Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Appraisal Event Slap in the Face (10) Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Appraisal Event Slap in the Face (10) If it had been before, Deng Hui would have been overjoyed to hear these words.

But hearing them now, it was just so-so.

He shook his head indifferently: “Let’s talk about it later.”

Ding Yuehua could only temporarily drop the subject.

Hearing a knock at the door, the very faint expression on Deng Hui’s face vanished, and he immediately stood up and walked towards the doorway.

Jiang Zhe and Qin Jingchen stood at the door, side by side, their expressions calm and collected.

At the sight of Qin Jingchen, Ding Yuehua could not help feeling overjoyed, “Master Qin!”

Qin Jingchen nodded in greeting, his unapproachable aloofness made the coldness beneath his gentle demeanor palpable.

Ding Yuehua was simultaneously shocked, delighted, and afraid; shocked that Jiang Zhe really knew Qin Jingchen, delighted that it must be related to Jiang Yaowang, and afraid of the imposing aura Qin Jingchen exuded, and his protection of Jiang Zhe.

Upon seeing the two arrive, Deng Hui was very pleased: “Please, have a seat.”

Jiang Zhe sat down casually, with Qin Jingchen taking a seat beside her.

The two of them didn’t glance at Ding Xuexue throughout.

Ding Xuexue, feeling ignored, was indignant inside.

Deng Hui started by asking: “Jiang Zhe, did you bring the painting?”

“I brought it. It’s right here.”

“That’s wonderful!” Deng Hui exclaimed, his eyes shining.

Jiang Zhe took it out and was about to unfurl it when Ding Xuexue and Ding Yuehua also crowded in closer.

Jiang Zhe glanced at them lazily and withdrew her hand.

“Xiaozhe, what kind of painting is it? Let us have a look too,” Ding Yuehua said. Looking at the painting wasn’t the point; she wanted to use this opportunity to have contact with Qin Jingchen.

Deng Hui excitedly said: “It’s the ‘Tiger Picture’ in a quadriptych, the restored original version.”

Ding Yuehua exclaimed in disbelief: “How is that possible? It’s been put together already?”

Ding Xuexue was even more incredulous. How could it be done so fast? And by Jiang Zhe?

Didn’t everyone know that such restoration was the most time-consuming?

She was indeed curious to see what the restored painting looked like.

Jiang Zhe looked up at them and said, “My painting, I’ll only show it to Teacher Deng.”

“Xiaozhe, it’s just a look, it won’t be any less for it, right?”

“I’m worried that if you ‘just look at it’, it might fall to the ground and shatter, or get splashed with water or something like that. Then I wouldn’t be able to restore it,” Jiang Zhe said leisurely.

Ding Yuehua’s face immediately crumpled with embarrassment, while Ding Xuexue, who was holding a drink, turned beet red at his words.

Deng Hui glanced at them, and Ding Yuehua took the excuse that there was still something to do and thus took her leave.

After they left the door, the mother and daughter left reluctantly, fuming with unresolved anger.

Only then did Jiang Zhe unroll the scroll and lay it in front of Deng Hui.

Upon seeing the painting before him, Deng Hui was so astonished he was rendered speechless for a long while.

The now-restored quadriptych was even more spectacular than before. The tiger seemed alive, with each fur bristle radiating dignity and the air of an emperor.

The colors were more vivid and three-dimensional, highlighting the strength and boldness of the artist’s brushwork.

He finally came back to his senses, his emotions a mix of excitement and complexity: “This is wonderful! Truly wonderful!”

To have seen this painting in his lifetime was worth all the years.

“Jiang Zhe, may I boldly ask you a question? Would you be willing to teach this skill?” Deng Hui asked.

If it was possible, then many more could benefit.

Both he and his students could master such a technique. Even if they couldn’t, just enhancing their appraisal skills held immense value.

Jiang Zhe handed him a USB flash drive.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a video of the entire restoration process,” Jiang Zhe explained simply.

She had prepared it the night before, just in case someone asked and she’d have to explain everything from start to finish.

Deng Hui accepted the item with both hands. Actually, keeping such a secret to oneself would have been quite natural for Jiang Zhe, but she took it out directly without even mentioning it to Shen Mu.

It was clear that she had intended to share it with everyone from the start.

In contrast to Ding Xuexue, Deng Hui secretly shook her head…

After leaving Deng Hui’s studio, Jiang Zhe saw from afar that Song Xingming was coming over.

He was very serious, and had brought several bodyguards with him.

“Here, for you,” Jiang Zhe said casually as he handed over the painting tube.

Song Xingming felt the weight of the painting tube that Jiang Zhe was holding so casually as if it was extremely heavy.

After he took it, he carefully put it away and thanked Jiang Zhe earnestly.

Qin Jingchen, who was standing by, felt a bit sour as he spread his feeling, “Are you just going to let him take it like that?”

“What else? Should I deliver it to his home?” Jiang Zhe asked.

Qin Jingchen laughed, “You know what I’m concerned about.”

Jiang Zhe tugged at his necktie, “What he got is something he bought from me with money. Did I take your money?”

She was referring to the necktie.

The sourness in Qin Jingchen receeded, and he straightened his necktie as he admired the nice sunlight today.

Before Ding Yuehua and her daughter could visit Jiang Yaowang with the hope of getting to know Qin Jingchen, Jiang Yaowang, with his whole family, was ready to leave.

They did not let the family of three see them off, instead, the Qin Family’s car took them back.

When Ding Yuehua found out, she was both angry and regretful.

Upon arriving at Jincheng, Jiang Zhe received a call from Jiang Yunxuan, who said he would come to pick her up.

Jiang Yunxuan had wanted to attend Jiang Zhe’s birthday, but Jiang Zhe, worried that his eyes hadn’t fully recovered, had refused him.

She did not refuse this time.

When she got back to the ancestral house, she let Jiang Yunxuan come over directly.

He sneaked over in the driver’s car.

Upon entry, he saw that there were many people; he made his way through the crowd, ran straight to Jiang Zhe, and handed her a small cake, “Sis, happy birthday.”

“Thank you.”

Jiang Zhe took it, opened it, and nibbled away.

With so many people around and Jiang Yunxuan having brought only a small cake, he felt a bit embarrassed, “Next time I’ll bring some for everyone.”

“It’s alright, I have some too. You can have mine.” Xiaoqi handed her own cake to him.

Being of similar age, they had plenty to talk about. Jiang Yunxuan immediately asked, “What’s your name? I’ve never seen you before.”

“I’m Xiaoqi, I grew up in the welfare institute,” Xiaoqi replied.

Hearing ‘welfare institute,’ Jiang Yunxuan understood the situation.

After all, wasn’t Jiang Zhe someone who had come from a welfare institute?

He grinned, “I’ve eaten yours, I’ll treat you next time.”

“Sure,” Xiaoqi quickly agreed, and the two soon started playing together.

Jiang Zhe watched Jiang Yunxuan. It didn’t take long for them to start discussing the issue of parents.

Xiaoqi seemed quite open-minded about not having parents and family.

Jiang Yunxuan patted his shoulder, “It’s okay, don’t you have so many friends here? We are friends now too.”

“Then come and visit the welfare institute next time.”

“I will!”

“Your phone watch looks really cool. Where did you buy it?” Xiaoqi asked.

So Jiang Yunxuan took it off to show him.

Jiang Zhe, carrying a cup of tea, walked out to the front courtyard. After a while, Jiang Yunxuan ran out and sat down with her to watch the sunset.

Jiang Zhe asked, “If you were Xiaoqi, would you get used to life in the welfare institute?”

“I don’t know. But no matter what, I would live well!” Jiang Yunxuan said with a smile.