“Could you show me? I would like to take a look at the process of framing portraits and the like,” Wang Xiangyun said with a smile.
She knew how to use her beauty to her advantage, even though it was ineffective against Dongfang Ming.
Er…
The shop assistant was left stunned for a while. He was not expecting such a request.
He struggled as he considered his options before finally replying, “Sure, I’ll take you there.”
He believed there was no harm done in taking her there. A lady like her could not possibly come to steal the art, right?
And so he led her towards the room used for framing portraits.
Little Tian followed, feeling ominous.
Since when did her lady become interested in the art of framing?
Ming Yan, who happened to be in the store, watched as the shop assistant led the women to another part of the building. He thought it to be suspicious and questionable.
“Master, the shop assistant is taking Miss Wang and Little Tian somewhere else. They seem to be heading towards the workroom,” he told Dongfang Ming who was going through some poetry books.
That was where the shop assistant had taken their portraits just now.
Dongfang Ming continued reading, not sparing him a look. “And why are you so concerned about them?”
In other words, whatever they were up to was none of his business.
He looked at at his guard anyway, and smiled as he said, “Or are you telling me that you have feelings for Little Tian? Or perhaps Wang Xiang…”
He had barely finished his sentence when Ming Yan interrupted, “Master, how can you say that? There is no way I’d have feelings for Miss Wang, or that silly servant of hers. Not ever.”
“Oh.” Dongfang Ming nodded, albeit unconvinced.
Ming Yan was feeling helpless now. How could his master ever think that he would have feelings towards Wang Xiangyun or Little Tian? He was just worried they might be scheming something! After all, she did not receive a drawing last time. She might have felt bitter about it.
The shop assistant brought the women to the area where they framed portraits. Several workers were hard at work.
“Miss, as you can see, here is where we frame portraits of all sorts. There’s really nothing much to see.” He stood next to her, grinning flirtatiously.
What an honor it was to be able to converse with a lady of her status!
Wang Xiangyun giggled. “Sir, how can you say that? This is an art, you shouldn’t rate it like that.”
As she spoke she walked towards the workers, looking for Liu Duo and Ye Ling’s portraits.
The shop assistant chuckled, choosing to agree with her. “Yes, of course, miss. You’re right.”
The workers, upon seeing such a beautiful maiden for the first time, stopped their work at hand.
Wang Xiangyun merely greeted them by nodding ever so gently.
“What are you all looking at? Speed up the framing, people! The owner of the portraits is still waiting outside!” The shop assistant got furious when his spotlight was stolen.
Normally, the customers would drop off their artwork at the shop and come back in a few days to retrieve their finished products. Very few would wait around like Dongfang Ming.
After the yelling, the workers got back to work and only occasionally stole glances at Wang Xiangyun.
Finally, Wang Xiangyun found the portraits she was looking for next to one of the workers.
“Can I take a look at this?” she asked politely.
The worker heard her and, without hesitation, handed over Liu Duo’s portrait.
