Boyfriend Always Thinks I’m a Little Pitiful Chapter 37

He thought for a moment, his tone softening a bit, "The teacher's work sold for thirteen million, and you're still not satisfied with this result?"

"My dad's work fetched a high price at Yishu Auction House."

At this point, Xie Ci chuckled and asked, "What does that have to do with your Mingjian Gallery?"

The agent kept a straight face, "That's because we did a lot of promotion!"

"All your credit?"

Xie Ci leaned over the back of the sofa, casually bending one long leg, sitting by the armrest, "Just because you did some promotion, my dad's paintings skyrocketed to millions? Then why couldn't they sell even at a discount before?"

The agent paused, hurriedly trying to explain, "Because this time, the target customers for the promotion were different from those who usually visit the gallery!"

Xie Ci nodded, "Since those who visit the gallery aren't my dad's target customers, what's the point of renewing the contract?"

The agent gritted his teeth, "We can continue to recommend the teacher's works to suitable customer groups. Previously, we didn't find the right positioning—"

"Didn't find the right positioning?"

Xie Ci interrupted him, "Or did you never do any promotion?"

The agent's heart skipped a beat at the questioning.

"I heard that someone went to Mingjian looking for my dad's work, only to be turned away with the excuse that my dad was ill and had no works to produce?"

Xie Ci looked at the agent's changing expression and said in a calm tone, "Did you really adhere to the contract terms? Did you do any promotion? You didn't even manage the basic display of works, did you? After signing for so many years, you only promoted once, and now you feel cheated?

You were the ones who acted against the agreement, using deceitful means to maliciously suppress prices. I haven't even started holding you accountable, and yet you dare to come here and talk to me about breach of contract?"

His tone was calm and steady, yet it exerted immense pressure on the listener.

The agent's attitude softened again, "Our work has always been very thorough, you can rest assured about that!"

"You don't need to assure me of anything. Whether you continue to promote or terminate, it's up to you."

After saying this, Xie Ci nodded at Yang Le, "Brother Yang, see the guest out."

The agent panicked and quickly said, "Please reconsider! Our gallery is one of the top in the country, and you saw the success of this auction! Signing with us is the best choice to stabilize the teacher's work value!"

Yang Le was amused by the agent's shamelessness.

"Not long ago, you despised the teacher's paintings for not making money, and now you're groveling?"

Agent: "I'm sorry, that was indeed our mistake."

Yang Le: "Is 'sorry' enough?"

The agent looked embarrassed, "Considering our years of cooperation, please give us another chance to make amends!"

Yang Le sneered, "Why didn't you give the teacher a chance to renew the contract back then?! Knowing he was unwell, you still presented such a shameless buyout contract to bully and exploit him, and now you want to talk about feelings with me?! Get lost!"

Before leaving, Xie Ci said to the agent who was still pleading, "Regarding your breach of contract, it will be handed over to the lawyer. You can start organizing the promotional records you've done for my dad over the years when you get back today. I'm afraid you might be too busy."

The agent's face turned pale, losing the assertiveness he had when he first arrived, "Is it necessary to go this far? I've already said we will compensate! Losing Mingjian's client resources is a loss for the teacher!"

Xie Ci: "You lost the only chance to represent a million-level artist, so whose loss is it really?"

The agent watched helplessly as Xie Ci left, realizing it was completely irretrievable.

Not only did they fail to secure the contract, but they might also get embroiled in a lawsuit.

"With the little client resources you have, do you think the teacher still needs them now?"

Yang Le pushed the person out the door, coldly saying, "Heartless scum, get lost! Don't come back again!"

Xie Ci walked down the corridor with Xiao Fang, seeing his dad, Xie Qian, standing not far away, looking at his own work on the wall.

He walked over to his dad and also looked at the painting on the wall.

After a long time, Xie Qian asked in a low voice, "Are my paintings really worth millions?"

"If someone is willing to pay for it, then it's definitely worth it," Xie Ci replied calmly.

Xie Qian turned to look at Xie Ci, "You didn't do anything dangerous, did you?"

"Don't worry, I know my limits."

Noticing the unease in his dad's eyes, Xie Ci added, "The price of the works might fluctuate greatly during this period. If you feel troubled, don't pay attention to it. Just focus on painting. If you're in a bad mood, take a break. As for students, teach them if you want, don't if you don't want to. There's no need to push yourself so hard."

Xie Qian: "I still have to let my son worry about me."

Xie Ci: "For me, having someone to worry about is also a nice experience."

Xie Qian was taken aback, hearing this made him happy, but thinking deeper made him sad.

Because of him, his son lost the chance to care and be cared for, forced to suppress his emotional needs, trapped in loneliness.

Xie Ci: "Besides, helping you is helping myself. If you do well, I can enjoy the benefits too."

Xie Qian's lips curled into a faint smile, "I'll do my best."

Xie Ci: "First, get well, or how can I rest easy living off you?"

Xie Qian: "Hmm, I'll go for a check-up tomorrow."

The father and son walked together towards the backyard.

Xie Ci casually said, "Let Brother Yang accompany you. I have a league group match tomorrow and can't spare the time."

Xie Qian: "Can outsiders come to watch?"

Xie Ci: "Not now, but they can for the finals."

Xie Qian: "Can you make it to the finals?"

Xie Ci: "I'll try my best."

The same words were thrown back, and Xie Qian chuckled, "Then I'll wait to watch your finals."

They chatted intermittently on their way back to their place, and Xie Ci put down his schoolbag, "Is it my turn to cook tonight?"

"I'll do it. I just learned a few new dishes and want to make them for you to try." Xie Qian rolled up his sleeves and headed to the kitchen.

Xie Ci didn't argue, taking Xiao Fang to the yard outside.

Xie Qian took out the ingredients and glanced at the yard.

Many times, he felt that Xiao Ci didn't see him as a "father," but rather as a newly acquainted friend, not overly concerned, not overly interfering, with no hatred and no forgiveness, completely separating the past from the present, focusing only on the now.

He was delighted with Xiao Ci's change, not because his son finally returned to him, but because Xiao Ci no longer had to suffer inner torment.

To completely let go of the past, he admitted he couldn't do it. In this regard, Xiao Ci was much more mature than him.

The phone vibrated, and Xie Qian glanced at it, seeing a message from Xie Cheng.

Xie Cheng: [Big brother, when do you have time to meet? Mom is getting old, and her health isn't great lately. She really wants to see you.]

Xie Qian's grip on the phone tightened, quickly deleting the message, taking deep breaths by the sink to calm down.

How could he not hate? Unless he disappeared.

Saturday morning, 8:30, Twelfth High School Gymnasium.

As the game time approached, the gymnasium was bustling with busy volunteers inside and out. Xie Ci and Zhang Ruochuan, along with a few key players, were already at the game venue, doing their final warm-up before going on stage.

"There are so many people watching the game today." Jiang Chenyu glanced around the stands, "All these girls are making me a bit nervous."

Zhang Ruochuan was doing stretching exercises and replied, "Don't worry, they're all here for Old Xie, no one's paying attention to you."

Jiang Chenyu: "… I'm at least a star player on the First High School team."

Zhang Ruochuan: "Who in our team isn't a star?"

At nine o'clock, with the sound of a loud whistle, the group stage officially began.

The matches on each court were intense, with cheers erupting in the venue from time to time, and many reporters on the sidelines holding cameras to capture the action.

Xie Ci and the PE teacher sat on the sidelines, not going on the court.

Today, their opponent was the Eighth High School, relatively average in strength, so he let the second-year backup players go on to gain some practical experience.

During halftime, the players came off the court to rest.

"Old Gu? What are you doing here?" Jiang Chenyu wiped his sweat and turned to look behind Xie Ci.

Xie Ci turned around and indeed saw Gu Yufeng walking over.

"Non-staff and players are prohibited from entering here, how did you sneak in?"

"A three-meter-high wall can be climbed, so how can a half-person-high fence stop me?"

Gu Yufeng said, placing a bag of energy drinks on the chair, "I missed the last game, so I had to come this time."

Xie Ci: "… Haven't you written enough self-reflections?"

Gu Yufeng: "I don't believe the old guys at Twelfth High School can still catch me to write self-reflections."

Xie Ci: "…"

Zhang Ruochuan looked around curiously and leaned over to ask, "Did you really climb in? Didn't get caught?"

"I brought him in."

Wang Wei finished her cheerleading dance, stepped off the court, and smiled, "Old Gu, I successfully brought you in to see Old Xie, how are you going to thank me?"

Gu Yufeng took a bottle of drink from the bag and handed it to her, "Here, have a drink."

Wang Wei took it, "That's it?"

Gu Yufeng: "After the game, let Old Xie treat you all to barbecue."

Wang Wei was puzzled, "Let Old Xie treat?"

"He's been making a fortune lately, rolling in money." Saying this, Gu Yufeng handed a bottle of purified water to Xie Ci.

"Really?" Zhang Ruochuan put his arm around Xie Ci's shoulder, "Old Xie, where did you secretly make a fortune? Didn't even take me along."

Jiang Chenyu shrank his neck and said nothing, thinking that Old Xie not taking you along was really for your own good.

Making a fortune isn't something anyone can do, it's too life-shortening.

Xie Ci took the water, "You owe a favor, and I have to repay it?"

Gu Yufeng: "Why are we even talking about favors between us?"

One sentence made everyone cheer, and Wang Hao, not knowing the situation, but not letting it stop him from joking, said with a grin, "Are we about to drink the captain's wedding wine?"

Everyone laughed.

"Dare to speak the truth, don't you want to live?"

"Whose wedding wine do you dare to drink?"

Hearing them getting more and more outrageous, Gu Yufeng, however, seemed to be able to take the joke, completely unconcerned, and Xie Ci raised his hand to stop them, signaling not to go too far.

The second half was about to start, and Xie Ci corrected the problems for each player going on the court, emphasizing the strategy for the second half.

When the players went on the court, he turned his head and saw that Gu Yufeng had somehow gone to the first row of the stands, sitting with the cheerleaders, chatting and laughing, looking very harmonious.

Xie Ci suddenly thought of the previous life, where Gu Yufeng was always surrounded by a group of men and women during social events.

He sometimes was too, but purely for work, not only not enjoying it but also finding it annoying, but Gu Yufeng was different, it was like being in his comfort zone, very adaptable.

So he never understood why such a romantic and rational person would be hurt by him like that.

Jiang Chenyu threw his towel on the chair, muttering as he walked, "Old Gu is too sneaky, right? Saying he's here to watch our game, but actually just wants to hang out with girls."

Fang Size: "When he first came, no girls dared to approach him, now they're all familiar."

Zhang Ruochuan shouted to Xie Ci, "Captain, your deskmate was taken by the girls, aren't you jealous?"

"Stop chatting, get ready for the second half."

Xie Ci watched them go on the court, thinking if he were to be jealous of this, he would have been marinated in jealousy in his previous life.

With ten minutes left in the second half, the backup players couldn't keep up with the physical demands, so Xie Ci had to go on the court.

As soon as he went on, the atmosphere in the gymnasium became electrifying.

Xie Ci inadvertently turned his head and happened to meet Gu Yufeng's gaze in the first row. The other was watching intently, and upon noticing his gaze, suddenly smiled and winked.

"…"

Next time, better not let this guy come, it's affecting the team's morale.

This group stage match was won without suspense, First High School went easy, but the score was still one-sided.

Xie Ci walked off the court, immediately surrounded by a group of First High School students congratulating him, with Xie Jinyan being the most enthusiastic.

"Captain Xie, you played so well today! Keep up the good work, and we'll definitely win the championship!"

Xie Ci remembered this kid, having met him at the studio entrance, claiming he transferred schools just to watch him play.

"Thank you."

After this group left, Gu Yufeng walked to the fence, looking in the direction Xie Jinyan and his friends left, "Don't you think that kid looks a lot like you?"

Xie Ci's action of drinking water paused slightly, looking over there again in confusion.

"Where does he look like me?"

Gu Yufeng thought for a moment, "Can't pinpoint exactly, just feels similar."

Xie Ci tightened the bottle cap, stretching his somewhat sore wrist, and inexplicably thought of that day when Xie Hongguang left the studio, with that irritated and angry face, and at that time, Brother Yang said Dad didn't want to see him.

"Wrist hurts?"

Gu Yufeng noticed Xie Ci's movement, took his hand, and gently massaged a few acupoints through the wrist guard.

"What are you doing?"

Xie Ci snapped back to reality, trying to pull his hand back.

Gu Yufeng increased his strength to stop him, continuing to massage, casually saying, "You have tenosynovitis, playing so frequently, and you don't even do hot compresses. Young as you are, not taking care of yourself, you'll suffer later."

Just as he finished speaking, Xie Ci's hand suddenly clenched, catching Gu Yufeng off guard, held in his palm, puzzled, "Did I hit a sensitive spot? Such a big reaction."

Xie Ci looked at him deeply, not speaking.

He did have tenosynovitis, but it was from frequent office work after starting his job, and right now, his hand was perfectly fine.

How did Gu Yufeng just casually say he had tenosynovitis?