Has The Live-in Alpha Stepped Up - Chapter 53
53: The Clever Wife
“You don’t look like you’re fine at all.” An Yizhu hugged Yu Guqiu, watching her pale face, not daring to slack off in the slightest.
Yu Guqiu only shook her head. “Don’t worry about me. It’s an old problem—just mild claustrophobia.”
When the lights were bright, it didn’t flare up. But now, in the dim light, her symptoms had appeared.
Just mild?
An Yizhu listened to Yu Guqiu’s understated tone but only felt heartache. It must have been the trauma from Yu Guqiu’s past kidnapping experience that left her with this wound.
She couldn’t relax, holding Yu Guqiu for a long time until her breathing steadied and her trembling subsided before helping her sit on a nearby crate.
“The painting isn’t important. You are.”
Yu Guqiu held An Yizhu’s hand, feeling warmth in her heart, but she still insisted, “We need to check the painting. Only if the painting is safe and the exhibition goes smoothly can we secure the Ai family’s investment.”
An Yizhu understood Yu Guqiu’s meaning and frowned. “You suspect the warehouse door was left open because someone tampered with the painting?”
Yu Guqiu’s expression darkened.
She was adept at preparing for the worst-case scenario. “Not just that. The person earlier might not even have been a staff member. He wore the gallery’s hat probably just to block the camera’s direct view. He lured us here to pin the blame on us.”
Hearing this, An Yizhu immediately walked to the wooden box and tried to open the four movable clasps.
The box opened.
The colors of the oil painting remained vivid even under the dim warehouse lighting.
The artist had painted this piece with intense emotion, pouring her feelings into it.
An Yizhu was all too familiar with it.
Because this painting—
Was her own work.
An Yizhu lifted the wooden panel of the box and saw the familiar image.
She froze for a moment.
Until the entire painting came into view.
The canvas was dominated by blue and red tones, with two human figures outlined in strokes—one above, the other below, as if on different layers yet complementing and embracing each other.
An Yizhu stared at the painting for a long time.
She hadn’t expected such a coincidence.
But the signature “Qiu Zhu” in the lower right corner was her own handwriting—it couldn’t be wrong.
And just as Yu Guqiu had predicted, the painting had indeed been damaged.
The damage was cleverly done, appearing as if it were caused by improper storage—melting and displacement of the paint.
It introduced jarring inconsistencies into both the blue and red tones.
An Yizhu pointed at the canvas. “It’s been damaged.”
Yu Guqiu struggled to walk over to An Yizhu, her brow furrowed with guilt. “I should’ve been more alert when I suspected that person earlier.”
But at this moment, An Yizhu seemed calmer than Yu Guqiu. “Don’t think like that. Whoever set this trap locked us in here to frame us. But even if you’d caught him, the damage to the painting would’ve been a done deal.”
Yu Guqiu listened to An Yizhu’s words and gradually steadied herself. “It’s a done deal. This person’s goal is clearly to sabotage the exhibition. We need to find a way out first.”
An Yizhu wasn’t just offering emotional support—she was determined to provide real help.
Firmly, she said, “We might not need to leave to fix this. Locking us in here was a cunning move, but it also gives us a chance to repair the damage.”
Yu Guqiu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Hearing such an unconventional idea from An Yizhu wasn’t surprising, but still…
“To repair it, we’d need tools. There’s nothing here.”
An Yizhu grinned at Yu Guqiu.
She pulled something out from her inner coat pocket.
Yu Guqiu was stunned.
Wasn’t this the mini palette from yesterday?
The mini palette had been taken home by An Yizhu for adjustments.
A small empty bottle and a mini brush were tied to the side of the box with cloth strips.
The bottle contained turpentine.
Turpentine could dilute paint, clean brushes, and even speed up drying.
Now, they had all the necessary tools at hand.
Yu Guqiu watched An Yizhu’s eager expression and couldn’t help but laugh, rubbing her forehead. “What a coincidence.”
Since the mastermind had set the trap here, this warehouse likely had no cameras—or they’d already been disabled.
At any moment, someone could come.
After all, the centerpiece painting was here. The time on the invitation was approaching, and the opening ceremony rehearsal was probably underway. Once it ended, someone would surely come to retrieve the painting.
If An Yizhu was caught working on the painting, it would be irrefutable evidence.
Yu Guqiu could think of all this, yet she didn’t stop An Yizhu.
She knew An Yizhu was actively solving the problem. What she needed to do wasn’t pour cold water on her but support her.
No matter what happened next, she’d face it alongside An Yizhu.
An Yizhu, meanwhile, was entirely focused on the restoration, unaware of Yu Guqiu’s calculations.
She quickly mixed colors on the palette.
Then, carefully removing the frame, she began repainting the damaged sections.
She even indulged in a small, private adjustment to the image.
This was her painting. Surely the organizers wouldn’t blame her once she explained?
She recalled the contract she’d signed—it stated that the painting’s ownership remained hers, with the organizers only holding agency rights.
Now, during the agency period, her painting had been damaged, and she’d personally restored it. By no means could this be considered her fault.
As she thought this, her hands never stopped moving.
Yu Guqiu watched from the side.
In this dim, enclosed space, her claustrophobia was slowly easing.
An Yizhu’s absorbed expression as she painted made Yu Guqiu feel as if they were spending an ordinary day on a date.
She was simply accompanying her wife in her hobby.
Perhaps their next date could just be her watching An Yizhu paint.
They didn’t need to go out where others could see—they could simply enjoy time alone together.
An Yizhu worked quickly.
Since the damage wasn’t severe, the restoration was soon complete.
While waiting for the paint to dry, An Yizhu wasn’t idle either. After putting away the mini palette, she tucked it into her pocket.
Then, she fiddled with the wooden box’s lid, preparing to close it.
“Make it seamless.” An Yizhu muttered to herself.
Yu Guqiu found it amusing. “You don’t sound like someone fixing a painting. More like you’re doing something sneaky.”
An Yizhu chuckled. “Not at all. The bad guys are always so clever and scheming. Shouldn’t we good guys fight back? We’ll restore it perfectly, make them think we didn’t notice anything, then catch them off guard. Once we observe a bit, we’ll know who’s behind this.”
Yu Guqiu nodded. “That’s a good analysis.”
But then she asked, “Though, don’t you already know who’s behind this?”
An Yizhu fell silent for two seconds.
Alright, she could guess.
“It’s probably Huo Wei.”
Yu Guqiu nodded—same as her thoughts.
The Huo family was their direct competitor this time.
The Huo family’s methods were notorious for harming others without benefiting themselves.
Whenever someone threatened their profits, they’d ensure the other party couldn’t do business either.
Their goal was to create an aura of “cross us and perish,” deterring anyone from competing with them.
But for just one painting, the Huo family had gone to such lengths?
Was there something more behind this?
Could the Ai family’s investment not be aid to the Yu family but a public…?
No.
The Ai family had built their fortune on luxury goods, accumulating their initial wealth as far back as the last century. Their methods back then hadn’t been entirely honorable, and they’d never been philanthropists.
While the Ai family didn’t solely prioritize bloodline in succession, focusing more on capability, unrelated families had no chance of forming ties with them.
The Yu family had only drawn their attention because they carried Ai Qi’s bloodline.
Yu Guqiu couldn’t figure it out.
But by then, An Yizhu had already closed the box and was fastening the clasps.
Click.
The warehouse door’s lock mechanism turned.
The heavy door was pushed open.
The warehouse lights flickered on.
An Yizhu turned to see a crowd standing outside the door.
At the forefront was a live-streaming setup with a stabilizer.
Behind the equipment, Zhang Yuan exclaimed in surprise, “Why are you two here? We’ve been looking for you during the opening ceremony rehearsal. We thought…”
She trailed off, not finishing the sentence—she’d thought someone had offended the couple, causing them to storm off.
Especially when their phones were unreachable, Ji Lu had arrived.
She’d even assumed Ji Lu was their representative and let her handle the ribbon-cutting. Never could she have imagined opening the door to find them inside the warehouse.
Yu Guqiu glanced at An Yizhu, who was still sneakily fastening the clasps, and left the response to her.
An Yizhu showed no guilt of “wrongdoing.” Instead, she indignantly walked over to Yu Guqiu, wrapped an arm around her, and said to Zhang Yuan, “You’re asking me? I’m furious! A staff member just now told us to come in and preview the centerpiece painting, so we did. Then he locked the door and wouldn’t let us out. If Xiao Qiu catches a cold, I’m holding you responsible!”
This wasn’t the first time Zhang Yuan had been on the receiving end of An Yizhu’s anger.
But she’d never been as nervous as now.
Last time, it was a reckless young Alpha making a mistake. This time, her gallery had made such a huge blunder!
Yu Guqiu’s expression was calm, as if she’d entirely delegated the situation to An Yizhu.
Her gaze swept over the crowd behind them.
Ji Lu was waving at her.
Tao Qian hid in the crowd, peeking in furtively.
Beside him, Huo Wei’s eyes gleamed with malice as he stared at An Yizhu.
Yu Guqiu narrowed her eyes.
Suddenly, she sensed another possibility.
This trap was likely Huo Wei’s doing.
But it might not have been the Huo family’s orders—just Huo Wei’s personal vendetta.
Yu Guqiu didn’t know what had happened between Huo Wei and An Yizhu at school to warrant such targeting.
If An Yizhu knew what Yu Guqiu was wondering, she’d be indignant.
Nothing had happened! She’d just refused to give Huo Wei face.
Was he really so petty? But then again, it wasn’t entirely surprising.
Meanwhile, An Yizhu finished scolding Zhang Yuan, who wiped her sweat but still remembered the painting. Hesitantly, she asked, “I saw you opening the box just now. Is this…?”
“We were stuck in the warehouse with nothing to do, so we decided to take a look at the painting. Is that a problem?” An Yizhu remained defiant.
“No problem, of course not. Ahem, anyway, apologies can wait until lunch. For now, let’s bring out the centerpiece.” Zhang Yuan steered the conversation back to the painting.
The live-stream operator, however, frantically signaled Zhang Yuan with his eyes.
The previously lukewarm livestream had exploded in popularity the moment An Yizhu and Yu Guqiu appeared—it was now the hottest live broadcast!
How could this boss not understand? Give An Yizhu more screen time!
Even if Yu Guqiu hadn’t said a word, netizens loved watching An Yizhu argue.
[Wait, isn’t this Yu Guqiu and An Yizhu, who’ve been all over hot searches lately?]
[LMAO, Yu Guqiu just gave a look, and An Yizhu started yelling. What kind of whipped behavior is this?]
[I think I get why shippers say they’re sweet. They’re so natural—immediate wife-protection mode.]
[What are you talking about? They’re a real married couple, of course they’re natural!]
The CP fans were still en route, but casual viewers were already shipping them.
Chemistry was a strange thing—some people chased it desperately, while others had it effortlessly.
Unaware of the livestream’s frenzy, Zhang Yuan aimed the camera at the centerpiece.
“This painting won second place in the ‘Johnson Mo’ International Competition. Though it’s ‘only’ second place, its value goes without saying, right?” Zhang Yuan enthusiastically addressed the camera.
The stream operator sighed.
Boss, just give the camera back to An Yizhu. Your commentary isn’t engaging!
Fortunately, Zhang Yuan didn’t drag it out. She opened the box.
“This piece, titled Heartbeat, was painted by artist Qiu Zhu. Dominated by blue and red, it blends these two inherently clashing tones beautifully. It’s striking even on camera, but in person, it’s truly vibrant.” Zhang Yuan’s introduction was accessible, likely to attract casual art enthusiasts.
But the CP fans who’d joined the stream had already noticed something.
[Wait, what’s the artist’s name? Did I just discover something?]
[LOL, isn’t our CP name ‘Qiu Zhu CP’?]
[What are the odds?!]
[Maybe it’s because of the artist’s name that CEO Yu and her wife partnered with the gallery to exhibit it?]
[True, the Yu Group rarely touched the art world before. Our CEO is kinda doting.]
[HAHAHAHA, am I the only one noticing how small and delicate the CEO’s wife looks in the frame?]
Netizens were sharp.
In the livestream, An Yizhu did occupy a small corner.
Though she hadn’t been nervous earlier, now she was slightly worried—unsure if the restored paint had dried.
So she leaned over to check.
Her movement made it seem like she was nestling against Yu Guqiu.
The shippers didn’t care—they immediately spammed “An Yizhu looks small and delicate” across the screen.
Later, some eagle-eyed viewer zoomed in and spotted marks on An Yizhu’s neck under the pixelated resolution.
Soon, the chat was flooded with “O top A bottom.”
Luckily, An Yizhu was oblivious—otherwise, she’d have confronted the stream directly: You don’t even have a term for ‘lesbian,’ yet you’re so specific about roles? Look me in the eyes!
Zhang Yuan continued praising the painting to the camera.
But Huo Wei, standing behind her, sneered. “Director Zhang, don’t you think there’s something off about this painting?”
“Off how?” Zhang Yuan, interrupted, paused but politely made space for Huo Wei when she saw who it was.
“This painting is… huh?!” Huo Wei froze.
The painting was perfectly fine.
No signs of peeling or damage from improper storage.
The paint’s surface even gleamed.
How was it unharmed?
Huo Wei immediately glared at An Yizhu.
An Yizhu met his gaze, grinning smugly.
Huo Wei’s rage flared.
How could this be?
Had his subordinate failed?
Impossible! His man had even sent photo proof of success.
Had An Yizhu anticipated this and swapped the painting?
No way!
There hadn’t been enough time to find an identical replica.
Had she… restored it herself?
Huo Wei arrived at the most absurd yet only plausible answer.
In this place, with no restoration tools, in such a short time—
It was unfathomable.
But upon closer inspection, though subtle, there were signs of repair. And…
Huo Wei’s expression shifted.
He admitted he was a freak.
But he prided himself on being a principled freak who valued talent.
For instance, “Qiu Zhu,” the genius behind Heartbeat, was someone he admired.
Using blue and red—seemingly unrelated to “heartbeat”—to depict the emotion was brilliant.
But it wasn’t flawless, hence the second-place finish.
In his eyes, the painting hadn’t lost due to unfamiliarity with the judges but because of its imperfections.
And precisely because of these flaws, his admiration hadn’t reached its peak, making him willing to sabotage it.
“Qiu Zhu” could surely paint something better.
But now, the painting bore subtle changes.
Within the blue tones, faint red light shimmered.
In the red hues, blue flames flickered.
A true heartbeat!
The red burned for the blue.
The blue trembled for the red.
An Yizhu’s restoration had altered the original but created a version Huo Wei found even more compelling.
He was torn.
Zhang Yuan, seeing Huo Wei silent, assumed a misunderstanding and prepared to mediate.
But before she could speak—
Huo Wei’s internal conflict resolved. Coldly, he said, “I admit An Yizhu’s skill is impressive. But tampering with someone else’s work—how much of the Yu family’s wealth are you willing to let your live-in Alpha squander?”
“What?!”
The crowd erupted.
Huo Wei knew most here were mere socialites—like many in the Huo family, they used art to launder money, with no genuine appreciation for painting.
They might not even have seen the original online.
His gaze icy, Huo Wei pressed on. “This painting has been altered. Here, red shadows were added. Here and here, blue shadows. I’ll concede it enhances the vibrancy, but that doesn’t justify vandalism.”
His words landed like a hammer.
Even Yu Guqiu felt a pang of guilt, glancing at An Yizhu.
But An Yizhu squeezed her hand reassuringly.
Smirking, An Yizhu said, “Didn’t expect you to have an eye for art. Not bad.”
Zhang Yuan, lost for most of it, caught this much—Huo Wei’s critique was valid; hers wasn’t.
An Yizhu, how could you?!
Undeterred, An Yizhu locked eyes with Huo Wei. “But saying that—don’t you have a conscience?”
Huo Wei laughed. What was a conscience?
“Pointing out flaws—is that illegal?”
An Yizhu’s stare turned glacial, knowing words were futile.
Those who treated the law as their moral baseline were often the most corrupt.
Huo Wei was the epitome of hypocrisy.
Seeing her expression, Huo Wei grinned wider.
So what if he was morally bankrupt?
Livestream viewers were baffled.
[Wait, An Yizhu didn’t deny it. Does that mean it’s true?]
[Ahem, while we should condemn this, can I sneakily ship them? Yu Guqiu just lets her live-in Alpha run wild!]
[Wasn’t the moment An Yizhu grabbed Yu Guqiu’s hand even shippier? The Alpha’s pheromones were practically overflowing!]
[Our ‘live-in Alpha’ faction is thriving! The little Alpha’s stepping up!]
[Uh, guys, isn’t shipping them now a bit inappropriate? An artist’s hard work shouldn’t be trampled by capitalists!]
Huo Wei gave An Yizhu no quarter. “So you admit it?”
An Yizhu retorted, “First, confirm the facts. Then, discuss right and wrong.”
Huo Wei smirked, waiting for her excuses.
But An Yizhu said, “First, the facts—yes, I altered it.”
She even pulled out her “tools of crime” from her pocket.
Yu Guqiu was stunned.
An Yizhu, after all that defiance, you’re confessing just like that?
Yu Guqiu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This unpredictability was so… An Yizhu.
But what could she do? Her Alpha, her responsibility.
Over the next few seconds, Yu Guqiu’s mind raced—she had to find a way to protect An Yizhu.
An Yizhu continued, “Now, right and wrong. When Xiao Qiu and I were locked in here, we saw the painting was already damaged. I restored it to preserve it.”
Huo Wei hadn’t expected such a blunt admission.
This was the perfect moment to strike, but he hesitated, glancing at the painting.
If An Yizhu truly had this skill, perhaps recruiting her for his gallery would be better.
But An Yizhu added, “Per the ‘Johnson Mo’ contract, once a competition piece is returned to the artist, they may modify it, provided they consent to the original digital version being archived as the sole copy. I agreed to this.”
“Wait, Yizhu, your agreement doesn’t matter! ‘Qiu Zhu’ would never agree—this involves massive breach penalties. We’re ruined!” Zhang Yuan, finally processing the situation, panicked.
“Johnson Mo” had the industry’s strictest standards—they’d surely defend their artists.
For Zhang Yuan, the sky was falling. Fines were negotiable, but losing future collaborations would be catastrophic!
An Yizhu smirked. “Director Zhang, do you remember my wife’s name?”
Zhang Yuan frowned. Was this little Alpha really going to make her wife pay?
An Yizhu pressed, “And my name?”
Yu Guqiu and An Yizhu.
A lightbulb went off in Yu Guqiu’s head.
She turned An Yizhu to face her, cupping her cheeks.
Staring into her eyes, Yu Guqiu asked slowly, “You’re ‘Qiu Zhu’?”
An Yizhu’s eyes sparkled as she grinned, her little fangs showing. “That’s my clever wife for you.”