Chapter 39: Coming for the Ring

In the elegant conference room, the antique decor blended harmoniously with the paintings adorning the walls, each piece reflecting the profound artistic cultivation of Wen Yun'an. Behind the long tea table, a majestic lion was depicted with such vivid realism that its fur appeared distinct and its eyes shone with a piercing spirit, as if it were about to leap off the paper.

The woman’s gaze was instantly drawn to the "Guardian Lion" painting, unable to look away for a long time. After serving a pot of hot tea, Ya'an left silently, leaving Wen Yun'an and the woman sitting opposite each other. Wen Yun'an gently poured two cups of tea, pushed one toward the woman, and lifted the other to savor it slowly. He looked at her with a gentle gaze and asked softly, "What is it that has made you so restless?"

The woman snapped back to reality, quickly sat down across from Wen, pulled a business card from her exquisite handbag, and handed it to him with both hands. Taking the card, Wen Yun'an saw the name "Quan Duoduo" printed clearly upon it. A ripple passed through his heart; he had already guessed her intentions.

"Mr. Wen," Quan Duoduo said, getting straight to the point, "I have come here in admiration of your work, hoping to obtain one of your pieces."

Wen Yun'an smiled slightly, gesturing for her to continue. Biting her lip, she appeared somewhat nervous. "I... I want the design sketch for the heart-shaped six-faceted ring."

Upon hearing this, Wen Yun'an shook his head gently. "I am sorry, Ms. Quan. The design for that ring has already been sold to an exclusive manufacturing firm, and I no longer hold the rights to sell it."

Quan Duoduo’s face betrayed her anxiety. "Mr. Wen, I know this is an awkward request, but I truly need that sketch urgently. You can name your price; no matter how high, I will do my best to meet it."

Wen Yun'an shook his head again, his tone firm. "It is not a matter of price, Ms. Quan. The copyright for that drawing has been transferred, and its value is far beyond what money can measure. Obtaining the sketch is equivalent to obtaining the manufacturing rights for the ring, and that is not something that can be easily handed over."

Quan Duoduo frowned, a flash of urgency and resentment in her eyes. "Mr. Wen, this matter is between you and me, and no one else will ever know. I promise that once I have the sketch, I will not manufacture or sell it—it is for another purpose. Furthermore, this will absolutely not cause you any trouble."

Wen Yun'an remained as calm as water. "Ms. Quan, I appreciate your sincerity, but as a reputable artist, I will not compromise my principles for personal gain. That ring design is the only one of its kind in the world, and I will not create another. Please, try to understand."

Hearing this, Quan Duoduo lost her composure. She stood up, her voice trembling. "Mr. Wen, are you truly unwilling to help me? I will make you regret this! I will make you redraw it for me!" With that, she grabbed her bag and stormed out, slamming the door behind her and leaving Wen Yun'an alone in the conference room. He watched her departure with a mocking smile playing on his lips.

As Quan Duoduo walked out of Wen’s office, her face was as dark as a storm cloud. She strode toward the elevator while pulling out her phone, her fingers flying across the screen to call He Lingfeng. Once connected, her voice was frantic and defeated. "Lingfeng, I failed. The artist refused my request; he said he cannot produce an identical drawing for that ring."

Inside the Yun Group’s headquarters, in a lavish conference room, He Lingfeng sat in a large chair, gripping his phone so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Upon hearing her words, his face turned ash-gray, as if he might crush the device. He took a deep breath, struggling to compose himself, and said, "I understand, Duoduo. Come back for now, and we will find another way."

After hanging up, He Lingfeng stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the bustling city. He had planned to have Quan Duoduo get a new drawing from the artist to create a perfect counterfeit, thereby offsetting the ring's exorbitant cost. With her failure, that plan had completely fallen through. He glanced at the black folder on the table, which contained classified documents belonging to the Yun Group. His brows knit together, his eyes filled with hesitation and struggle.

Just then, the conference room door pushed open, and his secretary entered. "Mr. He, you have a call."

He Lingfeng frowned, took the phone from the secretary, glanced at the number on the screen, and answered. Lin Ou’s anxious voice came through. "Lingfeng, how is progress on your end? Grandfather keeps pestering me about the ring; I can't keep stalling him."

He Lingfeng took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "Lin Ou, give me a little more time. After all, 30 million is not a small sum; I need time to raise the capital."

Lin Ou sounded exceptionally urgent. "Lingfeng, as the trusted president of the Yun Group, how can you not have 30 million? Don't you know? The manufacturer hasn't been paid for the materials, so they don't have the right to release the ring. If I don't have the ring or the funds by tomorrow, I will have no choice but to tell Grandfather the truth."

He Lingfeng opened his mouth, but no words came out. After a long silence, he spoke slowly. "Lin Ou, give me one last day. I will do everything I can to solve this."

Lin Ou sighed. "Fine, Lingfeng. I will try to stall Grandfather again, but this is your last chance. If I don't have the ring or the money by tomorrow, I won't be able to help you anymore."

With that, Lin Ou hung up. He Lingfeng’s expression turned as dark as a brewing tempest. He slammed his phone onto the floor and turned his gaze once more to the black folder on the table.