After a moment of silence, Xiao Yan sighed. “If you ever run into trouble, remember to call me.”
“As long as you don’t come disturb me, that’s the greatest help,” Xiao Chen said with a glance before turning to leave.
“Xiao Chen.” Xiao Yan called out from behind him and took out a bag.
She opened it. Inside was a framed photograph.
It was the group photo taken on the first day Xiao Chen had arrived at the Xiao family.
“What are you doing?” Xiao Chen glanced at it.
There had been a time when he treasured this photo like his life.
It was the only picture he had with his parents, sister, and younger brother.
But now, it no longer meant anything.
“This was taken when you came back. Keep it,” Xiao Yan said, holding it out.
“No need anymore. Just throw it away,” Xiao Chen said coldly before walking off.
Watching his retreating figure, Xiao Yan felt a sharp pain in her chest.
It was as if something important had been forcibly ripped from her heart.
She stood there holding the photo for a long time, unable to come back to her senses.
After another class, it was finally time to get off school.
“Xiao Chen, let’s go eat,” called out the chubby guy at the next desk, Xu Dachui, picking up his lunchbox.
Xu Dachui was carefree and straightforward. He was the first friend Xiao Chen had made after transferring to this school.
“I’ll pass. I want to finish this problem,” Xiao Chen replied.
“I’ll wait for you.” Xu Dachui suppressed the hunger rumbling in his stomach and stayed put.
Just then, Song Ziyan walked over carrying an exquisite lunchbox.
She placed it on the desk and opened it. Inside were separate compartments.
Three dishes and one soup.
“Xiao Chen, eat,” Song Ziyan said as she took out two pairs of chopsticks and handed one to him.
“Eat?” Xiao Chen was still surrounded by formulas in his mind and took a moment to process.
“I’m not used to the school cafeteria, so my mom prepares food from home for me,” Song Ziyan blinked her bright eyes. “She always makes too much. I can’t finish it.”
“Th-this… I feel a bit embarrassed,” Xiao Chen scratched his head.
The food looked tempting. Braised pork ribs, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, stir-fried shredded pork with green peppers, and kelp rib soup.
The cooking skills of Song Ziyan’s family housekeeper were no worse than those of a five-star hotel chef.
“You helped me with tutoring. It’s only right that I return the favor,” Song Ziyan said, placing the chopsticks into his hand. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“Besides, my mom always makes too much. If I throw it away, it would be such a waste.”
“Alright then.” After a brief hesitation, Xiao Chen accepted the chopsticks.
Song Ziyan’s eyes curved like crescent moons as she lifted out the dishes. Underneath was rice.
It was special-grade Wuchang rice, something that was not available on the regular market. She took only a small portion for herself and gave the rest to Xiao Chen.
“I… seem to have been force-fed dog food,” Xu Dachui said dramatically, clutching his chest as if wounded.
“Classmate Xu, you don’t need to invite Xiao Chen to eat anymore,” Song Ziyan said, turning her head.
“Why? My Chenchen, are you stealing my Chenchen?” Xu Dachui cried out in mock horror.
“My… mom brings food every day, and I can’t finish it,” Song Ziyan said with an innocent expression.
“Ah, my Chenchen… he’s abandoning me from now on.” Xu Dachui exaggeratedly stood up, grabbed his lunchbox, and ran off.
“Song Ziyan, this isn’t very appropriate, is it?” Xiao Chen said awkwardly. “You can ask auntie to make less.”
“She can’t make less. From now on, I’ll take care of your meals,” Song Ziyan said as she sat down, her eyes curving into crescents again. “Eat.”
The ribs were fragrant, the tomato eggs sweet and tangy. It was the first time Xiao Chen had eaten such delicious food.
By the time the lunchbox was empty, Song Ziyan was already thinking that she would need to prepare more tomorrow.
Maybe she should use a bigger lunchbox. Otherwise, it would not be enough for him.
“Thank you, Song Ziyan. Tell auntie not to prepare so much tomorrow,” Xiao Chen said as he took the initiative to clean up the lunchbox.
“Okay, but my mom probably won’t listen to me,” Song Ziyan said, blinking her watery eyes.
“By the way, did your grandfather like the painting?” Xiao Chen asked.
“I haven’t given it to him yet. I’ll give it to him tonight,” Song Ziyan replied.
That night, at the Jiuzhou Five-Star Hotel.
The hotel was bustling with activity. Red carpets covered the floor, and lanterns were hung everywhere.
It was the birthday celebration of Song Yunming, CEO of Huaye Bank. He had booked the entire hotel.
The direct members of the Song family gathered together.
As the birthday celebrant, Song Yunming was in high spirits.
The table was piled with gifts from the younger generation.
At the right moment, Song Ziyan presented the painting she had selected.
“Ziyan, what gift did you prepare for your grandfather?” one elder teased.
“It’s a painting. I hope Grandpa likes it,” Song Ziyan said with a sweet smile. Get faster updates on g.com.
“Haha, alright, let me take a look.” Song Yunming accepted the painting with a cheerful expression.
After opening it, he immediately understood and smiled. “Not bad, not bad. It’s a copy of Wang Anshi’s Shurangama Sutra.”
“Although it’s a copy, the brushwork captures about thirty percent of Wang Anshi’s spirit. It has great collectible value.”
“So it’s not an authentic piece?” Song Ziyan’s cousin shouted. “Cousin, how could you give Grandpa a fake? It didn’t cost much, did it?”
“Not much. 3,000,” Song Ziyan replied.
This cousin, Zhou Zhe, would provoke her from time to time. She was already tired of it.
“Grandpa’s birthday, and you only spent 3,000 on a gift? The Mao Feng tea I gave him is worth 50,000 to 60,000.”
Zhou Zhe looked harmless, but her words were always pointed.
“Haha, the value of a gift doesn’t matter. It’s the thought that counts,” Song Yunming said with a hearty laugh. “Ziyan, I like it very much.”
“As long as Grandpa likes it,” Song Ziyan said with a smile.
“But how can that be? Grandpa loves calligraphy and paintings. How can you give him a fake?” Zhou Zhe pressed on. “Are you being stingy? Unwilling to buy an authentic one?”
Song Ziyan was getting angry. “Of course not. It’s just…”
At that moment, she suddenly remembered what Xiao Chen had said when he bought the painting.
She said, “Grandpa, a classmate helped me choose this.”
“He asked me to tell you that there is something hidden within the characters.”
“Oh? Something hidden? Let me see.” Song Yunming put on his reading glasses and examined it carefully.
He had not wanted to dampen his granddaughter’s goodwill, but as he looked closely, he quickly noticed something unusual.
The thickness of the paper seemed different.
He immediately spread the painting flat on the table. “Bring me my kit.”
The butler hurried to fetch Song Yunming’s antique toolkit.
Song Yunming loved to tinker with antiques and calligraphy, so he had a full set of tools.
The more closely he examined it, the more he felt this piece was not simple.
He had someone bring clean water and gently sprayed it with a spray bottle.
“Old Song, could this be a calligraphy-within-calligraphy piece?” the butler asked as he assisted.
They had once bought an extremely valuable layered calligraphy piece together at a market before.
Judging from Old Song’s reaction, this painting clearly held more secrets.