I learned online that this art exhibition was organized by a mysterious foreign tycoon.
Not only had he invited the top five contemporary artists to serve as judges, he had also widely extended invitations to painters from home and abroad.
Under the guise of art, it was actually a national and international competition, and even more so, a large-scale auction.
The eligibility requirements were strict; only top-tier artists were allowed to participate.
Many of them were already renowned and accomplished artists from around the world.
With so many outstanding contestants, it naturally attracted bids from collectors and art connoisseurs worldwide.
The prize pool, a whopping 50 million yuan, was merely a gimmick.
Real buyers were drawn to valuable works, commanding prices far exceeding this figure.
Some lesser-known artists took advantage of the opportunity to increase their exposure, reaping the rewards for the organizers and securing their prized works, satisfying the fans' expectations of their favorite artists. For investors, this was a massive money-making scheme, but it was also one of the few exhibitions that satisfied all parties.
A quiet war erupted in the domestic art community, with S's fans being the most vocal.
They left messages on Su Ning'an's personal account, urging her to compete, to bring glory to the country and to let her fans feast their eyes on her new paintings.
It's just that the registration deadline was approaching, and I hadn't noticed the other day, preoccupied with Lu family matters.
"I want to participate, but I'm afraid it's too late."
"It's still in time," Lu Yanchen assured me.
He pointed to the registration window and said, "There are still two days until the deadline. If you draw now, you still have time."
His encouraging look filled me with confidence, "Yes."
It's indeed still in time. Su Ning'an has taken so many of my paintings, and while her art skills are not bad,
But every industry relies on talent, and some people are born with talent.
When we were just starting to learn painting as children, our teacher commented that she didn't have my natural talent. So she'd definitely choose my paintings for the competition this time. She'd already used quite a few of my paintings in her last solo exhibition, so there shouldn't be many that haven't been seen.
I could roughly guess which ones she'd use.
This time, my opponent wasn't someone else, but my past self.
That day, I locked myself in my studio.
My mind raced through the moments before and after death, my spiritual life, and the realizations I'd had since possessing Jiang Wanwan's body.
I had a sudden realization.
A day later, I walked out of the studio.
The moment the door opened, Lu Yanchen was there.
The heavy snow had subsided, and the sun was shining brightly. He sat in the backlight, his silhouette giving off a gentle, almost gentle vibe.
"Are you done?"
"Yes, it's done."
"I'll help you fill out the registration form. What name will you enter under?" He looked at me intently. I uttered the word with absolute certainty: "S."
Back then, my impulsive use of the codename "S" caused a sensation in the art world. What I didn't care about at all was an honor Su Ning'an cherished.
She exhibited my paintings at her solo exhibition. Although she didn't directly say she was "S," she didn't reject the fans' accusations and instead acquiesced in the glory that belonged to me.
The Su family, therefore, regarded her as a talented painter, unaware that everything she possessed belonged to their disliked eldest daughter.
After death, I couldn't stop her; I could only watch her distort the truth.
But today, I will peel off Su Ning'an's facade layer by layer! Reveal her true self.
Don't the Su family pamper and coddle her?
I'll see if, after knowing the truth, they'll still maintain this filter!
"Okay, I'll arrange it." Lu Yanchen's words reassured me.
When I went downstairs, I saw Fu Xue there too. She and Lu Shiyan were getting along well. The two had already obtained their marriage certificate. Lu Shiyan had been undergoing treatment for the past few days and looked a little exhausted.
But Fu Xue showed no disdain. She even asked about his well-being and peeled apples for him.
How could Lu Shiyan not know that he had been schemed against by Fu Xue that night, after what he had experienced with Su Ning'an?
Whatever Fu Xue's motivation for approaching him, he had experienced my death and Su Ning'an's schemes in such a short period of time. How could he accept Fu Xue?
For this reason, he had always been very cold to Fu Xue. When Fu Xue, with a flattering expression, peeled an apple for him, he even said bluntly, "I'm sick."
"Well, I know. You need to eat more so you can get better faster."
Lu Shiyan interrupted her coldly, "Stomach cancer."
Fu Xue paused as she peeled the apple, clearly unaware that he had cancer.
For a moment, she was at a loss for words, unsure how to form her words. A cold, sneer curled up Lu Shiyan's lips. "So, you went to so much trouble to marry someone with cancer. Do you regret it?"
It turned out that from the moment he discovered Fu Xue's drugging scheme, he hadn't made a scene and even cooperated with the marriage certificate.
He was waiting to give Fu Xue a hard blow!
She deserved it. This was the fate of someone who schemed against him.
I'd expected a woman to regret it, but Fu Xue was simply stunned for a moment before continuing to peel the apple, cutting it into crescent shapes and handing it to him.
"When you're sick, it's even more important to supplement your nutrition. Shiyan, no matter what your illness is, I'll face it with you. I'm already your wife."
These words touched me, even as an outsider. Fu Xue was different from Su Ning'an, Jiang Zhi, and even me.
She looked gentle yet decisive, willing to get whatever she wanted, regardless of the consequences.
Beneath her delicate exterior lay a strong heart. I finally understood why her status in the Fu family far surpassed that of her son, Fu Xici. If Fu Xue were on the opposite side, she'd be a formidable opponent.
But her tactics wouldn't work on Lu Shiyan. He'd just been taught a lesson by Su Ning'an, the master of face-changing, and he didn't trust anyone.
Especially women. He waved away the apple Fu Xue offered him. "Stop pretending. Disgusting."
"Shiyan..."
Lu Shiyan didn't even turn. "Go away. Today is the seventh day after my ex-wife's death. I don't want to see anyone for the next two days, especially women."
It turned out it had already been seven days since I was buried.
He just happened to come up, and our eyes met.
Lu Shiyan gave me a cold look, without a word, turning away as if I were a stranger.
In his eyes, I was an enemy, too.
He went up, I went down.
Like two parallel lines that would never intersect again.
I comforted Fu Xue a few words, and after sending her out of the Lu family's house, I found Lu Yanchen. I had intended to ask him about the progress of the police investigation.
Following the path through the statue, there should be some clues. As I opened the door, I saw a man in a wheelchair, shirtless, preparing to change. He stared at me, a shirt in his hand.
I quickly turned around and said, "Sorry, I forgot to knock."
The wheelchair slid over to me, and someone yanked me, landing me in his arms without warning. He was completely naked.
I panicked, "Yanchen..."
He chuckled, "Who knocks on the door when they return home?"