With several major investment projects underway, the daily cash flow ran into tens of billions, even hundreds of billions, and he was flying to three or four countries on business within a single week.
That he had been able to come last night was already showing them great respect.
Winnie could not help cutting in curiously, “Is Mr. Pei half Chinese, half American? His looks are way too top-tier.”
With that face and figure, if he entered the entertainment industry, he would absolutely dominate. But given his status, entering showbiz would be beneath him.
“His mother is American, and his father is Chinese.” Zhao Hesong glanced at her, smiling without warmth. “What, you like that type too?”
Winnie hurriedly denied it. “Don’t talk nonsense. I’m purely appreciating him.”
Mr. Pei was Yaoyao’s. How could she possibly have any thoughts about him?
In the past, she really had liked cold, aloof types. Later, she had become disenchanted. The one she had met only knew how to use cold violence whenever they had a disagreement.
After breakfast, Zhao Hesong sent a car to take them back to school.
-
Seven in the evening, domestic time.
Meng Yan had just come out of the bathroom. She was wearing a deep V-neck slip dress made of transparent mesh that hid absolutely nothing.
Ever since their argument in America last time, Zhao Yunrui had been much colder toward her.
If this continued, she was afraid that one day Zhao Yunrui might lose his head and propose breaking off the engagement. Where would that leave her dignity?
Men could be found again, but there was only one Zhao family. Although Zhao Yunrui was not as capable as Zhao Hesong, his advantage lay in being favored by Chairman Zhao. No matter what, he would always have a share of the Zhao family.
Naturally, Meng Yan would not hand the Zhao family over to someone else. When necessary, she had to maintain her relationship with Zhao Yunrui and ensure that the wedding would go off without a hitch.
She lit an aphrodisiac aromatherapy candle, lifted the covers, and got into bed, waiting for Zhao Yunrui to finish his shower.
Bored, she picked up the black phone on the bedside table and browsed through his social media apps.
Who knew whether Zhao Yunrui had secretly contacted his ex-girlfriend behind her back again?
Fortunately, she found nothing.
“Checking up on me again?” He stood at the bathroom door, brows tightly furrowed.
Meng Yan calmly turned the phone around and showed him the screen. “I was just looking at your Moments. Is that not allowed either?”
Zhao Yunrui casually wiped his hair with a towel. “Did you find anything interesting?”
Meng Yan did not want to upset him. Just as she was about to put the phone down, she suddenly saw a post on Moments. “Yesterday was your brother’s birthday?”
“No idea.” Zhao Yunrui never cared about such things.
He and Zhao Hesong were not even born of the same mother. Ever since they were young, the people around him had loved comparing him to Zhao Hesong. No matter what he did, Zhao Hesong was better at everything, causing him to live under Zhao Hesong’s shadow all this time.
What surprised Meng Yan was, “Why was Meng Shuyiao there too?”
She had spotted Meng Shuyiao in a group photo. Young Master Zhao had even invited Meng Shuyiao to his birthday party, which meant their relationship was far from ordinary.
“So what if she went? Why do you care about them?” Zhao Yunrui took the phone from her hand and lowered his head to kiss her neck.
Meng Yan was in no mood at all. She dodged his kiss. “No, I have to go back. I’ll make it up to you next time.”
Zhao Yunrui looked thoroughly displeased. “Are you messing with me? You’re the one who asked me to come, and you’re the one standing me up. I’ve already showered, and now you’re telling me we’re not doing it?”
“It really is urgent. Otherwise, you can make it quick. Ten minutes should be enough, right…”
He became even more embarrassed and furious. “Who are you insulting? Forget it, then.”
Meng Yan had no time to coax him. She changed her clothes and went home.
To avoid any unforeseen complications, she absolutely could not let Meng Shuyiao hook up with the eldest young master of the Zhao family.
When she entered, Meng Zhenhua happened to be on the phone.
It seemed the cooperation had not been negotiated successfully, and his expression looked rather unpleasant.
After he finished the call, Meng Yan called out, “Dad.”
Meng Zhenhua’s voice was cold and heavy. “Why are you back today?”
“I came back to get something.” Meng Yan probed, “Are things not going smoothly at the company?”
Meng Zhenhua did not speak. He drew a cigarette from the pack and lit it.
“Dad, I actually have an idea.” Meng Yan walked over and sat down beside the sofa. “Isn’t Yaoyao coming back for summer vacation soon? I think we can have her and Mr. Xu get engaged first, and make the ceremony grand. That way, the outside world will know that our family is entering a marriage alliance with the Xu family. When the time comes, our stock price will definitely rise, and those companies will take the initiative to cooperate with us.”
Meng Zhenhua naturally knew this was a good method. “Do you think she is still as obedient as she was when she was little?”
It would probably not be easy to make that girl obediently accept an engagement.
Meng Yan was not worried at all. “Isn’t the person she cares about most Shuman? She’ll definitely compromise.”
Meng Zhenhua was only afraid that if they pushed Meng Shuyiao too far, it would backfire.
-
There was only a week and a half left before classes ended for the semester.
Meng Shuyiao had contacted several galleries to inquire, but none of them were recruiting interns.
Small privately run studios were hiring, but at most, she would just be doing odd jobs and would not learn anything.
After class that morning, Winnie asked, “Yaoyao, want to go watch a movie this afternoon? That suspense film has been really popular online lately, and the reviews are pretty good too.”
Meng Shuyiao stood by the sink washing her paint palette. “I still have an interview at a gallery this afternoon.”
“All right, then I’ll go with Mia.” Winnie took out her phone to buy tickets.
“Mm. Have fun.”
After lunch, she took a nap. At exactly three o’clock, Meng Shuyiao went out and hailed a taxi.
The location showed that it was rather far from school. It would take more than an hour to get there by taxi.
This gallery had opened not long ago. It was probably still short of artists, and the person in charge had taken the initiative to ask her over for an in-person interview.
She arrived at the destination at half past four. The car could only stop at the intersection.
This area was a newly developed district, and many studios were still in the renovation stage.
After paying, Meng Shuyiao got out of the car and followed the navigation through a narrow path. After walking for seven or eight minutes, she saw a small two-story building.
The display area behind the glass windows was hung with works in different styles, along with some sculptural art pieces.
She pushed the door open and went in, then walked to the front desk. “Hello, my name is Elara. I have an interview scheduled with the owner at five.”
“All right. Please take a seat for a moment. I’ll ask her to come down.”
Meng Shuyiao thanked her and sat down on the sofa in the reception area to wait.
She looked over the layout of the surrounding space. It was mainly in natural wood tones, with wooden furniture, and the displayed furnishings were all quite simple.
After fifteen minutes, the owner came downstairs. She looked fairly young, around thirty, a fashionably dressed woman.
She spoke with a smile, “You’re even prettier in person than in the photo on your résumé. It’s a pity you’re not a model.”
Meng Shuyiao stood up and replied politely, “You flatter me.”
“I’ve read your résumé. You completely meet my requirements.” Linda gave her a brief introduction. “Our side mainly focuses on portraits, with the specifics based on the clients’ requests. However, there is one rather special point…”
“What is it?”
“Nude figure art. Can you accept that?”
Meng Shuyiao’s brows knitted slightly. “Nude figure?”
Linda said directly, “Fully nude. There will be more male clients.”
Meng Shuyiao’s expression froze for an instant before she immediately refused. “I’m sorry, I don’t paint that kind of thing.”
“It’s all art. Don’t those famous paintings depict the same things?” Linda tried to persuade her. “Painting is painting, no matter what the subject is. Our salary and benefits are very generous.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t paint that sort of thing.” Meng Shuyiao’s attitude was clear. “I have something else to do, so I’ll be leaving first.”
With that, she left at once.
Most of those nude portraits were merely using art as a pretext to satisfy their own perverse tastes.
She could still accept painting women. But men… just thinking of that scene made her feel nauseous.
When she came out of the gallery, the sky had already grown dark. Overhead, dark clouds gathered thickly, and it looked as if it could rain at any moment.