Chapter 27: Almost Fell for It
The sudden voice interrupted the awkward atmosphere between Lu Jingyao and Xu Youyou.
Xu Youyou glanced at the newcomer—a young man with black curly hair wearing a burgundy shirt with the top buttons undone. His deep blue eyes were like a vast ocean, enough to drown anyone who stared into them for too long.
Lu Jingyao subtly moved closer to Xu Youyou and smiled as he introduced them. “This is my girlfriend, Miss Xu. And this is Mr. Anthony.”
Xu Youyou nodded politely.
Anthony, with his naturally flirtatious gaze, looked back and forth between them and playfully asked, “Lu, aren’t you going to dance with this beautiful lady?”
Before Lu Jingyao could respond, Xu Youyou spoke directly, “I can’t dance.”
Anthony feigned disappointment and said, “Lu, that’s unfair. Dancing with a beautiful woman is one of life’s greatest joys—how could you pass that up?”
Lu Jingyao’s mouth twitched slightly. For the Chinese, ballroom dancing wasn’t a cultural norm and held no particular romantic connotations.
Xu Youyou, uninterested in blending into foreign customs, simply raised her glass and added, “I prefer admiring the artwork here over dancing.”
Anthony raised an eyebrow. “Miss Xu, do you have an eye for art?”
Xu Youyou answered modestly, “I work in a related field, but I wouldn’t call myself an expert.”
The banquet hall displayed several valuable art pieces, with the most expensive ones encased in glass—a deliberate display of wealth by Frank.
Anthony gestured invitingly. “Last month, Frank spent millions at Sotheby’s to acquire a Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain jar from your country. You’re in for a treat, Miss Xu.”
Xu Youyou glanced at the system’s virtual prompt hovering before her eyes. It was still blinking, which meant her opportunity to identify a hidden treasure hadn’t appeared yet.
Curious to see this prized Yuan Dynasty artifact, she followed Anthony.
Lu Jingyao, feeling annoyed by Anthony’s persistent attention to Xu Youyou, kept a protective distance beside her without a word.
At the center of the banquet hall stood a 30-centimeter tall blue-and-white jar encased in glass.
Upon closer inspection, Xu Youyou recognized the pattern on the jar.
“It’s the ‘Guiguzi Descending the Mountain’ jar,” she said.
Lu Jingyao cast a surprised glance at her, not expecting her to identify the piece so easily.
Anthony, however, was confused. “What did you say, Miss Xu?”
Realizing she had spoken in Mandarin, Xu Youyou quickly repeated herself in English. The term “Guiguzi” clearly baffled the foreigner.
“Guiguzi was an extraordinary figure over 2,000 years ago—learned, wise, and a master of diplomatic strategy.”
Anthony sighed in admiration. “Your country’s history is like a vast book—wherever you turn, there’s always another fascinating figure.”
Xu Youyou straightened her back slightly, pride evident in her voice. “And Guiguzi wasn’t even the most outstanding figure of his time. There were many like him during that era.”
Anthony then asked, “I noticed you frowned earlier—did you find something wrong with the jar?”
Thanks to the system’s “Beginner Porcelain Identification” skill, Xu Youyou had already spotted the jar’s flaw.
Unconcerned about Anthony’s intentions, she casually remarked, “Frank might have been duped by the auction house.”
Lu Jingyao subtly nudged her elbow.
Startled, Xu Youyou turned to him with a questioning look.
In a low voice, he warned, “Auction houses are tricky business. Frank may already know whether the piece is genuine or not. Even if he was fooled, he wouldn’t appreciate being exposed publicly.”
Anthony, still waiting, pressed, “Miss Xu, do you think the jar is a fake?”
The surrounding guests, already intrigued by the artwork, turned their attention toward Xu Youyou.
Thinking quickly, she smiled. “You misheard, Anthony. I meant to say that Frank’s extravagant taste is impressive.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Anthony’s face.
Sensing his ulterior motives, Lu Jingyao promptly found an excuse to pull Xu Youyou aside.
Once they were alone in a quiet corner, Xu Youyou grabbed his arm. “Was Anthony doing that on purpose?”
Lu Jingyao’s gaze lingered on her hand for a moment until she released him.
“Anthony may seem like a playboy, but he’s an expert at digging for information. He can fish out secrets without you even realizing it,” he explained.
Xu Youyou frowned. “I thought foreigners were supposed to be naïve and rich. Why are they all so cunning?”
Lu Jingyao answered absentmindedly, “Anthony’s Jewish.”
Understanding dawned on her—Jews were famously shrewd and intelligent, which explained his tactics.
Suddenly, Lu Jingyao turned and pressed Xu Youyou against the wall in a classic kabedon move.
Her first instinct was to shove him away, but when she caught the warning glint in his eyes, her reaction slowed.
After about thirty seconds, he released her.
Xu Youyou, unimpressed, demanded coldly, “Explain.”
“Cyril was approaching,” he said, nodding toward the glass window where her reflection had been visible.
From his vantage point, he could see Cyril coming through the corridor.
Despite knowing it was part of their act, Xu Youyou was irritated. “Next time you pull a stunt like this, give me a warning. Otherwise, I won’t be gentle.”
Lu Jingyao: …
He glanced at her slightly raised leg and asked, “Were you planning to kick me?”
Xu Youyou didn’t answer—just gave him a mysterious look.
Before he could say more, her eyes suddenly lit up, and without a care for her ten-centimeter heels, she bolted toward the door.
Yeesh! Not too happy about the whole Jewish stereotype in this chapter, but hopefully it’s not a trend throughout the series. Great work translating though!