Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Are You Interested in Opening an Antique Store in the Imperial Capital?
He leisurely sipped his tea, his handsome brows lowered, and his originally aloof and solitary features seemed to be overlaid with a layer of subtle soft light.
His posture was relaxed, exuding an elegant languor.
Listening to the noises coming from the kitchen, Qin Yize suddenly felt life was really mysterious.
A small house enclosed a man and a woman bound by marriage.
Essentials like firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, and tea…
It seemed to construct a world different from the usual.
After Gu Qiaoqiao finished tidying up, she brought over the Rising Sun.
Qin Yize had seen this Gold Jade Stone Carving before.
He raised his eyebrows and looked at Gu Qiaoqiao, his eyes questioning.
“It’s for you,” Gu Qiaoqiao blinked several times, then placed the Gold Jade Stone in front of Qin Yize and tentatively asked, “Do you like it?”
Qin Yize first glanced at Gu Qiaoqiao, then took the Gold Jade Stone Carving. He hadn’t looked closely enough last time; this time he examined it again from all sides.
He was inwardly impressed, and after a long while, he set it down and slowly began to speak. His voice, though light as a cloud, was earnest, word by word, “I like it!”
It’s good you like it.
Gu Qiaoqiao breathed a sigh of relief.
He tenderly gazed at her, seemingly asking carelessly, “It’s a thank-you gift, right?”
Gu Qiaoqiao smiled without speaking.
She neither confirmed nor denied it.
The air inside the room grew quiet for a moment. Qin Yize placed the Gold Jade Stone Carving on the table and spoke lightly, “Prepare tomorrow, and the day after, we depart.”
Gu Qiaoqiao quickly nodded, “I am almost ready; I was just waiting for you to come back.”
Qin Yize curved his lips into a slight smile, his gaze fixed on Gu Qiaoqiao, then he suddenly asked, “Are you interested in opening an antique shop in the Imperial Capital?”
Gu Qiaoqiao was taken aback.
Opening an antique shop in the Imperial Capital would require considerable capital.
Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t afford it.
Gu Qiaoqiao looked into those eyes, cool as autumn water, and felt defeated after only a second.
Trying to read anything from his eyes was clearly impossible.
Not wanting to guess his thoughts, Gu Qiaoqiao straightforwardly said, “I’ve thought about it, but it’s not possible.”
“I have two street-facing properties in the Imperial Capital. I estimate that the district will be redeveloped by the end of the year. If you want, I can reserve one for you,” Qin Yize slowly said.
Gu Qiaoqiao’s heart skipped a beat.
She knew about Qin Yize’s two street-front properties.
They were also in an old district.
Close to the Antique Street.
They were actually two buildings.
But if her memory served her correctly, around this time next year, the eldest son of the Qin family’s second son nearly fell out with the Old Patriarch because of Qin Yize’s two properties.
And those two properties were coveted even by the third uncle of the Qin Family.
After all, Qin Yize was not always in the Imperial Capital, mysteriously coming and going, often unseen for months, so those properties were rented out at a very high rent.
This made the second and third uncles of the Qin family a bit jealous.
Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t want to get involved.
She quickly shook her head, “No need, no need, I can’t manage an antique shop by myself.”
“I can help you find people.”
“Running an antique shop isn’t that simple.”
“It’s not simple,” Qin Yize nodded, then after a moment, added meaningfully, “If you want to do it, I can help you.”
Gu Qiaoqiao’s clear eyes flashed with surprise, unsure of what Qin Yize was really thinking.
She still shook her head, “Not for now.”
“Hmm.” Qin Yize responded softly, then stood up, looked at Gu Qiaoqiao, his eyes flickering with a brief glint of darkness, but it vanished just as quickly.
“Let me know when you’re ready to talk, okay?” He was clearly about to leave, and he said this as he put on his coffee-colored trench coat.
The climate here was still somewhat chilly.
Gu Qiaoqiao looked puzzled but nodded her head anyway, “Okay.”
Qin Yize seemed pleased and smiled slightly, then left with long strides.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Capital.
The high-level ward of the hospital.
Gu Kun sat in the chair with his head down, his complexion sallow, obviously in poor health.
Gu Qingfeng had become much more lucid.
Uncle Gu was taking care of him attentively.
Gu Qingfeng’s expression seemed much better.
However, his movements were somewhat slow.
He still could not sit up.
But his eyes, which looked dull, when they flickered with a dark light, were truly terrifying.
Therefore, Gu Kun dared not look up at him and said softly, “Father, it’s all my fault for provoking you, I won’t dare to do so anymore.”
Gu Qingfeng’s gaze was grave, and the hard-won paternity test on the table proved the father-son relationship with the Gu Kun in front of him.
But, all of this seemed too coincidental.
And when he recalled the words he had heard before he fell unconscious, his heart felt as if it were being pierced by a thousand arrows.
Did Lady Yu truly hate him so much before she died?
But why did she leave home on a whim in the first place? If she hadn’t left, how could she have encountered so many troubles?
Why didn’t she trust him?
In this lifetime, even unto the brink of death, she was the only woman for him.
He lay on the hospital bed, gasping for a moment before calmly saying, “Don’t blame yourself, I forced you to tell me…”
Gu Kun murmured a response and then fell silent.
Gu Qingfeng picked up the Jade Pendant that had been beside him, clumsily rubbing it with his fingers before seeming to ask nonchalantly, “Is this the only jade pendant your mother had on her?”
Gu Kun was visibly startled, a panicked look flashing across his eyes.
He hesitated for a moment, but seeing Gu Qingfeng staring into his eyes, he bravely said, “Yes, this is the only jade pendant my mother had.”
“She made the cord on this herself, didn’t she?”
“I guess so, I’m not entirely sure.”
“How many years had your mother worn this jade pendant around her neck?” Gu Qingfeng asked gravely.
Gu Kun furrowed his brow, his somewhat blurry eyes carefully observing the old man lying on the hospital bed, who seemed too frail to live much longer, his heart pounding.
He didn’t understand why he hadn’t asked about the jade pendant when he first saw it but was suddenly inquiring about it now?
“I don’t remember…” Gu Kun murmured.
Gu Qingfeng seemed tired, “You should go back for now; you look pale. I’ll have Gu Cheng take you to see a doctor later.”
Gu Kun felt as if he had been granted a reprieve.
He quickly stood up, bent his waist slightly, and walked out.
Uncle Gu closed the door.
He sat opposite the old man and said softly, “Old Patriarch, your main task now is to recover; let’s not worry about anything else for now.”
Gu Qingfeng breathed heavily a few times before slowly calming down, then looking at Uncle Gu, he slowly said, “How many people have those two arranged at the Jade Mine and Yubao Square?”
“That’s quite a few…”
“I’m not dead yet, and they already can’t wait.”
“So, Old Patriarch, I can’t go anywhere now, I’m staying with you. Once you’re better, we definitely need to investigate thoroughly,” Uncle Gu said gravely.