Chapter 1, Entering the Boyi Gallery

It is the end of May, and the weather is hot; moreover, Xue Yuan is in the process of moving, sweating profusely. Zhang Lingli, not wishing to be overly polite, said: "No need for formalities, just focus on your work. You should go back to the dormitory and take a shower first, then come over to accompany me in viewing the new paintings from the exhibition the day after tomorrow."

Xue Yuan sincerely nodded: "Everything is impeccable. I want to express my gratitude to you. I heard that you were on a business trip during the two weeks of training, and I did not have the opportunity to meet you. In any case, thank you for your support and guidance."

Xue Yuan smiled: "I have gotten used to carrying paper and a pen with me."

Zhang Lingli, however, seemed as if she had not heard, and after a long while, she finally responded with a dreamy "mm".

Fortunately, I was afraid you would have to wait long

Xue Yuan's room is located at the innermost part of the fourth floor. The previous occupant here possessed a remarkable artistic flair, arranging the space to resemble Picasso's home. From the perspective of the living environment, it is truly impeccable. All the furniture is present, and even the ceramic vase on the bookshelf exudes a unique charm

If there are no large exhibitions or events, the display area is generally not open to the public, leaving the vast space occupied only by Zhang Lingli. The lights in the hall hang high, illuminating the polished floor, while the pristine white display walls reflect and overlap in layers, creating a gentle silence that ripples through the air

In summary, regardless of how many twists and turns and coincidences occurred previously, the undeniable fact remains that Xue Yuan has started working at the Boyi Art Gallery. Xue Yuan is very satisfied with this position; not only is the salary considerable, but there is also a substantial commission for every painting sold. More importantly, the gallery can provide accommodation for employees who are not from the city. The dormitory is located in a small, independent building right next to the gallery. Initially, no one knew what this building was used for, but at some point, it came under the ownership of the Boyi Art Gallery and was renovated to serve as dormitory accommodation for employees.

Xue Yuan exclaimed, looking at Zhang Lingli with admiration in her eyes, and respectfully said: "Is that so? General Manager Zhang, you are truly admirable. I have always believed that Chinese painters should be represented by Chinese galleries."

Ah?

This exhibition will showcase two of his recent works. As this is their first public display, safety and caution are of utmost importance. They are scheduled to be hung up on the morning of the exhibition day. Zhang Lingli answered while observing her with great interest

Xue Yuan nodded: "The thoughts of artists and ordinary people are always different"

Sensing Zhang Lingli's gaze, Xue Yuan pondered for a moment. During this training period, she understood how crucial it was to provide an accurate evaluation of a painting. Zhang Lingli was an extremely serious person, and that was not the most frightening aspect; the most daunting part was that she possessed an ability that matched her seriousness. Since taking on the role of deputy general manager, in just five years, she had brought more than ten top domestic painters under her wing. In the absence of a tangible general manager at the Boyi Gallery, she had effectively become the direct person in charge of the gallery, and for her subordinates, everything had to be done to her satisfaction. Since taking on the role of deputy general manager, in just five years, she had brought more than ten top domestic painters under her wing. In the absence of a tangible general manager at the Boyi Gallery, she had effectively become the direct person in charge of the gallery, and for her subordinates, everything had to be done to her satisfaction

Although this praise may be excessive, the sincerity is evident. Zhang Lingli clearly appreciated it and became more talkative: "Indeed. Knowing the numerous conflicts between Mr. Li and the Mablo Gallery, I flew over at the first opportunity after facing the termination of the contract. I nearly wore my mouth out, but I finally obtained the contract. However, that is not the most troublesome part; the most challenging aspect was having to conceal all of this from the other galleries while doing it."

The Boyi Gallery is located in the city center, in an excellent address, in the legendary area where every inch of land is precious. It is bordered on the left by the largest artificial lake in the city and on the right by a lush park, surrounded by green trees. Two rows of French sycamores meander from the entrance for a hundred meters to the main street, where the elegant environment and convenient transportation have achieved a perfect combination, a reconciliation of what has always been an irreconcilable contradiction.

It seems that by holding one's breath, one can hear the soul of the artist

Zhang Lingli glanced at her and said, "You have thought this through."

In the last two months of the final semester of her senior year, Xue Yuan, a graduating student from the Department of Art Design at the Academy of Fine Arts, finally found a job that belonged to her, working as an art assistant and in-store sales at Boyi Gallery

At the meeting prior to the training, she clearly informed everyone: "If you only have a basic understanding of art, then when introducing to guests, you can only mention simple information such as the price and the artist's name and place of origin. Our requirement for you is to become experts in art appreciation. When you introduce a piece of work, you must first discuss the artistic characteristics of the artist and your own understanding of that painting; as for the price, that is something to be mentioned last."

Sometimes, Zhang Lingli would occasionally stop and ask her for her opinions on certain paintings, ultimately requesting her to estimate their prices; Xue Yuan would respond calmly every time. After hearing her, Zhang Lingli would mostly smile faintly, offering no comments.

Students at the art academy are mostly better at painting than at speaking; you, however, are the opposite

Xue Yuan was contemplating the connotations of praise and criticism in this statement, yet she maintained a smile on her face as she stated the facts: "My grades in my major courses are quite poor, and I am not good at drawing, so I can only strive hard in other areas."

Zhang Lingli laughed and said, "That is simply impossible. The painter is unwilling to sell, and we must respect his wishes"

It was noon, and the sunlight was extremely dazzling; Zhang Lingli smiled at her, then moved to a shaded area before taking off her sunglasses, revealing a smile of an elder caring for a younger one: "Xiao Yuan, have the things been moved over? Are you getting used to it?"

It is astonishing to see so many works from colleagues, and the international professional management level of Boyi Gallery is equally impressive. One can glean a sense of this from the meticulous records and organization of all the artworks. As a colleague put it, without rules, there can be no order; without such a professional team, how could Boyi possibly grow?

Since it was the boss's instruction, Xue Yuan dared not to be negligent. She hurriedly dragged her luggage home, took a shower, changed her clothes, and then rushed down the elevator, running all the way to the gallery.

The exhibition hall is located in one place, but Xue Yuan stopped first. She stared intently at the large characters on the sign in front of her: "Mr. Zhang, is this the exhibition area for Li Tianming's works? Ah, and why are there no paintings here yet?"

Zhang Lingli's gaze lingered on the wall, as if she could not comprehend Xue Yuan's words: "Are these paintings marketable?"

Yes," Xue Yuan replied, adding, "I do not know how other critics view it, but as for me, as long as the price is within an acceptable range, I would be willing to take these paintings home.

So you are quite interested in Mr. Li Xianming

Xue Yuan never believed that she could work at the Boyi Gallery. However, according to Ding Yinan, she amazed everyone on the day of the interview. She spoke fluent English and introduced the various styles of works displayed on the walls in a well-organized manner, impressing several examiners at that moment. It is important to note that students from art academies generally do not excel in cultural subjects, making the emergence of someone of her caliber extremely rare

Zhang Lingli laughed joyfully, her eyes filled with a sense of pride: "Indeed, it was previously the Mablolo Gallery that represented it, but afterwards, we took over the representation. For the past few months, I have been working on this matter."

Zhang Lingli shook her head with a sigh, conveying a sense of "the hardships here cannot be expressed in words"

Xue Yuan lowered her gaze slightly and expressed her gratitude once more: "Yes, I understand. In any case, thank you, General Manager Zhang, for your promotion."

Adjusting her appearance in front of the glass on the wall, Xue Yuan then leaned slightly and greeted her: "President Zhang, I have arrived"

I did not mean to belittle you," Zhang Lingli said, "However, working in our field is indeed different from that of an artist. Even if an artist's work is not good, we still have to speak well of it. This was also the reason I hired you at that time.

Xue Yuan blinked and said, "There was not a whisper of news before; the confidentiality work has been done exceptionally well"

As a novice university student, I really should not be picky about this job

Xue Yuan's voice is melodious, echoing in the spacious exhibition hall, causing the final tones to stretch oddly, resembling an ancient echo that lingers in the air; Zhang Lingli observes her with great interest, nodding in approval: "The movements are quite swift"

On the day of her official move, Xue Yuan encountered Zhang Lingli, the deputy general manager of the gallery. It was the first weekend after the training period ended, and she had the idea of moving. The other three classmates in the dormitory, including Ding Yinan, had all gone to their respective workplaces for internships. With no one to help her, she had to pack her luggage by herself and make several trips back and forth by bus. After five or six round trips, only the last box of books remained.

The exhibition hall was arranged yesterday, and apart from a few cleaning staff wiping the floor in the distance, there are basically no other people around. Such a spacious exhibition hall is perfect for a leisurely stroll. Zhang Lingli walks slowly, observing and evaluating with a critical eye, while Xue Yuan cautiously follows half a step behind her, like the most perfect secretary in the world, meticulously recording each area she mentions that needs improvement

Good

At this moment, Zhang Lingli noticed that her shorthand notebook was densely filled with words, and she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows in surprise, saying: "Although I felt this way on the day of the interview, I understand it even more clearly now; you do not resemble a student of the arts"

Xue Yuan, this young girl, will forever be an image of grace and eloquence in her heart. However, at this moment, she is trembling as she speaks, and the unusual glimmer in her eyes makes her appearance even more striking

As for how she inadvertently obtained this job at the Boyi Gallery, it seems more like a stroke of luck. It is worth noting that for the past four years, in stark contrast to her outstanding academic performance in cultural subjects, her grades in professional courses such as drawing and photography have always ranked at the bottom of her class. The teacher was so exasperated with her that he jumped up in anger, repeatedly asking: How did someone with no artistic talent manage to get in back then?

Gradually, through casual conversation, the two individuals became inexplicably closer. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the office behind the main hall. Zhang Lingli naturally needed to return to the general manager's office. She pushed the door open, stood still, and turned back to say: "Please pass the opinions you just noted down to my secretary, Xiao Zhengyu, for processing. He should be here shortly. Then you can go back and rest"

There is only one oil painting on the wall. The painting, less than half a square meter, occupies the entire front wall. Xue Yuan was secretly surprised, yet her gaze was drawn to the painting on the wall. The dark red background resembled a knitted carpet, and a pair of fair hands extended from the left side. Notably, an ancient key hung above, suspended in front of the palm. At the bottom, the description panel displayed the name of the artist and the title of the painting: Destiny, can you grasp it

This thought flashed through Xu Yuan's mind as she took a deep breath and calmly spoke: "The color combination of this painting is very smooth and harmonious, and its concept is also quite innovative. I remember that Du Sha once had a piece titled 'Hands in Prayer.' In comparison, there is a similarity in essence, yet also differences. It evokes questions about the fate of humanity. However, I have never heard of this artist's name before; they must be a newcomer in the art world. For a newcomer, this painting could be rated 90 points."

Ah, Xue Yuan seemed to just realize it, nodding randomly and then shaking her head. Finally, she took a deep breath, forcing the heart that had jumped to her throat back down into her stomach. "My graduation thesis is about him. Mr. Li Xianming is the most outstanding painter in the domestic art scene and even the global art scene. I... and several of my best classmates are his fans. However, in my impression, are all his works represented by the Marbello Gallery?" Mr. Li Xianming is the most outstanding painter in the domestic art scene and even the global art scene. I... and several of my best classmates are his fans. However, in my impression, are all his works represented by the Marbello Gallery?

With a myriad of thoughts in mind, my feet found their own way, ultimately turning left, where I encountered Zhang Lingli in the oil painting exhibition area

Zhang Lingli's eyes flashed as she raised her chin to indicate the other walls: "These paintings are all his. You can take a closer look. Then give me your opinion."

Xue Yuan can be categorized as someone who has switched careers. She has long given up hope of finding a job in the arts, and merely printed a resume, asking her classmates to inquire if there are any suitable and easy positions for her.

The news about the recruitment at Boyi Gallery was brought back by her roommate, Ding Yinan. At that time, Ding Yinan had already secured a job at a large gaming company, but she still enthusiastically submitted another resume, suggesting that her roommate might as well give it a try, treating a dead horse as a live one. In a somewhat muddled manner, she also submitted an electronic resume, and in the end, both of them received interview notifications. Having an additional opportunity is never a bad thing, so she joined in the excitement and went along. It was conservatively estimated that there were about thirty candidates for the interview, most of whom were top students from art academies, all brimming with ambition—after all, working at the largest and most renowned gallery in this city and even the entire region is a dream for many art academy students.

Xue Yuan tentatively asked: "Is this painter represented by Boyi New Agency?"

Zhang Lingli walked slowly through the exhibition hall with her hands in her pockets. She was a follower of luxury brands, with everything from her hairpin to her shoes being strikingly branded. Coupled with her tall stature and good figure, her clothing accentuated her radiant presence; the six-centimeter high heels she wore clicked crisply against the polished floor. Although she was no longer young, the innate noble aura that enveloped her was almost blinding, resembling that of a queen

The career prospects for graduates in art and design are not particularly broad, but as long as the expectations are not too high, one can always find a decent job. Those with talent may consider becoming artists or professional designers who live from hand to mouth; those with ambition might contemplate starting their own businesses; the remaining individuals with average talent and ability will either work in graphic design or in advertising, while those lacking both ability and talent will have no choice but to switch careers.

The Bo Yi Gallery is astonishingly spacious. With over 3,000 square meters of exhibition space and four display rooms of the same size, it showcases a wide variety of works, including Chinese paintings, oil paintings, watercolors, abstract art, murals, and more. Xue Yuan recalled visiting as a freshman with classmates, feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of art. The group spent an entire morning exploring, ultimately exhausting themselves to the point of being unable to stand.

Whenever such matters arise, she always responds with a wry smile, saying: "Teacher, in fact, I also want to know the answer."

Xue Yuan acted according to her words, yet after viewing all the paintings, she remained puzzled: "The quality is quite good. If I am not mistaken, his style and technique are clearly influenced by the German painter Rubens. However, why are all his paintings not for sale? I believe this artist's works should have a significant market; they are profound without being vulgar, yet very beautiful. At first glance, they provoke thought and have the effect of proverbial wisdom."

She trudged along the narrow path behind the Boyi Gallery, dragging her precious box of books, already exhausted and out of breath. However, upon seeing a red sports car approaching on another tree-lined road, she instantly regained her spirits

Compared to Zhang Lingli's inability to understand, Xue Yuan was indeed more surprised. Zhang Lingli herself has mentioned that she does not really understand painting, being merely an outstanding businesswoman, but she is not so lacking in discernment that she cannot tell the quality of a painting. Boyi Gallery would not represent works by artists without potential.

It has been three days since Xue Yuan last saw Zhang Lingli, which was the day she officially registered for her job after completing her training. At that time, she was surrounded by at least ten people, making it impossible to even approach her, let alone greet her. Now, after seeing her park the car properly in the backyard, she quickly walked over after putting down her suitcase, greeting her with a warm smile: "Hello, General Manager Zhang"

"Come and take a look," Zhang Lingli said, pointing to the display wall in front of her. "What do you think?"