Chapter 421: First Encounter
Chapter 421: First Encounter
May 2nd, 1:00 PM.
S City, Ruo Yun Zhai.
This was an art gallery located in the eastern district. Besides hosting exhibitions, it also specialized in art appraisal and auction services.
That day, a young man in a black casual suit entered the gallery. This man was none other than mystery novelist Feng Bu Jue.
"Wait, you need to buy a ticket to get in?" Feng Bu Jue grumbled after paying the entry fee. "Even though I had a bad feeling before leaving home, this 180-yuan admission fee is more expensive than most movies! And honestly, who would pick an art gallery as a first meeting spot anyway?!"
The meeting time Feng Bu Jue had agreed upon with Si Yu was one o'clock sharp. As a gentleman, he had naturally arrived a few minutes early.
"Since I'm already here, I might as well look around. Standing here doing nothing would look suspicious... Security guard number one has already glanced at me several times, pretending not to notice me. That kind of gaze is either suspicion or flirting... Yeah, I should occupy myself with something."
Hands in pockets, he strolled toward the inner area and stopped in front of an exceptionally wide painting. "Alright, no one's paying attention to me now. See? It's simple—just act like you're admiring the art. As long as I move in sync with the other visitors, no one will..."
"You like his work too?" A stranger's voice suddenly spoke beside him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Feng Bu Jue spotted a middle-aged man in a wool sweater, around forty-seven or forty-eight, with a gentle demeanor.
Wait, "his" work? Who are you even talking about, mister?! Feng Bu Jue thought, caught off guard. On the surface, though, he stammered, "Ah... I guess."
"This painter's works are all remarkable. Russia hasn't seen such an innovative artist in ages", the man said enthusiastically.
Oh right... This is a Russian artist? It's either a "nov" surname or a "ski" surname... Feng Bu Jue quickly glanced at the Lcd screen beside the painting, scanning the artwork's description before replying, "Ah... Impressionism is subjective, right? Everyone sees something different."
"Haha, that's true", the man chuckled. "Young man, what do you think this painting expresses?"
It expresses that this 'ski' guy was either drunk while painting or colorblind enough to miss traffic lights... For 180 yuan, I could paint ten better ones myself—just throw a dog into some paint and let it roll across the canvas.
"Maybe he's trying to express how alcohol and marijuana cause irreversible brain damage", Feng Bu Jue finally blurted, unable to hold back his sarcasm.
The man froze for two seconds, then burst into laughter.
And he kept laughing for a full minute...
Hey! Is it really that funny? Even if you got the joke, you don't need to laugh this hard—everyone's staring now, mister! Should I just abandon this guy and sneak off? Why are the security guards suddenly ignoring everything?! At least say something like 'Please keep quiet!'
Of course, the guards didn't intervene—the "stranger" was actually Li Feng, the owner of Ruo Yun Zhai. A low-key businessman, he was also Li Ruoyu's father.
"How did you two end up chatting?" Suddenly, Si Yu's voice came from behind Feng Bu Jue.
Hearing her, Feng Bu Jue turned around and saw Li Ruoyu in the flesh for the first time. He hadn't expected her real appearance to surpass her game avatar—her skin was like fresh snow, her face blooming with youthful beauty, her eyes sparkling with clarity, and her figure graceful and ethereal. Yet her demeanor remained the same: quietly aloof, radiating a chill that kept others at arm's length.
Today, Si Yu wore a long-sleeved black T-shirt and light jeans. Her style was minimalist, no accessories, no piercings, tattoos, or nail polish. This was clearly her signature look, suggesting she hadn't particularly cared about their meeting.
"Huh? Why did you come out from the gallery?" Feng Bu Jue asked.
"Because it's my family's gallery", she replied.
"Huh?" Feng Bu Jue blinked in surprise.
So I could've just waited outside for you to come out?! Why did I pay to come in anyway?!
"Xiao Yu, what are you laughing at?" Si Yu asked her father, who was still wheezing from laughter.
"Haha... Haha..." Li Feng gasped for breath, trying to recover. "Xiao Yu... This young man... Haha..." He wiped a tear away. "Wait... You two know each other?!"
That's my line! You're her dad?! No wonder you were wandering around in that wool sweater like you owned the place!
"Hello, Uncle", Feng Bu Jue said. "I'm Feng Bu Jue."
Why did I blurt out 'Uncle'?! Shouldn't I say 'Mr. Li' or something?! I feel like I'm back in elementary school visiting a classmate's house...
Li Feng suddenly widened his eyes, staring at Feng Bu Jue's face. The next second, he took three steps back, scrutinizing Feng Bu Jue from head to toe. Then he turned to his daughter, "So... this is your boyfriend?"
Si Yu's expression remained calm as she replied, "No." She paused. "Common friend."
"Yeah, common friend..." Feng Bu Jue was about to echo the phrase, but before he could finish, he felt a cold, piercing gaze—forcing him to swallow his words.
Hey! She says 'common friend' and it's fine, but when I do, you stare me down like that?! What's your deal?!
"Oh!" Li Feng suddenly pulled out his cell phone, snapping several full-body and close-up photos of Feng Bu Jue before he could object.
Then, with fingers flying like a storm and movements lightning-fast, the middle-aged man worked his phone furiously, dialing immediately afterward.
"Hey? Honey, did you get it?" Once the call connected, Li Feng turned away, face beaming as he spoke into the phone. "It's my daughter's boyfriend! Yes! A real live boy! Mm-hmm... He's pretty handsome. Oh... No, this isn't a big deal, but she finally has a friend!"
What a tragic life! This has gone way beyond social anxiety disorder—
"Alright, we'll talk more when I get back." Li Feng hung up and turned around, suddenly serious, his eyes sharp. "Xiao Feng, I'll leave my daughter in your care..."
Si Yu facepalmed, shaking her head. "Dad, please don't say unnecessary things..."
"Ahaha... You're too kind, Sir", Feng Bu Jue replied with a dry laugh.
"What's that smug look supposed to mean?" Si Yu shot him a glare.
Seriously! Your dad's being so awkwardly adorable, and I'm covering for you—why keep glaring at me?!
Ten minutes later, Si Yu dragged Feng Bu Jue onto the street.
Finally outside, she let out a long sigh.
"Man... I feel like I accidentally learned something I shouldn't have. Are you going to silence me now?" Feng Bu Jue said weakly.
"Doesn't matter—you wouldn't tell anyone anyway", Si Yu replied.
"Yeah, you're right", Feng Bu Jue mused. "Xiao Gu is your cousin, so she probably knows. Xiao Tan must've found out too..."
Meanwhile, behind the greenbelt across the street, two shadowy figures in sunglasses and baseball caps were secretly watching them.
"For some reason... I suddenly feel a chill down my spine", Xiao Tan said. "They wouldn't be talking about me, would they?"
"Who knows", Bei Ling answered. "If only I could read lips! I'm dying to know what they're saying when they're alone..."
"Speaking of which... Don't we look kind of like stalkers right now?" Xiao Tan glanced around nervously.
"Pfft, don't worry! With a super~cute young girl like me by your side, the chance of being mistaken is zero!" Bei Ling declared.
"Right, right... Having a super~cute young girl like you with me makes any crime justified", Xiao Tan shot back. "Though at twenty-two, calling yourself a 'young girl' is a stretch..." Wham! Before he could finish, an elbow slammed into his gut.
(End of Chapter)
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