Chapter 15 Questioning

Like me, Su Ying was an art student when she was a student and she studied painting.

We have similar interests and have always had a lot to talk about when it comes to painting.

I didn’t take Su Ying’s displeasure to heart at all, and just calmly explained, “I’m not feeling well and don’t want to go.”

"Your body is really delicate. Why do you feel uncomfortable everywhere? Shen Yixiao should take you for a full body check-up. You are so rich, why are you so stingy?" Su Ying replied unhappily.

She didn't care about my physical discomfort. Instead, she felt that I had delayed her from going to the art exhibition and was very impatient with my "pampering".

I changed the subject and moved directly to the topic of the dress. "Su Ying, the last time you tried on my dress, wasn't it a lot smaller?"

Su Ying paused for a moment, then spoke in an unnatural tone, "No, I'm dressed just right, what's wrong?"

"My dress came undone at the anniversary party. The brand said it was because someone squeezed the skirt, which caused the signs of tearing. The dress was custom-made according to my size and fit me perfectly. No one else touched it except you who tried it on." My attitude became even colder.

Su Ying began to make excuses for herself all the time, saying that the quality of the dress was too poor, and then saying that I shouldn't have doubted her.

As we chatted, the atmosphere between us became a little tense.

In the end, I don’t know whether she felt guilty or angry, but she just hung up the phone on me.

I didn't intend to ask her for compensation because she couldn't afford it.

I just want to develop our relationship in a bad direction. I would rather have an open enemy than a superficial friend.

In the evening, Shen Yixiao came home and told me that Su Ying had contacted him.

Shen Yixiao hugged me from behind. His strong arms were like a cage, trapping me in his arms. I felt a little suffocated.

He asked me in a low voice, "Don't you want to attend that art exhibition? I have already prepared the invitation letter, and your best friend's invitation letter is also ready. Just think of it as a way to relax."

He wanted me to attend. Maybe he really felt that I was depressed at home, or maybe he wanted to divert my attention from Lu Xiaoyun's affairs.

I had some ideas in my mind. If I were to leave Shen Yixiao in the future, I would have to have a way to make a living. Not only would I have to pick up the skill of painting, but I would also have to find a way to broaden my horizons and integrate into the circle.

“Okay, then give me the invitation.” I took the opportunity to break free from Shen Yixiao’s arms.

He turned around and took out two exquisite art exhibition invitations from his coat, then went to the study to get busy.

——

The next day.

I drove to the exhibition.

Many well-known painters gathered here. Although I am unknown in the circle, I have been on variety shows with Shen Yixiao, and Shen Yixiao likes to show his love, so many people recognized me.

I left my contact information one by one and will slowly develop my network in the future.

When the exhibition was about to end, I planned to leave first.

"Li Yue." Suddenly, Xu Zhengnan's voice sounded. His clear and clean voice was sharp and very comfortable to listen to.

I was extremely surprised. I turned around and looked at Xu Zhengnan who suddenly appeared. I was speechless for a moment.

I get nervous when I see him, it seems like a habit ingrained in me.

I have had a crush on him since I was a child, so whenever I see him my heart starts pounding and I feel nervous and apprehensive.

Later, when I was together with Shen Yixiao, he was against it. I became even more nervous when I saw him because I didn't want to hear those decisive words from him.

The tension now...is mainly because I'm afraid he'll see through how miserable and pathetic my life is.

"Are you here alone?" He walked up to me in three or two steps. The blue denim shirt was made of thin fabric, and it had some wrinkles on him, but it was very slim-fitting. The black jeans were casual and handsome.

He looked at the painting I was holding, which was the one I liked and bought today.

"Well, why are you here too?" I asked a little awkwardly.

"Your parents are back, and as their neighbor, I want to buy them a painting as a gift." Xu Zhengnan answered casually.

When I was a child, I went to Xu's house more often, but he had an equally close relationship with my parents.

My dad, in particular, has always liked Xu Zhengnan and has always praised him for being smart and steady, and saying he is someone who can accomplish great things.

I was silent and thought of the little boy named "Mingming" again.

Xu Zhengnan put his hands in his trouser pockets, looking calm, "I remember you were an art student in high school, majoring in painting, why don't you help me choose."

"Yeah." I didn't refuse because I really wanted to give my parents a gift, but I couldn't muster up the courage to face them.

It would be better to send this gift through Xu Zhengnan.

In the gallery, Xu Zhengnan and I walked one after the other, with almost no topics to talk about. I glanced at the large and small paintings on the wall, wondering which one my parents would like.

Xu Zhengnan was very busy. In just ten minutes, he answered two or three phone calls, although they were only a few words.

Just when I was looking at his back in a daze, Shen Yixiao called.

"Where are you?" As soon as the call was connected, Shen Yixiao's highly tense voice came out, which was obviously different from usual.

"I'm here at the art exhibition." I didn't take it to heart and answered calmly.

Shen Yixiao took a deep breath and didn't waste time talking to me. He just ordered, "Leave there immediately. I'll be at the door in five minutes to pick you up."

Before I could answer, he hung up the phone.

Xu Zhengnan stared at me without blinking, and waited until I put down my phone before speaking in a somewhat distant and indifferent tone, "If you have anything to do, you can leave first. I will handle the painting myself."

I didn’t want Shen Yixiao to come in and look for me, and I didn’t want him to see Xu Zhengnan.

I pointed to the painting of sunflowers on the wall and said hastily, "This one, my parents love sunflowers, and we even planted them in our yard when we were little!"

Xu Zhengnan looked up at the painting. I didn't have time to say anything more to him and left in a hurry.

As soon as I arrived at the gate, I saw Shen Yixiao’s car.

He opened the car door, with anger evident on his face, but very restrained.

I walked over and sat in the passenger seat, "Let's go back."

Shen Yixiao didn't say a word the whole way. I didn't know why he suddenly became so irritable, as if I had provoked him. It wasn't until we got home that he asked out of the blue, "When did he return home?"

"Who?" I had already guessed who Shen Yixiao was asking about, but I still pretended not to understand.

Shen Yixiao angrily said three words, "Xu Zhengnan!"

Seeing his unhappy and angry look, I seemed to be back to the time when we first got together. I told him all my secrets, including my secret crush on Xu Zhengnan.

At that time, he would look sour and ask with great jealousy, "Who is more handsome, me or him? Who do you like more?"

Now he is not so childish and asks those messed up questions, but his hostility has not decreased at all.