Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: She Will Never Be Even With Him In This Lifetime
Chapter 152: She Will Never Be Even With Him In This Lifetime
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
But there was nothing she could do.
She watch helplessly as Lu Zhi turned off her phone.
Lu Zhi sensed her reluctance and snorted in his heart.
She was always affectionate with Ye Xiaoxi. Those who didn’t know better would think that they were a couple.
From now on, he would limit the time that she would spend alone with Ye Xiaoxi.
Jiang Yining was silent for a moment before she asked, “Lu Zhi, you said that you will continue fighting the Tao family. Is that true?”
She was not very clear about the business dealings between the Lu and the Tao families.
But she understood one thing: harmony brings wealth.
If things were really as Old Madam Lu said, endless fighting with the Tao family would only harm the interests of the Lu family, then she would advise Lu Zhi to stop as soon as possible.
He shouldn’t do something he would regret out of anger.
“Yes.” Lu Zhi guessed what she was thinking and continued, “Don’t worry. I didn’t make this decision because of you. 1 have other considerations.”
He was the heir of the Lu family and knew the responsibility on his shoulders better than anyone else.
He would continue the fight with the Tao family, firstly because they had done evil and angered him; secondly because the four major families of A-City had been too comfortable at the top for too long. It was time for someone to shake things up.
He wanted to expand the Lu family and make it the greatest family in A-City.
It was a matter of time before he confronted the other families. He would use the Tao family as practice.
The experience would allow him to better deal with the other families in the future.
Jiang Yining nodded. “Then I’m relieved.”
Lu Zhi turned his head and looked at her thoughtfully.
When they got home, Jiang Yining was physically and mentally exhausted. She took a shower and changed into her pajamas. She lay under the covers and secretly contacted K on her phone.
She asked him to help her find some information.
K naturally agreed.
Jiang Yining got up early the next morning and asked the housekeeper for paint brushes, ink, and paper.
She locked herself in her room for a long time.
When she finally came out, she was carrying a painting on her back.
She looked like she was going out.
Lu Zhi bumped into her on the stairs and saw the painting on her back. He asked, “Since when did you like these things?”
“I don’t. 1 am just going to ask a friend of mine to help me get some money.” Jiang Yining continued, “Don’t I owe you 800,000 yuan? I would like to pay you back.”
The money she got from Xiao Lang was spent paying K what she owned him and buying Phantom shares and then giving them to Lu Zhi for nothing.
Now, she just wanted to earn some money quickly and raise 200 million yuan so she could redeem Qi Bai’s painting from Xiao Lang.
Besides, one of the two missions she accepted also depended on this painting.
“Where did you get this painting?” Lu Zhi was curious. “You didn’t take it from my study, did you?”
“How would I dare to touch your painting without your permission?” Jiang Yining pouted. “I painted this one myself.”
“Oh? Let me see.”
He reached out to take the painting.
Jiang Yining dodged him. “1 won’t show it to you since you are not buying it. If you saw it, you’d have to pay me 800,000 yuan. There’s no other way around it!”
Is there a more unreasonable seller than you? One look and 1’11 have to buy it?” Lu Zhi asked with a smile.
“This is my rule. You can choose to buy it or not.”
Jiang Yining continued down the stairs when she finished.
“Stop. 1’11 buy your painting.”
Lu Zhi didn’t think her painting was worth 800,000 yuan, but as long as she was happy, 800,000 yuan was nothing.
Anyway, he had plenty of money.
Jiang Yining stopped in her tracks and looked at him in disbelief. “Are you crazy? You want to buy the painting without even looking at it?”
“Yes. You can’t go back on your word now. You promised to sell it to me.”
Lu Zhi held her shoulder calmly and pulled the drawing tube off her shoulder.
Jiang Yining came to her senses, and her face felt a little hot.
“This painting is not worth 800,000 yuan. If you want it, just name a price.
“We agreed on 800,000, so it’s 800,000.” Lu Zhi adamantly bought it.
He took the painting out of the drawing tube and unrolled it. It was a painting of birds in the mountains.
The mountain range was undulating and majestic. And the birds in the mountains were lively and lifelike. Every detail was handled well in the painting.
He had never met such a masterful Chinese art painter.
The only person who could produce a painting of this standard was the late Master Qi Bai!
Excitement flickered in Lu Zhi’s dark eyes but his face remained still.
The morning sun caressed his face, making it even more difficult to fathom what he was thinking.
Jiang Yining secretly observed him for a while before she said, “You are the who insisted on buying this painting. I didn’t force you.”
She held out her hand and said, “Give me the money.”
Did you really draw this?” Lu Zhi asked as he rolled up the painting.
“But of course,” Jiang Yining said. “If you don’t believe me, 1 can paint you another one that looks exactly the same.”
“Who taught you how to paint?”
“No one taught me,” Jiang Yining answered honestly. She had no interest in painting at all. When Qi Bai wanted to take her as his disciple, she couldn’t be bothered.
As for how she learned to paint, she learned it by watching Qi Bai teach his disciples.
She had a photographic memory.
After watching and listening for so many years, she had inadvertently picked up some skills.
She had painted the birds in the mountains from memory. It was a replica of the one Qi Bai had painted in front of her.
She was going to pass it off as the real thing, as a posthumous work from Qi Bai, when she sold it through one of Xiao Lang’s auction house contacts.
She didn’t expect to sell it before she left the house.
To Lu Zhi, who adamantly bought it.
As expected, the heavens did not allow her to lie.
However, she wouldn’t feel guilty about taking Lu Zhi’s money. After all, she had given him 200 million yuan.
Jiang Yining looked straight into Lu Zhi’s eyes.
Seeing that he didn’t speak for a long time, she said, “Do you not want to buy it? No, you can’t go back on your word now. We made a deal. You said you’ll buy it, so you must buy it.”
“Yes, 1’11 buy it.” Lu Zhi finally spoke.
“Then we are even. I don’t owe you anymore money.”
Jiang Yining smiled happily.
Lu Zhi curled his lips and revealed a faint smile.
They were even?
No, no, no.
She would never be even with him in this lifetime.
Jiang Yining was happy for a while before she asked, “Lu Zhi, why did you buy this painting?”
As far as she knew, Lu Zhi did not really like famous paintings.
She knew this from the lack of expensive works hanging in the house.
It has its uses.”
“Tsk, if you don’t want to tell me, fine. I’m done asking.”
Anyway, the painting had already been sold. She was no longer responsible for it!
Jiang Yining couldn’t care less.
Lu Zhi went back to his study and handed the painting to Ah Man. “Find an expert to deal with this. Package this painting properly and spread the news that on the 18th, at 7 p.m., there will be an auction at Taoran Gallery for the legacy work of the Chinese painting master, Qi Bai!”
“Yes, sir.”
Ah Man nodded slightly and left the study.
Lu Zhi sat on his chair and pondered for a moment.
He then picked up the landline phone on his desk and dialed a number. “Hello, Mu Bai. The Phantom crisis has been resolved, but you are no longer suitable as the CEO here. You’ll oversee the international business and work from France for two years before you come back.”
Sure, Chairman Lu. As you wish.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
It’s my job. I’ll go through hell and high water for Chairman Lu.”
Mu Bai’s admiration and adoration for Lu Zhi rang out from the other end of the call.
He had the utmost respect for Lu Zhi!
This public relations crisis was instigated by Lu Zhi who informed him in advance and asked him to create a scandal to incite Tao family’s attack on Phantom!
The entire process was filled with danger. If Lu Zhi made a single mistake, or if someone betrayed him, Phantom, which had a market value of 50 billion yuan, would fall into the hands of the Tao family.
No one else would take such a huge risk!
However, Lu Zhi didn’t just boldly go ahead with his plan, he also won beautifully! He had cheated the Tao family of tens of billions of yuan when the Tao family gained nary a single advantage!
Such talent would definitely elevate the Lu Corporation to the next level.
Of course, he would willingly follow Lu Zhi!
“I’ve also transferred 3% of Phantom’s shares to you. Consider it a reward for your hard work.” Lu Zhi never liked empty promises and rewarded Mu Bai generously.
Lu Zhi gave him a few hundred million yuan just like that?
Mu Bai felt a little lightheaded and surreal. After a long pause, he muttered, “Chairman Lu, I’ll follow you for the rest of my life. If you asked me to go east, 1 would never go west!”
He was even more loyal to Lu Zhi now..