Lady

After her trip to Norway, which was a mix of business and leisure, ended, Ju Hui officially began working non-stop.

She spent a day making a schedule and asked Ao Jiangxian to arrange an assistant. According to Ao Jiangxian's requirements, she chose Bai Yangjia, who was bold, meticulous, good at sculpting, and whose phone was always on.

On his first day in his new post, Secretary Ao arranged for him to go to Ju Hui's house to say hello. He rang the doorbell, but there was no response several times.

He remembered that Ju Hui had said before that she was busy packing up her studio and moving, so she probably couldn't hear him.

He called Ju Hui, and after two rings, a male voice from next door called out to him: "Bai Yangjia."

He turned his head, swallowed stiffly, and the boss Sheng Qijing from the magazine advertisement stood vividly in front of him; the human features were so three-dimensional.

Sheng Qijing's appearance was not accidental; he was going to take him to the loft next door.

Inside, the owner, Ju Hui, was installing a new computer inside a six-meter-high cement box. This was her newly moved studio.

But this was still Sheng Qijing's private residence. Bai Yangjia felt as if he had stumbled upon a secret, and his expression was filled with fear.

Ju Hui comforted him: "I belong to Tera and didn't want to take up the studio resources of my colleagues at Mo Cun. I moved in because I couldn't go against President Sheng's insistence that I not waste the benefits. Don't overthink the fact that it's been idle for so long."

Bai Yangjia nodded and glanced at Sheng Qijing, mentally labeling him as someone who cared about his employees.

But Sheng Qijing added, "I wouldn't insist if others refused, but you're an old friend of mine, so it's different."

Ju Hui and Bai Yangjia both paused in their breathing at the same time.

But upon closer inspection, Sheng Qijing's eyes were open and honest, just like the way he would look at a host during an interview. Ju Hui asked Bai Yangjia to help her unpack the package, instantly snapping out of her ulterior motives.

After the move was almost complete, Sheng Qijing said she was busy and left first. Ju Hui saw her to the door, leaving Bai Yangjia to help her tidy up until the very end.

Before leaving, Ju Hui gave Sheng Qijing the key to the loft.

He was assigned to handle the international transportation and insurance of the old works, ensuring that they were all sent back to China next spring. Ju Hui was to personally find the bulk materials and external suppliers needed for the new works.

Normally, Ju Hui could have arranged for Kan Yu to do it, but he seemed to be preparing something and remained in Lofoten instead of returning to China with them.

Ju Hui didn't ask any more questions, only hoping that he wouldn't leave for the time being.

The phone lit up outside the studio's glass wall.

When did the running shoe cabinet go up there?

She couldn't hear anything through the glass; it was a sudden spot of light that caught her attention.

This made Ju Hui realize once again that she had moved into the same place that hadn't changed in eight years. Looking up, there was a six-meter-high ceiling; turning her head, she saw the old loft filled with mixed emotions. She felt somewhat uncomfortable.

It was Yun Aonan calling.

After clearing customs, she was busy signing contracts and going on business trips, and Ju Hui didn't have time to contact her.

"Xiao Hui, what have you been busy with lately? I haven't heard from you at all."

Sure enough, she asked that question.

Yun Aonan's relaxed tone reassured her a lot. She truthfully explained that she had gone to Norway to meet with the buyer. Regarding signing Tera under Sheng Qijing's name, she said, "The new work has been signed to a foreign gallery, but it will be exhibited in China at the end of next year."

"What kind of gallery is this? Is it reliable?" Yun Aonan asked. "It's not exhibiting at Mochen Gallery, is it?"

Ju Hui choked, "Yes, Mo Cun is one of the best in the country, after all."

Yun Aonan smiled and said, "If you think it's okay, then talk to Brother Jiaping first and then talk to me."

"knew."

Standing in the loft and hearing Yun Aonan say those words again, Ju Hui couldn't help but feel complicated.

People receive different external information in different circumstances.

Ju Hui, who had just gone abroad and hadn't earned enough money, disliked calling Yun Aonan. His occasional expressions of concern felt more like a curse etched on a pillar of shame, piercing her heart and soul.

But after spending several years abroad, Ju Hui paid off all of Bian Jiaping's financial aid in one go and then listened to Yun Aonan's phone call. She was surprised to find that Tromsø was exceptionally sunny, with a clear blue sky and water outside the window, and a sense of freedom, like steam, emanated from every pore of her body.

Now it feels completely different; Bian Jiaping, who was supposed to be Ju Hui's safety net, suddenly decides to abandon her.

This makes all the resentment or pleasure over the years seem utterly ridiculous.

"Okay, I understand."

"Then why haven't you invited me to dinner yet, to discuss how much you're investing in your new work? Aren't you going to let me get a share of the profits?!"

Ju Hui laughed, "What? I was just about to say that."

When Ju Huiren was planning her first solo exhibition abroad, she contacted Yun Aonan. Her discussion of investment with Yun Aonan was largely based on their long-standing friendship.

The two women, who had achieved economic independence, admired each other. Yun Aonan agreed without asking any questions. However, not long after, her subordinates unexpectedly messed up the business and ran into cash flow problems. Yun Aonan, who had never panicked over money, explained that she could borrow some money from her brother.

Ju Hui refused, telling her there would be other opportunities in the future.

After Yun Aonan set a meeting time, Ju Hui immediately went to choose a restaurant, and there was a moment of silence on the other end of the line.

Yun Aonan exclaimed, "You're being too polite. This restaurant is ridiculously expensive."

Ju Hui sent the restaurant she had chosen to her WeChat. It was a rooftop Western restaurant in Taige Phase III, with a high service charge and a dress code.

“Let’s leave it there. I have to apologize to you. Although I know you don’t blame me, I really haven’t been back to Ruobei to see you for eight years.”

Ju Hui never told Yun Aonan about the conflicts between Bian Jiaping, Sheng Qijing, and her.

More or less, Yun Aonan must have some dissatisfaction with her. Ju Hui could only apologize and couldn't explain from the beginning. That would require her to personally expose the dark side of the three of them, which would probably make Yun Aonan laugh: "You are all like pots and lids."

Unaware of the complex emotions swirling within Ju Hui, Yun Aonan sighed and smiled, "...Never mind, it's alright."

On the night of our meeting, the restaurant was dimly lit, and birthday cakes and farewell gifts were common sights. The aroma of bread mingled with very low jazz music in the air.

Ju Hui arrived on time, wearing a new Burberry shawl that she had just bought after returning to China; the old scarf she brought to Norway had been lost sometime ago.

Ju Hui was led deeper into the room by a servant, and from afar she saw Yun Aonan sitting by the window, his elbows propped on the table, his fingertips gently twitching.

As she approached, Ju Hui pulled out a chair and exclaimed that she had arrived too early. Yun Aonan replied, "Not early, because someone brought me here."

"Men?"

"Yes, I'll let you meet me after dinner."

Ju Hui nodded. She wasn't interested in the topic of peach blossoms. She called the waiter to order the food first. While waiting for the food to be served, she took out her iPad from her bag, which contained her concept art.

Yun Aonan has a foundation in sculpture, so Ju Hui showed him more of her manuscripts and Qin Haoman's design proposal.

After finishing his long and rambling speech, Yun Aonan propped his head up with his hand and listlessly lifted his eyelids: "Actually, you don't need to say so much. Just tell me, if you were me, would you vote?"

Ju Hui put down the tablet: "Of course, it's a sure thing, and a lot of money."

Ju Hui's sales target is in the millions; all her efforts are for the Modern Exhibition, and she has to make a profit whether she wants to or not.

In order to reap the benefits of increased online traffic, Ju Hui even took the initiative to participate in the recording of Jiang Yiying's Norway vlog after Sheng Qijing left.

That video is currently pinned to the top of Jiang Yiying's homepage. Due to the stratospheric clouds and various lucky signs during her trip, the comment section has become a huge wishing well, garnering tens of millions of views within half a month.

"You're very confident, then there's no need to say more," Yun Aonan told her to put the tablet away. "What about Jia Ping? Have you asked him if he wants to vote for you?"

“No, he doesn’t know I’m back in China.” Ju Hui glanced at the waiter carrying a tray and leaned back. “He’s one of the reasons I haven’t gone back to Ruobei.”

"Yeah?"

Hearing Yun Aonan's indifferent tone, Ju Hui feared that she might have the wrong answer in mind, but that was all she could explain, and she didn't say anything more.

The conversation stopped there.

"So how are things between you and Sheng Qijing now?"

"...I don't know, but it's not what you think. We just can't be separated for the time being."

"What I meant? Don't slander me!"

The two smiled, and the food was served. Ju Hui gave her the face cream gift she had prepared, which Yun Aonan accepted generously. She took a picture with the dinner and asked Ju Hui to post it on her WeChat Moments.

Ju Hui had forgotten when she last pointed the camera at food: "Do I have to post this?"

Yun Aonan urged her, "Give me your phone."

Ju Hui was helpless. Yun Aonan quickly sent a message, his smile soon disappearing, clearly indicating that he had something to say.

“Xiao Hui, Brother Jiaping came to see me a while ago.”

"Um?"

Ju Hui, who had just swallowed a piece of chocolate cake crust, opened her eyes wide.

“He asked me if I could help him contact you.” Yun Aonan frowned. “He’s lost so much weight. This is the first time I’ve ever thought of using the word ‘pitiful’ to describe him. I wanted to help him, but you’re my friend, and I didn’t even know you were in Norway.”

"He asked you to contact me?" Ju Hui found it somewhat amusing. "I didn't block him, why would he ask you for help?"

Yun Aonan gave a deep "hmm".

The chocolate cake had warm blueberry jam inside. Ju Hui picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and shared it with Yun Aonan, nodding and praising, "It tastes good."

Yun Aonan ate it, his expression complicated.

"Really, why did he ask me to contact you? It's because you haven't been seeing him!"

Yun Aonan sighed, recalling the expression on Bian Jiaping's face when he confided in her, "We're friends, it's okay for me, but you're practically family to Jiaping, right? I've known you since I met you, and you've always been close to Jiaping. Even after what happened to him, you still ignore him..."

“There’s definitely something wrong. I’ve been thinking these past few days, is Jia Ping’s current state because I gave you the keys to Sheng Qijing’s loft apartment back then—”

"No, don't think about it." Ju Hui chuckled at her. "He's not here for anything good. Just ignore him."

Yun Aonan was dissatisfied, but she could only listen to her. She picked up her fork and ate the broccoli florets on her plate, her breathing becoming very light. With her other hand, she picked up her phone and started browsing.

The dining table was quiet for a while, and the two of them gradually lost their appetite. Ju Hui was thinking about whether to get up and go eat hot pot.

"Ju Hui".

"Um?"

When Yun Aonan suddenly called her by her full name, Ju Hui was startled.

"I'm sorry." Yun Aonan put down her phone and looked at her with some difficulty. "I still think it's my fault. Sheng Qijing has a bad personality. I shouldn't have introduced you to him. So I have to help Brother Jiaping out."

"……What's the meaning?"

“I can’t let you guys continue to give me the silent treatment,” Yun Aonan picked up her bag, stood up, and waved to Ju Hui behind her. “I said a man was giving me a ride, it was Brother Jiaping.”

Ju Hui turned around and met Bian Jiaping's gaze precisely.

She opened her mouth, then immediately turned her head away, a strong sense of disgust welling up inside her.

"You guys chat, I'm leaving now."

-

Sheng Qijing had just taken a shower and stood in the living room staring at Ju Hui's post on WeChat Moments for a long time, forgetting that his body had long since cooled down.

Caption: "Family and friends"

Not knowing who Ju Hui was having dinner with, he quickly thought of an opening line: "Is Bai Yangjia easy to use?", but still received no reply.

In just one month, Sheng Qijing went from being able to read Ju Hui's messages without any restraint to now being treated as a friend by her.

He didn't want to overthink things, so he took a deep breath, changed his clothes, and went to his study to look for a job.

The emails were still overwhelming, especially those from Sheng Zhen, which he always had to read.

After arriving in Paris on the same flight as Ju Hui, he met his father, Sheng Zhen, who warmly welcomed him at the hotel, just two hours later.

Sheng Qijing was a little hungry, but he didn't plan to attend the "family dinner" and was also very resistant to showing his fatherly love in front of his subordinates.

The last time they were arm in arm was probably when Sheng Zhen was seventeen and had taken advantage of him.

The topic of this email was the same as what they had discussed in Paris—Sheng Zhen asked Ju Hui to abandon the domestic contemporary art exhibition and instead hold a solo exhibition at Tera in Paris to maximize her profits.

Sheng Zhen was well aware that Ju Hui was better able to make her mark in Europe, which was also the key to the success of the betting agreement.

Sheng Zhen hopes that Sheng Qijing will win the Mo Cun contract and the Tera shares specified in the supplementary agreement, as well as the new Tera director appointment contract.

Such emails came almost every day. Sheng Zhen was so earnest in helping him plan, and Sheng Qijing understood why.

The money and power didn't end up in Sheng Zhen's pocket, but Sheng Qijing was still his son.

If he could gain the approval of the Bu family and be transferred to Paris based on this battle, then joining the family trust would be just around the corner. Sheng Zhen was dreaming of becoming a father and son.

Sheng Zhen knew his son, Sheng Qijing, wouldn't help him. After signing the betting agreement proposed by Bailan, he had been passively responding to the situation until now, thinking he had no chance of winning this game.

Unexpectedly, Ju Hui suddenly joined.

If you disagree, I will personally communicate with the board of directors and Ju Hui herself; I believe they will help you.

The computer screen cast a cold light that couldn't fill the room. Sheng Qijing laughed, his hair trembling slightly. Sheng Zhen had even threatened him.

Normally, Sheng Qijing wouldn't have sent him a single punctuation mark, but today his fingers moved exceptionally swiftly as he replied: 【Go ahead. If you want to divorce and resign tomorrow because of your son's poor decision, then go and talk to him.】

Don't cling to Ju Hui anymore. I won't let her hold exhibitions abroad, and I certainly won't let her sell her products for millions.

Here's a piece of advice for you: One must accept old age. As you approach the end of your life, be more realistic. Don't always place your hopes on others; think carefully about whether you have enough money for your retirement and funeral.

The phone rang immediately after the message was sent.

He quickly picked up his phone to check, but it wasn't Ju Hui who sent it; it was Yun Aonan.

She sent me a photo, taken from a distance, seemingly taken from the doorway, showing Jiaping and Juhui facing each other at the dining table.

Yun Aonan: [I ran into Ju Hui and Brother Jiaping!]