Chapter 10

"Oh... a fierce Alpha." Song Qingre's eyes were half-lidded, her lashes brushing the skin beneath as she blinked. A line popped into Yan Qingqiu's head: "Fine lashes shadowing the skin beneath, fingers intertwining ever tighter." She panicked even more, her body threatening to go limp just as their lips were about to meet.

Song Qingre let out a muffled grunt from her throat—she must have been hurt by Yan Qingqiu's repeated collisions.

The commotion had drawn a crowd, and now everyone was staring.

Song Qingre steadied herself. Though she didn't laugh out loud, the curve at the corners of her mouth was unmistakable. She stood straight, her dress bearing a few creases at the waist.

Yan Qingqiu was mortified enough to want to claw the floor. Her lips moved, but no words came out.

Thankfully, Song Qingre didn't play any tricks. She steadied Yan Qingqiu, then tucked a strand of her messy hair behind her ear. "Go on in. I'll come find you in a bit."

Yan Qingqiu didn't reply. She sidled toward the exhibition entrance, staggering as she went, not daring to look back. It was too hot.

A new wave of guests arrived outside, and Song Qingre withdrew her smile to greet them.

A haughty voice cut through: "Song Qingre, you invited everyone to your exhibition. Why not me?"

Song Qingre said, "I merely heard that Miss Luo doesn't care for my paintings or style, and has been urging those around you not to buy. I feared my art would offend your refined eye."

Her attitude was neither servile nor overbearing, employing polite language with grace and elegance. She would not stoop or flatter for money, and the temperament was truly noble. Luo Xi frowned, her expression sour. She hadn't expected Song Qingre to be so direct.

·

Inside, Yan Qingqiu walked briskly in a surge, her body still radiating heat.

Finding an empty spot, she lifted her hand to sniff. A faint fragrance lingered—the residual citrus scent stimulating her nerves intensely. If that merged with her jade-like skin and bone... a few hundred rounds would still be a loss.

The aftereffect was too strong; half her body felt numb. Yan Qingqiu found a sofa and sat down, replaying her actions in her head. Too embarrassing...

Yan Qingqiu asked the System: 【You're not controlling my body, are you?】

The System: 【That we would never do, Host. That was your own physiological reaction just now—we have no power over such things. Your lust is instinct and nature. We only control your life and death.】

Yan Qingqiu was speechless.

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

The person who had called her from behind came over and sat on the sofa next to hers. Su Xingjie turned sideways, staring at Yan Qingqiu with confusion. "I called you a dozen times. Why did you ignore me? Do you not want to be sisters anymore?"

Yan Qingqiu looked up at her...

Su Xingjie was quite striking, her black hair braided, wearing a fresh green blouse paired with off-white trousers, sunglasses perched on her nose. The whole look was fashionable. She took off the sunglasses upon seeing Yan Qingqiu.

Su Xingjie let out a hiss. "How did you end up falling into her arms just now? I was sweating from the awkwardness off to the side."

Currently, Su Xingjie was her "best friend." Yan Qingqiu had read their previous chat history; Su Xingjie often joined "her" in cursing Song Qingre, using foul language, blindly defending "her."

Su Xingjie's family was also wealthy, in the clothing business, and she currently served as the art director at her own family's company.

Yan Qingqiu pressed her lips together. "Wasn't it you who called me? If you hadn't, nothing would've happened."

"I got scared too, seeing you keep throwing yourself into her arms."

"I... I was secretly pinching her waist, really hard, quite painfully. Didn't you see she could barely stand straight?"

Su Xingjie carefully replayed the scene from before. Could she have seen it wrong? It had clearly looked like her good sister couldn't keep her balance and kept tumbling into Song Qingre's embrace. If she hadn't known Yan Qingqiu's personality, she'd have thought Yan Qingqiu was throwing herself at Song Qingre.

Hearing Yan Qingqiu's certainty, Su Xingjie didn't dwell on it. She reached out and touched her hair. "You dyed it back, huh. I remember you first dyed your hair in the summer of senior year—suddenly going silver with it straightened. Your whole personality changed. It's nice to have it back."

Yan Qingqiu hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze wandering. Song Qingre walked in from outside. Her dress was fitted today, and she chatted animatedly with those around her. When her gaze caught Yan Qingqiu, her smile deepened. Then it flickered to a hand with golden hair wrapped around it, and she lowered her eyes.

"Speaking of which... why did you forcibly kiss Song Qingre last time?" Su Xingjie lowered her voice specifically to avoid being overheard, making Yan Qingqiu's ears burn even more. Yan Qingqiu hadn't prepared a lie, so she changed the subject. "Look at the paintings. Look at the paintings."

The venue Song Qingre had booked was sizeable and in a prime location.

Between the drinks, the servers, the decorations, and the media invitations, a million wouldn't even cover the costs. If Luo Xi's group were to ruin this, Song Qingre would not only lose money but also her reputation.

Art itself was hard to profit from; only the elite could afford to play in that world.

Before arriving, Yan Qingqiu had thought that if she helped Song Qingre sell her paintings, Song Qingre would have money and pay her back the million, and the two would be square. Then surely she could skip the gland-removal plotline.

While viewing the paintings, she'd avoided Song Qingre. On the few occasions their eyes met, Song Qingre never sought her out deliberately—just curled her lips in a soft smile.

Yan Qingqiu felt even more numb.

Fu Ye arrived late. As soon as he appeared, a crowd gathered around him, clustering at the heart of the venue. A few steps in, the two groups collided.

The woman named Luo Xi stood beside Fu Ye, exceptionally close. Fu Ye wore a black suit, and she a black dress. When Luo Xi spotted Yan Qingqiu, she deliberately edged closer to Fu Ye, who made no move to stop her.

The more Yan Qingqiu looked, the more base the pair seemed—especially Fu Ye, who took whoever came, never pushing anyone away. And he still called Song Qingre his moonlight. If she were the female lead, she'd cut him outright. Honestly.

She'd already looked it up: Luo Xi and Fu Ye were childhood sweethearts, her family no less wealthy, a proper match for the Fu family. They should just be locked together.

Fu Ye didn't want to deal with Yan Qingqiu either. When others asked, he'd dismiss it carelessly: "Annoying. Just playing hard to get."

"Brother, don't mind her. Didn't you say you'd call off the engagement as soon as her father returns?" Luo Xi said softly, seizing every opening to sow discord.

Fu Ye nodded.

Luo Xi smiled like a venomous serpent.

The irritation in Fu Ye's eyes was genuine. Last time Yan Qingqiu had knocked his head askew, he'd lost face entirely. His neck still hurt, and he couldn't be bothered to look at her.

But when he turned his head, what caught his eye was a head of golden hair, bright under the lights like a small sun. Stare too long, and it might trick the eyes into a glare.

All around were landscape oil paintings, and she seemed to stand among a panorama of beautiful scenery.

Blinking again, he made out her profile—clean, lively eyes, holding a triangular glass with a straw between her lips.

Fu Ye froze. "That's Yan Qingqiu?"

Someone nearby admiring the art glanced over too. "Her golden hair is really lovely. Quite unique—like someone who just stepped out of a painting..."

Noticing the gaze from that side, Yan Qingqiu shot a cold, sidelong glare at Fu Ye as she passed, then walked away without looking back. She said quietly to Su Xingjie, "You'd better back me up later. Watch me wipe that smug look off their faces."

Fu Ye glanced at Luo Xi and subtly withdrew his arm.

Luo Xi glared viciously at Yan Qingqiu's retreating back.

·

After circling the room a few times, both agreed the paintings were beautiful. Song Qingre was undoubtedly talented—that much was beyond question. But Yan Qingqiu's pockets were empty.

The people around bought few paintings. Because of the Luo family's interference, everyone only looked without purchasing.

Yan Qingqiu was worried. How could these people be so shameless? Song Qingre and her staff had patiently explained at length—Song Qingre had even drunk several glasses of water—and they still managed a smile and walked away.

Back when she went grocery shopping, if a salesperson spent two extra sentences on her, she'd feel too embarrassed not to buy.

It was maddening.

Su Xingjie said, "Luo Xi is coming over."

Yan Qingqiu pointed at a painting on the wall, her voice loud enough for those behind to hear without sounding deliberate: "I bet they're here to cause trouble today. That's all they've got—no money themselves, so they tell everyone else not to buy."

Su Xingjie had no idea what she was talking about, but she played along with the act anyway.

The vicious supporting female character Yan Qingqiu was a professional. "As long as she keeps people from buying, I'll snatch up the bargains. I plan to buy an entire wall." She pulled a bank card from her bag and flicked it with her thumb. "We just wait for her to strut around and do her thing. Once the dust settles, I'll wipe out this card."

Yan Qingqiu lied without so much as a blink. She knew how much was on that card; others didn't know every card she had was empty.

"Then when Fu Ye sees I've bought up all Song Qingre's paintings, he'll come running to me every day. It's just her being stupid, telling people not to buy, giving Fu Ye and Song Qingre opportunities. We'll just sit back and watch."

She put an arm around Su Xingjie's shoulder. "You buy one as a token. Just remember to make me look good—don't steal my thunder. Today, if sales are low, Luo Xi will definitely say Song Qingre's work has no merit and trash it left and right. That's when I step in, buy a painting, and gush over Song Qingre's art. You just cheer me on, say I have taste and artistic flair."

Yan Qingqiu suddenly glanced backward. Luo Xi, who had just rounded the corner, stumbled back in fright, afraid of being spotted. Fortunately, Yan Qingqiu was "blind" at that moment and didn't see her.

Su Xingjie said, "Go on. What else?"

Yan Qingqiu lowered her voice. "Actually, I'm the one who lent Song Qingre the money this time. How generous of me—lending money and then buying paintings. If the paintings don't sell, it's clearly Luo Xi's doing, and she'll be hated by Fu Ye for it. Meanwhile, I hold Song Qingre's contract and buy up her art on the cheap—she'll be putty in my hands. And then..." Yan Qingqiu winked and glanced around nervously. Deep down she was terrified—what if Song Qingre overheard and forced her to consummate the agreement again?

Su Xingjie's eyes widened. She couldn't tell if Yan Qingqiu was deliberately posturing or if she'd actually spent a million on Song Qingre. She couldn't help but interject, "Wait, you gave her a million? What's in it for you?"

"Because I want to kill two birds with one stone." Yan Qingqiu nudged her with her shoulder, urging her to play along and stop undermining her.

"Qiu Bao, you're amazing. I never knew. Then, let me look up Baidu later, and you memorize a couple of poems to sound more cultured. No wonder Luo Xi grew up with Fu Ye but he chose to be engaged to you, not her."

Yan Qingqiu felt a swell of satisfaction too. Honestly, with her intelligence, if she lived in this world she'd probably be the female lead—sharp, wise.

Luo Xi's blood boiled. She wanted to charge out and fight Yan Qingqiu, but her two friends grabbed her, urging her not to act rashly—Fu Ye was still watching, and if she attacked Yan Qingqiu now, Yan Qingqiu would just play the victim.

"That bitch, so vicious."

"That golden-haired slut—change her hair color once, and she's a damn lunatic!"

"Let's first check whether the one who lent Song Qingre money is really Yan Qingqiu. What if she's just faking it and we fall for it?"

Luo Xi wasn't stupid. She steadied herself. "Her father only gives her a million a month. She burns through it on two bags, and she's always pestering Fu-ge for money. How could she afford to buy paintings? She's just putting on airs!"

·

A moment later, someone rushed over to notify Song Qingre.

"Miss Song, you'd better come quick. Miss Luo and Miss Yan are about to come to blows over your paintings."

"What?"

A group hurried over.

Luo Xi kept pointing at the wall. "This one, that one—I'll take them all."

Su Xingjie nudged Yan Qingqiu's arm. "Qiu Bao, isn't that the one you had your eye on? Is she picking a fight?"

Yan Qingqiu set down her orange juice, refusing to yield an inch. "Sorry, but I saw this painting first. I'm buying it."

The staff member nearby quickly interjected, "This piece is priced at three hundred thousand, and Miss Yan did see it first—she's already agreed to pay."

Luo Xi crossed her arms. "So what if she saw it first? Three hundred thousand—she's deliberately insulting Miss Song. In my view, this painting is worth at least five hundred thousand."

"Five hundred thousand?" Yan Qingqiu put on a serious face. "What do you know? Do you even understand art? You're just doing this for Fu Ye's sake. Do you even appreciate the painting? This is called 'clouds and water play in the streams, green grass caresses the flower's scent.' Do you get it?"

Luo Xi said, "Sorry, but I really do understand. The stream in this painting—"

The commotion was considerable. If it weren't for their known rivalry, onlookers might think the two of them were specially brought in to drum up business for Song Qingre.

But right now Yan Qingqiu was clearly losing ground—after all, the woman's name literally contained the character for "stream."

"I do understand." Yan Qingqiu elbowed Su Xingjie.

"Xing Xing enters the river, stream water..." Su Xingjie fumbled, reaching for her phone. Arguing wasn't her strong suit, let alone in the heat of the moment. She simply said, "I bid three hundred thousand. Qiu Bao, go for it!"

Yan Qingqiu said, "Eight hundred thousand!"

"Nine hundred thousand. Let me put it plainly—I'm not here to fight you over a painting. I simply admire Song Qingre as a person, and I value the artistry in this composition." Everything Luo Xi said revolved around art, making her seem far more refined than Yan Qingqiu.

The moment those words left her mouth, she watched Yan Qingqiu's eyes slowly widen, and felt a surge of delight.

Others were confused—hadn't she said earlier she wouldn't buy?

Even Luo Xi understood art now.

Song Qingre's paintings were indeed good. Not just for wall display, but the artistic quality alone—buying one would be well worth it. Everyone had wanted to buy earlier but had held back out of respect for the Luo family's influence. Could it be that Luo Xi was lying to keep others away? That wasn't very sporting.

In any case, there was no reason for two famous rivals of Fu Ye to come help another sworn enemy sell paintings.

Eight hundred thousand was about to reach a million.

Yan Qingqiu laughed. "I don't believe you have that much money! Xing Xing, go ask about the purchase. I will take this painting today. You'd better stop opposing me... You told everyone in the beauty salon not to buy Song Qingre's paintings—you just want to buy them cheap so they appreciate in value. You don't know jack about art."

Luo Xi huffed, refusing to yield, slapping her own face in escalation. "Sorry, but I'm both rich and cultured. One million one hundred thousand. Go higher if you dare. If I don't buy it at that price today, I'll drop my surname Luo!"

The price was out.

Yan Qingqiu clearly lost momentum. Everyone knew her monthly allowance was only a million. Yan Qingqiu's fingers tightened, her momentum plummeting. She stamped her foot in fury, her eyes turning red. "Fine. Bitch. You win."