After Xu Qingqing hung up the phone, Lu Chuanbai asked her, "Who called you? Should be Lu Fenglin, right?"
Xu Qingqing recalled what Lu Fenglin had said on the phone and deliberately put on a cold face. "Why? Do I need to report to you who calls me? Mr. Lu, I hope you know your place."
Hearing Xu Qingqing's straightforward tone that clearly drew a line, Lu Chuanbai shook his head helplessly.
When Xu Qingqing arrived at the shop, Lu Qi rushed over in a flurry. "My ancestor, you're finally here. Hurry up and take a look. Someone came to our shop to sell a painting today. We all thought it looked quite authentic, but we were afraid it might be a fake. If so, we'd lose a fortune."
"Okay, I'll take a look."
Xu Qingqing nodded. She left the two kids with Lu Chuanbai and followed Lu Qi to the place where the painting was.
Lu Qi slowly unfurled the painting. As Xu Qingqing's eyes fell on it, the year of the painting automatically popped up in her mind.
She curled her lips slightly. "This painting was made quite early, last year to be exact."
Lu Qi was instantly stunned. "Impossible. This painting is supposed to be from the Song Dynasty..."
Half - way through his words, he reacted. "You mean this painting was forged last year?"
Xu Qingqing nodded. "Yes, that's exactly what I mean."
Lu Qi slapped his forehead. "Thank goodness I called you here. Otherwise, we would have almost bought this painting for 9 million yuan!"
Xu Qingqing:...
She was now seriously doubting if there was water in Lu Qi's head.
A 9 - million - yuan painting, and they were about to buy it just like that.
Well, they were rich anyway.
"Alright, since this painting is fake, I'll call him right away to decline."
"Oh, right. You made quite a splash at the last painting copying convention. Recently, calls have been pouring in to me, inviting you to this or that event. I've declined them all on your behalf."
Saying this, Lu Qi became excited. "We've received a lot of paintings in our shop recently. You should get to restoring them quickly. Just focus on doing some proper business. Those conventions don't pay you anyway."
Hearing this, Xu Qingqing couldn't help but smile helplessly. According to Lu Qi, if they paid for her to attend those appraisal conventions, he would definitely agree right away.
"You're really money - minded, young master." Xu Qingqing teased.
"You girl, how can you talk like that? Since I'm your young master, of course I have to think for our shop."
"Oh, right. Hurry up and finish that bracelet. I see you're almost done. That guy will probably come to pick it up tomorrow."
Xu Qingqing nodded. "Okay, don't worry. I remember."
Xu Qingqing shut herself in the restoration room for the whole day. Under her hands, the ice - type jadeite bracelet was restored to its original appearance. She added some gold wire decorations at the original crack.
Just as she was about to go out, someone knocked on the door.
She opened the door directly, and it was Lu Chuanbai standing there.
Xu Qingqing looked at him curiously. "Why are you still here?"
She glanced out of the window. It was already dark outside.
"I checked for you. Liang Kuan's school and Wang Pan's school are on the same street. You can give Liang Kuan's bracelet to him when you go to Wang Pan's school tomorrow." Lu Chuanbai said proactively, changing the topic.
Sure enough, Xu Qingqing started to think along Lu Chuanbai's words.
"So they're on the same street. That does make things easier."
"Yeah, then I'll drive you there." Lu Chuanbai took over the conversation naturally.
Xu Qingqing looked at him puzzledly. "I have my own car. Why do I need you to drive me?"
Lu Chuanbai said seriously, "You forgot you were in danger twice before. Your brother has planned to assign a bodyguard to you. Before the bodyguard he chose for you arrives, of course I'll act as your bodyguard first."
Thinking of Lu Fenglin's warning to her before, Xu Qingqing deliberately put on a cold face. "Mr. Lu, I thought I had made myself clear to you. I hope you keep your distance from me."
"I'll just assume you came to the shop today to visit your cousin. But it's a bit inappropriate for you to drive me, isn't it?"
"Mr. Lu, I hope you don't become the kind of person you hate the most, pestering someone who doesn't like you."
She knew Lu Chuanbai cared a lot about his face, so she said something harsh on purpose.
What Lu Chuanbai didn't know was that she felt a sharp pain in her heart after saying these words.
"Why?" Lu Chuanbai looked at her puzzledly, his face turning a bit cold.
He thought there might be some misunderstandings about what happened back then, so he had always wanted to get closer to Xu Qingqing. On one hand, he was really worried that Xu Qingqing would be in danger again. On the other hand, he wanted to spend more time with the two kids to make up for the years he had missed.
But now Xu Qingqing was using such hurtful words to mock him, treating him like a lovesick fool.
There was a bit of self - mockery in his eyes. "Xu Qingqing, do I have such a low status in your heart that you can even trample on my self - esteem at will?"
Looking at his hurt eyes, Xu Qingqing felt sad.
But she also knew that if Lu Chuanbai really went to the school with her tomorrow, this would surely catch Lu Fenglin's attention, and then Lu Chuanbai would be in trouble.
It was always like this.
She was doing it for his own good, but he just couldn't see it.
Forget it. Maybe they were just destined to be apart.
She pursed her lips and said softly, "Actually, I've already promised Lu Fenglin to try to accept his pursuit during this period."
Just as Xu Qingqing had guessed, Lu Chuanbai looked utterly incredulous when he heard this.
"Xu Qingqing, are you crazy?" He couldn't control his emotions and couldn't help but roar in a low voice.
Xu Qingqing looked at him with a faint smile. "Why can't I try to accept Lu Fenglin's pursuit? I'm single now, and so is he."
Lu Chuanbai stared intently at Xu Qingqing. "Tell me, is what you just said true? Is Lu Fenglin threatening you with something?"
Xu Qingqing avoided his gaze. "No. I just think Lu Fenglin happens to be my type."
"Impossible. You must be lying to me. Tell me, what are you hiding from me!"
Lu Chuanbai was a bit emotional. He put his hands directly on Xu Qingqing's shoulders.
Xu Qingqing struggled to break free. "What are you doing? Stay away from me. If you keep this up, I'll call someone. Please respect yourself, Mr. Lu."
A bitter smile appeared on Lu Chuanbai's lips. He let go of Xu Qingqing's shoulders helplessly.
"Okay, do as you like."
Lu Chuanbai said this a bit out of anger.
He had reminded Xu Qingqing many times that Lu Fenglin was a scheming man, but Xu Qingqing still didn't take his words seriously. Now she even wanted to try to accept Lu Fenglin's pursuit.