Chapter 648: Chapter 646: Exploitation?
After a hard night, Mai Qiqi slept until the sun was high the next day before getting up. Chen Ke was already gone, and there were sounds of cleaning and tidying from outside. She sat up, gave a big yawn, and stretched lazily.
After getting married, Mai Qiqi and Chen Ke lived outside by themselves, with just one servant to take care of their daily meals and living.
The servant served Mai Qiqi breakfast, and Mai Qiqi remembered what happened yesterday, so she called Chuchu, but unexpectedly, Chuchu hung up on her directly.
Heh, it seems she knows what I’m calling about!
Mai Qiqi scoffed, called again, and Chuchu hung up on her three more times. She gritted her teeth and sent Chuchu a text message:
"A real man must seek revenge!"
On the other end, Chuchu chuckled, guessing that Mai Qiqi must have been reprimanded by Chen Ke.
Jiang Lingling curiously asked, "Who’s messaging you, making you laugh so gleefully?"
Chuchu put a measuring tape over her head, "Little girl, don’t ask too many questions. Just focus on your work." Next to them, Mao Xiaoyu covered her mouth, giggling.
Today, Jiang Lingling came to talk with Mao Xiaoyu, observing Mao Xiaoyu’s actions and habits, listening to her requirements, and helping to take measurements, among other things.
Now, Jiang Lingling’s approach to making clothes is first to understand the client, grasping every detail and aspect before she starts designing, so that her designs and the wearer can blend seamlessly together.
Before she actually starts designing clothes, she usually arranges at least three meetings with the client, each lasting no less than an hour. As a result, her clothes are very popular with clients, but the output isn’t high.
This is her characteristic, her calling card, and now more and more elites come to Jiang Lingling for exclusive customization. The orders in her hand are already scheduled until after the New Year.
Nowadays, the prices Jiang Lingling charges for clothes are rising steadily, achieving complete financial independence. Recently, she just bought a house, making Third Aunt Jiang and Third Uncle Jiang both happy and proud. They know it’s all thanks to Chuchu, so they’re incredibly polite to her now. If someone from the Jiang Family were to trouble Chuchu, even before Chuchu could frown, they would immediately jump out to defend her.
After the appointed time, Jiang Lingling grabbed her bag and returned to the studio by herself, while Chuchu took Mao Xiaoyu shopping at the mall. Li Shan had given her the task of handling all the wedding preparations herself.
She spent the whole afternoon shopping, buying a pile of things, and after dropping Mao Xiaoyu off at the old house, she returned to Jinse Garden.
Just as she reached the door, Painter Liu popped out and blocked her way.
Chuchu took two steps back and said unhappily, "Mr. Liu, behaving like this makes you seem less like a lofty great painter. To others, it might seem like you’re a historical figure stopping carriages."
Painter Liu ignored her sarcasm, fixedly staring at her, and asked, "What will it take for you to arrange a meeting between the Ming Family’s young lady and my wife? I can give you all my collected paintings."
He seemed to be at the end of his rope, as if this was his last chance.
Chuchu raised an eyebrow at him, asking, "What’s going on?"
Painter Liu sighed, pondered a moment, then said, "Three days from now, my wife and I are emigrating, and we won’t return."
"So soon?" Chuchu scrutinized his expression closely.
Painter Liu sighed again, pressing the question, "Is there really no way to arrange a meeting between my wife and the Ming Family’s young lady? Even if they don’t talk, yes, we can hide, not letting her see us, just taking a look from afar, just one look, is that okay?"
By the end, his tone was almost pleading, full of helplessness and bitterness.
It seemed their departure was forced, not voluntary. Chuchu didn’t know the twists and turns involved, so she refrained from making a judgment for now, only asking:
"Is Mrs. Liu alright?"
After asking, she realized it was a pointless question, because if Mrs. Liu were alright, this esteemed painter wouldn’t be camping outside her home waiting for her.
As expected, Painter Liu sneered, replying unkindly, "Are you mocking us?"
Chuchu waved her hand, "Consider it unsaid. Can I go check on Mrs. Liu?"
Painter Liu immediately watched her cautiously, his expression changing as if pondering something, while Chuchu remained speechless, letting him deliberate.
After a while, Painter Liu suspiciously asked, "Did you say something to the Ming Family?"
Chuchu’s face turned cold instantly. "Goodbye, I won’t see you off. I’m really tired now and need to rest at home. Please step aside, I don’t have the energy for other people’s business."
Painter Liu then realized he had misspoken and misunderstood Chuchu, quickly apologizing:
"I’m sorry, I’m... I’m just utterly confused. I take back what I said. I’m sorry. I can send you two more paintings as an apology gift. Please, you must help us, help my wife..."
Seeing his anxious and regretful expression, Chuchu decided not to fuss, assuming he must be truly distressed and resorting to irrational thoughts.
She waved her hand, indicating, "Fine, I won’t fuss, but regarding meeting the Ming Family’s young lady, I really don’t know you well enough to help, so forgive my inability." With that, she sidestepped and entered her home.
"Ms. Wan, please help my wife!" Painter Liu shouted from outside the fence.
Chuchu turned back, "What is the relationship between your wife and Ming Wan? Why must she meet Ming Wan?"
Painter Liu fell silent, wanting to say something but ultimately remaining speechless, and Chuchu, seeing his reticence, entered the house.
Jiang Kechu had not returned yet, the maid was busy in the kitchen, and Chuchu hung her bag and sank into the sofa, contemplating Mrs. Liu’s situation.
Although she hadn’t investigated, she was mostly certain that Mrs. Liu must have an unusual relationship with Ming Wan, potentially a blood relation, though she didn’t understand why Ming Wan would flee as soon as she saw her. However, judging by Mrs. Liu’s conduct, she didn’t seem malicious.
What exactly happened between them? Also, Painter Liu mentioned they were moving abroad soon, whose doing was this? The Ming Family’s, the Crown Prince’s, or Ming Wan’s?
Chuchu pondered it all, but without any leads. Realizing it wasn’t her business, she decided not to get involved.
Ming Wan and Yan Hui were getting married soon, and she had to distinguish between friend and foe, not acting on the Liu couple’s words and risk upsetting Ming Wan, which would, in turn, upset Yan Hui. This couldn’t happen.
Besides, Painter Liu wasn’t an ordinary commoner. Given his status in the painting circles, if he genuinely wanted his wife to meet Ming Wan, Chuchu didn’t believe he would be completely helpless.
Having thought it through, Chuchu’s eyes glinted coldly as she dismissed the matter from her mind, then picked up her phone to call Jiang Kechu and ask when he would be back.
