Rebirth and Conquest

After being rejected by Neil, Chen Yan stopped thinking about bringing him to the company and stopped paying attention to him. However, a few days later, Neil took the initiative to contact Chen Yan again, saying that he was willing to help Chen Yan set up an art company.

He arranged to meet Chen Yan at a coffee shop. When Chen Yan arrived, he was already waiting there, sitting in a window seat.

Chen Yan was slightly surprised when she saw Neil. In just a few days, Neil had changed a lot, almost like he had been reborn. His long, flowing hair was now short, and the sweet smile on his face was gone. His former seductive aura had also vanished without a trace. He was wearing a casual suit and was sitting quietly looking out the window. He actually looked like an elegant young nobleman.

Chen Yan walked towards him, and just as she reached the table, Neil turned his gaze away from the window. "Mr. Chen, you've arrived." Neil looked at Chen Yan, smiling gentlemanly and charmingly. "I wonder if it's too late to say I want to join your company now?"

“Of course it’s not too late.” Chen Yan sat down opposite him and said with a smile, “But may I ask why Mr. Neil changed his mind again?”

“My bar went out of business, and I have nowhere to go now,” Neil said casually. “Ever since I broke up with Mr. Chen, a few thugs have been causing trouble at my bar, until they made it impossible for me to continue operating.”

"That has nothing to do with me."

“Of course I know it has nothing to do with Mr. Chen.” Neil smiled, then paused. “The reason I invited Mr. Chen out this time is to discuss a condition with him. I can help you run your art company, but I have one request.”

"Please say."

"You fired He Yichen."

After Neil finished speaking, Chen Yan couldn't help but chuckle. "Why is that?"

Neil didn't answer, but changed the subject instead: "Mr. Chen, do you know why I came here? My parents and family are all abroad."

"If you'd like to tell me, I'd be happy to listen."

It turns out that Neil's father was French and his mother was Chinese. They had always lived in France. When Neil was in college, he met He Yichen and Di Wenjin. At that time, Neil and He Yichen were in a relationship. However, He Yichen treated Neil as just a fling and didn't take her seriously at all. But Neil was very fond of He Yichen. After graduating, He Yichen stayed abroad for a few years, and their relationship went through many ups and downs. Later, He Yichen couldn't make it abroad and returned to China, and Neil followed him.

"Mr. Chen, do you know why he couldn't make it abroad?" Neil asked Chen Yan. "He was involved with the sons of three conglomerates at the same time, and was forced to return to China after the affair was exposed." Neil chuckled as he said this. "He's a heartless bastard. When I'm normal, he says I'm bland; when I'm not normal, he thinks I'm cloying. Heh, he's impossible to catch."

Chen Yan touched her nose, surprised that this foreigner was so devoted. His ever-changing personality was all because of He Yichen.

“I didn’t want to go against him. I’m used to him. But this time he actually sent someone to humiliate me.” Neil said with a hint of anger. “Mr. Chen, I can guarantee that if you run your art company well, I know many masters of calligraphy and painting who can definitely help your people become famous, as long as you fire He Yichen.”

“Well,” Chen Yan smiled, “I believe in Mr. Neil’s abilities, but my people are also very talented. I think it’s only a matter of time before he becomes famous.”

“Mr. Chen, you need to know that for an artist to emerge, they not only need talent, but also recognition, so that people will admire them.”

“Yes.” Chen Yan nodded. “I agree with you. However, Mr. He is the pillar of my company now. Without him, my company would not be able to continue operating.”

Neil was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay, I know it's difficult for Mr. Chen to fire him now, but I can compromise. I hope Mr. Chen will fire him as soon as he finds someone to replace him."

“I can consider that,” Chen Yan said with a smile. “If someone is more capable than Mr. He, I would certainly be happy to replace them. I prefer ability to personal connections.”

"So now can we say that it's been a pleasant collaboration?" Chen Yan stood up and extended her hand to Neil.

“Okay, it’s a pleasure doing business with you.” Neil stood up and shook Chen Yan’s hand.

After Chen Yan parted ways with Neil, he was about to return to Han Danqing's place. However, as soon as he left the coffee shop, he unexpectedly ran into someone else: He Yichen's assistant, Hua Fengchen, who pulled up beside him in his car and leaned out of the window to smile and say, "Mr. Chen, let me give you a ride."

Chen Yan curled the corners of her lips slightly, and did not refuse.

Sitting in Hua Fengchen's car, Chen Yan said calmly, "You did it, didn't you?"

Hua Fengchen, who was driving, chuckled. "Chen Dong is indeed brilliant. It was indeed me who sent people to cause trouble at his bar, forcing him to stop driving. It was also me who humiliated him and then pushed He Yichen onto me." Hua Fengchen glanced at Chen Yan in the rearview mirror. "Wouldn't you say that I did a good deed for you, Chen Dong?"

Chen Yan remained noncommittal, only asking, "Aren't you afraid Mr. He will find out?"

"He won't know, and of course, I also believe you won't tell him. Chen Dong just said that you prefer strength to personal connections."

"Do you think you're capable of replacing him?"

"Words are not enough; I can prove it to you with my actions, as long as you are willing to give me the opportunity."

Chen Yan didn't say anything more. After a while, she said, "Your family's bankruptcy is also related to me."

A dark glint flashed in Hua Fengchen's eyes, but he quickly smiled again. "I know, but I can't bring you down. However, I will make him, the direct culprit, pay the price."

Chen Yan sighed softly and asked, "How is your brother?"

"He's got a bit of a mental problem," Hua Fengchen said casually. What he didn't say was that Hua Fengyu had become somewhat mentally unstable due to the trauma he suffered at the hands of He Yichen.

“I’m not stingy in giving anyone a chance, but you can compare yourself to him, but you can’t fight him. My company’s interests cannot be harmed in the slightest because of this. You need to understand this. Otherwise, I won’t give anyone a chance.”

"I understand, thank you, Mr. Chen."

After Neil confirmed his joining the company, Chen Yan took him to see Han Danqing's paintings. Neil didn't pay much attention at first. In his opinion, how good could someone who had never even heard of him paint?

However, upon seeing Han Danqing's paintings, Neil was greatly amazed. Han Danqing's skill level would definitely be considered top-notch even on the international stage. It was astonishing that such a person had been buried for so long and had not been discovered. Neil couldn't help but sigh.

"What do you think?" Chen Yan asked Neil.

"This is fantastic. There's no need to do anything else with this kind of work. As long as we hold an exhibition, I believe it will cause a sensation and make many self-proclaimed masters feel ashamed."

Chen Yan smiled with satisfaction, "Okay, then I'll have to trouble you."

Neil then stayed here, partly to keep an eye on Han Danqing's painting progress, and partly because the environment was so beautiful that he was reluctant to leave.

There are three rooms in total. One room is used as Han Danqing's studio, and Han Danqing can only live in one of the other two rooms. Chen Yan and Neil share the other room.

Han Danqing was always engrossed in painting and didn't talk much to Chen Yan and the others. After Chen Yan came home from school, she could only talk to Neil, and the two gradually became familiar with each other.

On a hot early summer afternoon, the vast expanse of green vegetation provided some shade.

Chen Yan and Neil were strolling along the man-made pebble path, which had become a regular exercise for them. As they walked, Neil stopped and sat down on the grass next to him. Seeing this, Chen Yan sat down next to him as well.

Neil turned to look at Chen Yan and suddenly said, "I finally understand why Wen Jin and He Yichen are willing to follow you."

Chen Yan smiled and asked, "Why?"

“You have the demeanor of someone in a position of power, and the ruthlessness to achieve great things.” Neil lay down on the grass. “Sometimes, success requires more than just ability.”

Chen Yan looked down at Neil and asked, "Mr. Neil, is this a compliment?"

"Just call me Muyang, that's the Chinese name my mother gave me."

"Okay, Muyang."

In the autumn, Han Danqing's paintings were exhibited, and unsurprisingly, they caused quite a stir, even attracting many masters to come and see them. Han Danqing, who was previously unknown, became famous almost overnight. Taking advantage of this popularity, Chen Yan officially established his art company, and Mu Yang became the company's first general manager.

Later on, Han Danqing's fame grew, and his paintings went from being worthless to highly valued. However, at this time, Chen Yan did something unexpected: he picked out some of the paintings that Han Danqing had painted and destroyed the rest.

Upon seeing this, Mu Yang felt both heartbroken and angry. "What are you doing?" he demanded sharply, and then went to rescue the paintings that Chen Yan had thrown into the fire pit.

Chen Yan grabbed his arm, "You're not allowed to go."

Mu Yang turned his head and stared at Chen Yan with a puzzled look. Chen Yan simply said casually, "You should know that things are valued for their rarity. The more difficult something is to obtain, the higher its value will be."

Since their first meeting, Chen Yan has accumulated quite a few of Han Danqing's paintings. If these were sold now, they would definitely fetch a large sum of money. However, Chen Yan's desires extend beyond that. Looking at Mu Yang, she curled the corners of her lips and said, "Mu Yang, do you believe that one day, these things will become priceless?"

Mu Yang froze for a moment, and after a long while, he managed to utter, "You're too crazy."

...