In the middle of the night, Tao Wan's phone rang. It was a video call from Wei Shicheng. He picked it up, squinted his eyes and complained, "I'm sleeping. Even if it's daytime over there, you can't call me at this time."
"Baby, I saw you on the news abroad. When did you draw the painting 'Penglai Blissful'? Why didn't I know about it? "Wei Shicheng asked excitedly.
"I started the second day after you left. Yesterday, um … I finished it two days ago. It's even on the news abroad?" Tao Wan yawned.
"Is your other phone turned off? Many people have called me, saying that they want to buy your painting. They've been trying to get acquainted with me for a long time. Many foreign collectors also want to meet you, and they've already gone to China. " Seeing that Tao Wan closed his eyes, Wei Shicheng hurriedly cried, "Qing Yu, baby, are you asleep? Wake up and listen to me first. "
"I'm not asleep. Just say what you want to say. I'm listening." Tao Wan opened his eyes a little.
"Don't rush to sell the painting to anyone. We'll discuss it when I come back. I'll exchange the company's shares with you, okay?" Wei Shicheng said in a coaxing tone.
"I didn't plan to sell it. I think it'll be difficult for me to draw such a good painting in the future. And this painting cost me too much. I don't want to sell it, so I plan to keep it. "Tao Wan thought and said," I'll use this painting as my dowry, Uncle Wei. "
"That's a great idea. It's settled then." Wei Shicheng said excitedly, "No matter what others say to you, don't be tempted. I'll go back in two days. No matter what happens, wait for me to come back."
"I said I won't sell it. I won't be tempted no matter how much money they give me. You'll come back after you've dealt with everything there. Otherwise, we'll have to fly over again in a short period of time. Wouldn't that be a waste of time? "
"Alright, I'll listen to you. I'll take care of things here first. Ask for leave from school for a few days and don't go anywhere at home. Otherwise, those people will definitely pester you. "
"Yes, yes, I got it. Hurry up and get back to work. When you're done, come back early. I'm going to sleep. I'm so sleepy. "Tao Wan yawned again.
"Then go to sleep. Rest well for the next few days. I'm hanging up." Wei Shicheng looked at Tao Wan's tired appearance and felt a little distressed.
Tao Wan waited for him to finish before hanging up. He was still holding the phone in his hand when he fell asleep. That speech was too taxing on his mind and energy. Even the system's recovery had slowed down. Tao Wan felt that even if he could draw a painting of the same level, he wouldn't want to do it again. At least for the next few years, he definitely wouldn't be able to draw anymore.
After the two of them went public with their relationship, Tao Wan moved to Wei Shicheng's villa. Du Yi also lived there with him. Wei Shicheng even helped him to transfer to a private elite school.
Tao Wan slept until noon, but he still looked sleepy. If he hadn't woken up because of hunger, he would have continued to sleep.
Du Yi was watching TV in the living room. Tao Wan walked over to him and sat down. The housekeeper came over and asked, "Master Du, what would you like to eat?"
"Seafood porridge," Tao Wan said. "Make me a glass of milk first."
The housekeeper left and soon came back with a glass of fresh milk.
Du Yi turned to look at Tao Wan and asked, "Brother, aren't you going to school today?"
"Yeah." Tao Wan took a sip of the warm milk. "I'll be resting at home for the next few days. I won't go anywhere."
"Is it because a lot of people want to buy your paintings?" Du Yi said. "These two days, your paintings have been on the news a lot. The news said that a lot of rich people from abroad came to our country just to buy your paintings. But a lot of masters in our country are saying that they can't let you sell your paintings to foreigners. "
"You're only in primary school and you're already watching the news? Shouldn't children your age be watching anime? "
"Not all primary school students like to watch anime, right?" Du Yi thought for a while and said, "Anyway, I don't like to watch it. The content is too exaggerated. I prefer to watch things that happen in real life."
"Really?" Tao Wan said.
"Brother, will you sell your paintings to foreigners? I heard that they will pay a high price and help you immigrate. "
"I won't." Tao Wan said with certainty. "I'm living well in our country. Why would I want to immigrate to a place that I'm not used to at all? They must be crazy to think that. Our country is not worse than other countries in any aspect. I'm not crazy. Why would I agree to it? "
"Oh, I don't really want to go abroad. I think it's good to live in our country." Du Yi looked relieved.
Tao Wan looked at him with amusement.
"The news said that a painting of yours can be sold for a lot of money. So you're rich now, right?" Du Yi asked.
"Kind of." Tao Wan thought for a while and said, "Anyway, we don't have to worry about money anymore."
"When I start working, I'll give you all the money I earn." Du Yi said with a serious face.
"Okay." Tao Wan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Before you get married, I'll help you take care of it."
"Master Du, it's time for the young master to go to piano lessons." The housekeeper put down the seafood porridge and said to Tao Wan.
"Okay." Tao Wan nodded. He turned to Du Yi and said, "Go, have a good class."
"I'm leaving, brother." Du Yi stood up and said.
Students in aristocratic schools had to learn a few specialties. Du Yi chose piano and fencing. He wanted to learn horsemanship and combat skills when his body was better.
Tao Wan looked at the news on TV. It was now reporting about him. He sighed. It seemed that he had used too much force this time. He would definitely be pestered by those people for a long time.
Tao Wan had two phones. Only Wei Shicheng and Du Yi knew the number of one. The number of the other phone was known by more people. Some teachers in the school, people in the gallery, and some masters of Chinese Art and Go all had his number. Now, they must have been calling him non-stop. He didn't dare to turn on his phone.
Tao Wan thought that he had overestimated his ability to cope. It was better to wait for Wei Shicheng to come back. During this time, he would hide at home.
Those people who wanted to buy the painting were looking for Tao Wan all over the world. Tao Wan could turn off his phone and hide, but Wei Shicheng's work phone couldn't be turned off. Those people who wanted to find Tao Wan wasted a lot of his time.
The exhibition director was going crazy. Since the painting had not been displayed, those masters had been forcing him to contact Tao Wan. They said that even if he had to spend all his life savings, he had to buy the painting. After the painting was exhibited, it immediately attracted more masters who were unwilling to leave. Then, the media came. After that, he was almost driven crazy by that person. However, he couldn't contact Tao Yuan no matter how hard he tried. There was nothing he could do.
A few days later, Wei Shicheng finally came back. After discussing with Tao Wan, the two of them attended the press conference together. Tao Yuan made it clear to everyone that he would not sell the painting "Penglai of Bliss" no matter how much money was offered. This was because he wanted to use it as his dowry. After he got married, it would be jointly owned by him and Wei Shicheng. It would be a testimony to their love.
Tao Wan had made it very clear that he wouldn't sell the painting to anyone, let alone to a foreign collector. As long as he was alive, he would never let the painting go abroad.
Tao Wan had made it public, but would those who wanted to buy the painting give up? Of course, it was impossible.
Tao Wan simply didn't go to school or live in the villa. He lived with Wei Shicheng in a villa in the suburbs. Every day, he would paint and play the piano. His life was quite comfortable.
Tao Wan knew that many people wanted to see him. These people were either rich or powerful, or had high positions. The Chess Saint Su Yongfu and some other masters had expressed their desire to see him many times. However, if he saw one of them, he couldn't refuse to see the others. Thus, he simply refused to see anyone.
Tao Wan could refuse to see anyone, but Wei Shicheng couldn't. He had his own helplessness.
"There's a guest coming tomorrow." Wei Shicheng said as he hugged Tao Wan.
"Who?" Tao Wan leaned into his embrace. His body was naked under the blanket. He put his leg on top of his.
"An uncle of mine. His surname is Liu." Wei Shicheng said, "I talked to him about a piece of land two years ago, but we couldn't reach an agreement. Recently, he suddenly contacted me and said that he was willing to talk to me. However, he requested for you to be there. I think he must be here for that painting. "
Tao Wan thought for a while and said, "Is he Liu Xiujie's grandfather?"
"Yes." Wei Shicheng said, "I didn't want to agree to his request, but that piece of land is really important to the company. Thus, I still wanted to talk to him. However, don't worry. I will never let you sell that painting to him. Even if it's ten pieces of land, I will not agree to let you exchange it with him. "
"Your uncle, does he like to play Go?" Tao Wan recalled the information he had found.
"Yes, he's a chess fanatic. But then again, his chess skills are quite high. Even the Chess Saint may not be his match. "
"Is that so?" Tao Wan looked absent-minded. He rubbed Wei Shicheng's chest with his finger.
"What? You want to play chess with him? "Wei Shicheng grabbed his hand and asked.
"I do have this idea." Tao Wan said, "You said that his chess skills are not lower than the Chess Saint's. Then, he must be very confident in himself. Since he wants my painting, then I will bet with him. If he wins, I will give him the painting. If he loses, he will give me that piece of land. What do you think? "
"Nothing." Wei Shicheng immediately rejected, "Your painting is much more valuable than that piece of land. It's not worth risking your painting."
"You don't have confidence in me?" Tao Wan looked up and looked at him with dissatisfaction.
"…" Wei Shicheng immediately coaxed, "This is not called not having confidence in you. This is called not taking risks that you shouldn't take."
As a man who was about to get married, Wei Shicheng had learned how to coax his wife. When faced with his wife's questions, sometimes he would tell white lies.
"Isn't that just because you don't have confidence in me? You think I can't tell if you change your words? Hmph! " Tao Wan snorted and said, "I want to play with him. Even if he is better than the Chess Saint, it's useless. Because the Chess Saint is not as good as me. I see that he is old, so I let him win."
"Baby, listen to me. It's not that I don't believe you. Even the Chess Saint can make mistakes sometimes, right? You can't guarantee that … "
"I don't want to listen, I don't want to listen! You just don't believe me! "Tao Wan turned over on the bed and covered his ears.
"Baby, let's talk about it again, okay?" Wei Shicheng hugged him.
…
In the end, Wei Shicheng couldn't convince Tao Wan. Tao Wan felt that if he only had 90% confidence, maybe he wouldn't take the risk. But if he had 200% confidence, why wouldn't he do it?
The next day, Tao Wan was playing the guqin in the Tingshui Pavilion. Wei Shicheng was lying on the recliner next to him, resting with his eyes closed.
After the housekeeper came in, he reported behind the screen, "Sir, Old Mr. Liu and the others are here."
"Ask them to come in and greet them in the outer hall," Wei Shicheng said with his eyes closed.
"Yes."
After the housekeeper left, there was the sound of people entering the outer hall. Wei Shicheng stood up and walked around the screen.
Tao Wan continued to play the guqin. He wouldn't stop until he finished a song. This was obsessive-compulsive disorder.
"Uncle, cousin." Wei Shicheng greeted the people who came in and asked them to sit down.
"Father insisted on coming. Shicheng, don't mind him," Old Man Liu's eldest son, Liu Wangyang, said.
"Cousin, don't say that. If uncle is willing to come, I can't wait to welcome him," Wei Shicheng said politely.
Old Man Liu didn't say anything after he came in. After sitting down, he closed his eyes and listened carefully to the soft sounds coming from inside.
Wei Shicheng didn't disturb him. After the servant served tea, he drank tea and chatted with Liu Wangyang in a low voice.
"Who's playing the guqin?" Old Man Liu asked with his eyes closed.
"It's Qing Yu. He has the habit of not stopping until he finishes a song. When he's done, he'll come out," Wei Shicheng said.
"He's a strange person." Old Man Liu stroked his beard and said, "He can play chess, draw, and has such good guqin skills. Shicheng, even your uncle can't help but be convinced by your luck. "
Wei Shicheng smiled but didn't say anything. However, in his smile, there was a sense of pride that couldn't be hidden.
"Baby, I saw you on the foreign news. When did you draw the painting 'Penglai Blissful'? Why didn't I know about it? "Wei Shicheng asked a little excitedly.
"I started drawing it the day after you left. Yesterday, um … I just finished it two days ago. It's even on the foreign news?" Tao Wan yawned after he finished speaking.
"Is your other phone turned off? A lot of people called me, saying that they want to buy your painting. They've been trying to get acquainted with me for a long time. A lot of foreign collectors also want to meet you. They've already gone to China. " When Wei Shicheng saw Tao Wan closing his eyes, he quickly called out, "Qing Yu, baby, are you asleep? Wake up and listen to me first. "
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