“A solution?” Ye Xiangfang set down her teacup. “What solution could I possibly have? Look at how dotingly Tan Sizhe treats Ye Mingxuan. I never knew he had this side to him.”
Zhao Dongxuan: “What kind of spell did Ye Mingxuan cast on Tan Sizhe to make him so utterly smitten? And now Ye Mingxuan is carrying Tan Sizhe’s child. Soon, not just Tan Sizhe, but the entire Tan family will be at Ye Mingxuan’s beck and call!”
Ye Yufan sat quietly listening, his mind replaying yesterday’s events like a slideshow.
Tan Sizhe was so devoted and deeply in love with Ye Mingxuan. He was incredibly handsome and had become the head of the Tan family at such a young age. Why did Ye Mingxuan have such incredible luck?
Ye Xiangkai: “Don’t worry too much. Isn’t Liu Yan still there? You two should bring gifts and apologize in person later. Given Liu Yan’s personality, she’ll definitely speak up for us. Mingxuan is the most devoted to his mother—he’ll surely soften his heart if Liu Yan intervenes.”
“You want me to apologize to them?” Zhao Dongxuan frowned in disgust. “Why should I? As the chairman’s wife, have I sunk so low that I must apologize to servants?”
Ye Xiangkai: “Bear with it now for our future. The situation has changed. There’s no benefit in opposing Ye Mingxuan. The most important thing now is to reconcile with them.”
“The Tans still think we’re Mingxuan’s parents. If we reconcile with Mingxuan, they’ll give us face—especially Tan Sizhe. After all, we are his in-laws.”
Zhao Dongxuan sighed after hearing his words. “You’re right. I’ll endure it—Yufan, why are you spacing out? Come with me.”
Ye Yufan reluctantly stood up. “Oh.”
To make the visit, Zhao Dongxuan specially spent a hundred or two yuan on several boxes of health supplements. She and Ye Yufan took a taxi to the residential complex where Liu Yan lived.
To their surprise, Liu Yan had moved out. Zhao Dongxuan was so flustered stars danced before her eyes. She grabbed a neighbor coming out to take out the trash and demanded where Liu Yan had gone.
The elderly neighbor replied, “You mean the woman who lived here? Two young men came this morning and hurriedly took her away.”
Zhao Dongxuan couldn’t believe it. “What?”…
Ye Mingxuan and Lin Jiale got up early to pick up Liu Yan and found a new place near the school.
Liu Yan didn’t have much stuff. Between the two of them, one packed while the other carried, finishing everything in under an hour.
“So, you were afraid they’d threaten you with Auntie again. Better to go all in and just take her away,” Lin Jiale said, sitting on the sofa in the new place and chuckling. “I bet they’re seething with rage right now, puffed up like pufferfish!”
Ye Mingxuan handed him a glass of water. “Thanks for coming all this way to help me, Jiale.”
“No need to thank me. I couldn’t pass up something this exciting. Doesn’t it feel like a secret agent mission?”
Ye Mingxuan chuckled.
The balcony door closed as Liu Yan walked in. “Mingxuan, wasn’t that place perfectly fine? Why did you want me to move here?”
Ye Mingxuan: “Mom, you don’t like it here?”
Liu Yan: “It’s fine—perfect, actually. The place is newer, fully furnished, and has this huge balcony. But why the sudden rush to move?”
Ye Mingxuan pressed his lips together. He couldn’t tell Liu Yan about yesterday’s falling-out with Zhao Dongxuan’s family—how they’d completely alienated them.
Lin Jiale stepped forward: “Auntie, Mingxuan just thought that old place was outdated and wanted to get you something nicer so you could move in sooner. See how thoughtful he is?”
Hearing Lin Jiale’s words, Liu Yan felt a pang of pity for her son: “Mingxuan, thank you for your kindness.”
“But this place is so beautiful… isn’t the rent expensive?”
Ye Mingxuan’s eyes sparkled. “It would have been a bit pricey for the old me, but now…”
“Hmm?”
“My husband gives me plenty of money.”
“Really?”
“Yes, he treats me exceptionally well.”
“Auntie, you can rest assured—they’re such a loving couple! Lin Jiale raised an eyebrow at Ye Mingxuan. “Spending a little of his husband’s money? That’s only natural.”
Teased by Lin Jiale in front of his mother, Ye Mingxuan blushed bright red.
Liu Yan relaxed upon hearing this. “Alright, as long as you and Mr. Tan are doing well together, that’s all I need to hear. Mom can rest easy.”
“It’s getting late,” Ye Mingxuan said. “Mom, why don’t you join us for dinner out?”
“Yes, yes! French cuisine, French cuisine!” Lin Jiale bounced up with excitement.
Liu Yan had never tasted Western food in her life. Hearing their suggestion, she felt curious to try it. Her frown eased as she smiled and nodded.
After eating their fill, Ye Mingxuan walked Liu Yan home before heading to class with Lin Jiale.
Lin Jiale asked him, “When do you plan to take a leave of absence?”
Ye Mingxuan lowered his head and touched his stomach. “May, I think. I’ll be eight months along then. The doctor told me to stay at the Tan residence, where someone will be assigned to take care of me.”
Lin Jiale nodded. “So you’ll come back next semester?”
Ye Mingxuan replied, “Yeah, I’ll return once my body recovers.”
They walked through a row of tall camphor trees. Ahead, several bicycles rang their bells as they sped toward them, creating a swift gust of wind beside them.
Lin Jiale matched Ye Mingxuan’s pace, walking leisurely. “What do you think about what I mentioned before?”
Ye Mingxuan frowned in confusion. “What?”
Lin Jiale replied, “Studying oil painting. Tell Mr. Tan I want to transfer to the oil painting major next semester.”
“You’re so talented at painting—don’t waste that gift.”
Ye Mingxuan fell silent. Truthfully, this thought had always lingered in his mind, like a seed planted in soil, stirring restlessly, yearning to break through the parched earth and grow freely.
Yet he’d never dared voice it aloud.
He wasn’t sure if he should choose painting. He didn’t know if he’d regret this decision in the future, and he feared most that once he embarked on this path, his talent might become mediocre.
“I’ll think about it some more.”
“Alright, there’s plenty of time anyway.”
As they approached the art academy, Ye Mingxuan told Lin Jiale, “Head to class first. Professor Qi asked me to come see him.”
After parting ways, Ye Mingxuan walked to Qi Lin’s office. The door was open, and he saw Qi Lin sitting inside, painting.
“Professor Qi, you wanted to see me?”
“You’re here. Have a seat.”
Ye Mingxuan pulled up a stool and sat down. Qi Lin sketched a stroke on the canvas before setting down his brush. “I ran into your aunt the other day.”
“…?” Ye Mingxuan froze for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, “My aunt? You mean…”
“Tan Jing.” Qi Lin turned and smiled. “Surprised? I’m a friend of Tan Jing’s.”
Ye Mingxuan jumped to his feet. “Teacher Qi, I…”
Qi Lin waved him back down. “Sit. Sit down.”
“Your aunt told me about your situation. You’re planning to take a leave of absence, right?”
“…Yes.”
“When do you intend to do so?”
“In May.”
“Hmm. Then you won’t be able to take the final exams either.”
Ye Mingxuan swallowed hard. “Teacher Qi, I…”
Qi Lin smiled. “Have you seriously not considered transferring departments? I mentioned it to your aunt, and she said it depends on your wishes.”
Ye Mingxuan: “Really?”
Qi Lin: “Yes. If you want to, they can help you. So it’s up to you.”
“Transferring to study oil painting would be very beneficial for your future.”
“Of course, I’d also love to see you here at the academy.”
Ye Mingxuan hung his head, silent.
Qi Lin probably knew what was holding him back—he’d felt the same way. When his paintings went viral overnight, fame and fortune showered down on him like confetti, yet he’d been unsure whether to pursue this path.
He didn’t know if this fame would endure or prove fleeting.
No one could predict the future, but in the end, he chose to walk this path. Now, time had proven his choice correct.
Qi Lin admired Ye Mingxuan’s talent and insight. He hoped Ye Mingxuan would give it a try.
“Since you’re hesitating, let’s put this aside for now. Actually, I came to invite you to join me at the Florence Art Fair next week.”
Ye Mingxuan, still deep in thought, hadn’t processed Qi Lin’s invitation yet: “Huh?”
Qi Lin said kindly, “The Art Fair. My gallery will be exhibiting there. It’s a five-day trip—think of it as a vacation.”
An art fair? The one where top galleries from around the world gather, along with renowned artists?!
“Teacher!” Ye Mingxuan jumped to his feet, his voice trembling with excitement. “Can I go? Can I really go?!”
“Sit down, sit down,” Qi Lin chuckled. “Of course. You’re the one I invited.”
Ye Mingxuan’s lips curved upward, revealing pearly white teeth, but hesitation followed in the next instant: “But you invited me because…”
“Don’t worry,” Qi Lin assured him. “I keep my professional and personal lives separate. I won’t give you special treatment just because I know your aunt.”
In other words, Qi Lin had invited him solely because he admired his talent.
Ye Mingxuan finally relaxed completely. “Thank you, Teacher Qi. I’ll definitely be there!”…
Tan Sizhe returned home just as the sunset dipped below the horizon. The TV in the living room was playing Tom and Jerry. Aunt Fu bustled about in the kitchen. Ye Mingxuan’s sneakers sat in the shoe cabinet, but the young man himself was nowhere to be found.
He changed his shoes and went upstairs, first checking the bedroom. Finding him absent, he changed into loungewear and headed to the study.
Ye Mingxuan’s study door was open. Tan Sizhe leaned against the doorframe, watching Ye Mingxuan intently follow an online lecture while taking notes.
He knocked on the door. Ye Mingxuan looked up, removed his headphones, his eyes brightening: “Sir!”
Tan Sizhe sat beside him, resting his chin on Ye Mingxuan’s shoulder: “What are you studying? Italian?”
Ye Mingxuan: “I was just about to tell you about this.”
He couldn’t suppress the upward curve of his lips, his tone lively: “Teacher Qi is taking me to Florence for an amazing art exhibition! Since I’ll be traveling abroad, I figured I should learn a few basic Italian phrases.”
“When are you going?”
“Next week. We’ll be sightseeing too, so it’ll be about five days.”
Tan Sizhe nodded. “I’ll go with you.”
“No need, sir. I can manage on my own,” Ye Mingxuan replied. “Teacher Qi learned about my situation from my aunt. She said someone will look after me during the trip. It won’t trouble you.”
“…” Tan Sizhe hesitated. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come?”
Ye Mingxuan: “Mhm.”
He held his pen, his thoughts already soaring to Florence.
Tan Sizhe felt a pang of disappointment. He’d expected Ye Mingxuan to cling to his hand, eyes brimming with tearful reluctance. But the other man showed no such sentiment—in fact, he seemed genuinely excited about the trip abroad.
He was jealous—jealous of Florence, jealous of the art exhibition. They had completely stolen Ye Mingxuan’s heart.
Tan Sizhe couldn’t stand it. He pinched Ye Mingxuan’s face, forcing him to turn his head, and pressed a hard kiss on his lips. “You really don’t want me to go?”
“Mmm… Sir, I can manage on my own…”
“…”
Tan Sizhe released him, wiping the moisture from his lips. “Fine. Bring enough money. Call me if you run into trouble.”
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