Chapter 2008: Chapter 1968: A Painting Sparks a Secret Struggle

Two traditional Chinese paintings and two oil paintings, each with its own unique style. Cao Ling liked them at first sight; she didn’t believe in the art student’s handiwork.

"I want them all. Can you give them to me?" Cao Ling clung to Ye Qiu’s arm, pleading like a child.

"One cannot be too greedy. How about you pick one?"

Just one?

At this moment, Liu Lingxiu, Xiaomai, and Lin Xiang also came in and immediately noticed the four paintings. It was obvious to Liu Lingxiu at a glance that they were Ye Qiu’s creations.

They were still incredibly beautiful, especially one of the oil paintings which stood out even more.

Lin Xiang didn’t know, but Xiaomai, having seen Ye Qiu give Liu Lingxiu the painting "Eastern Castle" last time, surely recognized Ye Qiu’s style.

As the four women admired the paintings, Lin Xiang asked, "Ye Qiu, where did you get these?"

It was much like last time when Ye Qiu gifted three paintings for the birthday of Cao Family’s third granduncle, and no one knew where Ye Qiu had gotten them.

Ye Qiu claimed he bought them from a street stall. Lin Xiang thought it was impossible.

"Bought them."

"Can you gift me one?" Lin Xiang asked.

Lin Xiang liked all four of the oil paintings, but she knew it was rare to expect all four as gifts from Ye Qiu; getting even one would be delightful.

"Each person gets one; discuss among yourselves. I’ll wait outside."

And with that, Ye Qiu headed out.

Downstairs, except Xiaomai stayed behind as she felt her role was just a mere attendant, a notch below, without the right to compete against the three other young ladies.

She just stood there observing.

Clearly Ye Qiu meant for her to have one too.

Recalling last time when she saw Ye Qiu give Liu Lingxiu the "Eastern Castle" painting, Xiaomai, despite studying guqin, really appreciated Ye Qiu’s artwork.

Xiaomai remained silent and took a step back, while Cao Ling, Liu Lingxiu, and Lin Xiang had similar expressions with their eyes fixed on the paintings.

Liu Lingxiu was aware that Ye Qiu’s paintings were extremely valuable, worth more than what many could earn in a lifetime.

She realized this back in Christie’s auction house in France.

But Liu Lingxiu’s personality differed from other women; she didn’t like to fight.

"Miss Cao, Miss Lin, please go ahead and choose first."

Liu Lingxiu said.

It wasn’t a tactic; it genuinely reflected her thoughts.

Even though she had a favorite choice, she genuinely didn’t want to compete.

Lin Xiang and Cao Ling assumed Liu Lingxiu, as Ye Qiu’s recognized girlfriend, would be aggressive in selecting first. They didn’t expect her to step aside.

Cao Ling started to doubt whether Liu Lingxiu was truly simple or pretending, knowing some women can be manipulative without detection.

Such women can deceive even other females.

Cao Ling observed Liu Lingxiu’s demeanor, seeing she wasn’t forcing things.

Could this be why Ye Qiu favored Liu Lingxiu, making her his official girlfriend?

If Ye Qiu acknowledged her as his girlfriend, Cao Ling knew she would be assertive, a trait deeply influenced by her military family background.

Liu Lingxiu, unexpectedly, indeed accepted the situation.

"Miss Lin, as Ye Qiu’s Chinese friend, why don’t you choose first?"

Cao Ling suggested to Lin Xiang.

"Miss Liu is Ye Qiu’s acknowledged girlfriend. Miss Liu, why don’t you pick first?"

Lin Xiang suggested to Liu Lingxiu.

Liu Lingxiu couldn’t fathom what the two were thinking; she noticed Xiaomai behind and said, "Xiaomai, you pick."

Xiaomai desired to choose but didn’t dare to.

Feeling she was just a maid.

She considered her status too low to compete with the three young ladies.

"You all pick first." Xiaomai said again.

"Why doesn’t Miss Cao take the first pick?"

Both Liu Lingxiu and Lin Xiang said simultaneously.

Clearly, the two heard Ye Qiu and Cao Ling’s intimacy last night, despite not announcing associations, things were apparent.

To Liu Lingxiu, this clearly seemed like Ye Qiu’s way of gifting Cao Ling something, fearing the others might overthink.

"Me?"

... 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Ye Qiu had been waiting outside for over ten minutes, puzzled by what was taking the four women so long.

Ye Qiu didn’t smoke, but in situations like this, time seemed to pass slowly.

Ye Qiu glanced around, took a stroll, then returned to find the four women still not downstairs. Could they still be deciding among the four paintings or hiding them?

Ye Qiu was confused.

"Hey, it’s been half an hour, are you coming down or what?"

Ye Qiu called out from below.

At that moment, if Ye Qiu were upstairs, he would witness something like a palace drama scene, with silent battles and struggles he hadn’t anticipated.

Perhaps, in the future, he should handle things himself rather than leaving it up to these women; it really consumes time.

Upon hearing Ye Qiu’s voice from downstairs, Cao Ling responded, "Then I’ll pick this one."

She chose the oil painting "Sunrise over the Sea," which Ye Qiu spent over two hours creating; it was evidently the finest of the lot.

After choosing, Lin Xiang picked one of the oil paintings, though she preferred Chinese paintings, but there was only one choice left.

For Liu Lingxiu and Xiaomai, the remaining two were more straightforward.

Xiaomai seemed to identify which one Liu Lingxiu favored, leaving the other to her by default.

When Xiaomai and Liu Lingxiu returned to their rooms with the traditional Chinese paintings, Liu Lingxiu said, "Xiaomai, these paintings are very valuable, likely worth millions. Make sure to keep it safe or you’ll regret it if it gets stolen."

"Where should I hide it?" Xiaomai was surprised to confirm that the painting was indeed Ye Qiu’s handiwork. Even if it wasn’t worth anything, she would preserve it.

Given its value, it needed to be well hidden.

Considering the number of thieves around, if left lying around, it could indeed be stolen.

Upon close examination, Liu Lingxiu found a place in the room to hang the painting. She removed the previous artwork and replaced it with hers, forming a unified look and seamlessly blending in.

Yet, clearly, Ye Qiu’s paintings were more refined and attractive.

As for the removed ones, naturally, they were tucked under the bed.

"Lingshow, is this alright?"

"All good now."

Liu Lingxiu and Xiaomai descended from upstairs, with Ye Qiu asking the two, "Why were you dawdling so much?"

"We just hid them away, afraid they’d go missing," Xiaomai explained.

"If they get lost, so be it, they’re street goods anyway." Ye Qiu chuckled.

Xiaomai and Liu Lingxiu didn’t quite believe him, realizing Ye Qiu was simply treating it lightly.

As Cao Ling and Lin Xiang made their way down, the two were evidently wary of their paintings being stolen in the future.