Chapter 18 Even now you're still thinking about...
Jiang Shiyuan assembled the toolbox for restoring ancient paintings and books, and then followed Shen Chuqing to Tingxuexuan, where Xu Feixuan was.
Shen Chuqing had not been to Huo Garden for a long time, but after passing through several cave gates, she found herself seemingly lost, with the path ahead becoming narrower and narrower.
Just when it seemed like she was heading into a dead end, Shen Chuqing stopped and glanced at Jiang Shiyuan with some embarrassment.
"Huo Garden is indeed very large. I haven't been here for a long time and I'm actually a little lost. Miss Jiang, please wait a moment, and I'll have the butler come and show us the way."
After saying that, he took out his phone to contact Shi Teng.
Jiang Shiyuan said directly, "Come with me."
Although Huo Garden was large, she had lived there for two years and knew all the road conditions very well.
A short while later, she led Shen Chuqing to the main road, where they saw a few servants walking out of the garden in the distance.
Shen Chuqing quickened her pace slightly to walk alongside Jiang Shiyuan, somewhat puzzled, "Miss Jiang, have you been to Huo Garden before?"
Jiang Shiyuan was slightly taken aback, then remembered the story Lin Lang had made up for her and applied it to the story.
"Yes, I interned at Huoyuan before."
"No wonder."
Seeing Jiang Shiyuan's cold attitude, Shen Chuqing continued to find topics, "Actually, I came here when I was a child, but it's been too long, and Huo Garden is often under renovation and changed, so I can't remember many of the routes."
Jiang Shiyuan couldn't ignore her any longer, so she politely asked, "Miss Shen, have you been to Huo Garden before?"
"Yes, my family and the Huo family are old friends, so I would come to visit with my parents when I was a child. I used to play the piano with Huo Lan often back then."
Hearing Shen Chuqing casually mention Huo Lan, Jiang Shiyuan began to feel a little flustered.
"Have you known each other since you were very young?"
"Yes, Huo Lan seems to be good at everything. He's good at studying, and he's even good at playing the piano. I have to practice a piece several times, but he can learn it after just one time."
"But we lost touch after I went to junior high school. Huo Lan's studies became very demanding, and he didn't play the piano much anymore. It was hard for me to even see him. Then I went abroad to study art, and we never saw each other again."
Jiang Shiyuan nodded and replied softly, "Childhood playmates are a rare kind of friendship."
Shen Chuqing smiled gently, her expression tender and gentle, and did not refute the statement.
Before long, the two of them arrived at Xu Feixuan's garden.
After the servant announced their arrival, he led the two into a brightly lit and elegantly furnished study.
Xu Feixuan was sitting behind a large rosewood desk, with a scroll spread out in front of her.
Today she wore a simple moon-white satin cheongsam, her hair was not tied up but left loose behind her, which made her less sharp and more gentle.
"Teacher, Miss Jiang has arrived."
Shen Chuqing's voice was soft and gentle, carrying the respect of a junior.
Xu Feixuan looked up at Shen Chuqing and smiled gently: "Chuqing is here. I've told you so many times, you don't need to call me teacher, just call me Aunt Xuan."
Shen Chuqing and Xu Feixuan politely replied, "You are a senior in the Kunqu Opera world and have taught me with great care, so naturally I should call you teacher."
The more Xu Feixuan looked at Shen Chuqing, the more she liked her. She smiled with her eyes crinkling, but after a long while, she looked at Jiang Shiyuan, and her smile faded slightly.
"You're here. I just happened to have something to discuss with you. Please have a seat."
Jiang Shiyuan nodded slightly and sat down on the embroidered stool next to him as instructed, her posture proper.
However, in Xu Feixuan's eyes, these rules were still considered beneath her dignity.
"You've been back at Huo Garden for a while now, how's your adjustment going?"
Jiang Shiyuan's heart skipped a beat, realizing that Xu Feixuan hadn't come to her to ask her to restore any ancient paintings, but rather to subtly inquire about her current relationship with Huo Lan.
She wasn't going to try to fool her, and said directly, "It's the same as before, but I think it's more important to finish the work at Jingheyuan first."
Xu Feixuan smiled slightly and touched the water stains on the scroll in front of her.
“You’ve become much more sensible since you came back this time. You need to learn to refuse some things and not let him have his way.”
Shen Chuqing couldn't understand the conversation between Xu Feixuan and Jiang Shiyuan. Her puzzled gaze swept back and forth between their faces, but she still couldn't figure it out.
Xu Feixuan didn't need Shen Chuqing to know who Jiang Shiyuan was. Her purpose was simply to let Jiang Shiyuan know the gap between her and Shen Chuqing. Therefore, she didn't explain anything to Shen Chuqing, but continued to chat with Jiang Shiyuan.
"Chu Qing's father is the chairman of Wancheng Zhongwang Group, and the Huo family has been friends for generations. He has loved learning Kunqu Opera from me since he was a child. As he grew up, he became even more outstanding. He graduated with top honors from the Paris Higher School of Art. A few days ago, his ink painting miniatures even fetched a good price at Sotheby's."
Xu Feixuan's voice was unhurried, carrying a sense of pride, her gaze remaining gentle on Shen Chuqing, "This child, Chuqing, I like her more and more the more I look at her."
Shen Chuqing was a little embarrassed by the praise. She lowered her head slightly, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, and said softly, "Teacher, you flatter me. Compared to your Kunqu Opera skills, my abilities are really insignificant."
“You’re just too modest,” Xu Feixuan said with a smile, shaking her head. Her gaze finally turned to Jiang Shiyuan, who had been sitting quietly beside her. “That’s why a true lady of a prominent family is someone who has a solid foundation, good manners, and a broad perspective. It’s not something that anyone of any status can fake after learning a little bit of knowledge and living a life of wealth for a few days.”
Xu Feixuan's expression softened again as she looked at Shen Chuqing and smiled, "Someone like Chuqing is worthy of a family like our Huo family, and she and Huo Lan are truly a perfect match."
This was clearly directed at her, but Jiang Shiyuan neither responded nor refuted it.
If it were the Jiang Shiyuan of three years ago, still clinging to illusions, hearing these words might have stung her heart. But the current Jiang Shiyuan clearly understands her relationship with Huo Lan, so she doesn't care. If she doesn't care, she won't be hurt by any words.
Instead, Shen Chuqing blushed deeply, looking like a young girl in the throes of spring.
Jiang Shiyuan thought to herself that if she also had feelings for Huo Lan, then this would probably be the ending.
Seeing that Jiang Shiyuan seemed somewhat disappointed, Xu Feixuan believed that she had achieved her goal, so she didn't say anything more and instructed her to start checking the scroll.
"Alright, come and take a look at this painting and see how to fix it. A few days ago, when I was admiring the painting with Mrs. Su, I accidentally spilled some tea on it, and I didn't know how to fix it."
Jiang Shiyuan got up and walked to the desk to examine the flattened painting.
The painting depicts Magu holding a peach and riding a cloud to offer longevity. It is painted on silk with delicate brushstrokes and simple colors, but there are obvious water stains at the edges, causing the paint to bleed in some areas. Fortunately, the core of the painting is still intact and can be salvaged.
Jiang Shiyuan carefully observed the silk texture and paint adhesion of the painting, while silently evaluating the restoration plan in her mind.
"The damage to this painting is mainly at the edges; the core composition is relatively well-preserved. It can be restored, but it will take time and the process is quite complex. First, it needs to be cleaned and stained, then..."
"Alright, no need to be so technical, just focus on fixing it."
Xu Feixuan interrupted Jiang Shiyuan's diagnosis of the painting and continued to chat with Shen Chuqing, asking her about her well-being.
"The banquet at our Huo Garden will begin next month. I'll accompany you to go shopping these next few days and pick out a few sets of jewelry you like."
The two chatted about the Huo family's grand event next month. Jiang Shiyuan listened for only a few words before taking out her toolbox and starting to carry out the repair steps in an orderly manner.
Just then, a slightly hurried sound of footsteps came from outside Tingxuexuan.
With the slight chill of the night air, Huo Lan appeared at the doorway.
He had clearly rushed over; his breathing hadn't fully calmed down yet. His dark suit jacket was casually draped over his arm, and the top two buttons of his shirt collar were undone, revealing his smooth collarbone.
Ignoring Xu Feixuan, Huo Lan entered the room and began to scan the study. Only when he saw Jiang Shiyuan standing calmly by the desk did he finally relax.
He rushed over as soon as he learned from Shi Teng that she had been summoned to Tingxuexuan.
Xu Feixuan has always been sharp-tongued and arrogant. When Jiang Shiyuan first arrived at Huo Garden, he was often hurt by her words.
At that time, Jiang Shiyuan was still very dependent on him. Every time she was upset by Xu Feixuan, she would tell him and ask him to hug her and comfort her.
Huo Lan really liked Jiang Shiyuan, who relied on him completely, but in reality, most of the time, it was the other way around.
She would say that she had only suffered a few grievances from Xu Feixuan, but Huo Lan had suffered grievances since childhood, so it became her coaxing him.
Huo Lan's gaze swept past Xu Feixuan before finally noticing the unfamiliar woman standing beside him, and his eyes instantly darkened.
In an instant, he understood why Xu Feixuan had called Jiang Shiyuan to repair the painting.
Huo Lan's face showed a hint of anger, and he wanted to take Jiang Shiyuan away as soon as possible.
"It's already late. Their studio has been busy all day, they should go and rest."
Seeing this, Xu Feixuan calmly stepped in front of Huo Lan, saying, "Feeling sorry for her? It's just repairing a painting, why are you so nervous? I'm not going to eat her."
Hearing the sounds of the two people arguing not far away, Jiang Shiyuan paused in her hand holding the spray bottle, looked up for a moment, and then continued cleaning.
Huo Lan said, "If you want to repair the painting, I'll have someone else come over. There's no need to ask her to come."
Huo Lan remained resolute, but Xu Feixuan refused to let him go, and then pulled Shen Chuqing over with a smile.
"Xiao Lan, do you still remember Chu Qing? You two used to play the piano together when you were little, a duet, you were so in sync."
Shen Chuqing hadn't seen Huo Lan for many years. She had known since she was a child that Huo Lan was good-looking and had been fully prepared.
But now that she had actually seen it, she found her heart pounding so hard that she couldn't even speak. She just stood there, stunned and disoriented.
"Brother Huo Lan...it's me, Shen Chuqing. Long time no see..."
After Shen Chuqing finished speaking, she wanted to come up and shake hands with Huo Lan, but Huo Lan took a step back almost as if he had a physiological reaction.
He had an instinctive aversion to the elegant perfume scent on Shen Chuqing's body. He disliked other people getting close, especially women of the opposite sex with obvious ulterior motives.
Even so, he still politely replied, "I'm sorry."
Then, almost subconsciously, she turned her head to look at Jiang Shiyuan, who was standing at the desk.
But she didn't react at all, still looking down at the painting intently, as if she was ignoring the conversation.
A nameless fire, mixed with a sharp, piercing pain, suddenly surged into his heart.
She didn't care; she didn't even look up at him.
Huo Lan felt so angry that her blood was flowing backward and she felt dizzy, but she still maintained her composure and stood still.
Why is she indifferent even when women show interest in her and get close to her? What is she thinking?
Huo Lan chuckled and looked up at Shen Chuqing, trying his best to play the role of the gentle older brother from back then.
"It's Chu Qing. It's been a long time."
Seeing that Huo Lan's expression softened, Xu Feixuan pressed her advantage, "Since you haven't seen each other for so long, you must have a lot to say to each other."
She glanced at Jiang Shiyuan, who was still working quietly to the side, and stopped her, calling her name, which was quite rare for her.
"Shiyuan, let's fix this painting tomorrow. You can go back now."
Jiang Shiyuan then took a break from her work, carefully tidying up and putting away the tools that had been laid out. Before leaving, she only glanced at Huo Lan and then left Tingxuexuan without looking back.
But she hadn't gone far when she heard Xu Feixuan's desperate shouts coming from the study.
"Huo Lan, if you dare to step out of this door, I'll fire Jiang Shiyuan tomorrow!"
She didn't hear Huo Lan respond, but a few minutes later, she saw Huo Lan, dressed in a sharp dark suit, grab her arm with almost all his might as he passed by her and pull her forward.
Jiang Shiyuan was still carrying a tool bag for repairs, and couldn't keep up with his fast pace.
"Huo Lan, let me go!"
Only after they were a distance from Tingxuexuan did he release her hand, then almost resentfully grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to look him in the eye.
"So, even if I really married someone else, you would be indifferent, wouldn't you?"
Without almost any hesitation, Jiang Shiyuan answered, "Yes!"
Huo Lan's hands trembled as he was provoked by Jiang Shiyuan's attitude, but he still tried his best to remain calm.
“You know, the entire Huo Garden is mine now. Xu Feixuan can’t change anything. All she can do is yell and vent. Don’t even think about using her to escape from me again.”
“I’ve investigated and found out. She was the one who sent you out of the garden back then. Jiang Shiyuan, you really have guts. Didn’t you hate her? You actually lowered your head and let her help you.”
Driven to the edge, Jiang Shiyuan began to speak recklessly, "As long as I can leave you, I don't care who she is. Besides her, I have a thousand and one other ways to leave!"
Huo Lan's mind went blank, as if it had exploded. He could only ask in a daze, "So, even now you're still thinking about running away?"
Jiang Shiyuan realized what she had said at this moment, and she neither spoke nor looked at him again.
Huo Lan tightened his grip on her shoulder, causing her to wince in pain.
"Answer me, won't you?"
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