Dating a Rich Godfather 16
Tao Yuan was sleeping in the middle of the night when his phone suddenly rang. It was a video call from Wei Shicheng. He answered it and squinted his eyes and complained, "I'm sleeping. Even if it's daytime over there, you can't call me at this time."
"Baby, I saw you on the foreign news. When did you paint the painting "Paradise Penglai"? How come I didn't know about it?" Wei Shicheng asked a little excitedly.
"I started painting it the day after you left. Yesterday, um... I just finished it two days ago. It even made news abroad?" Tao Yuan yawned after saying this.
"Is your other phone turned off? Many people have called me, saying they want to buy your painting and have been trying to get along with me for a long time. Many foreign collectors also want to meet you and have already left for China." Wei Shicheng saw Tao Yuan close his eyes and quickly called out, "Qingyu, honey, are you asleep? Wake up and listen to me first."
"I'm not asleep. Just go ahead and talk. I'm listening." Tao Yuan opened his eyes a little again.
"Don't rush to agree to sell the painting to anyone. Let's discuss it when I come back. How about I exchange it with you for the company's shares?" Wei Shicheng said in a coaxing tone.
"I had no intention of selling it. I felt it would be difficult for me to paint such a good picture again in the future. Besides, this painting took up too much of my time and energy. I couldn't bear to sell it, so I decided to keep it for myself." Tao Yuan thought for a moment and said, "How about I use this painting as my dowry, Uncle Wei?"
"That's a great idea, it's settled." Wei Shicheng said excitedly, "No matter what others say to you, don't be tempted. I'll be back in the next two days. No matter what happens, wait until I get back."
"I've already told you I won't sell it. No matter how much money they offer me, I won't be tempted. Just finish everything over there and come back. Otherwise, flying over there again in a short time will only waste more time."
"Okay, I'll do as you say. I'll take care of everything here first. Ask for leave from school for a few days and don't go anywhere at home, otherwise those people will definitely bother you."
"Yeah, I get it. You should go to work and come back early after work. I want to go to sleep. I'm so sleepy." Tao Yuan yawned again.
"Then go to sleep and have a good rest these days. I'm hanging up now." Wei Shicheng felt a little distressed when he saw Tao Yuan's tired appearance.
Tao Yuan waited for him to finish before hanging up, phone still in hand, having already fallen asleep. Those words had so drained his mind and energy that even his system's repairs had slowed. Tao Yuan felt that even if he could still paint to the same level, he wouldn't want to do it again, at least not for the next few years.
After the two made their relationship public, Tao Yuan moved into Wei Shicheng's villa, and Du Yi also lived there with him. Wei Shicheng also helped him transfer to a private aristocratic school.
Tao Yuan slept until noon, but he still looked very sleepy. If he hadn't woken up from hunger, he would have continued to sleep.
Du Yi was watching TV in the hall. Tao Yuan walked over and sat down next to him. The housekeeper came over and asked, "What would you like to eat, Master Du?"
"Seafood porridge," Tao Yuan said, "make me a glass of milk first."
The housekeeper left and soon brought over a glass of fresh milk.
Du Yi turned to look at Tao Yuan and asked, "Brother, aren't you going to school today?"
"Hmm," Tao Yuan took a sip of the warm milk, "I'm resting at home these few days and not going anywhere."
"Is it because so many people want to buy your paintings?" Du Yi said, "Your paintings have been in the news a lot these days. The news said that many wealthy people from abroad have come to our country specifically to buy your paintings. But many masters in China are saying that you can't sell paintings to foreigners."
"You're only in elementary school, and you're already watching the news? Shouldn't kids your age be watching anime?"
"Not all elementary school students like to watch anime, right?" Du Yi thought for a moment and said, "I don't like it anyway. The content is too exaggerated. I prefer to watch things that happen in real life."
"Really?" Tao Yuan said.
"Brother, would you sell paintings to foreigners? I heard they would pay a very high price and even help you immigrate."
"No," Tao Yuan said firmly. "I'm living well in China. Why would I immigrate to a place I'm not used to? They must be crazy to think that. Our country is no worse than foreign countries in any aspect. I'm not crazy, so how could I agree to them?"
"Oh, I don't really want to go abroad. I think it's fine here." Du Yi looked relieved.
Tao Yuan gave him a funny look.
"The news said that one of your paintings can fetch a lot of money now, so you are a rich man now, right?" Du Yi asked.
"I guess so," Tao Yuan thought for a moment and said, "At least we don't have to worry about money anymore."
"When I start working, I will give you all the money I earn." Du Yi said seriously.
"Okay," Tao Yuan patted his shoulder and said, "I'll take care of it for you until you get married."
"Master Du, it's time for the young master to go to piano lessons." The butler put down the seafood porridge and said to Tao Yuan.
"Yeah," Tao Yuan nodded, turned to Du Yi and said, "Go ahead and study hard."
"I'm leaving, brother." Du Yi stood up and said.
Students in aristocratic schools have to learn several special skills. Du Yi chose piano and fencing. He wants to learn horse riding and fighting skills after his health gets better.
Tao Yuan was watching the news on TV, which was currently reporting something related to him. He sighed deeply. It seemed that he had overexerted himself this time, and he would definitely be harassed by those people for quite a long time.
Tao Yuan had two phones. One was known only to Wei Shicheng and Du Yi, while the other was known to many. Teachers at school, people from the gallery, and even some Chinese painting and Go masters all had his number. It must have been bombarded with calls by now, so he didn't even dare to turn it on.
Tao Yuan thought that he had overestimated his ability to deal with the situation. It would be better for him to wait until Wei Shicheng came back. He would just stay at home during this period of time.
Those who wanted to buy paintings were looking for Tao Yuan all over the world. Tao Yuan could turn off his phone and hide from people, but Wei Shicheng's work phone could not be turned off. Those who called him to find Tao Yuan wasted a lot of his time.
The director of the exhibition hall was going crazy. Ever since the painting was even on display, the masters had been pressuring him to contact Tao Yuan, saying he'd spend his entire life savings to buy it. After the painting was put on display, even more masters gathered around it, refusing to leave. Then the media arrived, and he was practically driven crazy by them. But he couldn't get in touch with Tao Yuan, and there was nothing he could do.
A few days later, Wei Shicheng finally returned. After discussing the matter with Tao Yuan, they attended a press conference together. Tao Yuan explained to everyone that he would not sell the painting "Elysian Penglai" no matter how much money was offered. He considered it his dowry. After their marriage, it would become a joint possession between him and Wei Shicheng, a testament to their love.
Tao Yuan had made it clear that he would not sell the painting to anyone, let alone to a foreign collector. As long as he was alive, he would never allow the painting to be sold abroad.
Tao Yuan has made a public statement, but will those who want to buy his paintings give up? Of course not.
Tao Yuan simply stopped going to school and stopped living in the villa. He and Wei Shicheng moved into a villa in the suburbs, where he spent his days painting and playing the piano, leading a comfortable and leisurely life.
Tao Yuan knew many people wanted to see him, some of them wealthy and powerful, others high up in positions of authority. Go master Su Yongfu and several other masters repeatedly expressed their desire to meet him, but meeting one of them wouldn't allow him to avoid meeting the others, so he simply refused to meet anyone.
Tao Yuan can choose not to see anyone, but Wei Shicheng cannot. He has his own helplessness.
"A guest is coming tomorrow." Wei Shicheng said while hugging Tao Yuan.
"Who?" Tao Yuan leaned in his arms, his body naked under the quilt. He put his legs on his legs.
"One of my cousins, surnamed Liu," Wei Shicheng said. "I negotiated with him for a piece of land two years ago, but the deal never came to fruition. Recently, he suddenly contacted me and said he was willing to talk to me. But he asked you to be present, so I think he must be here for the painting, too."
Tao Yuan thought for a moment and said, "He's Liu Xiujie's grandfather, right?"
"Yes," Wei Shicheng said, "I didn't want to agree to his offer at first, but that piece of land is really important to the company, so I still want to talk to him. But don't worry, I will never let you sell that painting to him. Even if it's ten pieces of land, I won't agree to let you trade it with him."
"Does your cousin like playing Go?" Tao Yuan recalled the information he found.
"Yes, he's a chess fanatic. But you have to say, his chess skills are quite high. Even a chess master might not be his match."
"Really?" Tao Yuan looked absent-minded and rubbed Wei Shicheng's chest with his fingers.
"What? You want to play chess with him?" Wei Shicheng grabbed his hand and asked.
"That's the idea," Tao Yuan said. "You said his chess skills are as good as a chess master, so he must be very confident in himself. Since he wants my painting, I'll make a bet with him. If he beats me, I'll give him the painting. If he loses, I'll give me the land. What do you think?"
"Not very good." Wei Shicheng immediately rejected it. "Your painting is much more valuable than that piece of land. It's not worth taking the risk with it."
"You don't have confidence in me?" Tao Yuan looked up and looked at him with dissatisfaction.
"..." Wei Shicheng immediately coaxed, "This isn't about not having confidence in you. This is about not taking risks that shouldn't be taken."
As a man who is about to get married, Wei Shicheng has learned how to coax his wife without any instruction. When facing his wife's questioning, he sometimes has to tell some white lies.
"That's because you just don't have confidence in me. Do you think I won't notice it if you phrase it differently? Humph!" Tao Yuan snorted, "I'm going to play against him. Even if he's better than a chess master, it's useless because a chess master isn't as good as me. I'm just letting him go because he's old."
"Baby, listen to me. It's not that I don't trust you. Even a chess master can make mistakes sometimes, right? You can't guarantee..."
"I don't want to listen, I don't want to listen! You just don't believe me!" Tao Yuan turned over and lay on the bed, covering his ears hard.
"Baby, can we discuss this again?" Wei Shicheng pressed over and hugged him.
………………………………
Wei Shicheng ultimately failed to convince Tao Yuan. Tao Yuan felt that if he was only 90% sure, he might not take the risk, but he was clearly 200% sure, so why didn't he do it?
The next day, Tao Yuan was playing the piano in Tingshui Pavilion, while Wei Shicheng was lying on a recliner next to him, closing his eyes to rest.
After the housekeeper came in, he reported on the screen, "Sir, Mr. Liu and his men are here."
"Please ask them to come over and greet them in the outer hall." Wei Shicheng said with his eyes closed.
"yes."
A moment after the butler left, there was a sound of someone entering the outer hall. Wei Shicheng stood up and walked out around the screen.
Tao Yuan continues to play the piano and will not stop until he finishes a song. This is obsessive-compulsive disorder.
"Uncle, cousin." Wei Shicheng greeted the people who came in and asked them to sit down.
"Father insisted on coming here, Shicheng, please don't mind." said Liu Wangyang, the eldest son of Mr. Liu.
"That's not the case, cousin. I welcome you so much if you're willing to come." Wei Shicheng said politely.
Mr. Liu didn't say anything after he came in. After sitting down, he closed his eyes and listened carefully to the soft voice coming from the inner room.
Wei Shicheng did not disturb him. After the servant served tea, he drank the tea and chatted with Liu Wangyang in a low voice.
"Who is playing the piano?" asked Old Master Liu with his eyes closed.
"It's Qingyu. He has the habit of not stopping until he finishes playing a song. He will come out when he finishes playing." Wei Shicheng said.
"He's quite a remarkable man," said Old Man Liu, stroking his beard. "He can play chess, paint, and has such excellent piano skills. Shicheng, you're so lucky that even your uncle can't help but be impressed."
Wei Shicheng smiled without saying anything, but there was a hint of pride in his smile that was hard to conceal.
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