Chapter 16: The Auction

The seller grew anxious and quickly stood up: “Miss Yan, you can’t listen to your sister! She’s young and inexperienced. This…”

Yan Yunzhi’s lips curved upward. Her words were directed at the seller, but her gaze, warm as spring water, was locked on Ning Ke’s face: “She’s my wife.”

The seller was disappointed and unwilling. She pleaded a few more times to no avail, then finally left with a sigh: “Miss Yan, Miss Yan, you’ll regret not buying my books. Even if it’s your wife who said it, she isn’t necessarily right.”

Yan Yunzhi raised an eyebrow, her gaze clear and penetrating, her tone calm: “Is that so?”

She was still smiling, but the smile was faint and distant.

Once the seller was gone, Ning Ke rubbed her ear a little awkwardly: “I’ll head upstairs then.”

So awkward. Being called “wife” by Yan Yunzhi felt strange.

Yan Yunzhi: “Are you free tonight? Tomorrow morning’s auction has been moved to 5pm today.”

Ning Ke: “Alright. Let’s go.”

This auction was co-hosted by the Mingchuan Art Museum, Ning University, and a public welfare NGO. Besides ancient books, there were also modern paintings and calligraphy for auction.

At the entrance, staff guided guests to their seats. The spot reserved for Yan Yunzhi was excellent—right in the middle of the sixth row.

The auction began soon.

Yan Yunzhi took a liking to several ancient books. Ning Ke listened closely to the details, asked her uncle, and also had Lin Yun get friends to compare prices. After organizing the information, she gave Yan Yunzhi her suggestions. In the end, Yan Yunzhi won two ancient books at a fairly reasonable price.

Ning Ke breathed a sigh of relief. She had done her duty thoroughly this time—they were even now.

After the ancient book auction, there were also some modern painting and calligraphy pieces. Ning Ke was distracted and stopped paying much attention.

Yan Yunzhi took a liking to a painting and asked Ning Ke: “What do you think?”

The painting’s use of color and brushwork was exquisite—lush vegetation in varying shades of green, and a profusion of flowers in layers of vibrant color. Yet it did not dazzle like typical flower-and-bird paintings; the more you looked, the more elegant and plain it felt, bringing a sense of joy.

“Not bad at all,” Ning Ke compared it to some of her uncle’s collection pieces. “The starting price of 1 million isn’t high either.”

Yan Yunzhi raised her paddle: “1.2 million.”

After she bid, others gradually raised the price, though not by much, hovering around 1.5 million. Until someone in the front row on the right raised their paddle, bidding 2 million.

Ning Ke: “Not bidding higher?”

Yan Yunzhi shook her head: “It should be a familiar friend who won it. I’ll go over and chat later.”

After the auction, winning bidders and sellers conducted their transactions backstage. Yan Yunzhi picked up her two books and led Ning Ke over: “The painting is over there.”

Several people were gathered around the painting, chatting.

Ning Ke did not pay attention to what they were saying. She noticed the inscription beside it: “Eyes full of blossoms like embroidery, may every year be peaceful.”

The signature was Zhou Lang.

Yan Yunzhi greeted the people and introduced Ning Ke: “Zhou Lang, the artist of this painting. President Zhou, this is…”

“Ning Ke, right?” The woman was dressed in a well-tailored gray suit. “I know you. Hello.”

Ning Ke gave her a slight nod: “Hello.”

As they spoke, Zhou Lang looked back: “Niannian, I’m over here.”

Ning Ke followed her gaze and realized the newcomer was none other than the woman who had just raised the bid by 500,000 and ultimately won the painting.

Zhou Lang introduced them, gently wrapping an arm around the woman’s slender waist: “My wife, Ji Xiunian. It was my wife who bought this painting back.”

Ji Xiunian gave them a slight nod, her smile gentle as water and a little shy: “Sorry for dampening your spirits, you two.”

Yan Yunzhi chatted with them for a moment before leaving with Ning Ke.

As they walked out, Ning Ke asked: “Are they your friends?”

Yan Yunzhi: “Not exactly. I knew Zhou Lang before. It was only after many years, when I met her wife, that I learned they’d been apart for a long time before getting back together.”

Ning Ke listened, thoughtfully glancing to the side.

Once outside the museum, Ning Ke said: “Tao Zhi is back today. Lin Yun and I are going to pick him up. You head home first.”

She, Lin Yun, and Tao Zhi had grown up together—a childhood friendship that deepened with time. Tao Zhi studied medicine and had gone abroad for his doctorate two years ago. He was about to return after completing his studies, and she had not seen him in over two years.

Yan Yunzhi had met Tao Zhi a few times. She remembered that guy… he had always loved teasing Ning Ke, not stopping until she was so irritated she would hit him.

Yan Yunzhi helped Ning Ke hail a cab: “When will you be back?”

Ning Ke waved her hand: “No idea. Bye.”

She closed the car door and said to the driver: “To the airport.”

The car had not gone far when, through the rearview mirror, Ning Ke suddenly saw Yan Yunzhi still standing by the roadside, not leaving immediately.

She stared at the rearview mirror until that tall, slender figure disappeared from view, then finally turned back and sat up straight.

It was almost 8pm by the time they reached the airport.

Lin Yun had arrived early: “Keke, over here.”

Ning Ke sneered: “Sober now?”

Lin Yun: “QAQ I’m sorry.”

Ning Ke: “What are you sorry for?”

Lin Yun: “I spoke recklessly, I got drunk and caused trouble. Punish me—do whatever you want to me!”

Ning Ke gave her no face at all: “Stop. I’m not interested in you.”

Lin Yun hugged her arm and called her a heartless wretch, knowing she was no longer angry, and started talking about the piece Yan Yunzhi had composed.

Lin Yun: “Tao Zhi should be coming out soon, right?”

Ning Ke snapped back to attention: “The plane has already landed.”

As they spoke, they heard someone calling them from afar: “Keke, Ayun!”

Lin Yun beamed: “He’s here!”

Ning Ke waved at the newcomer: “Hey, you sure know how to make an entrance.”

Tao Zhi was tall with long legs, wearing a long white down jacket, standing out among the crowd. He took off his mask, revealing handsome features. He smiled before he spoke, his peach-blossom eyes curving like fans: “Tsk tsk, Ayun, you’re getting prettier and prettier. Ning Keke, oh Ning Keke, you’ve gained weight!”

“Hey!” Ning Ke hated nothing more than being told she had gained weight. She smacked Tao Zhi directly: “You heartless bastard, you’re picking on me again.”

Tao Zhi clutched his arm, his tone theatrical: “Oh no, how are you so strong? I think I’ve got a fracture!”

Ning Ke: “Good. I wish I could beat you to death.”

Lin Yun could not help laughing: “Alright, alright. Tao Zhi, what’s wrong with you? The moment you see Keke, you have to tease her. We came all the way to pick you up, you know.”

Tao Zhi clasped his hands in a gesture of thanks: “Yes, yes, thank you both for taking time out of your busy schedules. Are you free lately? Want to go to the hot springs together tomorrow?”

Ning Ke: “Not going. I have plans.”

She had not decided when to go back to the Yan residence, so she needed to keep her time free.

Tao Zhi: “Then let’s have dinner tonight! My treat.”

Lin Yun: “Fine, then we’re going to bleed you dry!”

Ning Ke: “Then I’ll break my rule and have a late-night snack. Let’s go!”

Tao Zhi’s younger sister Tao Zi and her fiancé Zhou Yan were both there. Ning Ke did not get along with Tao Zi, but tonight was for welcoming Tao Zhi back, so she swallowed her feelings and did not say a word. Tao Zhi also invited a few friends, and the group headed in high spirits to a mountain villa on the outskirts of the city.

On the way, Ning Ke received a call from home: “Sister Lu, what’s up?”

Sister Lu: “Miss Ning, I noticed you hadn’t come back yet. I just wanted to ask—I made your favorite pickled fish and chestnut chicken. Will you be…”

Ning Ke: “Not coming home for dinner. I’m welcoming a friend back.”

Sister Lu: “Alright, alright. If you won’t be coming home to rest tonight either, please let me know in advance.”

Ning Ke hung up.

How strange. In the past, when she was busy working, she often did not come home and never reported in. Sister Lu never asked. But today, why had she asked whether she would eat dinner and whether she would come home?

On the other end of the line, Sister Lu put down the phone: “Azhi, Miss Ning said she’s having dinner out with friends to welcome someone back. She didn’t say whether she’d be home tonight.”

The person sitting by the window pouring tea raised an eyebrow slightly, and only after a long moment spoke: “I see.”

Young people always got more and more carried away when they were together. After a late-night snack and belting out a few songs, someone suggested playing a game—the loser had to wear a spaghetti-strap mini skirt and dance hot.

Ning Ke did not have a high tolerance for alcohol. After one glass of red wine, she was a bit dizzy, and she even went along with them, posting on Moments: “Whoever loses has to wear this and dance hot.”

The accompanying photo was of a thin-strapped mini skirt.

The game was a simple pitch-pot game, and soon it was Ning Ke’s turn.

She was aiming at the pot she wanted to throw into when her phone rang.

Annoyed, Ning Ke picked up the phone, about to hang up, but seeing it was the home landline, she answered: “Sister Lu?”

Sister Lu said hurriedly: “It’s me, it’s me! Miss Ning, Azhi is coughing again. I don’t know if it’s an allergic cough. Did you two go anywhere this afternoon? It sounds more serious than before. I’m so worried!”

Ning Ke’s tipsiness vanished: “How is she now? Have you called a doctor?”

Sister Lu: “I’ve called, I’ve called! They haven’t arrived yet!”

Ning Ke said she understood: “I’m coming back now.”

After hanging up, she said to Tao Zhi: “You guys keep playing. I’m heading home.”

Lin Yun: “Huh? You’re leaving already? It’s just getting started!”

Ning Ke lowered her voice: “Yan Yunzhi is sick. She sleeps early, and if I come back late, I’ll disturb her.”

Lin Yun: “Hey. Are you a henpecked wife?”

Ning Ke: “Nonsense.”

She was just… guilty.

Yan Yunzhi’s health was not good, and now she had suddenly fallen ill. It was probably largely because of how exhausted she had been filming the variety show before, and after returning, she had thrown herself into finishing the post-production music for Perfect Partner without a break. It was too much.

Tao Zhi overheard their conversation: “I’ll drive you.”

Ning Ke: “No need.”

Tao Zi noticed she was leaving and came over: “Ning Ke, are you trying to spoil the fun? This is to welcome my brother home, and you’re sneaking off halfway. How are we supposed to keep playing the game?”

“She has something to take care of and needs to leave first,” Tao Zhi stopped his sister, then looked at Ning Ke. “I’ll arrange a car for you.”

Ning Ke could not be bothered to argue with Tao Zi tonight: “Thanks. Don’t look for me for the next few days. I won’t be coming out.”

Tao Zhi’s lips pressed together slightly, his expression dimming for an instant. He said softly: “Okay.”

Ning Ke did not say more. She turned and walked out, arriving home forty minutes later.

Sister Lu was busy in the kitchen and said when she heard her: “Azhi is upstairs.”

Ning Ke took off her coat as she went upstairs, so she would not carry the chill from outside into the room.

Before she reached the door, she heard Yan Yunzhi ask from inside: “Ning Ke?”

Ning Ke answered and pushed open the door to Yan Yunzhi’s room.

The gentle, bitter fragrance she had smelled before washed over her again. She stood at the door, not entering right away.

Yan Yunzhi had been lying on her side, but seeing her come in, she propped herself up with one hand on the bed, about to sit up, her waterfall of hair spilling down with the movement.

Ning Ke saw how bad she looked and rushed over to press her down, but her momentum did not stop and she bumped straight into her shoulder. She hurriedly said: “Careful!”

Yan Yunzhi let out a soft hiss. Ning Ke fumbled to support her shoulder, wrapping her other arm around her waist, half-embracing her: “Are you okay?”

The woman in her arms had a slender waist. Yan Yunzhi said: “I’m fine.”

Ning Ke immediately let go, her fingers curling and then relaxing, and handed her the coat.

Yan Yunzhi put on the coat. Black hair, bare face—her complexion was pale from being unwell, with a slight flush from coughing. But her eyes remained clear and gentle, untroubled as autumn water.

Perhaps it was the warm lighting; she looked too gentle at night… and too huggable.

Ning Ke rubbed her ear, feeling uncomfortable.

She had never been in Yan Yunzhi’s room before, let alone come to her at night.

And she recalled just now… when she bumped into Yan Yunzhi, her fingers seemed to have touched somewhere they should not have.

Yan Yunzhi watched Ning Ke’s ear.

The fair shell of her ear had flushed pink from that little accident.

The corner of her lips quietly curved upward.

See.

No matter how playful the child, when night fell, she still came home.