"What are you talking about?" Lu Youran was extremely anxious. "You don't know? Oh my god! Go to the official website and see if it's a mistake? Or if it's a name collision? That's impossible, you draw so well, how could you not be selected? Besides, would the association make such a low-level mistake as a name collision?"
Lu Youran babbled on, but Wen Tingxue barely heard her.
She only felt that the sun had suddenly become much colder.
After her mind cleared completely, Wen Tingxue checked the official website.
Indeed.
The work was selected, but the name was not hers.
Staring at the list on the computer, Wen Tingxue's fingers grew cold as she thought, No way, could it be such a coincidence of a name collision? Such a coincidence in the Jiangcheng region too? No. She didn't believe it could be so coincidental!
Holding onto a shred of hope, Wen Tingxue called Elder Yan.
After explaining the whole story, Elder Yan was silent for a moment and said, "Girl, I know about this, but do you know what that person's name is?"
Wen Tingxue's heart suddenly chilled, and her voice tightened as she asked, "What is it?"
"Fu Feifei, the only daughter of the Fu family," Elder Yan said in a subdued voice. "Girl, in the capital, whatever the Fu family wants, others cannot compete for it, even if that thing doesn't belong to the Fu family."
Although the reality was cruel.
No one could afford to offend the Fu family. He didn't want her to get too involved with the Fu family.
Wen Tingxue stood in the warm sunlight, her whole body feeling cold.
Can't offend the Fu family?
No one can compete for what the Fu family desires?
No. She refused to believe it. She was determined to compete!
After squatting by the bedside for a long time, Wen Tingxue finally adjusted her emotions. She dialed Fu Yushen's number.
"Hello?" The call was answered quickly. His voice was gentle.
Wen Tingxue said coldly, "Have you seen the list for the National Art Exhibition?"
"Yes." Fu Yushen turned his wheelchair to a spot where light and shadow intertwined, gazing at Fu Feifei, who was chatting and laughing with others, his voice very faint, "I've seen it. I've seen it all." The implication was that he knew everything.
A surge of anger instantly ignited in Wen Tingxue's heart.
"And then?" Wen Tingxue gritted her teeth and asked, "Don't you, Professor Fu, have anything to say to me?"
Fu Yushen remained silent.
Wen Tingxue took a deep breath. "Fu Feifei is your niece, and you are my teacher. You were involved in my work from start to finish. Don't you owe me an explanation? Professor Fu?" Wen Tingxue said, biting out the words sarcastically.
"I apologize, this was not my intention," Fu Yushen turned his wheelchair indoors, his tone helpless. "You probably don't know, but I have no status in the Fu family. I can only obey what he says."
"He?" The moment the word left her lips, Wen Tingxue understood. Fu Yuchuan. The current head of the Fu family.
Wen Tingxue lowered her gaze. She didn't know about the power struggle between the Fu brothers. All she knew was that Fu Yuchuan had won.
"Feifei and I don't have a very close relationship, and I won't hurt you for her, but some things I can't decide," Fu Yushen closed his eyes. "If you truly want an explanation, I am not the person you should be looking for."
When Yu Wenli arrived at the Wen family's house, Wen Tingxue was sleeping in a rocking chair. However, she wasn't sleeping peacefully, her brows were constantly furrowed. Yu Wenli clenched his fist with concern. He quietly took a blanket and covered her with it. He used his index finger to gently smooth her furrowed brow. He moved as cautiously as possible, almost without applying any force.
Wen Tingxue, half-asleep, felt someone beside her. But her eyelids were too heavy. So heavy that she didn't want to open them. She just wanted to sleep like this, for a long, long time. It wasn't until she felt a warm, gentle touch on her brow and a familiar scent filled her nose that she forced herself to wake from her dream.
The moment their eyes met, a faint spark of light bloomed on the young girl's listless face. "You're here?" she asked in a hoarse voice, her eyes, though dim, still bright. But they lacked their usual brilliance.
Yu Wenli smiled with a pang in his heart, "I'm sorry, I woke you up."
"How could you?" Wen Tingxue sat up a little, her hand reaching out from under the blanket to hold his. She pretended to be cheerful and shook it, "I'm so glad you came."
In the midsummer heat of July, she bathed in the sunlight, yet her hand was as cold as snow. Yu Wenli almost lost his composure. "I'll find a way to handle the art exhibition."
"No," Wen Tingxue refused without hesitation.
Yu Wenli frowned.
"Don't be angry," Wen Tingxue looked into his eyes and smiled lightly. "I can't always hide under your wing, A Li. Even if you're willing to take care of me for a lifetime, I can't really rely on you for everything. It would be too tiring for you, and for me. So, let me handle the art exhibition myself." Fearing he would be unhappy, she hugged him playfully and looked up at him cheekily, "If all else fails, you can help me then, okay?"
Her eyes were so soft that Yu Wenli naturally couldn't bear to refuse, even though he didn't want her to meet Fu Yuchuan.
"So, you plan to go to the capital?" Yu Wenli asked knowingly. Wen Tingxue knew what he was worried about. Regardless of Fu Yuchuan's intentions towards her, he was a man of high status and power, someone they couldn't afford to provoke. But Fu Yushen had made it clear. To resolve the art exhibition matter, they had to find Fu Yuchuan.
"If there's absolutely no other way, then I'll have to," Wen Tingxue replied in a muffled voice, lowering her head. To be honest, she wanted to avoid meeting Fu Yuchuan even more than he did. For some reason, she was a little afraid of him. Perhaps it was the story of the adopted daughter. Or perhaps it was his status as the head of the Fu family. In any case, she didn't want any connection with him, good or bad. But fate was like that, it didn't care what you wanted.
"I'll go with you," Yu Wenli said. Wen Tingxue immediately looked up, her eyes shining. "I couldn't ask for more." Honestly, she wasn't confident about the trip to the capital. But with him by her side, she would have much more courage. Even if it was like an egg hitting a rock, she dared to try.
That evening at eight o'clock, the two arrived in the capital and were met by Ding Xi. After listening to their intentions, he was silent for a moment and asked, "What is your relationship with Second Master Fu?" Wen Tingxue pondered for a moment and shook her head, "I don't know, perhaps strangers. We've only spoken a few times."
Ding Xi was surprised. Strangers? How was that possible? The way Fu Yuchuan looked at her that day clearly held many emotions. "Then how are you going to see him? As far as I know, Second Master Fu is very difficult to meet," Ding Xi said frankly. Even as the owner of Xing'er, he needed to make an appointment in advance to see Fu Yuchuan. And usually, it would take about a week to get an appointment. As the head of the Fu family, he had so many matters to deal with every day, and the people he needed to see could line up from the capital airport to the Xing'er headquarters. Without connections, meeting Fu Yuchuan was as difficult as reaching the heavens.
"Tsk," Wen Tingxue scratched her cheek irritably. "I don't know, I'll take it one step at a time. Regardless, I must see him!" She wouldn't tolerate such a blatant injustice. Whoever wanted to take it, could have it. She certainly wouldn't.
"Miss Wen..." Ding Xi's assistant, who had also come to pick them up, couldn't help but speak. Second Master Fu was Xing'er's biggest benefactor. If they offended him, Xing'er would be finished!
"Ahem," Ding Xi quickly interrupted, "Did you prepare the room I asked for?" The assistant was stunned for a second and replied, "It's ready, you can check in now."
Yu Wenli sensed something was amiss and asked, "Is there something you can't say conveniently?" His sharp gaze flickered between their faces subtly.
"No!" Ding Xi denied with a smile. "He just wanted to ask Xiao Xue if she had any dietary restrictions, so he could make arrangements."
"I see," Yu Wenli raised an eyebrow and didn't press further.
After Ding Xi took them to the hotel, he returned to the car with his assistant. The assistant had been holding back all the way and finally found an opportunity to ask, "Mr. Ding, you know very well that Second Master Fu cannot be offended, why didn't you remind Miss Wen?" If she spoke carelessly, wouldn't all future investment and promotion turn into bubble?
Ding Xi looked out at the neon lights and sighed. "I have no reason to stop her. Since that's the case, why should I add to her worries?" Moreover, as her friend, he should unconditionally support her and help her. How could he hold her back at a time like this? However, as the CEO of Xing'er, he really didn't want to call Fu Yuchuan.
Ding Xi was right. It was very difficult for ordinary people to see Fu Yuchuan, and if Fu Yuchuan intentionally avoided them, it would be even more difficult. For a full week, Wen Tingxue tried countless methods and contacted numerous people, but she couldn't get to see Fu Yuchuan. Even when she got his private contact information, she couldn't reach him.
"Damn it!" After the n+1th unanswered call, Wen Tingxue couldn't help but curse.
Yu Wenli smiled and fed her a grape, saying, "Why don't I try to find a way?"
"He's deliberately avoiding me, what way can you find?" The young girl pouted unhappily. Her lips, stained with grape juice, were glistening. On the principle of not wasting anything, Yu Wenli lowered his head and kissed the juice off her lips. Wen Tingxue seized the opportunity to flirt. When they were lying on the bed, their breaths slightly disordered, she said, "Give me one more day. If it doesn't work, I'll leave it to you." With her competitive spirit ignited, she refused to believe she couldn't see that scoundrel Fu Yuchuan!
Yu Wenli chuckled and bit her lip lightly, "Alright, just one more day."