Chapter 241: Flower-Rimmed Plate
Chen Moli immediately became anxious and said, “Miss Xu, this item is fake. Why don’t you believe me?”
Xu Youyou smiled and replied, “Whether it’s real or not doesn’t matter to me. I just think this piece of porcelain is very beautiful and I want to keep it for daily use.”
It wasn’t surprising that Chen Moli thought the piece was fake. Just like the Guangxu blue-and-white large plate Xu Youyou encountered last time, this item looked too new—so new that it was hard to believe it could be a genuine treasure.
However, Xu Youyou, with her advanced porcelain appraisal skills, could tell that it was indeed a valuable piece.
The shopkeeper, a slim young man, was momentarily stunned when he heard the inquiry about the price. He slowly turned his head and scanned the group with a somewhat confused expression.
Chen Moli’s eyes fell on the shopkeeper’s arm, and she sniffed the air, as if detecting a smell she found extremely unpleasant.
“What bad luck—encountering a drug addict,” Chen Moli muttered quietly.
Upon hearing this, Xu Youyou couldn’t help but feel a surge of disgust for the shopkeeper. She didn’t want to continue bargaining here and instructed Xu Fang to buy the item. She left four bodyguards to protect the shop and continued browsing with Chen Moli.
Xu Fang was very efficient. Within two shops, she had already returned with the Qianlong-era sky blue-white butterfly-patterned flower-rimmed plate.
“This plate is quite nice-looking. I saw one online before. They said Emperor Qianlong had a preference for rustic aesthetics, but this plate is fresh and elegant. It doesn’t seem like something he would like,” Chen Moli said softly.
Xu Youyou didn’t explain that it was authentic but simply said, “I like to collect unusual items.”
Chen Moli couldn’t resist and asked Xu Fang, “How much did this cost?”
Xu Fang glanced at Xu Youyou for permission before replying, “8,000 euros.”
Chen Moli almost jumped up in shock. “8,000 euros for a fake? Why doesn’t he just rob someone? Sister, you should’ve bargained harder! If I’d known, I would’ve helped you haggle!”
Chen Moli didn’t know that the price Xu Youyou had agreed upon with Xu Fang was within 100,000 euros, and she thought Xu Fang had paid too much.
Xu Youyou casually said, “It’s fine. He’s a drug addict and urgently needs money for drugs. It’s normal for him to ask for a high price. Our time is more valuable.”
Chen Moli seemed momentarily stunned, clearly struggling to understand the logic of the wealthy.
Xu Youyou kept her promise. After a day of browsing, as the sun set, she invited Chen Moli to a high-end restaurant for dinner.
This was Chen Moli’s first time eating a full meal in a proper restaurant in France.
Even in Paris, slightly better restaurants weren’t cheap, and the portions were often very small. Chen Moli usually saved money by buying ingredients and cooking herself.
This time, though, with Xu Youyou treating her, the meals kept coming, like a banquet, and no matter how small each dish was, she was able to eat her fill.
Chen Moli didn’t see the bill, but she estimated that the meal would cost a few hundred euros per person.
After the meal, Xu Youyou had the driver take Chen Moli back to her apartment.
Xu Fang personally saw her off and, just as they were about to enter the apartment building, handed Chen Moli an envelope.
“This is a small token of Miss Xu’s appreciation. Please don’t refuse,” Xu Fang said with a smile.
Chen Moli quickly waved her hand. “Miss Xu already treated me to a meal. I can’t take any more of her money.”
Xu Fang persuaded her, “Studying art in Paris is expensive. Since we’re both Chinese and we’ve met here, Miss Xu just wants to show her kindness. Please accept it.”
After Xu Fang got back in the car and it drove off, Chen Moli looked down at the envelope forced into her hand. Unable to resist, she opened it.
Even though she felt unworthy of the money, she couldn’t help but jump up when she saw the contents.
Five hundred euros!
That was equivalent to a week’s worth of her hard work!
She carefully looked around, then climbed up the stairs like a thief.
Unable to hold back, she shared the good news with her friend back in China.
“Wait, you’re saying the lady you’re serving is named Xu? She has a bunch of bodyguards with her? And she’s incredibly beautiful?”
Her friend replied with a photo of Xu Youyou.
Chen Moli couldn’t help but ask, “How did you get her photo so easily? Wait, is Miss Xu really famous in China, or have I been completely out of touch with the news?”
“She’s the girlfriend of the richest man. She has her own business too, running an entertainment company, and she invested in the new version of Dream of the Red Chamber. This handsome guy is one of the top stars in her agency,” her friend replied, sending a photo of Song Zhibai, the star.
Chen Moli suddenly realized she had been disconnected from the trends in China for far too long. “Ahhh! He’s so handsome! I’ve only been abroad for two years, and I can’t keep up with the trends anymore!”
Her friend sent a cute emoji and replied, “Come back already, even the village is getting handsome guys!”
While handsome guys were great, Chen Moli, who had been Xu Youyou’s guide for the day, was completely captivated by Xu Youyou’s personal charm and wanted to learn more about her.
Her friend reluctantly shared what she knew about Xu Youyou: “I heard she’s an orphan who grew up in an orphanage. Besides her business in the entertainment industry, she’s signed several internet influencers. She started out in the antique business, but I don’t know much more.”
Thinking back to the events of the day, Chen Moli couldn’t help but cover her cheeks, slowly realizing that the Qianlong flower-rimmed plate might actually be real. As an outsider, she had dared to lecture an expert!
Back at her place, Xu Youyou immediately took several photos of the porcelain piece she had purchased that day and sent them to Lu Jingyao.
Despite the seven-hour time difference between China and France, Lu Jingyao seemed to have set up special alerts for her messages, as he replied almost instantly.
“Congratulations, Miss Xu, on your successful purchase abroad!” Lu Jingyao teased.
Xu Youyou responded, “If you like it, I can keep this porcelain piece.”
Lu Jingyao replied, “It’s better to give the porcelain to someone who truly loves it.”
Xu Youyou sighed inwardly, appreciating how well Lu Jingyao understood her. The idea of giving the porcelain to someone who loved it more was just an excuse to sell it to the person who could offer the highest price.
That person, without a doubt, was Mr. Zheng, a Qianlong enthusiast she had met at a small exchange event at the Ye family’s residence in the capital.
