Volume One, Chapter 19: Liu Lei's Discovery

As soon as she stepped inside, a woman clad in a purple cheongsam and matching high heels approached her.

“May I assist you with anything, ma’am?”

Liu Lei glanced around curiously. “Are you the only one here?”

Zhao Yao studied Liu Lei quietly for a moment, quickly realizing she wasn’t here to buy or sell antiques.

Still mindful of the previous lesson with Su Jin, Zhao Yao remained polite. “Old Master Du, the renowned appraiser, is here. Is there something you need?”

“I want to see Old Master Du,” Liu Lei said hurriedly.

Without hesitation, Zhao Yao pressed a bell on the table. Soon, an elderly man with graying hair, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, appeared.

Seeing the man, Liu Lei’s disdain for Su Jin deepened. For money, some people would stoop to anything.

The old man looked to be in his seventies or eighties, unmistakably carrying the aura of old age.

Liu Lei’s tone dripped with contempt. “Are you Old Master Du? What does Su Jin want with you?”

The old man observed her expression without change and replied calmly, “She came to discuss matters of the ancient Yue dynasty.”

So it wasn’t about some sordid affair.

A wave of disappointment surged within her, impossible to suppress.

Then she suddenly remembered something. “Why would she want to discuss Yue history with you?”

Zhao Yao disliked the tone and was about to retort, but Old Master Du stopped her.

He did not hide anything and said mildly, “I love studying Yue history. Her teacher is hospitalized, so she came here to exchange ideas with me. Who is this lady, and why is she probing into Su Jin’s affairs?”

Liu Lei snorted and gave Old Master Du a cold glance. “Is that any of your business?”

She left those words hanging as she turned and walked away.

Zhao Yao was furious and wanted to argue, but Old Master Du stopped her. “What good will come from arguing with her?”

“She’s so rude!” Zhao Yao exclaimed, pointing toward the door as if complaining.

Old Master Du shook his head, hands clasped behind his back. “Have you forgotten what I taught you? An appraiser’s judgment can be clouded if they get angry.”

“But she’s so impolite. Why did you even tell her about Su Jin?”

When Su Jin previously visited the shop, Zhao Yao mocked her relentlessly. But later, when the copper coins Su Jin sold elevated her grandfather’s standing in the circle of Yue history, Zhao Yao regretted her narrow judgment and resolved to change.

Yet today, despite treating others politely, she encountered someone who openly snubbed her grandfather. How could she not be upset?

“She came to investigate Su Jin. If I kept silent, she would keep stalking Su Jin. It’s better to feed her half-truths, let her believe it, and perhaps warn Su Jin in the process,” Old Master Du said with a gentle smile, one hand behind his back.

“Grandfather, you…”

“I haven’t said a word about Su Jin selling copper coins or bringing history books,” he added, winking at his granddaughter.

Zhao Yao suddenly understood — her grandfather was deliberately misleading that person.

“Old wisdom is indeed sharp!” Zhao Yao sighed with admiration.

Old Master Du’s smile faded for a moment, then he glared at Zhao Yao. “Why aren’t you going to warn Su Jin right now?”

Su Jin had been visiting the antique shop frequently lately and had become well acquainted with Zhao Yao; they were even connected on WeChat.

A single message would suffice.

Zhao Yao glanced toward the door and saw a woman humbly approaching the unreasonable female customer who had just entered.

She took out her phone and snapped a photo, sending it to Su Jin.

Outside, Liu Lei and Wang Qiqi remained oblivious.

“Lately, Su Jin has been coming to this antique shop to study Yue history,” Wang Qiqi said, pleased. This confirmed that the information she had provided was valuable.

She hurriedly exaggerated the situation. “The symposium is coming soon, but Su Jin has been frequenting this place. Could she really be trying to get some important material from the antique shop?”

“The history of Yue has been studied for years. Aside from a lot of folklore, there’s hardly any evidence or documentation. Su Jin is probably hoping to find some new folklore from this shop to use as proof at the symposium,” Liu Lei scoffed at Su Jin’s approach.

It seemed Su Jin was running out of options.

She might as well let her flounder for a few more days. On the day of the symposium, Liu Lei would refute all the folklore one by one, ensuring Su Jin’s efforts would be in vain.

After chatting for a while, the two were about to leave when Su Jin returned and went straight into the antique shop.

Liu Lei sensed something was off. Old Master Du was unusually warm toward Su Jin, even leading her to a shelf to examine something.

“Are they buying something?” Wang Qiqi murmured.

Unintended words were often heard with intent.

Liu Lei saw Su Jin holding something while talking to Old Master Du. He took it from her and said something else, as if bargaining.

Why would a student studying Yue history be interested in antiques? Could it be something from the Yue dynasty?

Unable to stay outside any longer, Liu Lei entered the shop again.

Upon entering, she heard Su Jin pleading, “I really need this. Please sell it to me at a discount!”

Sure enough, she was buying something.

Liu Lei peeked over and saw a small, ancient-looking tripod cauldron, about the size of a palm, clearly aged.

“What’s this treasure? Let me see.”

Su Jin, seemingly having heard the voice, turned around. Upon seeing Liu Lei, she immediately hid the cauldron behind her back, her face wary. “What are you doing here?”

Her panic only deepened Liu Lei’s suspicions.

Her gaze involuntarily drifted behind Su Jin.

Such nervousness—could it truly be an artifact from the Yue dynasty?

Zhao Yao smiled to ease the tension. “She’s also a customer here.”

Liu Lei seized the opportunity. “Did you hear that? I’m here to buy.”

Su Jin looked fully on guard. “You, a scholar of Western history, wandering an antique shop? Do you think I’m stupid?”

“I go wherever I want. Mind your own business.”

Liu Lei snorted and asked Zhao Yao, “What’s she holding?”

“Just a replica. You want it too? Haven’t you seen anything valuable before?” Su Jin answered first.

Zhao Yao sighed helplessly. “Miss Su, everything in this shop is genuine.”

Su Jin pouted, as if deeply wronged.

“We can’t tarnish the shop’s reputation,” Zhao Yao said with a hint of pain.

“How about this: If you pay 19,999 yuan, I’ll sell it to you. No cheaper.”

“I don’t have that much. Can I rent it? Just for one day. I promise to return it after use.”

Liu Lei’s eye twitched uncontrollably.

She was no fool. What mattered most to Su Jin now was the upcoming hearing. So this desperate plea to rent the item must be for that event.

That little cauldron was very likely an artifact from the great Yue dynasty.

Liu Lei’s face tightened. “Let me see that cauldron.”

“It’s just an incense burner—used by ancients to hold incense during worship,” Old Master Du explained.

Liu Lei didn’t care what it was for; she simply could not let Su Jin get it.

“Nineteen thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, right? I’ll buy it.”

Su Jin shouted in panic and anger, “Are you doing this on purpose?”

That expression alone confirmed Liu Lei’s suspicions.

Feeling triumphant, Liu Lei said, “I’m buying it on purpose—just to stop you from renting it.”

Of course, the antique shop wouldn’t just let business slip away. The incense burner in Su Jin’s hands was taken by Zhao Yao and sold to Liu Lei.

Liu Lei swiped her card and triumphantly waved the exquisitely packaged box before Su Jin.

Su Jin glared fiercely and turned to pick up a simple clay bowl nearby.

But no sooner had she touched it than Liu Lei’s voice rang out, “I’ll buy that clay bowl, too.”