A fake painting is, of course, a fake. Some people forge the works of famous artists to profit from them. Yet, to create a counterfeit so convincing it could be mistaken for the real thing, that also takes considerable skill.
Although Jiang Yu devoted herself wholeheartedly to painting, in her previous life she had also heard about such scandals in the art world. Some people, though highly skilled, chose not to use their talent on the right path. Instead, they forged the works of great masters. Such actions made others sigh in regret, for forgery was something strictly forbidden in the field. Once exposed, it meant total disgrace, one’s reputation ruined, condemned by all.
Du Song, having painted for so many years, naturally understood this truth.
“Shixiong, are you asking me to commit forgery?” Jiang Yu asked calmly.
His face stiffened. “Shimei, what are you saying? How could I possibly ask you to do that? I have no other choice! If this gets exposed, I’ll definitely be thrown in jail. Do you really have the heart to see your shixiong end up like that?”
I very much have the heart! Jiang Yu thought silently. But outwardly she only showed a troubled expression and shook her head. “Du shixiong, I really can’t do something like that.”
She and Du Song were barely acquainted. In their group chat, she seldom spoke to him; in person, they had only met twice. For someone like that, how could she possibly sacrifice her principles?
To forge a painting would be despised by every true artist. Jiang Yu would never stoop so low.
“Du shixiong, I think you should come clean with your boss. Since you ruined the painting, you must take responsibility. What you should be thinking about now is how to compensate, not how to escape, or worse, asking me to paint a forgery to deceive people.”
She looked at him seriously. “That painting by Sui Ke should be worth around three million on the market. If you’re willing to pay compensation, your boss probably won’t press charges.”
“Do you think I haven’t considered that?” Du Song gave a bitter smile and sighed. “If things were that simple, it’d be fine. But if my boss finds out, I’ll definitely be jailed… Ai. I know I don’t have as close a relationship with you as Ning shixiong and the others do, so it’s only natural you don’t want to help me.”
He looked at her intently. “I know the teacher is very fond of you. If something really happens to me, please, comfort him. Don’t let him be saddened by my mistake. He’s getting old. If he falls ill because of me, that would be my greatest unfilial act as a student.”
Jiang Yu’s expression shifted slightly.
In her memory, in her past life, the old master had passed away in her freshman year of college, next year. At the time, Teacher Shen had been so cheerful, saying he’d introduce her to the old master. With her talent, the elder would surely take a liking to her. But before that meeting could happen, the old man died.
She never knew the cause of death.
This time, having foreknowledge, Jiang Yu had paid special attention to the elder’s health. As far as she knew, he was in good condition; he did his annual check-ups regularly.
So how had he died?
Could it have been because of Du Song?
Jiang Yu’s heart grew heavy. Since this concerned her teacher, she couldn’t be careless.
Du Song, watching her frown, felt a flicker of hope.
“Shimei, I’m not asking you to do it for free. I’ll give you five hundred thousand if you paint this Spring Outing for me.” His voice grew earnest, persuasive. “I know your last painting sold for two million. Two million sounds like a lot, but what can it really buy? In City B, you can’t even get a house for that price.”
His tone became coaxing. “Not only will I give you five hundred thousand, I can also put your works in our shop. We sell paintings for other merchants too. I can persuade my boss to accept your works at one hundred thousand each. What do you say?”
Jiang Yu blinked at him, her expression slightly odd.
“What’s wrong?” Du Song mistook her look for excitement. For a newcomer, a price of one hundred thousand per piece, stable and reliable, was already excellent.
But Jiang Yu pressed her lips together and said, “No need, shixiong. Thank you for your kindness, but my skills aren’t refined yet. When my paintings improve, then I’ll consider selling them. For now, I don’t really need money.”
“Ah, right. I almost forgot, you just sold one painting for two million,” Du Song muttered, his mouth twitching. But quickly he added, “Still, don’t be offended by me speaking frankly. Our circle is small, and very few painters actually make it. That two million was pure luck, you met a fool willing to pay. You might not be so lucky next time.”
“I understand, shixiong.” Jiang Yu smiled lightly.
Du Song leaned forward, still playing the camaraderie card. “We’re fellow disciples. Naturally, we should help one another. So, even just for the sake of our shared master, please help me. If my boss finds out Spring Outing was ruined, I’ll definitely go to jail!”
“But Ning shixiong clearly said your boss values you highly. If you’re willing to compensate, he won’t send you to prison!” Jiang Yu put on a thoughtful face, then shook her head firmly. “Shixiong, I can help you with many things, but not this. I cannot paint forgeries.”
Du Song: “……”
He had tried emotional appeals, financial temptation, everything. Yet Jiang Yu remained unmoved. At last, his face hardened, the gentle, pitiful mask slipping away.
“I thought you were someone who valued loyalty and righteousness. I didn’t expect you to be so cold-hearted, ignoring your fellow disciple’s plight. If the teacher knew, how disappointed would he be? To think his beloved little disciple could be so merciless, watching her senior brother walk to his doom.”
Jiang Yu shook her head. “Du shixiong, what you say is meaningless. If the teacher found out you tried to make me forge a painting, it would only be you he’d be disappointed in, not me.”
At that, Du Song finally realised this young girl was not so easily deceived. His expression turned frosty.
“Fine. If you won’t help, then so be it. But let me give you one last piece of advice. Yes, your paintings are impressive, but in this circle, how many people with talent have ever managed to survive and succeed?”
After saying that, he turned and went back inside. Soon, the sound of his conversation with Pang Yu came through, followed by the gate shutting. Du Song had left.
Jiang Yu turned toward the balcony. The lake outside seemed to be steaming even in the winter air, mist rising off it like fog.
“What did Du Song say to you? He looked upset, even stormed off.” Senior Sister Pang came out of the room and stood behind her, asking.
Jiang Yu turned back, smiling. “Nothing much. Just a few disagreements between me and Du shixiong.”
Pang Yu frowned, thought for a moment, then said, “You… you should keep your distance from Du Song. If he asks you for help with anything, don’t agree, alright?”
Hearing that, Jiang Yu looked at her in surprise. “Pang shixiong, you…”
Pang Yu sighed. “There are a lot of things Du Song thinks I don’t know, but I simply haven’t said them out loud. Out of consideration for our shared teacher, I don’t want to embarrass him in front of others.”
She wasn’t entirely sure what Du Song had been up to behind the scenes, but she had her suspicions.
“Du shixiong… Why did Teacher accept him as a student in the first place?” Jiang Yu asked. It wasn’t to belittle him, but compared with Pang Yu and the others, his temperament seemed far less generous. He didn’t strike her as someone the old master would favour.
Pang Yu replied, “Du Song? He’s the grandson of the old master’s wartime comrade. His parents died when he was young, and with no relatives, he was sent to the Cui family. You could say he was raised as their foster son. Later, the old master taught him painting. Among us disciples, his talent was the weakest, even worse than eldest shixiong. His temperament was already odd as a child, and as he grew up, he became more and more extreme…”
After considering, Pang Yu decided Jiang Yu ought to know these things. They were all disciples of the same teacher, after all. Sooner or later, she would find out.
“Anyway, just remember what I said. Keep your distance from him!” Pang Yu reached out to ruffle Jiang Yu’s hair. “It’s too cold out here. Let’s go inside. Oh, by the way, I ordered takeout. I wasn’t full earlier, but Ning shixiong dragged me over here.”
She still sounded a little resentful when she said that.
Inside, Ning shixiong and Han shixiong were still looking at the paintings. Though their personalities were completely different, at that moment their expressions were the same, rapt with fascination.
“You really painted this beautifully. If it were put up for sale, it would fetch quite a high price!” Pang Yu said.
Jiang Yu replied, “Teacher said this painting could be entered in the March Colour Spring Exhibition.”
“Colour? Not bad. This piece really would be perfect for it, I’d nearly forgotten about that exhibition!” Ning shixiong said, reluctantly tearing his attention away from the painting just in time to hear her words.
Pang Yu nodded. “Colour is a great opportunity. With your skill, shimei, you’ll definitely shine there. Oh right, I remember Ning shixiong and Han shixiong were also invited to that exhibition.”
Ning shixiong shook his head. “Yes, the organizers invited both of us, but I don’t have the time. The work at the museum isn’t finished yet. Where would I find time to paint? So I declined.”
“Museum?” Jiang Yu asked in surprise.
Pang Yu glanced at her. “What, you didn’t know? Ning shixiong works in cultural relics restoration.”
That stunned Jiang Yu even more. She hadn’t expected him to be involved in that line of work.
Pang Yu explained, “It’s kind of the family trade. His family runs an antique shop. He grew up surrounded by artifacts. Recently, some relics were excavated, and Ning shixiong has been busy restoring them.”
Cultural relic restoration was a tedious, painstaking job that could take months, sometimes even years, for a single piece.
“The people handling the excavation weren’t careful, and some artifacts were damaged. That’s made our workload even heavier!” Ning shixiong said, unable to keep the complaint out of his voice.
Han shixiong stretched his neck and said, “Sigh, your field really demands patience. Those are cultural relics, you have to be cautious just to touch them. Nothing like painting, where I can just spread paper and paint whatever I like. Now that’s freedom. …Oh, shimei, why don’t you get yourself a seal? Then you wouldn’t need to sign your name every time. Just stamp it, much easier.”
Jiang Yu said, “I’ve been planning to, but I haven’t had the time or found the right stone.”
“Stone? Ask Ning shixiong! This is his specialty, he’ll pick you a good one and even carve your name.”
Jiang Yu looked toward him, and he asked, “What kind of stone do you like?”
She described her preferences, and Ning shixiong nodded slightly. “I’ll find you a good one. As for the engraving, should it be your name ‘Jiang Yu,’ or ‘A Fleeting Dream’?”
“‘A Fleeting Dream,’” Jiang Yu answered.
“Alright.”
Han shixiong wandered around the room and noticed one of Jiang Yu’s oil paintings. “Shimei, your oil painting is really good too. But our teacher isn’t much skilled in oils, he won’t be able to guide you there.”
That was why most of their teacher’s disciples excelled in traditional Chinese painting. They could paint in oils or watercolours as well, but not at the same level.
Han shixiong felt it was a pity. Jiang Yu clearly had talent in oil painting. With the right teacher, she could achieve great things.
Maybe… they should find her an oil painting teacher?
“An oil painting teacher? I already have one!” Jiang Yu said, realising what he meant.
“Hm?” The three of them turned to her at once. “Who?”
“Grandpa Yang. You should know him.”
Grandpa Yang? With that surname?
The three exchanged looks. As far as they knew, there was only one elder surnamed Yang whose oil painting was outstanding.
“…”
They suddenly felt they needed to calm down before their hearts gave out.
“Shimei, you really do surprise us,” Han shixiong said with a wry smile.
Either of her teachers was already a towering figure in the art world. And Jiang Yu had studied under both. If that news got out, the art world would go mad.
Du Song walked out of the residential compound, his brows tightly furrowed. He hadn’t expected Jiang Yu to be so stubborn, completely impervious to both persuasion and threats, and it left him somewhat at a loss.
“Driver, to Changping Street!”
Flagging down a cab, he headed straight there.
Changping Street was fairly well-known in B City, a street lined with antique shops and galleries selling calligraphy and paintings. Du Song worked at one such shop: Shicui Xuan.
As soon as he stepped inside, he spotted a portly man sitting in a chair, studying a painting placed before him. One of the shop staff was enthusiastically proclaiming, “…This is an authentic piece by Zhang Zhiyi, Hundred Birds. Look at the wings on these birds, the vivid colours, that is exactly the hallmark of Zhang Zhiyi’s work!”
Du Song cast a casual glance at it, a trace of mocking disdain flickering across his face.
Zhang Zhiyi did indeed love painting birds, but his style was simple and unadorned, not this kind of gaudy splendor.
“Where’s the boss?” Du Song asked.
“Upstairs,” someone answered quickly.
He gave a short grunt in reply and went upstairs. Entering the office, he saw the boss on the sofa with another man seated beside him. Du Song strode over and dropped into a chair.
“Boss, I have something to tell you…”
“So according to you, your little junior sister is only seventeen years old. At that age, how impressive could she really be? Aren’t you exaggerating?” The man holding a cigarette sneered, his fingers yellowed from years of smoking. He was Wu Xu, a long-standing rival of Du Song, and naturally he took the chance to mock him.
Du Song frowned, giving him a look of contempt. “Just because you have no ability doesn’t mean no one else does. My junior sister really is a genius. Do you remember that Feitian painting that caused such a stir online?”
“Feitian?” The boss, silent until now, finally spoke.
Du Song’s lips curved into a smug smile. “Exactly. That piece was painted by my seventeen-year-old junior sister.”
Both the boss and Wu Xu froze in surprise.
“My teacher is old now. He once swore he would never take on students again. But he made an exception for her. That alone proves she’s a true talent.” Though Du Song was not in the best of moods, he had to admit Jiang Yu’s skill was undeniable.
Wu Xu sneered, “Sounds more like an excuse. Didn’t you once say that kid Tian Tian could be taken in by your teacher too? You even got the boss’s hopes up for nothing.”
Du Song’s face darkened. “This isn’t about excuses. I’m stating facts. You’ve all seen Feitian. You should know exactly how high the level of that work is. With my junior sister’s skill, if she were to join us, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.”
“But your junior sister refuses to go along with you, doesn’t she?”
“…”
Du Song clenched his jaw. “I didn’t expect it either. She’s young, but completely unmoved. No matter how I coaxed or threatened, she wouldn’t budge.”
He had thought her youth meant she’d be soft-hearted. At first he tried to win sympathy, but she was unmoved. Then he offered temptations, but again, no reaction at all. She was utterly impervious.
Wu Xu leaned back again. “So what’s the point of all this talk? She won’t work with us. No matter how talented she is, she’s still not ours.”
“Not now,” Du Song said, eyes on the boss instead of Wu Xu. He knew the final decision rested with the boss. “But that doesn’t mean not ever. Boss, with her ability, if we get her painting, it could be indistinguishable from the real thing. The profits would be far greater.”
At this, the boss finally spoke: “But she’s unwilling.”
Du Song’s spirits lifted, if the boss was saying this much, it meant he was tempted.
“She won’t agree now, but that doesn’t mean she won’t later. We can find ways to make her agree.” Du Song sneered. “You don’t know her. She’s an orphan, proud and aloof. Talents like her, once they suffer a serious setback, they collapse. When that happens, if we extend an olive branch, how could she resist?”
The world bustles for profit, the world’s struggles are for gain.
If his junior sister was unmoved now, it was only because the lure wasn’t strong enough. He had seen many such “geniuses.” Once their wings were broken, they could only crawl in the dirt. No matter how well they painted, what use was it?
Wu Xu shook his head. “You’re really ruthless. That’s your junior sister.”
Du Song sneered. “Junior sister? I’ve only met her a few times. How could you call that ruthless? I’m just giving her a path, a more profitable one. She should be grateful to me.”
The boss spoke again: “Do as you see fit. If you can get her to join us, so much the better.”
Du Song answered at once, his expression filled with grim determination.
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