Backstage at the auction house.
The female bodyguard was utterly perplexed and asked, “Miss, why did you let them go? That’s 1 billion! Our auction house could’ve made a fortune.”
The girl replied calmly, “The Heavenly Master Token originally belongs to Dragon Tiger Mountain. This is just returning it to its rightful owner.”
“Is that all?”
“What else would it be?”
“Miss, you’re not actually falling for that guy, are you?”
“Is your ‘falling’ a verb here?”
At that, the female bodyguard’s face flushed instantly, “Miss, you’re so naughty~”
“You stay here. I’m going to meet him.”
With that, the girl left the backstage area.
…
Ye Qiu and Master Longbrow had just stepped out of the auction house when the female host chased after them from behind.
“Gentlemen, please wait a moment.”
Master Longbrow assumed she was there to demand payment and hurriedly said, “Little brat, you stay here and don’t move.”
“And you?”
“I’m out of here.”
Master Longbrow slipped away like a wisp of smoke.
That shameless old geezer!
Ye Qiu pursed his lips, turned around to face the host, and asked coolly, “What’s the matter now?”
“Sir, you previously bid on a painting and haven’t taken it yet. The artist wants to hand it to you in person.”
“Oh, that’s right. I almost forgot about that. Where’s the artist?”
“She’s…”
“I’m here,” a crisp voice suddenly rang out.
Ye Qiu looked up and saw a girl wearing a baseball cap and a white dress walking toward him.
It was her, as expected.
A slight smile tugged at Ye Qiu’s lips.
When he’d seen that painting, *Autumn Thoughts*, earlier, it had given him a sense of serene calm, instantly reminding him of the girl he’d met at Shuimu University.
Because only her paintings could evoke that feeling in him.
That was exactly why he’d been willing to spend 10 million to buy it.
“Didn’t expect we’d meet again so soon,” the girl said, looking at Ye Qiu with sparkling eyes that shone like stars in the sky.
Ye Qiu smiled, “Yeah, me neither.”
She then asked, “Did you already know that *Autumn Thoughts* was painted by me?”
Ye Qiu shook his head, “No, I didn’t.”
“Really?” She didn’t believe him.
“Really,” Ye Qiu said, “If I’d known it was yours…”
“You wouldn’t have bought it, right?” she interjected.
“No, if I’d known it was yours, I’d have paid 100 million for it.”
Her eyes widened slightly at this unexpected answer, “Why?”
Ye Qiu explained, “You’re so young, yet you paint so well, and your work is imbued with such spirit. It won’t be long before you become a world-class artist. Even if I spent 100 million on it, I could probably sell it for 200 or 300 million—or more—in the future. It’s a no-loss deal.”
“Is that all?” She wasn’t entirely satisfied with his response.
“Alright, I’ll be honest,” Ye Qiu said, “Getting to know you is worth any price.”
The girl burst into laughter, “Have you said that to other girls too?”
“Do you want the truth or a lie?” Ye Qiu asked.
“The truth, of course.”
“The truth is, I’ve never said it to anyone else—only to you.”
Yeah, right!
Though she didn’t believe him, her heart couldn’t help but flutter with delight. “What should I call you?”
“Ye Qiu. ‘Ye’ as in leaf, ‘Qiu’ as in autumn,” he replied, then asked, “And you? What’s your name?”
“Just call me Tangtang.”
Tangtang?
Ye Qiu chuckled, “That doesn’t sound like a real name. A pen name?”
“Not a pen name—it’s my stage name,” she said.
Stage name?
Ye Qiu paused, then laughed, “Oh, right, I almost forgot—you’re an artist.”
The girl smiled.
“By the way, your voice sounds really familiar, like I’ve heard it somewhere before,” Ye Qiu said suddenly.
“You probably have,” she replied, “A lot of people have heard my voice.”
Oh?
Ye Qiu was puzzled.
The girl glanced around, and seeing no one nearby, she quickly removed her mask.
In an instant, a flawless face appeared before Ye Qiu’s eyes.
A beauty that could rival the heavens!
Ye Qiu had seen plenty of stunning women, but this girl’s appearance was undeniably top-tier in his mind, on par with Lin Jingzhi and Bai Bing.
Yet her aura was distinct from theirs.
Lin Jingzhi was the alluring type—every glance and gesture dripping with charm, captivating anyone who looked at her.
Bai Bing was the icy type—always cold-faced, keeping everyone at a distance, like a goddess carved from frost.
But this girl, true to her name, was incredibly sweet. Her smile alone could melt away all worries in an instant, lifting your spirits and filling you with a sense of healing warmth.
She quickly put her mask back on, her eyes darting around as if she was terrified of being spotted.
“I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before,” Ye Qiu said, finding her face oddly familiar.
“You’ve probably seen me on TV,” she said with a smile, “My actual profession is a singer.”
Boom!
It was as if lightning struck Ye Qiu’s mind, and he immediately recalled her identity.
Tangtang, 23 years old, a singer known for her sweet looks, dubbed the “Sweetheart Leader” of her generation.
Though she’d only debuted three years ago, she’d already taken the country by storm, becoming the most popular singer of the moment. Her signature songs had incredible reach, hailed by countless music critics as the most promising talent of the century, with the potential to surpass legends like Teresa Teng and Faye Wong.
Not long ago, an entertainment magazine had run a poll on Weibo: “Who are the top ten beauties in the entertainment industry in your heart?”
Tangtang had garnered millions of votes, claiming the number one spot.
What was even more remarkable was that, in the chaotic world of showbiz, Tangtang had remained scandal-free since her debut.
“No wonder you seemed familiar—you’re a huge star! My apologies for not recognising you sooner,” Ye Qiu said, his eyes twinkling as he added, “Can I get your autograph?”
“Sure, where should I sign?” Tangtang agreed readily.
“Here,” Ye Qiu extended his palm.
Tangtang pulled a pen from her bag and took his hand.
So soft.
Ye Qiu’s heart skipped a beat.
Just as Tangtang was about to write her name on his palm, she caught the sly, triumphant grin on his face and pouted, “Oh, you! You’re trying to take advantage of me!”
“What? You’re the one holding my hand, aren’t you?” Ye Qiu teased.
Tangtang put the pen away, “I didn’t bring *Autumn Thoughts* with me. I’ll send it to you later.”
“The proceeds from this painting’s auction will all go to a charity foundation.”
“To thank you for your kindness, Ye Qiu, how about I treat you to dinner?”
“Sounds great. It’s an honour to dine with a big star,” Ye Qiu agreed.
“Then let’s go!”
But just as Tangtang finished speaking, her phone rang. She took the call, then said apologetically, “Ye Qiu, I’m so sorry—I have to go handle a mission. I’ll treat you to dinner another day. Bye!”
With that, she left.
Ye Qiu watched her retreating figure, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.
A mission?
Wasn’t she a big star?
