Chapter 410 An Encounter with an Acquaintance
"Outrageous!" The middle-aged man suddenly scolded. "This is a grave disrespect to Ms. Yan. You took it upon yourselves to decide, now apologize to her immediately."The security chief promptly bowed, apologizing to both his boss and Abella. Although it wasn't his idea, he was shouldering the blame for now."Ms. Yan, my sincerest apologies for my people's ignorance," the man said, shaking Abella's hand once again to express his deep regret."Your work interprets the theme beautifully—most would use peaches, pines, or cranes to symbolize longevity and auspiciousness. But you, you took a refreshingly different route that's absolutely brilliant!"The painting did not feature the traditional symbols of longevity such as peach, pine, or crane. Instead, Abella painted two ribbon-tailed birds, known for their long lifespan. Their long tail feathers symbolize longevity. They were depicted soaring through mist, the dynamism of their flight meticulously captured.Truly, every element of the painting—from the birds to the landscape and flora—came to life under Abella's brush, captivating the viewer."In the art world, there are many skilled painters, but none are able to capture the spirit and form as you do."Abella was a master not just because she created an entirely new style of painting, but also because each of her pieces was brimming with personal flair. More importantly, she mastered the elusive art of bringing both spirit and form to vivid life in her canvases.Her exquisite skill was unmatched among ordinary painters."Ms. Yan, would it be too bold to ask for your autograph?" the middle-aged man asked with the eagerness of a fan, his eyes full of anticipation as he gazed at Abella."Of course," Abella responded, ever composed. "Where would you like me to sign?""Here." The man opened a well-kept pocket notebook that he carried with him, handing it to her with both hands.Abella took the pen and wrote a few words on the first page: “Ride the wind, soar to great heights.” In the bottom right corner, she signed her name: “Yan Mo.”The man hadn't expected Ms. Yan to also write a blessing for him, and while touched, he was surprised to find that her handwriting resembled that of a calligrapher he admired. Before he could dwell on it, Abella spoke up."I must attend to something. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." Abella was ready to move on."Ms. Yan, please wait," the man hastily interjected.A flicker of curiosity passed through Abella's eyes. Was there something else?"If I may be so bold to ask, do you have a significant other? It's just that my son is around your age and—"Abella understood his implication and cut him off lightly, "I'm in a relationship with someone.""You are?" Disappointment flashed in the man's eyes, but he quickly offered, "Well, if there's nothing else, let me escort you out.""No need," Abella said calmly. "Please, stay."She nodded slightly and was about to leave the warehouse when a bodyguard hurried over to the middle-aged man's side, whispering something in his ear.
The man, looking at the retreating figure of the young woman, asked with some surprise, "Ms. Yan, do you know Phillipe from the Bourbon Group?"
Abella paused, turned her head, and met his gaze.
"My guy said the car you came here in belongs to Phillipe..."
Abella's brow furrowed subtly, a slight unease creeping over her as she sensed a stealthy gaze from the floor above. Her voice, steady and calm, carried a gentle warning. "In the future, come directly to me with any issues. Don't involve him."The middle-aged man blinked in confusion. Was she worried he'd trouble Phillipe?
Before he could clarify the misunderstanding, he watched as Abella cast a final glance upstairs, then strode out of the warehouse. Accepting a hairpin from her security chief, she slid into her car with an air of unshakeable confidence and drove away.He was left in silent awe of her poise and formidable nature, remarkable for someone so young...The woman upstairs, alerted to Abella's departure, clicked down the stairs in her high heels. "Did she notice me?""No, she just glanced up casually, probably a glare from an overhead light..." he mused, wrapping his arms around her. "After we deliver the painting tomorrow, we'll leave this place.""Alright." The woman watched as Abella's car drove away, her voice laced with regret. "It's a pity, she's already taken..."Meanwhile, Abella was en route to her next destination. She dialed Phillipe's number to check in.Phillipe had been waiting anxiously at home for nearly an hour. When he finally heard her voice, it was as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders."Hey, the hairpin you gave me... does anyone else know it's a tracker?" Abella asked abruptly.Phillipe was momentarily taken aback. "Did someone catch on?""Yeah.""They didn't give you a hard time, did they?""No."Phillipe exhaled a silent sigh of relief, then fell into deep thought."Only the research team and I have seen the hairpin. It's not something you'll find on the market," Phillipe explained. "My team is loyal. They wouldn't betray me."With their resources, they certainly couldn't afford a painting that cost a cool hundred million dollars.So, how did the secret of the hairpin being a tracker get out, and why did it get spotted so easily, almost causing trouble for Abella."Then you should do a thorough check. There might be a mole," Abella suggested as she continued driving. "I'm about to arrive. I'll call you after I finish up.""Alright," Phillipe responded, his voice heavy with concern. "Be careful with everything.""Yeah, don't worry."Abella parked her car in the private club's garage, and as soon as she stepped out, she saw another sports car pull up. Two attractive young women emerged.One of them, strikingly beautiful with a hint of arrogance in her features – could that be Elsa?Why was she here?Elsa had also spotted Abella and was taken aback by her presence, even more so by the fact that she was driving Phillipe's car!"Abella!" Elsa greeted her with a smile. "Are you alone? Why don't you join us? We're having a classmate get-together tonight."Abella glanced at Elsa’s friend, who seemed to carry an air of superiority, arms crossed, looking down on Abella as if from a lofty perch."No, thanks. I've got things to do."Closing her car door, Abella headed toward the club's entrance with Elsa trailing behind. "Are you here by yourself? Where's Phillipe?"Abella's glance in response sent an unexpected shiver down Elsa's spine. She hadn't anticipated that her newly acknowledged cousin would possess such a commanding presence...Four attendants stood by the elevator that led to the club's main lobby."Do you have your card, Abella?" Elsa persisted. "Only members with five stars or above can park here and use this elevator."
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