Facing a persistent Xu Zian, who shared many similarities with Lu Xingyao, Gu Xingzhao consciously tried to keep her distance. However, Xu Zian repeatedly attempted to strike up a conversation.
It was likely due to the lie that Xu Shisan had told. Xu Zian first asked about her job, then inquired about the university she graduated from, her major, and even her age.
Taking a sip of tea, Gu Xingzhao finally couldn’t hold back any longer and interrupted, “Do you usually ask this many questions to every friend Xu Shisan brings home?”
Based on her observations since arriving at the Xu family’s old house, she’d overheard people talking about how Xu Shisan frequently brought friends over. Although not every one of them was a girlfriend, did Xu Zian ask this many questions to every guest?
If so, his workload was probably overwhelming.
“Sorry,” Xu Zian apologized, sensing her discomfort. He stopped his line of questioning.
Only then did Gu Xingzhao breathe a sigh of relief. If he had continued, she might as well have handed him her household registration book.
After a brief silence, Xu Zian’s voice sounded again, “I don’t ask every friend this many questions.”
Gu Xingzhao: “?”
She quickly realized that he was answering the question she had asked earlier, indirectly confirming that Xu Shisan often brought “friends” home.
Just then, Xu Shisan returned, catching the tail end of the conversation. He plopped down between the two of them. “What’s this about asking questions every time?”
Xu Zian and Gu Xingzhao exchanged a glance but remained silent. Xu Zian had realized that his previous comments might have tarnished his nephew’s reputation a bit.
Seeing their silence, Xu Shisan grew more curious and turned to Gu Xingzhao. “Ah Zhao, what were you two talking about?”
Gu Xingzhao glanced at Xu Zian, a smile playing on her lips. “I was asking Mr. Xu whether he questions every girl you bring home. He said no, not every time.”
Xu Zian paused slightly, his grip on the teacup tightening: “…”
Xu Shisan was dumbfounded and quickly turned to his uncle. “Uncle, the ones I brought home before were just regular friends. We just ate or played games. You can’t go saying things like that in front of Ah Zhao!”
He hadn’t even started pursuing her, and his uncle had already dug him into a hole!
Now Gu Xingzhao was sure to misunderstand him as some kind of player.
Xu Zian glanced at Gu Xingzhao, who was smiling, clearly enjoying the show. Then he looked at Xu Shisan, who was as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof.
He suddenly regretted saying too much earlier. Usually, when dealing with someone who had expectations from you, it was acceptable to let them down. But Gu Xingzhao didn’t seem to have any romantic or material desires toward Xu Shisan.
And as for whether his nephew would get hurt, well, it’s a good thing for boys to face a little adversity—it builds character.
Xu Zian took another sip of tea. “I never said they were girlfriends.”
Xu Shisan: “?”
What was that supposed to mean?
Before he could fully process the implications, the food arrived, and both Xu Zian and Gu Xingzhao focused on their meal.
It took a moment for the realization to sink in, but when it did, Xu Shisan looked over at Gu Xingzhao, only to find her laughing softly, clearly unbothered by the earlier conversation.
“…” Nothing stings worse than hopelessness.
After lunch, Xu An left, and Gu Xingzhao wandered around the Xu family’s old house for a bit before deciding it was time to go. On the drive back, Xu Shisan couldn’t resist asking, “I’m rich, reasonably good-looking, and in pretty good shape. What exactly is it that you don’t like about me?”
In his experience, women usually responded positively when he showed interest. Yet with Gu Xingzhao, he kept hitting a wall, which was starting to dent his confidence.
Gu Xingzhao raised an eyebrow: “?”
Xu Shisan, sounding genuinely earnest, pressed on, “Tell me what you don’t like, and I’ll change.”
Gu Xingzhao held back a laugh and replied just as earnestly, “Tell me what you like about me, and I’ll change that.”
Xu Shisan: “…”
The air between them grew awkward.
Within five minutes, they were back at Antique Street. Gu Xingzhao glanced at her phone and saw that the three million yuan transfer had already gone through.
Seeing the defeated look on Xu Shisan’s face, she couldn’t help but find it amusing. “We’ve worked together several times now, and I’m genuinely curious—what exactly do you want from me? Why are you so persistent?”
Xu Shisan’s hands rested on the steering wheel, and as he recalled the first time he saw her jade pendant, his gaze fell on her neck. The pendant was still there, hanging from the same cord. He sighed, “Do you really think you alone could satisfy me?”
Gu Xingzhao raised an eyebrow. “Try me. Maybe I can.”
Xu Shisan hesitated before confessing, “The first time you came to my shop, I asked about the jade pendant around your neck. You said it wasn’t for sale, but I’ve liked it ever since.”
Instinctively, Gu Xingzhao reached for the jade pendant, a gift from the Lu family’s second daughter-in-law, Xu. She pulled it out from under her collar and asked, “This one?”
Xu Shisan’s eyes lit up as he saw the pendant again. Somehow, it seemed even more beautiful now.
From his reaction, Gu Xingzhao immediately understood—he really was after the jade!
To think he had gone so far with his good looks and wealth, practically throwing himself at her, all for a piece of jade. The way rich people thought sometimes was beyond her comprehension.
Realizing what he had just revealed, Xu Shisan regretted speaking so bluntly. Now that Gu Xingzhao knew he had been eyeing her pendant, she would probably avoid him altogether in the future. Not only would he never get the jade, but he might not even see her again.
Gu Xingzhao rubbed the smooth surface of the pendant with her thumb before taking it off and tossing it into Xu Shisan’s lap. “Here, consider it a gift to make up for the times you’ve been kind to me.”
With that, she opened the car door and got into her own vehicle.
“???” Xu Shisan sat there, dumbfounded, holding the jade pendant. He slapped himself lightly—ouch, it wasn’t a dream. She really had given him the pendant!
Wait, wasn’t this the same pendant she refused to sell before? Why would she just give it to him now?
Hurriedly, he jumped out of the car, catching up to Gu Xingzhao, pressing his face against her window. Still in disbelief, he asked, “This is high-quality jade. Are you really just giving it to me?”
Gu Xingzhao did feel a bit of reluctance parting with it. But after seeing Xu Zian and the Xu family’s treasure room earlier that day, she had no doubt now—Xu Shisan was indeed a descendant of both the Lu and Xu families.
Though she liked the jade pendant, it was more for its value. Since it held more meaning for Xu Shisan, it was better to return it to someone who genuinely appreciated it.
Amused, she looked at him. “If you don’t want it, you can always give it back.”
The moment those words left her mouth, Xu Shisan immediately hung the pendant around his neck, giving her no chance to change her mind. He never expected her to be so generous. After all, when they first met, she haggled over even a couple of thousand yuan.
Leaning in close to the half-open window, Xu Shisan teased, “Tell me the truth—have you fallen for me? Is that why you’re giving me something so valuable?”
Gu Xingzhao chuckled softly, meeting his gaze. She beckoned him closer with her finger.
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