"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"
Zhou Liang acted as if he had gone mad.
He simply couldn't believe the painting was fake. His grandfather had bought it at an auction in Hong Kong; how could it possibly be fake!
“Liars, you’re all liars! You’re all in cahoots!” Zhou Liang shouted.
"Young Master Zhou, please watch your words!"
Ning Xi's face immediately darkened, and she snorted, "My Longxuan Pavilion values its reputation most! By saying that, you are damaging the reputation of my Longxuan Pavilion and slapping the face of my Ning family! If you don't believe me, we can take the item to a professional institution for appraisal. But if the appraisal result is genuine, I will compensate you with an ancient painting of equal value! But if it is fake, you will have to kneel down and apologize to me and Sect Leader Lin in public! Do you dare?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Liang was speechless for a moment.
In fact, he knew that Ningxi was most likely not a liar.
But he couldn't understand how the painting his grandfather bought for 30 million could be a fake.
"You don't need to get it authenticated by an institution. My grandfather has already had it authenticated and has a certificate. I'll call him right now and have him send someone to deliver the certificate to me!"
Zhou Liang snorted, walked to the side, took out his phone, and called his grandfather.
Soon, the old man of the Zhou family answered the phone.
“Hey, Grandpa, didn’t you give me a certificate for that painting? Why don’t you send someone to bring it to me?” Zhou Liang said directly. He was the only male in the Zhou family and was usually the most pampered, so he spoke to the old man directly.
Upon hearing this, the old man of the Zhou family immediately became embarrassed. "Uh, a certificate? What kind of certificate does this landscape painting have? Grandson, you must have remembered it wrong!"
“How could that be? I remember I was the one who took care of this for you!” Zhou Liang replied immediately.
The old man was speechless.
In fact, the old man was a passionate painter who devoted his life to ancient paintings. Of course, he was unwilling to give away such a precious treasure to others.
So when Zhou Liang asked him for it, he deliberately made a fake painting to appease him.
He thought his grandson was just showing off by taking the painting out, and that it would be enough to keep him in line for a while. He never expected that his grandson would ask him for the certificate now.
"Sigh!" The old man sighed helplessly, feeling a bit tired. He decided not to pretend anymore and said directly, "Grandson, let me tell you the truth. This painting of yours is a high-quality replica. The original is still with me. You know, this is my favorite painting. I even sleep with it. I can't bear to give it away!"
"What??"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Liang nearly fainted.
What a rip-off!
Most people are the ones who cause trouble for their fathers, but this old man is actually causing trouble for his grandson.
Zhou Liang yelled angrily, "Grandpa, do you know that I was planning to use this painting as a betrothal gift to propose to someone? You, you're making me lose face!"
The old man immediately felt wronged, "You brat, how was I supposed to know what you were going to do with the painting? You didn't tell me at the time!"
"Old man, you..."
"Fine, stop talking. You want money? I can give it to you. You want a painting? Forget it! *slap*"
After the old man finished speaking, he hung up the phone immediately.
Zhou Liang was so angry he wanted to slam the phone down.
However, the atmosphere became a bit awkward at this moment.
The Lan family immediately realized that the painting was indeed a fake.
Lan Shanyue stepped in to smooth things over, laughing and saying, "Haha, it turns out it was all a misunderstanding! Sigh, Xiao Zhou, it's not your fault, don't worry about it. Grandpa Lan has received your good intentions!"
"A token of appreciation?" Lan Ling snorted. "This is a very kind gesture. If Lin Yu hadn't recognized it as a poisoned painting, Grandpa, who knows what would have happened to you!"
Zhou Liang's face turned bright red; he was utterly ashamed.
He knew that his image in Lan Ling's mind would be greatly diminished now.
There's no hope!
"Zhou Liang, don't take it to heart. You didn't do it on purpose! Lan Ling is understanding and reasonable. She didn't blame you!" Wu Yuxiang couldn't help but try to comfort him.
"I don't blame him, but Mom, let's make this clear. I really don't like him, so please don't make things difficult for me anymore, okay?" Lan Ling said this directly.
"Why?" Zhou Liang asked angrily, pointing at Lin Yu. "Is it all because of this kid? Lan Ling, don't be silly. He's just a doctor, or at most an appraiser! What is he? Can he compare to me?"
"Insolence!" Ning Xi immediately rebuked, "How dare a scion of a small family insult the leader of my Mingmu Sect? Do you know what status our leader holds? With just a word from him, he can decide the entire northern antique market. With a casual move, he can have countless resources at his disposal. He might even want our Longxuan Pavilion, and our Ning family will have to offer it up with both hands. Do you understand?"
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.
I never imagined that the leader of the Mingmu Sect would wield so much power!
Having absolute power in a field is even more impressive than wealth!
After all, power represents resources, and if you have resources, how can you not have money?
At this moment, even the snobbish Wu Yuxiang didn't know what to say. If her daughter could be with this Sect Master Lin, it seemed like a good thing!
Zhou Liang's expression grew increasingly grim.
"Alright, kid, you're something else, I'll remember you! But this isn't over yet, you just wait!"
At this moment, he was too ashamed to stay any longer, so he uttered a harsh remark and walked outside.
Ning Xi's eyes turned cold. "Sect Master, this brat actually dared to threaten you. Should I..."
Lin Yu waved his hand and laughed, "A general doesn't use his sword to kill flies. A mere ant is nothing to worry about!"
The banquet then continued.
Lin Yu naturally became the object of the Lan family's flattery, and even Wu Yuxiang took the initiative to pour wine for Lin Yu.
"Xiao Lin, my Lan family member is a bit impatient, but she's also very understanding. You'll have to take good care of her when you're together!" Wu Yuxiang said with a solicitous expression.
The other members of the Lan family also cast their blessings their way.
Ning Xi, standing to the side, was somewhat stunned. It was obvious that the Lan family wanted to matchmake Lin Yu and Lan Ling.
She looked at Lin Yu, because she knew that Lin Yu was already married.
However, she didn't say anything, just watched quietly, wanting to see what Lin Yu would say.
Is it a deliberate act of pretending to be single, half-heartedly accepting, or a direct confession of being married?
"Oh dear, Mom, please stop talking nonsense!" Lan Ling was also flustered at this moment, her face turning red and purple, and she quickly explained, "Lin Ge and I are not in the kind of relationship you think we have!"
"Hey, what are you pretending for at a time like this? It's bound to happen sooner or later!" Wu Yuxiang said, winking and waving her handkerchief.
At this moment, Lin Yu suddenly put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said with a smile, "You have indeed misunderstood. I am actually married. Lan Ling and I are just friends!"
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.
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