Chapter 190 For him, even betraying one's faith
Xie Nanzhi stood on the empty street, the person who had just flashed by was nowhere to be seen.
At this moment, Mu Lin and Tie Tou also came out.
Mu Lin hurriedly asked, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"
Xie Nanzhi was still searching for that figure, her face full of anxiety and panic, but she couldn't find it.
She stopped, her expectant eyes fixed on the distance. "I think I see him, Mulin, I think I really see him."
Mu Lin and Tie Tou exchanged glances and instantly understood who the "he" Xie Nanzhi was referring to was.
Tie Tou's eyes were filled with sorrow. Even though a year had passed, he still couldn't let go of Wei Chizheng's death.
Mu Lin sighed and comforted Xie Nanzhi, "Sister-in-law, Second Master has passed away. Although his remains have never been found, we all know that even if he was still breathing when he fell off the cliff, his body had reached its limit. When he went to the Southern Frontier to find you, he was already holding on to his last breath. You must miss him too much, which is why you are hallucinating."
Is it a hallucination?
Xie Nanzhi gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. The skirt was crumpled from her grip, and a piece of her heart suddenly sank. The light in her eyes when she chased after him was gradually dimming, not suddenly extinguished, but like an oil lamp teetering in the wind, its glow shrinking circle by circle until only a faint red dot remained at the wick, and even her brow bone drooped.
Almost a year has passed, and there is still no trace of the body.
It was probably carried away and eaten by wild animals.
Besides, if he were still alive, how could he not come back?
Her heart deflated like a punctured balloon, and her limbs felt weak and limp. She blinked, her eyes veiled in a thin mist.
It hurts, my eyes hurt.
My heart ached too.
Regarding Zhao Tiesheng's case, Xie Nanzhi told buyers who had purchased his paintings that the gallery was willing to buy them back at the original price.
These buyers are easy to deal with; the troublesome ones are the media outlets that want to make a big fuss.
Xie Nanzhi sat in her office as Xie Yuanyang explained the current situation to her, finally suggesting, "Nanzhi, why don't we suspend operations at the gallery for the next few days?"
Xie Nanzhi shook her head. "No, we can't close down. Even if there are no customers, we can't close down, otherwise it would make us look guilty."
Xie Yuanyang: "I'm afraid that someone else will come and cause trouble for the gallery."
Xie Nanzhi leaned back in her chair, looking somewhat tired. "If you want to cause trouble, you can still do so even if you close down."
Xie Yuanyang thought about it and agreed.
He looked up at Xie Nanzhi and sensed that she was preoccupied with something.
Putting aside official business, Xie Yuanyang asked with concern, "Nanzhi, is your due date approaching?"
Xie Nanzhi turned her attention back to the children, and her expression softened. "Yes, we're almost there. I wonder who the two little ones look like."
When Xie Nanzhi had an ultrasound during her prenatal checkup, the doctor told her she was pregnant with twins. She was both surprised and delighted, perhaps because, in some mysterious way, her previous child had returned.
Xie Yuanyang smiled and said, "It doesn't matter who they resemble. You and your brother-in-law are both outstanding individuals, so the two little ones will be just as good."
Xie Nanzhi only smiles when she talks about her children.
Just then, Mu Lin entered.
He nodded to Xie Yuanyang as a greeting, and then reported directly to her, "Sister-in-law, we found out that someone did indeed contact Zhao Tiesheng before. That person was sent by Cui Yong."
Cui Yong?
Xie Nanzhi immediately understood why this turmoil had occurred.
Xie Yuanyang and she exchanged a knowing glance, his brows furrowing. "I didn't expect she hadn't given up. I'll go find her now."
Xie Yuanyang was about to go find Luo Meijuan, but Xie Nanzhi stopped him, saying, "It's no use looking for her. As long as I live, I will always be a thorn in her side."
The grudge between them ran too deep; they would only settle it with their lives.
Xie Yuanyang's face darkened, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.
Then Xie Nanzhi asked, "Is everything about Zhao Tiesheng true, or is it a frame-up?"
Mu Lin nodded. "It's true. However, Zhao Tiesheng's paintings have only been painted by his wife in the last three years. My people have found out that Zhao Tiesheng has lung cancer, and the monthly treatment costs are enormous. Presumably, the reason he's having his paintings painted is to cover medical expenses."
Zhao Tiesheng's agent is his wife, who used to be his assistant. After their marriage, they were recognized as a model couple in the industry.
However, Zhao Tiesheng is different from some mercenary painters. He does not cater to the market for the sake of making a living. All of his works are masterpieces and are reflections of his inner self.
A single painting can be quite valuable, but he might not be able to paint more than a few in a year. In addition to painting, he also goes to the mountains every year to teach children there to paint for free, and each trip lasts for half a year.
Zhao Tiesheng often donated a portion of his earnings to those children. He had the mindset of a master, which is why Xie Nanzhi liked his paintings at first glance.
That was the reason I signed him in the first place, but I never expected such a scandal to break out.
Xie Nanzhi stood up. "Mulin, come with me to Zhao Tiesheng's house."
Mu Lin: "Okay."
Xie Yuanyang was in charge of looking after the gallery, while Xie Nanzhi went to Zhao Tiesheng's residence.
The suburbs, far from the hustle and bustle.
The journey takes about an hour.
The courtyard is simple, with flowers, plants, and vegetables.
The moment Zhao Tiesheng's wife saw Xie Nanzhi, she knew why she had come. "President Nan, let's go sit down somewhere else and talk."
Xie Nanzhi's gaze followed the courtyard to the window. Miss Liu said, "Tiesheng just fell asleep, I don't want to disturb him."
...
The scenery along a small river in the suburbs is truly unmatched by the high-rise buildings in the city.
The two stood side by side, and Ms. Liu's first words were, "Mr. Nan, I'm sorry, I've let you down. But I had no choice. For the sake of making a living, and so that Tiesheng could stay with me for a few more years, I had to do this. So, besides saying sorry, I have nothing else to say."
Xie Nanzhi chuckled, "Miss Liu is indeed honest. However, I'd like to know what benefits Cui Yong gave you that would make you risk Zhao Tiesheng's entire reputation."
Ms. Liu's face paled, and she paused. "He doesn't know, and I won't let him know. Tomorrow I will take Tiesheng to New Zealand, which is the place he has always wanted to go."
Xie Nanzhi looked at the calm lake surface and said, "I see."
Miss Liu looked at him slowly, a sadness in her eyes. "Mr. Nan, I was indeed wrong, but I have never regretted doing so. I believe that if you were me, you would make the same choice. Because I love him, I am willing to do anything to keep him alive, even if it means betraying my beliefs."
Since Zhao Tiesheng was diagnosed with lung cancer, he has spent all of his meager savings.
Zhao Tiesheng's health was not suited to further exertion, and Miss Liu couldn't bear to see him like that. So, Miss Liu began to take out all of his previous unsatisfactory works.
But there will always come a day when he runs out of time, so Ms. Liu thought of taking his place in creating.
They are husband and wife, and also the most tacit partners. Ms. Liu can imitate Zhao Tiesheng's works so well that they are indistinguishable from the real thing. Moreover, she is also Zhao Tiesheng's agent, so no one would doubt her.
With a slight smile, Xie Nanzhi looked at Miss Liu, her eyes resolute, "No, I won't."
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