Chapter 23
Seeing the red eyes of the boy secretly hiding in the corner, Ning Si was angry enough to kill. He reluctantly calmed his heart, coaxed and persuaded him to tell the truth, then immediately took him to the principal office to complain.
The principal didn’t neglect and quickly called Fu Xuan, Tang Weiming and the others.
Seeing Fu Xuan in the crowd, his arrogance outstanding, Zhou Yun Sheng pretended to be afraid and shrunk into Ning Si Nian’s arms, tightly grabbing his clothes. This move provoked Ning Si’s angry more, but he gently embraced him and patted his back, softly reassuring him to not be afraid.
Tang Weiming and the others naturally knew Ning. For many years his handsome face occupied the front page of financial magazines. After seeing the two’s intimate action, their hearts suddenly had a bad feeling.
Ning Si Nian did not nonsense, he took out a phone and said, “This painting called “Bright” is something I watched Wei Xiyan complete. I don’t know why this Fu Xuan name is under it. I came here today to clarify this matter. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings in the future, can I record this conversation?”
Not agreeing was equivalent to admitting. Fu Xuan thought they couldn’t get him, the mentors and the students were all well prepared. Record or no record, it was no big deal, so he nodded in agreement.
Tang Weiming asked trembling, “I would like to ask Mr. Ning, what is your relationship with Wei Xiyan?”
“What is the relationship between me and Xiyan?” Ning Si sneered, turned to Fu Xuan and asked, “When and where did you finish this painting? Who is the child in the picture?”
“I started painting from the beginning of September and finished at the end of October. I had been painting in the school studio. The teacher of the studio and my colleagues are able to testify. The person in the painting doesn’t exist in reality. I painted him while thinking that if I have a child, what would they be in the future, would they inherit my talent, vision and love of painting etc. I imagined this future child’s face and painted him on a canvas … …”
As a result of his guilty conscience, Fu Xuan endlessly talked about his feelings while creating it. A few of his lackey younger brothers frequently nodded, even Tang Weiming also supported him with a few words.
Zhou Yunsheng began painting the painting in mid-July and completed it by the end of September. The whole painting process was faithfully recorded by Ning Si Nian’s monitor. Moreover, he painted Wangshu. Violation of portrait rights alone was enough charges to take Fu Xuan down.
Because of his guilty conscience Fu Xuan said more and more inconsistences, but Ning calmly recorded. He really dug his own grave.
Ning Si didn’t interrupt him. When he finished he asked Tang Weiming several questions. After fully collecting the incriminating evidence he held the boy’s hand, nodded towards the headmaster, “President Lee, I’ll leave first. This matter will be sent to my lawyer to deal with, but I hope that a similar situation will not appear in your school in the future.”
“Of course, Mr. Ning please watch your step.” Principal Lee respectfully guided the two people to the door, turned back and stared at Fu Xuan for a while, then he finally shook his head, “Go and quickly call your parents. Tell them to help you find the best lawyer. If you are lucky, you can settle out of court.”
“Principal, why should I fight for a court settlement? That painting was done by me, so many people can testify!” Fu Xuan refused to let go.
“Drawn by your hand? You can draw Mr. Ning’s son who is several hundreds of miles away? What imagined future children … … when I say these words I can’t help but feel embarrassed for you.”
As the principal’s voice faded, Tang Weiming and the perjury students began to cold sweat, feeling an ominous premonition.
Fu Xuan exclaimed, “How can the child be real? Wei Xiyan told me that he was fictional!”
The headmaster wasn’t a hesitant person. He not so politely threw everyone out of his office. He knew that all the people present would have no future after today.
Fu Xuan went home to his parents, but his parents were completely incapable of fighting with Ning’s group. Although the trial wasn’t open, so media couldn’t wantonly report it and hurt Wangshu, the Fu family’s reputation in the calligraphy and painting industry was over. After paying a huge amount of compensation they went abroad and disappeared into obscurity.
Tang Weiming and the several students who perjured themselves also quit the art circle and lived an inconspicuous lives.
———————
On the way home, Zhou Yunsheng timidly spoke, “He has so many witnesses but we only baby Shu, will we lose the lawsuit?”
“How can we? The evidence is very full.” Ning Si Nian touched the boy’s soft hair.
“What evidence?” Zhou Yun Sheng blinked a pair of innocent eyes.
Ning Si Nian broke into cold sweat, laughed nervously, “Don’t worry, I said there’s evidence so there’s evidence. The trial things please leave them to me, I’ll take care of it. Do you have other paintings? Give me them, I’ll fix your entry in the contest.”
Zhou Yunsheng enjoyed his restless look enough so he only nodded, “I have a painting almost the same level of “Bright “, help me send it in. Oh yes, can we not have a public trial? I’m afraid the baby’s life will be affected.”
The media would certainly dig into the behind story, Ning Wangshu would inevitably enter the public’s eye. He was so small, being so disturbed was not a good thing. Although Zhou Yunsheng had the absolute strength to protect him, but he still felt guilty for using his portrait.
Ning Si Nian didn’t know his thoughts, he just saw his love for his son, his heart softened and he pulled him in and gently kissed him.
They looked at each other with a smile.
At home, Zhou Yun Sheng took Ning Wangshu to the lake to sketch. Ning Si Nian went to the study to call the lawyer. This kind of civil case in the country’s top law firm was simply a piece of cake, the other side repeatedly guaranteed that the defendant would pay the most painful price.
When he hung up the phone, Ning Si lit a cigar and stood by the window gazing at the big one and small one painting happily. Just then, Zhao Xinfang hurriedly pushed open the door to the study, holding a credit card, “Si, my credit cards are all frozen?”
Ning Si turned around, his tone was very gentle, “Xinfang, come see this.”
Zhao Xinfang walked over and bent down to look at the computer screen. Ning Si Nian clicked the play button, uh huh ah ah groaning sounds instantly filled the room. Two white bodies were in a variety of difficult postures, the scene was very obscene.
Zhao Xinfang’s face paled, she staggered two steps back speaking incoherently, “Si….. It was not intentional….no no I was forced, Si, please don’t… …”
Ning Si Nian ignored her and picked up the phone.
About ten minutes later, several policemen stepped in and arrested Zhao Xinfang with fraud, theft and infringement of commercial secrets charges. Because the amount involved was too large, Zhao Xinfang would be sentenced to the highest sentencing and will have to pay an astronomical sum to Ning’s group. The judge also lifted the marriage between the two.
As for Qian Yu, as early as a month ago, he had committed suicide.
——————
Three years later, Dr. Qin Li retired and Ning Si decided to find a nanny to take care of his child and his lover. The both of them were painting crazy, once they went into the studio everything was forgotten, if no one was next to them to remind them then they were guaranteed to starve themselves to death.
This was also the reason why Ning Nian was reluctant to dismantle the home monitors.
That day, a beautiful girl knocked on the door of the house. She’d come to apply for the position.
“Ah, you, you are Wei Xiyan “Homeward Journey”, that Wei Xiyan?” The girl pointed to the young boy’s handsome face and shouted.
“Homeward” was the art piece sent in to participate in the painting competition three years ago. It was dedicated to Wei Xiyan. The young man, with an exhaustive gesture, fell onto a woman’s lap. The woman rubbed his hands with one hand and covered his face with the other. They were surrounded by roses, haunting in the breeze, the scene was warm and bright but behind the boy was an endless road of thorns.
The boy’s legs were curled up, the soles of his feet had blood stains. It was not difficult to imagine how hard a trip he experienced while walking to the woman. This was a surrealist painting, but with brilliant classicism. With a warm tone it told a sad story. The boy was quietly lying there, so beautiful that all the passers-by were attracted to him and wanted to explore his breath, to see if he was still alive.
He was so tender, he should not bear everything alone. Everyone wanted to hug him.
When the painting was exhibited many gave in to the temptation to test his breathing. In order not to damage the painting, the organizers had to put up a sign on the wall, it read – Stop touching, he is still alive!
The artist’s superb skill and sincere affection gave the painting a life and a soul. The painting won the highest prize of that year’s competition.
For Wei Xiyan it was fame, but Ning Si Nian had been in a series of nightmares for several months. Although the organizers said ‘he is alive’, but only Ning Si Nian knew, the woman the young man embraced was actually his dead mother. He was eager to get into his mother’s arms to feel the embrace of death. This was the hidden meaning.
Ning Si was frightened, and thus strengthened his monitoring of the boy. If he disappeared in his field of vision for more than three minutes, he would be restless and full of cold sweat.
He often called Zhao Jun to find him. Now he was 100% sure his boss was sick.
At that moment, Ning Si Nian was livid staring at the screen. The man and they woman were getting along, through his headphones he could hear giggles.
“Can you make cookies? My nephew loves to eat them.” Zhou Yunsheng looked to the goddess. Yes, this was the belated female protagonist.
“I can, shall I make a few for you and the child to try?” The girl’s cheeks were reddish, her eye color shiny. Because of “Homeward Journey” she was hooked on Wei Xiyan three years ago, she didn’t think he would be her future employer.
“Yup, the kitchen has everything, anything you need just take it.” Zhou Yunsheng pointed to the cupboards.
The girl hastened to nod and was about to wear an apron when Zhao Jun walked up to her. He said, “Mr. Wei, the boss just called, he said that he found a good nanny so you don’t have to look for one. I’ll send the lady out.” His words were not finished before he started pushing the girl out of Ning house.
Not long after, Ning house really got a new nanny. Sixty-five years old, a face like a dried orange peel.
Zhou Yunsheng looked her up and down. His heart cursed the big pervert, but his mouth slightly curved up.