Fell Deeply In Love With My Ex-Husband's Fiancé - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Copyist

Lu Feiran patiently listened as Jin Zhan talked about Zhai…

The words were extremely awkward to say, and Jin Zhan stammered several times.

“How could this happen? He’s married but lied to you?” Lu Feiran feigned surprise.

Lu Feiran deliberately acted as if he didn’t understand or wasn’t overly curious, giving Jin Zhan a sense of security. Then, he inadvertently revealed some of his own “difficult predicament,” which quickly allowed him to pull the young artist into the same camp.

He knew Jin Zhan had few friends. When his relationship with Zhai Qiance was close, he treated Zhai Qiance as a friend.

Now that something had happened, he wanted to confide in someone, but he couldn’t find anyone to talk to.

This was when Lu Feiran appeared at the right time.

“I don’t know… I never thought I’d encounter something like this.” Jin Zhan’s expression was pained, and his lips were pale. “Lu Xingli said that the Qiong Zhu Gallery should have been his, and that I stole it. He said that I must have made a fortune from the commissions I took from those things, but I only get a fixed monthly salary? I don’t understand what he meant.”

Those things?

“I got together with my lover in college. At that time, he said he was going to open a gallery and hand it over to me to manage when I graduated,” Jin Zhan’s voice softened. “But… I really didn’t know if he was married.”

“What do you think?” Lu Feiran asked.

Jin Zhan nodded: “I want to believe him. He wouldn’t lie to me. And… he spends a lot of time with me. If he had a family, where would he get so much time to spare?”

Lu Feiran: “…”

Lu Feiran patiently listened as Jin Zhan talked about Zhai Qiance, about how good and gentle Zhai Qiance was.

He could understand Jin Zhan. After all, when he first met Zhai Qiance, Zhai Qiance was just as good to him.

Seeing that Jin Zhan was about to drown in the past and kept circling without getting out, Lu Feiran couldn’t help but remind him: “If you have doubts, why not ask him directly? You two need to communicate more. Besides, if this isn’t resolved, who knows when that person will come to cause trouble again?”

“Yes, you’re right, you’re right,” Jin Zhan repeated the same phrase a few times, looking lost.

Lu Feiran could tell that Jin Zhan was weaker than himself and was unwilling to accept reality. He was probably actively making excuses for Zhai Qiance in his heart right now.

Lu Feiran shook his head and turned to look at the other finished works in the studio.

Although he didn’t understand painting, he could see that the styles of many paintings were vastly different, with no common threads.

But these paintings were exceptionally beautiful.

So Lu Feiran directly asked Jin Zhan: “Are these all your works?”

Jin Zhan walked over, following Lu Feiran’s gesture, and said: “They are my paintings, but most of these are copies. I often copy the works of some contemporary painters, studying their brushstrokes and experiencing the emotion they put into the brush, hoping that if I copy enough, I can paint as well as them.”

Jin Zhan spoke with great energy when talking about painting, the gloom caused by heartbreak completely disappeared, and he enthusiastically explained to Lu Feiran, taking out each painting individually for display.

Lu Feiran supported his chin and listened attentively.

People truly shine in their areas of expertise. Jin Zhan was a promising painter, and Lu Feiran sincerely hoped he would get better and better, and he genuinely envied him.

If Jin Zhan was a vibrant spring, then he was a stagnant, smelly pond that hadn’t flowed for a long time.

Jin Zhan became more and more animated, taking out his Pad to show Lu Feiran his previous copied works.

He mentioned that one particular artist’s painting had been hyped up to a very high price, and it took him a long time to copy an exact replica.

Lu Feiran suddenly pressed down on Jin Zhan’s hand, stopping him from scrolling away from the picture.

Lu Feiran knew that painting. A year ago, he had seen it when he and Zhai Qiance attended a certain charity gala. The painting was eventually bought by a female entrepreneur.

The entrepreneur later specifically invited the Zhai couple to dinner, saying that thanks to CEO Zhai, she was lucky enough to acquire the painting. She had thought all the works of that artist had been destroyed when he self-immolated, but never expected CEO Zhai to find one.

The lady loved art and talked for a long time at the dinner table, so long that Lu Feiran was bored and wanted to play with a half-cooked asparagus on his plate.

But Lu Feiran remembered the artist’s name and was deeply impressed by the painting.

Lu Feiran’s body trembled as if he had been electrocuted. He thought of something and asked: “Where is that painting? I’d like to see it.”

Jin Zhan shook his head: “My lover liked it, so he took it.”

“Where did he put it? Have you seen it again since?”

Jin Zhan was a bit confused: “No. I’ve painted many copies, and some of the good ones he takes to treasure. I never asked again. They’re all worthless anyway; it’s great that he likes them.”

Lu Feiran took several deep breaths to calm his emotions. He shook his head repeatedly in his heart, Jin Zhan, oh Jin Zhan, you have no idea how talented you are, those are absolutely not worthless!

Jin Zhan found talking with Lu Feiran very enjoyable.

Mr. Lu was a very qualified listener. When he spoke, Mr. Lu’s eyes would look at him without shifting for a moment. When he paused, Mr. Lu would offer his own insights at just the right moment, his tone and content so gentle that it made him want to chat more.

After spending a day together, Jin Zhan had unilaterally considered Lu Feiran a friend.

Near dusk, an assistant knocked on the studio door, carrying a small box.

“Curator, these are samples sent to us by the factory. Please take a look.”

“Okay, let me see.”

Jin Zhan took the box, pulled out several plush toy pendants, and lined them up on the table.

The dolls were all birds, none bigger than a fist, colorful and lively.

Lu Feiran found it interesting and stood by the table, helping Jin Zhan arrange them.

“What are these?” Lu Feiran picked up a macaw pendant, looking at it left and right, loving it.

“The gallery is doing a joint event with the zoo’s Aviary next month, and these will be given away for free,” Jin Zhan smiled, seeing that Lu Feiran liked them. “If you like them, Mr. Lu, you can pick some first, you can choose as many as you like!”

“Really?” Lu Feiran smiled excitedly, his eyes shining, and two small dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth.

Jin Zhan only just discovered that Lu Feiran had small dimples, visible only when his smile was especially pronounced.

Mr. Lu is truly beautiful, Jin Zhan thought. I hope he smiles more often.

Lu Feiran was spoiled for choice, only picking three.

One for himself, and the other two to give to others.

…

Norn had been very busy lately.

His family was persistently asking him to report the progress of his relationship with the tech new-money, Zhai Qiance. Norn had to make up some details to brush them off.

On the other hand, he also had to follow his uncle’s demands, learning various ways to “hook” a man online and chatting with Zhai Qiance.

Norn was very dedicated. He enrolled in an online course specializing in this field and meticulously recorded the lies he told on both sides to avoid being exposed or breaking character.

Norn reported the daily situation to Lance completely, only to receive a faint “Mm” in response.

Meanwhile, since Lu Feiran’s confrontation, Zhai Qiance’s actions had accelerated.

He launched an unprecedentedly strong offensive against Norn online, causing Norn to complain bitterly, losing sleep for an entire night. The next day, he immediately rushed to Lance’s house to find him.

He felt something fishy was going on. Could Lance be conspiring with his mom to trick him? Trying to naturally tie him to that twice-married man?

Norn couldn’t help but theorize about a conspiracy. The more he thought, the scarier it became, and the more panicked he felt. He was almost trembling, unable to function normally.

The moment Lance opened the door, Norn saw his uncle’s usual cold face, and yet he felt a savior had arrived.

Norn almost wanted to kneel down and beg Lance to stop this torment.

Lance told Norn to shut up before coming in.

Norn noticed some strangers in Lance’s house, who were efficiently and systematically updating the soft furnishings indoors.

“Go with them, finish the task first, and then we’ll discuss the rest.”

Lance raised his hand and instructed Norn to follow his directions for decorating the terrace.

Norn busied himself for the entire afternoon, transforming the terrace into a natural oxygen bar. Afterward, the workers and cleaners successively left.

He watched Lance walk into the kitchen and quickly followed, wanting something to eat.

But before he could even touch a lemon tart, Lance swatted his hand, and he didn’t dare reach out again.

Lance: “It’s not for you.”

Norn sat down glumly, poured himself a glass of hot water to clear his throat, and started with a different topic: “My mom knows you’re back, but Grandpa hasn’t allowed her to leave the hospital.”

Lance: “Mm, and?”

“Grandpa is managing the company again, but he’s old and his health isn’t good, so it’s inevitable he feels powerless,” Norn said, choosing his words carefully. “He often mentions you, but knowing you like your freedom, he hasn’t let anyone disturb you. Grandpa supports everything you do under my name!”

Lance turned around, his face smiling, which made Norn’s heart relax.

The next moment, Lance said: “Aren’t you disturbing me right now? If those are the only things you have to say, you’d better get lost now.”

His tone was icy, completely devoid of warmth as if he wasn’t talking to a relative.

Norn choked, knowing he had said the wrong thing, and a layer of sweat broke out on the back of his neck.

Don’t mess things up.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’ll be direct…” Norn apologized first, then said meekly, “I don’t want to chat with Zhai Qiance anymore. Uncle, you said you’d go to dinner with him on my behalf just for a bit of boredom and would help me refuse, but why are you making me continue chatting with him!”

Norn wanted to vent his complaints, but ultimately didn’t dare to say anything resentful. He could only state the facts pitifully, praying for Lance to have a change of heart.

Lance chuckled: “Isn’t it fun now?”

“Fun?” Norn’s mouth could fit a lightbulb.

What part of it was fun?! Even if the person on the other side was a scumbag, he didn’t want to spend time “hooking” scumbags! Wuwuwu, why does a young college man have to do this? I can’t act anymore!

Norn immediately showed Lance the latest chat history: “He said he wants to meet me! He brought it up several times this weekend, and I haven’t replied. What should I do?”

“The person who will actually meet him is me, not you. What are you scared of?” Lance frowned slightly. He really couldn’t understand Norn. Text communication without meeting was the simplest. Could Norn not even handle this?

Lance was slightly displeased. In this deal, Norn had all the advantages, yet he was still coming here to play the innocent victim?

At 21, he was already an independent adult, yet he looked like he was about to cry—unacceptable.

Lance was very displeased, and his brows showed impatience.

Norn’s heart pounded. He vaguely realized he had done something wrong but didn’t know what it was.

He still had a childish mentality, hoping his uncle would take pity on him, save him, and preferably just wave his hand and tell him the problem was solved.

But Lance was never a savior. He couldn’t empathize with anyone, and he barely had any patience for his nephew, who had been close to him since childhood.

Lance casually flipped through a few pages of the chat history, his tone as cold as a knife: “You look like an old hand at romance, unconsciously increasing the difficulty for me. Have I ever criticized you? Haven’t I indulged you enough?”

“I’m sorry.”

Norn lowered his head and apologized again, the young man nearly six feet tall scolded into a shrinking quail.

He had a rich private life and had been in quite a few relationships, but Lance lacked experience in this area. Would he be unable to cope when meeting the scumbag?

Norn’s conscience felt a bit guilty. But in the next second, he discarded his conscience. Why should he worry about Lance?

“This is pointless, Norn. Stop chatting with him. You should go, I won’t manage you anymore.”

The weary look on Lance’s face was very apparent. He issued an order for Norn to leave, and, holding a knife, he focused on cutting the lemon tart into small, bite-sized pieces.

Norn’s head was throbbing. He felt like he was going to suffer from heatstroke in this cool weather. He stood there helplessly, unsure what to do. He didn’t want Lance to give up on him, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t organize his words.

Suddenly, the sound of a lock turning came from the door.