Chapter 12: Not Short on This Little Bit of Money

Gu Mianmian questioned him directly: "Second Brother, you couldn't have misread it, could you? This painting doesn't even look like Bai Lao's work…"

"Sister, didn't I just teach you to study more and stop making baseless comments in fields you don't understand? It's truly embarrassing."

"What do you mean?"

Gu Mianmian argued back: "I'm just reminding Second Brother. After all, everyone knows now that Bai Lao's works are rarely seen, and even if some appear on the market, they fetch a high price… how much money do you have? How could you possibly afford such an expensive piece!"

What she said was not without reason—in fact, it was true.

After all, in the few years since Gu Wenyan had returned from the countryside, even though the Gu Family treated her well, they wouldn't have given her funds that completely exceeded their estimate.

How could Gu Wenyan afford to buy such an expensive painting?

Not to mention, through what channels could she have bought it?

Even Gu Yefeng couldn't get one.

Gu Yefeng studied it carefully for a few more moments, murmuring to himself: "The brushwork doesn't look forged. On the market, there should be very few counterfeits that can reach this level."

"Second Brother, no matter how real it's made, a forgery is still a forgery!" Gu Mianmian deliberately threw those words back at Gu Wenyan, retaliating for her earlier mockery.

But Gu Mianmian still didn't see the anger and displeasure she wanted on Gu Wenyan's face.

She clenched her teeth: "I know Second Brother is desperate for a painting now. Don't worry, we will definitely find a genuine work by Bai Lao. Stay away from forgeries like this, or it'll be embarrassing to display it later!"

Hearing her say that, Gu Wenyan let out a soft laugh—a gentle smile that nonetheless made one want to stomp with frustration.

Gu Mianmian glared at her, her eyeballs practically popping out: "What are you laughing at? I know you're unhappy that I spoke the truth, but I'm doing this for Second Brother's own good!"

"I'm not sure who you're doing this for, but if you say this painting is fake, I can only feel a little sorry for you."

Gu Wenyan shook her head: "Clearly without a shred of knowledge in this area, yet you can speak with such certainty out of ignorance and foolishness… such courage is truly admirable."

"You—"

"Enough, Mianmian, no need to argue with her over who's better. I suppose you're right—she really has no possibility of owning a painting by Bai Lao."

Finally got her way!

Gu Mianmian, in an exceptionally good mood, was about to walk out with Gu Yefeng when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

Steady, carrying a heart-pounding pressure.

Before long, they saw someone who shouldn't have been here at all.

When Gu Wenyan met the man's deep, ink-dark eyes, she instinctively smiled: "Si Han, why are you here?"

This genuine, unfeigned delight greatly pleased the man. A faint smile appeared on Bao Sihan's cold and aloof face: "The call cut off halfway and you vanished, so I came to check on you."

Gu Wenyan felt a warmth in her heart.

She was fortunate—it seemed that no matter when, the one who truly valued and cared for her was always Bao Sihan.

Fortunately, heaven had given her a chance to start over, allowing her to cherish the person she had once missed.

Tenderness overflowed in Gu Wenyan's eyes as she apologized softly: "I'm sorry, I just accidentally forgot we were still on the phone."

Bao Sihan came to her, caught her hand with a half-smile, pulled her into his embrace, and stared at her with extremely dark eyes: "It's fine."

"Second Young Master, it's been a while." Bao Sihan's expression was calm and indifferent as he turned to look at Gu Yefeng's emotionless face.

Gu Yefeng simply nodded: "Bo Family Head."

"What were you all talking about just now? I could hear you chatting from downstairs."

Gu Wenyan said nonchalantly: "Nothing much. My sister said this painting is fake. I was going to argue with them, but then I thought… good things are meant to be seen by those with discerning eyes."

Bao Sihan nodded in agreement: "Exactly, quite right."

The two of them were practically singing the same tune, making Gu Mianmian's face go white with anger: "Second Brother, listen to what Sister is saying—she's calling you ignorant!"

Gu Wenyan burst out laughing: "Sister, who exactly am I calling ignorant… you should know, right?"

Gu Yefeng's gaze turned cold: "Mianmian, there's no need for pointless arguments. Let's go."

Bao Sihan paid them no heed, and holding Gu Wenyan's hand, walked over to the landscape painting.

"Fresh and elegant, magnificent and grand. With such a level of mountain charm and grandeur, if anyone could forge it, they would have already achieved great mastery and remarkable skill."

Gu Wenyan was somewhat surprised—she hadn't expected Bao Sihan to understand paintings so well, recognizing at a glance that it was genuine.

Gu Yefeng, who had already reached the doorway, predictably turned right back around: "What did you say?"

Neither Bao Sihan nor Gu Wenyan paid him any attention, continuing their own conversation.

Gu Wenyan said: "So if one could simulate it to this degree, even Bai Lao himself would have to give a word of praise."

Gu Mianmian couldn't stop Gu Yefeng from coming back. He stood beside them as well, seriously observing the painting.

Looking at it this way… a change came over Gu Yefeng's stern face—he too saw the trick of it.

If a forgery could reach this level, it would be at a standard where one simply couldn't tell real from fake.

"This painting is genuine."

Gu Yefeng made his judgment.

Gu Mianmian, who had chased after him, couldn't control her volume: "How could it possibly be real?"

Gu Wenyan smiled faintly: "I've told you before—don't casually judge in fields you don't understand, or you'll really make a fool of yourself."

In Gu Mianmian's moment of embarrassment, Gu Yefeng had already ignored her and said coldly: "Name your price. Sell it to me."

This was a rare moment of Gu Yefeng lowering his pride.

Unfortunately, Gu Wenyan really had no need to give him that face.

"Si Han, do you think we should sell this painting or not?"

"Do you like it?"

"Of course I do."

Bao Sihan smiled indulgently: "If you like it, then we won't sell."

He toyed with her fingers, holding them in his palm, his eyes filled with casual cold arrogance: "We're not short on this little bit of money."

Gu Yefeng also felt it was tricky. His relationship with Gu Wenyan had never been harmonious, and now asking her to sell the painting to him seemed utterly impossible.

Just as they were at a stalemate, Gu Mianmian gritted her teeth and thought of another way to sling mud at Gu Wenyan: "Before buying a painting, shouldn't one ask where it came from? Was it purchased through proper channels? If you don't even know these things, what if what you bought is some... dirty goods?"

Gu Mianmian deliberately asked with concern: "Sister, where exactly did you get this painting? Surely Bai Lao didn't sell it to you? And where did your money come from? There must be a lot of things we don't know about in between... I see, the problems here are still huge."

The painting's origin was indeed a question worth raising.

Gu Wenyan was considering whether to answer when she heard the man holding her give a faint laugh: "Are you blind or just stupid in the head—can't you see I'm right here?"