SIATOWITF Chapter 18
by VolareChapter 18 An Brother, Long Time No See (Sarcastic Version) How Annoying…
“An Brother, long time no see.”
As the host, Meng Qingyan had already been waiting outside the car. She personally walked out of the exhibition hall to wait at the entrance.
“Oh my, how can we let Miss Qingyan open the door?” Special Assistant Bai was so frightened when he saw Meng Qingyan about to personally open the car door that he quickly lowered the car window. Fortunately, a staff member put their hand on the car door first.
“No need to be so polite.” Meng Qingyan said with a smile, stroking the fan in her hand, “My younger sister still needs your care. And this is…”
Meng Qingyan was slightly stunned when she saw Xuan Bai following behind Ji Mo An.
“He’s a model from our company, hasn’t been on stage yet.” Special Assistant Bai immediately answered her.
“He’s of mixed Icelandic descent and doesn’t speak Chinese very well.” He added in a low voice.
“Wow, I wonder how many teachers he will become a muse for.” Meng Qingyan’s eyes lit up. “Velkomin til Lancheng.” [Welcome to Lan City.]
Oh no, Ji Mo An’s mouth twitched slightly, knowing that Meng Qingyan had once gone to Iceland for half a year for art.
I knew I should have given Xuan Bai a different country…
Why is everyone running to Iceland?
“?akka?ér fyrir, fallega unga konar.” [Thank you, beautiful lady.]
Before Ji Mo An could speak to defuse the situation, Xuan Bai suddenly leaned forward slightly and said an unfamiliar sentence.
He spoke very standardly, without any accent.
“Thank you.” Meng Qingyan understood. She looked at Xuan Bai with admiration, her eyes filled with a bit more sincerity. “Oh my, I really wonder how many teachers this one will become a muse for in the future.”
“Alright, let’s go in.” Ji Mo An suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.
“Qingyan, Professor Zhang is here.” He gestured for Meng Qingyan to look at a car gradually driving over in the distance.
“Why is Teacher here so early?” Meng Qingyan sighed. “The lounge is on the second floor, Xiao Xiao went to pack some snacks.”
“We can go ourselves.” Ji Mo An declined the staff’s offer to lead the way.
“Okay, don’t forget the ribbon-cutting at ten thirty.” Meng Qingyan smiled and hurried to greet the professor who was about to get out of the car.
—–
“Xuan Brother, the way you speak in your native language is so handsome, this is the native language buff… uh…”
Walking along the corridor of the exhibition hall, Special Assistant Bai felt the low pressure from his boss halfway through his sentence. He closed his mouth with great tact and silently retreated to the side.
“I told you not to…”
“An Brother, long time no see~” Xuan Bai suddenly pinched his throat and used a very sarcastic tone to babble at him.
“…” Don’t talk to strangers.
Ji Mo An’s half-sentence was stuck in his throat.
“Pfft…” Special Assistant Bai covered his mouth, trying to minimize his presence.
“…” Ji Mo An turned around and left.
There were many people in the exhibition, but compared to appreciating the artworks, most people seemed to be trying to establish relationships.
In the short few hours after the ribbon-cutting, Special Assistant Bai had already accumulated a stack of business cards in his hand.
“Is this art?” He stroked his chin, looking at the pitch-black canvas across from him.
“I feel like it’s hung upside down.” After studying it for five minutes, Special Assistant Bai concluded, “Xuan Brother, take a look… Xuan Brother?”
“Xuan Brother, let’s just stay here, An always come back later.”
“…” Xuan Bai glanced at him without making a sound. He turned sideways and continued to look at Ji Mo An, who was surrounded by people not far away.
Dislike… Urgent and greedy emotions pushed in the air, pressing towards the tall man from all directions.
Ji Mo An’s fake smile was about to cramp, and he still had to deal with all kinds of presidents and the people they brought, who were all older than his father.
Fortunately, a staff member arrived in time, allowing him to break away from the crowd.
“Sorry, please wait a few minutes.” He apologized to the staff with a smile.
“Bai Yan.”
“An always.” Special Assistant Bai immediately brought Xuan Bai over.
“You guys go to West Hall Four, I’m going to talk to someone about something. Xuan Bai, be good and listen to Bai Yan. You can eat the things there.” Ji Mo An lowered his voice. He knew Xuan Bai didn’t want to leave him, but…
He glanced at the people who hadn’t dispersed yet and sighed softly.
West Hall Four was a semi-public lounge. A long table was filled with all kinds of exquisite pastries.
“Xuan Brother, uh… people have three urgent needs.” After giving Xuan Bai a plate of pastries, Special Assistant Bai repeatedly told him, “I’m going to the restroom, I’ll be right back. Xuan Brother, just stay here, don’t leave.”
“Go.” Xuan Bai thought he talked too much.
“Okay, okay, I’ll be right back.” Special Assistant Bai ran off in a puff of smoke.
Pastries… Xuan Bai picked through the colorful desserts on the plate, finally swallowing a red ‘little hamburger’ in one bite.
Sweet…
“Um, macarons aren’t eaten like that.” A voice suddenly rang out. Xuan Bai paused and slowly raised his eyes.
The person who came was about twenty years old, with ash-gray hair and a crucifix earring on his ear.
“It would be much better with black coffee or tea. I personally recommend black tea.” Seeing that Xuan Bai didn’t react, he took a few steps forward.
“I noticed you as soon as you came in. I’m Ling Yi, can I get to know…” The young man’s hand was halfway extended, his smiling eyes suddenly scattering.
Then he walked past Xuan Bai in a daze, heading towards the other end of the long table, never looking back.
I hate humans…
Xuan Bai lowered his head again, continuing to pick through the pastries on the plate.
Why isn’t Ji Mo An back yet… He swallowed another green little hamburger with resentment.
Sweet.
—–
At the same time, on the third floor upstairs.
“Can you not be like this?” Ji Mo An silently drank tea.
“I can’t.” Meng Qingyan shook her head gently. “Before my ‘Beauty in the Alley’ is completed, I must maintain my persona to prevent my inspiration from being cut off.”
“Then…” Ji Mo An finally couldn’t help but ask that question, “Ten years ago, you chased Ji Cheng Yu for three floors with a broom, was that also because of creating a persona?”
“That wasn’t.” Meng Qingyan elegantly sipped her tea. “He just deserved it.”
“Okay.” Ji Mo An nodded.
“The budget for Nanchuan is fifteen million US dollars.” Meng Qingyan suddenly said a number.
“One bad news, one good news, which one do you want to hear?” She smiled.
“I’m more used to suffering first and then enjoying sweetness.” Ji Mo An frowned slightly.
“Okay, the bad news is that just three days ago, I got news that Mr. Lear from North America set off for Xuan An.” Meng Qingyan picked up her phone and searched. “Two years ago, he acquired a pink diamond at Sunawe for nearly $55 million, breaking the record for local auctions.”
“Tsk.” Ji Mo An drank the tea in one gulp.
“There’s still good news, isn’t there?” Meng Qingyan poured him another cup. “Now, apart from the second son of Nanchuan Group who has vowed to get that Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond, no one else has spoken out.”
“And Lear’s target may not necessarily be the yellow diamond. The highlight of this auction is a pink diamond designed by Serana. He is a fanatical fan of Serana. There is a chance that another pink diamond will be exceptionally invited into his museum.”
“Fifteen million US dollars.” Ji Mo An calculated in his heart. “Is that the total budget?”
“I don’t know about that.” Meng Qingyan shook her head. “We’re just cooperative partners, they wouldn’t dare reveal too much to me. But it’s certain that most of the big shots are here for the pink diamond. Before that, they won’t easily make a move.”
“So you won’t reveal your psychological price?” She poked Ji Mo An with her fan curiously.
“You’ll see it in the news after the auction.” Ji Mo An pushed her fan away with his finger.
“I thought you would tell me since we have such a good friendship. After all, I even let my precious sister go to your hands.” Meng Qingyan sighed and crossed her legs.
“…You’re breaking your persona.”
“Sorry.” Meng Qingyan immediately put her legs down, resuming her dignified appearance.
“And, do you want to recall why your sister stuffed her resume under our door overnight?” Ji Mo An stood up. He had been up here for too long and had to go down and check on Xuan Bai.
“I don’t want to, that was when I was creating ‘Wildfire’.” Meng Qingyan leisurely poured herself a cup of tea. “By the way, keep an eye on your little model, almost everyone was looking at him when he came in.”
“…” Ji Mo An seriously considered the option of putting a mask and hat on Xuan Bai.
“He eats so well, why didn’t I run into him when I was in Iceland.” Meng Qingyan commented with some regret.
“We’re not that kind of relationship…” Ji Mo An almost tripped halfway through his walk.
“Oh, if you say you’re not, then you’re not.” Meng Qingyan leisurely opened her fan and waved it twice.
“But when the time comes, I think even an iron tree will have to bloom.”
“…” Ji Mo An slammed the door shut, refusing to listen to Meng Qingyan’s voice any longer.
“Ah…”
Meng Qingyan in the room blinked, took out a powder compact from who knows where, and began to touch up her makeup.
“Am I breaking my persona again?” She murmured to herself in the mirror.