fringe artist

Chapter 206
The black car was driving on the streets of Paris. Even though he had already seen these scenes, Li Dabai still lay on the window and looked out.

This time he came to Paris for three days and went to two places, Li Dabai did not appreciate the scenery here.

After watching for a while, Li Dabai turned his head to look at Chen Li'an and asked, "Mr. Chen, can I go shopping by myself?"

"Yes." Chen Li'an opened his eyes, and then said to the driver in front, "Leon, can I trouble you to find a Chinese student studying in Paris as a guide?"

Leon is Ji Fa's exclusive driver, and he has been driving Chen Li'an directly for the past two days. Hearing what Chen Li'an said, he immediately said, "No problem, when will I need it?"

"Just today."

"Ok."

After Chen Li'an and Leon communicated well, he said to Li Dabai: "I asked Leon to help you find a Chinese student to be your guide. You can go play by yourself in the afternoon, and don't forget to book a ticket."

"Really? There are guides?" Li Dabai immediately said happily to Chen Li'an: "Thank you, Mr. Chen, you are so considerate!"

After the driver sent Chen Li'an and Li Dabai to the villa, he immediately went to find the foreign students.

Li Dabai was thinking about his savings, planning how to spend it later, he would definitely bring some gifts to his family when he went abroad.

It was already past one o'clock in the afternoon. Chen Li'an took a break, went to make a pot of tea and sat in the living room waiting for Ji Fayue's reporter to come over. There was an exclusive interview in the afternoon.

Li Dabai, who had already packed up and was about to go out, looked at Chen Li'an hypocritically and asked, "Mr. Chen, you are going to be interviewed this afternoon. Wouldn't it be nice for me to go out and play?"

"Okay, then don't go out." Chen Li'an raised his eyelids and looked at Li Dabai and said.

Li Dabai's face collapsed immediately, he took Chen Li'an's arm, and blinked at him with a pitiful look.

"Okay, let's go, pack the money and don't lose it, call me if you need something." Chen Li'an waved his hand angrily.

"Thank you, Teacher Chen!"

After Li Dabai finished speaking, he ran out quickly. Seeing her jumping up and down, Chen Li'an couldn't help laughing, she was just a child.

Not long after Li Dabai went out, the reporter arrived.

After more than two hours, the interview ended. Chen Li'an sent the reporter out, heaved a sigh of relief, drank a cup of tea, and went to change clothes.

The reception is a relatively formal social occasion, and it would be considered disrespectful to dress too casually. After changing into formal clothes again, Chen Li'an adjusted the square scarf on his chest, looked at himself in the mirror, and felt that he might be quite suitable to play a nobleman.

However, there are too many aristocrats in China, and the streets are full of them. Whose ancestors are not nobles for several generations.

The most important thing is that Chinese aristocrats don’t wear suits either. Those who wear suits in China these days are either bosses or business owners.
After Chen Li'an tidied up his image a bit, he went out to pick up Liu Xiaoli.

It's still early, Chen Li'an set off so early because he was worried that Liu Xiaoli didn't bring a suitable dress, so he could buy one while it was still early.

If Li Dabai knew about it, he would definitely say secretly that Mr. Chen was too proactive!There is something wrong with you, I want to report it to the Empress!
The feelings towards Liu Xiaoli and Chen Li'an are a little bit complicated, there is a little bit of initiative, but it's not entirely because she wants to be a good-looking parent, but mainly because she wants to experience the joy of being a godfather.

Anyway, they are all surnamed Chen, so it's not bad.

Of course, this is just a joke, the godfather is not important, just want to look good and dance.

Just make friends, simple!Don't have so many purposes!
The car soon arrived at the place where Liu Xiaoli was sent off last time. At this time, Chen Li'an took a closer look at the apartment, which seemed to be an apartment attached to the university.

Chen Li'an rolled down the car window and took a closer look before taking out his phone and calling Liu Xiaoli.

Not long after, Liu Xiaoli came out of the building next to the apartment. Chen Li'an saw it and asked the driver to drive forward.

After the car stopped in front of Liu Xiaoli, Liu Xiaoli took the initiative to open the door and get in the car, without giving Chen Li'an a chance to show his gentlemanly demeanor.

After Liu Xiaoli sat down and closed the car door, Chen Li'an looked at her gentle and charming appearance without makeup, and said with a smile: "You are very beautiful today, must something happy happen to you?"

Liu Xiaoli smiled and pulled her hair, looked at Chen Li'an and said, "Guess."

"Well." Chen Li'an rubbed his chin and pretended to think for a while and said, "Either you resolved the divorce matter, or it was because you dated me at night, although the first possibility is more likely, but I am more willing to believe that it is the second The reason, which one is it because of?”

Looking at Chen Li'an's aggressive gaze, Liu Xiaoli pursed her lips lightly, feeling that Chen Li'an was very cunning and good at attacking, so she circled around and threw the question to herself.

But the elder sister's experience is not that you will be caught in a few words, she chuckled and said: "Trust your instinct."

Hearing Liu Xiaoli's words, Chen Li'an smiled. My sister is really good at talking, but since I didn't object to Chen Li'an's second guess, that's enough, the key information has already been obtained.

If there is no objection, it means acquiescing to Chen Li'an's temptation. If there is a favorable impression, then it is not logical to go further.

Soon the car came to the Champs Elysees Avenue, in a high-end dress shop, Chen Li'an's eyes lit up when he saw Liu Xiaoli who had just changed into a dress and came out.

Dignified and generous with the style of a mature woman, the slim dress set off her graceful figure very well.

"It's so beautiful." Chen Li'an praised sincerely.

Liu Xiaoli stood in front of the mirror and looked at Chen Li'an with a bright smile and said, "Really?"

"Of course, I never lie about beauty." Chen Li'an walked up to Liu Xiaoli, looked her in the eyes and said, "This is the ethics of an artist."

Liu Xiaoli covered her mouth and smiled lightly, her beautiful eyes flickered, she turned her head slightly to look at Chen Li'an and said, "Are all you artists so good at talking?"

"I don't know if other people are like this, but when I face good things, I always speak with my heart."

Liu Xiaoli's smiling eyes were bent, and the corners of her mouth were raised in an obvious arc, which was very useful for Chen Li'an's praise.

After coming out of the dress shop, Chen Li'an sent Liu Xiaoli to the car and suddenly said: "Wait here for me, I forgot something."

After finishing speaking, Chen Li'an gently closed the car door and disappeared into the crowd. Liu Xiaoli looked at the passers-by through the car window and guessed that Chen Li'an had forgotten something.

More than ten minutes later, Chen Li'an came back empty-handed. After getting back into the car, Liu Xiaoli asked curiously, "What did you forget?"

Chen Li'an looked at Liu Xiaoli and smiled, raised his hand and gently opened it in front of her, a sparkling diamond necklace fell down.

Looking at the necklace in front of her eyes, Liu Xiaoli's eyes lit up a little, and she looked at Chen Li'an in surprise.

"I think you are missing a necklace, do you want to try it?" Chen Li'an shook his palm lightly, and the diamond necklace also shook, and the crystal diamonds radiated dazzling light.

Seeing Chen Li'an's serious look, Liu Xiaoli pursed her lips and struggled for a while before nodding slightly.

Chen Li'an raised his eyebrows slightly, then approached Liu Xiaoli with the necklace and said, "I'll put it on for you."

"Well..." Liu Xiaoli leaned forward slightly, coordinating with Chen Li'an.

Chen Li'an looked at Liu Xiaoli's slender swan neck, stretched out his hand to part the hair on her neck, and wrapped his hands around the back to put the necklace on Liu Xiaoli.

The two were so close that they could smell each other's body. The distance between their cheeks was less than ten centimeters, and it seemed as if they could feel the temperature of each other's body between their breaths.

Chen Li'an put it on very slowly, seemingly clumsily, pinching the clasp of the necklace with his fingers, he couldn't fasten it, and his fingertips inadvertently touched Liu Xiaoli's fair skin several times.

But even so, Liu Xiaoli didn't urge or evade, she seemed to acquiesce to Chen Li'an's "clumsiness", and patiently waited for him to put the necklace on.

After feeling that Liu Xiaoli was not repelled, Chen Li'an smiled slightly, quickly put on the necklace, then sat back, looked at the necklace hanging on her collarbone and said, "It's so perfect, it suits you very much."

Liu Xiaoli raised her hand and lightly touched the diamond on her collarbone. She felt a little strange and contradictory. She came here this time for the purpose of getting a divorce. She hasn't officially divorced yet, so she always has an inexplicable sense of immorality.

Also, it's very exciting.
At the reception in the evening, when Chen Li'an and Liu Xiaoli arrived, they immediately attracted a lot of attention. Although there are differences in the aesthetics of the East and the West, the two aesthetics can be conquered after a certain level of appearance.

Liu Xiaoli held Chen Li'an's hand, and looked at the appreciative and appreciative eyes at the reception, as if she had returned to the stage, and the hand holding Chen Li'an's arm was slightly tighter.

Tonight's reception is attended by well-known artists or businessmen and politicians in Paris, and most of the topics discussed are related to art. Chen Li'an led Liu Xiaoli to chat and laugh with everyone in the crowd, as if shrouding the halo of the protagonist, and will always be the center .

But the real center of the reception is tonight's host, Bernard Arnault who invited Chen Li'an to the reception.

A super collector, he is also the owner of the third largest Phillips auction house in the world and the number one auction house in France.

Many people may not know about collectors, but they should know about LV. The real super rich control almost half of the world's luxury brands.

But this is a very low-key and calm person, but also an unpredictable businessman, but he also really loves art, with thousands of art collections.

Chen Li'an's previous works were accepted by him. He likes Chen Li'an's works very much, but it's not just a collection. The nature of a businessman cannot be erased.

If the works of art are only hidden at home, it will lose its meaning and it does not fit his personality. Chen Li'an's works are still being exhibited and operated everywhere in Ji Fa's hands.

All of this is at the behest of Bernard Arnault. When the right opportunity arises, he will put Chen Li'an's work up for auction again, and raise the price through his own auction house.

Bernard Arnault admired Chen Li'an very much, and felt that he had the most potential among young artists and was the most worthy of investment. Last year, Chen Li'an won the gold medal at the Venice Art Biennale, which also proved his vision.

That's why he invited Chen Li'an to the reception after he knew Chen Li'an came to Paris.

If you want a work of art to be more famous and valuable, you need someone to support it.

Bernard Arnault is happy to be this guy, since he now owns most of Chen Li-an's art.

Even the surrealist sculptures created by Chen Li'an this year have already been ordered by him.

Except for the oil paintings that Chen Li'an gave away, as well as the installation art that cannot be removed in the capital, all other artworks are in his hands.

At the reception, Bernard Arnault expressed his admiration for Chen Li'an to many people.

He also revealed that he intends to collect Chen Li'an's latest works, but it is a pity that they are currently being exhibited in the United States, and Chen Li'an has no idea of ​​selling them.

Normally speaking, a young artist may be ecstatic when faced with the recognition of a super-rich super-collector like Bernard Arnault.

But Chen Li'an didn't know that, Bernard Arnault was very rich, and his wealth was now thousands of times that of Chen Li'an, but that didn't mean it would always be like this.

Chen Li'an's head was filled with too much knowledge that didn't belong to the present, and he didn't have any awe for the so-called rich people, so he acted calmly in front of the room full of rich people.

Perhaps it is precisely because of this calmness that these rich people treat him differently.

Although artists are inseparable from the pursuit of capital, who would like an artist who is in awe of wealth.

The more artists who reject capital, the more they will be sought after by capital. Otherwise, how can the word "art" be expressed.

But Chen Li'an's calm made Liu Xiaoli very uneasy, especially after she knew the identities of these people in the reception.

That is the boss of the LV Group, the boss of Dior, Givenchy and other luxury goods, a super rich man with a wealth of tens of billions of dollars.

Liu Xiaoli thought of those bags on the Champs Elysees yesterday that cost thousands of dollars or even tens of thousands of dollars each, and felt that everything that happened tonight was too dreamy.

After the reception was over, Liu Xiaoli looked at Chen Li'an with a different expression, like a Cinderella who suddenly broke into a noble's reception, only to find out that she was dancing with a prince.

"What's wrong with you? It seems that you are a little absent-minded, don't you like this kind of occasion?" Chen Li'an looked at the dazed Liu Xiaoli and said with a smile: "You are the same as my partner, she doesn't like this kind of occasion, she thinks they are too vulgar."

Liu Xiaoli turned her head to look at Chen Li'an and settled for a while before saying, "What about you, do you like this kind of occasion?"

"It's okay, but if you participate too much, you will feel boring." Chen Li'an pulled off his tie and said, "It's like wearing a tie for a long time, and you will feel bored."

Liu Xiaoli: "..."

Not knowing what was going on, Liu Xiaoli looked at Chen Li'an's indifferent look, and didn't know what to say, so she asked after a while, "Are your works very valuable now?"

Chen Li'an rubbed his chin and said, "Probably, it depends on how much money will be sold in the next auction. Last year's auction only sold about 200 million US dollars."

In the quiet car, Liu Xiaoli didn't know what to say anymore. You know that a rich man is worth tens of billions of dollars. You may think it doesn't matter, anyway, it has nothing to do with you.

But you know your friend, when a work can sell for millions of dollars, you can't calm down.

Because this is the person around you, the person you know, or the man who may be interesting to you.

Whether it's envy or shock, it's hard for Liu Xiaoli to calm down now.

The car fell into silence, Chen Li'an was a little drunk and closed his eyes without speaking, but the palm on the seat unconsciously touched Liu Xiaoli's little hand.

Liu Xiaoli looked down, then turned her head to look at Chen Li'an who was resting with her eyes closed, and slightly touched Chen Li'an's finger with her small hand.

Chen Li'an hooked his fingers subconsciously, and slid them across Liu Xiaoli's palm.

A tingling feeling made Liu Xiaoli's palm curl up, just in time to hold Chen Li'an's finger.

Chen Li'an, who had his eyes closed, showed a faint smile, and Liu Xiaoli, who pretended nothing happened, looked away at the scenery outside the car window, and there was a gleam of light in her eyes.

The two people with different thoughts did not separate their hands tacitly, and a faint charm came quietly...

(End of this chapter)