Chapter 13: Never Understood Her

Gu Mianmian, unable to keep her composure after Bao Sihan's mockery, clenched her fists tightly. "What do you mean? I'm only raising a reasonable doubt…"

She put on a pitiful look and complained to Gu Yefeng: "Second Brother, I'm really worried about you. If people found out the painting in your art exhibition hall is a forgery, or of unknown origin… all your hard work would be wasted!"

Gu Mianmian was so practiced at acting pitiful and innocent that she could easily make Gu Yefeng believe her reasons.

Gu Yefeng said gently, "Second Brother knows."

A winner's glint flashed in Gu Mianmian's eyes.

So what if Gu Wenyan married Bao Sihan?

The Gu brothers all doted on her to the skies, while they found their own blood sister, Gu Wenyan, disgusting and contemptible, and didn't care about her at all!

Even though Gu Wenyan had a husband like Bao Sihan… the brothers treated her as a sister even closer than their own blood sister, and would be good to her for the rest of her life.

As for Bao Sihan? A husband was the least reliable thing of all—he might be nice to someone else any day now…

"Sister, I thought Si Han had made himself perfectly clear, but you seem to have trouble understanding plain language."

Gu Wenyan suddenly cut off Gu Mianmian's smug delusions, reminding her in the cruelest way possible:

With Bao Sihan around, this oil painting naturally had no shortage of sources.

Gu Mianmian understood too. She was about to argue back when Gu Yefeng, who had just been comforting her, darkened slightly upon learning the oil painting came from Bao Sihan.

He spoke up: "So it was the Bo Family Head who gave this oil painting."

Bao Sihan smiled faintly and said nothing, but his noble, aloof manner already said everything.

Gu Yefeng's peach-blossom eyes flickered slightly. He asked again, "Then would the Bo Family Head be willing to sell this painting to me? Name your price."

"Gu Second Young Master seems to have overlooked something very important. The painting has already been given to Wen Yan—it's hers, the ownership is in her hands. Asking me is pointless."

Hearing this, Gu Yefeng looked at his sister.

The two siblings had never really communicated much. Since Gu Wenyan returned to the Gu Family, they had met only a handful of times, and every meeting seemed to end unpleasantly.

"Would you be willing to sell the painting to me?" Gu Yefeng lowered his gaze to Gu Wenyan, his tone stiff.

He had always been cold and aloof, with very few people or things he truly valued.

And he was straightforward, never hiding his likes and dislikes.

In the past, facing Gu Wenyan, since he found her disgusting, he had treated her as air. But now, Gu Yefeng's emotions were more complicated than ever before.

Gu Mianmian cut in: "We're all family. If this painting is real, why sell it? Why not just give it to Second Brother? If it were me, I would definitely just…"

"Don't try to morally blackmail me, Gu Mianmian. Come back and see what you'd do once you actually have the right to own a painting like this."

Gu Wenyan gave Gu Mianmian no face at all, leaving her speechless. Then she turned to Gu Yefeng with a smile and refused without hesitation: "I'm sorry, but I won't sell this painting."

Gu Yefeng's brows knit: "You can name any condition."

"I won't sell it under any condition."

Gu Yefeng saw Gu Wenyan's resolve and understood that no persuasion would work. He pressed his lips together, his expression turning cold.

Gu Mianmian, however, couldn't have been happier to hear Gu Wenyan say that, and began adding fuel to the fire beside them: "Sister… do you simply not care about us at all? You've never thought of us as your family, have you? Otherwise, how could you refuse to sell this painting to Second Brother?"

She grabbed Gu Yefeng's arm and said with heartfelt sincerity: "Second Brother, don't worry. Your sister will do everything she can to find an ink wash landscape painting for you. I won't let you down!"

In Gu Mianmian's eyes, it was best that the painting wasn't sold—it would only make the Gu Family dislike Gu Wenyan even more.

In the future, she'd have more chances to sow discord and make Gu Wenyan completely abandoned by the Gu Family!

But the Gu Wenyan of today… never played by the rules, and wouldn't let Gu Mianmian have it so easy.

Gu Yefeng didn't press further. His cold composure returned, and he nodded: "It's fine. I'll keep looking."

It was at that moment Gu Wenyan said, "Although I don't want to sell it to you, I will anonymously donate this painting to the Charity Foundation for auction. Whether you can win it is up to you."

A flicker of confusion rose in Gu Yefeng's deep peach-blossom eyes.

She… didn't want to sell the painting to him, didn't want the money, yet was willing to donate it for free.

This sister… he seemed to have never understood her before.

He thought she was vulgar, yet she could appreciate a painting of such taste. He thought she was crude and petty, yet she could donate this painting without a second thought…

Gu Mianmian was dumbfounded too.

She had no idea what Gu Wenyan was playing at, and couldn't even question it!

After all, Gu Wenyan wanted neither money nor fame… how was she supposed to stir up trouble?!

"Si Han, it's getting late. Let me walk you downstairs."

Gu Wenyan didn't look at them again and left side by side with Bao Sihan.

But the serene, transcendent smile she wore before leaving was deeply imprinted on Gu Yefeng's heart.

"It's cold outside. You're wearing so little—don't bother walking me out."

Near the door, Bao Sihan gave her fingers a gentle squeeze: "Sleep early tonight. I'll pick you up for dinner tomorrow evening?"

Gu Wenyan, held by Bao Sihan's gaze, felt her body gradually grow warm.

She nodded, a sudden shyness coloring her cheeks: "Got it. I don't have any other plans tomorrow either."

The man reached up and ruffled her hair: "From now on, you can come to me directly about anything, as long as you behave, alright?"

At this moment, Bao Sihan had set aside all his edges, looking like nothing more than a gentle, soft man.

But Gu Wenyan knew… this was only because she hadn't touched his reverse scale.

Otherwise, Bao Sihan would become that obsessive, cold Bo Family Head who made people's blood run cold.

"…Alright, alright, hurry up and go."

Bao Sihan smiled, about to leave, but Gu Wenyan suddenly called him back: "Um, aren't you going to ask me?"

A faint smile curved Bao Sihan's lips: "Ask you what?"

"Ask me why I have that painting?"

"No matter why you have it, it's your secret."

Bao Sihan's fingertips brushed Gu Wenyan's cheek, giving it a light pinch, and he chuckled softly: "I have the patience to wait for you to tell me."

Gu Wenyan almost ran all the way back to her room, her cheeks scalding hot as if about to catch fire.

How could this be? Bao Sihan had only said one sentence, yet she was already so... utterly flustered.

She fanned herself with her hand, warning herself that she absolutely could not be this spineless!

Early the next morning, Gu Wenyan had finished discussing the donation arrangements with the charity organization.

Upon hearing that Gu Wenyan was going to donate a painting by Bai Lao, the staff of the charity organization all doubted their own ears.