CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: SHEN WANQING IS FULL OF CONFIDENCE IN HER OWN PAINTING

Qin Siyuan managed to squeeze out a sentence through his gritted teeth: "Do whatever you want!"

Jiang Wanyin chuckled lightly. "Just kidding. Do you think I’m that superficial? A pretty face and the ability to play a musical instrument aren’t enough to catch my eye. I’m quite picky, you know."

Qin Siyuan looked at him, skepticism visible in his eyes.

After leaving the library, Qin Siyuan’s mood deteriorated, so he decided to visit his company after dropping off Wanqing.

Just as Wanqing was about to get out of the car, she turned back. "Siyuan, I’m working on a piece for the Jia Ren auction."

Qin Siyuan sat silently with his hand on the steering wheel.

Wanqing bit her lip. "Siyuan, you lately..."

She gently placed her hand on his arm and asked softly, "Siyuan, what’s wrong with you lately?"

Qin Siyuan gave a faint smile and unbuckled his seatbelt. "Let’s see what you’ve painted!"

Wanqing’s tone lightened. "You’ll know once you come upstairs and see."

Qin Siyuan opened his car door, and Wanqing stepped out from the other side.

Upstairs was the apartment Qin Siyuan had rented for Wanqing. It was a two-bedroom apartment with a living room, simply yet elegantly decorated, where she lived alone.

Upon entering, Wanqing poured him a glass of water before they headed into the studio together.

The studio, over ten square meters in size, was filled with easels.

Wanqing primarily focused on Western oil painting. Some canvases on the easels were complete, while others were only half-finished.

"I’m not satisfied with any of them," Wanqing whispered. "I heard many renowned artists will be participating, so I’m feeling quite a bit of pressure."

Her quiet words carried an undercurrent of confidence.

Qin Siyuan put his arm around her shoulder. "Have more confidence in yourself."

Wanqing hummed affirmatively. "I’ll select the painting this month."

She was smart and knew her background wasn’t ideal. If she didn’t achieve something notable in the art world, the Qin family probably wouldn’t think highly of her.

Qin Siyuan looked around and picked out a painting. "This one’s not bad."

It was a landscape painting with soft hues and a sense of serene distance.

A joyful smile spread across Wanqing’s face. "I’ll work harder. Hopefully, Mr. He will appreciate it."

Qin Siyuan nodded.

Suddenly, he changed the subject. "By the way, my sister will be returning soon and would like to meet you."

Wanqing’s heart skipped a beat. "Really?"

Qin Siyuan’s sister, Qin Siling, was an exceptional woman in her own right, and she had married very well.

The Chu Family in Beicheng.

Although it was a collateral branch of the family, it was still the Chu Family, one of the Four Great Families of Beicheng.

The Qin family held a reputable standing in Qingcheng, but in Beicheng, they were truly insignificant.

In Beicheng, families were ranked by their power and influence: Bo, Gu, Chu, and Jiang.

The power wielded by each generation’s Family Head was unimaginable to ordinary people. The entire family consisted of elites across various sectors, including circles of power and prestige. The individual with supreme authority within the family was the Family Head.

The Family Head typically didn’t hold political office. However, even influential figures who commanded great respect outside the family had to kneel and address him as ’Father’ upon returning to the ancestral home.

Even though Qin Siling hadn’t married into the main branch of the Chu Family, connecting with them at all was a matter of immense honor.

Qin Han’s company was so successful in Qingcheng partly because Qin Siling had married into the Chu Family.

Consequently, Qin Siling held a very high position within the Qin family. If Wanqing could gain Qin Siling’s favor, her own status in the Qin family would be secured.