Chapter 576 - 266: One Spot, Two People

The gallery’s reputation is more important than anything else.

It’s not even news when auction houses get caught up in money laundering lawsuits.

However, once a well-known gallery gets involved, it becomes a serious scandal.

A gallery nailed to the pillar of shame cannot recover, no matter how much reputation it built up over the years.

The money laundering case at New York Ganavini Gallery in 2016, and the one at London Sodden Gallery five years ago, made two thriving modern galleries worth millions of US dollars vanish from the art market without so much as a splash.

Brother Hao spent who knows how much hidden resources and funds.

He actually managed to smooth things over for Miao Angwen with the "Three-dimensional Universe" Modern Art Center located in Seoul, South Korea.

This is quite something!

With the rise of the Monochrome School, Seoul has become a famous thriving ground for modern art in Asia.

It might be a bit difficult for the Three-dimensional Universe Gallery to rank in the top ten in Seoul, but getting into the top fifteen shouldn’t be much of a problem.

Internationally, it barely ranks as a second-tier large gallery in Asia.

In terms of asset size, it exceeds 6 billion Korean won, which is larger than the Ganavini and Sodden Galleries.

A representation contract with a large Korean gallery carries much more weight than any resume that claims to have painted with masters, which can be filled with who knows how much BS.

Never underestimate the magic power of foreigners’ credibility endorsements.

The only national treasure artist from Myanmar known internationally, the Vice President Li of the National Artists Association, signed with nothing more than a second-tier French gallery.

In terms of influence in the art field, it is on par with the Three-dimensional Universe Gallery. From the perspective of joining the gallery, Miao Angwen is already at the top of the entire Southeast Asia.

The Yangon Calligraphy and Painting Association simply cannot refuse this application letter.

With the endorsement of a large foreign gallery’s credibility and a little trick from Brother Hao, joining the National Artists Association will also be a natural progression.

"Mmm hmm, you’re right about everything. Is there anything else?"

Faced with the provocative tone of Miao Angwen, Gu Weijing replied expressionlessly.

"Don’t you have anything to say?"

Miao Angwen raised his eyebrows.

The official membership of the Yangon Calligraphy and Painting Association should be the most commendable achievement Gu Weijing has gained at present, in his heart.

No matter how much luck was involved, in the student field, it’s quite a big deal.

He imagined that faced with his cold words, the opposite side would absolutely jump up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

After all,

who wouldn’t be angry when their biggest poser reliance is belittled as worthless by others?

At that time, Miao Angwen would just smile without saying a word.

When his National Painting Association membership is approved sometime later, and everyone is exposed to the fact that it’s him, Miao Angwen, who is the real hidden big Bodhisattva in this school,

Gu Weijing’s face must be very ugly.

As it turned out, he didn’t expect this guy to be so cowardly, agreeing to his speech as if molded out of clay and not following the script at all.

On the contrary, it felt like hitting a pillow, leaving him somewhat at a loss.

"No. Surely you didn’t come just to tell me this?"

Gu Weijing truly didn’t find anything wrong with what Miao Angwen had said.

His grandfather, Gu Tongxiang, had signed with Ma Shi Gallery, and the gallery was too modest to even put his Yangon Painting Association membership on their promotional page.

He was just extremely puzzled as to why Miao, full of arrogance, came over and laid down this set of words in front of him.

Miao Angwen’s lips twitched a couple of times.

"Tch!"

After a few seconds of silence, this slightly dark-skinned local guy suddenly snickered.

"To be honest, Gu Weijing, I do have a bit of admiration for you in my heart."

After experiencing what true debauchery is at the West River Clubhouse, looking back, Miao Angwen realized that this Gu Weijing, in refusing Brother Hao’s extraordinarily respectful and repeated invitations, is truly an unparalleled super weirdo.

Brother Hao is also quite puzzling.

This underworld magnate’s hands are probably covered in countless bloodstains, yet facing a youngster he could crush with a finger, he has shown an unusual and rare patience.

Brother Hao seems to have never truly gotten angry.

Every rejection seems to make him admire Gu Weijing even more.

Miao Angwen overheard Brother Hao mention Gu Weijing’s name in front of his precious giant fish tank.

The tone was full of anticipation and praise.

The godfather controlling the shadow art empire only repeatedly sighed at this little fellow’s indeed "very artistic" nature in response to Gu Weijing’s reckless offense.

"What the hell does ’very artistic’ mean?"

Miao Angwen didn’t know.

He only knew that Brother Hao’s gaze at that moment filled him with an itching jealousy.

Miao really wished in his dreams for such a gaze of Brother Hao’s appreciation to fall on him.

It was like an illegitimate child trying to prove to his father that he was better, more deserving of trust than the son born from marriage whom the father had been grooming.

Unfortunately,

Brother Hao would wave his hand and give him precious racing toys, a grand gold watch, and an entire outfit for a ball that could make him the center of attention.

But the occasional gaze that landed on Miao was always cold.

Probably the so-called "artistic" character is akin to those ancient Eastern stories he read as a child—the stubborn, obdurate fool who won’t yield, no matter what happens. You could kill me, but I damn sure won’t drink the thief’s water or stay under a vile tree’s shade—it’s that quintessential stubborn scholar vibe.

This is something Miao truly cannot learn.

He isn’t as brainless, nor as...brave as the other party.

So amidst three parts jealousy, three parts ridicule, two parts fear, and one part disdain, that last one part—actually, something Miao wasn’t too willing to admit—was admiration.

If there’s anyone in the world who truly wishes for Gu Weijing to remain so lofty,

it might not just be Gu Weijing himself, but also Miao.

"Substitute" things only achieve maximum value when you can’t get the best.

Who would bother looking at Adiwang when they can wear Adidas?

Miao’s greatest fear was that one day Gu Weijing would bow his head and admit defeat.

The resources that Brother Hao inclined towards him, the godfather would surely bestow upon Gu Weijing without a second thought.

That would be Miao’s nightmare of hell.

Once someone experiences the high life, they can never forget it.

Like a frog that has seen the vastness of the world, being thrown back into the deep well is even more unacceptable than being turned into a spicy stir-fried frog dish.

"Brother, I know you look down on me, and I really don’t care. I’m a poor soul, and when opportunity comes before me, I have to grasp it firmly. If you can live the rest of your life without regretting your choice, that’s truly impressive. But don’t, just don’t become someone you used to despise. All the best, I believe in you."

For once, Miao confided in a couple of honest words, reaching out to pat Gu Weijing on the shoulder.

A book-wielding hand blocked him.

"No need."

Gu Weijing said expressionlessly.

Miao wasn’t annoyed either.

He merely let out a "heh," shrugged, and turned to walk towards a girl waiting for him nearby.

At this moment,

perhaps the two young students holding the highest social standing in the art world in the history of Fitz Education Group’s century-old institution were parting ways, each privately cursing the other as being out of their mind.

"One moment mocking, the next admiring; is this guy mentally unstable? Fortunately, Koizumi Katsuko is no longer in the advanced class dealing with him."

As Gu Weijing watched Miao Angwen’s grandiose exit, he sniffed.

He had previously discussed the complex ties between Miao and Brother Hao with Mrs. Sakai.

Mrs. Sakai understands the situation now.

At Mrs. Sakai’s social standing, she neither seeks to provoke Brother Hao nor fears him.

Professor Jiu Kai Yicheng’s nearly 250-pound bulk still exerts quite a presence outside.

No matter how influential Brother Hao is in Myanmar, as long as he isn’t living too comfortably and finds himself under some international pressure or something, he wouldn’t dare touch family members of leading figures like Uncle Sakai in the art world.

Being in a relationship with Koizumi Katsuko also gave him an invisible layer of protection.