Chapter 11: Without You As A Sister

The man before her was devastatingly handsome, yet radiated an insurmountable coldness; the way he looked at her held no warmth whatsoever, as if she were nothing but air…

Wasn't this the famously cold and heartless second brother?

The three brothers of the Gu Family each had their own distinct looks — all with the same sharp, chiseled features and noble, elegant bearing — yet their temperaments were worlds apart.

As the eldest of the Gu Family, Gu Yechen was proud, stern, every inch the domineering CEO, his gaze brimming with intimidating authority.

Gu Yefeng, two years younger, had the mercurial temperament of an artist — few words, cold and aloof; anything that didn't earn a place in his regard was dismissed like air.

As for that third brother… Gu Wenyan had no time to think about him now.

She looked straight at her second brother standing before her: "When did you get back?"

Gu Yefeng's still, dark eyes held not a ripple of emotion; he looked at her as if she were a stranger: "Gu Wenyan, I've heard about what's been happening at home lately."

He spoke in the briefest, most efficient way, delivering the cruelest words: "In my heart, Mianmian is the only sister I have. You've come back to the Gu Family — keep to yourself, don't go provoking her. Otherwise, if you could come back, I have ways to make you leave."

Having dropped these heartless words, he turned to leave.

Gu Wenyan's heart clenched. Even though she had long prepared herself, and had never held too many expectations of her brothers, when the moment truly came…

Witnessing their coldness and cruelty toward her with her own eyes still hurt.

Gu Wenyan clenched her fists, her voice clear and steady as she called out to him: "Gu Yefeng."

The man paused, and when he looked at her again, his eyes were full of displeasure, as if her impoliteness disgusted him.

Gu Wenyan smiled, indifferent: "It's what you just said yourself — you only have one sister, Gu Mianmian."

Gu Wenyan smiled, the rouge-tinted curve of her lips lifting slightly, and instantly the very air around her seemed to come alive.

"There are some things I've already said to eldest brother. I think I need to say them to you again."

She didn't put on an air of aggressive warmth or speak in soft, gentle tones, yet every word she uttered carried force.

"This is my home. Whether you acknowledge it or not, I am my parents' biological daughter. So I'm not going anywhere, and no one can drive me away."

Having said that, Gu Wenyan was the first to leave him with a slender yet upright back, brimming with stubbornness.

Gu Yefeng slowly furrowed his brow.

In his memory, this sister who had come back from the countryside… only ever showed him a chaotic jumble of clashing colors.

As an artist, he deeply loathed the coarse, muddled air about Gu Wenyan.

Yet from the very first moment he had laid eyes on her just now, he had clearly sensed something was different.

Only, Gu Yefeng hadn't yet had enough time to sort out exactly what it was about Gu Wenyan that differed from his expectations.

Gu Yefeng watched Gu Wenyan's back about to disappear, and seemed to see, compared to before, colors that had become pure. He instinctively took a few steps forward, wanting to call out to her, to say something.

Just as Gu Wenyan was about to close the door, his gaze passed over her and landed on the nightstand behind her.

Lofty mountains, swirling mists — rich, magnificent brushwork, primarily ink, splashed into complex color structures, yet producing the freshest, most elegant landscape painting.

This painting — grand, dignified, free and ethereal… at a glance he could tell it was a masterpiece by that very Bai Lao whose work he had long sought in vain!

Gu Yefeng instantly forgot what he had originally meant to say, reaching out to brace against the doorframe to stop her: "Wait."

Gu Wenyan narrowed her eyes slightly, asking with some displeasure: "Is there something else?"

This aloof attitude mirrored Gu Yefeng's own from earlier, treating him entirely as a stranger.

Yet when he had first arrived, the "Second Brother" that had slipped from Gu Wenyan's lips upon seeing him had clearly carried joy and affection.

It was obvious — he was the one who had destroyed all of that.

Gu Yefeng was surprised that he could feel all of this in such a short span of time. For matters beyond art, his perceptiveness was always remarkably dull…

"You… where did that painting of yours come from?"

A note of disbelief and puzzlement crept into Gu Yefeng's cold voice.

Bai Lao had long been in seclusion; every single one of his works had become a treasure collectors would never part with — priceless and unobtainable, new pieces nearly impossible to find. So why was his splash-ink landscape painting sitting so casually on Gu Wenyan's nightstand?

Gu Yefeng's brow furrowed even tighter; he felt Gu Wenyan's treatment of it was simply a waste of a masterpiece.

Gu Wenyan countered: "Where this painting came from — what business is it of yours?"

Faced with her obvious coldness, Gu Yefeng, remarkably, softened his temper: "Could you let me go in and take a look?"

"…" Gu Wenyan hadn't quite expected that either.

This second brother of hers had always been rather odd…

He seemed to really like this painting by Bai Lao?

"Come in, then." One look wouldn't cost her a thing — Gu Wenyan nodded in agreement.

Gu Yefeng followed her into the room, and only upon entering did he realize how small this room actually was.

He swept a glance around, then quickly turned his attention back to the painting he valued most.

Just as he was about to examine it closely, Gu Mianmian, who had been secretly watching all of this, could hold back no longer and hurried over: "Second Brother!"

Gu Mianmian put on a look of pleasant surprise: "How come you're back so suddenly?"

"Mm. Mianmian."

At the sight of Gu Mianmian, Gu Yefeng's expression softened considerably.

Gu Mianmian cast a smug glance at Gu Wenyan, then went to his side to act coquettish: "Second Brother, why did you suddenly come to sister's room?"

She said with hidden meaning: "She's married now, you know — it's not really proper to come to her room…"

"Oh, I just came to look at a painting. I'll be leaving soon."

A painting? Gu Mianmian had only been worried Gu Wenyan would lure Second Brother into her room and use family ties to win him over.

Seeing that Second Brother had only come in for a painting, Gu Mianmian breathed a sigh of relief: "What painting? Second Brother, I've actually been helping you look for works by that Bai Lao you mentioned — I've got some leads!"

She said happily: "I should be able to find out some news soon. Maybe I can buy a masterpiece by Bai Lao before your Art Museum opens!"

As Gu Mianmian was claiming credit before Gu Yefeng, something flickered in Gu Wenyan's eyes.

She understood now… no wonder Gu Yefeng had come to her room — it was for a painting by Bai Lao?

Glancing at the exquisite painting on the nightstand, Gu Wenyan smiled without a flicker of expression.

Gu Yefeng met Gu Mianmian's deliberately sweet smile and said gently, "Mianmian, thank you, but Bai Lao's work should already have been found."

His mind was entirely on the painting, and he began to examine the landscape painting on the bedside table in detail.

Gu Mianmian, on the other hand, was visibly shocked. How could that be?

After Bai Lao retired from the world, his paintings were so hard to come by—how could one possibly be in Gu Wenyan's hands?!