Li Qingqing simply couldn't accept it.
She was squeezing her hand tightly when she heard Ning Heng continue: "Thanks to Uncle Xu's family..."
Xu Huishan interjected to clarify: "He's not talking about me."
Ning Heng nodded: "Right, thanks to Sheng's younger uncle... He introduced me to a rich guy who said he really likes me and thinks I'm an avant-garde artist of the new era! He believes that in the future I will..."
Sheng Yuxiao rolled his eyes and interrupted: "Get to the point."
Ning Heng had no choice but to temporarily put aside his self-praise and said concisely: "He offered $18 million, and he also wants to build an exhibition hall for me. He wants to be my patron."
[Steal?]
[Say that again!]
[Good lord, I really want to kill you rich people!]
"Exhibition hall? Do you have that many works to exhibit?" Sheng Yuxiao raised an eyebrow.
Ning Heng put on a tragic expression and nodded: "Yeah, that's why I haven't seen little sister Xiaoya in so long. I'm lacking inspiration and can't continue, just like Boya losing Ziqi, or Guan Zhong losing Bao, Bao, Bao..."
"Bao Shuya," Li Xiaoya chimed in clearly.
"Ah yes, just like Guan Zhong losing Bao Shuya."
[Laughing, even Young Master Sheng can't bear to look. He wanted to show off his culture, but ends up knowing less than Xiaoya]
"So, can Xiaoya stay at my place for a few days?" Ning Heng asked eagerly.
"She's never stayed at my place, you think it's possible for her to stay at yours?" Sheng Yuxiao retorted.
"Why not?" Ning Heng argued, "I'm so good to Xiaoya..."
"Are you saying I'm not?"
"I can braid Xiaoya's hair, you can't."
[Right in the weak spot]
[You'd better sleep with your eyes open!]
Sheng Yuxiao laughed coldly: "What kind of artist needs to lure a child to their home just to spark inspiration for normal creation? Didn't your patron question you at all?"
"What's strange about that? Sheng, look at all the major luxury brands, which founder or designer doesn't have an inspiration muse? It's perfectly normal for me to have one!"
Ning Heng said excitedly: "Xiaoya, I'll work hard to make sure we both go down in history together!"
Li Xiaoya took out a piece of paper and handed it to him.
Ning Heng took it and asked: "What's this for?"
Sheng Yuxiao said expressionlessly: "For you to wipe your drool."
Ning Heng actually wiped the corner of his mouth.
[The guy's quite nice, just a bit dumb]
[Being dumb has its advantages, even his Sheng-ge doesn't have the heart to beat him up]
Ning Heng then continued: "Oh, I forgot to mention the most important part... After taxes, I'll split that $18 million with you, half and half. Look, Xiaoya, if you come to my place, I'll split half the proceeds with you for every work I sell in the future. Won't you be able to just lie down and count money? Isn't that a great deal?"
[Damn! I'm very tempted]
[Ah, I also want to lie down and collect money]
[Wait, is Ning Heng sure his future works will definitely sell?]
[Uh, the person above doesn't seem to understand the art market. Actually, things can sell just based on hype. There's also exchanges of interests between wealthy families, and some art circles even use this for money laundering... It's very easy to sell for high prices at auctions]
[Damn? It can work like that?]
[But our country cracks down hard on this, not sure about overseas.]
The bullet screen comments were shocked and envious.
By this point, Li Qingqing was already trembling uncontrollably.
It was envy and jealousy.
$18 million, converted into Chinese currency at the current exchange rate, was 100 million yuan.
Were foreign rich people really that wealthy?
Spending 100 million yuan to buy!
Even though she knew that people overseas earned and spent in dollars, and for some oil tycoons this amount of money wasn't much.
But Li Qingqing still felt like she was going crazy.
Even after deducting 20% tax and splitting it in half with Li Xiaoya... that would still be 50 million yuan, right?
50 million yuan!
50 million yuan!
Li Qingqing had never seen what 50 million yuan looked like all together in two lifetimes.
Li Xiaoya was so lucky...
How could someone be so lucky?
But at this moment, Li Xiaoya shook her head and said: "This isn't good."
"What's not good about it?" Ning Heng asked.
"I would feel a lot of pressure," Li Xiaoya said seriously.
"How so? You don't need to do anything..."
"But if I go and you still don't get inspiration, I'll feel like I'm not worthy of what you're offering."
Sheng Yuxiao wasn't surprised at all to hear this.
He kicked Ning Heng and said: "Even Xiaoya sees it more clearly than you. When too much money is involved, feelings are no longer pure. Both sides will end up in an awkward position."
Ning Heng thought about it and realized it was true, so he could only let out a long sigh.
"And..." Li Xiaoya thought for a moment, then continued, "There's a phrase called 'a flash of inspiration', right?"
"Right."
"So it doesn't appear often, it comes from unexpected enlightenment. If you deliberately try to seek it, you might not find it at all." Li Xiaoya said slowly, word by word.
Ning Heng lowered his head and was silent for a while, then suddenly looked up and said: "Are you sure you don't want to learn painting from me? You could actually be quite promising as an artist yourself!"
Sheng Yuxiao snorted: "Who wants to play at that? Xiaoya will inherit the family business in the future."
Ning Heng immediately looked very disappointed.
He pressed his temples, then suddenly said: "I think I have inspiration again."
Everyone was confused.
But Ning Heng didn't seem to be faking it. He suddenly jumped up.
"Really, really, I've got it! I'm leaving, Sheng-ge. I won't stay for the meal, I'll see you another day and bring the money from the sale!"
Ning Heng stepped over the table and ran towards the door, not forgetting to say to Li Xiaoya: "I think we can change the phrase 'a flash of inspiration'. We could call it 'constant inspiration' too."
With that, he was gone.
[?]
[Even a sow doesn't give birth that fast, right?]
[Damn, is it really that effective? Just chatting with Li Xiaoya can give inspiration?]
[I couldn't help but knock on my own head and heard the sound of a wooden fish. As a fellow art student, I'm ashamed]
Qiu Lan laughed and said: "You young people are so much fun."
Xu Huishan stood up: "We'll be leaving too, so we don't make you uncomfortable here."
Sheng Jun also said: "Then I'll have someone send Li Qingqing home."
Li Qingqing, who had just experienced a huge shock and hadn't recovered yet, panicked when she heard this.
But she had no valid reason to refuse, so she could only follow Sheng Jun anxiously.
In the blink of an eye, the place became much quieter.
Xu Ruying came out after using the bathroom and was stunned: "Why did everyone leave?"
Sheng Yuxiao lifted his eyelids slightly: "Why don't you leave too?"
"No way. If I leave, won't you all be bored? I'll chat with Xiaoya for a while. We didn't get to talk much last time we met because it was so rushed." Xu Ruying thought to herself, she still wanted to know how that Ke Muning was miraculously dealt with by Xiaoya in the end.
[How come sister Xu can't read the atmosphere? Young Master Sheng is just hoping you'll leave]
Sheng Yuxiao frowned, pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "Xiaoya, your father might be coming to Jin City to look for you."
Li Xiaoya froze, and the pear she had just bitten fell to the ground with a plop.
However, her first reaction was to immediately bend down and pick it up.
