"Your craftsmanship is truly excellent. You really live up to your reputation as the chief restorer!"
Li Jianian ran his hand over the seamlessly restored area and sighed in genuine admiration.
Xu Qingqing smiled modestly.
"Come on. I've just done my best. I hope you don't mind that it took me so long, Mr. Li."
"Not at all."
Li Jianian carefully placed the vase back on Xu Qingqing's desk, his eyes shining with excited joy.
"If the rest of the cracks can be restored as seamlessly as this one, I'd be willing to wait for three months, no matter the cost!"
The fact that a calm and reserved archaeological expert could be so excited was a testament to Xu Qingqing's exceptional restoration skills.
Xu Yan silently thanked his lucky stars for having recruited Xu Qingqing to his shop. If she had gone to another restoration shop, she would have been an unbeatable competitor.
After Li Jianian finished admiring the restored area, Xu Qingqing swiped her employee card and took the antique to the storage room with a security system.
All the antiques in the shop, whether they were about to be sold, just bought, being restored, or already restored, had to be stored in the storage room after work by swiping the employee card to ensure their safety.
To catch up on work, Xu Qingqing worked overtime again that night. She was the last restorer to leave.
When she came out of the storage room, Lu Qi had already left. Only the night - shift receptionist was on duty.
Xu Qingqing greeted the receptionist, grabbed her bag, and drove home.
When she got home, Officer Xiao told her what had happened at the police station.
Hearing that Xu Yan had gotten into a fight near the police station and used her as an excuse to leave, Xu Qingqing was speechless.
She feared that her hard - earned reputation would be gradually ruined by Xu Yan.
Then Officer Xiao talked about Song Fuqiang's illegal trading of the bird - bodied human - faced statue. His tone grew more solemn.
"We suspect that the seller must be very familiar with the domestic market and may often return to China. He even knows about someone like Song Fuqiang, who buys antiques just to show off. There must be an information network in China collecting intelligence for him."
Xu Qingqing thought Officer Xiao made sense. They chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up.
Seeing Lu Chuanbai come out of the bathroom with a towel on his head, an idea popped into Xu Qingqing's mind.
If Lu Chuanbai spread the news that he wanted to buy antiques, they might be able to catch the seller.
Xu Qingqing's eyes lit up. She stood up, grabbed Lu Chuanbai, and pushed him onto the bed.
"Don't be so hasty. My hair isn't dry yet," Lu Chuanbai said, surprised at Xu Qingqing's unusual initiative as he continued to dry his hair.
Realizing Lu Chuanbai had misunderstood, Xu Qingqing took the towel from him and explained as she dried his hair.
"What are you thinking? I'm not after that. I need you to do me a favor."
"What favor?"
Hearing that it was a favor, the smile faded from Lu Chuanbai's face. He snatched the towel back from Xu Qingqing.
"I knew it. You're only nice to me when you need something."
"Come on. I really want to dry your hair," Xu Qingqing said as she snatched the towel back and knelt on the bed, smiling as she dried his hair.
Although Lu Chuanbai complained, he was actually happy to help Xu Qingqing. Enjoying her attention, he asked, "What do you need me to do?"
Xu Qingqing withdrew her hand and knelt beside Lu Chuanbai. Her misty peach - blossom eyes looked at him pleadingly.
"I want you to spread the news that you're looking to buy a rare antique, not something common, and then wait for the seller."
"That's it?" Lu Chuanbai raised an eyebrow.
It seemed too easy.
"What else do you want? The most important thing is to wait for the seller. Once someone wants to sell you an antique, Officer Xiao can check their background. Maybe we can find out the information network of the White Lotus Sect."
Xu Qingqing picked up the hair dryer from the dressing table, plugged it in, and gently dried Lu Chuanbai's hair until it was dry.
"Sure," Lu Chuanbai agreed without hesitation, his phoenix eyes full of mischief.
It was such a good opportunity that he wasn't going to miss it.
After saying that, Lu Chuanbai put his arm around Xu Qingqing's slender waist, buried his head in her neck, and inhaled her natural fragrance.
"I'll need a reward for helping you," he said, his voice magnetic as he kissed her collarbone.
"Wait. The hair dryer is still on."
Before she melted completely in Lu Chuanbai's arms, Xu Qingqing escaped his embrace, blushing as she put the hair dryer back on the dressing table.
"Is it okay now?" Lu Chuanbai got up and pressed against her again.
Just then, Xu Yiyi and Xu An'an, wearing matching bear pajamas and dragging their storybooks on the floor, came to ask Xu Qingqing to tell them a story.
Seeing Lu Chuanbai clinging to Xu Qingqing again, Xu An'an pulled Xu Qingqing over, pouting.
"Dad, you've monopolized Mom for several nights. It's our turn tonight."
Looking into the children's big, round eyes, Lu Chuanbai couldn't say no.
He could only watch as Xu Qingqing was pulled away with a mischievous shrug. Then he turned around and went into the shower to take a cold shower.
The next morning, Xu Qingqing drove to work early. A woman with her hair covering her face and wearing pajamas suddenly rushed in front of her car.
Thankfully, Xu Qingqing wasn't driving fast and was able to brake in time. Otherwise, she would have hit the woman.
Xu Qingqing got out of the car and looked at the woman on the ground, worriedly asking, "Are you okay? You suddenly rushed out."
"I'm fine! Xu Qingqing, please forgive me!"
To Xu Qingqing's surprise, the woman jumped up from the ground and tightly grasped her hands, pleading for forgiveness.
"Who are you? How do you know my name? What should I forgive you for?"
The woman's grip was incredibly strong. Her claw - like hands held Xu Qingqing's hands so tightly that she couldn't break free.
Was this woman crazy?
What was the security in the neighborhood doing? Every day, they let strange people in and it was always her family that suffered.
Xu Qingqing looked around. Since she had left early, there was no one around.
She warned the woman, "Let go. If you don't, I'll call for help!"
Hearing that Xu Qingqing was going to call for help, the woman let go and quickly pulled the hair from the back of her head to cover her face, as if afraid of being seen.
"Please don't call for help," the woman whined.
Xu Qingqing shook her sore hands and looked at the woman sternly.
She would definitely call for help. What if this woman tried to extort money from her later?
"Let's call the police. You should go to the hospital for a full check - up, and I'll pay for your medical expenses."
With that, Xu Qingqing reached for her phone.