Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Serial Face-Slapping
Moss’s eyes were filled with unconcealable excitement and joy. "Whisperwind, I’m so honored to finally meet you!"
Sienna Everett extended her hand to shake his, her eyes curving into a gentle smile. "Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
The crowd watched as Moss completely ignored Ophelia Warren, instead approaching Sienna Everett with fiery enthusiasm, and excitedly declared that he was finally honored to meet Whisperwind.
What was going on?!
A young man in the crowd couldn’t help but ask, "Mr. Moss, aren’t you here to see Ophelia Warren?"
Moss was in the middle of talking to Sienna Everett. Hearing the question, he felt interrupted and frowned.
"Of course not. I heard Whisperwind would be attending the art exhibition, so I took an overnight flight from overseas just for the chance to meet her!"
"As for Ophelia Warren, I only just found out she was at this exhibition too."
After hearing Moss’s words, a collective gasp echoed through the venue once again.
Those who knew Moss were aware that he never minced words. He said whatever was on his mind, and of course, the effect was always quite shocking.
"Oh... oh my god! Mr. Moss flew all this way specifically for Whisperwind, not Ophelia Warren!"
"He only just found out Ophelia Warren was at this exhibition... Ugh, Moss wasn’t paying any attention to her at all, and here we were thinking they were so close..."
"Hahahaha, just look at that expression on Moss’s face. He looks ecstatic. It’s so obvious how happy he is to meet Sienna Everett!"
After hearing Moss’s words, Ophelia Warren’s expression visibly stiffened. She could no longer maintain the gentle, refined smile on her face.
Moss had utterly ignored her, coming here specifically for Sienna Everett...
Ophelia Warren, left standing awkwardly to the side, suddenly clenched her jaw. She took several deep breaths before forcing a soft, placid smile onto her face, trying to project an air of magnanimity, as if she didn’t mind.
At that moment, the reporters surrounding Moss and Sienna Everett seized the opportunity to ask, "Mr. Moss, we hear you’re very interested in traditional Celestran painting. Why is that?"
Moss smiled candidly. "It’s because of Whisperwind, of course."
Everyone was shocked.
Sienna Everett looked over at him, equally surprised.
Moss looked at Sienna Everett and said with heartfelt sincerity, "I had heard of traditional Celestran painting before, but I didn’t know much about it and wasn’t particularly interested. But the first time I saw your work, I was stunned by the freehand-style landscapes. It was a shock to the soul, something I’d never experienced before. From that moment on, I began to study your paintings and learn Chinese, hoping that one day I would be able to meet you and speak with you in person."
Sienna Everett was slightly taken aback, then gave him a knowing smile. "I’m very happy you’ve come to like traditional Celestran painting. It’s a unique art form native to Celestria, with its own complete system and profound cultural heritage. It’s one of our national treasures and the essence of our traditional culture."
Moss nodded repeatedly. "Ever since then, I’ve become fascinated with Celestria’s traditional culture and have studied the works of many ancient painters. However, there are some questions I’ve never been able to figure out. I was wondering if I might be able to ask for your guidance?"
A smile touched Sienna Everett’s eyes. "Of course."
After listening to this exchange, the crowd was even more convinced of Moss’s admiration for Whisperwind. He even took the initiative to learn Chinese!
Who would have thought that Sienna Everett was also, without even realizing it, promoting traditional culture!
Miles Everett stared at Sienna Everett, his eyes filled with disbelief.
’I can’t believe Moss holds her in such high regard...’
As Moss warmed to the conversation, he suddenly remembered something. He pulled an exquisite gift box from his pocket and presented it to Sienna Everett. "I was entrusted by a certain gentleman to give you a gift."
Sienna Everett was bewildered. "Entrusted by whom?"
Moss said, "He says he’s one of your admirers."
Sienna Everett: "?"
The nearby reporters immediately perked up their gossip-hungry ears.
An admirer of Sienna Everett’s? Who could get Moss to deliver a gift for them?
To be able to order around the famous oil painter Moss, this admirer must be someone extraordinary!
Moss thought for a moment, then said to Sienna Everett, "That gentleman said that you call him ’that bastard surnamed Shen.’ He wanted to come to your exhibition himself, but he couldn’t get away... He also said he really liked the two turtles you drew, and that they were very cute!"
Sienna Everett: "..."
’Heh. I know who it is now!’
’Who else could it be but that guy, Simon Sinclair!’
Keith Sterling, who had been standing guard nearby, immediately knew who it was when he heard the description "that bastard surnamed Shen." He instantly grew tense.
’Damn it!’
’This guy Shen is obviously trying to get on Sierra’s good side for his own shady reasons!’
Moss presented the gift box to Sienna Everett. The lid opened gently, revealing an exquisite and beautiful rose-shaped brooch.
It was cut from an incredibly rare pink diamond, so beautiful it instantly captured everyone’s attention.
Beneath it was a small note with the romantic words "The Last Rose" written on it.
A female reporter in the crowd suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! Is it from that line, ’On my barren land, you are the last rose’!"
"Wow, so romantic and passionate!" another young woman sighed, cupping her face in her hands.
Sienna Everett, however, just felt a headache coming on.
’I don’t want this gift at all!’
But she couldn’t possibly put Moss in an awkward position, so she had no choice but to accept the gift box. She would just have to return it to that guy Shen later!
Keith Sterling, ever the overprotective fanatic, was so anxious he could have gotten blisters on his lip. ’The last rose on barren land, my ass! That guy Shen is just trying to seduce Sierra!’
A bold reporter quietly sidled up to Keith Sterling to probe, "Mr. Sterling, Sienna Everett is an artist with your company. Do you have any idea who this admirer is?"
Keith Sterling answered irritably, "How would I know!"
The reporters were dying of curiosity, before belatedly recalling something.
No wonder Keith Sterling had posted a picture of the "Little Chicken Pecking Rice Painting," drawn by Whisperwind herself, on X, and even remarked that Whisperwind looked like Sienna Everett!
So Keith Sterling had known all along that Sienna Everett was Whisperwind!
A reporter with glasses suddenly asked, "Mr. Sterling, we heard that Mr. Forrester will be coming to the exhibition today. Is that true?"
Keith Sterling chuckled softly. "Of course it’s true."
The reporter pressed his advantage, "Mr. Sterling, everyone online is guessing that Mr. Forrester is coming for Ophelia Warren. Is there any truth to that?"
Keith Sterling’s smile deepened, holding a mysterious and dangerous edge. "That’s a question you should ask my brother directly."
The reporter’s legs started shaking in fear.
’How could I dare!’
Just then, a staff member ran over, their face flushed with excitement, stammering, "Mr.... Mr. Vance! Mr. Forrester is here! He’s really here!"
Upon hearing this, Fabian Vance was so thrilled his beard trembled. "Quick, come with me to greet him!"
With that, Fabian Vance broke into a trot, his old, arthritic legs moving as if they were nimble and swift, a clear sign of his excitement.
Hearing the title "Mr. Forrester," everyone present knew exactly who it was. They all craned their necks in excitement, trying to see outside.
"Oh my god, Julian Forrester really came to the art exhibition!"
"Is he just here to appreciate the paintings? Or is he here for Ophelia Warren, like everyone online guessed?"
"I don’t know! But just getting to see Mr. Forrester in person is enough to brag about for a lifetime!"
Nearby, Ophelia Warren’s fans, hearing Julian Forrester’s name, immediately bounced back from their earlier disappointment and grew ecstatic.
That was Julian Forrester, the CEO of the Forresterer Group!
He had far more status than some oil painter like Moss!
Not only had Ophelia been photographed with Julian Forrester, but he was most likely coming to the exhibition just for her. How could they not be excited!
Compared to this, Moss coming to see Sienna Everett was nothing!