At the weekend, Yong's painting exhibition was held at Nicholas's gallery, and it was met with a great reception from the public. On the second day of the exhibition, while Yong, Nicholas, Helen, and Mary were happily welcoming the visitors, Diana entered. Yong went to greet her.
"Hello, honey. I was expecting you yesterday. It seems your trip took longer than expected," Yong said.
Diana replied, "Hello. Yes, I was supposed to return yesterday, but an urgent meeting came up, and I had to stay. I'm sorry, I really wanted to make it for the opening."
"Don't apologize. I'm just glad your business went well," Yong smiled.
At that moment, Nicholas approached them. "Oh, look who is here. The big boss, Ms. Diana! From which direction did the sun rise today that you decided to visit us poor people?"
Diana snapped, "Go mind your own business, Nicholas. This is my boyfriend's exhibition. I don't want to ruin my mood by answering you."
"Ah, so you finally came to your senses," Nicholas mocked.
Yong asked, "What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on, I'm just joking. By the way, did you hear that Diana made Ava the manager of the cafeteria?" Nicholas asked.
Yong looked surprised. "Really? I didn't know."
Diana, who was secretly eating herself up inside, replied with a fake smile, "Yes, I think she is talented and can progress."
"That's great! It really makes me happy that you pay so much attention to people's talents," Yong said. Then he called out, "Mary, come over here... Tell me, why didn't you mention that Ava became the manager?"
Mary approached them. "Because of the exhibition work, I completely forgot. Actually, I wanted to thank Diana. Thank you, Diana."
"It was nothing..." Diana said coldly.
Diana looked at Yong with her usual pride and said, "Yong, can you show me the paintings?"
Nicholas and Yong looked at Diana in surprise, noticing how she completely ignored Mary's words. Yong nodded, "Sure, honey, let's go."
Near the end of the visiting hours, when the number of visitors had dropped to just a few people, Diana's parents entered the exhibition. Yong happily went to welcome them, but once again, he was met with their cold behavior.
"Hello, welcome! I didn't think you would come. Diana hadn't said anything," Yong said politely.
Diana's mother replied, "We didn't intend to come. Diana insisted... as always."
Yong kept his composure. "Well, thank you for coming anyway."
At that moment, Diana noticed her parents and walked toward them. "Mom, Dad, when did you arrive? Why didn't you inform me? I didn't know you were coming."
Yong looked at Diana with a subtle smirk.
Diana's father said, "We just arrived, my daughter. You just returned from your trip and you must be tired. Why didn't you go home to rest?"
"I came because of Yong's exhibition," Diana explained.
Her mother sighed, "Ah, you tired yourself out for nothing. This is just an exhibition like any other; there's nothing special about it. Just a few people come, look around, and leave. Is this even a real job?"
Diana widened her eyes. "Mom, please!"
Yong said with a hurt tone, "Diana, I'll go join the others. It seems your mother is tired today."
As Yong turned to leave, Diana's mother suddenly said, "Am I lying? For years, you have kept my daughter waiting with your words. I wish everyone knew their own place."
Yong turned back, visibly angry. "You are absolutely right. Diana holds a higher position than me because of her company shares. But I wish you knew exactly how much money those shares actually represent!"
To stop Yong from continuing, Diana quickly intervened, "Alright honey, please don't be upset. I had an argument with my mom today, so she is upset with me. I'm sorry..."
Yong looked at Diana with anger, walked past her, and left.
Diana's mother grumbled, "What kind of way is that to speak? Who does he think he is?"
"Alright, that's enough," Diana's father tried to stop her.
"The penniless boy!" her mother continued. "My daughter has a company through her own hard work, and then this arrogant boy wants to make her happy with the money from four worthless paintings?"
Diana snapped, "Mom, please! It seems I made a mistake asking you to come here. Everything just got worse... Dad, please go home."
Her mother looked surprised. "What do you mean? Are you upset with us? That arrogant boy stood up to us, and now you want us to leave?"
Diana said angrily, "Mom, please just leave! We will talk later... I will explain to you."
Diana's father took her mother's hand, and they walked out. Diana looked around the exhibition to find Yong. At that moment, Mary, who was standing behind a painting and had heard everything, looked at Yong with deep sadness.
Diana approached Yong. "Honey, don't be upset by my mom's words. She's just a bit frustrated because I haven't been able to visit them much lately."
Yong looked at her. "It's completely clear what she is upset about. Don't you think it's time to tell them that you got half of the money for your company shares from me?"
Diana sighed, "Honey, I told you before, I want to tell them in a better situation. Now is not the time."
"A better situation... when will that time come?" Yong questioned. "Though, I still don't even know who you partnered with for the rest of the shares. I don't know who that hidden partner is and why they won't show themselves."
Diana frowned, "Stop it. Are you interrogating me now? I already told you that my partner doesn't want their identity revealed. Now, it's better if I leave because I don't want to ruin your day."
Diana turned around, picked up her bag, and left.
Yong watched her from behind and whispered softly, "My day was already ruined when you said nothing to your mother."
The next day at the exhibition, Mary was lost in thought when Nicholas came up to her. "Are you okay, honey? You seem a bit preoccupied since last night."
Mary replied, "No, I'm fine... I had a lot of work at the company today, and the exhibition is crowded now. I'm just a bit tired, that's all."
"If you want, go home and rest. We can handle things here," Nicholas suggested.
"No, I'll stay. Yong hasn't come today either. Have you heard from him?" Mary asked.
"No, he hasn't told me anything either," Nicholas replied.
Mary lowered her voice, "Do you think he didn't come today because of Diana's mother?"
Nicholas asked, "Why, what did Diana's mother say?"
"Keep this between us," Mary whispered. "Yesterday, I accidentally overheard Diana's mother telling Yong that her daughter has a lot of money and owns a company, while Yong has nothing except his paintings. Yong got really upset."
Nicholas fell into deep thought and murmured softly to himself, "So... Diana's mother doesn't know anything?"
"Did you say something?" Mary asked.
Nicholas quickly pulled himself together. "No, it's nothing. Let's go join the others..."
On the final day of the exhibition, after the visiting hours ended, everyone—including Denise and James—gathered at a restaurant.
Helen said, "Yong, you must be very happy that you managed to sell so many of your paintings."
Yong replied calmly, "Yes, it turned out really well. At least our academy's name is back on everyone's lips like before."
Nicholas joked, "So, are you saying the academy is back on its feet because of you?"
"Go away, you joker. That's not what I meant," Yong laughed.
Mary added, "But you really did a great help to the academy and us. Yesterday, some visitors were saying that our academy is one of the best and just had bad luck during the last exhibition. Thanks to you, all the negativity from the previous exhibition is gone."
Yong smiled, "It's not like that. If you hadn't renovated the gallery, I wouldn't have been able to hold the exhibition either."
Nicholas looked at Yong with a hint of jealousy as he smiled at Mary, and Helen noticed it.
Helen quickly chimed in, "Nicholas always fixes everything right on time. Yong, you owe Nicholas for this."
Yong smirked, "Only this time... but don't let it get to your head, Nicholas, got it?"
Ava, who was secretly annoyed with Nicholas, added sharply, "Yeah, well, Nicholas does everything right on time just to make everyone owe him."
Mary looked at Ava with curiosity, sensing the tension.
Nicholas changed the subject, "Yong, why didn't Diana come? She didn't even show up at the exhibition anymore."
Yong replied dismissively, "I don't know. If you're so curious, ask her yourself."
"Alright, man, why are you getting upset?" Nicholas said.
Yong snapped, "Because you always interfere in things that are none of your business."
Mary and Helen exchanged looks, clearly noticing Yong's foul mood.
To change the subject, Mary said, "Denise, why don't you suggest a dessert? After all, you are the master of delicious desserts."
Denise teased, "Considering that Ava is sitting right here and you're asking me for a suggestion, it feels like you're throwing shade at me!"
James laughed, "My Barbie, who would dare to throw shade at you?"
Everyone burst out laughing, and after that, the night slipped away peacefully.