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nXu Fang’s face darkened.

nShe had never expected that Fu Yuanxiu would actually want to step out of the shadows over just a painting. However, she quickly returned to normal and said, “Alright, if Recluse is free. He should still be in a meeting right now, right?”

nThe purpose of this art exhibition was to promote Chinese culture, so the art association placed great importance on it and had been conducting a meeting to discuss it.

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nFu Yuanxiu coughed and looked at his watch. “About half an hour.”

nXu Fang replied, “Mhm,” then said ambiguously, “I’m very curious. Does Mr. Fu know the painter of this painting?”

nHer words made everyone understand.

nSomeone suggested, “Why would a small-time artist who is not famous make everyone comment on this piece of art? What is this artist’s background?”

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nYe Li’s face turned even paler. She turned to look at Xue Xi. “Xixi, I want to go back.”

nXue Xi supported her. Her misty eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness.

nYe Li must have been hurt, right? However, her mouth was stupid and she could not coax people. She could only nod and say in an unprecedentedly light tone, “Alright.”

nShe helped Ye Li out.

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nMrs. Li comforted, “Mrs. Xue, your painting is already very impressive. Don’t mind it too much.”

nYe Li forced a smile at her and staggered away.

n…

nOn the way home, the car was silent.

nXue Xi did not know how to break the silence in the car. After thinking for a while, she picked up her phone and sent a message: “Teacher, are you there?”

nOmnipotent Boss: “What’s the matter?”

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nLearning: “My mother’s painting was criticized today. She is in a bad mood. How should I comfort her?”

nOmnipotent Boss: “I suggest that you don’t say anything.”

nXue Xi was stunned. After a while, the other party sent her a longer message.

nOmnipotent Boss: “Your mother has always wanted to maintain her image as a good mother in front of you. She definitely doesn’t want to expose her grievances and fragility in front of her daughter. Your comfort will only make her feel more ashamed.”

nXue Xi was convinced. “Okay.”

nAfter sending the message, she sent Xue Sheng a message and told him everything.

nXue Sheng replied: “I’m going home now.”

nThe car soon arrived home.

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nThe smile on Ye Li’s face was even more bitter than when she cried. Just as she entered the living room, her phone rang.

nStanding beside her, Xue Xi, who had always been sharp, heard a voice coming from her phone. “Ye Li, someone is here to buy your painting.”

nYe Li’s eyes lit up. “Who?”

nThere was something amiss in the other party’s voice. “Yes, it’s a stranger. He named your painting right after he entered. H-he…”

nThe other party sighed. “He said that Xu Fang said that you only have techniques and no depth. Hence, he only gave you 50 yuan.”

nMany paintings were mass-produced, but even so, a majestic landscape painting like Ye Li’s should be able to be sold for at least a few hundred yuan. At the very least, the framed frame would cost a few hundred in itself.

nFifty…

nThis was a humiliation.

nYe Li clenched her fists and a conflicted look flashed across her eyes.

nXue Xi snatched her phone and said, “Auntie, my mother won’t sell it.”

nThe other party paused. “Sure, sure.”

nAfter hanging up, Xue Xi passed the phone to her.

nYe Li’s confidence had been completely crushed. She could no longer maintain her composure and staggered into the room. When Song Wenman came out and wanted to speak, Ye Li walked past her and headed upstairs to the art room.

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nSong Wenman was stunned. “What’s wrong?”

nXue Xi explained the exhibition again.

nSong Wenman sighed. “No matter what I’m good at, if I haven’t done it for 18 years, I will still be unfamiliar with it. However, Xu Fang is clearly trying to hurt your mother, causing her to break down on her own!”

nIn industries involving painters and authors, their works were all related to their mentality.

nIf Ye Li lost her confidence, what would she do in the future?

nXue Xi looked upstairs worriedly.

nAt this moment, there was the sound of a car coming from outside. Xue Sheng strode into the room. “Where’s your mother?”

n“The studio upstairs.”

nWithout another word, Xue Sheng headed upstairs. “I’ll go take a look at her.”

nSong Wenman and Xue Xi looked at each other and sighed. “Back then, your father was the most inconspicuous among those who pursued your mother. Now, it seems that your mother has chosen the right person. But why am I telling you this? Xixi, go upstairs and do your homework. Don’t worry about your mother. Everything will be fine.”

nIn the art room, the window was open and the wind blew in. As the white curtains fluttered, the drawing papers on the table flipped open and rustled.

nYe Li sat on the sofa in a daze. The purple cheongsam was wrapped around her lithe and graceful figure, making her look even more thin. As she looked at the brushes and drawing papers in front of her, Xu Fang’s words flashed in her mind.

n“The artist seems to have not drawn for many years. The tip of the pen is a little sluggish…”

nIt was not her fault that Ye Li was unconfident. She had not taken up a brush in 18 years.

nEighteen years ago, after she had given birth, she heard that there was going to be a well-known art exhibition. Hence, she turned on the television and wanted to take a look.

nIn the end, she fell into a trance. When she returned to her senses, she realized that the nanny had disappeared. Meanwhile, her daughter, who was originally sound asleep in the infant car beside her, had also disappeared.

nNo one knew how guilty she was. She had placed the blame on herself, so she had sealed the pen from then on.

nEighteen years of muddle-headedness had made her lose all her courage.

nIt was Xue Xi’s return that gave her the courage to paint again. However, now, she had been utterly defeated.

nShe clenched her fists so tightly that she wanted to cry.

nShe used to be a rising star in the Chinese painting industry, but now, she was reduced to a painting that could only be sold for 50 yuan…

nShe wanted to rise only at the age of 42. Too late, too late.

nShe slowly stood up and placed the paintings into the fire basin beside her.

nShe should not be painting. This was an insult to national paintings. If she could not do it, she should let go…

nAt this moment, the door was pushed open and Xue Sheng rushed in. “Ye Li, what are you doing?”

nHe threw the match in her hand to the ground and extinguished it. He then picked up the paintings from the fire basin and looked at her. “Ye Li!”

nYe Li could no longer hold it in and burst into tears. “I won’t draw anymore. I won’t draw anymore. I can’t. I really can’t take it anymore…”

nXue Sheng hugged her and patted her shoulders. His heart felt as though it was filled with bitterness. He comforted her softly, “Alright, you won’t paint anymore. Ye Li, I’ve thought about it. You want to rise up because you don’t feel safe. I’ll transfer the company’s shares, houses, and money to you. I’ll give them all to you…”

nThe sound of crying rang in Xue Xi’s ears.

nShe paused outside the studio and entered her room.

nImmediately, she picked up her phone and sent a WeChat message to Painter. “Can you help me take a look? Does my mother’s painting really not have any depth?”

nPainter replied very quickly: “No problem. I’ll go take a look now.”

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