CHAPTER 1475: THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION.

As a princess, she was no stranger to wealth. Jewels, gold, and treasures had surrounded her since birth, yet she never imagined a painter could amass such a fortune in so little time.

Zhao Li Xin’s paintings were coveted by nobles and commoners alike, for in her world, few possessed a talent like his, especially after the Dark Age War.

During that bleak era, when humanity stood at the edge of extinction, artists and visionaries were deemed useless luxuries. Many perished, their talents forgotten, their works destroyed, for no one had time to cherish beauty while struggling to survive.

But when the darkness was finally pushed back, when the demonic beasts were vanquished and the world clawed its way back from despair, humanity began to rebuild.

Cities rose again from ruins, guided by the efforts of the gifted, the creators, the surviving experts, and what remained of the old governments. With their combined strength, the foundation of civilization was restored, and life flourished once more.

And as always, once hunger was sated and shelter secured, people yearned for more than survival. They craved meaning, beauty, and comfort for the soul. Thus, art, long suppressed, began to blossom anew.

Yet true art masters were rare, and their numbers were decimated in the war. That scarcity made Zhao Li Xin’s genius shine all the brighter, especially when Zhao Li Xin’s talent was even admired in his old world.

In the cultivators’ world, painting has become a mandatory lesson in every aristocratic household, and because of that, talented painters flourish like mushrooms in that world, and the standard is also higher than here.

One could only imagine the stir that Zhao Li Xin’s artwork caused among art lovers in the world.

At the moment, Lory climbed to the second floor in search of Zhao Li Xin. Pushing open the door to the private room, she stepped into a quiet, minimalist living space.

There he found the beautiful man, sitting in a dark grey chair, with a jade cup of wine balanced effortlessly in his hand. His dark eyes stare through the giant window, watching the city with a calm, distant expression, seemingly untouched by the bustle below.

The faintest curve tugged at the corner of his lips the moment his sharp hearing caught her footsteps approaching. When Lory opened the door, a delicate sweetness drifted into his nostrils, the familiar trace of Bluebell flowers’ scent.

Though fainter than it used to be, his senses caught it instantly, out of habit more than effort. When she entered the room, he slowly turned his head.

Zhao Li Xin found Lory’s face had changed again, as it often did, leaving only her sparkle violet eyes that gleaming like a star. But, even without them, Zhao Li Xin confident he would have recognized her at a glance.

"Li Xin, you’re rich!" Lory shouted instantly the moment she saw him.

His brows lifted slightly. Setting down the jade cup with unhurried grace, he asked, "Are you here just to say that?" His tone carried the quiet weight of expectation, his expression waiting.

Lory paused for a second before her expression stiffened as memories of Salvo De Rova flashed back. Panic, Lory blurted out the most classic excuse in every relationship, "Wait, honey, let me explain, this is not what you think..."

Only a heartbeat later did she realize why she make excuses like the cheating protagonist who tried to justify their infidelity in front of their spouse, that’s not right, she’s not cheating!

"Oh?" Zhao Li Xin leaned back, crossing one leg over the other with languid elegance. His dark eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unyielding. Now, he acted like a wife waiting for her husband’s lame excuse.

Anxiety hit her; she is truly panicked right now. Lory then immediately rushed toward Zhao Li Xin. "I’m not lying! I was just trying to cast an aura tracker on him, to check his power and character, that’s all!" she exclaimed, jumping onto his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck, frantically trying to explain.

Of course, Zhao Li Xin already knew; he had read the entire group message. But her reckless behavior worried him, and that was precisely why Fredhardt had invited him into the group chat in the first place. Lory might ignore everyone else’s opinion, but never her husband’s.

"Really?" Zhao Li Xin feigned a frown, his tone edged with mock displeasure. "Then tell me—what kind of man is he?"

"What?" Lory blinked, caught off guard. After a pause, she shrugged lightly. "Cool and reserved, I guess."

Zhao Li Xin’s expression darkened, his voice lowering with a subtle threat. "Oh? Like me?"

Her eyes widened. "No, of course not! You’re far cooler—and handsome. That man isn’t even worthy to be compared with a single strand of your hair!"

"Oh, really?" Zhao Li Xin leaned closer, his gaze sharp and probing, making Lory’s nerves prickle. "Then what about his hand? How did you feel about that?"

Lory frowned in confusion. "His... hand? What do you mean? His actual hand? Well... it was just a hand. A bit soft, a little rough, I suppose." She waved it off, baffled by the question. How could anyone notice something like that?

"So you did notice, huh? What else?" Zhao Li Xin muttered, his eyes glinting with a rare, genuine spark of jealousy.

Lory’s breath hitched. She realized she had just stepped on a landmine, and her survival instincts flared. She waved her hands frantically. "No, no—that’s not what I mean! He’s a swordsman, right? So, of course, he must train a lot; that’s why his hands are rough like that. That’s all!"

Zhao Li Xin narrowed his eyes dangerously. "So... you think he’s stronger than me?"

Lory wanted to cry. Did she make a wrong step? "No! No-no-no, of course not! That’s not what I meant! Truly, you’re the best, number one! No one can compare to you—nothing compares to you!" Her voice cracked with panic, her words tumbling over each other in desperation. "Okay, darling, please don’t look at me like that! I swear I won’t do it again, alright?"

Finally, she gave up and flung her arms around him, hugging him tightly as frustration and anxiety spilled out in her trembling voice.

Zhao Li Xin nearly lost control of his smile, but he forced himself to keep his composure. This naughty girl needed a proper reprimand, or she’d keep doing reckless things.

"Fine. No touch-touchy from now on, okay?" he said, rubbing her back gently.

"Okay..." she answered weakly.

"Don’t provoke the enemy. Remember, you must stay lay low, we still need to hide your existence from the enemy," Zhao Li Xin reminded her in a firm tone.

"Okay..." she replied obediently.

"Good girl." Zhao Li Xin finally wrapped his arms around her waist.

Lory lifted her head, searching his face. "You’re not angry anymore?"

"No." His smile was warm and gentle, the kind of smile he showed to no one but her.

Relief flooded Lory, and she let out a small sigh. They rarely fought, and the thought of him truly being angry terrified her. People often said the quietest men were the scariest when enraged, and after her father passed away, the fearless princess who dared to provoke demons and demi-gods found herself helpless in front of her husband.

Once she was sure Zhao Li Xin was no longer upset, Lory finally brought up the previous matter. "Li Xin... why did you send all your money to me?"

"Oh? What’s wrong? Was it too little?" Zhao Li Xin asked casually. He had little interest in wealth; as long as his needs were met, he saw no reason to accumulate more.

Lory shook her head profusely. "No, of course not. On the contrary, it was a lot, too much, even. Why don’t you keep more for yourself? Besides, I already have my ’allowance’ from Fred."

"What your family gives you is yours. But as your husband, I have my own responsibility," Zhao Li Xin dismissed her concern gently but firmly. He knew she cared, and he knew she didn’t need his money.

But as a man raised in a strict, patriarchal society, it was unthinkable for him not to provide for his wife, even if she lacked nothing.

Lory realized she couldn’t change his mind, but it didn’t matter. In her heart, she had already vowed to make sure Zhao Li Xin would never lack anything for as long as he lived. And truthfully, even without her, with his abilities, he would have no trouble providing for himself.

"Fine." Lory pressed her cheek against his chest with a sigh. Then, suddenly lifting her head, her eyes sparkled. "Have you seen the preparations downstairs? I can imagine how grand it will be!"

Lory explained enthusiastically, her eyes gleaming with pride, "All the important figures we invited have already arrived, ministers, scholars, collectors, even representatives from the great academies. The press from every media outlet is already here, and everyone can’t wait to see your works. You know, we’re gonna broadcast your exhibition to the whole world, so everyone from every nation will know your name! Do you realize what that means, Li Xin? They’re already calling your work the very spark, the beginning of an entirely new era in the art of painting!"

"Is that so?" Zhao Li Xin replied nonchalantly, for him, watching Lory’s radiant face right now is more interesting than his own exhibition.

Seeing his lukewarm reaction, Lory pursed her lips. "You don’t care, do you?"

"Not exactly, after all, it is good to start building up my reputation in this world," Zhao Li Xin said in his calm, measured tone.

Lory understood what he meant about establishing his standing, but her heart grew heavy. "You don’t have to, you know..." Because when she lived with him in his world, he never asked her to be anyone other than herself. She wished he could live as freely here as she had there.

"I know," he said softly, "but this is what I want to do. For you... and eventually, for me." Zhao Li Xin could already read her thoughts. From the beginning, she had been his reason for everything. For her, he would walk through fire and storm, if only it made her life easier.

A sweet, warm sensation filled her heart, make her heart full. Zhao Li Xin’s embrace was always her refuge, the one place that had pulled her back from despair and heartache time and again. Without him, there’s no doubt, she wouldn’t be here.

Lory pressed her forehead against his and whispered, "Thank you..."