Mu Qian couldn't remember where she had heard of someone named Meng. She thought it was probably because she had been too idle during this period. She was away from work for a long time, and her alertness and memory seemed to be decreasing.
The simple conversation between Huo Jinxi and Meng Linsheng did not bring out much useful information. Mu Qian only roughly understood that Meng Linsheng was also from Tongcheng, but had gone abroad for several years for some unknown reason and had just returned.
While the two were talking, Mu Qian obediently stood by and listened.
Huo Jinxi was always indifferent to others, and his friendship with this Meng Linsheng was probably just a casual greeting, so he ended the conversation without saying a few words.
Meng Linsheng then looked at Mu Qian again and smiled slightly, "Mrs. Huo, goodbye."
Mu Qian smiled and responded: "Goodbye."
Meng Linsheng and the people around him continued to walk forward. Mu Qian took Huo Jinxi's arm and walked a few steps, and couldn't help but look back.
This man looks calm, but his eyes are bright, with undisguised desire and scheming.
The two somewhat contradictory temperaments blended harmoniously in him.
Mu Qian was curious and couldn't help but ask Huo Jinxi: "Who is this Meng Linsheng? Have you never heard of this person before?"
"Insignificant people." Huo Jinxi said.
Mu Qian couldn't help but roll his eyes, and then thought about it, how many other people were important in Huo Jinxi's world?
Thinking of this, she didn't bother to ask Huo Jinxi any more questions.
The next day, Huo Jinxi returned to the company after his vacation, and Mu Qian returned to the busy work of the art exhibition.
At noon, Ye Xi, who let her go yesterday, took the initiative to show up.
Mu Qian was busy cataloging all the paintings at that time, and she looked very focused, busy and fulfilled.
The painting hall is not open to the public yet, and only people coming in and out are their own, so there are not many restrictions on access. Mu Qian's office door is also always open. Ye Xi stood at the door and looked at her for a while, before Mu Qian noticed her arrival.
, raised his head and glanced at her, then quickly gave her a white eye.
Ye Xi just walked in and sat down opposite her desk.
Mu Qian ignored her, and it took her a while before she spoke: "Qian Qian, you are so nice the way you are now."
"Is that what you came here to say?" Mu Qian replied without raising his head, "Of course I'm fine, because I know what I'm doing."
Ye Xi paused for a moment before adding, "He will break up with Lu Tang."
Mu Qian then raised his eyes and glanced at her, "What? Is he jealous when he saw you hanging out with other men? Is he really attracted to you?"
Ye Xi bit her lip, "Sometimes people just need external force to push them."
"Do you believe him?"
"Huo Jinxi is worthy of you giving him a second chance." Ye Xi said, "Why can't I trust him?"
Mu Qian listened, and after a moment of silence, she chuckled, and then said, "Yi Zi, we are different."
"What's different?" Ye Xi asked.
"It's impossible for Huo Jinxi to hurt me again." Mu Qian replied, "But you will be completely injured by him at any time."
"You..." Ye Xi seemed to be unable to understand the meaning of her words, "You mean you are interested in Huo Jinxi..."
"The point is not about me and him." Mu Qian interrupted her and said slowly, "I just ask you, do you still believe in Ye Jinfan?"
Ye Xi nodded slowly but firmly.
"Okay." Mu Qian said, "Although I can't do things like being brave for love, I am still willing to see others pursue good results."
After Ye Xi heard this, his whole expression relaxed, and a smile finally appeared on his face, "Then you support me?"
"Does it matter to you whether I support you or not?" Mu Qian held her chin and looked at her, "We are all independent individuals. Except for those things that violate laws and ethics, you are free to make all choices."
"Although I am independent and free, your support is very important to me." Ye Xi said.
Mu Qian raised his eyes and looked at her for a moment, and finally both of them laughed.
…
In the following time, Mu Qian devoted herself wholeheartedly to the preparations for the exhibition.
On New Year's Day, the art exhibition opened on time.
Huo Jinxi did everything he promised Mu Qian. Mu Qian wanted to invite the master of traditional Chinese painting Song Ling, the master of calligraphy Wu Pan, the owners of two auction houses, and many big names in Tongcheng's cultural industry all gathered for the exhibition.
Cutting of the opening ceremony platform.
Huo Jinxi, who was always busy, also attended in person. For a time, this memory painting exhibition became famous and everyone knew about it.
Throughout the New Year's Day holiday, there was an endless stream of people coming to Huai'an Painting Hall, and the reception staff were so busy that they had no time to rest.
People came and went, but Rong Qingzi never came.
Mu Qian thought about this matter, but didn't take it too seriously.
It doesn't matter if she comes or not, let her do it.
On the third day of the art exhibition, it was close to closing time. There were still a few sporadic visitors in the painting hall, and the staff were coming to remind them one by one.
Mu Qian worked hard for many days and promised Mr. Huo to go home for dinner today, so when the time came, she packed up and prepared to leave.
As she was going downstairs, she suddenly saw a man standing in front of the exhibition gallery on the second floor, admiring a painting in front of her.
Mu Qian stopped, turned around, and found that the man was standing in front of the portrait of her childhood.
"Hello, sir." Mu Qian greeted him with a smile.
The man turned his face, and Mu Qian was immediately startled.
Meng Linsheng?
"Mr. Meng?" After all, he was considered an acquaintance. Mu Qian quickly laughed and said, "You are welcome to visit my father's paintings."
"Originally I didn't come here for this painting exhibition." Meng Linsheng smiled slightly, "I didn't expect it, but I was very surprised. Your father's paintings are outstanding, and I especially like the peony at the door. I heard that these paintings will be put up for sale after the exhibition.
session, can I reserve that peony painting in advance?”
Mu Qian smiled happily and said, "Sorry, that peony painting is a treasure of the museum and is not for sale."
Meng Linsheng raised his eyebrows slightly, "That's a bit of a pity. What about this one?"
Meng Linsheng was looking at the portrait in front of him. Mu Qian sighed helplessly and said, "I'm really sorry, this... is not for sale either."
Meng Linsheng seemed to have guessed it, and turned to look at Mu Qian, "Is this you the one painting?"
Mu Qian nodded, "I haven't changed much, right?"
Meng Linsheng smiled lowly and shook his head, "No, you have changed a lot. At least when I stand in front of this painting, I can't imagine that the girl in the painting will become an investigative reporter when she grows up, and...
An investigative reporter who disregards his own safety, often puts himself in danger and risks his life."
Hearing these words, Mu Qian vaguely felt something.
It’s just that among the incidents she investigated, the person named Meng...
An idea suddenly flashed in Mu Qian's mind, and she looked at Meng Linsheng as if she had a sudden realization: "You are -"
Meng Linsheng looked at her inquiringly, still smiling, "Do you know me?"
"I don't know you." Mu Qian said, "I have only heard of Mr. Meng, a Mr. Meng who is loved by others."
She said this euphemistically. In fact, when she first heard the word "Meng", the other person only said, "The surname is Meng."
The person who said this is Yao Qi.
At that time, she was investigating Lin Su, and finally moved Yao Qi, and obtained all the information about Lin Su's wife Jiang Lan from Yao Qi.
Yao Qi once did an exclusive interview with Jiang Lan. He knew what was published, and he also knew some things that were not published. One of them was about Jiang Lan's first love - a man named Meng.
But Yao Qi didn't know who it was.
In the surveillance videos that Mu Qian obtained later, we could see some of Jiang Lan's living conditions——
She would often call, sometimes sweetly and tenderly, with a smile on her face, and sometimes she would be perfunctory and hang up in a hurry.
The latter one was called to Lin Su, but who she called the former one was originally unknown.
But at this moment, the face of the person on the other end of the phone suddenly appeared clearly.
Right in front of Mu Qian's eyes.
After hearing what she said, the smile on Meng Linsheng's face became a little sad, and she said slowly: "I should have come to see you earlier to say thank you to you on Xiaolan's behalf."