Part 2
She guessed Ning Qingqing had somehow latched onto Gu Youchen and was whispering in his ear. Men, after all, could sometimes be irrational in certain aspects.
For Ning Qingqing’s sake, Gu Youchen had even specifically asked her agency to shelve her.
But what if Li Lan objected? Would Gu Youchen kick Ning Qingqing to the curb immediately?
Would her, Si Luoqing’s, situation then be revitalized?
Thinking of this, her heart trembled with excitement.
However, Li Lan had already withdrawn her gaze. She said to Si Luoqing, “Miss Si, let me introduce you to Director Guo again.”
Si Luoqing’s heart lit up—
Did her reminder just now finally make Li Lan have a good impression of her?
Li Lan turned to Director Guo and said, “I see Miss Si seems very interested in oil painting. We happened to be discussing the handling of light and shadow in this painting just now. Why don’t we let Miss Si share her views as well?”
Si Luoqing hadn’t expected to be tested at all. She looked at the painting in front of her—Woman Sitting by the Window.
She could only say, “I think this light is very good. It comes from outside, looking like early morning. The woman is reading after waking up early, and the light makes her cheeks look rosy and youthful.”
After she finished speaking, neither Director Guo nor Li Lan said a word.
Si Luoqing’s expression stiffened slightly, and she added, “The overall morning light is perfect, highlighting the woman’s gentleness!”
This time, Director Guo seemed unable to listen any longer. He said indifferently, “This is evening light. Morning light is clear and transparent, while only evening light is this soft yet intense.”
Si Luoqing’s breath hitched, and she forced a smile. “I misjudged it. Facing two masters, I was a little nervous…”
Li Lan asked again, “How many colors does Miss Si think were used for this shadow?”
Beside her, Kenny was anxious. He had sent Si Luoqing some information, but who would have thought she would be tested like this? What colors? Isn’t this shadow just black?
Si Luoqing’s palms began to sweat, but she tried to speak up. “Black and gray, and a little orange, because there is sunlight outside.”
Li Lan spoke. “The shadow is ultramarine plus violet. Because there is ambient color, several colors from the woman’s clothes were also added.”
“The most taboo thing in shadows is to use black and gray directly, because it makes the picture look very dull.” Director Guo took over, his tone stern.
“This is the most basic knowledge. If you don’t even know this, I’m afraid you don’t deserve the word ‘like’!”
Si Luoqing’s face instantly turned pale!
Beside her, Kenny was trying to salvage the situation. “I’m sorry, Director Guo, sorry, Teacher Li. Luoqing is usually too busy with her work as an artist, so she might not remember what she learned in oil painting class…”
But just then, a voice somewhere between a boy’s and a man’s rang out. “Wow, I super love this painting!”
Tan Xizhou dragged Ning Qingqing over, only then realizing that Li Lan and Director Guo were both there.
Just as the two were about to greet them, Li Lan raised her hand to stop them, then asked Tan Xizhou, “Tell us your opinion on this painting.”
Hearing this, Tan Xizhou looked at it seriously and said, “The overall picture uses a lot of warm colors, but the clothes on the woman use complementary colors to highlight the subject…”
He said a lot, and both Director Guo and Li Lan nodded slightly as they listened.
Li Lan asked again, “Do you know what colors were used for the shadow?”
Tan Xizhou answered naturally, “Ultramarine plus violet, and there should also be medium yellow, orange-red, burnt umber…”
Hearing this, Li Lan smiled. “Xizhou really likes painting!”
The blood drained from Si Luoqing’s face instantly.
She understood now. Li Lan had tested her on purpose. Seeing that she didn’t know, Li Lan grabbed a random kid to ask the same question, taking the opportunity to humiliate her!
But how exactly had she offended Li Lan?
Just as her heart was trembling and she was embarrassed enough to want to disappear on the spot, Li Lan smiled at Director Guo. “By the way, Director Guo, let me introduce someone to you.”
She took Ning Qingqing’s hand and said to Director Guo, “This is my daughter-in-law, Ning Qingqing. Qingqing, this is the famous Director Guo!”
Ning Qingqing hurriedly extended her hand to Director Guo. “Hello, Director Guo. I’ve seen your works, they left a deep impression on me.”
Director Guo laughed. “Really? You’re not just saying that to flatter me because your mother-in-law said so?”
Ning Qingqing smiled. “That movie Deep Sea, my favorite character was the second female lead. When she died at the end, I was so angry I couldn’t sleep all night.”
Director Guo laughed heartily. “Are you here to demand an explanation from me?”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Exactly. I rarely suffer from insomnia.”
Director Guo smiled at Li Lan. “Teacher Li, your daughter-in-law is very interesting. No wonder she captured Young Master Gu’s heart!”
Li Lan responded with a smile, “Of course… Ever since my son got married, he’s been happy every day. He doesn’t even work overtime anymore!”
As she spoke, she added, “This is Tan Xizhou, Qingqing’s younger brother.”
Hearing this, Director Guo placed his hand on Tan Xizhou’s shoulder and laughed. “Xizhou, I heard your father say yesterday that you guys were here. I originally planned to ask him to fly back together tomorrow, I didn’t expect to meet you here!”
Tan Xizhou obviously knew him too, and his tone was very familiar. “So you see, Uncle Guo, our fate is unstoppable!”
“You brat!” Director Guo put his arm around Tan Xizhou’s shoulder. “Since you like oil painting so much, come on, explain the creative techniques of each painting to Uncle Guo, and then we’ll ask Teacher Li to critique—”
Tan Xizhou patted his chest. “No problem! And you guys don’t know, my sister studied traditional Chinese painting when she was little, and she plays the piano well too…”
Director Guo didn’t doubt for a second that Ning Qingqing possessed these skills, so he beckoned to her. “Let’s go, let’s go, we’ll all listen to Teacher Li’s lecture together!”
The group walked away chatting and laughing, leaving Si Luoqing and Kenny standing there as if petrified.
After a long time, Kenny asked, “Luoqing, I didn’t mishear just now, did I? Li Lan said Ning Qingqing is her daughter-in-law? Ning Qingqing married Gu Youchen?”
Si Luoqing’s throat was dry, and almost all her strength had been drained away. Embarrassment, humiliation, jealousy, and despair for the future enveloped her all at once!
She nodded, hearing her own voice trembling. “From what they said, they’ve already gotten the license. They are really married?”
Kenny’s face also turned pale inch by inch. “And obviously the Gu family is very satisfied with Ning Qingqing… So Gu Youchen targeted me to avenge Ning Qingqing?!”
Si Luoqing’s lips trembled. “Just now I told Li Lan that Ning Qingqing was Shen Zhiqian’s girlfriend and was close to Young Master Gu… No wonder she suddenly humiliated me…”
Kenny still couldn’t understand. “Why would Gu Youchen marry Ning Qingqing? What right does that woman have? After being with Shen Zhiqian, how can she still land someone like Gu Youchen!”
Si Luoqing’s eyes were red. “What’s so good about her? Why does everyone like her! And that brother of hers, how does he seem to be acquainted with Director Guo too?!”
Kenny felt goosebumps all over his body. He muttered, “Maybe there are things we don’t know, but looking at it now, there’s no hope with Director Guo anymore…”
The two stood there, feeling as if they had fallen into an ice cave!
By the time Ning Qingqing and the others finished visiting the art exhibition, it was already evening.
Gu Youchen called. “Qingqing, are you still at the exhibition?”
Ning Qingqing replied, “Yes, we just finished viewing.”
Gu Youchen said, “Good, I’m already at the entrance. You’ll see my car when you come out.”
Seeing this, Director Guo teased, “It seems Qingqing has a date with Young Master Gu, so we won’t crash the party. Teacher Li, if you are free tonight, would you do me the honor of having dinner together?”
Li Lan smiled. “No problem.”
Director Guo patted Tan Xizhou, who wanted to follow Ning Qingqing. “You kid, you think you’re not a big enough third wheel?”
“Hey, I just thought my sister and brother-in-law might like it bright!” Although Tan Xizhou said this, he still left with Director Guo and Li Lan.
Ning Qingqing walked to the entrance and saw Gu Youchen’s car.
The driver was driving today. Gu Youchen sat in the back seat. After she got in, he said, “Qingqing, today we’re going to the plaza opposite Lan Yue. A new restaurant opened there recently, and the food is good.”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Okay, I happen to be hungry.”
Hearing this, Gu Youchen placed his palm on her abdomen. “Oh, it’s concave. You must be very hungry.”
Ning Qingqing’s cheeks burned. “I am not!”
As she spoke, as if to get back at him, she reached out her hand too. “You’re hungrier—”
Her palm landed on the man’s flat, firm abs. She reacted instantly and quickly retracted her hand.
But the sensation on her palm didn’t disappear.
The man let out a low chuckle and leaned close to her ear. “Mm, Qingqing, I am hungrier.”
Author’s Note:
Wuwuwu, sorry babies, I thought I could write up to the kiss, but I didn’t make it… I can only write it tomorrow. I’m really sorry, mainly because I don’t have a detailed outline, and I’m writing by the seat of my pants…
Young Master Gu: Hungry.
Qingqing: Boss, one bowl of white rice!
Boss: Coming right up! We have plenty of white rice!
Young Master Gu: ……
Recommended Reads
