Chapter 2017: Chapter 1977: Scion of a Prestigious Family
Cao Ling stood there, watching Ye Qiu’s car disappear into the Military District Compound. Only when it was out of sight did her reluctant gaze return.
Previously, she hadn’t felt this way. She didn’t know why, but ever since becoming close with Ye Qiu, this feeling grew stronger. It seemed as if her mind was filled entirely with the image of Ye Qiu.
"Xiaoling, you’re back." Although Grandpa Cao obviously heard the sound of a car parking, by the time he came out, he saw only his granddaughter standing at the entrance.
"Grandpa, I just got back."
"Did Ye Qiu bring you home? Where is he?"
"He just left."
Gone?
He didn’t even say hello.
Seeing Cao Ling carrying large and small bags, Grandpa Cao came over to help bring them inside.
Once inside, Grandpa Cao had many questions he wanted to ask her.
At this moment, Cao Ling took out a painting, the oil painting, "Sunrise over the Sea," that Ye Qiu had gifted her.
Now, as it was laid out on the table for viewing, although Grandpa Cao didn’t know how to appreciate oil paintings, he was attracted at first glance.
"Did you buy this?"
"No, Ye Qiu gave it to me. He said he bought it from one of those street painters, but I think it doesn’t look like it at all. This was painted by him, but he just won’t admit it."
Painted himself?
Looking closely, Grandpa Cao felt that it must have been made by a renowned artist—was this really painted by Ye Qiu? It was hard to believe.
"Didn’t Ye Qiu give three paintings to your third great-grandfather for his birthday?"
"Yes, Grandpa. I heard that one was stolen but has been recovered now. Those three paintings, their market value might be in the tens of millions now."
Market value in the tens of millions?
Grandpa Cao took a deep breath.
What does that even mean?
Although, with his current status, tens of millions may not seem like much. Some good military equipment, such as a fighter jet, might even cost more than tens of millions.
However, that’s covered by national defense budgeting.
To think the three paintings Ye Qiu gave to Cao’s third great-grandfather could be worth tens of millions.
The one given to Cao Ling could very well also be worth over a million.
"Grandpa, if you don’t believe it, I’ll check online for you."
Cao Ling took out her phone to search the web.
In this part of the military district, many places don’t have internet access, though some do.
Cao Ling now opened her phone to look up news about the three paintings, finding all related to a theft case.
Out of the three paintings, the first two "Longevity Pictures" are valued at twelve million and fifteen million, while the third is valued at thirty-five million.
These prices were set by collectors, and if auctioned, they could sell for much more.
Grandpa Cao’s eyesight hadn’t failed him yet, but as he looked with his reading glasses, he was indeed very surprised.
The combined value of the three paintings is over fifty to sixty million.
And these were casually given by Ye Qiu.
Isn’t Ye Qiu too generous?
"Did Ye Qiu really paint it himself?"
"Ye Qiu claimed he bought it at a street stall, but I spent most of my time with him, so I don’t believe he went out and bought it himself. As for when he painted it, I have no idea."
Spent most of the time together?
This was a remark that Grandpa Cao took note of.
He scrutinized his granddaughter.
"How far have things gotten between you and Ye Qiu?"
"Grandpa, what do you mean? Ye Qiu and I are just friends."
"That’s good. You should understand that the harder something is to get, the more a man treasures it."
However, Cao Ling realized she had already given Ye Qiu what was most precious to her. Now, she just hoped that Ye Qiu would cherish her.
After sitting down, Cao Ling recounted her experiences in the Capital City to her grandfather, who had never imagined that Ye Family’s Ye Feng would send people to assassinate Ye Qiu, and yet Ye Qiu was unharmed in the end.
In contrast, Ye Feng was on the brink of death.
Was this some kind of retribution or something else?
"What about the investigations I asked you to do?"
"Grandpa, I strongly suspect Ye Qiu is a member of the Ye Family, the illegitimate son of Ye Zhengyu, but Ye Qiu himself won’t acknowledge it."
Of course, Cao Ling felt that Ye Feng’s intense hatred for Ye Qiu, to the point of attempting assassination, clearly had to do with Ye Qiu’s background.
Moreover, Cao Ling knew that Old Ye visited Ye Qiu several times, not mainly to get Ye Qiu to treat Ye Feng, but because he suspected Ye Qiu’s identity.
Furthermore, based on what she saw and heard, she was certain Ye Qiu was indeed connected to the Ye Family in the Capital City.
And likely the illegitimate son of Ye Zhengyu.
But what happened between Ye Qiu’s biological mother and Ye Zhengyu, and why Ye Qiu was raised by the Ye Weidong couple, she didn’t know.
"Then it seems it’s likely true. This Ye Qiu is indeed of noble lineage and worthy of you. But finding out the reasons his parents left him here in Jinling to grow up in a regular family is crucial."
"Grandpa, it’s not that he’s worthy of me, but that I’m worthy of him. I feel Ye Qiu is becoming more outstanding, and he doesn’t acknowledge the Ye Family or want anything to do with them in the Capital City."
Cao Ling also mentioned the incidents involving Ye Qiu with the head of the Crown Prince’s Faction and the old chief in the Capital City.
It was undeniable this left Grandpa Cao even more surprised.
To say Ye Qiu was just an ordinary person was impossible given his feats.
This indicated that Ye Qiu was not as simple as he seemed.
"So, have you fallen for that boy?"
"Grandpa, I haven’t," Cao Ling denied.
She had already given herself to Ye Qiu, so how could she possibly have no feelings for him?
And it was not just liking but love.
Meanwhile, the fixed phone in Grandpa Cao’s study rang, and when he hurried to answer it, he saw it was a call from the Capital City.
"This is Cao Jianguo."
"Old Cao, it’s me."
A voice came from the other side.
Cao Jianguo was initially puzzled, unsure who it was.
"It’s Old Ye, the elder from the Ye Family."
Cao Jianguo understood, speaking of the devil, here he was. He had just talked with his granddaughter about the Ye Family, and unexpectedly, this elder from the Ye Family was calling.
"Old Ye, what’s the matter?"
"Did your granddaughter return to Jinling?"
Ye Qiu and Cao Ling flew from the Capital City, which Old Ye must have known.
Moreover, they flew back in the afternoon, so they must be back in Jinling by now.
"She just got back. I heard your eldest grandson’s condition isn’t optimistic."
"You’re speaking of Ye Feng; he suddenly developed cancer, but I’m at peace with it."
Suddenly developed cancer?
Grandpa Cao was confused as to what this meant.
However, now cancer is considered terminal; whether one has money or power, it doesn’t help. Late-stage cancer is life-threatening.
Now Old Ye, saying he’s come to terms, clearly understands Ye Feng’s situation—no one can save him.
