Chapter 10, the enigmatic Mrs. Fei

As she spoke, someone brushed past her and entered the conference room. The scent of men's perfume on him brought her an inexplicable sense of familiarity; Xue Yuan watched his back as he handed a note-like item to an older woman.

Xiao Zhengyu smiled and said: "It's fine to watch the excitement and meet more people; there is no harm in it"

Xue Yuan did not have time to refuse him before hanging up the phone. After hastily packing her bag, she left, only to incur the wrath of Supervisor Liu from the sales department, who exclaimed, "It's a matter of one position for one person; if you leave, who will take your place! You are really causing me trouble!" Xue Yuan lowered her head and listened to the scolding, finally daring to leave only after he had finished venting his anger, walking very lightly, afraid of provoking him again.

Suddenly, she had no appetite at all. Xue Yuan poked at the food with her chopsticks, wishing that the day would pass quickly.

This art auction is jointly organized by Boyi and the largest art auction house in the country. The two companies have collaborated for many years and have maintained a good relationship. In the context of an underdeveloped gallery and auction house system in the country, their collaboration is regarded as a rare model within the industry.

Xue Yuan raised her gaze: "With so many people accompanying her, what is her background?"

Zhang Lingli immediately followed up: "What would you like to eat tonight? I heard that your favorite dish is sweetened lotus root in syrup. There is a shop nearby that makes it particularly well, both sticky and glutinous."

Xue Yuan made a sound of "hm"

After prolonged contemplation, Xue Yuan twisted her face into a strange smile, reached out to pat her own cheek, and murmured to herself: "With a face like this, going to confront someone, I truly am exposing my shortcomings in front of others. What would Li Tianming think of me after seeing me? I don't know; in reality, he has been very polite to me. How could he have thought of painting this face? Are the words he said to me genuine? What about what Li Youwei said? Could it just be a coincidence... Are there really so many coincidences in the world? I don't know; in reality, he has been very polite to me. How could he have thought of painting this face? Are the words he said to me genuine? What about what Li Youwei said? Could it just be a coincidence... Are there really so many coincidences in the world? ...

Noticing Xue Yuansheng's stiff expression, Xiao Zhengyu secretly thought it was not good and immediately smiled to ease the situation: "Madam Fei, it was her who received you when you visited Boyi yesterday, so it is only natural to feel like you have seen her somewhere before, especially since she has a very common face."

As if adhering to the law of conservation of population, shortly after Li Youwei sat down, Xiao Zhengyu left the conference room and upon exiting greeted Xue Yuan: "You all arrived quite quickly"

They

Why

Xue Yuan sighed: "I wish I had known."

She swallowed her anger and said, "Aren't we waiting for General Zhang to return?"

"This cannot be blamed on you. Even if you are Diderot, you may not recognize your own profile, simply because you are in this mountain. " Xiao Zhengyu had originally picked up the cup, but now he put it down again. "Xue Yuan, some things should be thought through slowly; do not block your own thoughts all at once. We will always encounter various problems. The painting you are looking for, while important, is not as real as your own life. I do not know what you have been through, but for many things, it is better to adopt the perspective of 'hindsight wisdom'—what seemed like a catastrophe at the time, upon reflection, is not such a big deal."

What?

Madam Fei seemed to recall something, letting out a soft "hm". She finally concluded this interlude, turning with a smile to leave. A group of people immediately followed her, resembling an ancient queen with her grand entourage behind her

Xue Yuan bit her lip, feeling as if she were listening to a tale from the Arabian Nights. After a long while, she finally said: "So that's how it is"

Xiao Zhengyu sighed and asked with a mix of emotion, "Xue Yuan, have you truly not noticed, or are you pretending not to know?"

The air suddenly fell silent

Xiao Zhengyu glanced at her, and Xue Yuan understood, following him to the balcony of another conference room next door. At this moment, there were no other people around, and he said: "Madam Fei's husband passed away two months ago, leaving all his inheritance to her. Although her husband was not well-known during his lifetime, he was an extraordinary venture capitalist. No one knows how much money he had, but there is a joke that he was involved in almost every industry in the world. In short, he is a person we cannot afford to offend." No one knows how much money he had, but there is a joke that he was involved in almost every industry in the world. In short, he is a person we cannot afford to offend.

Do you know what was said in today's meeting

Now? Xue Yuan asked in confusion, "Aren't you going to drive?"

Xiao Zhengyu revealed a smile akin to saying "You are truly a pure-hearted child" and said slowly, "It's quite simple; this is how we can test a person's heart. Even General Manager Zhang agrees, so what more is there to discuss."

This day has been particularly difficult to endure. After a long morning of work, I felt both exhausted and irritable, to the point that I didn't even want to eat. In the end, He Yuntang dragged me to the cafeteria. As soon as we entered, I suddenly noticed that the atmosphere today was markedly different from usual. The only topic of conversation among everyone was: a mysterious new general manager has suddenly appeared from nowhere; could it be that a change is coming?

When she reached the door, Li Youwei had already opened the car door to wait for her. The air conditioning in the car was set too high, and as she sat down, she felt a shiver run through her body

Xiao Zhengyu glanced at his watch and said, "It's almost time to get off work now, so you don't need to return to the office. Let's go to the café downstairs and sit down to chat"

Everyone was watching them, and the several owners of the auction house did not recognize Xue Yuan, leaving them bewildered by the scene. They began to speak quietly among themselves, exchanging confused glances. Zhang Lingli, being a person with keen observation, called out loudly: "Xue Yuan"

Li Youwei asked her: "Are you feeling down?"

Of course, it is getting late now," Li Youwei emerged from behind her, supporting her arm, "Madam Fei, let us go downstairs. You just mentioned that you returned to the country yesterday, so it has been over ten years since you last came back, hasn't it

Her voice was both harsh and dry, as if her throat were filled with sawdust

The implication is very clear, it is nothing more than asking her to obey and act accordingly. Xue Yuan pretended not to hear, stubbornly remaining silent, refusing to turn her head.

This Mrs. Fei is truly unpredictable in her actions, what is she doing here

Xue Yuan said irritably: "If you consider it from my perspective, you will understand why I am in a bad mood"

It is precisely because you are driving that I asked you to interpret directly

The tone was filled with a sense of command. Xue Yuan felt inexplicably tense, furrowing her brow, and made her words sound very polite: "Madam Fei, what do you mean by this"

Two individuals took the elevator to the conference room on the third floor. The quiet corridor was covered with thick carpets, making no sound as they walked. Through the thick glass walls, everything in the conference room was clearly visible. In this luxurious room sat six or seven people, with two or three standing. They were engaged in conversation, and everyone's attention was focused on the elderly woman in plain clothing sitting in the center. She was exceptionally well-preserved, and one had to look closely to estimate her age. Her posture was elegant, her attire dignified, and she held a delicate handbag in both hands. Her hair was parted on both sides and was styled in a low bun at the back, forming an exceptionally graceful shape. Zhang Lingli sat opposite her with a cautious posture, looking flustered. Xiao Zhengyu stood behind her like a shadow, his back straight.

Her reaction was both expected and unexpected, yet the change in her voice due to nervousness stirred something soft within a corner of his heart. He noticed her hand resting on the table, her fair little finger trembling slightly. Her body was beyond her control, and so was his; his hand seemed to have a will of its own, reaching out to cover hers, but it halted just before the moment of contact.

Li Youwei may have been truly anxious today, as he did not engage in much idle chatter with her, and the smile that seemed to be naturally on his face had completely vanished. Before starting the car, he pointed to the dashboard and said in a deep voice: "This is a document in French, translate it for me."

Even at this age, Mrs. Fei's eyes can still be considered very beautiful, with elongated corners and lines that extend diagonally upwards. However, her gaze is entirely mismatched with such beautiful eyes; it resembles the look of a biologist examining specimens in a science fiction film. Regardless of any lack of malice, it evokes discomfort. Suppressing the turmoil in her stomach, she nodded stiffly. Yet her gaze remains incongruous with her lovely eyes, resembling that of a biologist in a science fiction movie observing research specimens. No matter how one interprets it, the absence of malice still leaves an unsettling impression. She forced herself to nod stiffly, suppressing the churn in her stomach.

Xue Yuan leaned forward to take a glance; it was the brief descriptions she had written for the more than one hundred paintings that were to be auctioned in a few days.

Well

When it comes to money matters, He Yuntang wears the same expression as everyone else in the world, her demeanor highly tense: "Of course, I have no idea what is going on. The news about the general manager's return has been circulating for a while, but no one expected it to happen so soon. Given the current situation, it seems quite good. However, I wonder how President Zhang will react. After all these years, having recruited and painstakingly nurtured a group of people from various places, I don't know how many hearts can be swayed."

The profile of the girl in the painting "The Reading Girl" is almost identical to yours

Finally, Xue Yuan said: "On the surface, this company appears to have substantial assets and operates smoothly"

Xue Yuan nodded slowly: "Why did Madam Fei suddenly want to see my profile?"

The gloomy feeling from the previous day lingered as she returned to work. She felt a twitch in her left eyelid, and sure enough, just as she sat down in the office, the phone rang: "Come to my office for a moment." Xue Yuan's mouth twitched involuntarily.

Yes, that lady and the person who just entered the room

Xiao Zhengyu gazed at her and slowly spoke: "I only just found out as well. Mr. Li poured his heart and soul into painting 'The Girl Reading,' during which he suffered two heart attacks. The first time he was hospitalized for a week, and the second time for three months, nearly costing him his life. He still requires a nurse to care for him at all times; how could there possibly be any replicas?"

I later arranged for you to meet Li Tianming for this reason," Xiao Zhengyu poured her half a cup of coffee and continued, "I think it is rare to have such a coincidence in the world. The girl imagined by the painter appears before us, truly art comes from life

How is everyone responding

Xiao Zhengyu gazed into the distance, remaining composed: "I hope Li Youwei can persuade her to change her mind."

Xiao Zhengyu spoke in a deep voice, intending to convey her words: "Although I do not know Li Tianming's thoughts, you may perhaps understand Li Youwei's thoughts."

Copy? This painting will not have any replicas

Xue Yuan is almost beside herself with rage; is this not treating her as a mere secretary? Moreover, having her take the lead in every matter, the intention is evident

Xue Yuan arrived at the auction house for the first time, completely unfamiliar with such places. Cautiously following behind Li Youwei, she looked around as they walked through. The venue was bustling with people, with workers coming in and out, hanging lights and setting up the stage, creating a lively atmosphere

This painting cannot have any more replicas," Xiao Zhengyu emphasized, shaking his head, "Mr. Li Tianming cannot afford that kind of mental strain

Arrived, disembark

Xue Yuan pushed the coffee cup aside, as if meeting him for the first time, her gaze fixed intently on the man before her. In the silence of her observation, her emotions had completely returned to calm. She lowered her head to take a sip of the coffee he had poured, smiled, and raised her eyes to look at him: "What do you mean when you said that there can never be another copy of the painting 'The Reading Girl'?"

Her surname is Fei? I do not know this, Xue Yuan said, Yesterday afternoon at this time, she came to Boyi, and I was the one who received her. She stayed in the gallery for a long time, probably close to two hours

Looking at Mrs. Fei's figure, Xiao Zhengyu smiled and said, "You described it very accurately"

Upon arriving downstairs, Xiao Zhengyu first asked her what she would like to drink. Xue Yuan was hardly in the mood to think about such things and replied with a few words, "You decide." The contemplative expression on her face was impossible to hide, prompting Xiao Zhengyu to ask, "Are you still thinking about that Madam Fei?"

Xue Yuan said in a deep voice: "I cannot hold multiple positions by myself"

In the office of the general manager, Li Youwei was leisurely reclining on the sofa, his legs carelessly propped up on the table, holding a stack of documents in his hand. Catching sight of Xue Yuan, he extended a finger and pointed at another stack of documents on the table

Xue Yuan only had a fleeting thought, and after a moment of contemplation, she asked: "Then why invite Li Youwei? Although he is the general manager, your negotiation skills cannot all be inferior to his."

Xue Yuan said, "Oh, I see"

He Yuntang appeared very happy and whispered to Xue Yuan, "It is said that this general manager is a handsome guy"

"Oh, it's fine," Xue Yuan said helplessly, "Actually, I don't even know what I'm here for."

It was as if a thunderclap had exploded above her head, and Xue Yuan was truly astonished. She twisted her fingers, cold sweat trickling down her back, as countless thoughts whirled in her mind. In the end, she could only shake her head in disbelief: "Impossible, absolutely impossible. Xiao Zhengyu, what kind of joke is this? How could it be, how could it be like me? Don't scare me."

Returned. It is still early.

Xue Yuan finally let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, turned around sharply, and cast a glance in the direction where I was, her gaze sharp as a knife, startling my heart to race a few beats faster.

Xiao Zhengyu was surprised: "Have you met Mrs. Fei before? When?"

He concluded by saying: "Now that he has returned, there will certainly be many issues, but as long as the legal representative of the company is still in his name, no one can do anything about it"

Mrs. Fei seemed to be growing impatient, her gaze concealing displeasure: "Turn your face, let me see your profile."

The main focus was to familiarize oneself with the conditions of each department, and finally, there was also a mention of increasing benefits and compensation

Xiao Zhengyu couldn't help but smile wryly, unsure whether he was laughing at himself or at her: "How could you not have noticed? But it's not your fault; no one knows the contours of their own profile. Do you remember when we first met, I asked you if we had seen each other there before? At that time, I thought you resembled the girl in that painting."

Did you write these? I heard it only took one night

You turned your face away

His calm voice calmed her thoughts. Xue Yuan quickly raised her head and, upon seeing his face, felt an inexplicable sense of reassurance. She soon broke free from the tangled mess of her thoughts and said: "Yes, you are right. Even you can see the resemblance between me and the girl in the painting, let alone Li Youwei. He is also a top-notch painter, and his observational and imaginative skills are beyond what ordinary people can compare to. Li Youwei's persistence with me is also due to this reason... I am just really surprised at how slow I have been to realize this."

What?

There are more than one hundred employees in the gallery, and apart from the office staff and a few supervisors, she does not know the vast majority of them, yet she has to notify each one individually. Clearly, she still has the responsibilities of a sales assistant, but she is forced to make phone calls in a piecemeal manner.

No, she has not spoken at all, just touched and looked at the paintings. All the questions were directed at the middle-aged man accompanying her, who was asking me everything related to oil painting, treating me like an automatic answering machine. Xue Yuan recalled the conversation and recounted it one by one, finally saying, "I remembered, she did say one sentence. When I handed the business card to that gentleman, she glanced at it and said, 'Keep it well.' That's all there was to it. Mrs. Fei was wearing a large hat yesterday and dressed in plain clothes, but not the same outfit as today. I felt very uncomfortable with strangers getting close, and I could never see her clearly."

Xue Yuan was simply unsure whether she should praise her. However, since the contents of the Politburo meetings can be leaked, it is not surprising that the discussions of small meetings within the company are known to everyone.

Well

The towering building loomed in the distance, and Li Youwei suddenly slammed on the brakes, snatched the documents from her hand and tossed them into the back seat, his deep voice following suit: "You have not seen this report."

In the current situation, it is truly a dilemma whether to leave or stay. After Li Youwei entered the room, he quickly mingled with the group of seemingly distinguished individuals inside. Zhang Lingli then vacated her seat, allowing him to sit opposite the older woman, and the two began to converse in a manner that appeared casual to outsiders.

Xue Yuan immediately understood why everyone in the room looked so pained. Li Tianming had not authorized the agency Boyi to represent "The Reading Girl"; the contract clearly stated that it was merely for exhibition purposes. After the exhibition ended, Li Tianming took the painting back home.

Regaining her composure, Xue Yuan said: "It seems that Madam Fei is determined to have it. It would be easier to have Li Youwei persuade Li Tianming to create another copy to give to her."

Xiao Zhengyu's brows gradually furrowed as he asked her seriously, "Did she say anything?"

Li Youwei laughed happily: "What an admirable speed. Others say that Xiao Zhengyu has a photographic memory, but I think you are even more impressive than him. Why don't you come and be my secretary instead."

It was not easy to watch them leave, and she turned to Xiao Zhengyu and asked, "Was she looking at you or me just now? And why didn't you go with them?"

Madam Fei glanced at Xue Yuan on her left and at Xiao Zhengyu on her right, her expression suddenly softening. The brilliance emanating from her eyes momentarily captivated Xue Yuan. She slowly nodded, fully accepting his viewpoint: "Is that so? What you said makes sense."

"Not really," He Yuntang smiled mysteriously and serenely. "Didn’t Xiao Wu arrive quite early this morning? She mentioned that she happened to see a handsome guy getting out of a car. Although she only caught a glimpse of his back, he had an impressive presence. She followed him for a while and eventually saw him enter the general manager's office."

Before Xiao Zhengyu could say anything, sounds from the adjacent room came through. The two of them stepped into the corridor and saw people coming out one after another, each wearing a bitter and helpless expression. Xue Yuan leaned against the wall, slightly bending at the waist, with her gaze half lowered.

Xue Yuan suddenly raised her eyes to look at him: "What does it mean?"

"Not yet," Li Youwei continued to look at the documents in his hand without raising his head. "She is busy with the auction preparations over at the auction house for tomorrow's auction, so please do not disturb her for the time being"

Xiao Zhengyu shook his head and sighed: "She insists on buying the painting 'The Reading Girl' no matter what."

Li Youwei returned to work at the company today

She was even too surprised to react, instinctively recalling the scene from that night. Xue Yuan's expression changed dramatically, her eyes becoming misty; but she quickly restrained her emotions, gradually recalling the details, which had been vague but became incredibly clear in her memory. She understood the cause and effect, revealing a weary smile: "At that time, I didn't pay much attention. Why was Li Youwei there? The words that Li Tianming said to him, in retrospect, seem to hold some clues. She understood the cause and effect, revealing a weary smile: "At that time, I didn't pay much attention. Why was Li Youwei there? The words that Li Tianming said to him, in retrospect, seem to hold some clues. Both of them share the surname Li, and at first glance, they also look quite similar... It turns out they are father and son... No wonder, no wonder."

Suddenly, a shadow fell before her eyelids, and someone stood in front of her. Xue Yuan raised her head and was taken aback; Mrs. Fei had appeared before her at some unknown time, gazing intently at her, her eyes filled with both confusion and contemplation, as if a brilliant flower had suddenly bloomed on Xue Yuan's face

Xue Yuan pressed her lips together and immediately nodded: "I understand"

Xiao Zhengyu glanced at the room and casually remarked, "Several of the largest galleries in the world have her shares"

A strangely familiar posture. Xue Yuan focused intently on the two individuals, her mind racing at high speed. Finally, she gently clapped her hands and exclaimed in realization, "Ah, so it's them! I've seen them before."

The sound insulation effect of the glass door is excellent, as no sound can be heard from outside. Li Youwei's gaze swept across the room, and his footsteps hesitated slightly at the door before he pushed it open and entered. Xue Yuan was unsure whether she should follow him, and in her hesitation, she became stiff outside the door, while the door had already closed again.

Not long after starting work in the afternoon, Li Youwei called: "Please take a leave, come with me to the auction house this afternoon, I will wait for you at the entrance, come over in five minutes"

Xiao Zhengyu showed a hint of surprise this time: "You didn't know that Li Youwei is Mr. Li Tianming's son?" He then chuckled to himself, "Of course, you left early that day, no wonder you didn't know."

"Indeed, this request is somewhat unreasonable," Li Youwei seemed to ponder for a moment, then smiled and said, "I will not force you. Additionally, after you go out, please call over Supervisors Zhu and Han for me, and notify all management to prepare. I will hold a meeting at 10 o'clock"

Xue Yuan was taken aback: "Really?"

Xue Yuan recalled He Yuntang's words and said: "I don't know, but it's strange how he suddenly rushed back when General Zhang was not around, making it seem as if he was usurping power."

Xue Yuan thought of the saying "Rumors are more ferocious than tigers" and muttered, "You are truly well-informed"

In an instant, Xue Yuan was rendered speechless. She focused her gaze on the lady, only to find that she had become even more elegant, noble, and radiant. Money is indeed a marvelous thing at times, capable of transforming a person entirely. Reflecting on this, Xue Yuan smiled with a complex mix of emotions: "Having money is truly a good thing; whatever one desires, others will readily offer it. This lady is also quite a shrewd individual."

Xiao Zhengyu said: "If it were someone else, it would be easy to deal with, but it just happens to be this Mrs. Fei."

Xue Yuan picked up the document and began to read it aloud word by word with her head lowered. This was a document similar to a business report, but it was incomplete, lacking even the company's name, as if deliberately concealed. The document contained a particularly large number of economic terminology, some of which she did not understand, and she could only guess their meanings.

She suddenly spoke up: "You, are you surnamed Xue?"

I do not know who she is looking at, but I am clear about why I am not going with them. They have just seen off Mrs. Fei, and they will not be back for a while. Surely the next event will be a dinner party, and everyone present will be bosses; I am not qualified enough to attend. "Xiao Zhengyu shrugged nonchalantly and smiled, 'By the way, did you come with Li Youwei today? What did he ask you to come over for?"