Chapter 102

The moment the cigarette was lit, the contours of his face flickered in the light and shadow.

Shu Xia could not fathom what Qiao Muting was thinking, so she could only guess: "Rest assured, Mr. Qiao, I know my limits. I will not date during these three years, and I will absolutely not let Qiao Nainai worry."

He was likely just afraid that she would get entangled with Fu Chenyan, right?

And then have the matter reach Qiao Nainai's ears.

It was just that some things could not be told to him; if he knew what she had experienced in her past life, he certainly wouldn't think she would get entangled with Fu Chenyan.

After all, she did not have a masochistic nature; she wasn't that pathetic, okay?

"Mm." Qiao Muting gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment.

Shu Xia felt a surge of frustration in her chest, and unable to hold it back, she said directly to Qiao Muting: "Mr. Qiao, you require me not to date and to keep my personal life clean for three years, so I hope you will do the same."

Requirements should be mutual; there was no reason to demand it only of her.

Qiao Muting sensed the thorns on Shu Xia.

He suddenly felt the irritation weighing on his heart vanish.

He said with rare patience: "I will also abide by the agreement."

Seeing that it was time to stop, Shu Xia said, "That's good, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

After Shu Xia returned to her room to sleep, Qiao Muting took a bottle of water from the refrigerator, drank a few mouthfuls, then went outside to finish the rest of his cigarette.

He saw a WeChat message sent to him by Huo Jingyan on his phone.

Huo Jingyan asked him: "Are you at the Hot Spring Villa too?"

He recalled the sounds he had heard while soaking in the hot spring earlier and tapped the screen a few times.

【Did you bring a woman with you?】

【Did the front desk tell you?】

Qiao Muting darkened his eyes, 【No.】

There was no further message from Huo Jingyan; Qiao Muting closed his phone and then strode back into the villa with his long legs.

——

Early the next morning, a driver came to pick up Shu Xia.

Qiao Muting was still at the Hot Spring Villa, saying he was waiting to pick up Qiao Nainai from Qin Lao's place around ten o'clock.

After Shu Xia arrived at Zhang Dechun's shop, she washed her hands and prepared to start restoration work.

As she was about to enter the workshop, Gu Cheng pulled Shu Xia aside and asked: "Has Gu Lao's team called you?"

He had been currying favor with his grandfather for several days; his grandfather would surely agree to let Shu Xia join his team.

Shu Xia said with some regret: "Gu Lao's team sent me a message yesterday afternoon; I wasn't accepted."

"What?" Gu Cheng widened his eyes, clearly not expecting this result.

"It's nothing. My qualifications are indeed shallow, and my university major wasn't related to archaeology or history, so it's normal that they didn't accept me. I was mentally prepared, but I still want to thank you for telling me about this opportunity." Seeing Gu Cheng's shock, Shu Xia assumed he felt sorry for her.

Hearing their conversation, Zhang Dechun said directly: "I have already recommended Shu Xia to the auction house. Once Shu Xia is finished with her work here, she can go apply at the auction house; they offer very generous pay and bonuses."

"How can an auction house be as good as Gu Lao's team?" Gu Cheng scratched his head and glared at Zhang Dechun; he truly hadn't expected his grandfather to be so hard-hearted.

Was he really that unyielding?

He had clearly given his repeated assurances, so why did his grandfather still not believe him?

He stubbornly insisted on his own view that Shu Xia was just a little girl, that the person he recommended couldn't possibly have any real skills, and was convinced that he was just trying to pursue a girl and then brag to her about being able to get her into Gu Lao's team.

Why was it that other people's grandfathers were endlessly doting on their grandsons?

Why was his grandfather always tormenting him?