Chapter 35.1
[Heartbeat biu-biu-biu~ Congratulations, Host! He Anche’s favorability +2!]
[Heartbeat biu-biu-biu~ Congratulations, Host! He Anche’s favorability +3!]
[Heartbeat biu-biu-biu~ Congratulations, Host! He Anche’s favorability +5!]
Ye Xingran heard the System speaking so confidently and thought it was really going to give her some special surprise, or perhaps someone else was giving her a surprise, like a painting invitation or something. After all, she wanted to paint well in this world.
Naturally, she had to manage things well and not miss any opportunity.
However, before she even connected the call, she heard the “Heartbeat biu-biu-biu” sound in her mind, and it was all coming from the male lead A!
This really gave her a big fright. What was going on? She was faint-hearted and really couldn’t handle being startled.
So, when she pressed the connect button, she almost dropped her phone. At the same time, she heard the other party’s voice coming through the speaker: “Hello? Is this student Ye Xingran?”
The voice was low and crisp, like a deep spring flowing through a mountain valley, making the eardrums vibrate involuntarily, making it impossible to feel a shred of hostility.
Clearly, they were both Alphas, just with different secondary genders. Usually, Alphas wouldn’t get along peacefully and friendly; they would surely release pressure to prove who was the strongest.
But the male lead A, He Anche, was somewhat beyond her expectations, making it hard for her to harbor any antagonistic thoughts.
She didn’t say anything else and just said directly: “It’s me.”
“Hello, I am He Anche. I’m in the same school as you, Ye Xingran, but in a different department. We can be considered schoolmates.”
The male lead A sounded clearly happy to hear her reply.
“I am also the main person in charge of the He Group’s Nova Auction House. I’m responsible for the auction of the excellent student works from Teacher Xu Guannan’s lecture at the Foreign Languages and Trade College’s Trade Festival yesterday. Your work from yesterday has been selected. I wonder if you could paint a few more pieces to send to our auction house?”
[Heartbeat biu-biu-biu~ Congratulations, Host! He Anche’s favorability +5!]
“……?”
A question mark slowly appeared over Ye Xingran’s head.
No, you’re just talking. We haven’t even met, and I haven’t done anything to flirt with you, so why did your favorability toward me increase again? And more than once!
And every increase is by 5? If you keep this up, I’ll think favorability is very easy to gain. If it turns out not to be the case in the end… I’ll turn into a villain!
[Hee-hee-hee, Host, stop struggling! You are clearly very happy! Isn’t it great that favorability is soaring? I think it’s great! You can live longer!] The System was overjoyed. [It’s just a pity that because you haven’t formally bound them, the point weight on their side isn’t as high as the Auntie’s. So you need to work hard to increase favorability!]
“So that’s how it is.” Isn’t it normal that the weight isn’t as high as the Auntie’s? Wei Xuejin is unique.
Thinking this way, Ye Xingran felt a bit better and was no longer so resistant to the male lead A’s request. “Hello, Student He. I remember Teacher Xu saying that only the excellent works painted during his lecture could be auctioned. He didn’t say that excellent works could be painted privately and then sent over?”
It wasn’t that Ye Xingran didn’t want to make money. The reason she participated in this lecture yesterday was partly because of the original host’s wishes, and partly because she knew excellent works could participate in the auction. Even if it was a small auction, it was enough to give her a foothold in the circle.
Before transmigrating, her grandfather was very skilled at everything, especially painting, and his brush calligraphy was full of spirit. People who saw it would feel instantly enlightened, and the gloom in their hearts would dissipate.
Unfortunately, in his era, painting didn’t make money, and they weren’t a wealthy family. He could only practice secretly and couldn’t make his son love painting. Instead, it was his granddaughter who fell in love with it.
Therefore, even though her grandfather never said it, he hoped she could inherit his unfulfilled wish and establish a place in the world of painting.
Ye Xingran couldn’t help her grandfather with anything; she was just a tagalong. All she could do was practice her painting and languages hard, go to broader places to see, and fulfill her grandfather’s wish.
Because of this, she was very diligent in everything she did, because she believed that opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared. She didn’t know when the opportunity would come, but as long as it did, she would grasp it well and never let it go.
If someone in the real world asked her to paint a few more pieces for auction, she would naturally be willing. Many painters’ works have become famous overnight at auctions. It can be said to be a shortcut to success.
But now in the book world, she actually had many concerns, especially since the character she transmigrated into was very unfriendly—a stupid villain who could die at any moment, and one who had offended the male and female leads… Facing this dangerous figure who could cause her death, she truly couldn’t let down her guard.
Not to mention, why would you, a male lead and an Alpha, come looking for her?
She was afraid she’d be sold and still be counting the money for the other party.
However, He Anche seemed to have expected her question and answered fluently: “Yes, there is indeed such a regulation, but you are an exception.”
[Heartbeat biu-biu-biu~ Congratulations, Host! He Anche’s favorability +1!]
Ye Xingran: “……” She was already numb.
“Am I the only exception?” She didn’t have much impression of how others’ works were yesterday. After all, she always followed her own ideas and didn’t pay too much attention to others, so she didn’t look at their paintings.
Not to mention the scene yesterday was too chaotic; she simply didn’t have time to look.
“No, Student Ye Mian’an’s work was also favored by Teacher Xu. It’s estimated that she’ll paint two more pieces to send over.” He Anche didn’t hide anything. “But Student Ye Xingran, you don’t need to worry too much. The type of painting you do is different from hers. Hers is oil painting, yours is ink wash painting. Both have their own merits.”
He paused again: “And I, actually, like your… ink wash painting more.”
“……Thank you.” The pause and blank space didn’t need to be so long next time; it was too scary.
[Heartbeat biu-biu-biu~ Congratulations, Host! He Anche’s favorability +10!]
Ye Xingran: “……” Ahhhhhhh, I’m already going crazy, don’t call me!
“So, I wonder what Student Ye Xingran’s intentions are?” He Anche continued to ask, his tone quite cautious, as if afraid she wouldn’t agree.
Ye Xingran didn’t understand. You’re the male lead, why are you treating her so friendly… it’s too scary.
The idea of a protagonist and a villain being friends was truly unheard of.
[Host, he doesn’t just want to be friends with you, he also wants to (beep) you.]
“……What terrifying words did you say that were censored?”
“Specifically, how many pieces need to be painted? And when does the auction start?” Ye Xingran felt this was indeed an opportunity. Might as well use it. Looking at the original host’s current situation, it was very subtle.
She didn’t know why her biological family suddenly didn’t love or care for her anymore and did such things to her. She naturally wouldn’t let the Xia family matter go. Although it seemed settled on the surface, she hadn’t made them pay the price they deserved.
Moreover, she could “mooch” off Wei Xuejin, but why should these vicious family members?
Although Wei Xuejin said that 100 million was just pocket change to her, to Ye Xingran, it felt undeserved and left a lump in her throat. She would definitely look for an opportunity to make the Ye family spit that money out.
However, now was not the time.
She had no power or influence. Relying only on Wei Xuejin’s protection wasn’t enough. Not to mention the Wei family was also a dragon’s den. She couldn’t keep troubling Wei Xuejin.
Therefore, she could mooch, but she couldn’t just coast along. She had to establish herself in the world.
That way, even if the male and female leads wanted to deal with her in the future, she wouldn’t die easily.
Plus, with the addition of Wei Xuejin’s Love Points, she could live well in the book.
Now that the male lead had brought this opportunity to her, she could naturally make use of it. If there were any open or hidden schemes, she could even consult with Wei Xuejin.
It’s not a big problem; the advantage is with me.
“If you can submit 3 pieces to us for auction, that would be best. If not… 2 pieces are also okay.” He Anche’s tone was truly humble, but it also carried a mysterious admiration for her. Ye Xingran almost thought she misheard. He continued: “The auction is in 5 days, which is Sunday. It’s fine as long as you can submit them by Saturday.”
“……You mean you want me to paint 3 ink wash paintings in 4 days?” Ye Xingran asked expressionlessly.
“Yes. They don’t need to be very large. Just do it according to your ideas.” He Anche probably also felt his request was excessive, and his tone became increasingly gentle. “Of course, you can also use your previous works for the auction.”
“……Fine.” At this point, Ye Xingran didn’t say much more. It was an opportunity; might as well use it.
“In that case, let me add your WeChat, Student Ye. We can talk in detail there!” He Anche said immediately, appearing to have been prepared for a long time.
Ye Xingran: “……Okay.”
“Is your Moments open to me?”
“……Yes.”
[Heartbeat biu-biu-biu~ Congratulations, Host! He Anche’s favorability +20!]
Ye Xingran: “……” I knew it!
“In that case, I will await the good news. You can find me on WeChat anytime if anything comes up.” He Anche was clearly very happy. He had achieved all his goals for calling Ye Xingran today, and after talking with her for so long, his mood had also improved a lot.
“Okay, I will.” Ye Xingran felt tired. She couldn’t say anything, so she just replied.
“Okay, goodbye. I also need to go for a physical examination.” Saying that, He Anche really didn’t say much more and then hung up.
Ye Xingran, however, frowned imperceptibly when she heard the words “going for a physical examination.”
The book did seem to have written that the male lead A was weak and sickly in the early stages and was not favored at home. He could only take over the mess that others didn’t want, or some niche projects that didn’t make much money.
And this auction… it was all students’ works. Although good works could sell for high prices and make the painter famous overnight, compared to other large auction houses… it was simply not worth mentioning.
He Anche was a year older than the female lead O, which meant he was also a year older than the original host. At his age, he should actually be in contact with the core business, but… now he was still lingering on the sidelines. It seemed the male lead A had the “miserable but strong comeback” script.
Looking at the current situation, as long as she didn’t court death, there was no need to stay too far away from the male and female leads. Perhaps even playing matchmaker a little would allow her to live longer.
After all, the book’s plot can be changed!
Ye Xingran calculated in her mind, but still couldn’t resist telling Wei Xuejin this good news today.
She hadn’t forgotten that she was still short 7 sweet nothings to say to the Auntie.
However, she couldn’t continue saying “cheesy” sweet nothings, because the Auntie knew more than she did.
[Auntie~ Auntie~ Coo-coo-coo~] She sent a message, and also took a photo of a cloud to send to her, waiting for her reply.
This would make it easier to say the sweet nothings that followed.
However, Wei Xuejin’s side had encountered a lot of trouble and directly missed Ye Xingran’s message—
The time Ye Xingran spent talking to He Anche on the phone didn’t exceed 10 minutes, and it would take Wei Xuejin at least half an hour to get to the company.
She thought when she sent the message, Wei Xuejin should be on the road and not too busy to reply to her in time.
But she waited and waited. She had waited for almost 5 minutes and still hadn’t received a reply, which really made her feel a bit disappointed.
Fine then. A busy person who handles a myriad of affairs every day can’t be waiting for her message all the time, right?
Besides, she felt that Wei Xuejin probably wasn’t the type of person who liked using WeChat. Otherwise, she seemed very surprised when she asked her to add her?
None of this was certain.
Ye Xingran stopped waiting and began to think about what kind of paintings she should give He Anche for the auction.
Still, on one hand, she was a bit interested in the current situation of He Anche, the male lead A.
Although she didn’t treat the other party as an enemy, for someone who could potentially harm her, she surely wanted to “know herself and know the enemy” for a hundred victories.
Knowing more about the other party’s situation would be better.
So she asked the System directly: “Has the male lead not risen yet?”
The male lead in her impression wasn’t much worse than Wei Xuejin, meaning in terms of doing business.
And if she remembered correctly, the male lead A was also studying at her university. He had just said it; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to host the auction for Xu Guannan’s lecture.
This basic information matched up, but she didn’t know much about other situations.
[He is currently in the period of enduring and biding his time. He is not very familiar with the female lead O yet, and they haven’t even formally met.] the System said.
“Haven’t formally met? But it should be soon, right?” Ye Xingran hadn’t read the full story in the book. The information she got was all given by the System. She only knew that the point where she entered the story was quite early.
Because Wei Xuejin, who should have died early, was still alive and well, and the female lead O was still a student and hadn’t suffered a major change, so naturally many things hadn’t happened yet.
Thus, the room for her to operate was quite large.
Now, looking at this favorability thing, she faintly felt the plot had deviated somewhat. They shouldn’t be focusing their attention on her!
[It is indeed soon~ Does the Host want to match them up?] The System sounded a bit excited when it mentioned this.
“It depends on the situation. Perhaps if they fall in love at first sight, it’ll be none of my business.”
Ye Xingran was very open-minded. Seeing that it was almost time to go to school, she didn’t delay further. Even if there were no classes in the morning, she could go to the library to study and also properly conceptualize her paintings—
Although some of her previous exercises could actually be taken to the auction.
However, it would be a bit meaningless to use exercises for all three paintings.
So she still needed to re-conceptualize.
And her manga wasn’t finished yet; it was also time to color it.
She should definitely take advantage of this momentum to soar!
Full of energy, Ye Xingran went back into Wei Xuejin’s villa, packed up a bit, and then left for school.
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