Miss you
Arrival at the art museum.
As soon as he got off the car, Xia Tangyue met He Ruicai who was waiting at the door.
He smiled at her: "You're here so soon, I thought I would have to wait a while."
"Is what you just said true?" Xia Tangyue took him to his office and asked Xiaoyu to make him a cup of tea.
"It's true." He Ruicai stared at her with a firm tone, "I have a friend in Hong Kong who specializes in art brokerage. Many of the gallery's collections were obtained through his matchmaking. His source of information is absolutely reliable."
"The 'Night Rain on the Wutong Tree' that you are looking for is now in the private collection of Shen Shichen in Hong Kong."
Xia Tangyue frowned slightly. She was familiar with the name Shen Shichen - a legendary figure in the Hong Kong shipping industry and a well-known art collector. However, he was a loner and kept his collection secret. Even the top international art museums had repeatedly rejected his requests for loan exhibitions.
“……” She was in trouble.
She didn't even have the chance to meet such a person, so how could she convince him to lend her the painting?
"Tang Yue." He Ruicai leaned over and said, "My friend gave me a tip."
"What?"
"Shen Shichen is going to attend this year's Asian Art Forum. My friend said that he could get us a work permit from the Swiss Léman Art Foundation so that we can sneak in."
Xia Tangyue opened his eyes wide and hesitated, "Is this okay? Will it be exposed?"
He Ruicai nodded seriously: "Sure, as long as you and I cooperate well."
"Oh..." Xia Tangyue hadn't thought it through.
She was mainly worried that such a crude plan would reveal flaws, but she was reluctant to miss this opportunity. If she really got in, she would have the opportunity to discuss the loan with Shen Shichen in person.
To go or not to go?
However, the painting "Night Rain on Wutong" fits well with her curatorial theme. As the saying goes, opportunity is fleeting. If you miss this chance to see a collection of this level, you may never have the chance to touch it again.
Xia Tangyue bit his lower lip.
"OK."
"Okay, I'll tell my friend right away." He Ruicai stood up and said, "You can get ready. We will leave for Hong Kong in three days."
“Please!”
"rest assured."
After He Ruicai left, Xia Tangyue looked out the window in a daze. If this thing was successful, how would she repay the favor she owed He Ruicai? A perfunctory thank you like having a meal would not work, after all, he had helped her so much.
It's really confusing.
But now is not the time to think about this.
Li Cang's oppression was imminent and she could no longer be picky. She had to hold on to any relationship that could help her, otherwise she would have difficulty making a breakthrough in the future.
Zhu Shang was very efficient. In just two days, he had helped her get the invitation letter and mailed it over.
This highly valuable invitation letter came at the right time. With the endorsement of such an industry authority, her chances of borrowing a painting from Shen Shichen would be even higher.
On the third day, Xia Tangyue, fully prepared, boarded a plane to Hong Kong.
It takes three and a half hours to get from Beijing to Hong Kong. When they landed in Hong Kong in the evening, He Ruicai took her to an old restaurant. The neon lights in the twilight made the three gilded characters "Lin Heung House" particularly eye-catching. In the private room by the window on the second floor, someone had been waiting for a long time.
"This is my friend, King, who has a wide network of contacts in the Hong Kong art circle," He Ruicai introduced. Xia Tangyue looked at the young man in front of him, who was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and had tattoos on his arms, and nodded politely to him.
"Hello, hello." King took out a folder and put it on the table, and said to Xia Tangyue, "This is a complete set of documents from the Léman Foundation. Even the electronic access card is ready. However, the inspections have been very strict recently. I suggest that Miss Xia memorize the background information of the foundation in advance."
King spoke in Cantonese and Xia Tangyue didn't understand what he was saying at all, so He Rui explained it to her.
"Okay, thank you." Xia Tangyue took the certificate.
Realizing that she couldn't understand, King continued to speak to her in Mandarin. After a meal, the two exchanged contact information.
Halfway through, Xia Tangyue used the excuse of going to the bathroom, but actually he went to pay the bill.
It is said that the best food is in Guangdong, but the evening tea in Hong Kong is really irresistible. Xia Tangyue ate too much without realizing it. After dinner, she declined He Ruicai's offer to take her back to the hotel and decided to walk alone on the Victoria Harbour Promenade to help digestion.
As night falls, the lights of the ferries in Victoria Harbour draw golden tracks on the inky water. Xia Tangyue leans against the railing and enjoys the sea breeze, while a loving young couple takes tourist photos next to her.
So envious.
She and Wen Zheng have been together for so long, but they have never traveled together.
She hasn't even seen Wen Zheng for a month...
There is a time difference of more than ten hours between them, so every time they contact each other they have to match each other's time. Moreover, they are both very busy and don't have much free time to chat on the phone and keep in touch.
She deliberately did not report this business trip to Hong Kong to Wen Zheng.
After all, she was traveling with another man. If Wen Zheng knew about this, there might be some disturbance. It was better to have less trouble than more. Anyway, she would go back to Beijing after finishing her business and would not stay in Hong Kong.
I miss him. How long will it take for them to meet? Will Wen Zheng have to stay in the United States for many years?
"Tang Yue."
Suddenly there was a shout from behind. Xia Tangyue turned around and found it was He Ruicai. He handed over a steaming brown paper bag in his hand.
He said, “For you.”
Xia Tangyue was stunned: "I thought you had already returned to the hotel."
"No, I saw that you were in a bad mood, so I was worried." He Ruicai smiled and opened the paper bag, revealing two freshly baked egg waffles, with a golden honeycomb surface that was sizzling. "This store is very famous in Hong Kong, and I just happened to pass by and thought of buying some for you."
"Eat something sweet and you'll feel better."
Xia Tangyue was slightly stunned. Looking at He Ruicai's profile, which was coated with a layer of warm color by the street lights, she took it hesitantly.
"……Thanks."
When I watched Hong Kong dramas in the past, I often saw the protagonists walking on the street holding an egg waffle. I thought it was very tempting at the time. Now, I am holding a freshly-baked and still hot egg waffle in my hand. In a trance, I can’t tell whether the aroma in the drama has drifted into reality, or I have walked into that small screen.
"What's wrong with you?" He Ruicai stood beside her: "You have been looking depressed since tonight, are you nervous?"
Xia Tangyue didn't want to show her emotional wounds in front of people she didn't know well. She lowered her head and bit a bulging bubble, and said vaguely, "I was a little nervous."
"It's okay. If you can't borrow this painting, you can always look for other ones. There's always a silver lining."
"Yeah, that's right."
Xia Tangyue had no intention of hanging out with other men and suggested going back to the hotel to rest early.
She had to hurry up and memorize the relevant information to avoid being exposed tomorrow.
The Asian Art Forum was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.
Xia Tangyue entered the venue wearing a beige linen suit and a blue pass of the "Swiss Léman Art Foundation" hanging on her chest. Everything went smoothly and no one doubted her identity. She sat in the last row of the venue and paid close attention to the time when Shen Shichen appeared.
He Ruicai whispered beside him: "Given Shen Shichen's status, he is likely to refuse all non-appointed meetings. It would be best for us to approach him during the tea break and create an opportunity for a conversation."
Xia Tangyue thought so too.
Finally, Shen Shichen came on stage. He looked to be about fifty years old, wearing a traditional suit, quite elegant.
During the intermission, Xia Tangyue observed Shen Shichen's every move. When she saw him approaching surrounded by assistants, she quickly followed him and started with the topic from the forum: "Mr. Shen, can you share more about the viewpoint on the financialization of art that you just mentioned?"
The assistant stopped her: “Sorry Miss, Mr. Shen does not accept non-appointment interviews.”
"But..." Xia Tangyue wanted to say something else, but Shen Shichen had already left.
She was so anxious that sweat broke out on her forehead, and she blurted out subconsciously: "What should I do?"
He Ruicai comforted him, "It's okay, it's okay, just wait a little longer, there's still a chance."
The anxious Xia Tangyue had no idea that at this moment a steady and gloomy gaze was falling on her.
Looking at the two figures talking intimately downstairs, Wen Zheng's aura suddenly dropped to freezing point, and Shen Shiting beside him asked curiously: "What are you looking at?"
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