Chapter 113: The Revelation of the Truth!

“Clatter, clatter, clatter.”

As the words fell, Zhao Xiue glanced over and immediately a few security guards rushed forward, surrounding Ye Wushang directly!

“Bang!”

Old Master Lan slammed the table and stood up, shouting harshly, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m still here! Today is my birthday banquet, and you actually dare to make a move right in front of me?”

“Dad!”

Zhao Xiue frowned and tried to calm the situation, “We're not trying to start a fight, but this useless man needs to give an explanation!”

“He got jealous and sent a precious calligraphy painting worth a hundred million to you, and immediately comes back with a forgery to disgust everyone.”

“Precisely because today is your sixtieth birthday, I absolutely will not allow this useless man to cause trouble!”

Lan Ruoshuang interjected, “That’s right, Grandpa.”

“We know you care for that useless man, but you can’t openly show such favoritism.”

“Today is your big birthday! If you don’t punish him severely for what he’s done, how can you command respect in the future?”

“Enough!” Old Master Lan cut them off, taking a deep breath, then pulling Ye Wushang aside to ask, “Wushang, tell your grandfather, is there any hidden meaning behind this gift you gave me?”

“I think the value of a gift lies in the sentiment behind it.”

“I don’t care about the monetary worth; I only care about the intention.”

“Even if it’s just a fake, I—”

“Grandpa, the gift I gave you is not a fake; it’s genuine.”

Ye Wushang raised his voice, about to defend himself, but before he could finish, Lan Ruoxue stepped forward, unable to bear it any longer, and sharply said, “Enough, Ye Wushang!”

“I understand you want to offer birthday congratulations to Grandpa, but clearly, the one from Young Master Hu is authentic, and yours is a forgery. How can you still stubbornly speak nonsense?”

“Is your pride really that important to you?”

“Can’t you be a little more mature?”

Her words echoed the sentiments of everyone present.

In their eyes, Ye Wushang was nothing but stubbornly making excuses and embarrassing himself.

Ye Wushang didn’t care about others’ opinions, but hearing Lan Ruoxue’s words brought an inexplicable ache to his heart.

“Do you really think I’m just defending my pride?”

Ye Wushang sneered coldly and said indifferently, “Whether I’m mature or not has nothing to do with you.”

“I’m here today just to wish Grandpa a happy birthday, and I don’t care about the value.”

“All I know is that this painting carries my heartfelt intentions.”

“As for whose painting is genuine, mine or Pei Qinghu’s, there’s no need to argue. Why not just have an expert appraise them?”

Saying that, he scanned the crowd and finally looked at Lan Taibao.

He was the eldest son of the Lan family and Lan Ruoxue’s father.

Having been enamored with calligraphy, paintings, and antiques for years, he had handed over the family affairs to Lan Ruoxue early on to focus on his own passion.

He had a shop on the antique street and was an expert in this field.

“Wushang, you’re sure you want me to appraise them?”

Lan Taibao looked at him with suspicion.

He didn’t dislike his former son-in-law as much as his wife did.

After all, family business and internal disputes were none of his concern.

He just wanted to pursue his own interests, nothing more.

At first glance, both paintings, in terms of color, material, and texture, seemed superior in Pei Qinghu’s.

He didn’t understand why anyone would risk presenting a forgery, then insist on having it appraised by himself—it was like courting death.

“Of course.”

Ye Wushang nodded, glancing at Pei Qinghu indifferently. “I know whether my painting is genuine.”

“Having an expert appraise it is just to seek justice. I wonder, Pei Qinghu, do you dare?”

“I dare!”

“What is there to be afraid of?”

The arrow was on the string; it had to be released.

Under Ye Wushang’s pressure, Pei Qinghu gritted his teeth and nodded.

The painting he sent was indeed fake.

He had spent tens of thousands hiring a master for a perfect copy.

What a joke.

He was rich but not stupid.

Spending a hundred million to gift Old Master Lan? That would be brainless.

In his heart, he still preferred Huang Pianruo.

As for Lan Ruoxue, although she was good in many ways, to him she was just a fling, a mere conquest.

The master’s copying was so skillful that it could easily deceive.

But who knew this useless man also brought out a painting.

Honestly, when it was revealed, even he was shocked.

Especially with how confidently Ye Wushang spoke, as if it were genuine.

“But this painting has long been lost. Even if someone knew about it, there’s no way it came from this useless man.”

“On the market, its value is at least a hundred million, and it’s priceless.”

“If this useless man’s painting is genuine, I’d rather die than believe it!”

Thinking this way, Pei Qinghu was certain the painting in Ye Wushang’s hands was fake.

His insistence now was just a gamble on courage.

Too bad he wasn’t scared of anything, having been scared since childhood!

“But I have a condition.”

Pei Qinghu took a deep breath and looked mockingly at Ye Wushang. “If it turns out your painting is fake, you have to kneel and kowtow to me to admit your mistake.”

“After all, you slandered me with a forgery, causing serious damage to my reputation.”

“You must apologize to me, or else—”

“Fine, no problem.”

Ye Wushang interrupted and asked, “And if my painting is genuine?”

“Impossible!”

“Whether possible or not, since you want to make a bet, you have to follow the rules!”

Pei Qinghu said with a dark expression, “What do you want?”

“I don’t ask for an apology, but you have to transfer one hundred million to Grandpa’s account.”

“Since the gift is fake, at least the money should be real.”

Boom!

As soon as those words were spoken, Pei Qinghu’s mind exploded.

He never expected this useless man to be so ruthless, demanding a hundred million outright.

The Pei family was wealthy.

A hundred million was just a drop in the bucket.

But currently, his father was only a candidate for the family head, and he was not the only heir.

His monthly allowance was only a few hundred thousand, with no savings—one hundred million was a painful sum.

“Forget a hundred million, even ten hundred million, Young Master Hu can afford it!”

Lan Ruoshuang sneered, “Besides, you’re just venting. Do you really think Young Master Hu will pay? His painting is obviously fake!”

“You want a fake appraisal? Wait until my dad announces the results and see how you die!”

“Young Master Hu, just agree. He won’t really pay, his painting is definitely fake!”

Zhao Xiue chimed in, urging.

“Fine, I agree!”

Pei Qinghu gritted his teeth and nodded.

He was certain Ye Wushang’s painting was a forgery.

Claiming a hundred million was just talk; he wouldn’t spend a cent.

Once he passed this hurdle, he would surely win favor from the entire Lan family.

Then, he could sweet-talk Lan Ruoxue into bed, making it a done deal.

“Bring them over.”

“Bring both paintings here for my husband to appraise,” Zhao Xiue ordered, and two security guards immediately placed the paintings before Lan Taibao.

Lan Taibao, devoted to antiques, always carried his tools.

He opened his case, took out a magnifying glass and professional instruments, and began the appraisal.

Everyone watched intently, afraid to miss any detail.

Only Ye Wushang sat calmly, continuing to eat and drink, his appetite even better than before.

“Eat, eat, eat. All you do is eat.”

“Eat yourself to death, you useless man!”

Lan Ruoshuang glanced at him mockingly.

Zhao Xiue snorted coldly, “Let him eat. I want to see if he can still eat when the appraisal results come out!”

“I feel like he’s just having a last meal before the end, haha.”

Pei Qinghu chuckled, “When the results come out, not only will he have to kowtow and apologize to me, but he’ll be ruined.”

“I’ll use this to spread the word—bringing a fake gift to Old Master Lan’s birthday banquet. He won’t even be able to stay in Jinghan City!”

Hearing this, Lan Ruoxue felt an inexplicable fear.

Since their divorce, after several encounters, she sensed that Ye Wushang might have some ability.

But he was arrogant and reckless, completely lacking restraint.

He knowingly courted disaster, and now she didn’t even know how to help him.

The last time at Wutong Warehouse, she had some fondness for him.

But today, his self-destructive behavior left her utterly disappointed.

Perhaps calling him here today was a mistake in itself.

Time passed swiftly.

Half an hour later, Lan Taibao put down his magnifying glass and tools, his brow furrowed deeply.

Zhao Xiue eagerly asked, “So, husband, that useless man’s painting is fake, right?”

“Do I need to say?”

“I’ve seen Dad appraise antiques many times; whenever he makes this face, it means there’s a forgery.”

Lan Ruoshuang urged, “Dad, announce the results quickly. Is that useless man’s painting fake or not?”

Everyone else was in agreement, eagerly awaiting the moment to slap Ye Wushang’s face hard.

But to their shock, Lan Taibao sighed deeply, treating Ye Wushang’s painting like a treasure as he returned it, and curiously said, “Wushang, I truly didn’t expect you to have an original from Yuan Chongming. This Hundred Birds Pine and Crane painting is authentic!”

Boom!

The moment these words fell, the room was stunned.

Everyone looked incredulously at the scroll in Ye Wushang’s hands, then at him, their faces changing.

“How could this be?”

“That useless man’s painting is actually genuine?”

“It’s worth a hundred million. How did he get it?”

“That’s not the point. The point is, if his painting is authentic, then the one Young Master Hu has must be a forgery!”

As they spoke, all eyes involuntarily turned to Pei Qinghu.

Thud.

Pei Qinghu, struck like a bolt from the blue, could barely stand.

Trembling, he collapsed to the ground.

His face pale and drenched in sweat, he stared blankly at everything, murmuring, “How could this be?”

“Impossible, this can’t be.”

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