201: Chapter 201 Smashing the Mask of Hypocrisy

Inside a study in a Beijing courtyard house, Chen Fan sat on a Huanghuali wood chair. The computer screen was lit up, with the word "Trending" in red next to the top search on Weibo.

The headline read: "Cultural Giant Elder Qi Critiques: The Stench of Capital's Copper Coins Defiles the Temple of Art."

Upon clicking the article, the entire piece was filled with accusations against Chen Fan and the Huihuang Group. In the article, Elder Qi cursed Chen Fan as an upstart lacking cultural depth, stating that the Chen family was unworthy of setting foot in the National Art Museum.

Chen Haoyu pushed the door open and walked in, holding several work suspension notices in his hand.

"Boss, the Ministry of Culture has issued formal documents." Chen Haoyu placed the documents on the desk. "Three S-grade film projects from Xingyao Entertainment, as well as two TV series being prepared by Wanqing Film and Television, have all been halted. The reason given is that the content needs to be re-reviewed."

Chen Fan looked at the documents on the table and said nothing.

"There's also the cinema chains," Chen Haoyu continued his report. "Elder Qi has many students and old acquaintances. Several heads of large cinema chains have called, wanting to pull our company's screenings. The old man wants to completely blacklist us in the cultural circle."

Chen Fan leaned back in his chair. He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of tea.

"Blacklist me?" Chen Fan set down the teacup, his voice steady. "What does he think he is?"

Chen Fan summoned the system in his mind.

"System, start a panoramic analysis. Target: Qi Jianguo."

A blue light screen unfolded before his eyes. Data streams rapidly scrolled across the screen.

Qi Jianguo, the so-called master of Chinese painting with both virtue and artistry, was Qi Sisi's biological grandfather.

Three seconds later, a fifty-page top-secret file appeared on the light screen.

Chen Fan read through it line by line.

The contents of the file were shocking.

All of Elder Qi's award-winning works from the last five years were ghost-painted by a down-and-out painter named Li Ming. Every month, Elder Qi transferred five thousand yuan to Li Ming as hush money, then turned around and sold the paintings for tens of millions.

Looking further down, there were transaction records for three shell companies. Elder Qi used the annual charity auctions he hosted to launder hundreds of millions of untraceable funds and transfer them to overseas accounts.

The last few pages contained dozens of high-definition photos and audio recordings. In the photos, the white-haired giant was seen entering and leaving high-end hotels with several young female college students. The recordings were filled with disgusting transactions using graduate school recommendations and exhibition opportunities as leverage for sexual favors.

Chen Fan clicked the export option.

The nearby printer began to work, spitting out thick stacks of paper documents.

Chen Fan placed the documents into three kraft paper bags.

"Hao Yu." Chen Fan pushed the paper bags over. "Bag number one goes to the Discipline Inspection Department. Bag number two goes to the Tax Bureau. Bag number three goes to the editors-in-chief of the top ten media outlets in the country."

Chen Haoyu took the paper bags, flipped through them, and gasped.

"Boss, if this stuff gets out, the Qi family is completely finished." Chen Haoyu tucked the paper bags away.

"Doesn't he like to act all noble and pure in the media?" Chen Fan stood up and walked to the window. "Contact the media department and book all the large LED screens on the landmark buildings in the capital. I want everyone in the city to see the true face of this cultural giant."

"Understood." Chen Haoyu turned and walked out of the study.

Ten o'clock in the morning. Exhibition Hall No. 1 of the National Art Museum.

The opening ceremony of Qi Sisi's solo exhibition was underway.

The hall was packed with people. Cameras of all sizes were pointed at the podium.

Elder Qi was wearing an old-fashioned Zhongshan suit, leaning on a cane as he stood before the microphone.

Qi Sisi was wearing a high-end custom dress, holding her grandfather's arm with a face full of pride.

"Art is noble," Elder Qi spoke eloquently to the cameras. "We cannot let upstarts who only know how to make money use their wealth to measure the value of art. We must uphold the integrity of the literati."

Enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.

Several reporters raised their microphones to ask questions.

"Elder Qi, what do you think about Chen Fan of the Huihuang Group forcibly taking over exhibition booths?"

Elder Qi snorted coldly. "I stand by my words: the temple of art cannot be defiled. Their Chen family is not worthy!"

Qi Sisi took the microphone and spoke with a smile, "Thank you all for attending my exhibition. Now, please watch a documentary of me creating 'Spring Day Painting'."

She pressed the remote in her hand.

The giant projection screen behind the podium lit up.

The lights in the venue dimmed.

What appeared on the screen was not footage of Qi Sisi painting.

Instead, it was a high-definition screenshot of transfer records.

Payer: Qi Jianguo. Recipient: Li Ming. Note: August ghost-painting fee.

Immediately following that, an audio recording echoed through the spacious exhibition hall.

"Li Ming, 'Spring Day Painting' was well done. Leave the signature blank; I'll send someone to pick it up tomorrow. Take the five thousand yuan for now, and keep your mouth shut."

In the recording, Elder Qi's voice was unmistakably clear.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

The reporters stood frozen in place. Qi Sisi stood where she was, the remote control slipping from her hand and falling to the floor.

The images on the screen continued to scroll.

Money laundering bills for hundreds of millions of yuan, unsightly hotel check-in records, and videos of female students crying out their grievances.

"Professor Qi said that as long as I slept with him, he would let me participate in the National Art Exhibition..." In the video, a girl covered her face and wept bitterly.

It wasn't just the art museum.

At the same time, in Beijing's Wangfujing, The Place, and Sanlitun...

On the giant LED screens on the exterior walls of all the shopping malls, commercial advertisements were simultaneously cut off and replaced entirely with a collection of Elder Qi's crimes.

Pedestrians on the streets stopped in their tracks, looking up at the screens and pointing in shock.

The trending topics on social media were instantly blown wide open.

"Cultural Giant? Old Scoundrel!"

"Evidence of Qi Jianguo's Ghost-Painting and Money Laundering Exposed"

In the art museum's exhibition hall, after a brief, deathly silence, a frantic commotion broke out.

Reporters held up their microphones and cameras, surging toward the podium like a tide.

"Elder Qi! Is that you in the recording?"

"Miss Qi Sisi! Were all your paintings done by ghost-painters?"

"Elder Qi, what explanation do you have regarding the accusations of money laundering and the sexual exploitation of female students?"

Camera flashes lit up the room in a blur.

Elder Qi's face was bloodless. He pointed at the screen, his hands trembling violently.

"Turn it off! Turn it off quickly! This is a frame-up!" Elder Qi screamed hysterically.

Two uniformed discipline inspection officers and several tax police officers pushed through the crowd and stepped onto the podium.

"Qi Jianguo, you are suspected of serious disciplinary and legal violations, as well as massive tax evasion. Come with us." The leader showed his credentials.

Elder Qi's eyes widened, and a strange gurgling sound came from his throat.

He clutched his chest with both hands and fell straight backward.

"Grandpa!" Qi Sisi screamed and lunged toward him.

The scene turned into a complete mess. The sirens of an ambulance sounded outside the art museum.

In the Beijing courtyard house.

Su Wanqing walked into the study, carrying a cup of freshly brewed Da Hong Pao tea.

She placed the teacup on the desk.

"Have some tea." Su Wanqing looked at Chen Fan. "With your temper, you really won't suffer even the slightest loss."

Chen Fan picked up the teacup and blew on the steam.

"He bullied my daughter, so I've stripped him of his skin." Chen Fan took a sip of tea, his tone steady.

Chen Haoyu walked in from outside.

"Boss, Qi Jianguo had a heart attack and is in the intensive care unit. All assets under the Qi family name have been frozen. Qi Sisi was taken in to assist with the investigation, and her art exhibition has become the laughingstock of the circle," Chen Haoyu reported.

Chen Fan put down his teacup and did not respond.

"There's one more thing." Chen Haoyu pointed outside. "The director of the National Art Museum has been standing at our courtyard gate for two hours. He brought a full set of exhibition contracts and is begging to see you, saying he wants to invite Miss Nianyao back to hold an exhibition, with any dates she chooses."

Chen Nianyao happened to walk out of the studio just then; hearing this, she stopped and looked at her father.

Chen Fan stood up and walked over to his daughter.

"Tell him to get lost," Chen Fan ordered Chen Haoyu without even turning his head.

Chen Nianyao was somewhat puzzled. "Dad, what about my art exhibition? The best venue in the country is the National Art Museum."

Chen Fan reached out and ruffled his daughter's hair.

"The domestic circle is too filthy; it's not worthy of your paintings." Chen Fan looked at Chen Nianyao. "Go pack your bags."

"Pack my bags?" Chen Nianyao was stunned. "Where are we going?"

Chen Fan turned his head and looked at the sky outside the window.

"To Paris, France. We're booking the Louvre Museum to hold your exhibition."