4 04

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Three days later, at the Ink Core Art Center.

Inside the futuristic white exhibition hall, the light was precisely calculated and focused onto the central stage. The audience was packed, with mainstream art media from home and abroad, investors, and numerous independent designers and artists gathered together.

Xu Jia, dressed in a sharp black suit, stood in the center of the stage, with a huge holographic projection behind him displaying the iconic visual elements of the "Mohe" platform.

“In the past, art was confined to specific halls, defined by a few, and collected by an even smaller number.” His voice, transmitted through the microphone, resonated throughout every corner of the exhibition hall, clear, calm, devoid of superfluous emotion, conveying only unquestionable authority. “But times have changed. The torrent of technology will eventually break down all man-made barriers.”

The holographic projection switched to reveal the huge logo and core concept of the "New Craftsmen Fund".

"Today, Inkcore officially launches the 'New Craftsman Fund,' with an initial investment of one billion yuan." His gaze swept across the audience, where designers of all ages, young and old, shone with eagerness and excitement. "The fund will provide each selected new craftsman with comprehensive support, from funding and technology to global channels. If you aspire to express yourself with new materials, new languages, and new thinking, join us and let's build a brand-new art ecosystem together."

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience, and many people turned their eager eyes to Xu Jia.

After the press conference, Xu Jia was in the backstage lounge when Zhou Hui handed him a tablet, which displayed summaries of hundreds of applications received in just a few hours after the fund's launch.

"The response was more enthusiastic than expected," Zhou Hui reported. "Among them, three were young artisans whom the Lu Group had previously focused on contacting through its 'Torch Relay Program'."

Xu Jia: "Tell the judging panel to focus on those three people. As long as their skills are solid and their ideas are innovative, they can be given the best possible conditions."

“Yes.” Zhou Hui noted it down, then added, “In addition, there’s been some activity from the Lu family. In response to the fact that we poached Elder Xu, Ms. Lin Ruoyin devised a new strategy for the ‘Traces of Time’ exhibition at the internal meeting this morning. It’s said that she will personally lead a team to visit several national treasure-level masters who have been retired for many years.”

Xu Jia's finger paused slightly as he swiped the screen.

Zhou Hui keenly sensed it: "Does it need to be addressed?"

"No need." Xu Jia handed the tablet back to Zhou Hui, his tone indifferent. "Let her be."

Zhou Hui took the tablet: "Understood."

Xu Jia paused for a moment and said, "Help me find out what Lu Yan has been doing."

Zhou Hui immediately understood: "Okay."

...

A week later, at the Shanghai International Convention Center, the Huaxia Art Industry Annual Summit.

The main venue was packed, with industry elites, financial magnates, and media reporters gathered in a lively atmosphere. This was an excellent opportunity to observe industry trends and build connections, as well as a stage for various forces to secretly compete.

"Ladies and gentlemen," He Qizhi, the marketing director of Mohe, stood on the stage, a huge holographic projection behind him beginning to display flowing data and images in sync, "when we talk about the value of art, what are we talking about? Is it the auction house's ever-breaking sales records? Is it the unique pieces carefully treasured in museums? Or is it the privileges defined by a few and possessed by an even smaller number?"

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the room, allowing the question to settle in everyone's mind.

“Over the past century, the art market has established a sophisticated set of rules for scarcity. We are told that value comes from the rarity of the material, a specific mine, or an extinct pigment.”

On the holographic projection, auction data curves from Sotheby's and Christie's appeared, along with close-ups of some record-breaking artworks, accompanied by striking red arrows and question marks.

"But is all of this truly the foundation of value, or..." His voice slowed, carrying an undeniable doubt, "...a man-made illusion?"

A subtle commotion began to rise in the audience, with some traditional gallery owners and collectors frowning.

“Let’s look at the data.” He Qizhi raised his hand and pointed to the projector, where a rapidly scrolling, visually processed industry report began to appear. “In the global art market, over 87% of the market share is monopolized by the top 1% of artists and institutions. This means that the voices of the vast majority of creators are drowned out, and their value is not recognized by the rules. And the costs of maintaining these rules—authentication, insurance, warehousing, and logistics—are ultimately borne by those who yearn to access art.”

His tone became more critical: "We spend huge sums of money, fighting tooth and nail for a painting that has a 'story,' yet we turn a blind eye to the aesthetic ideas and creativity it contains. Does this system protect art, or the layers of exploitative interests attached to it?"

The conversation abruptly shifted, and the content on the holographic projection changed dramatically, presenting a futuristic interface and booming data.

"What Mocore aims to do is to reconstruct this system." He Qizhi's voice became firm and powerful again. "We use blockchain technology to deconstruct scarcity. The value of digitally native artworks no longer depends on the uniqueness of physical materials, but on the uniqueness of their creativity, their ideas, and their cultural symbols. We believe that the essence of technology is to break down capital barriers and democratize."

The speech has ended.

A brief silence fell over the audience.

Then, the younger generation seemed to finally come to their senses and burst into enthusiastic applause. At the same time, the older generation sat silently in the audience, their faces showing a hidden wariness and unease about the unknown, as if something was shaking the very foundation of their lives.

The Lu Group was the grand finale.

All eyes were on Lu Yan as he slowly walked toward the podium.

Today he was wearing a custom-made white suit and a tie that was tied perfectly. He stood in front of the podium and raised the microphone a little.

The light fell on him, outlining his tall and straight figure. Lu Yansheng had an exceptionally handsome appearance, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and slightly curly black hair casually falling over his forehead. The corners of his lips naturally had a slight upward curve, and even with his serious expression at this moment, he could not hide the air of a pampered nobleman.

Before speaking, Lu Yan glanced at Lin Ruoyin sitting in the front row, seeking encouragement. At that moment, Lin Ruoyin's gaze was fixed on the pinky ring on his left hand and a limited-edition tie clip from a trendy brand. Seeing this, Lu Yan feigned ignorance and grinned before beginning his speech.

"Good afternoon, distinguished guests." He spoke in a clear and steady voice. "We have just heard many insightful views on the future and on change. Digital technology has indeed opened up new horizons for us, but here, I would like to invite you to turn your attention back to some more fundamental questions."

He habitually raised his eyebrows slightly when he spoke, a gesture that made him appear both serious and somewhat cynical. Even when expounding on serious business ideas, a faint smile still flickered in his captivating eyes, as if everything in the world was nothing more than an amusing game to him.

The words "Anchor of Value" appeared on the huge projection screen behind them.

"When we talk about the value of art, what are we really talking about? Is it the fluidity of data? The precision of algorithms? Or digital code that can be infinitely copied?" His voice echoed in the hall, though he tried to remain solemn, his tone still carried a touch of his characteristic languidness.

"With a century-long heritage, Lu's Jewelry has always believed in a simple truth: true value must have a solid anchor. This anchor is the warmth of the craftsman's fingertips. It is the irreplaceable rhythm of a master craftsman's breath when carving a piece. It is the intuitive judgment of an embroidery master when subtly adjusting the stitches based on the light of the day."

A series of close-up photos of artisans at work appeared on the screen, their calloused fingers carefully setting gemstones. Lu Yan's gaze swept over these images, his expression unusually serious, but after a moment, his fingers unconsciously began to twirl the laser pointer on the podium again.

"Digital technology can simulate form, but it cannot simulate the instantaneous, inspired judgments during the creative process. It's like how the most advanced artificial intelligence can write grammatically correct sentences, but cannot write poems or operas full of life experiences."

Lu Yan paused for a moment, his gaze inadvertently glancing at Lin Ruoyin in the front row. Lin Ruoyin nodded to him, and Lu Yan continued.

The projection switched to the words "The Weight of Time".

“Value needs the weight of time. In the Lu family archives, there is a brooch that has been passed down for four generations. It originally belonged to a female educator during the Republic of China era, then passed to her daughter who was a war correspondent, then to a ballet dancer, and finally to today’s female entrepreneur.”

The screen displays historical photos of the brooch being treasured by its owners in different eras.

"The value of this brooch lies not only in its gemstones and craftsmanship, but also in its witnessing of the century-long journey of Chinese women toward independence. Every tiny scratch is a testament to history. This kind of story, etched by time, cannot be given by any technology."

The scene changes again, this time displaying the words "container of emotions".

"Finally, and most importantly, art should be a vessel for emotions. Many of you here have probably experienced moments like this: a jade bracelet left by your grandmother, a watch given by your father, or a ring from your lover's proposal. These objects are precious not because of their market price, but because they carry our most precious emotional memories."

"Digital assets can be traded, but it's difficult to pass on such emotions."

"Innovation is important, but we cannot deny the timeless values ​​that have stood the test of time just because we are pursuing new possibilities."

"The Lu family believes that the best future is not about replacing old traditions with new technologies, but about empowering traditions with new technologies, giving new life to thousand-year-old crafts through modern design, and allowing ancient traditions to reach more people through digital dissemination. Thank you all."

After speaking, Lu Yan bowed slightly. A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Before the applause had completely subsided, a figure in the audience slowly rose to his feet.

A deep voice rang out in the hall: "A wonderful speech, Mr. Lu. Your appreciation for tradition is truly moving."

This sound—

Lin Ruoyin was slightly taken aback and subconsciously turned her head to look at the source of the sound. When she saw the tall figure standing under the light on the right side of the front row, her fingers unconsciously tightened.

Xu Jia paused slightly, her gaze falling to her left, to Lin Ruoyin, who, like Lu Yan, was from the Lu Group. Her eyes were calm and unwavering, yet they reminded her of that night at Old Master Xu's house, when he had looked at her with the same gaze and uttered the words "utter destruction."

At that moment, holding the microphone handed to him by a staff member, he continued in his calm voice, "But I have a few questions."

"First, you emphasize the irreproducibility of craftsmanship, but the reality is that these national treasure-level masters are getting old, and young people are no longer willing to spend decades mastering a craft that may be replaced by technology. How exactly do you intend to address this fundamental gap in the inheritance you're talking about?"

"Secondly, regarding the value bestowed by time. The brooch you showed, passed down through four generations, is indeed touching, but please tell me, in China today, how many families can still pass down a piece of jewelry for four generations like this? When lifestyles have fundamentally changed, are we romanticizing individual cases while ignoring the real needs of the general public?"

“Third, and most importantly,” Xu Jia’s voice remained calm, yet every word carried a sharp edge, “You simply understand digital technology as replication and simulation. Isn’t that a misunderstanding of technology? Technology is not replicating reality, but creating new reality. While you are still talking about how to preserve the past, the future has already arrived.”

The entire room fell silent.

All eyes turned to Lu Yan, who had just finished his speech. His expression was slightly stiff, and a hint of panic flashed in his usually smiling eyes.

"I..." Lu Yan opened his mouth, his voice coming through the microphone, no longer the boastful words of before, but with a hint of barely perceptible dryness, "Regarding the issue of succession, our Lu family has always had a torch-passing plan, our Lu family..."

Lu Yan tried to repeat some points he had heard in internal company meetings, but because he had never tried to understand them, he simply let fragmented knowledge points float haphazardly in his mind, and at this moment he lacked deep logical support.

He got stuck.

Quiet murmurs began to rise from below the stage, and those gazes were like needles piercing Lu Yan's eyes.

He subconsciously looked at Lin Ruoyin below the stage, his eyes filled with obvious pleading.

At the same time, Xu Jia took in Lu Yan's embarrassment and panic.

Just when the situation was about to reach an awkward low point.

"Mr. Xu's question is very insightful. Please allow me to add a few words on behalf of the Lu family."

A clear, calm female voice broke the deadlock.

Lin Ruoyin calmly stood up and took the spare microphone from the staff member. She noticed Xu Jia's gaze directed at her.

"First, regarding the break in the lineage." Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear. "Just as President Lu just mentioned, the Lu Group has been carrying out the Passing on the Torch Program. We continue to cooperate with top art academies, establish special scholarships and studios, and guide them to use modern tools to recreate in line with contemporary aesthetics based on their understanding of the essence of tradition."

Xu Jia's unwavering, deep gaze made Lin Ruoyin's heart flutter. After she finished speaking, she subconsciously looked away, took a deep breath, and then slowly turned her gaze back to Xu Jia.

"Secondly, regarding the value of time and public demand, Mr. Xu is right; the brooch passed down through four generations is an exception. But Lu's focus is not merely on the inheritance of the material itself, but on the enduring need of contemporary people for emotional connection and the recording of life's imprints behind the act of 'inheritance.' Our 'Personal History' custom series serves this purpose. We create unique jewelry for each client, recording important milestones in their lives—graduation, starting a business, the birth of a child. This piece of jewelry becomes the starting point of their family history. We are not selling nostalgia, but helping contemporary people to begin their own inheritance stories."

"Finally, regarding technology. We are well aware of the ability of technology to create new realities. But we must be clear that technology is a tool, a paintbrush, and the value of a paintbrush lies in what it depicts and who it touches. What Lu is exploring is how to use all advanced means, including digital technology, to make the container of emotion more precise, more interactive, and more capable of resonating across time and space."

She looked at Xu Jia, her gaze growing increasingly calm: "Lu's Group has always believed that the future is not about replacement, but about integration. Tradition needs the wings of technology, and technology also needs the warmth of humanity. Lu's Group is willing to be an explorer of this integration, and we look forward to cooperating with Mr. Xu in this regard in the future."

With just a few words, he effortlessly defused the difficult situation and cleverly steered the conversation toward the possibility of cooperation between the Lu family and Mohe. The tone of the discussion immediately shifted from questioning Lu Yan's abilities to excitedly speculating about the potential value that the alliance of the two giants could bring.

Lin Ruoyin heard the subtle whispers of discussion, a barely perceptible smile of satisfaction playing on her lips. She turned to Xu Jia, her tone composed, and asked, "Mr. Xu, is there anything else I can answer for you?"

Xu Jia's jawline tightened almost imperceptibly for a moment.

A clear realization struck him: Lu Yan was merely a figurehead; the one truly supporting the Lu family from behind the scenes was Lin Ruoyin.

He met her calm gaze, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, his voice a few decibels lower than before: "No, thank you Mrs. Lu."

...

Shortly after the summit concluded, Xu Jia's office in Hong Kong.

Zhou Hui handed a report to Xu Jia: "President Xu, as per your request, we have conducted an in-depth analysis of Lu Yan and his related industries. This is the analysis report."

Xu Jia took the tablet and swiped quickly with his fingertips. The report detailed Lu Yan's assets and investments, focusing on several companies and investment funds that he had recently separated from the main business of the Lu Group and started operating independently.

Yonsei Capital is an investment fund that focuses on trendy art.

Several high-end nightclubs and trendy boutiques in which they have invested;

A youth arts support program bearing his name.

Xu Jia's gaze fell on Yonsei Capital, and he tapped it lightly with his fingertip.

Seeing this, Zhou Hui precisely stated: "This fund has been mainly negotiating two Southeast Asian trend IP projects in the past six months, and has entered the final due diligence stage. It is expected to sign a contract at the beginning of next month."

“Take it over.” Xu Jia said succinctly. “We can offer them 120% of their expected valuation. There’s only one condition: exclusivity and monopoly.”

Zhou Hui's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately understood: "Understood. I will handle it personally to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

“Also,” Xu Jia raised his eyes, his gaze deep, “investigate the fire safety, tax, and copyright licensing of those nightclubs and boutiques he invested in. Once you find any loopholes, you don’t need to report to me anymore; just pass the information on to the relevant media and regulatory departments.”

"Yes." Zhou Hui wrote it down.

"As for this youth artist support program..." Xu Jia's lips curled into a faint, cold sneer, "A week before he announces the final winners, launch the Future Artists Global Award. The judging panel must be authoritative enough, the prize money must be three times that of his, and the publicity coverage must be ten times that of his."

Zhou Hui understood immediately.

"Go do it." Xu Jia handed the tablet back to Zhou Hui, then turned his gaze back to the bustling Victoria Harbour outside the window.

Zhou Hui withdrew silently.

Silence returned to the office.

Xu Jia slowly leaned back in his chair, his slender fingers crossed in front of him.

...