Rebirth 93: Break off the engagement at the beginning and marry Bai Fumei

Upon hearing this, Jason, Smith, Yoshida, Anderson, and the others' eyes lit up instantly, as if struck by lightning. Their expressions shifted from contempt to shock, and then to awe, the entire process like a gradual change of colors on a palette. Even some representatives from other countries gasped simultaneously, as if the surrounding air had suddenly thinned. The atmosphere in the room tensed abruptly; everyone held their breath, afraid of missing a single word.

Chen Yang keenly sensed the change in atmosphere. His gaze swept across everyone's faces, finally settling on Dean Zeng and Secretary Li. Their eyes widened in surprise as they stared at the guide. Chen Yang wondered to himself, just who was this Zhou Jiqing to elicit such a reaction?

Curiosity drove Chen Yang, and he found himself drawn closer to Secretary Li. His movements were slow and cautious, as if afraid of disrupting the delicate balance in the room. Chen Yang lowered his voice and whispered, "Hey, is this guy very capable?"

Secretary Li glanced at Chen Yang, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she were pondering the true intention behind Chen Yang's question. What was this guy up to? Pollock explained it so clearly, and he even knew de Kooning, but he didn't know David Hockney? Was he kidding me again? Secretary Li was filled with doubt and a hint of impatience.

Thinking of this, Secretary Li rolled her eyes at Chen Yang, her eyes filled with a hint of helplessness and contempt. She took a deep breath, as if to calm her emotions, and then slowly said, "David Hockney, on par with Andy Warhol, is a famous art master in the art world. Don't give me that, how could you not know that?"

Hearing Secretary Li's reply, Chen Yang sighed inwardly. "Tch, I didn't study oil painting in my past life, how would I know how many masters there were?" His heart was filled with helplessness and a touch of self-mockery. He recalled his past life, those experiences unrelated to art flashing through his mind, making him feel a little dazed.

Then Chen Yang chuckled softly, a faint, enigmatic smile appearing on his face. His eyes gleamed with intelligence as he slowly spoke, his tone laced with a hint of teasing and probing: "Tch, of course I know David Hockney. I'm asking, is her father, Zhou Jiqing, very powerful?"

"So you were asking about the guide's father!" Secretary Li suddenly realized, a slightly embarrassed smile appearing on her face. She said softly, "I've never heard of this person before. It seems I'm quite ignorant." She shook her head slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes, "But to receive the Royal Academy of Arts' gold ribbon, one must be extraordinary! It's one of the highest honors in the art world."

As soon as Secretary Li finished speaking, Dean Zeng, who was standing in front, seemed to have heard something interesting, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. She took a small step back, and Dean Zeng lowered her voice, as if sharing an astonishing secret: "You may not know, but Zhou Jiqing is no ordinary person."

"He is the chairman of the Port City Art Federation, the vice chairman of the Art Development Bureau, a Port City art appraisal expert, and a representative of Port City art." At this point, Dean Zeng's eyes lit up. "Most impressively, he is also one of the few oil painters recognized by the United States."

Chen Yang and Secretary Li were stunned. They exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes. Secretary Li couldn't help but exclaim softly, "My God, I never imagined Zhou Yuqing's father was so powerful!"

Chen Yang nodded thoughtfully, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, as if he were plotting something.

Seeing their reactions, Dean Zeng chuckled and added, "Zhou Jiqing's position in the art world can be described as pivotal. He not only has unique insights into theoretical research, but is also an outstanding figure in practical creation."

Wow, that's amazing! Chen Yang glanced at Zhou Yuqing, a surge of surprise and admiration welling up inside him. With such an incredible father, why is she working as a commentator? He couldn't help but wonder, imagining the possible stories behind Zhou Yuqing. Was it to prove her abilities? Or did she have a unique pursuit of art different from her father's? Chen Yang's curiosity was completely piqued, and he decided to find an opportunity to investigate.

The plan was finally approved by Smith and the others, after all, Zhou Jiqing was also recognized by them, the Americans. Chen Yang noticed that when they heard Zhou Jiqing's name, the expressions on the faces of those previously arrogant foreign representatives changed instantly. Their eyes flashed with surprise, respect, and even a hint of fear. Chen Yang thought to himself, Zhou Jiqing's reputation is indeed extraordinary; even these arrogant guys have to bow their heads.

Led by staff, Zhou Yuqing went to contact her father. Chen Yang watched her leave, and as he looked at her departing figure, his gaze swept over the Gangcheng Art Delegation, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Wait, why isn't his father, such a powerful figure, attending the art exhibition? This question suddenly flashed through his mind, like an unsolvable riddle. Chen Yang began to consider various possibilities: Is it due to health reasons? Or is there some unknown hidden reason? Or perhaps, is there some earth-shattering secret hidden within?

At this moment, Song Kaiyuan's brows furrowed deeply, a barely perceptible anxiety flickering in his expression. His gaze followed Zhou Yuqing's departing figure, his mind racing with thoughts. A bold idea quickly took shape in his mind, like a lightning bolt streaking across the night sky.

Song Kaiyuan's fingers trembled slightly as he picked up the pen and wrote rapidly on the paper. The sound of the pen tip scratching against the paper was exceptionally clear in the quiet room, conveying a sense of urgency. His eyes flickered with a complex light, reflecting both considerations of national interests and a struggle with personal morality.

After writing it down, Song Kaiyuan carefully folded the note and handed it to the staff member beside him. His movements were gentle and cautious, as if this small note carried an extremely important mission. The staff member took the note, nodded knowingly, and quickly walked towards the reception room.

In the reception room, Xiao Sun waited anxiously. When he received the slip of paper, he carefully unfolded it, his eyes flashing as he quickly scanned its contents. In an instant, Xiao Sun's expression changed from confusion to understanding, and then to determination. He abruptly stood up, as if propelled by an invisible force, and quickly ran towards the door.

Song Kaiyuan's intentions were profound and complex. He asked Xiao Sun to contact Zhou Yuqing's father, Zhou Jiqing, to convey a subtle yet crucial request. This request, seemingly simple, contained enormous influence: regardless of the actual age of the paint in the oil painting, he hoped Zhou Jiqing could authenticate it as a work from the 70s.

In Song Kaiyuan's mind, there were two powerful motivations behind this request. The most important was the issue of national face. On the international stage, every detail could affect a country's image, and he knew that this was something that could not be compromised. This was not just a simple appraisal, but a contest concerning national dignity.

Secondly, this relates to a much grander goal: the return of national cultural relics. A strong sense of mission burned deep within Song Kaiyuan's heart. He firmly believed that Zhou Jiqing, as a descendant of the Chinese nation, should understand the weight of this responsibility. He hoped that Zhou Jiqing could transcend personal bias, stand at the height of national righteousness, and contribute to the national interest.

Upon receiving the news, Zhou Jiqing immediately instructed his assistant to bring a state-of-the-art microscope and rush to the art exhibition with lightning speed. Xiao Sun, as if seeing a savior, hurriedly sought an opportunity to approach Zhou Jiqing. In a secluded corner, Xiao Sun lowered his voice and explained the situation in detail to Zhou Jiqing, his eyes gleaming with expectation, hoping this titan of the art world would lend a helping hand.

After listening, Zhou Jiqing smiled knowingly. He gently patted Xiao Sun's shoulder, a gesture that seemed friendly but revealed a hint of distance.

“China!” His voice was deep and magnetic. “It hasn’t come to that, has it? You can’t even take care of your own compatriots, yet you want to gain a foothold in the international art world?”

These words struck Xiao Sun's heart like a heavy hammer.

Xiao Sun felt a sudden panic. His hands clenched and unclenched involuntarily, and sweat quietly soaked his palms. "No, Mr. Zhou!"

He looked anxiously at Zhou Jiqing, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness, "Isn't this a special case? Mr. Zhou, you are a Chinese citizen..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Jiqing interrupted him, "Wait!"

Zhou Jiqing raised his hand, stopping Xiao Sun from continuing. "Don't label me like that!" His tone suddenly turned stern, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. Zhou Jiqing elegantly straightened his shirt, as if trying to soothe the unease caused by Xiao Sun's words.

“Go back and tell your superiors,” his voice was calm and firm, “I have always maintained a serious and responsible attitude towards art, and I will not do such opportunistic things.”

Zhou Jiqing's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in Xiao Sun's heart. However, even more shocking words were yet to come. Zhou Jiqing snorted coldly, his voice tinged with disdain, "Besides, even if I were to take shortcuts, I should help Smith and his group, because I am American."

These words were like a slap in the face, landing hard on Xiao Sun's cheek.

After saying that, Zhou Jiqing didn't look at Xiao Sun again and turned to walk towards the luxury car parked by the roadside. He elegantly opened the car door, his movements fluid and graceful, as if he were performing a meticulously choreographed drama. Zhou Jiqing got into the car without hesitation, leaving Xiao Sun standing there dumbfounded.

Watching Zhou Jiqing's departing figure, Xiao Sun felt a surge of anger and resentment. His lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something, but he could only manage a weak "Hey...you..."

Then, his emotions finally exploded, his eyes flashing with anger. "You fake foreigner! If it weren't for the old boss forbidding me from handling guns, I would have given you a peanut! Bah! What a piece of trash!"

This sentence contained all his anger and helplessness, but he could only vent it in a place where Zhou Jiqing could not hear it.