Boyfriend Always Thinks I’m a Little Pitiful Chapter 44

Is it possible that behind all these coincidences, it's Xie Ci pulling the strings? But Gu Yufeng quickly dismissed this idea. At most, Xie Ci just took advantage of the situation to push the artwork to a high price. After all, he's just a high school student without much background, and some aspects of this whole affair are beyond his current capabilities.

For instance, the fact that Dad likes Jianyan's works. Dad likes a wide variety of art and isn't fixated on any particular style or artist. Whether he likes something depends entirely on his mood at the time, so even his close friends might not know he's fond of this little painter's works. So how did Xie Ci know? Without knowing this, the premise for setting up this whole situation wouldn't exist.

However, if Xie Ci had contacted Lei Qiliang early on, Gu Yufeng had to reconsider his previous assumptions and suspect that Xie Ci might have been certain from the start that Dad liked Jianyan's works. The only person who could know this and manipulate the situation isn't the seventeen-year-old Xie Ci, but the President Xie he knows.

This thought flashed through his mind, and Gu Yufeng felt a thrill of excitement. He thought he'd never see him again, but suddenly there was hope.

Gu Yongnian pondered for a moment and found it somewhat amusing. "Who told you that? Even if that young man gave a painting to Lei Qiliang, what does it prove? How could he know I would like it? Besides, Jianyan's paintings are so rare, how could he have two? I only have two myself."

As he spoke, a hint of resentment crept into his words. Lin Ying glanced at him and continued, "Because Jianyan is that young man's father."

"His dad?" This information spun around in Gu Yongnian's mind twice before he suddenly stood up and looked at Lin Ying, his voice rising several octaves, "Jianyan is his dad?!"

After receiving Lin Ying's confirmation, Gu Yongnian excitedly looked at Gu Yufeng, "Xiaofeng, did you know about this?"

But Gu Yufeng was lost in his own thoughts, not hearing what he was saying at all. The only thing he wanted to do now was to immediately verify the authenticity of this news.

Gu Yufeng recalled that day at the gathering when Xie Ci mentioned to Grandpa that they had met at the temple, and Xie Ci said he was there to pray for his dad. The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. Xie Ci wasn't the type to pray or worship, so how could he have gone to the temple to pray?

The next day, Sunday, Xie Ci and Lei Qiliang arranged to meet at Dahua Temple. When he arrived, Lei Qiliang was already there, burning incense and praying. It was overcast today, and in this season, it was cold without the sun. The wind in the temple carried the dampness of the mountains, chilling to the bone.

Xie Ci found a sheltered corner to wait, not entering the main hall. After more than ten minutes, Lei Qiliang came out with his secretary, and the three of them went to a Zen room in the temple where guests could rest.

"What does this mean?" Xie Ci glanced at the project documents placed in front of him, "Is this what you were talking about?"

Lei Qiliang poured tea and placed it in front of Xie Ci, "Take a look for me, is this project worth doing?"

Seeing that Xie Ci didn't move, he added, "Don't worry, I won't ask for your opinion for free. The reward will be the same as last time."

Xie Ci found it amusing, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then slowly said, "You're the CEO of a listed company, asking a high school student for investment advice? Is your company about to go bankrupt?"

Lei Qiliang was at a loss, and seeing his secretary trying not to laugh, he glared at him, "Be serious!"

The secretary straightened up, tucked his neck in, and continued to act as a background.

"I have my reasons for asking you. Just tell me, whether I listen or not is my own judgment."

Lei Qiliang earnestly persuaded, "This is easy money, you wouldn't refuse, right?"

Xie Ci thought that his money-loving persona was firmly established with Lei Qiliang, reluctantly picked up the document, opened it, glanced at the project name and core content, and then tossed it back.

Lei Qiliang took out a pack of cigarettes, offered one to Xie Ci, and explained, "Currently, over thirty companies are competing for this piece of land. I have a significant advantage, it's almost a sure thing."

"Competing for such a remote piece of wasteland? Competing to lose money?" Xie Ci habitually took the cigarette, but before lighting it, the image of Xiang Haibin's old face flashed before his eyes, and he waved it off, just playing with it between his fingers.

"This area will be planned as a commercial district in the next five to ten years, it has great potential."

Lei Qiliang observed Xie Ci's expression and tentatively asked, "Do you think it has no investment value?"

Xie Ci: "If you can afford to lose money and don't care about the cost, you can go for it without thinking."

Lei Qiliang: "..."

"If you really want to buy land, why not choose another piece?"

Xie Ci placed the cigarette on the low table between them, drawing an arc on the table with his finger, "Near the old city, where the original city government was, there should be a piece of land up for bidding. In the next few years, it will be replanned. This land is suitable for building office buildings or shopping malls."

Lei Qiliang immediately knew where he was talking about and waved his hand repeatedly, "The land is good, but it's not my turn. Half the business district is competing for it, and the Xie Family has also joined in. They've probably already arranged everything."

"Since I mentioned it, of course, there's a way for you to get that piece of land."

Xie Ci's tone was relaxed and casual, as if joking, making Lei Qiliang look at him twice.

If it weren't for the fact that he had secured the technology park project, he would definitely think Xie Ci was bragging, but this God of Wealth in front of him might really have the ability to help him.

Lei Qiliang pondered for a moment, looking at Xie Ci, "Are you helping me get the land, or are you taking revenge on the Xie Family?"

Xie Ci chuckled, "Of course, it's to take revenge on the Xie Family. Do I look like someone who would help others for no reason?"

At the temple entrance, a low-key Land Rover was parked by the roadside. Gu Yufeng bent down and got out of the back seat, his baseball cap pulled low, covering most of his face.

He couldn't wait any longer and decided to come here to try his luck.

After Robertson parked the car, the two of them climbed the steps.

"Go find out if Lei Qiliang and Xie Ci have been here that day."

Gu Yufeng looked around the entire temple and said in a low voice, "Both of them have distinctive looks, anyone who met them shouldn't forget."

Robertson: "Distinctive?"

Gu Yufeng's tone was flat, "One is very good-looking, the other is very ugly."

Robertson: "…That's quite a distinction."

The two split up, and as Gu Yufeng passed by a Zen room, he vaguely heard voices and followed the sound, unexpectedly seeing Xie Ci coming out from a small path opposite.

The two of them met face to face.

"Old Gu, what are you doing here?" Xie Ci glanced at the Zen room beside him and walked over.

"Accompanying my grandpa to fish."

Gu Yufeng had his hands in his jacket pockets, asking nonchalantly, "What about you?"

"Praying for my dad." Xie Ci casually lied.

The two chatted for a bit, not a single word of truth between them.

Suddenly, shouting came from the courtyard on the right.

"Fish, fish, fish! All you know is to ask me for fish every day, I don't have any!"

"Please, just one more, just one, the ugliest one will do."

"How dare you say my fish are ugly, get lost!"

"No, no, I mean you can give me any, I'm not picky."

A middle-aged man in a suit backed out of the door, bowing repeatedly to the person inside.

"Get lost!" With a roar, a basin of water was thrown out from inside.

The middle-aged man was prepared and dodged to the side, but the entire basin of water splashed onto Xie Ci and Gu Yufeng.

The change happened too suddenly, and Xie Ci instinctively wrapped his arm around Gu Yufeng's waist, turning to the side, but still couldn't protect them both, and they ended up soaked from head to toe.

Gu Yufeng crashed into Xie Ci's arms, and in that instant, he only had time to catch a faint whiff of smoke on him before being drenched in water, which instantly ignited his temper.

"Smells awful."

Gu Yufeng sniffed his clothes, his face darkening, "It reeks of fish, where did this water come from?!"

Xie Ci turned his head, seeing a monk walking out of the courtyard with a bewildered expression, speechless.

It's that old monk again.

"Are you alright?" The old monk, holding a basin, hurried over, "Come into my courtyard quickly, be careful not to catch a cold."

Gu Yufeng shook off the water on him, frowning in disgust, "This isn't toilet water, is it?"

"No, no." The old monk hurriedly explained, "It's water from my fish pond, it's clean."

Gu Yufeng and Xie Ci glanced at the pond, their faces turning green.

The pond was covered with water hyacinths, surrounded by moss, looking green and slimy, not even as clean as toilet water.

The old monk led them into a guest Zen room, "I'm really sorry about earlier, quickly change your clothes, there's a washing machine in the bathroom."

After the old monk left, Xie Ci took off his jacket, preparing to take a shower.

"Are you going to wash?"

"Of course."

Gu Yufeng tossed his jacket into the washing machine, "If I go back smelling like this, my dad might think I've been out killing and burying bodies."

"Then you first—" Xie Ci started to say, but suddenly caught a strong fishy smell, changing his mind mid-sentence, "No, I'll go first."

"I'll go first." Gu Yufeng wasn't willing to give in, unable to tolerate it any longer.

There was only one shower, and neither of them wanted to back down.

Xie Ci looked him up and down, hesitantly suggesting, "How about we—"

Gu Yufeng's eyes flashed, immediately understanding his intention.

They had showered together many times in their past life, but the situation was different now, and the bathroom here was so small, they'd definitely end up fighting if they tried.

"Rock-paper-scissors?" Xie Ci suggested seriously.

Gu Yufeng paused, looking at him incredulously, "…Rock-paper-scissors?"

Xie Ci looked innocent, "Do you have a better idea?"

Gu Yufeng snorted, running a hand through his wet hair, feeling the fishy water, and urged, "Hurry up!"

Xie Ci won the rock-paper-scissors, turned around to take off his shirt, and coldly issued an "eviction order": "You wait outside."

Gu Yufeng: "…"

Damn it.

Just as Xie Ci tossed his shirt into the washing machine, a pair of hands reached around from behind, wrapping around his waist.

"Don't mess around, let go."

Gu Yufeng pressed against his back, his long fingers brushing over Xie Ci's abs, whispering in his ear, "Didn't you say I left you hanging?"

Xie Ci's eyelid twitched, grabbing his wandering hand, "Whatever you want to say, wait until I finish showering."

"I've reflected on it, and it was indeed very irresponsible."

Gu Yufeng's fingertips traced circles on Xie Ci's waist, "If you want to talk, I'll talk with you."

"…"

Xie Ci restrained himself, turning around while holding his hand, "Did you get drunk on fish pond water?"

Gu Yufeng leaned closer, skillfully moving from Xie Ci's abs to his chest, gazing into his eyes, "Do I look like it?"

Seeing Xie Ci staring at him without speaking, Gu Yufeng's gaze shifted downward, a faint smile on his lips, "Your color is darker than mine, you do look more mature, I wonder how it feels—"

Before he could finish, Xie Ci grabbed the hand causing trouble on his chest, resigned, "…Fine, you go first."

Moments later, Gu Yufeng, with a triumphant smirk, watched Xie Ci walk out of the bathroom, whistling arrogantly as he stripped off his shirt and headed for the shower.

Xie Ci, bare-chested, stepped out of the bathroom, only to find it was cold outside. As he turned to grab his clothes, a shirt flew out from the bathroom, landing squarely on his head.

"…"

Damn kid, making such a big deal over a shower.

Xie Ci felt a headache coming on.

How did the suppression only last a few days before it stopped working?