Chapter 19: Art Exhibition

His palm was dry and warm. The moment Jiang Nai held Li Qingji’s hand, she realized how big the size difference between male and female hands could be.

She looked up at Li Qingji, sweating—not just her palms, but also her back.

She felt like she had lost her mind; provoked by Jiang Yao, she actually asked Li Qingji such a question. With a delayed sense of anxiety, she stared at him, extremely afraid that he wouldn’t respond, that he would frown, and even more afraid that he would pull his hand away.

But it seemed to be what she expected Li Qingji would do.

“Do you have to say such cheesy things in public?” A smile slowly appeared at the corner of Li Qingji’s mouth.

Jiang Nai was taken aback; she surprisingly saw a hint of indulgence in his eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat as she realized, “Is it not allowed to say it?”

Li Qingji replied, “You can, but if I really say it, you’ll be embarrassed.”

Jiang Nai couldn’t handle that look of his, instinctively averting her gaze, “I wouldn’t…”

“Is that so?”

To Jiang Yao, who was not far away, Jiang Nai’s evasive demeanor looked more like shyness. She couldn’t believe it and let out a laugh. What was Li Qingji doing? Was he really sweet-talking and flirting?

He could actually do that?

“Go inside and tell Grandma and Grandpa that we’re going out for dinner tonight,” Li Qingji said.

Jiang Nai asked, “Out? Where?”

Li Qingji replied, “You’ll know when you get there.”

“Oh…”

As the two talked, they didn’t even look back at Jiang Yao and turned to walk inside.

Anger surged in Jiang Yao’s throat.

Instantly, her expression turned blank as she kicked over the watering can that Jiang Nai had placed on the ground. Jiang Nai held Li Qingji’s hand and walked in. When they turned a corner and couldn’t see Jiang Yao anymore, she pulled her hand away.

Li Qingji glanced down and said lightly, “You throw it away once you’re done; you’re pretty quick.”

Jiang Nai looked at him. At that moment, his eyes were cool and indifferent, devoid of any warmth. Emotions could be acted out; she believed that.

“Sorry, thank you for going along with me just now.”

Li Qingji didn’t say anything. He had quickly understood her intentions, after all, she wouldn’t normally ask him such a question.

“You just said we’re going out for dinner tonight. Should I go tell Grandma now?”

Li Qingji nodded, “Mm.”

A few minutes later, the two of them left together.

Today, Li Qingji drove himself, and Jiang Nai didn’t ask where they were going; most likely it was an event where her presence was needed. An hour later, the car stopped at the riverside dock. Looking out, yachts were crisscrossed, and there was a large ferry docked at the pier.

But this ferry wasn’t the usual kind tourists would take for a river cruise; it was more refined, more luxurious—clearly a private version.

“Are we going on the boat?”

Li Qingji unfastened his seatbelt, “Mm, get out.”

Jiang Nai got out of the car and jogged a few steps to catch up with Li Qingji. By now, the sky was gradually darkening, neon lights were starting to glow along the river, and the city was about to come alive for the night.

“Sir, please follow me.” The person waiting at the dock knew Li Qingji and hurriedly came forward to greet him.

“Where is Chen Jiming?”

“Mr. Chen has already arrived; he instructed me to wait for you here.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Nai initially thought that once they got on board, it would be a lively and extravagant party. But when she walked into the boat, she found that the floor was filled with people viewing an exhibition. The space had been decorated to resemble a gallery, with white walls, famous paintings, and bright lights. Without looking outside, it was hard to tell that this exhibition was set on the water.

“Are we here to buy paintings?” Jiang Nai couldn’t help but ask.

“I’m not interested in these. If you like them, you can buy one.”

“Then why did you come?”

“Chen Jiming is hosting the exhibition. He enjoys collecting artworks from around the world, whether ordinary or highly valuable, for display and auction.”

So it was because of a friend. Jiang Nai understood and became a bit interested. Back when she was in the U.S., she occasionally attended art exhibitions, though she had never bought anything.

“Can I take a look around?”

Li Qingji said, “Go ahead.”

Li Qingji stood aside and did not follow.

He genuinely had no interest in these things. When Chen Jiming had invited him initially, he hadn’t planned on coming. But not long ago, when he returned to the Jiang family and saw her at odds with her family members, looking pitifully at him for help, his heart softened a bit.

He suddenly thought it might be better to take her away so she wouldn’t have to pretend at home.

So they came here.

Jiang Nai walked toward the exhibition area. When she stood in front of the first painting, she was slightly stunned. She knew the artist of this painting; he was an American artist known for blending traditional themes with modern perspectives, using bold and vibrant colors with a distinct style.

She hadn’t expected Chen Jiming to have his painting here. Jiang Nai studied the painting for a while and turned to look for Li Qingji. He was still standing in the same spot, now surrounded by people who had approached to speak with him.

Seeing that he was occupied, Jiang Nai decided not to bother him and continued viewing the paintings on her own, moving quietly from left to right.

“This impressionist oil painting is quite unique. The scene is crowded and brightly lit, giving the impression of a noisy street, yet somehow it feels warm.”

Suddenly, a voice spoke up beside her.

Jiang Nai turned and saw a man in a black shirt standing next to her. He had an artistic look and was also admiring the painting. There was no one else nearby, so it was clear that he was speaking to her.

Sure enough, the man smiled and said, “I noticed you were looking at this painting for a while. You must like it?”

Jiang Nai returned a polite smile. “Yes, it does feel warm. Hans Friedrich’s works are always like this; they always give a sense of light.”

“You know this artist?! He’s rather obscure.”

“He is a bit, but his style is distinctive and special.”

“Exactly! It’s rare to find someone who shares my opinion.” The man’s eyes lit up. “Are you interested in this painting?”

Most people here were probably attending to buy art, so it was only natural he thought she was, too. But Jiang Nai was simply brought along by Li Qingji on a whim.

She waved her hand. “No, I’m not planning to buy anything today.”

The man had actually noticed her earlier as she was viewing the painting. Wearing a simple misty blue dress, with long hair and delicate features, she stood out in a room full of people dressed in extravagant attire. To attend an art exhibition without the intention of purchasing anything suggested she had been brought along for fun.

“If you like it, I’ll gift it to you,” the man said, his smile gentle.

Jiang Nai was taken aback. “Huh? No, that’s too generous.”

“Art should be in the hands of someone who understands it,” the man replied. “Meeting a kindred spirit is rare; consider it a gift between friends.”

Every painting here was worth a considerable amount, yet this man was offering one to her after just a few words.

Jiang Nai felt a bit disoriented. Was this how people in this circle operated?

“Pan Anyu, that’s enough. Are you trying to charm another girl with your artsy act?” A playful voice suddenly came from behind them. Turning around, they found Chen Jiming standing there with a grin. “Do you even know who you’re offering that painting to?”

Both Jiang Nai and the man turned to see not only Chen Jiming but also Li Qingji standing behind them.

Pan Anyu clicked his tongue, casting an annoyed glance at Chen Jiming for interrupting. “What are you talking about?”

He then turned and greeted Li Qingji with a smile. “Qingji, when did you get here? I didn’t see you earlier.”

However, Li Qingji didn’t respond to him or exchange greetings. He simply walked over and stood beside Jiang Nai.

“Do you like this one?” he asked.

Pan Anyu was a bit stunned.

Jiang Nai nodded at first, then quickly shook her head. “I was just looking at it because I’ve seen other works by this artist at different exhibitions.”

Li Qingji smiled briefly. “You nodded and shook your head—do you like it or not?”

Jiang Nai admitted honestly, “Well… I do like it.”

“Then let’s buy it for home. The study needs a painting.”

Surprised, Jiang Nai glanced at him. Li Qingji had already turned and signaled to Chen Jiming, who smiled knowingly and called over a staff member to register the purchase. Throughout this, Pan Anyu stood frozen.

“W-wait, what does that mean?”

Chen Jiming laughed heartily. “What do you think? He’s buying it.”

“Don’t tell me she’s…”

“Yes. Her name is Jiang Nai, Li Qingji’s wife.”

Pan Anyu’s eyes widened, and he took a deep breath. He had missed Li Qingji’s rumored wedding because he’d been busy on Lu Feng’s birthday. If Pan Anyu had known who she was, he wouldn’t have dared to act so bold even with a hundred times his courage.

“I… I didn’t know! I’m so sorry, truly sorry!” Pan Anyu couldn’t even look at Li Qingji, hurriedly apologizing to Jiang Nai instead. “I just thought you had good taste, that’s all! No other intentions!!”

Jiang Nai chuckled lightly. “I understand.”

Pan Anyu looked pitifully at Li Qingji. “Um…”

“Head upstairs for a bit,” Li Qingji said, without addressing him further.

Chen Jiming added, “Sure, it’s about time. Let’s go up and have some fun.”

Pan Anyu blurted, “I’ll come too, I’ll come too.”

Li Qingji glanced at him with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Not staying here to give out more paintings?”

Chen Jiming burst out laughing. 

Pan Anyu’s mouth twitched. “No way! Giving out paintings? What’s the fun in that! Let’s go, let’s go, upstairs for drinks! I’ll go first and clear the way for you!”

With that, Pan Anyu quickly made his escape. Chen Jiming was still laughing uncontrollably behind them. Jiang Nai touched her nose, feeling slightly awkward.

Li Qingji looked at her. “Let’s go.”

“Alright…”

The atmosphere changed completely between the floors. The first floor was an art exhibition filled with artistic ambiance, the second was a Western-style restaurant, and the third floor was a lively scene of indulgence, with clinking glasses and a festive mood.

Upon reaching the third floor, Chen Jiming led the group straight to a gathering of familiar friends. Lu Feng was already there, sitting with his new girlfriend on his left. The two were cozied up together, speaking in hushed tones that made the girl giggle.

Seeing Li Qingji and the others arrive, Lu Feng finally let go of his companion and got up to greet them. “Why’d you take so long? I’ve already opened a few bottles of the good stuff.”

He nodded at Jiang Nai and smiled. “Miss Jiang, long time no see.”

Jiang Nai replied, “Long time no see. Just call me by my name.”

“Alright.” Lu Feng said, “These seats are saved for you. Have a seat.”

Jiang Nai sat down on the sofa beside Li Qingji.

At this moment, the sky outside had completely darkened, and the ferry had already started moving. Through the window, buildings stood closely packed, their lights colorful and dazzling, showcasing the city’s extravagant nightlife in full splendor. Many of the people present were familiar faces to Jiang Nai from Lu Feng’s previous birthday gathering, especially Jiang Xiaowen. They had shared quite a few drinks that day.

“Jiang Nai, we were just playing a game earlier. Want to join?” Jiang Xiaowen warmly sat down beside her.

Jiang Nai asked, “What game?”

Jiang Xiaowen replied, “It’s simple, just a card game—King’s Game.”

Jiang Nai hadn’t played it before and didn’t understand, so she looked over at Li Qingji.

Li Qingji, lounging on the sofa, had just accepted a drink from Lu Feng. Noticing her gaze, he looked back with a lazy smile. “Want to play?”

Jiang Nai said, “No, I’ve never played before.”

Lu Feng chimed in, “It’s fine if you haven’t played before; it’s really simple. Don’t worry, Jiang Nai. Even if you lose, you don’t have to drink; Qingji can drink for you!”

Li Qingji sipped his drink nonchalantly, “Are you sure you’re just playing a drinking game?”

“Of course not. But since it’s Jiang Nai’s first time playing with us, we’ll take it easy and not make things too difficult for her, don’t worry.”

Jiang Nai didn’t fully grasp the meaning until Jiang Xiaowen explained the rules: whoever drew the king card could order any one or two participants to do anything, and the participants had to comply unconditionally.

In the first round, Chen Jiming drew the king card.

Without looking at others’ cards, he pointed randomly: whoever had the three of clubs had to run a lap outside on the deck. Pan Anyu turned out to be holding the three of clubs. He shouted, accusing Chen Jiming of peeking at his card to target him.

In this weather, with the ship moving and the deck winds strong and temperatures low, it was freezing. They were dressed lightly in the warm cabin, so going outside to run was a chilly ordeal. Despite complaining, Pan Anyu obeyed the game rules, took a deep breath, went downstairs, and dashed out to the deck.

Seeing him shivering and running laps, everyone got up to watch the spectacle, laughing uproariously.

Jiang Nai was one of only two still seated on the sofa; the other was, naturally, Li Qingji.

“Scared?” he asked, seeing her watching the backs of the others.

Jiang Nai replied, “No, I was just thinking… it’s a good thing I’m wearing a bit more today.”

Li Qingji paused slightly, then let out a short laugh—genuine and amused. Jiang Nai didn’t understand what was funny; she had meant it seriously.

After a while, Pan Anyu returned shivering and swearing, a stark contrast to the artsy demeanor he’d displayed at the art exhibition earlier. The game continued. Jiang Xiaowen drew a card and decided to play openly. Since there were couples present, she wanted to try something romantic but, seeing Li Qingji, didn’t dare involve him and turned to Lu Feng instead.

“Whoever has the four of diamonds should carry the ace of hearts and do twenty squats together! And kiss halfway through!”

Lu Feng laughed and swore, “Jiang Xiaowen! It’s not enough to kiss; you have to add squats too? Just trying to mess with me, huh.”

Jiang Xiaowen replied, “It’s not that easy. You get a reward, you gotta pay for it, right?”

Lu Feng’s petite girlfriend smirked, “Brother, are you saying you can’t lift me? I’m really light.”

Lu Feng, not one to be provoked, instantly changed his tone, “Of course not! I can squat with you as many times as needed. Come here.”

With that, the two moved from the sofa to the open space, and Lu Feng lifted her up and did two deep squats. On the third, his girlfriend couldn’t wait any longer and lunged at him. Amidst the playful cheers and teasing from the crowd, the couple didn’t merely exchange a brief kiss but engaged in a passionate French kiss.

Jiang Nai stared in a daze, feeling a tightness form somewhere deep inside her chest.

Fortunately, in the subsequent rounds, even if people drew the king card and were clearly tempted, no one dared to give orders involving Li Qingji. The tension was palpable, but each time, they refrained from naming him. Jiang Nai exhaled in relief, grateful for the reprieve.

However, Lu Feng couldn’t hold back any longer.

“King, king, king…” he muttered as he flipped his new card.

And indeed, it was the king card.

“It’s me! It’s me!” Lu Feng cheered with excitement. “Flip your cards, everyone! The king has arrived!”

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