"So, do you manage this place all by yourself?" Ohm initiated his probe with a low, polite baritone that carried a subtle undertone of curiosity.
"I co-own it with my husband, but he's currently tied up with important business in Thailand. I have to run the gallery alone for now," Qin Mei replied with a smile radiant with pride in her spouse.
Ohm feigned a look of pleasant surprise. "Oh! Really? Thailand is the 'it' place right now. Your husband must be so charmed by the food and the hospitality that he might never want to leave. If I ever have the chance to meet him, I'd love to invite him to try my cooking."
Qin Mei let out a soft laugh. "He wouldn't have the time, I'm afraid. He's so busy there he barely manages to check in... but he sends money back to me constantly. It's because of him that my business has grown in leaps and bounds."
Ohm's heart skipped a beat. Money laundered through the CK Group name, no doubt. He decided to tighten the net of their relationship.
"Wow... your husband must be a real high-flyer..." Ohm offered a charming smile. "But actually, I have a confession to make... I'm actually a chef. I own 'The Flowers Love Kitchen' in Bangkok and just opened a pop-up here. It would be a great honor if you'd join me for a private meal at my restaurant. We could discuss forging a strategic business alliance for a more stable future."
Qin Mei accepted the glittering gold chef's card with keen interest. "A chef and an investor... how intriguing. I will certainly give this invitation special consideration."
Ohm strolled into the heart of the gallery, stopping before a massive metal sculpture of a phoenix with its wings spread wide. The lighting hit its polished surface, making it look like dancing flames. He reached out, placing his hand on the giant piece as if scanning for its hidden soul.
"This piece... it truly captivates me," Ohm said, turning back to her with eyes that sparkled. "May I ask for the price?"
"You have an excellent eye. This is 'The Phoenix's Rebirth.' It is priced at 5 million Yuan."
"That's not expensive at all," Ohm replied instantly, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the price of an iced coffee.
Meanwhile, Phuak, who was eavesdropping from the van, nearly choked on the iced coffee he was currently sipping. He pulled his high-tech glasses up to stare at his own reflection, muttering into the mic, "Mr. Chatch! Bro is spending money like it's scrap paper! I'm officially washing my hands of this!"
Ohm, hearing the frantic voice in his earpiece, gritted his teeth to maintain his composure. He shot a brief, predatory glare at the statue—imagining it was Phuak's face—before resuming his big-spending billionaire persona.
Qin Mei froze, her eyes widening. "Not expensive? Usually, guests tell me it's far beyond their reach."
"For a work with this much spirit... this price is actually too cheap," Ohm looked her dead in the eye. "I want this piece." He pointed decisively at the giant bird.
Qin Mei stood agape, her heart fluttering. She asked breathlessly, "Would you... would you prefer to pay by check or credit card?"
"I prefer to transfer cash directly into the gallery's account... right now. Is that convenient?"
The phrase 'ready to transfer' obliterated Qin Mei's last shred of suspicion. She realized the man before her was the golden goose she had been searching for. "Y-yes! Of course! I'll prepare the paperwork for you immediately."
"Excellent... but before I sign," Ohm raised a hand to pause her, glancing toward the entrance. "I've invited my private consultant to help inspect the work."
Suddenly, the gallery doors swung open. Phuak stepped in, sporting an avant-garde fashion ensemble topped with vintage round spectacles that made him look like a mad art director. His sharp gaze swept the room, scrutinizing every inch as if searching for a flaw in the very atmosphere.
"Ah, Mr. Wiwat. Just in time," Ohm greeted him with respectful deference before introducing him. "This is Mr. Wiwat, a premier independent curator I had to book a year in advance."
Phuak held his head high with an air of immense arrogance. He walked straight to the Phoenix sculpture and slowly donned a pair of white latex gloves. "Forgive my tardiness. The ambassador in Paris just got off the phone with me; he wanted me to fly out for a Sotheby's auction, but I'm far too busy next week, so I had to decline."
Qin Mei watched in awe. "Mr. Wiwat, do you work with global institutions?"
Phuak tapped the base of the sculpture lightly, making a clicking sound with his tongue. "Hmph... art passing before my eyes is like passing through a high-end scanner. I am the 'Second Set of Eyes' in this industry. If it's fake, if it's a sham, I see it instantly. I detect it, I know it, I verify it—just like that." He boasted while Ohm suppressed a smirk at the sheer theatricality—I paid for ten, but he's giving me a hundred!
"Recently, I unmasked a 10-million-dollar forgery in Berlin. If a piece isn't up to standard, don't expect me to let it pass easily." He was a ten on the boast-scale and a million on the confidence-scale. Ohm stepped in smoothly to reinforce the play.
"Mr. Wiwat is quite strict about the provenance of a piece. If he hasn't seen the registry and history of this work, he won't let me transfer that 5 million Yuan to you."
Phuak adjusted his glasses and commanded sternly, "Now... let us not waste my time. I have a board meeting with The Met in New York this evening. Could you please lead me to inspect the digital registry of this artwork?" He gestured grandly. As Qin Mei hesitated, Ohm quickly pulled up his smartphone to show her a masterfully edited photo of Phuak standing next to major figures in the global art world.
"I'm not bragging, but look at how famous he is," Ohm whispered, tilting the screen toward her. Qin Mei, her doubts now fully extinguished, believed him completely. "Oh... of course! I'll have the staff member in charge lead the Curator to the digital library immediately."
Phuak gave Ohm a knowing, sophisticated nod. Moments later, a gallery employee appeared and led Phuak toward the digital vault, while Ohm looked at Qin Mei and offered her a perfectly innocent, billionaire smile.