Title: 不正经关系 (Improper Relationship)
Author：御小凡 (Yu Xiaofan)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists ：严海安 (Yan Hai’an – MC), 孙言 (Sun Yan – ML)
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Li Qing’s chosen location is a clubhouse which is located just downstairs from her gallery. There is a platform garden with various green plants in the clubhouse. It is pleasing to the eye and it also maintains privacy. It is especially pleasant to sit at the platform when the weather is good.
The operation of a gallery is far less glamorous than it looks from the outside world. The sales tax is much higher than that of other industries. Thus, it is a huge burden. Sometimes the more glamorous it is, the more money will be spent. And unlike the established industries abroad, the popularity of the domestic art market is not that high. There are also competitions from auction houses and art exhibitions. Therefore, many galleries cannot maintain their operation and will close down their businesses. There are very few people like Li Qing who can maintain the business for ten years. This fact alone causes Yan Hai’an to admire her.
“This kind of business was good a few ago. Which extravagant gallery doesn’t make hundreds or millions of dollars a year?” Li Qing was wearing a long black dress, her long curly hair was tucked on her shoulders. She was covered in heavy makeup and luxurious jewelleries. “Now that everyone is sober, there are fewer and fewer buyers who would want to be involved in this business. And there’s even fewer collectors. That is to say, thanks to Chairman Wang, my small business can be maintained.”
Wang Yuhu sat on the main seat. He is slightly fat but he has a refined appearance. When he reaches middle age, his hair is a little bald. But he is still well groomed. He has dyed his hair back to shiny black.
Yan Hai’an had met this chairman of the Oil Painting Association of Province A before. But he had never spoken to him. So, he has no impression of him whether he is good or bad. These art associations are mostly non-governmental organisations. However, the most powerful ones are even directly linked with the government. But to put it bluntly, they are all controlled by the insiders. Mo Yisheng has always hated this kind of association. And since he was worried about how Mo Yisheng would react, Yan Hai’an had decided not to have much contact with this type of people.
Wang Yuhu waved his hand humbly and greeted Li Qing: “With galleries like yours, today’s young talents have more opportunities. In the next art exhibition in City B, I want to see more young people show up and hold this as a special exhibition for newcomers.”
Li Qing immediately complimented Wang Yuhu with a few more words. In addition to Yan Hai’an and Mo Yisheng, there are six or seven other painters, most of whom are young newcomers like Mo Yisheng. Li Qing invited Wang Yuhu over today with the intention of becoming an intermediator so that the group of people who sold paintings in her gallery could have a better chance for future developments.
Mo Yisheng obviously did not realise her good intentions. He looks like he’s bored out of his mind. He puts a blank face on and has no desire to speak at all.
The person sitting next to him also did not participate in the conversation: “Hello, I have seen you before. You are Mo Yisheng, right?”
Mo Yisheng turns his head and seems to not recognize the other person: “Yes. And you are?”
“My name is He Ling..” He Ling is in his mid-thirties. He is wearing a dark blue linen long-sleeved shirt with a string of Buddha beads glazed on his hands, making him look calm. He is only ordinary in appearance, but he has the aura of an intellectual person. He also looks to be very friendly.
He glanced at the people around who were in high spirits, and suddenly approached closer and whispered to Mo Yisheng, “You’re annoyed too, aren’t you?”
He looked like a student who was gossiping in class.
Mo Yisheng laughs unexpectedly, then turns his back on the crowd and wrinkles his face.
He Ling raises the corner of his mouth, covers it down quickly, and says with empathy: “But this is the way the industry is now so you have to get used to it.”
As Li Qing said, there are many buyers in China. And newcomers can’t cultivate a fixed customer base or reputation. It is very important to gain fame through participating in an exhibition here, to win an award there, and then to enter a famous conference. With more titles, an artist’s paintings will naturally be sold at a higher price in the market.
Mo Yisheng doesn’t answer. He is clearly not interested.
He Ling started to speak, “I wanted to talk to you when I saw you standing in front of your painting last time. But I noticed that you were busy. So I left and later didn’t find any other chance.”
Mo Yisheng knew that he was talking about the time when they were at the opening of Li Qing’s new gallery. They chat about this and it later extends to the topic of Mo Yisheng’s paintings.
On the other hand, Yan Hai’an originally had another purpose in attending this party. So he listens carefully to what the others were saying and occasionally adds on a few words, showing interest and enthusiasm.
Wang Yuhu notices him and says, “This one is a bit sharp in his judgement, is he…?”
In fact, they were introduced to each other by Li Qing as soon as they came, but they were not remembered by Wang Yuhu.
“He and Mo Yisheng came together.” Li Qing smiled, “I mentioned it to you about him last time and you also praised his painting.”
“Oh…” Wang Yuhu finally recalled that Mo Yisheng’s paintings had a classical sense of beauty and romance. He was indeed very talented in the use of lines and light and shadow, so he turned his attention to Yan Hai’an.
Yan Hai’an nudges Mo Yisheng, who was chatting happily with He Ling, and keeps saying, “Actually, I’ve always wanted to ask Chairman Wang for advice. I’ve seen Chairman Wang’s paintings before and there’s really a lot of aspects to learn from..”
Wang Yuhu smiled at Li Qing: “He is too modest.”
Li Qing also saw Yan Haian’s movements. But Mo Yisheng decided not to say a word and only stared at them. There was no other movement.
She knew very well what Mo Yisheng’s virtues were, and hurriedly said: “Young people, it’s good to be humble. In fact, there is such a topic today. I want to hold an exhibition. What do you think the theme should be? “
Wang Yuhu has no clue and can’t give direct advice so he simply said: “It’s good to have an idea first. But, do you have a list of people you would like to invite?”
Li Qing just asked out of courtesy. Since she already decided to do it, she had already thought about the whole thing: “I want to create a special project. With our local characteristics as the content. This is a selling point. After the exhibition is held, the paintings will be auctioned directly.”
Wang Yuhu nodded and motioned her to continue.
Li Qing turned to the others: “In the west side of City B, there is an ancient village about 100 kilometres away. It has not yet been developed so it is not very famous. But I have seen it and it is very distinctive. It will also be developed soon. Some companies are optimistic about it as a tourism resource and have already started construction. If you paint with such a theme of ‘disappearing culture’, the effect should be very good, and it will easily cause social debates at that time.”
This means that those who will participate in the exhibition will have to go to the local area to collect information and scenery. Li Qing discussed it further in a grand manner that she even chartered the transportation fee to food and accommodation. After all, these paintings are sold in her gallery and are her commodities. She will never be stingy with these necessary investments. The only requirement is that the time should not be too long. Some people can take time to paint for a year and a half. She can’t wait that long.
The people present immediately expressed their desire to participate. Mo Yisheng was not interested in the association but was very interested in painting itself. So he agreed.
In the evening, Li Qing ordered high quality Chinese food for them but Mo Yisheng refused to stay no matter how much Yan Hai’an persuaded him.
Mo Yisheng kept complaining: “I shouldn’t have come to this party today. I already know what they’re talking about.”
“I didn’t ask you to do anything and it won’t delay things on your end.” Yan Hai’an persuaded him bitterly. He said, “I don’t even need you to say anything, can’t you stay?”
Mo Yisheng frowned and looked at Yan Hai’an with little reproach: “This group of people gathered to hold stinky feet. Just look at that chairman talking. I don’t even know what to say to him. Have you really seen his paintings? Do you like that kind of thing?”
Yan Hai’an had really seen it, otherwise how could he respond well with them? “Yisheng, you are too extreme. These are just for work.”
“But painting is not work.” Mo Yisheng looked at Yan Hai’an stubbornly, with obvious disappointment in his eyes, “What the hell… Hai’an, we used to agree before. You weren’t like this when you were learning to paint. I told you not to mix with people like this. When you were with them, the way you laughed was too fake.”
These words hurt him. Even though his ability to deal with such words are getting better these days, it still hurts as if being stabbed. His chest heaved up and down several times. If painting was not a job, what would he rely on to eat? How do you buy painting tools for your work? He thought in his head. In the eyes of some people, painting is art and the creation of the soul. But in the eyes of most people, painting is a commodity and a business that can be dealt with. No industry can exist in isolation and must abide by the rules.
Yan Hai’an tried his best to restrain himself and looked at Mo Yisheng without saying a word. Mo Yisheng’s eyes were still so spotless and clear.
It’s heartwarming and also heart-wrenchingly clear.
“…You go back first. Don’t forget to eat.” Yan Hai’an turned his eyes away as if admitting defeat, and exhorted tiredly, “I’ll be back after dinner.”
Seeing that he really didn’t want to go back with him, Mo Yisheng became angry. He simply turned around and left alone.
At this time, Li Qing had already arranged the seats and waited for the others. She came down to find the two of them but she saw that only Yan Hai’an was there. She then clearly asked, “He still decided to leave?”
Yan Hai’an sighs and lets the emotions in his chest die out. Without showing anything on his face, he smiled at Li Qing normally: “You know he only likes to paint and hates socialising the most.”
“Okay, he always dislikes the things that I do.” Li Qing didn’t think it was anything heavy. “He’s still young in the end and hasn’t experienced much.”
The temperature has risen a little today, but Yan Hai’an is still dressed in formal clothes. He straightened his neckline and still looks impeccable: “This is his nature. It has nothing to do with how much he has experienced. And isn’t the artistic conception in his paintings exactly because of this character of his? “
“The paintings that are less casual have little purity, and the paintings that are read by a thousand sails are also profound.” After Li Qing finished speaking, she held Yan Hai’an’s hand gracefully and said, “Let’s go. Let’s go up.”
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Next update: 2022.04.13
*Translator’s Note: There is no Sun Yan in this chapter. It’s a bit boring to me, sorry. I hate it when people talk about business. We will see Sun Yan in the next chapter. -K
