"That's enough," Wen Jiu scratched the back of his head and sighed, stepping forward to pull Xia Qingtian back a step, shielding her. "Old man, we were in the wrong to begin with. Let's just leave it at this, alright?"
"Shut up!" Patriarch Wen glared at Wen Jiu, who was clearly siding with outsiders, then looked at Xia Qingtian, whose legs were trembling with fear but still refused to back down. He then huffed impatiently at the screen in the hall and said coldly, "I'll say it again, you'll get every cent you're owed."
"I want Patriarch Wen's guarantee that you won't push this kind of dirty business onto Lu Yaoyang again!" Xia Qingtian cared about this point. "Don't you dare bully him."
Patriarch Wen frowned before humming, "With you two married people having eighteen thousand schemes between you, do you think it's easy for me to bully him?" Especially this Xia Qingtian, she was so troublesome and overbearing. Dealing with her once could take three to five years off his life!
It would be best to have fewer such matters in the future!
"I want Patriarch Wen's guarantee!" Xia Qingtian didn't like Patriarch Wen's way of answering.
"You!" Seeing Xia Qingtian's stubborn, prickly demeanor, like a thorny hedgehog, Patriarch Wen's eyes softened with a hint of amusement. "Alright, I promise."
"And," Xia Qingtian extended her hand, "give me the 'Thousand Buddha Discourse'!"
"Are you still not done?" Patriarch Wen was displeased. "Didn't I already say that everything owed to you would be converted to cash?"
"That's what you owe us!" Xia Qingtian said, chin held high. "I know the 'Thousand Buddha Discourse' is in the Wen family's hands. Give it to me, and we'll call it even for you deceiving me."
"You!" Patriarch Wen was about to say something else when Wen Jiu interrupted him.
"Just give it to her! Give it to her!" Wen Jiu felt it was becoming more and more troublesome. She disliked so many twists and turns. It was just a painting; what was the harm in giving it to her? "I know where it is. I'll get it for you."
"Wen Jiu!!" Patriarch Wen was almost driven mad by Wen Jiu, his useless teammate. What was with this troublemaker every day!
He was usually fearless and defiant, but why was he so obedient in front of Xia Qingtian?
It was too much!
A moment later, Wen Jiu returned with a scroll.
Xia Qingtian immediately inspected the painting.
Xia Qingtian was very familiar with this painting.
It was when she saw the fake 'Thousand Buddha Discourse' on the island that she realized the entire scheme orchestrated by the Wen family.
Confirming that the one before her was the genuine article, Xia Qingtian immediately rolled up the scroll, hooked her lips, and looked at the grim-faced Patriarch Wen, saying, "Then let's consider this matter settled."
As she walked out with the scroll, Xia Qingtian paused, turned around, and looked at Patriarch Wen, saying, "Let's pretend today never happened."
"What do you mean?" Patriarch Wen looked at Xia Qingtian coldly. Was extorting a painting from him all there was to it?
"I didn't come to find you, and you didn't see me. The treasure on the island is real, and Yaoyang got what rightfully belonged to him." Xia Qingtian didn't want Lu Yaoyang to know it was all a lie, that the people he admired had been deceiving him. "He wasn't fooled by your scheme; you treated him with sincerity. World peace has his contribution, everything is fine."
After a pause, Xia Qingtian added, "But you still need to remember the guarantee Patriarch Wen gave me."
With that, Xia Qingtian turned and left.
After Xia Qingtian was gone, Patriarch Wen said grumpily, "Come out, did you see enough of the show?"
At this moment, Lu Yaoyang emerged from behind the screen at the front of the hall, a blissful smile on his face.
He knew his little hedgehog would always protect him in the most cherished position, protecting him at all costs.
Having lived seven lives, Lu Yaoyang had only ever felt this sense of being favored and cherished with Xia Qingtian.
"Look at the kind of woman you've found!" Patriarch Wen glared at Lu Yaoyang. "From now on, you'll just have to watch her twist you around her little finger!"
Lu Yaoyang touched his nose, actually looking forward to such days.
"Look at that worthless smile of yours!" Patriarch Wen felt even more annoyed seeing Lu Yaoyang's idiotic grin. "I really don't understand what's so great about her, and she extorted a painting from me! Greedy, overbearing, arrogant, and unruly!"
"She didn't ask for that painting for herself," Lu Yaoyang's eyes were gentle. "Qingtian only appears difficult to deal with; in reality, she is the most gentle and kind."
"Mm-hmm." Wen Jiu folded his arms and nodded in agreement.
If something like this happened to him, he would have considered tearing down the Wen family and throwing a massive tantrum.
Xia Qingtian asking for just one painting and leaving was already very gentle.
"You dare to speak up again!" Patriarch Wen picked up his teacup and threw it at Wen Jiu. "You traitor, only knowing how to cause trouble within the family!"
Wen Jiu reached out and caught the teacup thrown by Patriarch Wen. "This tea has gone cold. I'll have someone make you a hot cup!"
With that, Wen Jiu promptly took off, fleeing at top speed.
"You scoundrel." Watching Wen Jiu's retreating back, Patriarch Wen huffed angrily, then looked at Lu Yaoyang. "Yaoyang, there's another matter. There's an arms dealer in East Asia..."
"Grandpa Wen, I refuse," Lu Yaoyang said seriously to Patriarch Wen. "I am no longer someone living only for myself. I have to consider my beloved. From now on, please find someone else for these matters."
After a pause, Lu Yaoyang added, "Of course, I'm still happy to be a technical consultant for the Wen family and provide technical support at specific times.
However, that would require Qingtian's agreement first."
With that said, Lu Yaoyang curved his lips into a gentle smile. "After all, you know, I don't make the decisions at home; everything is up to her."
Patriarch Wen was stunned at first, then said impatiently, "Useless fellow, be off with you! Neither of you gives me any peace."
Lu Yaoyang then got up to bid farewell.
After Lu Yaoyang left, Patriarch Wen let out a light laugh in the empty hall, murmuring, "This is for the best... I was worried you'd live your whole life like that. Now that you have someone who cherishes and protects you, I can say I've done right by your grandfather."
It was Xia Qingtian's attitude that Patriarch Wen still disliked, but her personality... it was quite suitable for Yaoyang.
So be it.
His thoughts drifted back to a very distant past.
Back then, they were both teenagers. Due to family reasons, he didn't have many friends, and the only one he could talk to was the boisterous Lu Moyan.
"What are you drawing again? Designing a new weapon?"
That day, Lu Moyan was scribbling away in his notebook, not looking up for half the day. Hearing the question, Lu Moyan finally looked up, smiled, and replied, "I'm drawing a treasure map. I've set my sights on an island and plan to make some big moves there when I get the chance."