Ye Qingyun nodded.
"That's right, this is indeed the genuine Ladies Journey in the Tang Dynasty."
Hearing this, Lin Yingxia's expression turned icy as she immediately pointed at Ye Qingyun and shouted, "Oh, really? On our very first meeting, you're trying to fool my sister with a fake?"
Ye Qingyun frowned. "This is the real painting."
"My ass!" Lin Yingxia said coldly, turning to explain to the others. "The real Ladies Journey in the Tang Dynasty was already given to Black Rose by Jie's father. Jie told me that himself! Ye Qingyun, if you're claiming this painting isn't a fake, does that mean you got it straight from Black Rose?"
At the end of her sentence, Lin Yingxia couldn't help letting out a sneer.
A coward like the one standing right in front of her would dare get Ladies Journey in the Tang Dynasty from Black Rose? The very thought was impossible!
Lin Yingxia figured that given Ye Qingyun's timid nature, he would probably piss his pants just standing in front of Black Rose.
Patiently, Ye Qingyun replied, "The one I have here is the genuine article."
Lin Qiuyue's delicate brows furrowed. She had heard a bit about the genuine Ladies Journey in the Tang Dynasty, and its market value was in the tens of millions. Looking at Ye Qingyun's clothes, he didn't look like someone who could pull out tens of millions.
*Just putting on a front,* Lin Qiuyue thought, making up her mind.
This made her drop whatever favorable impression she had of Ye Qingyun even further. A man's dignity should be earned through hard work, not satisfied by vanity through a fake.
Lin Hongyi stepped in to smooth things over. "Alright, regardless of what this painting is, it's still a thoughtful gesture from Qingyun. The two of you, cut it out. Yingxia, go put this painting in my study. I like it very much."
In truth, he probably didn't believe Ye Qingyun's painting was real either. After all, the genuine article was in Black Rose's hands!
"Dad, your study is filled with works by master calligraphers. Putting a piece of street junk in there is just too embarrassing."
"You've got plenty to say, just go do it," Lin Hongyi said, his face hardening.
Lin Yingxia curled her lips, casually picked up the scroll of Ladies Journey in the Tang Dynasty from the coffee table, and headed toward Lin Hongyi's study.
Wu Zhenlan, who had been observing Ye Qingyun all this time, spoke up. "Qingyun, what kind of work do you do now?"
"I was training in the mountains with my master. I just came down yesterday, so I don't have a job yet," Ye Qingyun answered honestly.
Wu Zhenlan was stunned by the reply. When she recovered, she said, "No job? Doesn't that make you an unemployed vagrant right now?"
Lin Qiuyue's expression grew icy. She was the CEO of a listed company, a genuine elite beauty! Given her qualifications, if she were willing, the men lining up to woo her would stretch from the south end of Jiangning City to the north. Yet now, she was supposed to go to the civil affairs bureau and register a marriage with an unemployed vagrant, which left a very bitter taste in her mouth.
"Qingyun's master is exceptionally skilled in medicine, so Qingyun's medical skills must be quite superb as well," Lin Hongyi said. "I can have a word with President Jiang at the People's Hospital and get Qingyun a position as a doctor. Being a doctor is a fine profession."
Wu Zhenlan didn't object, knowing that the master's medical skills back then had indeed been quite extraordinary. Even so, she still wasn't very optimistic about Ye Qingyun. Her daughter was the CEO of a listed company! Even if Ye Qingyun went to the hospital and rose rapidly through the ranks all the way to hospital director, his status and standing still wouldn't be worthy of Lin Qiuyue.
Reading the room and seeing that Wu Zhenlan and Lin Qiuyue's expressions were growing increasingly grim, Lin Hongyi took Lin Qiuyue and Ye Qingyun by the hands and urged, "Qingyun, Qiuyue, don't just stand there. I checked earlier, and today is an auspicious day. You two hurry off to the civil affairs bureau and get your marriage certificate!"Lin Qiuyue took a deep breath and said to Ye Qingyun,
"Let's go."
Ye Qingyun nodded.
Then, the two of them left the room together.
As soon as they left, Wu Zhenlan's expression darkened instantly, and she snapped at Lin Hongyi,
"Is this how a father acts? Our Qiuyue is such an outstanding child!
How could you let her marry an unemployed drifter? You're pushing your own biological daughter into a fire pit!"
Lin Hongyi's face sank.
"Xiaolan! A person must never forget their roots and must know how to show gratitude!
Back then, that benefactor helped us, and you agreed to this engagement yourself.
Besides, I find Ye Qingyun handsome and gentle-natured.
He can work as a doctor in a hospital in the future, and it will be a good life living with Qiuyue.
Qiuyue has reached the age to marry, and this is simply destiny."
"You're just as stubborn as a mule!"
With that, Wu Zhenlan turned her face away and refused to look at Lin Hongyi.
Things had reached this point, and the two of them had already gone to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage.
In her heart, Wu Zhenlan had no choice but to accept it.
...
Lin Qiuyue's car was a white Porsche 718.
At this moment, she was driving Ye Qingyun to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
In the car, Lin Qiuyue spoke first.
"Ye Qingyun, right? Let me make things clear upfront.
Although I agreed to register our marriage with you, I hope you understand that we are just going through the motions.
Registering is fine, but we won't be holding a wedding banquet. Besides, we'll sleep in separate beds, and you are not allowed to touch me!"
"Alright."
Ye Qingyun agreed readily.
Although he hadn't spent much time with Lin Qiuyue, he could tell she was a remarkably strong-willed woman.
This marriage had been vigorously promoted by Lin Hongyi, and the two of them had zero emotional foundation.
It was unrealistic to expect them to share a bed right away.
Besides, Ye Qingyun was not a lecherous man.
Although Lin Qiuyue had a great figure, Ye Qingyun would never force himself on anyone.
The looks and figure of Ye Qingyun's seventh senior sister were by no means inferior to the aloof female CEO sitting before him.
Thinking of his seventh senior sister, memories of his time with her up on the mountain flashed through Ye Qingyun's mind.
Back then, he and his seventh senior sister had sat together, gazing at the stars.
Leaning against his shoulder, she had whispered softly,
"Junior brother, I'm going to marry you in the future."
At this thought, a smile appeared on Ye Qingyun's face.
Surprised by Ye Qingyun's straightforward attitude, Lin Qiuyue muttered to herself,
"...At least he's not a clinging pest."
If Ye Qingyun had stubbornly insisted on sleeping with her, Lin Qiuyue really wouldn't have known how to get past Lin Hongyi.
Fortunately, Ye Qingyun knew how to be sensible.
Soon after, Lin Qiuyue and Ye Qingyun arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Having no romantic feelings for each other, they simply changed into appropriate clothes, took photos, and registered. The entire process went smoothly without the slightest hesitation.
Going through the whole procedure, Ye Qingyun couldn't help but marvel.
As expected of a career woman, she was certainly efficient in everything she did.
Before long, Lin Qiuyue and Ye Qingyun each held a red marriage certificate in their hands.
Lin Qiuyue stared at the certificate in her hand with a complex expression.
Although she felt nothing for Ye Qingyun, this was, after all, her first marriage.
She took a deep breath, cast her chaotic thoughts aside, tucked the marriage certificate into her handbag, and said to Ye Qingyun,
"I need to go to work at the company now. Where are you heading? Do you want a ride?"
"No need, go ahead and take care of your business."
Ye Qingyun shook his head.
With that answer, Lin Qiuyue drove off in her Porsche, speeding away.