LOVE FRAGMENTS

THE ART OF STRATEGY

A moment ago, he had asked Si Yueyun and Jiang Nuan the same question. Jiang Nuan was surprised. "Hundreds of thousands?"

Si Yueyun looked uncertain, creating a tense atmosphere.

Si Zhenxuan, not fully versed in this field, explained, "This is part of my old friend's father's collection. Due to family circumstances, he decided to sell some pieces. I believe they’re genuine, considering his expertise and character."

Gu Antong noticed Jiang Nuan whispering to Si Yueyun, her eyebrows knitting in suspicion. She had a pretty good idea of what Jiang Nuan intended to say.

Si Zhenxuan was the executive director of the Si Corporation, and conflicts with his brother had occurred in the past. Although he was trying to clean up the mess now, Si Yueyun might not appreciate it, and there was even the possibility of legal complications over the promised collection worth hundreds of thousands.

With this in mind, Gu Antong stood up and addressed Xie Jianchen, "Second Master, may I provide some additional context?"

The others in the room were taken aback by Gu Antong’s initiative. She walked toward the landscape painting and said, "Shen Zhou’s most renowned works are usually housed in museums. Occasionally, they appear in international auctions, causing bidding wars. Sotheby’s and Christie’s, the world’s leading auction houses, have handled his pieces. His calligraphy commands lower prices than his paintings, but they are equally exquisite."

Xie Jianchen was pleasantly surprised by Gu Antong’s expertise and encouraged her to continue.

"In terms of style, Shen Zhou’s early works were influenced by his family and his study under Du Qiong. His middle-period paintings are meticulous and graceful with controlled brushwork, while his later works display bold, sweeping strokes," Gu Antong explained as she circled the painting. "The piece before us appears to be one of his early works. It may not fetch the top auction prices, but it is certainly a valuable collector’s item."

She refrained from mentioning recent auction figures—Shen Zhou’s “Fishing for Snow” sold for $88,000, two calligraphy pieces fetched $65,000 and $28,000, and “Song Chuang Gao Shi” reached 152.3 million yuan in 2021—so as not to complicate matters with Jiang Nuan. She simply wanted to highlight the painting’s value. Xie Jianchen was delighted with her analysis.

"Excellent!" Xie Jianchen suddenly applauded. "I’ve heard that Fengcheng truly knows how to take care of his family. Today, this is impressive."

Gu Antong smiled modestly. "You flatter me, Xie Er Ye. Shall we discuss our cooperation now?"

She had heard that if Xie Er Ye was in a good mood and approved the Tianda partnership, she could consider herself fortunate.

Xie Jianchen carefully put the painting away and turned to Si Zhenxuan. "Zhenxuan, the daughter-in-law you’ve chosen is truly remarkable."

Gu Antong exchanged a surprised glance with him, not expecting the compliment.

"Will Mrs. Si also be involved in Si’s business in the future?"

The question puzzled the four present. Gu Antong replied cautiously, "I suppose so, as there are ongoing collaborations between the Gu and Si families."

"In that case, those not directly involved may excuse themselves. There’s a tea tasting area downstairs for anyone interested. We’ll discuss the partnership details here," Xie Jianchen directed, addressing Si Yueyun and Jiang Nuan.

Jiang Nuan’s expression darkened. "Xie Er Ye, if we leave, Miss Gu should leave too, right?"

"Miss Gu must stay," Xie Jianchen stated firmly.

He had already observed the two Si siblings. The elder was practical and capable, while the younger was somewhat of a playboy. Today’s events highlighted this: the second son and the women accompanying him seemed inexperienced.

The rumors about Fengcheng’s wedding had spread widely. If Si Yueyun abandoned Gu Antong for Jiang Nuan, it would be a foolish choice.

However, Xie Jianchen’s concern lay elsewhere. He waved to Gu Antong, inviting her to sit. "I’ve heard that Miss Gu inherited the tea ceremony skills of Liu Fufeng, a master of traditional Chinese culture in Fengcheng. Is that true?"

Gu Antong hesitated briefly before nodding, "To some extent, yes."

"Would you mind demonstrating one or two? It would help us discuss matters in a more relaxed and pleasant setting. Miss Jiang Nuan, of course, you may stay if you wish," Xie Jianchen suggested.

Jiang Nuan’s face paled, clearly uncomfortable. Si Yueyun held her hand and said, "Mr. Xie, please excuse us if we inadvertently offend. We are new here, and we appreciate you discussing matters at your own pace."

Stiffly, Jiang Nuan followed him outside, her steps quickening with frustration. Gu Antong’s cleverness had made her uneasy today.

"Xiaoqiu, be careful of the baby," Si Yueyun warned.

Jiang Nuan shrugged off his hand, sitting angrily on the ground floor. "I thought we had a shot at this project, but Xie Er Ye outsmarted us. He issued orders without regard for our feelings. I want to smash this teacup."

"Take it easy. Don’t get upset," Si Yueyun reassured her. "Whether the project falls into our hands today or not, the company is mine, right?"

"You always assume it’s yours," Jiang Nuan retorted bitterly. "Do you not feel the pressure from Si Zhenxuan? If you can’t manage it, how will the company remain yours? You don’t understand how hard I’ve worked."

Si Yueyun patted her hand, smiling. "Don’t worry. My brother is on his honeymoon in Chengdu and knows deep down he can’t have the Chengdu collaboration. I understand him well."

Jiang Nuan felt slightly comforted but still dissatisfied. "What was he thinking? Is he underestimating me?"

Upstairs, Si Zhenxuan discussed the partnership with Xie Jianchen, yet his eyes revealed a deeper scene. The tea ceremony’s essence lay in its tangibility and divine feel, requiring the right supplies to express its profundity.

Gu Antong remained composed, her movements graceful and fluid. Her white attire and delicate wrists made her more enchanting than the women at the Yuming Pavilion’s entrance. She exuded elegance and serenity.

Xie Jianchen took a cup of tea from Gu Antong, inhaled its aroma, and sipped. "The water in our teahouse comes from Tianyun Mountain in Chengdu. Yet no one has a more pleasant demeanor than Miss Gu."

Gu Antong offered a faint smile, handing a second cup to Si Zhenxuan before taking her seat beside him.

"In fact, you needn’t propose your plan. We will provide the perfume formula and technicians, and you will handle sales and promotion. But we have a crucial concern: we’re unsure if you’ll use our technology to establish your own brand," Xie Jianchen said, shifting the discussion.

Si Zhenxuan smiled lightly. "Words can’t capture it. Collaboration carries risk, but also opportunity. Even without it, our company would eventually enter the perfume market. Partnership accelerates brand creation. What’s your take?"

Xie Jianchen remained silent, considering. Gu Antong carefully observed Si Zhenxuan, noticing nuances she hadn’t before, as if the man beside her was entirely new.

"Very well, Mr. Si, you’re a business expert, but I have a request…" Xie Jianchen finally spoke, his gaze on Gu Antong, surprising everyone.

He was a shrewd tactician. Even aware of Si Zhenxuan’s intentions, Xie Jianchen used this approach to challenge him. Originally, Si Zhenxuan intended to hand the project directly to Si Yueyun, but Xie Jianchen’s intervention created tension, drawing everyone’s attention.