"Don't need your help. Leave now!"
Lu Qi was in a terrible mood and had no time to deal with Ye Shipu. He waved his hand forcefully, hoping that Ye Shipu would just leave on his own.
However, to his surprise, Ye Shipu was incredibly thick - skinned. He stepped aside to let the cameraman with a microphone in hand enter, a somewhat respectful smile on his face.
"Reporter Liu, this is the owner of the No.1 antique restoration shop. He's the one you want to interview."
After saying that, Ye Shipu stepped back to the oblique rear of the reporter, with a gloating smile on his face. His tone was even more provocative.
"Lu Qi, Reporter Liu here is the top reporter from the Antique Gazette. You should answer his questions properly."
Lu Qi's hand on the armrest of the sofa tightened into a fist. Anger swelled in his veins and gradually spread boiling through his body.
Lu Qi looked at Ye Shipu's greasy face and wanted nothing more than to punch him!
Xu Qingqing sensed Lu Qi's anger and gently patted his arm to tell him not to be impulsive.
Why was Reporter Liu still holding a video camera? If Lu Qi lost his temper and was filmed, it would probably be even more detrimental to his reputation.
Reporter Liu seemed not to notice Lu Qi's reluctance. He asked with a cheesy smile.
"Boss Lu, I heard that due to a momentary mistake, you misidentified a Qing - dynasty vase as a Huacheng vase, resulting in a loss of as much as 10 million. May I ask how you feel now?"
Lu Qi's face turned ashen. He gritted his back teeth hard, making a creaking sound, trying hard to suppress his anger.
He was already very angry, and this clueless Reporter Liu was just adding fuel to the fire. It really infuriated him!
"Do you think I'm happy now?" Lu Qi retorted with a stiff face.
The smile on Reporter Liu's lips froze for a moment. Looking into Lu Qi's eyes that were almost spitting fire, he coughed and asked the next question.
"Normal people wouldn't be happy in this situation. So, my second question. Can you show us that vase?"
"I'd like to take some close - up shots of it and put them in the video as a warning to other appraisers."
Whether it was intentional or not, every question from Reporter Liu was like stabbing a knife into Lu Qi.
Lu Qi's angry lips trembled, and his voice was extremely harsh. "No."
At this moment, Ye Shipu butted in, looking at Lu Qi sideways with a hint of mockery at the corner of his mouth.
"Lu Qi, don't be so stingy. At least let us take a look at the cultural relic that managed to deceive you, the great appraiser. It'll help us avoid potential pitfalls in advance."
"I said no, and that's final."
Lu Qi's voice became extremely shrill due to excessive suppression.
If voices could kill, Lu Qi's sharp voice would have already stabbed Ye Shipu to death.
Lu Qi knew exactly what Ye Shipu was up to. If he showed them the vase, Ye Shipu would surely mock him mercilessly.
"So stingy..."
Seeing that Lu Qi didn't fall for it, Ye Shipu snorted and rolled his eyes so hard it was almost comical.
Xu Qingqing couldn't stand it anymore. She stood up directly, raised her hand to block the camera that was pointed at Lu Qi, and pushed them back.
"Our boss is not accepting interviews for now. Thank you."
"Your boss isn't even saying anything. What are you butting in for..."
Reporter Liu wanted to dig out some news from Lu Qi. Seeing Xu Qingqing trying to stop him, he looked up angrily and glared at her.
"Don't make me say it a second time. Get out!"
Xu Qingqing, who was usually calm, was really annoyed by these two people's rudeness. Her voice was as cold as shattered ice, making Reporter Liu and Ye Shipu shiver.
"How can you swear!"
Relying on the video - recording device in his hand, Reporter Liu tried to intimidate Xu Qingqing with the recording. He took a few steps back and was about to point the camera at Xu Qingqing.
"Aren't you afraid that I'll post your 'lovely' video online?"
"Exactly. You guys suffered a loss and you want others to suffer in the future too. You have no empathy at all!"
Ye Shipu stepped back to the door and said some sarcastic remarks.
Seeing Xu Qingqing being targeted, Lu Chuanbai stood up. His long legs were almost as tall as Reporter Liu.
He took a few steps and stood between Xu Qingqing and Reporter Liu, protecting Xu Qingqing behind him. He looked down at Reporter Liu, making Reporter Liu feel extremely pressured.
"Get out."
A simple word. Lu Chuanbai's deep voice showed no emotion, but his ice - cold eyes made Reporter Liu shiver, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
After scaring Reporter Liu, Lu Chuanbai's indifferent gaze fell on Ye Shipu.
"Boss Ye, don't forget that no matter how big a mess Lu Qi makes, he's still a member of our Lu family."
"The Lu family can afford to pay back a mere 10 million. You're not allowed to come here and mock him!"
Lu Chuanbai's voice was cold, and his whole body exuded the aura of a detached superior. His long - time business acumen was fully displayed, leaving Ye Shipu speechless.
"If you dare to cause trouble for him again, I'll make you disappear from the antique circle."
Ye Shipu was scared by Lu Chuanbai's words. He shut his mouth tightly and didn't dare to say a word. He opened the noisy door and silently left with Reporter Liu.
After the two left, the warm sunlight shone on Reporter Liu. Only then did he feel his body temperature rising. He complained and looked at Ye Shipu, who was in a daze.
"Didn't you say we could dig out big news? Well, now we've got nothing useful! How are you going to compensate me?"
Ye Shipu was brought back to his senses by Reporter Liu's shout. He quickly smiled apologetically at Reporter Liu.
"Great Reporter Liu, don't be angry. It's Lu Qi who's uncooperative, not me. How about I treat you to lunch at a five - star hotel today?"
"That's more like it."
Reporter Liu snorted, then turned to look at Lu Qi's shop and spat on the ground fiercely.
"These people had such a bad attitude towards me. Just wait and see how I'll write them off when I get back!"
Saying that, Reporter Liu walked straight ahead.
Hearing Reporter Liu's words, Ye Shipu beamed with joy and followed behind like a puppy. His hair, full of hairspray, shone even brighter in the sunlight.
Anyway, his plan to ruin Lu Qi's reputation with the help of Reporter Liu had been achieved.
Reporter Liu was the most authoritative reporter of the well - known "Today's View" in the antique circle. As long as he wrote a few words unfavorable to Lu Qi, it would spread quickly, and people in the antique circle would be disappointed in Lu Qi.
Then his Jinyu Pavilion could take the top spot in antique restoration!
Xu Qingqing and the other two saw clearly what Reporter Liu had done.
Xu Qingqing couldn't help but say to Lu Qi worriedly.
"Lu Qi, we've offended Reporter Liu today. I'm afraid he'll write a lot of bad things about you, which will be even more harmful to your image."
"So what? My image has already been ruined since this incident happened."
Lu Qi shrugged with a bitter smile.
Lu Chuanbai's expression softened as he comforted Lu Qi.
"I won't just sit back and watch. I'll ask the public relations department to delete all the negative remarks about you to avoid embarrassing the Lu family."
If Lu Qi didn't know that Lu Chuanbai was cold - faced but warm - hearted, he might have thought that Lu Chuanbai was mocking him when he heard this.