Chapter 39
Chapter 39: Double Kill! Princess Yong Ning’s Painting
Fang Qing Ya’s foot froze mid-step.
For a heartbeat, she thought she’d misheard.
She whirled on Ye Wan Lan. “What did you say?!”
Xu Li and Fang Qing Ye stopped too, staring.
They’d heard Ye Wan Lan had extorted fifty million from the Qin Family. That alone had already made enemies of the Qin Family.
Was she planning to offend the Five Great Magnate Families of River City one by one?
River City had countless families, large and small. By overall strength, the Zhou, Fang, Sheng, Xu, and Qin families stood at the top—Zhou Family first among the Five Great Magnate Families.
After that came Fang and Sheng, then Xu Family and Qin Family.
Besides the Qin Family, the entire young generation of the Five Great Magnate Families was basically here today.
“You fabricated facts and falsely accused me,” Ye Wan Lan said calmly. “You wanted to get me punished. Of course I’m calling the police.”
She turned to the officers. “I want to report it.”
Both officers’ expressions sharpened. Their eyes turned hard on Fang Qing Ya.
Fang Qing Ya finally panicked. “I didn’t! I’m not—”
“Miss Fang.” The male officer held out a document. “This is your statement. This is your signature. Look carefully.”
The signed confirmation from earlier had become perfect evidence.
Fang Qing Ya’s throat went dry. She couldn’t force out a rebuttal. Her eyes darted desperately to Sheng Yun Yi. “Yun Yi…”
If she really got detained, she’d become a laughingstock in the elite circle.
And if Master Fang and her parents found out—
A cold shiver ran through her.
No. Absolutely not.
“Miss Ye…” Sheng Yun Yi’s face was pale and fragile. “I’ll apologize on Qing Ya’s behalf. We truly didn’t do it on purpose. She was just too worried about me. Can you not call the police? Whatever you want, I can compensate you.”
Ye Wan Lan let out a low laugh and tilted her head. “Do you think I’ve been giving you face?”
“Ye Wan Lan!” Zhou He Chen’s voice cut sharp. “It wasn’t Yun Yi who did it. She’s speaking politely—what’s your problem?”
Cheng Qing Li muttered, “Peh. Scumbag.”
Ye Wan Lan didn’t even glance at Zhou He Chen.
Not one look.
Something in Zhou He Chen’s chest tightened—an abrupt, unfamiliar ache, like ants gnawing at his heart. For a moment, he couldn’t breathe.
He clenched his fist hard, forcing the feeling down.
“Miss Fang,” the male officer said coldly, “given your actions, we will submit an Application for Detention Report to our superiors. Once the detention order is issued, you will be placed under administrative detention.”
Bullying one young lady with a crowd—shameless.
Fang Qing Ya went deathly pale. Sweat soaked her back. She looked around wildly. “Brother! Second Brother! Are you really going to watch me get detained?”
“Qing Ya,” Fang Qing Han said, his usual gentleness gone, “you need to reflect. I neglected to discipline you. Look at the foolish thing you did today.”
His voice cut cleanly. “Is this how the Fang Family teaches you?”
Fang Qing Ye opened his mouth, then shut it again.
Fang Qing Ya’s jaw trembled. “Ye Wan Lan—what do you want? I… I can pay you, okay? Isn’t it just money you want? I have money!”
In that moment, regret swallowed her whole.
She’d been blinded by rage. With Ye Wan Lan’s past, she’d been sure Ye Wan Lan was capable of something this stupid.
But this time—why wasn’t it Ye Wan Lan?
Where had she gone wrong?
Fang Qing Ya’s heart hammered until the room spun.
Ye Wan Lan’s voice didn’t change. “No need. You’re the one who called the police.”
Fang Qing Ya’s legs gave out. She collapsed onto the floor, face bloodless. “I… I never…”
She had never imagined this outcome.
“Miss Ye was startled,” the officer said, then turned his stern gaze on the others. “And you. A group of adults from major families, ganging up on a young lady like that. You should be ashamed.”
Sheng Yun Yi flushed bright red, humiliated for the first time in her life.
The officers took Fang Qing Ya away.
The room fell quiet.
“Sorry for disturbing you, Miss Ye.” Sheng Yun Yi forced a gentle smile. “We’ll leave now. We’ll send an apology gift later.”
Zhou He Chen said nothing, jaw tight.
“Miss Ye.” Fang Qing Han spoke abruptly. “That painting—could you sell it to me?”
Sheng Yun Yi stopped short.
Ye Wan Lan lifted a brow. “Sure. Name your price.”
“A trash painting?” Fang Qing Ye scoffed. “Brother, how much are you planning to throw at it? She said she picked it out of a trash can. If you had any sense, you’d have her give it to you.”
“Qing Ye.” Fang Qing Han’s voice hardened. “Don’t be rude.”
Then he looked at Ye Wan Lan, gaze steady. “I’ll pay 3 million for it.”
Sheng Yun Yi’s smile stiffened. “Qing Han… 3 million?”
Fang Qing Han had never bought her paintings. She’d offered to gift him some before; he’d always refused politely. She’d assumed he wasn’t interested in Chinese painting at all.
So why—
“Qing Han,” Zhou He Chen said, “if you want paintings, I have plenty of works by masters. You don’t need to spend that much.”
Fang Qing Han didn’t respond. He only asked again, as if nothing else mattered. “Miss Ye. Three million—will you sell it to me?”
“Fine.” Ye Wan Lan took the painting down.
Fang Qing Han moved quickly, wrote a check, and handed it over. “Thank you, Miss Ye, for letting it go.”
He cradled the painting carefully. “Qing Ye. We’re going home.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Fang Qing Ye pulled out his phone with an annoyed sigh. “I’m taking a call.”
“Hello? Found her yet?” Fang Qing Ye snapped. “If you haven’t, why are you calling me? Go find her!”
Zhou He Chen rubbed his brow. “Who are you looking for, Qing Ye? Maybe I can help.”
“A woman.” Fang Qing Ye shrugged. “Last month she raced at the Little Gold Mountain and took first place. I want to meet her, but she disappeared. Tsk.”
He hadn’t just sat around. He’d tried looking for Jiang Xu Lin too. But weirdly, after that night, Jiang Xu Lin never showed up at the Little Gold Mountain again.
Zhou He Chen nodded. “I’ll keep an eye out.”
“Thanks.” Fang Qing Ye waved lazily. “If you really find her, I’ll owe you a favor.”
Zhou He Chen’s eyes narrowed.
Fang Qing Ye’s favor wasn’t easy to owe. He was infamous for flirting everywhere, and he’d never gone to this much trouble for one woman.
“He Chen,” Sheng Yun Yi said softly, tugging at him, “let’s go.”
Zhou He Chen looked at her and tightened his grip around her cold hand. “I’ll help you find the real culprit.”
Sheng Yun Yi tilted her head, smiling faintly. “Thank you, He Chen.”
They left.
The moment the door shut behind them, Cheng Qing Li locked it fast.
“Sister Lan,” she burst out, “how did you end up provoking a whole pack of lunatics? If they inherit their family businesses someday, does River City have any future left?”
Ye Wan Lan’s expression turned thoughtful. “Yes. That’s why they won’t.”
She added, almost to herself, “We need to speed things up.”
Cheng Qing Li stared. “By the way—was that painting really something you picked up?”
“Mm.” Ye Wan Lan’s tone stayed casual. “I painted it. Threw it away. My uncle picked it back up.”
Cheng Qing Li’s eyes widened. “You can do that?”
Her voice turned feverish. “Sister Lan, please—paint one for me too. Trash-can level is fine! Or if you throw another away, tell me where. I’ll go pick it up!”
Ye Wan Lan stared at her for a beat, then said flatly, “Be good. Don’t pick up trash from the garbage can.”
As if she couldn’t paint something decent on purpose.
Cheng Qing Li beamed. “Sister Lan, I knew you loved me most!”
Her phone buzzed.
Lin Huai Jin.
“A Lan!” he blurted, breathless. “Are you okay? I already told Grandmother everything. Don’t worry—Grandmother will back you up!”
“Uncle, I’m fine,” Ye Wan Lan said calmly. “I sent someone to detention… and I made 3 million.”
Double kill.
Lin Huai Jin went silent for two full seconds. “What?!”
Was he allowed to suspect his niece had robbed a bank?
What on earth had his cute, fragile, obedient niece done?
His heart turned ice-cold.
“As long as you’re okay.” Lin Huai Jin finally let out a breath. “Then I’m coming to pick you up. We’re staying at the old estate tonight. You can spend time with Grandmother.”
“Okay, Uncle.”
Ye Wan Lan hung up and turned around—only to find Cheng Qing Li staring at her with pleading eyes again.
“You—”
“Sister Lan,” Cheng Qing Li said urgently, “please. Just one painting. The trash-can level one is enough. Or you can throw it away and tell me where. I swear I’ll be fast.”
Ye Wan Lan exhaled. Then, with the patience of someone talking to a child, she repeated, “Don’t pick up trash from the garbage can.”
—
Back at the Fang Family home, Fang Qing Han walked in with Fang Qing Ye.
“At noon you both ran out. I don’t even know what you were doing.” Madam Fang glanced behind them. “Where’s Little Ya? Fang Qing Ye, did you go waste money again and have your brother and sister cover for you?”
Fang Qing Ye’s monthly repair bills started at hundreds of thousands. Madam Fang had every reason to be suspicious.
“Mom,” Fang Qing Ye drawled, “my brother wastes more money than I ever could.”
He spread his hands dramatically. “Today he bought a painting someone picked out of a trash can. You know how much he paid? Three million. Couldn’t stop him. He’s lost his mind.”
“Three million?” Madam Fang stared. “What kind of painting would make your brother buy it?”
“Qing Ye, you don’t understand,” Fang Qing Han said, shaking his head.
He carefully set the painting on the coffee table and wiped dust from the frame with a tissue. “It looks casual, but the brushwork has power. Every stroke carries real skill. It’s definitely from a master.”
Madam Fang frowned, studying it. “It’s not bad. But it’s an unknown work. How could it be worth three million?”
“Mom.” Fang Qing Han lifted a hand and pointed at the tail of one bird, voice slowing. “Look here. This technique is ninety percent similar to the Spring Mountain Hundred Birds Painting.”
The Spring Mountain Hundred Birds Painting was the congratulatory work Princess Yong Ning presented to Emperor Zhaozong of Ning in 1716. It was now kept in the National Museum in Yun Jing.
Madam Fang froze.
“Little Han… you mean…”
Her breath caught. “This painting is Princess Yong Ning’s original?”