Chapter Nine, Who is More Ruthless

Fu Qingliu did not make a direct offer; instead, he began to explain: "This painting is titled 'Mirror'. The image is somewhat abstract, with a gloomy and cold tone, reflecting all the ugly and vile roots of humanity. It is like a mirror, through which one can see their own vile and ugly true self. It is a work created by Shui Qingliu after waking from a nightmare. Due to its oppressive nature, it is the least favored painting among all of Shui Qingliu's works. People do not like to see their own ugly faces; they prefer to deceive themselves, which is also one of the inherent flaws of humanity."

Mo Chengfeng found it quite amusing to watch several people inexplicably shedding tears while looking at the paintings. To be honest, he thought these paintings were quite beautiful, but he could not grasp any sense of despair or glimmer of hope. His mind was filled with the image of Fu Qingliu he had seen earlier; she was a beauty, possessing a unique allure that was different from the round and slender figures he had encountered before.

Fu Jinyu cast a cold glance at those people, a look that made the adults hurriedly pull their children away. In their eyes, Fu Jinyu was nothing short of a reincarnated evil spirit. What kind of ten-year-old child behaves like him? Even if he ranked first in his grade every time, they would never encourage their own children to learn from him

"What if not?" Fu Jinyu reached into his backpack and took out a fruit knife, looking at them with a fierce expression, "What else can happen?"

Fu Jinyu responded expressionlessly and walked back to the room, took out the newly bought pen and notebook, and sat on the bed to start doing homework. It was a practice book for the first year of junior high, and it was evident that he had already completed more than half of it. Fu Qingliu had an IQ of 210, and this child was clearly also of exceptionally high intelligence. After Fu Qingliu used his influence to entice the principal, he immediately deduced that he could request to skip a grade, asking the principal to provide him with junior high textbooks and practice books, while also instructing him to keep it a secret from Fu Qingliu. The principal treated him like a revered ancestor, completely trusting him and obediently following his orders like a dog. This child was clearly also of exceptionally high intelligence. After Fu Qingliu used his influence to entice the principal, he immediately deduced that he could request to skip a grade, asking the principal to provide him with junior high textbooks and practice books, while also instructing him to keep it a secret from Fu Qingliu. The principal treated him like a revered ancestor, completely trusting him and obediently following his orders like a dog.

"Six hundred thousand." Fu Qingliu rubbed his fingertips, leisurely quoting the price

The two sides faced off for nearly half a minute, yet not a single person, who was eight or nine years older than Fu Jinyu, dared to step forward

Fu Qingliu continued to walk, turning her back to him and waving her hand, her posture as light and graceful as a cat, exuding a sense of laziness yet also a certain cleanliness and sharpness. It was evident that the other party was rejecting him in this manner, yet Mo Chengfeng, stroking his chin, felt rather excited instead.

Fu Jinyu selected several pens and a number of exercise books from the stationery store, his gloomy demeanor causing people to overlook his delicate and fair beautiful face. He tightened his expressionless face as he took out money to pay, then stuffed the items into his backpack and walked home

Chi Yuan obediently sat behind Chi Fei's desk doing homework, while Fu Qingliu was preparing to go to the studio to paint, when he received a call from Xiao Yang, who said that there was a guest interested in buying a painting

"Alright." Chi Yuan obediently picked up the lunchbox and walked over to the sofa to eat.

There are few people who run galleries, and even fewer who enjoy visiting them to view art. The scarcity of resources means that competition for them becomes more intense; otherwise, one risks facing dire consequences. Thus, the overt and covert rivalries between galleries are far more severe than typical business competition. Chi Fei's temperament cannot be described as particularly strong; the once sharp edges of his youthful exuberance seem to have been smoothed over by his daughter and the passage of time. Taking on Zhou Hai and his group alone would certainly lead to defeat, as he is always wary of saying too much and tearing the facade, which could result in even more serious repercussions. Therefore, the rivalries between galleries are indeed much more intense than ordinary business competition. Chi Fei's temperament cannot be described as particularly strong; the once sharp edges of his youthful exuberance seem to have been smoothed over by his daughter and the passage of time. Taking on Zhou Hai and his group alone would certainly lead to defeat, as he is always wary of saying too much and tearing the facade, which could result in even more serious repercussions.

"Grandma, I am back." Fu Jinyu directly entered Fu Qingliu's room with his backpack, placed the backpack on the bed, and then went out

Are you back? Wait a moment, Grandma is picking vegetables, and we will be able to eat soon

Zhou Hai, the head of the Black Stone Gallery, initially came to apply for the position with Chi Fei. However, Fu Qingliu chose Chi Fei, which likely caused the proud Zhou Hai to harbor resentment towards both Fu Qingliu and Chi Fei. He probably guessed that Chi Fei would stubbornly seek out Fu Yixun at the Heimei Club, so he called several other gallery heads to join him in going to Heimei. As a result, they all failed to meet Fu Yixun.

Many children are picked up and dropped off by their parents. In earlier years, Zhang Dongmei would come to the school to pick him up and drop him off. After he turned eight, he no longer wanted her to do so. Firstly, the elderly person's health was deteriorating, and it was not good for her to walk such a long distance every morning and evening to pick him up. Secondly, the person he wanted to be with was not by his side; walking alone was no different from being picked up by someone.

Many parents walked past Fu Jinyu, who was alone with his backpack, holding their children by the hand. They would cast him a strange glance and then lead their children away at a distance. They all knew about the incident where the richest man's child in Lihua Town was beaten by him at school, and they were even more aware that the child soon transferred to a primary school in the neighboring town. Not long after, the wealthy family went bankrupt. In such a small rural town, news spreads quickly, especially since the principal personally called to reprimand those children and their parents who were gossiping at school. Thus, the villagers exercised their imagination and uniformly concluded that it was because this child's mother was a wealthy figure in the city.

While having a meal, Fu Jinyu suddenly said to Zhang Dongmei, as he looked at the bowl of food she had served him, "I attended Provincial No. 3 Middle School in junior high." Provincial No. 3 Middle School is a key junior high school in M Province, better than City No. 1 Middle School. It also has a high school division, making it a key high school as well, with an extremely high admission score threshold, and it is located in Qing City, where Fu Qingliu resides.

Fu Qingliu held the chopsticks and looked at Chi Fei's face for a moment, then said to Chi Yuan: "Yuan Yuan, would you go over there to eat? Auntie needs to discuss something with your father"

Dad! Chi Yuan immediately put down the small spoon and ran towards Chi Fei

"Hey, kid, lend me some money to spend." As Fu Jinyu passed through a narrow alley, he was blocked by a few delinquents who looked to be of high school or middle school age, emerging from the alley. It was after school hours, and there were many parents passing by, yet not a single one stopped to help.

With his back to the pool, Chi Fei sat wearily in the chair opposite Fu Qingliu, his restless hands running through his hair. "I didn't see Fu Yixun at the Heimei Club today, but I did encounter those despicable people from Zhou Hai."

I am now in the sixth grade, and after the summer vacation, I will go to Qing City. " After saying this, Fu Jinyu looked at Zhang Dongmei, and a hint of anxiety gradually appeared in her beautiful eyes. Then she held the silent Zhang Dongmei's hand and, with a slight choke in her voice, said, "Grandma, please don't tell Mom... I want to be with her"

Fu Qingliu shrugged, appearing as if the transaction had failed, and turned to leave.

Mo Chengfeng looked at her with a hint of amusement, "Do you know how many modern painters can sell a painting for over a million these days?" Not to mention, this is just a piece that is least favored by people? Shui Qingliu has some reputation, but has not yet reached that level of fame

"Why didn't Fu Yixun go to the Black Club today?" Fu Qingliu asked

"Hey, where do you conduct business like this?" Mo Chengfeng spoke from behind.

Pear Blossom Town

Mo Chengfeng also noticed this. He did not feel angry; instead, he found it quite interesting. He raised his eyebrows slightly and casually pointed his chin at the painting directly in front of him, saying, "I would like to buy this one; name your price."

The city of Qing is just this big, and the art community is similarly small, where one is almost always bumping into familiar faces.

And in fact, this is indeed the case

Chi Fei did not say anything, but Fu Qingliu stared at Chi Fei for a while, then narrowed his eyes slightly, "Did they humiliate you?"

Until nightfall, Fu Qingliu and Chi Yuan were having dinner face to face in the office, while Chi Feicai returned with a weary expression.

"Excuse me, sir, are you looking to buy a painting?" Fu Qingliu's gaze was light and airy, exuding a sense of laziness, as if he did not take the other person seriously.

Mo Chengfeng glanced sideways at the painting, then at Fu Qingliu. He truly did not feel that this painting reflected his true self like a mirror. "And then?"

Fu Jinyu's pupils suddenly constricted, and as he looked at the rogue before him, a murderous intent almost erupted from his eyes, causing the man to hesitate in continuing his speech.

"Hmm, good, eat well to grow tall." Chi Fei put Chi Yuan down, allowing her to continue eating.

I don't know; in any case, it has been postponed to Monday. I will go again then

Happy

No need. Fu Qingliu picked up a piece of char siu and stuffed it into his mouth, "I can't believe it."

"No money?" A boy with a cigarette in his mouth pushed him aside and said, "We heard that your mother is quite wealthy, kid. Don't refuse a toast and end up drinking a penalty instead. Hand over the money in your pockets, and then go home and bring back the money from your house. Otherwise..."

Fu Jinyu sheathed the fruit knife and put it back into his backpack, shouldering it and continuing his walk home, ignoring the parents who were frightened by him

Zhang Dongmei's action of picking up food paused, as she had a grandson who was studying, she had also learned about some well-known schools, and of course, she knew that Provincial No. 3 Middle School was located in Qing City. She froze for a while, then retracted her chopsticks and said with a somewhat dry smile: "Alright, then you must study hard, and in two years, you will be able to take the exam." Even though Fu Jinyu was smart, Fu Qingliu never allowed him to skip grades, so not long ago, Fu Jinyu, like many ten-year-old children, was still a fourth-grade elementary school student. She retracted her chopsticks and said with a somewhat dry smile: "Alright, then you must study hard, and in two years, you will be able to take the exam." Even though Fu Jinyu was smart, Fu Qingliu never allowed him to skip grades, so not long ago, Fu Jinyu, like many ten-year-old children, was still a fourth-grade elementary school student.

The weariness on Chi Fei's face seemed to vanish in an instant as she beamed with a smile, lifting her daughter up, "Did you have fun playing with Aunt Fu today?"

The fair and slender hand grasped the doorknob, and Fu Qingliu's gaze suddenly shifted to the dark red scarf hanging on the coat rack ahead. The figure of the gentleman encountered at the amusement park today surfaced in her mind. Hmm, he was wearing a green one today. Speaking of which, that man wore a three-piece suit with a scarf, resembling an ancient European noble. Although it is early summer now, and the summer in Qing City is generally not as hot as in the south, wearing so many layers must still be warm, right

"No money," Fu Jinyu said gloomily before intending to walk past them and leave

"Freak, weirdo! This time I'll let you off!" After saying this, they hurriedly walked away, occasionally glancing back at Fu Jinyu with a hint of fear on their faces. They were merely idle and lazy individuals who had nothing to do on a daily basis, and their courage was not particularly great. It was said that Fu Jinyu only had an elderly grandmother at home, and that his mother had attached herself to a wealthy man, only thinking of coming to ask the child for some money to spend. They never expected this child to be so terrifying; which child would keep a fruit knife in their backpack?

While others were either engrossed or seriously staring at the painting, Mo Chengfeng's nonchalant and dandy demeanor was particularly conspicuous, and Fu Qingliu spotted him at a glance

Hey! The few people surrounding Fu Jinyu immediately stepped back, staring at the fruit knife in Fu Jinyu's hand as if they had seen a ghost. Then they looked at the ten-year-old boy, whose dark and menacing eyes radiated an overwhelming aura of killing intent, which was simply terrifying.

As the sun set in the west and night gradually approached, Fu Jinyu finally returned to the two-story building.