Chapter 269: Preparing for the Face-Slap!

Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Preparing for the Face-Slap!

Around ten in the morning.

Sienna Everett and Keith Sterling followed Director Jarvis to the National Museum.

Director Jarvis pointed to a teeming crowd ahead and explained, "That’s the tourist entrance for the National Museum. It’s packed with visitors every day. We’ll use this special access passage. It’s about a ten-minute walk to the ancient painting restoration department."

Keith Sterling was both flattered and amazed. He knew about this passage, of course—it wasn’t open to the public. In other words, only those with high military rank or special authorization were allowed to use it.

And now Director Jarvis was leading them right through it, all thanks to Sierra.

He was getting to walk through the special access passage just by riding on Sierra’s coattails.

Keith Sterling’s eyes sparkled as he stared at Sienna Everett without blinking. ’Aah, I have to stick close to Sierra from now on!’

Just as they were about to reach the ancient painting restoration department, Director Jarvis suddenly received a phone call. His expression grew anxious, as if something had happened.

Director Jarvis hung up and hurriedly said to Sienna Everett, "Miss Everett, something has come up at the museum. I need to go handle it immediately. My sincere apologies! The building right ahead is the restoration department’s workshop. You and Mr. Sterling can go inside and wait. I’ll be right back!"

Hearing there was trouble at the museum, Sienna Everett knew it couldn’t be delayed and nodded immediately. "It’s all right. Please, go take care of it."

After giving a few more instructions, Director Jarvis departed in a hurry to handle the emergency.

Sienna Everett and Keith Sterling walked to the ancient painting restoration department’s workshop. It was a spacious and brightly lit room, where over a dozen restorers were gathered, yet it didn’t feel crowded at all.

Sienna Everett’s gaze swept across the room, and as expected, she spotted Miles Everett among the crowd.

Even before Sienna had seen him, Miles had spotted her at the entrance. He couldn’t help but wonder, ’What is she doing here? And why is Keith Sterling with her?’

’Sienna Everett is the great painter Whisperwind, true, but she doesn’t know a thing about artifact restoration. What’s her purpose in coming here?’

"Sierra!" Just then, Fabian Vance, who was in the crowd, spotted Sienna Everett and greeted her with a face full of pleasant surprise. "Sierra!"

Sienna Everett was pleasantly surprised as well. "Grandpa Vance."

She hadn’t expected to see Fabian Vance here.

A while ago, Fabian Vance had held The Azure Art Exhibition and invited Sienna Everett to attend. It was then that everyone learned Sienna was the great painter Whisperwind. Furthermore, Fabian Vance had personally stated at the exhibition that he and Sienna’s grandfather had been friends for many years.

So, no one was surprised to see how familiar Sienna Everett and Fabian Vance were with each other. They were just puzzled as to why Sienna was here. 𝐟𝒓ℯⅇ

Fabian Vance, dressed in a Tang suit and looking hale and hearty, walked over with a cheerful laugh. "Sierra, what brings you here?"

Sienna Everett answered truthfully, "Director Jarvis brought me."

Hearing the name "Director Jarvis," Miles Everett’s eyes widened. ’Director Jarvis personally brought Sienna Everett here?’

’Could it be...?’

Fabian Vance stroked his graying beard and laughed heartily. "I’ll give old Jarvis some credit for having a good eye, inviting our Sierra over! But he invited me too, which is just a desperate move. I’m just a hack who paints; I don’t know a thing about artifact restoration. What’s the use in having me here!"

Hearing him call himself a "hack who paints," everyone around them chuckled.

A restorer wearing glasses said, "Mr. Vance, you’re being too modest! You’re hardly a ’hack who paints.’ You have such a deep understanding of ancient paintings and have held so many exhibitions. You were invited to this restoration project to offer some valuable advice!"

Fabian Vance chatted and joked with them for a moment before pulling Sienna Everett aside. He whispered, "Sierra, I heard about what happened between you and Miles Everett. Don’t you worry. With Grandpa Vance here, I won’t let him bully you!"

A warmth spread through Sienna Everett’s heart, and her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "Thank you, Grandpa Vance."

Not to be outdone, Keith Sterling chimed in, "And me! And me!"

His brother’s most important mission for him was to take good care of Sierra!

At that moment, Miles Everett, watching Sienna Everett from a distance, had a sudden realization. ’Sienna Everett is the great painter Whisperwind. She was probably invited by Director Jarvis, just like Fabian Vance, to see if she could offer any suggestions.’

’Why else would Director Jarvis bring her here?’

’She knows nothing about artifact restoration. The most she can do is offer some trivial advice.’

’Strange. Didn’t Director Jarvis say he was bringing Winchester this morning? Why isn’t he here yet?’

Meanwhile, Fabian Vance led Sienna Everett to a table and pointed at the damaged ancient painting on it. "Sierra," he said, "this is the famous painting Director Jarvis wants to restore, *The maple forest is dyed in autumn colors*. But it’s over a thousand years old and has been through numerous wars and natural disasters. The damage is just too severe."

So it was extremely difficult to restore.

Keith Sterling leaned in for a closer look, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Whoa, is that mold on it? And stains? And are those two holes ripped in it?"

’Is this painting even salvageable?’

When Sienna Everett saw that it was *The maple forest is dyed in autumn colors*, her pupils contracted sharply. This was a painting her grandfather had adored. He had always wanted to see the original but could never find it.

Today, she was finally seeing the original work, but her grandfather was gone. He would never get to see it...

Keith Sterling asked nervously in a low voice, "Sierra, can this painting even be fixed? Even a layman like me can tell the damage is way too severe."

This restoration was a hell-level task.

On top of that, the President of Yesteria was visiting next week, and the restored painting was supposed to be displayed at the state banquet. There was no room for error.

Sienna Everett was still grieving for her grandfather, staring blankly at the damaged painting on the table, and didn’t hear Keith Sterling’s question.

When Keith Sterling saw her standing there, silent and still, his heart skipped a beat. ’It’s over, it’s over!’

’Someone as skilled at restoration as Sierra didn’t say anything right away. This must be truly difficult!’

Just then, Fabian Vance’s brows furrowed in displeasure. "What is *she* doing here?"

Keith Sterling looked up curiously, and to his surprise, he saw Ophelia Warren.

It turned out that Miles Everett had stepped out just now to bring Ophelia Warren over.

Keith Sterling was utterly speechless. ’That Miles Everett is a fucking lost cause!’

’After hearing what Ophelia Warren said while hiding around the corner that day, he’s still associating with her. He’s beyond saving! If Ophelia ruins him sooner or later, he’ll have deserved it!’

Sienna Everett snapped out of her reverie and saw the scene, her expression remaining cold and unruffled.

The other restorers in the room knew about the recording of Ophelia Warren that had been leaked online, destroying her public image, so none of them looked at her kindly.

"Miss Ophelia Warren, why are you here?"

"Miles, this is the ancient painting restoration area. How could you bring an outsider here?"

"Exactly! The items in this room are so important. What if something gets bumped or broken?"

Listening to everyone’s barbed and cold remarks, Ophelia Warren maintained a gentle smile and said softly, "I came to find Ms. Everett today because I’ve found a way to restore this ancient painting."