Xie Nancang was prepared to fight Yan Chen.

However, Yan Chen no longer displayed his previous arrogance and domineering attitude. He stood with his head bowed in front of An Yi, like a submissive wolf, his shoulders trembling slightly, hoping his master could reach out and comfort him.

But An Yi didn’t move.

In the end, Yan Chen remained silent, holding the exquisite gift box, and turned to leave. He picked up the birthday cake he had placed at the door and left together.

He was deeply affected and didn’t know what else he could do to mend the broken rift between them.

Or was it impossible to repair it no matter what?

He was downcast for several days, but there were a pile of reports waiting for him to review in the project team. He couldn’t stop.

The project had reached a critical stage, with intricate connections to various departments, guarantee companies, universities, and banks. Yan Chen was like a high-speed running machine, synchronizing progress every day and attending social engagements.

Perhaps due to his disappointment in love but success in business, after a year of arduous preparation, on the day of the Winter Solstice, the Art Bank finally entered the trial operation phase in Jin Hai.

The Art Bank was established with the support of two large cultural investment companies and an art appraisal center. It collaborated with several art colleges and well-known figures in the industry, mainly engaging in art trust, pledges, authorization, and other financial services. It would also directly purchase and collect artworks with investment potential, and sell or lease them to companies, institutions, or offices for display in public spaces to promote contemporary art, allowing young contemporary artists to be further known by the public.

To establish its reputation and attract more talents, the Art Bank also set up a sponsorship program.

The sponsorship program targeted modern creations such as ceramics, traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, and seal cutting. The top five winners selected by experts would receive corresponding awards, which the Art Bank would allocate to support them in expenses such as field trips and material purchases. The works created would then be used by the Art Bank for investment collection, lease exhibitions, or sales auctions.

This news attracted a lot of attention, and the number of online registrations far exceeded expectations on the first day.

“Not bad, Director Yan,” Qi Wenxing lounged lazily with his legs on the desk, flipping through the report brought by his assistant. “Just started trial operation and already secured the rights for art display in large public spaces like subway stations, you’re quite capable.”

Yan Chen said without lifting his head, “Get your feet down.”

Qi Wenxing “tutted” and, deliberately hoarse, said, “Wow, you’re so indifferent.”

He threw the report to Yan Chen’s side and asked, “Are you not going home for the Lunar New Year this year? I heard Uncle Yan talking to my dad a few days ago, praising you like crazy.”

Yan Chen kept his head down, not responding.

“Can you hear me? I’m talking to you,” Qi Wenxing tossed him a pen, “What are you looking at? So absorbed.”

He walked over, puzzled, and took a closer look, frowning, “Chen, are you a pervert?”

Yan Chen was playing a video on his phone, showing someone sitting in the yard making pottery, while the chubby little orange cat lazily lay at his feet, looking extremely content.

From Qi Wenxing’s rich experience, it was almost certain that this angle and distance were from a hidden camera.

“You haven’t given up yet?” Qi Wenxing said in surprise. “Teacher An has moved on, why haven’t you let go?”

Yan Chen calmly put away his phone, opened the report, and turned directly to the appendix of the sponsorship plan.

“Don’t bother looking, he’s not there,” Qi Wenxing said.

Yan Chen still flipped through page by page, carefully checking again.

Indeed, he wasn’t there.

He raised his eyes and asked Qi Wenxing, “Have the selection experts been confirmed? Who did they invite for the ceramics group?”

“…How would I know,” Qi Wenxing felt inexplicably guilty under his gaze, “I’m just a heartless capitalist who only cares about investing and waiting for dividends, I don’t do the actual work.”

Yan Chen sneered, “At least you know yourself.”

He pressed the intercom and called in his assistant. Upon learning that one of the three ceramics appreciation experts hadn’t been confirmed yet, Yan Chen furrowed his brow slightly and said after a moment’s thought, “Send the invitation letter and support plan registration form to Xie Fei Nian.”

“Okay, Director Yan.”

After the assistant left, Qi Wenxing said with a sigh, “I’ll say it straight, this project, this sponsorship program, isn’t for you to use to pursue someone. If you try to give An a backdoor entry, you won’t pass this test.”

“Nonsense,” Yan Chen said in a low voice, “He’s not that kind of person.”

“That’s good then,” Qi Wenxing smiled again, “On another note, it’s not a good idea for you to keep sneaking around like this. Seeing but not touching, aren’t you afraid that you’ll end up suffocating yourself before you even win him over?”

He snapped his fingers, “Come on, let’s go and have some fun, buddy.”

“Not going,” Yan Chen glanced at his wristwatch. He had a tea appointment with a senior collector that day.

“Okay, okay, now you’re all about tea and art appreciation, trying to be all high and mighty,” Qi Wenxing waved his hand indignantly as he walked out, pulling out his phone to contact his sweetheart in Jin Hai for a date.

Yan Chen’s assistant was highly efficient. The next day, the invitation letter was delivered to Ling An.

Xie Fei Nian squinted his eyes and asked An Yi to read it to him.

“It’s just a formality using my name,” Xie Fei Nian sat in his rocking chair, waving his hand, “I’m not going.”

An Yi was a bit curious. After flipping through the introduction to the project and the registration form for the first phase of the modern art support creation plan attached to the invitation letter, his expression changed slightly.

After listening, Xie Fei Nian lazily opened his eyes a slit, “Good grandson, you should give this a try. Bring me some glory.”

“…” An Yi asked, “Aren’t you going to be one of the selection experts? They seem very sincere.”

“Why should I join the fun?” Xie Fei Nian encouraged him, “You’ve met a lot of people with me this summer, broadened your horizons, changed your mindset. Just sign up and practice your skills, whether this event genuinely wants to support young people or is just for show, it’s an opportunity for you in any case.”

“As the master, I need to avoid suspicion, so that when you win first place, no one will gossip about your illegitimate victory.”

An Yi: “…Why is everyone thinking about winning the prize?”

On the deadline day for registration, An Yi filled out the information online and submitted the registration form.

Yan Chen’s month-long anxiety finally eased.

The assistant reported, “The experts for the calligraphy and seal cutting groups have been confirmed, but Mr. Xie Fei Nian, the expert for the ceramics group, still hasn’t replied. However, Ms. Xu Fang is available. Director Yan, should we consider replacing him?”

Yan Chen stared at the porcelain statue on the display cabinet behind him, his dark eyes filled with an unknown emotion.

He suddenly stood up, grabbed his car keys and coat, and took long strides, walking out.

“Director Yan?” the assistant asked in confusion, “Where are you going? The CEO of the auction house, invited you to lunch.”

“I’ve canceled all my appointments for the past two days,” Yan Chen said, “I’m going to Ling An, I’ll call you if I need anything.”

The assistant wanted to ask if he needed someone to accompany him, but Yan Chen had already entered the elevator. All he managed to say was, “There’s snow on the road, be careful.”

Since the beginning of winter in Jin Hai, it had been continuously overcast. The sky had been covered by thick, leaden-gray cumulus clouds for over a month. Finally, today, a gap appeared in the clouds.

The snow fell heavily like goose feathers, landing on the car windows. It was swept away by the wipers, then blown by the cold wind, swirling onto the roadside, floating into the reeds, and drifting onto An Yi’s eyebrows and corners of his eyes.

He rubbed his hands and carefully lifted a fish caught on the ice, putting it into a bamboo basket.

Ice fishing helped him to calm his mind.

He sat on the ice for the whole afternoon, brainstorming ideas for the competition entries. Moreover, the harvest in the bamboo basket was quite fruitful. An Yi planned to make fish soup for Xie Fei Nian to replenish his body that evening.

He carried the fish home, first giving a shining-eyed Quiqui a fish. Then he went to the next door, and as soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard Xie Fei Nian’s hearty laughter coming from the living room. He hastened his steps and went inside.

“Back already despite the snow today? You could’ve let me know in advance,” An Yi smiled and said.

“An An, come here,” Xie Fei Nian waved at him, “This is the executive director of the Art Bank, just in his twenties, promising young man.”

An Yi’s smile froze on his face, and the fish in his hand struggled to flick its tail, splashing water droplets onto his face.

Yan Chen stood up and came over to him, extending his hand, “Hello.”

An Yi pursed his lips and didn’t shake hands with him. Yan Chen curled his fingertips and then took out a clean cotton handkerchief from inside his coat, handing it to him, “Here, wipe it off.”

An Yi still didn’t take it, his voice chilling with the wind and snow, “What are you here for?”

Yan Chen spoke in a businesslike tone, “I’m here to invite Mr. Xie to be a judging expert.”

At this moment, Xie Fei Nian walked over, patting Yan Chen’s shoulder, “I understand your good intentions,” then he pushed An Yi’s waist from behind, introducing him to Yan Chen, “This is my good grandson, An Yi. He has also signed up for your support program. If I join the judging panel, it wouldn’t be fair, so I’ll leave the stage to you young people to have fun in the future.”

Yan Chen nodded in understanding.

Outside, it was already dark, and the heavy snow showed no sign of stopping.

Xie Fei Nian invited Yan Chen to have dinner, and Yan Chen agreed, “Thank you, I’ll just trouble you then.”

“Don’t mention it, you’re such a big shot, and yet you personally came all the way here for such a small matter,” Xie Fei Nian laughed and took the fish from An Yi’s hand, “Silly boy, what are you staring at? Come to the kitchen and help.”

An Yi withdrew his gaze and followed Xie Fei Nian to the kitchen.

The burning gaze from behind had been there all along.

After dinner, the three of them sat around the table, chatting happily about porcelain and painting.

“I didn’t expect you to be so knowledgeable at such a young age,” Xie Fei Nian had a good impression of him, “I used to think you were just a dabbler, an outsider.”

“I’m not really an expert. My family likes these things,” Yan Chen’s gaze briefly lingered on An Yi’s face before continuing, “Later, during the preliminary research and preparation, I visited many predecessors and learned a lot.”

“Oh, really?” Xie Fei Nian was very interested, “Have you met Xu Fengming? Did that old guy boast to you about the white porcelain he made better than me?”

Yan Chen chuckled, picking up his wine glass, “When it comes to white porcelain, you’re definitely the best.”

Flattered by the praise, Xie Fei Nian laughed heartily, clinking glasses with him, “You’re a clever kid.”

An Yi listened quietly with his head bowed, his surface calm but his heart turbulent.

After finishing the meal and cleaning up the dishes, the snow in the yard had accumulated enough to cover the tops of shoes.

An Yi poured a cup of hot milk for Xie Fei Nian and whispered, “Grandpa, you guys talk, I’ll go back first. Quiqui is still waiting for me.”

“I should leave too,” Yan Chen put on his coat, “I’ll visit you again when I have time.”

He stood on the porch and took out his phone to call his assistant to pick him up.

After hearing this, Xie Fei Nian waved his hand, “The snow is so heavy, it’s unsafe. How about this, you and An An spend the night here.”

He called them back even before they had even left.

The usually silent grandpa Xie said meaningfully, “You young people chat together, let Director Yan give you some guidance.”

An Yi’s face was paler than the snow on the ground.

Yan Chen walked up to him, the eagerness hidden deep in his dark eyes, “Is that alright?”