Prince of Tennis: Shocking! Hyotei's Demon King is a Yukimura fangirl!

Chapter 145 An art exhibition filled with big shots

The car drove smoothly along the coastal highway, and the salty sea breeze came in through the half-open window, mixed with the faint floral scent on Yukimura's body.

Wang Yueling turned her head to look at him. The black wristband on her wrist gleamed in the sunlight. She would lift it up and shake it from time to time, like a big dog showing off its new collar.

"This wristband is really nice."

Wang Yueling shook her wrist again, humming a French folk song, her azure eyes curving into crescents.

Yukimura sat beside him, holding a camera. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the wristband on Yukimura's wrist and gently stroked the camera strap with his fingertips.

The wristband was an old model he had used for two years; the edges were a bit pilled, and the Rikkai University badge had faded a bit from washing. But it looked surprisingly harmonious on the blond boy's hand.

"You've been grinning like an idiot the whole way." Yukimura's voice was soft, with the gentleness of the sea breeze.

"What's wrong?"

Ryo Mochizuki sat up straight, her eyes shining like stars. "I'm going to wear this to school tomorrow too, so everyone knows it's a gift from Seiichi. I want to prove to Jirou that mine is a hundred times prettier than the wristband Marui gave me."

The driver coughed softly in the front seat and pursed his lips.

Yukimura couldn't do anything with him, so he turned back to look out the window and stopped talking.

The palm trees lining the road rushed past, the distant sea shimmered like scattered gold, and white seagulls skimmed across the surface, leaving behind a few clear cries.

"We've arrived, young master."

The car stopped in front of a low-rise white building, and the driver's voice came from the front seat.

Mochizuki Ryo got out of the car first and went around to the other side to open the door for Yukimura. He reached out to help Yukimura up, his fingertips accidentally brushing against the other's wrist, the warm touch making them both pause for a moment.

"Watch out for the steps." He took the camera and jacket from Yukimura's hand and casually draped them over his arm.

The art exhibition venue is small, hidden in an old white building in a seaside resort area.

The museum has a simple exterior, with white walls covered in green vines. There is no extravagant sign at the entrance, only a small bronze plaque engraved with the painter's name.

There were many luxury cars parked at the entrance, and guests dressed in formal attire walked in in twos and threes.

Occasionally, you can see a few figures dressed in sportswear, carrying tennis bags, whose demeanor clashes with the surrounding artistic atmosphere.

Step into the art museum.

The cool air from the air conditioner instantly enveloped my entire body, and a faint scent of turpentine and flaxseed oil wafted through the air.

A crystal chandelier hangs from the high ceiling, and exquisitely framed paintings adorn the white walls. Soft spotlights illuminate the canvases precisely, bringing out the layers of color to life.

"This way."

Mochizuki Ryo took Yukimura's wrist and slowed her pace. "Let's look at the works that interest you first, and then carefully appreciate this collector's private collection of paintings."

His palms were warm and dry, his fingertips bearing the thin calluses from years of holding a tennis racket. Yukimura let him lead him, his gaze falling on their clasped hands, his eyes crinkling into a smile.

The two walked around, stopping frequently to look at and discuss many paintings.

Standing in front of an oil painting depicting the Normandy coast, Mochizuki Ryo stopped again.

On the canvas, gray-blue waves crash against black reefs, the sky is a heavy leaden gray, with only a sliver of golden sunlight peeking through the distant horizon.

"This is Monet's 1868 work, 'Étretat after the tide recedes.'" (Fake!)

Wang Yueling leaned slightly closer to Yukimura's ear, her voice low and warm breath brushing against Yukimura's earlobe. "Look at the brushstrokes here, short and powerful, they depict the texture of the waves as if they were real."

Yukimura looked in the direction he pointed and indeed saw layers upon layers of paint piled up to form the shape of surging waves.

He nodded, and was about to speak when he heard Wang Yueling continue, "However, what's more interesting than the paintings themselves is the commercial operation of this art exhibition."

Yukimura turned his head, his eyes filled with doubt.

Wang Yueling scanned the entire venue, then pulled him to the adjacent rest area and found a seat by the window.

Outside the window is the azure sea, and the sound of waves can be faintly heard.

"Look, a third of the people here are business celebrities, a quarter are from the tennis world, and the rest are true art lovers."

He gestured with his chin, indicating to Yukimura that several men in suits were talking in the distance. "The old man in the gray suit is the largest sporting goods distributor in Japan, and the one next to him is a representative of the tennis tournament organizer."

Yukimura followed his gaze and indeed saw several familiar faces, all of whom were figures who frequently appeared in tennis magazines.

"And that lady in the red dress, she's the head of the WTA's neon section," Mochizuki Ryo continued. "The man next to her with glasses is the ATP tournament director. They're all here for this art exhibition, do you know why?"

Yukimura shook his head, looking at him curiously.

"Because the organizer of this exhibition, that is, the French collector, is named Pierre Duke."

Wang Yueling picked up the brochure on the table, her fingertips tracing the artwork on the cover, a faint smile playing on her lips. "This collector is a hardcore tennis enthusiast himself, and almost became a professional player when he was young."

"He held this art exhibition partly to commemorate his wedding with his lover, and partly to create a platform to combine art and tennis."

"Combined?"

"Um."

Wang Yueling nodded, lightly tapping her fingertip on the brochure. "Let's build a platform to bring together sponsors, event organizers, and players. On the surface, it's an artistic exchange, but in reality, it's about doing business."

"Look at those guys in sportswear."

Wang Yueling gestured with her chin toward the left corridor. "These are all top-ranked professional players outside of the national team. They're not here to look at the paintings, they're here to make their faces known. If Duke takes notice, their future careers will be much smoother."

"Of course, the organizers invited many professional tennis players to the event, which is also in preparation for the upcoming launch of co-branded tennis rackets and sportswear."

He paused, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"If they're smart."

"It is highly likely that part of the proceeds from the art exhibition will be donated to the Youth Tennis Development Fund, which will not only enhance the brand image but also gain the support of the Tennis Association."

Yukimura's eyes widened in surprise. He had never imagined that there were so many intricacies behind an art exhibition.

The two talked as they walked along the corridor.

There was a very faint floral scent in the air; I couldn't tell if it was from fresh flowers or aromatherapy.

"The one over there in the dark green suit."

Wang Yueling spoke again, this time with a hint of understanding in her tone, "He's a partner at the largest tennis agency in France. He has about ten players ranked in the top 50 of the ATP and three Grand Slam champions under his management."

Yukimura followed his gaze.

The man was chatting with someone while holding a glass of champagne. He had a slightly large belly, but his suit was well-tailored, making his figure look very presentable.

"The one in black next to him."

Wang Yueling continued, "It's the owner of a tennis academy in Dubai, specializing in training young players. My father has a partnership with him, sending promising young players from Europe there for intensive training."

Yukimura glanced at him. "How come you know everyone?"

"I don't know him personally, I've just seen his information."

Wang Yueling lowered her voice even further, her azure eyes filled with a hint of grievance and accusation, "After I took over the conglomerate, the first thing I did was to have my subordinates compile a list of information on all the key figures related to the sports industry."

"Players, coaches, agents, sponsors, media—it's all there. A thick stack of them; it almost blinded me."

"So you're giving me a live demonstration of what business acumen really is?"

"No." Wang Yueling smiled, revealing her little tiger teeth. "I'm showing you how excellent I am."

Yukimura was momentarily speechless at his words, then covered his mouth with the back of his hand and laughed for a few seconds.

The two continued walking forward.

People gathered in small groups in the exhibition hall, speaking softly. Occasionally someone would laugh, but the laughter would quickly be absorbed by the carpet and thick curtains.

Wang Yueling pointed to a tall man standing in the corner. The man was wearing a dark blue suit, and his silver-gray hair was neatly combed back. He was looking down at his phone.

"That's the president of a sporting goods company in Japan."

As he spoke, he led Yukimura around the group, his tone as casual as if he were introducing the fruit trees in his own backyard. "Their company has been looking for opportunities to enter the European market for the past two years. Last month, they even sent a letter of intent to Hyotei for sponsorship and wanted Hyotei's tennis club to endorse their new tennis shoes."

After listening, Yukimura thought for a moment and said, "If I remember correctly, you just signed a sports medicine cooperation agreement with Atobe last month."

"Yes. So if Atobe takes their endorsement, their brand value will increase." After saying that, Mochizuki Ryo looked down at Yukimura, her eyes carrying a hint of "You understand now?"

"So you came to this art exhibition not just to look at the paintings?" Yukimura also looked up at him, his purplish-blue eyes filled with a hint of resentment and anger.

"Seiichi, I really did come with you to see the paintings. More real than pearls."

Mochizuki Ryo instantly sensed Yukimura's dissatisfaction, raised a finger to swear, and said with a particularly sincere expression, "But let's also see how things go. Our group has recently been expanding into the sports industry, especially the tennis sector. Collaborating with Duke is only a matter of time."

"And while I'm at it, let these people know I'm here too."

"You came, and then what?"

"Then they'll investigate me."

"Investigating you?"

"Yes. They'll find out who I am, what resources I have, and what collaborations I can make. Then they'll find out I'm the new head of the Mochizuki Group, and they'll try to get to know me. By the time they come to me, I'll already know who they are, what they want, and where their bottom line is."

Mochizuki Ryo paused, then bent down slightly and leaned close to Yukimura's ear, her voice very low, "This is called information asymmetry. The most valuable thing in business negotiations."

Yukimura tilted his head slightly to the side, creating a small distance. He didn't reply, but looked back at the painting on the wall, his eyelashes fluttering slightly.

Wang Yueling straightened up and continued walking forward, her tone much lighter, "I have plenty of experience dealing with these old foxes."

"What experience?"

"laugh."

He playfully raised the corners of his mouth with his finger, "Always smiling. No matter what they say, you smile and nod. If they say you're young and promising, you say 'Oh, not at all.' If they say there's a chance to work together next time, you say 'Definitely, definitely.' If they say you look like your father when he was young, you say 'Thank you for the compliment.'"

"Your father?"

"Yes. Many people in the French business community know my father. When I was just learning to take over the group's affairs, an old man grabbed my hand, his eyes reddening, and said, 'Your father helped me back then.' I thought to myself, who are you? My dad has never mentioned you. But I still smiled and chatted with him for half an hour, and in the end, he signed a cooperation agreement."

Yukimura glanced at him. "How old were you back then?"

"Ten years old."

When Mochizuki Ryo said this, her tone was very calm. "Since I was ten, every weekend I've been having dinner with a group of people whose average age is over fifty. They talk about golf, I talk about tennis. They talk about red wine, I talk about juice. They bring their grandchildren, and I beat them."

"and then?"

"Then those grandsons all became my defeated opponents. Those uncles and old men became my dad's customers." He smiled, his bright blue eyes curving into two crescent moons. "So you see, I've been good at business since I was a child."

Yukimura looked at him, his eyes filled with indescribable emotions.

This person's fifteenth year was not quite what he had imagined.

He thought that being a heir to a wealthy family meant living a life of luxury and doing whatever one wanted, but now he realizes that behind that glamorous facade lies a complete elite education, a well-planned social circle, and a meticulously planned strategy.

I started navigating the world of adults at the age of ten, learning to smile, to negotiate, and to remain composed.

"So, do you like it?" Yukimura asked.

"What do you like?"

"Doing business."

Wang Yueling thought for a moment, but didn't answer immediately. They stopped in front of a painting, and he looked at the golden wheat field in the painting, remaining silent for a few seconds.

I wouldn't say I like it, nor would I say I dislike it.

He didn't give a perfunctory answer, but thought for a long time before saying, "This is what I should do. Just like when my maternal grandfather handed over the Mochizuki Group to me before he passed away in Japan, it wasn't because I was his grandson, but because he felt that I could take the family further."

"I can't let him down."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Yukimura and smiled again, this time a much more genuine smile. "And I've discovered that business and tennis are actually quite similar. Both involve prediction, planning, and execution. The only difference is that in tennis you just hit it back, but in business, even if you hit it back, the other person might not return it."

"Then what will you do?"

"Then let's try again from a different angle." Mochizuki Ryou raised an eyebrow, her tone nonchalant, "Until the opponent catches it."

Yukimura listened, somewhat lost in thought.

He watched as Wang Yueling spoke eloquently, her eyes gleaming with confidence, her every gesture exuding the composure and certainty characteristic of a wealthy heir.

It turns out this person is not only good at tennis, but also very successful in business.

As Yukimura thought about it, his fingertips unconsciously curled up.

He suddenly remembered the first time they met. Wang Yueling was standing at the entrance of the rooftop, holding white daisies and pale purple calamus. Sunlight fell on his golden hair, making him look like an innocent young nobleman.

Only now do I realize that this person possesses a maturity and shrewdness far beyond that of his peers.

"What's wrong?" Wang Yueling noticed his distraction and leaned closer to ask, her tone full of concern, "Are you tired of standing?"