Qiao Xi hesitated for a moment. “I already have a painting master, so there’s no need for me to acknowledge another one.”
Old Master Situ waved his hand at the butler, who handed Qiao Xi a list. “Miss Qiao, you can have many masters. You can choose anyone on this list.”
Qiao Xi looked at the people on the list. Any one of them could make the art world tremble. Moreover, not only were there oil painting masters among these people, but there were also masters of watercolor and sketching. These people could be said to be top-notch in their respective fields, but Old Master Situ was actually letting her choose as she pleased.
After hesitating for a moment, Qiao Xi said, “Thank you, Old Master. It’s just that I’ve always been learning oil painting from my grandfather since I was young. I’ve also held an art exhibition. Now that my style has already matured, there’s no need for me to take anyone else as my master.”
A trace of surprise flashed through Old Master Situ’s eyes, then he looked at Qiao Xi with slight admiration. “Miss Qiao, you’ve held an art exhibition before?”
Qiao Xi nodded. “It was held in F Nation.”
Old Master Situ and the butler looked at each other. F Nation was called an art country, but Qiao Xi, as a foreign artist, was actually able to hold an art exhibition there. This was enough to prove that her standard was very high.
He looked at the list. “So you really don’t need a master? Then Tang Ruge… Forget it, I was thinking too much.”
Qiao Xi said with a face full of smiles, “Even so, I still have to thank you, Old Master, for being so considerate of me.”
The corners of Old Master Situ’s mouth curled up unconsciously. “I’m old enough to be your great-grandfather. Just call me that in the future.”
Old Master Situ looked serious, but Qiao Xi kept having an inexplicable sense of intimacy. Hence, she called out sweetly, “Great-grandfather.”
The butler was slightly surprised. The old man had previously said that he wanted to investigate this girl carefully, but in less than ten minutes, Qiao Xi was already addressing him as ‘Great-grandfather’.
Not everyone had the right to call him that. Only the bloodline of the Situ family could call him that. Moreover, the descendants of the Situ family had to be capable. If they were incompetent, they would eventually be abandoned by the family.
If Miss Qiao really could not win against Tang Ruge, then she would not be qualified to be a member of the Situ family.
Unexpectedly, the old man was not a bystander this time. He even found many artists for Qiao Xi to choose from. He wanted to stand up for her and attack Tang Ruge. It was truly shocking.
Old Master Situ finished the tea in his cup in one gulp and frowned slightly. Qiao Xi could smell that it was not ordinary tea but a kind of medicine. This made her involuntarily recall the man she met in the car. He looked to be in his 30s or 40s and had an extraordinary bearing. However, he seemed to have been seriously ill for a long time.
Qiao Xi originally wanted to ask about that person, but this was the Situ family’s matter, after all. It was not appropriate for an outsider like her to ask about it.
The next second, Old Master Situ took the initiative to say, “The person in the same car as you when you came is my son.”
Qiao Xi looked at him with a shocked expression. This was impossible, right?! That man was only in his 30s or 40s. How could he be the son of a 100-year-old man?
Old Master Situ frowned. “This is the hereditary disease of the Situ family.”
Hereditary disease?
Qiao Xi could not help but think of that particular disease. It turned out that the person she saw was not someone in their 30s or 40s but someone in their 60s or 70s. He had difficulty moving, and his aura was weak. Perhaps it was because he was old, but what kind of illness could make a person look young?
“Old Master, Gu Zheng is here.” The butler came forward to report.
Old Master Situ’s expression was indifferent. “President Gu, you came so quickly. Are you afraid that I’ll make things difficult for Mrs. Gu?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Zheng walked in wearing a navy blue windbreaker. His long legs took steady steps as he slowly walked to Qiao Xi’s side. He first sized her up. After seeing that she was fine, he looked at Old Master Situ.
“What brings you here?” Old Master Situ’s eyes were icy-cold. He had long since retracted the gentleness that he showed Qiao Xi and had a serious expression.
Gu Zheng looked straight into the old man’s eyes without the slightest fear. Then, Gu Zheng said, “Xi Xi, wait for me outside first. I have something to say to the old master alone.”
Qiao Xi glanced at him in confusion, but she still left obediently.
After Qiao Xi left, Gu Zheng went straight to the point. “If you suspect that Xi Xi is of the Situ family’s bloodline, you can do a paternity test and officially announce her identity.”
😉