Chapter 220: Chapter 220: The Pearl in the Jade Flute Chapter 220: Chapter 220: The Pearl in the Jade Flute An empty slot was revealed in the middle.
Inside lay a row of pearls with a round, lustrous color, a faint rose pink, glistening with a soft and beautiful sheen under the light.
They were uniform in size, eighteen in total.
On one side of the pearls was a neatly folded square of rice paper.
Gu Qiaoqiao’s heart skipped a beat as she carefully took out the rice paper.
This slip of paper must have been here for decades, preserved well thanks to the nearly vacuum-like environment.
Gu Qiaoqiao unfolded it little by little.
The few words written inside immediately moistened her eyes.
It was a gift that could never be personally delivered, perhaps the intended recipient would also never be able to receive it.
It was a birthday gift from her grandfather to her mother, carved when he was ten years old.
It was said that if pearls were nurtured in a jade container for three years, their color would change.
It would become somewhat like the color of peach blossoms.
So, the ten-year-old Gu Kun had carved this Jade Flute and turned it into an Organ Box.
He placed the pearls inside, planning to give them to her on her thirtieth birthday, a few years later.
Unfortunately, he left home before it could be given.
And the pearls had been nurtured for over fifty years.
Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t touch the pearls, which seemed like peach blossom petals, thinking that if Grandma Yu was indeed her own Great Grandma, she would deliver this gift on behalf of her grandfather.
Gu Qiaoqiao carefully put the slip of paper back.
She then pressed the switch and closed the Jade Flute.
From the outside, it looked seamless; no one would know there was something hidden inside.
But how did the Jade Flute end up in Gu Cheng’s hands?
Did Gu Qingfeng know about it?
Thinking of this, Gu Qiaoqiao’s brows furrowed slightly.
Her grandfather had run away from home, seemingly with no intention to return, which is why he took the Mysterious Dragon Box with him.
But Gu Qingfeng had said that the mother and son left together.
If they left together, why didn’t her grandfather take the Jade Flute with him?
Or maybe her grandfather and Great Grandma didn’t leave together at all?
Gu Qiaoqiao rubbed her forehead with a bit of a headache, there must be some secrets here that no one knew about.
And there was Lin Qinghuan.
She never expected that she would be acquainted with Gu Cheng’s family, and it seemed they had a pretty good relationship.
In her unfortunate past life, could Lin Qinghuan have played a role?
It was not her being paranoid.
Lin Qinghuan had a good relationship with Old Grand Master Qin and would naturally know her whereabouts first thing.
But now, these were beyond verification.
Gu Qiaoqiao put away the Jade Flute and, after washing up, peacefully fell asleep.
Meanwhile, at the North Mountain Villa.
After hearing the exaggerated stories from Gu Yajing and Gu Yalan, Ning Wanru’s face turned ashen with anger.
One by one, none of them brought pride.
Gu Jiansheng had sent Gu Qiaoqiao two hundred thousand.
Alina had lost an invaluable Jade Flute to Gu Qiaoqiao.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, until she couldn’t take it anymore. With a wave of her hand, she slapped Alina’s face and shouted furiously, “Without the diamond drill, don’t take on porcelain work! Do you really think you are invincible? Just like your mother, you naïve fool!”
Gu Yajing and Gu Yalan laughed at Alina’s misfortune.
After receiving a glare from Ning Wanru, they finally restrained themselves.
Ning Wanru cursed for a while before she angrily sat down on the sofa.
Gu Yajing hurriedly poured her a cup of tea, and at that moment, Gu Cheng walked in.
Seeing the several people in the living room, he was also seething with rage.
The Jade Flute had been stolen by him from the study of the eldest young master of Gu Garden, Gu Kun.
Not daring to keep it at home, he had left it in the care of Ah Lian, but what happened? This rebellious girl had stolen it and used it as a stake in a gamble, only to lose it to Gu Qiaoqiao.
While filled with anger and hate, Gu Cheng was equally shocked to his core.
There was no use in saying any more at this point.
Gu Cheng and Ning Wanru had important matters to discuss; after scolding Alina a few words, he sent the three daughters out.
Afterward, he angrily took a seat on the sofa.
Only after drinking down a big gulp of cold tea did he feel a lot better.
Ning Wanru forcibly suppressed the boundless rage and irritability in her heart and shared her thoughts with Gu Cheng.
At first, Gu Cheng was stunned, but then he had an epiphany.
It was an excellent idea.
Especially considering their current situation, which was repeatedly met with setbacks.
Then, the mother and son meticulously refined their plan.
Because they needed to find a plausible excuse to lift the veil on the origins of Gu Qiaoqiao’s family.
To dispel any suspicions Gu Qingfeng might have towards them.
Moreover, it could make Gu Qiaoqiao’s family feel grateful to them.
That would make future manipulation much more convenient.
By then, the moon was high in the sky.
Alina arrived at the largest hotel in the Imperial Capital, entering the top floor VIP room with her room card pompously.
After opening the door, she quickly walked a few steps and embraced a man standing with his back to her, then began to cry in a grievance.
The man was tall and powerful, probably around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, with deep brown hair and profound facial features. His skin was fair, and he was a very handsome mixed-race individual.
He was lazily leaning on the sofa, not looking behind at Alina, and still focused on the television program.
Alina seemed to sense something and slowly let go of her hands.
Standing obediently behind the man, she lowered her head and said, “It’s my fault for underestimating the enemy. I’m sorry for bringing shame to the club.”
The man was silent for a moment, his thin lips slowly curved up, and when he spoke, it was fluent Chinese, “Doesn’t your country have an old saying ‘there’s always someone better out there’? Isn’t this normal?”
“You’re not blaming me?”
“What do you think?” the man asked faintly in return.
And at that moment, although the man seemed calm, a subtle killing intent suddenly pervaded his being as if he could just turn around and snap Alina’s neck in an instant.
Alina’s body shook, and her hand hanging by her side slowly clenched. After a few moments, she asked with a trembling voice, “What do you need me to do?”
“What’s that girl’s name?”
“Find a way to lure her into our club.”
“Hmm?” The man’s voice rose slightly.
He then glanced at Alina from the corner of his eye.
Alina nodded, and with difficulty, she began, “Alright, I’ll try my best…”
Only then did the man turn his head back to the television. A while later, seeing Alina still standing in front of the sofa and noticing the slap mark on her face, he thought for a moment and said indifferently, “Alright, I won’t make it hard for you. Just find a way for me to meet her.”
Alina’s expression relaxed, and she let out a sigh of relief. Then, she threw herself into the man’s arms, her eyes adoring as she looked at him. She was about to kiss him but was lazily pushed away by the man, who teased with a near-smile, “Aren’t you tired today?”
Alina gazed at the man and slowly stood up, her teeth clenched in irritation, and then she stormed off.
By this time, the moon was already high in the sky.