59. Barrier

Who is he?

Saxon felt Xue Lu's strength, but his smile remained: "Are you free tonight? How about a casual dinner?"

Looking at the older and elegant man in front of him, Xue Lu did not ask about his relationship with Song Qinggui like the others. He seemed not to care whether they were husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, or just ordinary partners. This indifference made him seem confident.

Xue Lu glanced at Song Qinggui and saw "evasion" in her expression for the first time.

For the first time, the once sharp and outspoken Song Qinggui became listless and sheathed all his thorns.

Xue Lu felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. He didn't like Song Qinggui's behavior, and at the same time, he couldn't help but wonder why she was acting this way.

Song Qinggui felt the two men's gazes on her, but she forced herself to remain calm: "No, we're leaving Hong Kong tonight."

Xue Lu looked at Song Qinggui with a puzzled expression.

Saxon smiled, a smile that held a gentle warmth: "I overheard you talking earlier, and you clearly seem very interested in tomorrow's auction."

Song Qinggui was speechless, but quickly sneered, "It's hard for you to hear our whispers. After all these years, you still haven't learned to be upright and honest."

Saxon was not angry at Song Qinggui's accusations, and his smile remained unchanged: "Come and see tomorrow, some of the exhibits are really good."

After finishing his sentence, Saxon didn't linger. He strode a dozen meters with a flourish, then suddenly turned back: "Qing, it's a pleasure to see you again. I will consider this reunion as destiny. See you tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Song Qinggui felt all her strength drain away, and she felt cold, so she couldn't help but shiver.

Xue Lu stared at the distraught Song Qinggui for a long while before finally speaking: "Who is he?"

Song Qinggui remained expressionless, but a tear rolled down her cheek. She mechanically raised her hand and wiped it away. "A painter, and also a businessman. Xue Lu, let's go back to Lancheng. Let's go back tonight."

Song Qinggui hurriedly headed towards the exhibition hall exit, but Xue Lu grabbed her arm: "Why?"

Song Qinggui didn't speak; only his eyes revealed exhaustion and helplessness.

Xue Lu's heart suddenly tightened: "Are you afraid of him?"

"I……"

"Why?"

Song Qinggui looked pained, but Xue Lu didn't press him further: "Never mind, we'll talk about it when we get back."

As the two left the exhibition hall, Chen Fangqi, who was toasting and exchanging drinks with others in the banquet hall, glanced at the corridor out of the corner of her eye and saw Song Qinggui's expression. She couldn't help but tilt her head and look curious.

Just as she was lost in thought, Jin Runyong pulled her along: "Qiqi, come here."

Chen Fangqi turned around and saw a strange man, whose gaze seemed to have just returned from the other end of the corridor.

Jin Runyong enthusiastically introduced: "Qiqi, this is the famous artist Mr. Saxon. His paintings are priceless."

Kim Yoon-young has three galleries in China and two in South Korea. Saxon is a leading Impressionist painter of his time, and his paintings are highly favored by royal families in various European countries. Galleries that can exhibit his paintings see their value skyrocket.

Jin Runyong had invited Saxon to hold an exhibition at his gallery countless times, but he had always refused. He never expected to run into him at the auction this time, so of course he couldn't let this opportunity pass.

Moreover, Kim Yoon-yong had vaguely heard many rumors about the Saxon, such as that he was involved in business while painting. But he was very mysterious, and no one knew what businesses he was involved in. All that was known was that he owned estates in various European countries, and this wealth could not have been earned solely through painting.

Among these many rumors, two are the most absurd, but also the most widely circulated: first, he had killed many people; second, he was extremely lecherous.

Having killed many people, Jin Runyong found it hard to believe that while wealthy people could do whatever they wanted, they couldn't do so to the point of killing indiscriminately.

As for being lustful, Kim Yoon-yong understood; what man isn't lustful?

This is why he brought Chen Fangqi over. Chen Fangqi is bold and naturally charming, and no lecherous man can escape her grasp.

If Saxon is satisfied with Chen Fangqi, he might be able to facilitate a collaboration between Chen and his gallery.

Saxon looked Chen Fangqi up and down, and his eyes lit up: "Miss Qiqi is really beautiful."

Chen Fangqi was pleased with the compliment, and she knew what Jin Runyong was up to.

Over the years, she and Kim Yoon-yong have developed a tacit understanding. She can tell what Kim Yoon-yong is thinking with just a glance, and this is not the first time.

However, she enjoyed this arrangement. The men Jin Runyong introduced her to were all wealthy and powerful, and several of them still couldn't forget her, wishing they could shower her with mountains of gold and silver. Saxon, on the other hand, was such a tall and handsome man, a bit old, but like fine wine, he was better with age.

Jin Runyong invited Saxon to dinner, but Saxon refused.

During their meal and casual conversation, they discovered that they were staying at the same hotel. So, after dinner, they went to the hotel bar for a drink.

Jin Runyong made several explicit and implicit requests for the gallery to import Saxon's works, but Saxon always dodged the question and changed the subject. Helpless, Jin Runyong could only pin his hopes on Chen Fangqi.

Having spent so many years mingling in the circles of the wealthy, Chen Fangqi had long since learned to speak to people in a way that suited them, and her insights on art drew Saxon's repeated nods of approval.

Chen Fangqi pressed her advantage, frequently raising her glass to Saxon.

Saxon eventually succumbed to the effects of the alcohol and became somewhat tipsy.

Seeing that the time was right, Jin Runyong winked at Chen Fangqi.

Chen Fangqi leaned closer, her body soft and boneless against Saxon's chest: "Mr. Saxon, where is your room? You're drunk, I'll take you home."

Saxon laughed drunkenly, "Alright, thank you, Miss Qiqi. The room is 1906."

Chen Fangqi half-supported, half-embraced Saxon's arm, winked at Jin Runyong, and Jin Runyong smiled with satisfaction.

Chen Fangqi and Saxon took the elevator to the 19th floor of the hotel. Saxon casually took out the room key, and the two entered the room.

Chen Fangqi was stunned when she entered the room. This was the hotel's highest-class presidential suite, which was said to be reserved for heads of state and top tycoons. She never expected that Saxon, a mere painter, would have such power.

She had initially only been attracted to the Saxon's good looks, but now that she realized he was a man of great potential, she was naturally overjoyed.

Chen Fangqi said sweetly, "Mr. Saxon, please have a seat. I'll get you a glass of water."

She took two steps, then pretended to trip over her skirt. Saxon instinctively helped her up, and one of the shoulder straps of her dress "accidentally" slipped down, revealing a patch of snowy, soft skin on her chest.

Chen Fangqi took the opportunity to grab Saxon's arm, pressing her chest tightly against his.

However, the next moment of eye contact made Chen Fangqi panic.

There was no trace of drunkenness in Saxon's eyes; he was clearly as sober as could be.

"Be careful," Saxon said in a deep voice, then released his hand, letting Chen Fangqi stumble.

Saxon's smile was tinged with disdain as he pulled a stack of dollars from his wallet: "Hey, you've had a good night."

Chen Fangqi was somewhat embarrassed and at a loss for words: "What does Mr. Saxon mean by this?"

Saxon's smile faded slightly: "I can tell you're very skilled; this must be more than the first time you've worked with Kim Yoon-young. Tell him that my work isn't something just any cat or dog gallery can exhibit. I've already refused him many times tonight, but he's still playing dumb with me, so don't blame me for being blunt. Koreans get all sticky and endless when they drink; I can't be bothered with them."

At this point, Saxon handed the money to Chen Fangqi again.

Chen Fangqi then looked down at the banknotes and noticed Saxon's wallet. Her eyes widened immediately: "Song... Qinggui?"

There was a photo in Saxon's wallet, an ID photo, of a plain-looking girl in a school uniform. Although the photo was old, it was easy to recognize that it was Song Qinggui.

Saxon glanced at the photo in the wallet, then casually put the wallet away: "You recognize Qing?"

"Oh……"

Chen Fangqi found it utterly ridiculous. Song Qinggui was truly her nemesis; whichever man she took a liking to, that man would become entangled with Song Qinggui.

"Miss Qiqi?"

Chen Fangqi snapped out of her daze, glared at Saxon, took the banknotes, weighed them in her hand, and then slammed them down on his head: "What do you take me for? A prostitute? Let me tell you, if I'm a prostitute, then Song Qinggui is an even bigger one. Mr. Saxon calls himself an artist, but his taste is nothing special."

Chen Fangqi stormed out of the door, while Saxon shrugged indifferently.

He leaned against the wall in the entryway, his thoughts drifting back to more than a decade ago, and a smile gradually returned to his somewhat weathered face.

Qing... How could she be a prostitute? She's a work of art.

This artwork should have belonged to him.

...

At this time, in a hotel in Sai Ying Pun.

Song Qinggui fell completely silent. Xue Lu ordered char siu rice for her. He went to take a shower, and when he came out, the food on the table was perfectly intact. Song Qinggui went to the balcony.

Xue Lu walked over to her and found that she was actually smoking.

Xue Lu frowned: "Don't you hate the smell of smoke the most?"

Smoke drifted from Song Qinggui's mouth and nose, swirling and billowing.

"Song Qinggui! Speak!" Xue Lu could no longer hold back and snatched the cigarette from Song Qinggui's hand.

Song Qinggui looked at Xue Lu quietly for a long time before she said in a trembling voice, "Xue Lu, let's go back to Lancheng, please."

Xue Lu's eyes instantly reddened, and that unique, symbiotic pain between lovers spread through his chest.

But he needed an explanation: "Why? Who exactly is he?"

Song Qinggui struggled to maintain the last shred of his rationality: "He's someone...someone I don't want to think about. Let's go home, okay?"

“No.” For the first time, Xue Lu refused her decisively: “Song Qinggui, I am your husband. I have the right to know why you are in pain, and I also have the responsibility to help you alleviate your pain.”

“These pains have already happened, and no one can undo them. I just want to forget them,” Song Qinggui said weakly. “I want to forget this person, forget all the memories associated with him. Xue Lu, let’s go home, okay?”

Looking at Song Qinggui's vulnerable and helpless appearance, Xue Lu suddenly remembered what Feng Zhe had told him years ago—

"Song Qinggui only needs to use a little trick to make all men risk their lives for him."

"President Xue, I was like this back then, and you are like this now."

"That person, that person was also bewitched by her, and almost became her sugar daddy."

Xue Lu swallowed the lump in his throat and tentatively asked, "You and Saxon had a romantic entanglement, didn't you?"

Song Qinggui suddenly looked up, staring at Xue Lu in disbelief: "What did you say?"

Lawyer Xue realized his words were inappropriate: "I'm sorry, Qinggui, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just worried about you. Feng Zhe told me something before..."

Song Qinggui laughed self-deprecatingly with red eyes: "So you believe Feng Zhe, you think my relationship with Saxon is not innocent?"

"That's not how it is." Xue Lu grabbed Song Qinggui's hand. "I didn't believe him, I..."

Song Qinggui brushed his hand away and took a deep breath: "Lawyer Xue, everyone has a past, everyone has secrets. I just checked, there are no suitable flights tonight, I booked tickets for tomorrow, let's go back to Lancheng. I promise you, once I'm mentally prepared, I will tell you about the Saxon thing, but I need time."

"Rules and regulations..."

"I'm going to sleep now, you should go to sleep early too."