197: The Awakening of the Tool Man

Why should Gu Jun be nice to Jason?

Jiang Zhiyan had also thought about this question and concluded that Gu Jun was a cold-faced person with a warm heart.

"You are brothers by blood."

Jiang Zhiyan told Jason.

There was no surprise on Jason's face; it was obvious he had known this for a long time.

But this did not solve Jason's doubts.

Being related by blood doesn't necessarily mean one person has to be kind to another; it can sometimes be a form of confinement. Because of blood ties, one person can control another without restraint and face no reprimand. When Jason was a teenager, he sought help from the family nanny. He told her he didn't want to be Fu Hong's son at all. The nanny, however, looked at Jason strangely, saying that Fu Hong had sacrificed so much for him and that he was ungrateful for thinking that way.

Fu Hong's attitude towards Gu Jun also supports Jason's thoughts.

Fu Hong and Gu Jun are also related by blood.

Fu Hong just can ignore Gu Jun!

Jason had a lot to say, but he couldn't say it in front of Jiang Zhiyan. Even though he knew that the person who wanted to buy the painting was not Jiang Zhiyan, Jason still followed Gu Jun's previous instructions: "Mr. Jiang, I can paint."

“As long as I can draw.”

Jiang Zhiyan poked and provoked: "Who should I pay the advance payment to? You were the one who negotiated the sale of the painting. Do I still have to pay the money to Ms. Fu?"

An agent's job is to help an artist sell their work. Setting aside Jiang Zhiyan's deliberate pretense, Fu Hong wasn't particularly competent in this area either. A painter can be aloof, but why should an agent be arrogant? Fu Hong made Jiang Zhiyan feel uncomfortable. It was Jason who painted the work, but all the credit went to Fu Hong.

The identity of "mother" makes Fu Hong feel superior when facing Jason.

Other agents serve the painters, but in Fu Hong's case, she, as an agent, completely suppressed Jason's personal wishes. It was Jason who served her!

Jason is just Fu Hong's tool.

Jiang Zhiyan prepared a long phone call to persuade Jason to accept the advance payment himself, but Jason's reaction was beyond Jiang Zhiyan's expectations.

Jason said he didn't want an advance payment, and would pay once the painting was finished and Jiang Zhiyan was satisfied.

"……May I?"

Fu Hong was right about one thing: Jason was a complete idiot. Someone who knew how to negotiate should have pushed for as much advance payment as possible, not refused it. Without it, Jason would be taking a risk. If Jiang Zhiyan just said, "I don't like it," his hard work would be for nothing.

Gu Jun is so smart, how could Jason be so stupid?

Seeing Jason's nervous expression, Jiang Zhiyan felt a headache: "You really should learn how to negotiate with people. Not every buyer is as good as me. Forget it, wait for me to make a call first."

Jiang Zhiyan went to the corridor and called Gu Jun, accusing Jason of not playing by the rules:

"Your brother is truly suited to finding a strong agent. Without someone to speak up for him, his paintings will only sell for dirt-cheap prices!"

Jiang Zhiyan even wanted to teach Jason a lesson and let him know the dangers of society.

Jiang Zhiyan babbled a lot, even more excited than Gu Jun himself, but Gu Jun told Jiang Zhiyan to listen to Jason: "This is his own choice, just do as he says."

Jiang Zhiyan's excitement turned into frustration: "You are the boss, so if you say it's okay, then it's okay. He's not my brother anyway."

Jiang Zhiyan thought that Gu Jun did these things because he couldn't resist the closeness that came with blood ties, and he really wanted to help Jason break free from Fu Hong's high-pressure control. Gu Jun didn't explain and let Jiang Zhiyan misunderstand.

Jiang Zhiyan is a very upright person. There is no need for Gu Jun to tell Jiang Zhiyan about some of his dark thoughts to avoid adding psychological burden to Jiang Zhiyan.

When Jiang Zhiyan gave Jason a positive answer, Jason's eyes, which had always been erratic, suddenly lit up: "He... No, Mr. Jiang, do you agree?"

Jiang Zhiyan spread his hands and said, "This is a good offer for me. I have no reason to refuse!"

Jason seemed encouraged and came up with a new idea.

Jiang Zhiyan was stunned by what he heard.

"I think you really need to learn how to negotiate!"

Jason insisted on his own opinion. Jiang Zhiyan felt that buying a custom painting was more tiring than acquiring a company. By the end of the discussion, Jiang Zhiyan was really exhausted.

During the entire negotiation process, Jiang Zhiyan called Gu Jun several times.

Gu Jun told him to listen to Jason.

After the negotiation, Jiang Zhiyan wanted to ask someone to send Jason back, but Jason preferred to take a taxi back by himself.

It felt so good to be able to make his own decisions, and Jason was addicted to it.

"Okay, then you can take a taxi back."

Looking at Jason's simple and satisfied smile, Jiang Zhiyan felt very tired.

…

When Jason returned to the hotel, Fu Hong was already waiting at the door. Seeing Jason get out of the taxi, Fu Hong's face turned bad: "Jiang Zhiyan really looked down on you! I told you that nouveau riche didn't really appreciate your paintings, so you shouldn't have met him. So, I was right, wasn't he? He didn't buy the paintings in the end?"

“He bought it.”

Jason's tone was unusually cheerful. "Once I give him the custom painting, he'll buy it along with Black Sea. We've already agreed on that."

Fu Hong was stunned.

Could it be that Jiang Zhiyan really wanted to have a face-to-face chat with Jason and then buy the painting without hesitation?

After coming back to her senses, Fu Hong still had a series of questions to ask: "How did you negotiate with him? Did you tell me the specific selling price? I'm telling you, the price of 'Black Sea' can't be less than one million US dollars. Custom paintings sell for more than 'Black Sea'. Rich people have to pay more for a unique custom painting. Also, did Jiang Zhiyan say when the sales contract will be signed? How much is he prepared to pay in advance for the custom painting?"

Jason didn't know which question to answer first.

"Black Sea" is Jason's most acclaimed masterpiece, but it is not Jason's favorite work.

Outsiders would feel depressed after watching "Black Sea", and Jason himself would feel despair.

It was originally a work he'd created during a major emotional breakdown, and he didn't like it at all! Seeing "Black Sea" filled Jason with despair. He tried to destroy it, but Fu Hong wouldn't allow it. Furthermore, Fu Hong repeatedly placed "Black Sea" prominently in exhibitions. Each exhibition was a torture to Jason's spirit, so he never went to any of his own exhibitions!

Jason agreed to sell "Black Sea" to Jiang Zhiyan because he found that Jiang Zhiyan was not affected by the painting at all. The painting would not affect Jiang Zhiyan's emotions. In Jiang Zhiyan's hands, it was just an ordinary painting.

Fu Hong thinks "Black Sea" is worth a million dollars, but Jason thinks "Black Sea" is only fit to be thrown into the incinerator!

He gave "Black Sea" to Jiang Zhiyan as a gift of a custom painting.

Jiang Zhiyan's expression at that time was very interesting. He almost collapsed and begged Jason to learn how to negotiate correctly.

——Mr. Jiang is such a nice person.

"Black Sea" was a gift, and the custom painting wasn't asking for a huge price. Jason asked Jiang Zhiyan to pay according to the quality of the custom painting. In other words, if Jiang Zhiyan felt the custom painting was worth one million, he would pay one million. If Jiang Zhiyan was shameless and wanted to bully Jason into making things easier for him, he could just give Jason a hundred. Anyway, as long as Jiang Zhiyan accepted the custom painting, "Black Sea" would be given to him.

No price negotiation, no advance payment, and buy one get one free?

Fu Hong's voice was sharp: "Are you crazy? Are you mentally retarded? I will never allow you to ruin your paintings. I do not agree to these conditions. Your negotiation with Jiang Zhiyan is invalid!"

Doesn’t it count?

Jason thinks it counts.

Because he had already signed a contract with Jiang Zhiyan.

Fu Hong felt her eyes go dark. She looked at Jason with hatred and a fierce expression, as if she was looking at the murderer of her father instead of her own son:

"You've ruined half my life's work!"