"I know you're here for this competition. There are some things you may not know. I'm the special invited judge for this event," Lu Chuanbai said calmly.
Hearing this, Xu Qingqing stared at him in surprise. "So what do you mean? Are you saying that if I don't talk to you, you'll use your authority to lower my score?"
Lu Chuanbai replied calmly, "Miss Xu, you've misunderstood. That's not what I meant. I just think it's fate that we've met here."
"So why are you avoiding my conversation?"
Xu Qingqing had no choice but to follow him out.
After they left, the experts in the cultural relic restoration room looked at each other in surprise.
One of the gossiping experts asked Mr. Lin, "Old Lin, what's going on with that Lu kid? I heard he's never been interested in girls."
"Not to mention, the girl from the Gu family has been following him for years, but there's never been any progress."
"The girl from the Xu family just returned to the country not long ago, right? How did she get to know Lu Chuanbai?"
Mr. Lin smiled. "Don't ask me about this. I don't understand the thoughts of young people. Sometimes, a connection can form in an instant."
"Even though we're old now, who hasn't experienced beautiful love when we were young?"
Hearing Mr. Lin's words, all the experts burst into laughter.
Wang Pan was originally waiting for Lu Chuanbai to come out, but unexpectedly, it was Xu Qingqing who followed Lu Chuanbai out.
So, did Lu Chuanbai come here to find Xu Qingqing?
She wanted to say something, but neither Lu Chuanbai nor Xu Qingqing even glanced at her. Wang Pan was left standing there awkwardly.
She looked at Lu Qi beside her with a hurt expression. "Brother Qi, it seems that Mr. Lu Chuanbai has feelings for Miss Xu?"
Lu Qi didn't want to get involved in this conversation. He quickly shook his head and said, "Although Qingqing is an employee in my shop, I never interfere in her personal emotional affairs. However, it was Chuanbai who saved Qingqing when she was in danger last time."
Wang Pan nodded. "I see. Thank you for the reminder, Brother Qi."
In a corner, Xu Qingqing and Lu Chuanbai stood face to face.
Neither of them spoke first.
One minute later, Xu Qingqing looked at him impatiently. "You called me out but didn't say a word. Mr. Lu, if you're so free, could you please stop wasting my time?"
Lu Chuanbai stared at her intently. "I'm sorry. When An'an was at my place before, she called me 'dad' in her sleep. I couldn't help but take some of her hair for a DNA test. The results are out. I'm her biological father."
"Xu Qingqing, how do you explain this to me?"
"So you're the woman from five years ago, right?" Lu Chuanbai stared straight at her without stopping his questions.
"If you were pregnant back then, why didn't you tell me and instead chose to leave with the two kids? What else are you hiding from me?"
"What's your relationship with Lu Fenglin? Why did you help him humiliate me?"
A series of questions caught Xu Qingqing off guard.
She never expected that Lu Chuanbai had already taken An'an's hair for a DNA test.
Since the father - daughter relationship was established, she couldn't deny it. So Xu Qingqing simply didn't deny it.
"Yes, you're the father of the two kids. So what?"
"I don't need you to take any responsibility. Just pretend that none of this ever happened. As for five years ago, I didn't know Lu Fenglin. I just didn't want him to find someone else to humiliate you, so I deliberately got close to you."
There was confusion in Lu Chuanbai's eyes. "Why? Why did you go to so much trouble to help me?"
"Getting pregnant before marriage, do you know how much it would affect your reputation?"
"And you did all this secretly without telling me. Qingqing, you've carried too much these years."
Xu Qingqing snorted. "Lu Chuanbai, if you feel sorry for me, there's no need. And don't think about compensating me."
"You saved my life back then. It's only natural for me to do these things for you. We're even. So you don't have to feel indebted, and there's no need for you to do anything for me. You have your life, and I'll live mine."
Hearing Xu Qingqing's words that she wanted to distance herself from him, Lu Chuanbai felt extremely uncomfortable.
He couldn't help but get closer to her and questioned, "Even if you try to ignore it, can you ignore the fact that I'm An'an and Yiyi's father?"
"Don't you really know how much the two kids long for a father in their hearts?"
Hearing this, Xu Qingqing frowned and looked at him.
"Lu Chuanbai, what's with this high - and - mighty attitude of yours?"
"I've already decided not to hold you responsible. What are you trying to do by saying these things?"
Actually, Lu Chuanbai just wanted to persuade Xu Qingqing from the perspective of An'an and Yiyi. But he was used to speaking like a domineering CEO. So when he said these words, there was less of a negotiating tone and more of a domineering one.
And this kind of domineering was unacceptable to Xu Qingqing.
It wasn't that she wanted the two kids to be born without a father. It was just a series of coincidences that led to this situation.
If Lu Chuanbai wanted to pursue her and become the father of the two kids, it would depend on his performance.
Instead of pressing her like this, as if there was only one way for her, which was to let Lu Chuanbai be the father of the two kids.
Xu Qingqing stared at him with a hint of sternness in her eyes. "Lu Chuanbai, even if you're the biological father of the two kids, so what? We've never been married or in a relationship. As long as I'm with someone, that person can be the father of the two kids."
"Don't think you can tie me down with this blood relationship. Lu Chuanbai, I'm not your employee, and don't try to order me around here."
"Even if you know the relationship between the two kids and you, what can you change? That's enough. I have to get back to work. Don't interfere in my life anymore!"
After saying that, Xu Qingqing turned around and left. Lu Chuanbai wanted to stop her but didn't know what to say. He was afraid that he would say the wrong thing and make Xu Qingqing angry.
With the arrival of several judges, the cultural relic copying competition officially began.
The host took the stage and first talked about how important this painting was and the twists and turns it had gone through.
"This painting was previously in the hands of three kidnappers. They kidnapped a well - known restorer and forced her to restore the cultural relic. Coincidentally, this restorer is also one of the contestants today. You can look forward to it. I'll leave it as a suspense for now and won't reveal who it is."
The host ended with a playful note and then announced the official start of the copying competition.