Twenty-seven, playing with string puppets

  As Fang Jixin stepped out of the Kerry house, he told himself that he would never step through this door again. Not for anything else, but in this room, he had hurt a woman's heart in pursuit of fleeting pleasure.

  That was the woman he wanted to protect for his whole life.

  For some time after that, Carrie didn't bother him again.

  Fang Jixin didn't go to attend any basketball training either.

  On days without interruptions, Fang Jixin attends classes on time and sets up his painting stall on time.

  Business was not very fixed, because the source of customers could not be easily obtained, but Fang Jixin would not lower his standards because of this. His unique personality quickly became a peculiar landscape in the central square.

  The tide of people goes wave after wave, and what can be left behind is only a few?!

  But that's enough. The high fees are sufficient to make up for the difference in numbers. Quality over quantity, this is Fang Ji's new business philosophy.

  It's almost time to close up shop, and there aren't any customers yet. Fang Jixin is getting ready to take a break, even though the sun is still high in the sky.

  The crowd that had gathered to watch surged forward. Fang Jixin didn't mind, he was used to it. He continued to pack up his tools. In the last moment, his movements were forced to stop.

  Two men in black clothes and sunglasses, one on the left and one on the right, sandwiched themselves around him, with one of them grabbing his hand to stop his next move.

  What's wrong? It can't be the gang, right? I didn't provoke them myself.

  Fang Jixin lifted his head, only to find that a woman had sat down in front of him. No, not just any woman - an absolute beauty. The only thing was that this woman seemed to be a bit older, approaching forty years old.

  Mature beauty has its own flavor!!!!!

  At nearly forty years old, Fang Jixin was unsure what kind of clothing he should wear and how to run this business.

  Can you draw a picture for me? The woman asked, her voice sweet and piercing.

  Unexpectedly, Western beauties can also have such sweet and soft voices, rarely seen.

  In her heart, she had already tacitly agreed, but her mouth said something else.

  No way.

  Why? The middle-aged woman was shocked. A cold frost hung on her beautiful face. To be honest, very few people can talk to themselves like this. Because there is only one way for those who speak to her in this manner - hell.

  Two tall men in black clothes, who were originally standing beside Fang Jixin and had already left a distance, took a step forward. The two of them looked at Fang Jixin with their eyes. If he said another wrong word, they would be ready to teach this ignorant young man a lesson. Six or seven big men behind the woman formed a fan shape, surrounding him in the middle.

  It can't be. Such a big lineup. Fang Jixin's gaze pierced through the crowd, among the three latest Audi models, there was something that made his eyes light up: Black Phantom. A supercar with global limited edition, no more than ten units will be produced. The car represents a person's identity symbol. This is an untouchable master. Fang Jixin felt that he had spoken too rashly just now.

  I... I only paint for beautiful women. Fang Jixin said with a stiff upper lip.

  Are you saying I'm not beautiful?! Your tone has turned extremely cold.

  Yes, you're not a beauty.

  There's nothing for it but to take a gamble.

  The man in black beside him was ready to make his move.

  You're an absolute beauty!

  Fang Ji Xin spoke out before the men in black made their move.

  I don't have the skill to paint a beautiful woman.

  Is it?

  The originally cold face suddenly had a smile. The beautiful noblewoman waved her hand. The man in black retreated.

  Little rascal! She thought to herself.

  But you can try your best.

  Fang Jixin didn't dare slack off and quickly took out his brush, assuming a pose.

  He picked up his pen, but hesitated to put it down. He found that drawing the external beauty of this woman was not difficult, the key was her charm, and how to express it required careful consideration.

  Madam, may I make a request?

  You said.

  May I get closer to take a look at you?

  Fang Jixin knew his request was a bit excessive, but in order not to rock the boat, he still plucked up the courage to bring it up.

  Reason.

  I need to savor your charm.

  Fang Ji Xin's words are easily misunderstood and lead people to have ambiguous associations.

  This is okay.

  The woman agreed.

  Fang Jixin walked over, close enough to feel the woman's heartbeat. The guards beside her were already tense, ready to strike at any moment. But she herself remained calm and composed, breathing softly.

  Under the gaze of a strange man, she still reacted calmly and naturally, which shows that this woman is not simple.

  Outer beauty and inner wisdom. Outer elegance and inner firmness.

  Fang Jixin had his first intuitive judgment.

  He stepped back a few steps, sat down, and began to write. Time passed slowly, two hours later, Fang Jixin put down his pen. He handed the painting to the man beside him. Let him send it over. The beautiful woman took a look, smiled.

  She genuinely praised that it was indeed painted well!

  Hand it over to the person next to you and let him keep it. She stood up, said thank you, and turned around to leave.

  Money... Watching her hurry onto the bus, Fang Jixin suddenly remembered that he couldn't let these two hours go to waste, so he plucked up his courage and shouted out loud.

  The beautiful woman stopped for a moment, turned around and said two sentences to the guard beside her, got into the car, closed the door and left.

  A guard walked up to Fang Jixin and handed him a business card, saying that the lady had invited him and asked him to come at 7 o'clock tomorrow night.

  Damn it, what's going on? I'm short of money now, not food. Who cares about your meal?!

  After much deliberation, Fang Jixin finally agreed to Professor Ross's invitation and went to his laboratory to help.

  Work is paid for, while helping out is a moral obligation. Fang Jixin did not want to turn the purely teacher-student relationship into an employer-employee relationship.

  He made a special explanation to Professor Ross. The old man just smiled bitterly after listening. What a strange Oriental, doing work without pay, and there are actually people like this.

  In the afternoon, during self-study time, Professor Ross took Fang Jixin to his laboratory for a tour. This left Fang Jixin with a lot of emotions.

  A high school teacher has such advanced and complete experimental equipment, which is unmatched in many countries, including China.

  The development of science and technology is based on a solid economic material foundation. In this regard, the Chinese people still have a long way to go.

  Fang Jixin walked out of the professor's laboratory, and it was already 6 o'clock in the afternoon. When he came out of the school gate, he saw two new Audi cars parked at the entrance, with several men in black standing beside them, wearing sunglasses, looking cool. He thought they were the private car team of some noble prince from a certain country and didn't pay attention.

  Just as he was about to leave, one of them stopped him. The other made a polite gesture of invitation. It wasn't until then that Fang Jixin remembered that it was one of the men in black from yesterday.

  Is this an invitation or a kidnapping? Not even asking if I have time. Must attend when invited, how overbearing!

  Recalling what they said when they left yesterday, Fang Jixin knew that he couldn't not get on the bus today. He had no choice but to obey.

  The car drove through the bustling city and stopped in front of a large shopping mall. Several men in black led Fang Jixin out of the car.

  He entered the men's department of a shopping mall. One of them took a look at Fang Jixin's figure and called over a salesperson, selecting several suits for him to try on. What a coincidence! He thought back to a few months ago in Beijing, where he had experienced a similar scene, and his face flashed with a bitter smile. Did he still have the right to miss her?

  No room for bargaining, can only be arranged by them. When leaving the mall entrance, Fang Jixin had changed into a new set of clothes from inside out and from top to bottom.

  The car stopped in front of the gate of a villa.

  After entering the gate, it took another five minutes to reach the central main building of the manor. Eighteenth-century Scottish architectural style. Brilliant and resplendent.

  At the entrance, many famous cars stopped, and a group of noble beauties got out of the car one after another, walking through the red carpet to the hall. In the crowd, Fang Jixin saw a familiar figure, Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, USA. He was secretly shocked. This is definitely not an ordinary party. What on earth did that woman bring herself here for?

  No lingering in the hall, the black-clad guards directly led Fang Jixin upstairs. At the corner of the stairs, Fang Jixin glanced back at the hall and found that there were not a few familiar faces from the East. Across from Schwarzenegger was what looked like Yang Jie, China's consul general to California. So many political bigwigs gathered here. Had something happened?

  The noblewoman is making up. Fang Jixin has been late for over ten minutes, but she doesn't seem to mind. Seeing Fang Jixin arrive, she waves her hand and signals him to sit down and wait a moment.

  A middle-aged man in deep blue walked up to Fang Jixin and whispered something in his ear.

  So that's how it is.

  Here is the translation:

  A live auction of Asian, mainly Chinese, artifacts will be held here. The lady wants him to serve as an auction consultant, providing expert opinions on the artworks being sold and offering first-hand information for bidders.

  Why choose me? I'm not an antique appraiser. I don't have that kind of ability. She's chosen the wrong person. Fang Jixin hastily said he wasn't up to it.

  Don't bother with anything else, just wait for instructions and hold up the bidding paddle when the time comes.

  The beautiful woman said with a faint smile.

  It turned out that I was just a pawn. Fang Jixin only then understood that he had been playing the role of a puppet, a wooden puppet on strings controlled by the rich.

  After getting the bidding card in hand, Fang Jixin was led downstairs by a man in blue.

  Standing among a group of strangers, Fang Jixin didn't know how to react.

  He tried to recall the social skills his coach had taught him during his training with the Dragon Knights, but he had only attended a few classes perfunctorily and his language was not rich enough for him to convert classroom knowledge into real skills.

  Hello, young man, can I get to know you? A middle-aged man's voice came from behind. Fang Jixin hurriedly turned around.

  My goodness, it's Consul Yang. The old man's benevolent smile is quite captivating.

  Hello, Consul Yang, very nice to see you.

  Fang Jixin was so excited that he became somewhat incoherent. This is the overall representative of the motherland's relatives. Even after special training (half a catty of water), Fang Jixin still couldn't suppress his inner excitement.

  Young man, since you know me, can't you let me get to know you too?

  My name is Fang Jixin, I am a Chinese overseas student. Now in...

  Fang Jixin was about to speak out his situation like reciting a familiar book when a man in blue clothes coughed and walked over.

  Chong Yang Jie gently bowed her head slightly.

  Consul, the auction is about to begin, madam invites you to take a seat upstairs.

  Yang Jie nodded and left.

  As he left, he gave Fang Jixin a meaningful smile...

  Unfortunately, Fāng Jǐxīn, with his simple mind, did not grasp the meaning behind the smile...