Chapter 28: Sharpness and Greed That Must Be Obtained

After a while, Song Butler complained to the phone, seeming helpless.

“Young Master, Madam wants to go out without having breakfast.”

Qiu Yixun raised his hand and pressed his forehead.

Why did she always refuse to eat breakfast properly? Didn’t she know that breakfast was the most important meal of the day?

He directly ordered, “Don’t go out if you don’t eat breakfast.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

After hanging up the phone, Song Butler instructed two servants to block the entrance.

“Madam, Young Master instructed that you must eat breakfast before going out.”

Zhuang Jianxi was puzzled as to why these people were so annoying. It was none of his business whether she ate breakfast or not.

What did Qiu Yixun think of her, a three-year-old child? He controlled everything from head to toe, even her eating, drinking, and bathroom needs? This possessiveness was too much.

Zhuang Jianxi was blocked from leaving, so she had no choice but to go to the dining room and resignedly start eating breakfast.

However, as she ate, her temper gradually subsided.

Tasting the specially made new style of delicious pastries, she thought to herself that her mother was right, no matter what, one should never go against their stomach.

After finishing breakfast, Zhuang Jianxi asked the driver to take her to the city’s Museum of Cultural Relics.

Once she was immersed in her work, Zhuang Jianxi’s heart settled down, and all the annoyance and frustration dissipated without a trace.

Professor Zhang’s Museum of Cultural Relics often received visits from wealthy individuals who brought in antique artifacts, ancient books, and paintings for restoration. The museum mainly charged a hefty fee for restoration, or they would restore the damaged artifacts and paintings and then sell them at a high price at auction as a source of income.

Zhuang Jianxi was not a senior restorer here. Her age was a factor, and every master in the museum was several rounds older than her.

But she was very talented, and she had been in the field for three or four years. She was also Professor Zhang’s favorite student, and she was sometimes allowed to participate in the restoration of precious ancient books and paintings.

However, collectors and wealthy individuals tended to prefer Professor Zhang for restoration, as Zhuang Jianxi’s vase-like youthful face did not inspire much confidence.

On this day, Professor Zhang personally received a distinguished guest.

Fu Jialin, the crown prince of Guangcheng, came with his wife, Mrs. Fu, and a mountain snow ink painting by a famous master from the Ming and Qing Dynasties for restoration.

Mrs. Fu had recently visited relatives and friends in Longcheng and heard that Professor Zhang’s Museum of Cultural Relics could restore ancient books and paintings to a great extent, so she specially took the time to see if there was a chance to restore her treasured collection.

“Oh, this Snow Scene painting, once restored, is estimated to fetch a price of over 100 million!”

Professor Zhang spread out the long scroll, carefully examined it with his reading glasses, and sighed in admiration.

Mrs. Fu was elegant and dignified, with a generous smile.

She didn’t care about the price, as long as it could be restored completely, she would be satisfied.

“I can’t stay in Longcheng for too long. I’ll let my son handle the subsequent specific handover arrangements.”

Upon hearing this, Professor Zhang turned to the debonair, charismatic, and arrogant Fu family’s crown prince who was sitting beside him and yawning incessantly…

Fu Jialin had stayed up all night at a nightclub the previous night and hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep. He was dragged out of bed by his mother, who insisted on accompanying her to this so-called Museum of Cultural Relics.

He hated this kind of place, where there was nothing but literary and artistic pursuits, ancient colors and fragrances, and a quietness that lacked any vitality. Even taking a nap made him feel uncomfortable.

“Just do whatever you need to do. I’m going back to sleep.”

As soon as Fu Jialin’s flippant words fell, he was hit on the head with a chestnut by Mrs. Fu, who scolded him,

“Don’t be so disrespectful. You’re always playing around!”

Fu Jialin covered his head and cried out in pain, “Mom, my head still hurts!”

Mrs. Fu glared at him, “You deserve to feel pain. Your head is already broken, and you still go to the brothel!”

“I really want to thank the person who dared to hit you. You need to be taught a lesson, you don’t know your place!”

Fu Jialin touched the scar on his head that hadn’t fully healed and was furious, “How can you be a mother? You don’t know how to love your son!”

“I’d rather feel sorry for a piece of roast pork than feel sorry for you, you loser…”

Professor Zhang watched, his mouth twitching as he listened to their plastic Mandarin mixed with Cantonese. He didn’t know what to say, so he just smiled awkwardly.

Soon, Mrs. Fu regained her elegant composure as a wealthy wife, apologetically saying, “I apologize for the spectacle.”

Professor Zhang waved his hand and laughed, “No problem, your son is truly lively and spirited.”

Mrs. Fu smiled.

Professor Zhang took another look at the ancient painting and said honestly, “To be honest, I am getting old, and my restoration skills are starting to fail. Even holding a tool makes my hands tremble. How about letting my apprentice help with the restoration of this painting?”

“Although she is young, she is my true successor. She has been working with me for years, her heart is pure and clear, and her attention to detail is exceptional. I’ll let her come and take a look, what do you think?”

Mrs. Fu had no objections. The professor had said so, she simply trusted him.

Fu Jialin, however, scoffed disdainfully. Sending a half-baked apprentice to handle it, wasn’t she afraid of ruining the reputation?

But the next moment, the arrival of the girl in white successfully turned the young master Fu into the half-baked one, his emotions surging so much that he was about to overflow!

Zhuang Jianxi, wearing a white coat and white gloves, her long, smooth hair tied in a low ponytail with a ribbon, with a few strands of hair falling on either side of her face, her features delicate and lively, the whole person looked both soft and intellectual, making Mrs. Fu’s eyes light up.

“Teacher, did you call me?”

After entering, Zhuang Jianxi looked straight ahead, her attitude proper, her voice soft and clear, making Fu Jialin’s scalp tingle. The wound on his head, where she had hit him, started to throb faintly.

He stared intently at the girl in front of him.

Unlike the flustered and frightened beauty he had encountered at the foot of Tengjingshan that night.

Dressed neatly, she was graceful and elegant, allowing him to see her beautiful and refined features and temperament more clearly.

He had been searching for her for half a month, and now she was right here…

Fu Jialin was aroused, his blood surged, and a sharp glint of determination and lustful desire flashed in his eyes.

He had to figure out a way to keep her from running away again.

“Yes, this is Mrs. Fu’s treasured ‘Snow Clearing Painting’. Xiaoxi, come and assess it.”

Professor Zhang was very satisfied with Zhuang Jianxi, his close disciple, and warmly invited her over.

Zhuang Jianxi politely greeted Mrs. Fu, not noticing the man sitting sprawled in the corner on the armchair.

People and things that were irrelevant to her, she never even spared a glance.

Zhuang Jianxi leaned over and carefully and meticulously conducted a preliminary assessment of the ‘Snow Clearing Painting’, including the age, material, and extent of damage of the painting.

After a while, she said softly, “Some parts are severely water-stained and faded. They can be repaired using Xiangchen ancient paper and Songnan blue ink materials. The specific details will require further analysis, testing, and the development of a restoration plan.”

Professor Zhang nodded, “That’s right, the main disaster area is that one part, the other problems are not serious.”

Mrs. Fu smiled brightly, “As expected, a master’s disciple is indeed outstanding. I’m relieved to leave it in your hands.”

Professor Zhang laughed, “Mrs. Fu, please rest assured.”

The more Mrs. Fu looked at Zhuang Jianxi, the more she liked her. She was young but without any arrogance, calm and composed in her dealings with people and things, her temperament was excellent. A talented art restoration student who was also so beautiful, she would be a perfect match for her nephew who had recently returned from studying abroad.

Mrs. Fu smiled and said, “Your name is Zhuang Jianxi, right?”

Zhuang Jianxi looked at her, not understanding her smile, but simply nodded.

Mrs. Fu’s matchmaking plan had not even started when it was interrupted by a shout from Fu Jialin in the corner.

“Are you done yet? Can you hurry up!?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhuang Jianxi finally noticed the tall figure sprawled on the other side of the reception room.

It was just that the man was a little sneaky, burying his head on the table so his face couldn’t be seen. She just felt that the voice, she had heard it somewhere…