Chapter 395: Who Was the Person Who Stole the Innumerable Paintings?

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“How is that possible?” Jiang Yining retorted subconsciously.

“This is the token she left for me. It has always been kept by my father. Only after he died did he give this to me and tell me that with this jade pendant, 1 could find my biological mother.” Yan Han sneered.

Jiang Yining frowned.

Yan Han continued, “My father was a teacher and she was a university student. When she went to the countryside, she was assigned to our village to help my father. Later, they fell in love and she got pregnant with me. My father sold everything he had to raise enough money to prepare for the wedding.”

“But the night before the wedding, news came from the city that she could return to her original city. She didn’t like the countryside, despised the rustic villagers, and felt they were on different intellectual levels. Being with my father was merely because she thought she couldn’t return to the city and marrying a teacher was better than marrying a farmer.”

“So, after knowing that she could return to the city, she lied to my father. She said that she would go back first. When she settled down there, she would come back to find him and let our family of three reunite.”

“My father is honest and doesn’t play tricks. He is even more sincere to the person he loves. No matter what she said, he chose to believe her. So, he canceled the wedding and personally sent her into the car back to the city.”

“From that day on, she never came back. A year later, she sent me back to my father’s side, along with a breakup letter. She said that she had met her childhood sweetheart and that the parents of the two families had already arranged their engagement. They are of equal status, and the other party understands her very well and supports her in painting.”

“She didn’t want to continue with my father. She asked my father to find a girl from the village and live a good life. Don’t look for her in the future.”

“My father suffered a huge blow and never recovered from it. He drank all day. His health deteriorated, and he passed away in less than ten years.”

“My aunt took care of me afterward, and you know what happened after that.”

Jiang Yining naturally knew.

Elder Qi and his wife went to the countryside together and adopted Yan Han, who had no parents. He treated him like his own son.

Especially Elder Qi, imparting his lifelong knowledge to him.

Yan Han also treated them as his closest people.

Until…

He discovered that his so-called Mrs. Qi was his biological mother.

Everything fell apart.

Jiang Yining was silent for a long time and said, “Yan Han, Mrs. Qi did let you down, but she tried her best to make amends. If you don’t forgive her, you shouldn’t force her. Otherwise, why would she take things too hard and set herself on fire? Not to mention Elder Qi. From the beginning to the end, he didn’t know the truth, and he didn’t do anything to let you and your father down. You didn’t give him an explanation and caused him to die of depression. Don’t you feel sorry for him?”

“I didn’t force her. I just questioned her why she had started chaos and ended abandonment. Since she didn’t want to follow my father to the end, she shouldn’t have provoked him.” Yan Han clenched his fists and tried his best to suppress the anger in his heart. He said clearly, “She kept crying and apologizing to me, but she also admitted that she never loved my father. She only used him. The only person she loves is Qi Bai.”

“In my agitation, I said that 1 would tell Qi Bai the truth. She couldn’t accept it and chose to immolate herself. She had let down my father, me, and Elder Qi. A woman like her ruined two families. Until the last moment of her life, she was unwilling to face her mistakes and selfishly ended her life.”

Yan Han’s tone was half sorrowful and half mocking. “This kind of woman turns out to be my mother. Don’t you think it’s ridiculous?”

That day, he found out everything and had a big quarrel with her. He wanted to find Elder Qi and expose her true colors.

However, he didn’t expect to see the studio on fire as soon as he finished packing.

When he rushed in to save her, he realized that the door was locked from the inside.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break it open.

The fire burned more and more vigorously until it completely engulfed her slender figure…

He knelt on the ground in a daze.

In the end, he decided to conceal the truth.

Just as Jiang Yining said, Elder Qi knew nothing and shouldn’t have to bear all this.

Rather than letting him know that his beloved wife was such a selfish and self-centered person, it was better to let him misunderstand and raise an ingrate.

This way, at least he would be somewhat relieved.

Therefore, he chose to leave without leaving a word.

If it wasn’t for Yining using All Ruo to force him to come back.

He would keep this secret in his heart for the rest of his life.

After Yan Han finished speaking, he remained silent for a long time.

Jiang Yining also remained silent for a long time. Then, she opened his mouth slightly and said in a clear voice, “Yan Han, if what you said was true, why did you take away all the paintings in the studio?”

“I didn’t take any of the paintings.” Yan Han denied it. “I’ve already learned eighty to ninety percent of Master’s skills. Why would I steal his painting?”

There were only two uses for taking Qi Bai’s paintings, either to collect them or to sell them at a good price.

Whether it was the former or the latter, there was no need for him to do so.

Yan Han paused for two seconds. He seemed to have realized something and asked, “You mean, on the day she self-immolated, all the paintings in the studio were taken away?”

“Yes.” Jiang Yining looked up and met his grayish-brown eyes. She said, “Elder Qi’s paintings have always been hidden in a stone box. No matter how big the fire is, they wouldn’t be damaged. Those who knew about this were people close to Elder Qi. Yan Han, only you and Mrs. Qi were there that day. Mrs. Qi died. If you didn’t take the painting, who else could it be?”

“I can swear to the heavens that other than the painting that Master gave me, 1 never took any of the paintings away without permission.” Yan Han said firmly, “If you don’t believe me, you can come with me to the United States and search my house personally to see if there are any other works.”

No matter how difficult the times were, he had never sold the painting his master had left him.

Therefore, to this day, Elder Qi’s paintings are still hanging in his house.

However, it was only limited to what Qi Bai gave him.

After so many years Jiang Yining might not remember everything, but she could always recognize most of them.

Jiang Yining was more inclined to believe that Yan Han was telling the truth because, with his skills, there was indeed no need for him to take away Elder Qi’s painting.

She frowned and mumble to herself. She seemed to be asking Yan Han, “Who could have stolen those invaluable paintings?”

Who stole all of Elder Qi’s paintings while Yan Han was away and Mrs. Qi was self-immolated? If there was a third person present at the time, then did Mrs. Qi self-immolate voluntarily or was she forced?

She thought that she finding Yan Han would clarify the events of the past.

However, she didn’t expect to find herself entangled in another foggy mystery.

Yan Han was equally curious, “I’m not sure, but this person must be someone I know.”

After he was adopted, he had been by Elder Qi and his biological mother’s side.

He had also seen the people they knew.

That person knew where the paintings were stored, so the person must be very familiar with Elder Qi.

Therefore, Yan Han must have had an impression of the person..