Chapter 21: Can You Not See Such an Obvious Frame-up?

"Ah!" Some young women in the crowd shrieked and covered their eyes.

This outcry sent the crowd into a fresh frenzy.

"Am I seeing this right? What is this?"

"It's absolutely disgraceful. And she actually called it 'The Evergreen Pine'."

Tang Xi stared at the painting, her face turning deathly pale in an instant.

Her "Evergreen Pine" was gone. In its place were several naked women, posing provocatively.

"Xi, what is the meaning of this?" Gu Yu’s expression was rigid and incredulous, while his father and He Guilan looked equally livid.

"A daughter-in-law gifting her father-in-law nude paintings? Is this a jab at her mother-in-law for failing to satisfy him?" someone in the crowd sneered.

"The Gu family really knows how to play dirty. I've learned something new today."

After being shaken several times by Gu Yu, Tang Xi finally snapped back to reality. Looking at his agitated and furious face, she shook her head frantically. "No, this isn't my painting. I checked it last night. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it."

"If you checked it and there was nothing wrong, then how do you explain this? Everyone attending this birthday banquet has close ties to the Gu family, including many important clients. Do you have any idea how much negative impact this has caused?"

Gu Yu didn't need to say it; Tang Xi knew well enough. It wasn't just detrimental to the Gu family—it was a devastating blow to her own reputation.

Tang Xi shifted her gaze and caught sight of Gu Nuannuan and Xiao Feng in the crowd. Xiao Feng gave her the middle finger, a look of smug triumph on his face.

"It was them," Tang Xi pointed toward them, her voice trembling with agitation. "They are the ones who did this."

Gu Yu sighed, rubbing his forehead in disappointment. "Xi, why is it that whenever something happens, you never look at your own faults, always shifting the blame onto innocent people?"

"My own faults?" Tang Xi stared at the man before her, stunned. "Then give me one reason why I would gift Dad a painting like this to ruin my own reputation? Can't you see this is an obvious frame-up?"

"Ever since Nuannuan moved into our house, you've held a long-standing grudge against her and her son. Plus, after Mom offended you last time, you chose this occasion to intentionally embarrass the Gu family. Is that reason enough?"

Tang Xi took a step back in disbelief. The man before her had suddenly become a complete stranger.

She had thought he wouldn't be able to find a logical reason, yet he had one ready at the drop of a hat.

It felt as if someone had plunged a knife into her heart, leaving it bleeding and raw.

Her head had already been throbbing, but now the pain was splitting.

In the crowd, Gu Nuannuan wore a victor's smile, watching her like a person destined for defeat.

Gu Yu’s expression toward her was also filled with nothing but disappointment.

Sorrow surged in her heart, manifesting as a bitter, wry smile.

Clinging to that bitterness, Tang Xi walked up to the painting and took out her phone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply sorry for ruining the mood, but this painting has been tampered with, which is why it looks the way it does now." Tang Xi peeled away the top layer of the painting, revealing the original beneath. "Someone used strong adhesive to stick another painting over mine. I have photos of the original preserved on my phone."

"Mrs. Gu, who could be so wicked as to tamper with your painting?"

"Do you really believe her? She painted this herself. She’s truly shameless."

It was clear that a portion of the crowd refused to believe her—perhaps people Gu Nuannuan had arranged beforehand, specifically to manipulate public opinion.

"Originally, I didn't want to air our dirty laundry, but if someone is willing to use my father-in-law’s birthday banquet just to get to me, then don't blame me for being merciless," Tang Xi said, her voice ringing out clearly. "Because children often cause trouble in my home studio, I installed a miniature surveillance camera. As for what really happened to this painting, we need only check the footage, and the truth will be clear as day."