297 Lin Lu, the Artist
“I told you to pretend to be poor; I didn’t tell you to act like you were destitute!” Guan Lei shouted. “Why’d you have to go and say that I got a scholarship to pay off debts my parents accumulated? I didn’t ask you to do that or for you to make up a story of me wetting my bed!”
Li Zhe felt wronged. “You didn’t clarify what I was supposed to do. I just did as you instructed,” he complained.
Guan Lei knew a lost cause when he saw one. Nothing he said would get through to Li Zhe, and he did not want to waste his breath. Indeed, Meng Yu was a bad influence on Li Zhe. Now, even he was growing more annoying by the day.
Guan Lei phoned Xue Li. Xue Li, who had been nearby, came to pick Guan Lei up.
Xue Li was dumbfounded when she saw Li Zhe. She squinted uncertainly and muttered with some hesitation, “Director Li?”
Li Zhe puffed out his chest, spreading his arms wide as if to parade the glory of his outfit. “What do you think? Don’t I look poor?”
Xue Li nodded enthusiastically, praising, “Yes, you do. Hmm… Director Li, only beggars would wear something like you are in this day and age.”
Li Zhe crowed in satisfaction, “See! Xue Li knows what she’s talking about. I’ve done such a good job, and only you don’t appreciate the effort I’ve put in, Guan Lei. I’ve sacrificed so much for you!”
Guan Lei did not want to waste any more time. He opened the car door and slipped inside. “Xue Li, what are you doing? Let’s go!”
Xue Li hurried back to the car and took the driver’s seat. Soon, the duo sped off. It would not do to keep the Young Master waiting when he was in such a bad mood.
Li Zhe ate a mouthful of dust but was quite happy with the outcome. He would have someone tow the old tractor away. It was not just anyone who could make that brat Guan Lei suffer.
When Li Zhe returned, he immediately asked his housekeeper to take pictures of the paintings in his study and send them to him. Li Zhe smiled upon seeing the familiar signature.
Many artists had the habit of signing their names on their paintings, and in Shen Xi’s house, Lin Lu’s name was on every painting, whether on the stove or the wall.
Li Zhe had thought the peasant girl and Guan Lei would have been a difficult match. He did not expect Shen Xi’s family to be so special.
Lin Lu was a famous painter that rose to fame almost eighteen years ago. Her paintings were worth a fortune, and many collectors sought her works.
Lin Lu’s real name was Lu Shan. She was the only daughter of the head of the Lu Financial Group, a famous socialite that captured the hearts of many in Beijing.
Ordinary people might not know Lin Lu’s true identity, but it was no secret to people in Li Zhe’s circle.
From what he had heard over the grapevine, Lu Shan fell in love with the Shen family’s heir and disappeared. The official story was that she had gone overseas to further her education. There had been no news of her since then.
Who would have thought Lu Shan would appear in such a remote place, married to a man with the surname Shen?
Li Zhe burst into laughter. Shen Yan must be the Shen family’s successor. It would be too much of a coincidence otherwise.
Perhaps that was why the Lu Financial Group and the Shen Group released news that Lu Shan and Shen Yan had been separated; one was supposed to be in the United States of America, and the other in Germany.
The truth would have been too ugly to acknowledge: Lu Shan had eloped with Shen Yan, living in the countryside with a daughter resulting from their union.
Li Zhe covered his mouth, barely hiding his grin. He could not believe he had stumbled on such juicy gossip!
From an outsider’s perspective, Guan Lei and Shen Xi were a match made in heaven! Ah, he was a lucky rascal. To think he would pick up a stone, only to realize it was a luminescent pearl, a diamond in the rough.
Li Zhe felt he was honor-bound to give Guan Lei a helping hand. How else was he going to woo the beauty home with him?
–
The next morning, Zhao Yuan sat in front of Shen Xi in a panic. “Quick, look at the school forum! People say Lu Lin and Doctor Zheng offered a cash prize because you kept them company. An anonymous person just posted, saying Guan Lei interrupted the three of you and walked away with half the amount.”
Zhao Yuan glanced through the comments and scolded several others for spouting nonsense online. “The post went viral last night; now, everyone is talking about it. People are writing nasty things about you on the school forum, and some fans of Lu Lin have disguised themselves as students to get a swing at you!”
Shen Xi picked up her phone and read several comments on the school forum. She was left speechless.
However, on second thought, Shen Xi could understand the suspicions held by so many. There had never been a cash prize or fully paid scholarships up for grabs in any of the school’s monthly exams. It was no wonder that there would be people green with envy.