren't cheap. Can Zhou Shuyao... afford to pay for it now?"

Gu Yan took a sip of coffee and said: "I even told her that if she wants to buy my paintings in the future, I'll give her a ten percent discount."

"Pfft—"

Lin Wei almost spat out her coffee: "Gu Yan, you're really something."

"But it's what she deserves. She was so smug back then, even sending you photos to try and sow discord. And the result? It actually helped you and your husband grow closer. It kills me."

Gu Yan nodded: "So, I thanked her very sincerely as well."

After a pause, she emphasized: "Absolutely sincere."

Lin Wei gave a thumbs up: "That's killing the heart, it feels so good."

Gu Yan gave a light hum: "Who told her to randomly overcharge Shen Yanhui? I certainly couldn't let her have an easy time."

"Doesn't that bit of money mean nothing to Mr. Shen?" Lin Wei teased her, "He gave you a Lotus-Holding Guanyin worth one hundred million before he even knew you."

"That's different."

"How is it different? Isn't it all just small change?"

Gu Yan smiled: "Because now his money is all mine, and I'm very stingy."

Lin Wei was speechless, caught off guard by being fed a mouthful of dog food.

She stirred her spoon and suddenly sighed: "Hey, seriously, I'm still a bit dazed even now."

Gu Yan's hand paused: "Dazed about what?"

"Just... that you actually got married so quickly."

"It is indeed a bit fast..." Gu Yan thought for a moment and said.

She actually hadn't expected herself to have a whirlwind marriage; it didn't fit her personality at all.

From childhood to adulthood, it wasn't that there weren't men around her—there were excellent ones, and handsome ones—but she just wasn't interested.

But Shen Yanhui seemed different; she felt he was special at first glance.

His lips looked very kissable, his broad shoulders and narrow waist looked very touchable, and those distinct knuckles of his always made her associate him with some lewd things.

She had analyzed herself earlier and reached a conclusion.

She was just acting on lust.

She just liked him physiologically.

Lin Wei was still there wallowing in sentimentality: "Think back to when we used to skip class together, stay up late painting together, and curse scumbags together. I thought back then, how could we not both stay single until we were thirty?"

Gu Yan glanced at her: "What, can't bear to part with me?"

Lin Wei stopped being sentimental instantly and rolled her eyes: "Don't flatter yourself. I just feel like there won't be anyone to curse scumbags with me anymore."

"You can curse your little brother," Gu Yan laughed.

Lin Wei made a "tch" sound: "He's so obedient, I can't bear to curse him."

"Tsk tsk tsk, who was it that said he was too clingy and they couldn't stand it, and now you're saying you can't bear to?"

Lin Wei was exposed and became angry from embarrassment: "Then you used to say Shen Yanhui was a nouveau riche!"

Gu Yan was surprised: "How do you know?"

"Xu Yuan told me."

Gu Yan: "... This little girl."

But mentioning Xu Yuan, Gu Yan suddenly remembered the matter of having her find a glass artist, and she didn't know what the progress was now.

After Lin Wei left, she dialed Xu Yuan's number.

The other side answered quickly: "Miss?"

"Mm, the glass artist I asked you to find last time, is there any news?"

Xu Yuan: "There is, and I've contacted people at his studio, but..."

"But?"

"But his assistant said he isn't in Paris." Xu Yuan paused, "He went to Mali."

Gu Yan was stunned for a moment: "Mali?"

"Yes, a small country in West Africa. They said he's surveying a type of special ore there to make a unique glass glaze. The assistant said that ore is only found there, and he's been there for two months to find the highest purity."

Gu Yan listened and couldn't help but laugh: "Are all artists this crazy?"

Xu Yuan also laughed: "Anyway, the assistant said we have to wait for him to return to discuss cooperation. I asked when that might be, and he said it's uncertain—maybe a month, maybe half a year."

Gu Yan wasn't in a hurry, so she said: "Alright, then we'll wait."

Xu Yuan agreed: "Then I'll keep watching, and I'll notify you the moment there's news."

Hanging up the phone, Gu Yan put away her phone and walked out of the coffee shop carrying her bag.

The weather was misty, and it had actually started to rain. The rain wasn't heavy, just fine and dense, but enough to soak someone.

She stood under the eaves, preparing to call the driver at home, when her peripheral vision suddenly caught someone walking out of the apartment building opposite.

A slender figure, holding a dark gray umbrella.

Jiang Yu.

Gu Yan was stunned.

The other party also saw her, crossed the street, and walked over: "Gu Yan?"

"Jiang Yu? When did you return to the country?"

Jiang Yu stood still in front of her and closed his umbrella: "I haven't been back long. I just moved in yesterday; it's an apartment arranged by the Jingzhou Academy of Fine Arts, right here."

Gu Yan remembered that when they met in Paris before, he had mentioned receiving a visiting invitation from the Jingzhou Academy of Fine Arts.

"Are you settled in?"

"Just about." Jiang Yu looked at her, his gaze carrying a hint of a smile. "What about you? Why are you here?"

"I was having a meal with Lin Wei; it started raining just as we came out."

Jiang Yu nodded and asked with a smile, "How has she been lately?"

Gu Yan: "Doing very well, reaping success in both love and career."

Jiang Yu also broke into a smile. He looked up at the misty sky; the rain was still falling, with no sign of stopping.

He withdrew his gaze and looked at her: "Didn't you bring an umbrella?"

Gu Yan felt a bit helpless: "It was a sunny day when I left the house; who knew it would rain?"

"Shall I give you a ride?"

Gu Yan subconsciously refused: "It's no trouble, I'll just have my driver come pick me up."

Jiang Yu paused and said, "The roads are jammed at this hour, it will take the driver at least half an hour to get here. Let me take you. As it happens, I also have something I'd like your help with."

Gu Yan: "What is it?"

Jiang Yu: "Shall we talk on the way?"

Given this, Gu Yan found it difficult to continue refusing, so she nodded.

"Let's go, the car is over there."

Jiang Yu opened his umbrella and tilted it toward Gu Yan's side, and the two walked together toward the other side of the street.

After getting into the car, Gu Yan thanked him before continuing to ask.

Jiang Yu said: "It's about the school; they are currently preparing a student painting competition with the theme of Impressionist light and shadow expression. Professor Chen is the chair of the judging panel, and she recommended you as a special guest judge."

Gu Yan was a bit surprised: "Me?"

Jiang Yu nodded: "Professor Chen hopes you can provide the students with some different critiques from the perspective of a young artist."

Gu Yan found it a bit strange; when she ran into Professor Chen a few days ago, why didn't the other party mention it?

But on second thought, perhaps it hadn't been finalized at that time.

Jiang Yu continued: "I had intended to send you a formal invitation via email in a couple of days, but since we ran into each other today, I thought I might as well tell you in person. I wonder if you have any interest?"

Gu Yan had no reason to refuse.

The matter was thus settled, and Jiang Yu said he would send the specific details of the competition and the formal invitation to her email later.

The car drove all the way toward the villa area where the Gu Family resided, and the rain grew heavier and heavier.

Jiang Yu parked the car steadily, glanced at the heavy rain outside, and said: "The rain is too heavy, let me walk you to the door."

Before Gu Yan could say anything, he had already pushed open the car door, raised his umbrella, and walked around to the passenger side.

"Let's go."

The rain was indeed heavy, and the raindrops pelted the roof of the car, making a dense sound.

Gu Yan got out of the car and ducked under the umbrella.

Just at this moment, a familiar black Bentley slowly drove near and stopped beside them.

Gu Yan's footsteps faltered, and Jiang Yu stopped as well.

The rear door opened, and a black umbrella extended from inside the car, slowly opening; the water droplets sliding off the edge of the umbrella formed a thin line.

The umbrella was lifted by a slender hand, revealing the handsome face of the man beneath it.

It was Shen Yanhui.

He wore a dark overcoat, the hem of which fluttered slightly in the wind, and his black leather shoes stepped into the standing water, splashing up tiny droplets.

The rain blurred the background, and it was as if only that one figure remained in the entire world.