I Am Already A Queen

Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Discuss About The Painting With Her Brother

”I am not refusing because I don’t want to. I literally cannot help you because I am currently drowning in my own crisis.” Shen Lin Ya snapped back irritably.

”What are you talking about?” Shen Weiwei blinked, thrown completely off balance. ”What kind of trouble could possibly affect you?”

”I am staring down the exact same nightmare you are.” Shen Lin Ya declared in a voice dripping with helpless despair.

”Are you out of your mind? What do you mean?” Shen Weiwei demanded, her panic escalating.

”I literally tried to physically drag Director Jiang’s younger sister out of his private office suite because I had no clue who she was.” Shen Lin Ya confessed, her voice fracturing under the sheer weight of her impending termination.

The instant those words travelled across the cellular connection, absolute silence swallowed Shen Weiwei’s end of the line.

She had not imagined in a million parallel universes that Shen Lin Ya would commit the exact same fatal error. Both cousins had independently assaulted and insulted Qiao Meixia while operating in complete ignorance of her true identity, and now both of them were trapped in the inescapable crosshairs of corporate wrath.

For a long, agonising moment, neither woman breathed a word into the speaker.

”So... yeah. I am utterly powerless to save you. I honestly don’t even know if I will still have a desk to sit at by the end of the hour.” Shen Lin Ya added miserably, sealing their mutual doom.

She was paralysed with terror regarding her own professional survival. Expecting her to rescue Shen Weiwei when her own career was actively crashing in flames was a mathematical impossibility.

The phone call terminated abruptly on a flat click.

Back inside Jiang Suhan’s opulent executive suite, the personal secretary had finished arranging a delicate porcelain tray filled with premium pastries, artisanal chocolates, and hot tea upon the low coffee table. Satisfied that every detail met executive standards, he bowed respectfully and retreated out the door, sliding it shut behind him as he returned to his administrative duties.

Earlier, the moment Jiang Suhan received the text notification alerting him to Qiao Meixia’s impromptu arrival at the tower, he had immediately buzzed his secretary with strict orders to source high-end confections.

He was acutely aware that his stoic younger sister possessed an insatiable sweet tooth, and he wanted to ensure she had a comforting selection of treats to nibble on while waiting for his shareholder meeting to adjourn.

When the secretary set the dessert assortment before Qiao Meixia, Jiang Suhan noticed her dark eyes widen by a microscopic fraction of a millimetre.

Though the shift in her facial architecture was practically imperceptible, his hyper-attentive gaze caught the subtle reaction instantly.

A warm, genuine smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

”Go ahead and eat those. I had my assistant specially order them for your visit.” Jiang Suhan invited gently, gesturing toward the spread with an open palm. He then settled comfortably back into his ergonomic leather chair, fixing her with a look of affectionate curiosity. ”So, tell me. What actually brought you all the way down to the corporate headquarters today?”

”I needed to inspect your office space in person so I could accurately conceptualise the composition for the painting I’m making you.” Qiao Meixia answered with total, unhesitating directness.

”Ah... I see. Well, now that you have thoroughly cased the joint, have any concrete inspirations sparked in your mind yet?” Jiang Suhan inquired, leaning forward over the desk with genuine anticipation.

”Where do you intend to hang the finished canvas?” Qiao Meixia countered, throwing a question back at him instead of answering directly.

Jiang Suhan swept his gaze across the expansive interior of his office for a moment before extending an arm toward a vast, bare expanse of drywall positioned directly adjacent to the entryway.

”Right there. I firmly believe a substantial piece would fill that empty void brilliantly.” Jiang Suhan proposed.

Qiao Meixia pivoted her body in her seat, casting a critical, analytical eye over the specific wall he indicated. She measured the proportions mentally. She began calculating the spatial dynamics, visualising how a massive masterwork would anchor the heavy room without making the executive layout feel cramped or visually chaotic.

”How big were you hoping the painting would occupy?” Qiao Meixia asked, maintaining her calm, measured tone.

”Naturally, the larger and more striking, the better. However, I have zero artistic expertise, so I am more than happy to hand complete creative control over to you.” Jiang Suhan confessed with an easy grin.

Lacking any foundational knowledge of fine art, he instinctively trusted Qiao Meixia’s elite instincts. She was the certified genius behind the brush, after all.

Qiao Meixia fell entirely silent for a brief span, her eyes locked on the designated wall as she mentally mapped out scale, lighting angles, and colour saturation. After a few quiet seconds, she gave her head a tiny, decisive nod.

It was evident she had successfully finalized the blueprints in her head.

”Understood. I will notify you the moment the painting is fully completed and ready for installation.” Qiao Meixia stated plainly.

With the primary agenda item successfully resolved, she calmly reached for a small silver spoon resting beside the dessert tray and dove into the confections Jiang Suhan had provided.

Jiang Suhan watched her quietly from across the desk as she methodically ate.

Even though Qiao Meixia’s facial expressions remained locked in their default state of serene indifference, he could easily read the quiet satisfaction radiating from the way she savoured the flavours. She might not possess the bubbly, expressive theatrics typical of teenagers, but her actions spoke volumes to anyone willing to pay close attention.

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