Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Ding Lie felt a wave of regret wash over him.

Gu Beixian had given the money so readily-a cool million in one go-only to block him immediately after. What a waste.

Still, today hadn’t been a total loss. He had the million now, and he could finally pay off his debts.

About ten minutes later, Ding Lie’s son, Ding Chuangchuang, rushed over and helped him up from the ground. The two of them got into their car parked by the roadside, and Ding Chuangchuang started the engine.

As they rounded the first corner, they spotted a bank. Ding Lie urgently shouted, “Stop the car!”

Ding Chuangchuang slammed on the brakes and pulled over. Ding Lie pulled a bank card from his wallet and handed it to him. “Take this card and go check if there’s a million inside.”

Overjoyed, Ding Chuangchuang took the card. “You actually got the money this time?”

“Yeah, Gu Beixian gave it to me. Damn, these rich guys are generous. I barely opened my mouth and he transferred the money instantly, no questions asked. If I’d known he was such a soft touch, I would’ve asked for more. Next time, it’s five million-no, ten million.”

Ding Chuangchuang smacked his lips in envy. “Big business bosses really are loaded. Su Peilan is so stingy, giving you twenty or thirty thousand at a time. It’s barely enough to get by.”

Ding Lie rubbed his nose. “Tell me about it. From now on, whenever we’re short on cash, we’ll just go to Gu Beixian.”

Ding Chuangchuang waved the card. “Next time, you should just try asking for a hundred million. Might as well get as much as we can while the getting’s good. Who knows how long this will last?”

Ding Lie hesitated. “A hundred million… isn’t that a bit much?”

“In this world, the bold feast while the timid starve.”

Ding Lie gave him a shove. “Stop talking nonsense and go check it. I won’t be at peace until you do.”

“Fine.” Ding Chuangchuang took the card, got out of the car, and walked to the ATM by the roadside. He inserted the card and entered the PIN.

The screen immediately displayed a message: This card has been frozen. Normal transactions cannot be processed.

Ding Chuangchuang’s face instantly went dark.

When the card was ejected, he returned to the car and threw it at Ding Lie. “What the hell? The card is frozen!”

The bank card bounced off Ding Lie and landed on the floor mat. He leaned over to pick it up, gripping it tightly as his expression turned feral. “Damn it! That bastard Gu dared to play me!”

Ding Chuangchuang urged him, “What are you just sitting there for? Take your ID to the bank and unfreeze it! We need to transfer the money out first!”

“Transfer my ass! If he could have someone freeze the card, he can obviously claw the money back! If I go to the bank now, wouldn’t I be walking straight into a trap? Extorting a million is worth at least ten years in prison!”

Ding Chuangchuang froze, cursing, “These rich people are so damn crafty!”

At the same time, Gu Beixian was calling Su Hua.

Su Hua glanced at the caller ID and instructed the shop assistant, “Please take good care of Mr. Gu. I need to take this call.”

“Of course, Miss Su. Don’t you worry.”

The assistant walked over to attend to Gu Jinyao.

Su Hua took her phone into an empty room and pressed accept.

Gu Beixian suppressed his emotions, his voice softening as he asked, “I heard the one surnamed Ding went to cause trouble for you. You aren’t hurt, are you?”

Su Hua guessed that Ah Hong must have told him. She didn’t think much of it and replied, “No.”

Gu Beixian raised an eyebrow slightly. “Truly?”

Su Hua looked down at her right hand, which Ding Lie had stepped on. There were no external wounds, and the pain had mostly subsided by now. To keep him from worrying, she spoke with a bit more conviction. “Truly.”

Gu Beixian was silent for a moment. “What did he want?”

“He wanted money. When I refused, he started making a scene in the shop.”

Gu Beixian’s eyes turned cold. “And then?”

Su Hua told him the truth. “Mr. Gu Jinyao happened to be at the shop to pick up some restored porcelain. He ran into us and dragged him outside.”

Gu Beixian didn’t respond.

Fearing a misunderstanding, Su Hua quickly added, “Don’t overthink it. Really, I’m not as charming as you think I am, and Gu Jinyao isn’t the type of man who loses his head over every woman he sees. We were very polite with each other; we only exchanged a few words.”

After saying it, she felt her explanation sounded too forced, which might actually make him more suspicious. She suddenly found herself at a loss for what to do.

When it came to restoring ancient paintings, calligraphy, or ceramics, she was in her element, able to speak eloquently on professional matters. But when it came to dealing with people-especially Gu Beixian-she always felt like she was lacking.
The more you care about someone, the more nervous you become.

And when you’re nervous, you become even more tongue-tied.

Gu Beixian didn’t speak either.

Time seemed to freeze.

The two of them remained in silence for a long while.

Suddenly, Gu Beixian’s deep voice came through the phone. “Su Hua, I love you.”

Caught off guard by such a statement, Su Hua froze.

This was far too sudden.

There had been no lead-up, no preamble. He had just blurted it out.

Su Hua forced a laugh and said, “What’s gotten into you today? We’ve been married for three years. We’re an old married couple; why are you suddenly saying things like that?”

Even as she laughed, her eyes grew moist for some reason.

Her heart thrashed violently against her ribs, like a pigeon trapped in a snare, desperately flapping its wings.

She reached up to wipe her eyes.

Looking at the teardrop on her fingertip, she realized she had been waiting for those words for a very, very long time.

Women were truly strange creatures.

A few light words could cause such a massive reaction.

She even found herself a bit ridiculous.

Gu Beixian didn’t answer her question. He simply said, “I’ll come pick you up this evening.”

“No need. I’ll just have the driver take me back. You should handle your social engagements as planned. Don’t keep canceling them for me; it’ll affect your work.”

“You are more important than any business dinner.” Gu Beixian hung up the phone.

Su Hua lowered her eyelashes, staring blankly at the phone in her hand.

She couldn’t help but replay those words in her mind, ruminating over them again and again.

As she thought about it, an involuntary smile spread across her face.

Only then did she realize her entire chest felt full.

Her heart felt sweet, yet tinged with a hint of ache.

Even her arms felt strangely weak and tingly.

So it turned out that the three words “I love you” were that important; they could touch a person so deeply, body and soul.

Su Hua took a moment to compose herself before pushing down the strange emotions in her heart.

She pushed the door open and walked out.

She saw Hua Tianshou and Gu Jinyao standing in front of the counter.

Resting on the soft velvet cloth of the counter was a Double Phoenix Playing with Pearl Dragon-Ear Flat Vase.

Hua Tianshou called out when he saw her, “Hua’er, come over here.”

Su Hua walked over.

Hua Tianshou carefully pushed the Dragon-ear flat flask toward her and asked, “Do you know the history of this piece?”

Su Hua knew he was trying to take another opportunity to show off his disciple.

The Double Phoenix Playing with Pearl Dragon-Ear Flat Vase was a piece enjoyed by Emperor Qianlong.

Its form was compact and elegant, with the neck adorned with scroll-grass handles, and the ruyi motifs at the shoulders were graceful and refined.

The main pattern on the body was the “Flower, Stone, and Golden Pheasant,” symbolizing “adding flowers to brocade,” or further success.

The entire composition was well-balanced, elegant, and delicate, with layered colors that were rich and vibrant.

It was truly a rare masterpiece.

She had seen it in her grandfather’s books when she was a child and had never forgotten it.

Su Hua smiled and said, “Master, I’ve met Mr. Gu several times now. We know each other. Can we please be a bit more low-key?”

Hua Tianshou laughed heartily and said to Gu Jinyao, “Look at this disciple of mine. Others would jump at such a chance to show off, but she insists on being this modest.”

Gu Jinyao’s lips curled into a very faint smile. “Her personality is quite similar to her grandfather’s.”

Su Hua’s heart skipped a beat. she looked at Gu Jinyao with a slightly confused gaze.

Her grandfather had been dead for many years.

And Gu Jinyao had only recently returned from abroad.

How could he know her grandfather’s personality?

Realizing he had let something slip, Gu Jinyao explained calmly, “Elder Su was not only famous domestically but also well-known in the overseas Chinese Antiques circle. My father loves Antiques and runs an auction house. I grew up immersed in it, so I know quite a bit about the several restoration masters in China.”

Only then did Su Hua’s doubts vanish.

Hua Tianshou gently nudged her toward Gu Jinyao.

Patting her shoulder, he said with a face full of affection, “Hua’er, you’ll have to complete your apprenticeship sooner or later. Building a good relationship with Mr. Gu will help your future development in this industry.”

Su Hua felt a wave of gratitude.

She knew her Master was paving the way for her.

The old man was truly a very, very good person who thought of everything for her benefit.

Gu Jinyao looked down, his cold, hard features softening with a hint of tenderness as he gazed at Su Hua. “Please rest assured, Elder Hua. Even without your request, I would help her.”

Upon hearing this, Su Hua snapped her eyes up to look at him.