Mu Jinyu obviously couldn't discern Gu Xiyan's subtle concerns. On hearing her question, she smiled slightly and explained:
"That idiot who bought the famille rose porcelain would have been fine if he hadn't claimed it was the 'Bat and Peach' theme, asserting it was a Qing Yongzheng period authentic famille rose bat and peach pattern olive-shaped vase. Obviously, I knew it was fake as soon as I heard that."
"The auspicious 'Bat and Peach' motif appeared only in official kiln ware during the Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns, but those were generally large and small plates..."
"The appearance of the 'Bat and Peach' pattern on an olive bottle is exceedingly rare, with only one such famille rose bat and peach pattern olive bottle known to exist!"
As Mu Jinyu spoke, she glanced at Gu Xiyan, who seemed lost in thought, and remarked indifferently, "That would be the Qing Yongzheng famille rose bat and peach pattern olive bottle, currently housed at the Lu City Museum."
"Heh..." Mu Jinyu said with a sneer, continuing, "It's the most precious donation the museum has received since it opened, truly a unique treasure vase."
"How could that fool possibly get his hands on it for just fifty million?!"
With a tone of disdain, Mu Jinyu said, "So as soon as I heard, I knew the 'Fortune and Longevity' piece of famille rose porcelain he had, was a counterfeit!"
"I see," Gu Xiyan finally understood, then laughed, "I didn't know you were so well-informed."
"Just slightly, just slightly," Mu Jinyu replied modestly.
This explanation was precisely what he had been ready to retort with when all of Gu Xiyan's aunts and uncles were making fun of him at that time.
However, because of the arrival of Gu Zhengxin, he had to hold back for the time being.
Considering Gu Zhengxin's standing, he probably knew that the 'Bat and Peach' olive bottle Zhang Qiuhuai had was fake, but instead of revealing it, Gu Zhengxin deliberately sided with Zhang Qiuhuai, insisting it was real.
This infuriated him, and he couldn't bother to argue any further. After a few sharp rebukes, he simply smashed that fraudulent piece, thoroughly showing them up.
"But if you knew it was a fake and could provide detailed information to prove the vase was counterfeit, why take the risk to smash it?" Gu Xiyan asked with her brows faintly furrowed, still confused.
"What if there was no inscription inside the famille rose porcelain, and you couldn't actually prove it was a fake? If they asked you to pay up, wouldn't you have to cough up fifty million in compensation?"
Gu Xiyan thought Mu Jinyu was too reckless. If there hadn't been that inscription inside the famille rose piece as proof, and he'd smashed it without a clear explanation, he really might have had to pay up fifty million.
With a faint smile, Mu Jinyu answered, "Don't worry, those craftsmen capable of such artistry to create ceramics that can be confused with the real thing, each one is a prideful character. Although they forge pieces to make a living, they purposefully leave flaws to let others know that the counterfeit comes from their hands."
"I see," Gu Xiyan suddenly understood, and her gaze towards Mu Jinyu couldn't help but reveal a hint of admiration.
So he wasn't acting rashly. He was bold but careful, having calculated the outcome well in advance.
Mu Jinyu, noticing the admiring expression on Gu Xiyan's face, smiled slightly. Changing the subject, he said, "Now that the task is completed, I should prepare to leave. These clothes..."
As he spoke, he tugged at the suit he was wearing, which felt somewhat awkward, and looked at Gu Xiyan, hinting that she owed him his tank top, shorts, and flip-flops back.
However, Gu Xiyan seemed to misunderstand his intent. On hearing Mu Jinyu's words, she waved her hand nonchalantly and said, "You don't need to take them off to return them to me, I've already told you the outfit is yours to keep."
"This..." Mu Jinyu was taken aback and quickly said, "No, I mean my own clothes..."
Gu Xiyan interrupted Mu Jinyu mid-sentence, smiling, "No problem, I'll take care of it. I'll throw them in the trash later."
"???"
Mu Jinyu blinked, feeling somehow unable to make himself clear.
She was just about to have a serious talk with her and demand her own clothes back.
"Ding-ling-ling!"
Gu Xiyan's cellphone rang.
Hearing the ringtone, Gu Xiyan saw Mu Jinyu about to speak, and quickly gestured for him to be silent for a moment.
Seeing this, Mu Jinyu had no choice but to shut up for now.
Gu Xiyan took out her phone, saw that the caller ID was her best friend Yu Linglong, and swiped to answer.
"Hello, Xiyan, what on earth is going on? Didn't you ask me to find you a fake boyfriend? Isn't it almost time for your grandfather's birthday banquet? Why haven't you left to pick him up yet?!"
The voice over the phone was coquettish and lazy, with a hint of dissatisfaction in its tone.
Startled by these words, Gu Xiyan turned her head to look at Mu Jinyu, dumbfounded, and asked, "Isn't it? Didn't I already pick him up?"
"Pick up my ass!"
The woman on the other end of the line spoke irritably, "Lin Feng just called me a minute ago, complaining about you being late. And now you're telling me you've already picked him up?"
"I really did pick him up, an hour ago, I even took him to buy clothes…" Gu Xiyan said anxiously, her voice getting weaker and weaker.
As she spoke, Gu Xiyan put down the phone, looked up angrily at Mu Jinyu, ready to confront him about what was really going on, but then she saw...
???
Mu Jinyu, knowing he had blown his cover, had already run off with a guilty conscience, leaving only a blurred figure disappearing into the distance.
"Son of a bitch, how dare you deceive me!"
Seeing this, Gu Xiyan immediately understood that Mu Jinyu was not the Soldier King Lin Feng, but an imposter who had tricked her. She stomped her foot in annoyance, feeling utterly humiliated.
She, a powerful CEO, had been duped by someone, and to top it off... her first kiss had been stolen by him.
Wow, just thinking about it made Gu Xiyan seething with anger!
She truly wished she could swallow Mu Jinyu whole.
"Hello hello... Xiyan, what's happening over there?! What happened?!"
Yu Linglong's slightly anxious voice came from the tightly gripped phone in Gu Xiyan's hand; clearly, she was very concerned for her friend.
"I'm fine." Gu Xiyan shook her head slightly, forcing herself to calm down, "Please apologize to the Soldier King for me, tell him I won't need his help tonight. The issue is resolved. Sorry for standing him up, I can't chat now, I've got something urgent to do…"
After speaking hurriedly, Gu Xiyan hung up the phone before Yu Linglong could respond.
Then, she stared in the direction where Mu Jinyu had fled, gritted her teeth, and quickly headed for her BMW. She then drove off in pursuit.
Although Gu Xiyan also remembered that Mu Jinyu had mentioned he was the wrong person when he got in the car, the angry Gu Xiyan didn't care about that. Why didn't Mu Jinyu, tempted by money, remind her again and again?!
Moreover, he had taken advantage of the situation to pretend to be her boyfriend, reaping all the benefits, and yet she didn't even know his name...
This was something Gu Xiyan couldn't accept. She was determined to catch up with Mu Jinyu and settle the score with him!