Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

That evening, Liu Yunshu called Lin Chuchu and told her what had happened.

"Chuchu... do you think I should seriously consider Mr. Liu's suggestion?"

"The Liu family?!"

On the other end of the phone, Lin Chuchu's voice suddenly rose, filled with unbelievable excitement.

"My God! Yun Shu, do you even know what kind of opportunity this is?!"

"The cultural and artistic sector of the Liu Group is at the very top of the industry!"

"To gain the personal appreciation of the helmsman, Liu Chengyan, is like a golden pie falling from the sky—a diamond-encrusted one at that!"

She spoke so fast she seemed to want to reach through the phone line and shake her friend awake.

"Yun Shu, with your talent and this favorable opportunity, you're destined for great things! The road after the finals will be incredibly smooth!"

"Is it really... really that good?" Liu Yunshu's voice was still soft and sweet, with a hint of doubt and timidity.

"Of course! Absolutely true!"

Lin Chuchu's tone was resolute and full of certainty.

"Countless established painters in the industry want to get on Liu's good side; missing this opportunity might be a lifelong regret!"

"Well... okay, I'll listen to you, Chu Chu." She sent Lin Chu Chu the contact information for Liu Chengyan's assistant.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The following afternoon, the two parties arranged to meet at the "Yunwu Pavilion," a renowned establishment in the city known for its privacy and elegant style.

Jiang Chi wanted to come along, but unfortunately the team added a high-intensity physical training camp at the last minute, and the coach was keeping a close eye on him, so he couldn't get away.

Fortunately, he had his capable friend Lin Chuchu by his side, which put his mind at ease to some extent.

Lin Chuchu took Liu Yunshu's arm and followed the waiter through the corridor to their reserved waterfront private room.

Pushing open the door, one sees Liu Chengyan already sitting upright by the bright window.

"Mr. Liu, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Lin Chuchu spoke first, her tone appropriate and tactful, and pulled Liu Yunshu to sit down opposite her.

She subtly observed the man before her; the rumored head of the Liu Group indeed possessed an aura of absolute control.

Liu Chengyan's gaze first fell on Liu Yunshu.

Today she wore a light apricot-colored knee-length dress with a simple design, adorned with tiny pearls at the neckline and cuffs.

He smiled slightly, revealing an impeccable, gentle smile, his voice warm:

"Miss Liu, Miss Lin, the pre-Qingming Longjing tea here is quite delicious; you two may wish to try it."

The waiter refilled the tea in time, and the clear tea soup rippled in the cup, with a refreshing aroma.

Liu Yunshu held the teacup, feeling the warmth of the cup with her fingertips.

His gaze fell on the cooperation proposal on the table, his eyes revealing a hint of bewildered seriousness.

"Mr. Liu, we would like to learn more about the specific details of the cooperation."

Lin Chuchu opened the plan and got straight to the point.

"The dedicated art studios and curatorial resources mentioned in the support plan, as well as the division of copyrights for the works, all need to be clarified."

Liu Chengyan tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his tone calm and composed, each sentence clear and logical:

"The private art studio is located in Liu's Cultural and Creative Park and will be ready for handover next week. Ms. Liu can adjust it according to her own needs."

"The curatorial team will follow up on the individual mini-exhibitions after the finals, taking full responsibility for everything from theme planning to publicity and promotion."

"Regarding copyright, the Liu family only retains the right to commercially exhibit the works during the collaboration period; the copyright of the creation still belongs to Ms. Liu."

"The profit-sharing ratio for subsequent business cooperation is also clearly stated in the plan: the Liu family will only take 30%, and the rest will all go to Miss Liu."

Lin Chuchu ran her fingertips along the pages of the proposal paper, her surprise still lingering in her eyes, yet her concerns were also impossible to hide.

Such overwhelmingly favorable terms make people hesitant to trust them easily.

She looked up at Liu Chengyan, her tone still polite, but with a hint of caution:

"The conditions Mr. Liu offered did exceed our expectations, but... they were perhaps a bit too generous."

"We are truly curious, why do you value a newcomer like Yun Shu so highly?"

This question was direct, revealing Liu Yunshu's hidden worries and subtly probing Liu Chengyan's true intentions.

Liu Chengyan remained completely calm, a gentle smile still playing on his lips.

The gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses fell on Liu Yunshu's face, carrying a hint of sincerity:

"Miss Lin is overthinking it. The Liu family's support program is precisely aimed at discovering promising new talents."

"Miss Liu's paintings contain a purity and tension that is rare even among many senior painters."

"I watched 'Warm Sunshine' from the preliminary round three times. The resilience hidden in that loneliness was very touching."

He paused, his fingertips casually tracing the rim of the teacup, his tone relaxed:

"I have always valued talent; good talent should not be buried."

"Instead of wasting resources on established, commercially successful painters, we should give truly promising newcomers a chance."

These words were perfectly worded, explaining the reason while subtly praising Liu Yunshu.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunshu's eyes welled up with tears, and her cheeks flushed slightly, making her appear even more charming.

Lin Chuchu's doubts gradually dissipated, after all, she had long heard of Liu Chengyan's reputation for "cherishing talent" in the industry.

No one ever imagined that he would care so much about a newcomer.

"We appreciate Mr. Liu's sincerity and are very grateful."

Lin Chuchu smiled and nodded, completely letting her guard down.

"With the finals approaching, Yun Shu's current focus is on creative work, so the details of the collaboration may have to be finalized after the finals?"

"nature."

Liu Chengyan readily agreed, his gaze returning to Liu Yunshu, his tone gentle to the point of indulgence.

"The finals are the most important thing right now, and I've already had my assistant prepare the key to the private studio."

"Ms. Liu can go and use it today, familiarize herself with the environment in advance, and create with more peace of mind."

As he spoke, he pushed an exquisite wooden box in front of Liu Yunshu.

"Inside are the key and access card for the art studio. The security in the cultural and creative park is very good, and Miss Liu can go there at any time."

"If you need any additional art supplies or want to adjust the layout of the studio, just contact my assistant. Don't hesitate to ask."

Liu Yunshu looked at the wooden box in front of her, her fingertips trembling slightly, her eyes filled with tears of gratitude:

"Mr. Liu, you...you are so kind, I don't know how to thank you enough."

"No need to thank me, I just hope you can perform at your best in the finals and live up to your talent."

Liu Chengyan responded calmly, his tone even, but the hint of gloom in his eyes could not hide the turbulent thoughts churning within him.

The timid little rabbit finally accepted the olive branch that was offered to it.

In the days to come, she will have plenty of opportunities to see clearly who is the person who can give her the most stable support.

The matter was settled, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Just as Lin Chuchu was about to get up and say goodbye to Liu Yunshu, her cell phone suddenly rang sharply in her bag.

She answered the phone, listened for a few moments, her expression changed slightly, and she said repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I'll be right back!"

After hanging up the phone, her face was filled with anxiety and apology as she looked at Liu Yunshu and Liu Chengyan:

"I'm so sorry! There's an emergency at home, Yunshu, I..."

Liu Yunshu's heart tightened, and a clear sense of panic flashed across her light brown eyes.

In this unfamiliar place, facing the imposing presence of Ryu Seung-yeon, her friend's sudden departure left her momentarily at a loss.

Her fingertips unconsciously tightened around the hem of her skirt, her voice strained with feigned composure:

"No, it's nothing, Chuchu, you go back quickly! Be careful on the road, don't rush!"

"I'll contact you as soon as I've finished!"

Lin Chuchu hurriedly grabbed her bag and nodded apologetically to Liu Chengyan.

"Mr. Liu, I'm so sorry, there's an emergency at home, I have to go now. Yun Shu, please... I'll have to trouble you."

After saying that, she rushed out of the private room like a gust of wind, her footsteps quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.

The private room suddenly fell silent.

Only the two of them remained, sitting opposite each other. The air was filled with the refreshing aroma of Longjing tea, yet a subtle tension inexplicably arose.

Liu Yunshu lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling like startled butterfly wings, her fingertips gripping the hem of her skirt tightly.

She exuded a sense of helplessness and vulnerability, like a little rabbit suddenly abandoned, making people feel sorry for her.

Liu Chengyan took in the panic in her eyes, and a faint, almost playful smile appeared on his lips.

The gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses was deep and unfathomable, yet his tone remained perfectly gentle and warm.

"Miss Lin is in a hurry, that's unfortunate. Miss Liu, would you like me to take you home?"

Liu Yunshu suddenly raised her head, her embarrassment and panic evident in her eyes.

She quickly waved her hand, her voice becoming even softer with nervousness:

"No, no need! It's too much trouble for Mr. Liu! I... I can take a taxi back myself, it's very convenient, really!"

"This is peak time for taxis, and Yunwuxuan is located in a remote area, so we'll probably have to wait a long time."

Liu Chengyan gently shook his head, his tone carrying an undeniable gentleness.

"Besides, I'm worried about you going back by yourself. Just consider it a courtesy to the host to see you off; it's no trouble at all."

His words were clear and logical, and his thoughtfulness was impeccable. He gave her a way out while subtly eliminating any possibility of her refusing.

After a moment, she nodded gently, her voice so low it was almost inaudible, filled with shyness and embarrassment.

"Well... then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Liu. I'm so sorry."

"It's alright."

Ryu Seung-yeon responded indifferently, then got up and walked out.

He walked with a leisurely pace, but deliberately slowed down when he reached the door of the private room, as if waiting for the person behind him.

Liu Yunshu lowered her head and quickly followed, trying to keep a distance.

Just as she passed by him, Ryu Seung-yeon raised his hand as if to signal to the waiter outside the door.

He raised his arm slightly, his fingertips brushing against the cool back of her hand.

The sudden warmth made Liu Yunshu instinctively pull her hand back and pause in her steps.

Two deep blushes instantly rose on her porcelain-white cheeks, spreading all the way to her ears.

Those eyes, always brimming with moisture, glanced at him in alarm before quickly looking down again.

She looked even more charming and delicate, like a mimosa plant that would curl up at the slightest touch.

Liu Chengyan saw her reaction, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his eyes, and his smile deepened.

The little rabbit's reaction was more interesting than he had imagined.

This raw, genuine panic and shyness.

Like the finest catalyst, it silently plucked at the string of "control" deep within his heart.

The more panicked and struggling the prey is, the more the hunter can enjoy the pleasure of gradually pulling in the net.