Chapter 288 The Paranoid Painter 18 "Isn't it ridiculous?"

“When they need me, I am family; when they feel ashamed of me, I am a discarded child.”

“When I was diagnosed with mental problems, they were eager to push me away, and when I became valuable, they were eager to drag me back.”

He chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Zi Xi gently squeezed his hand in return, her eyes filled with understanding and sympathy.

Don't be sad, your future will definitely be sweet.

She took out her phone and typed, adding two hearts at the end.

“You didn’t come because of my fame, nor did you stay because of my wealth. You saw my ugliest side, yet you still chose to stay.”

Jin Ye looked at the two hearts and suddenly pulled her into his arms.

"So don't believe anyone's attempts to sow discord. If I, Jin Ye, were to marry in this life, it would only be you."

His voice was choked with emotion.

Zi Xi leaned against him, feeling his firm heartbeat.

She looked up and made the gesture he had taught her.

Extend your thumb, index finger, and little finger, gently touch your chest, and then move forward.

A surge of emotion welled up in Jin Ye's eyes.

"I love you too, Xixi."

"Whether you can speak or not, you are my most precious treasure."

He took her hand and pressed it against his heart.

Just then, a commotion arose from the direction of the exhibition hall.

"Mr. Jin, a collector has offered fifty million euros to buy 'The Pure White Muse'..."

The assistant knocked on the door and came in hurriedly.

"Not for sale."

"That was my engagement gift to my future wife."

Jin Ye answered without hesitation, his gaze never leaving Zi Xi.

The assistant's eyes widened in surprise, then he smiled knowingly and left.

[You can sell it; why not make money when you can?]

Zi Xi's face immediately turned crimson. She hurriedly typed, but stopped halfway through.

"Some things are priceless, like my love for you."

Jin Ye chuckled softly, his fingertips gently stroking her cheek.

"Let's go back to the exhibition hall."

He stood up and extended his hand to her.

When Jin Ye and Zi Xi reappeared in the exhibition hall, the crowd spontaneously made way for them.

"This painting, and all my works, are dedicated to my beloved."

Amidst the flashes of countless cameras, Jin Ye knelt on one knee before "Pure White Muse," grasped Zi Xi's hand, and announced...

Thunderous applause erupted in the exhibition hall.

Zi Xi gently pulled Jin Ye up, and then made that simplest gesture.

He placed his thumbs and index fingers together to form a heart shape, pointing at Jin Ye and then at himself.

No words are needed; their love is already evident.

In a corner of the exhibition hall, Su Qingyan, who was being watched by security guards, witnessed everything. Her fingernails dug deeply into her palms, drawing blood.

"It won't end. If I can't have it, no one else can..."

She muttered to herself, her eyes burning with madness.

But under the spotlight at this moment, there are only the two people embracing and countless blessings around them.

*

A few days after the successful art exhibition, Zixi insisted on returning to school to complete her final project.

Although Jin Ye was reluctant, he respected her decision and insisted that the driver pick her up and drop her off every day.

They also assigned an extra bodyguard to follow them from a distance.

It's just going to the school library, don't make a big deal out of it.

Zixi typed something on her phone for him to see.

"We haven't found that strange woman yet, so we can't be careless."

Jin Ye frowned; he had been having a bad feeling lately.

In fact, his hunch was correct.

Su Qingyan was stepping into an underground bar located in a slum.

This place is a melting pot of all sorts of people, a breeding ground for all kinds of illegal transactions.