Gu Shengsheng was just making that up. How could she know what Guan Wutian and Song Shuhua knew? She didn’t pay attention to things like that.

It was always something baffling with them.

Still, she continued to guide Gu Rongrong’s assumptions.

Sure enough, Gu Rongrong thought Gu Shengsheng made a lot of sense.

She said, “So Mom and Dad knew… I thought I was being discreet enough, that no one would find out.”

Gu Shengsheng rolled her eyes. “Are you an idiot? I found out from all the way in Beijing City.”

“So who did you think you could hide this from? The only person you’re fooling is yourself.”

Gu Rongrong quickly scurried back and thrust the large red plastic bag full of stuff at Gu Shengsheng.

As if it were a hot potato.

Her face was filled with disgust. “Here, take it. It’s all yours.”

“Gu Shengsheng, I just picked this up for you. Your grandma left it for you. I don’t have a grandma, and I don’t have some backwater hometown. The Gu family is my only home!”

“Right, right. I have to explain myself. I have to make things clear to Mom and Dad.”

Gu Shengsheng took the plastic bag with a steady hand.

[System]

Item: Sky Blue Glaze Sunflower Bowl from a Ru Kiln.

Price: 250 million

Details: Sold for 190 million in the 20th century. Later, due to market appreciation and other factors, its value can reach 250 million after restoration. Congratulations to the Host on a successful acquisition.

Remarks: None.

Gu Shengsheng’s lips curved into a small smile. ‘Alright, another 250 million in the bank.’

Then she saw Gu Shengsheng examining the red plastic bag.

Gu Rongrong said with extreme disgust, “Don’t bother looking through that. It’s just a bunch of random junk. Your grandma saved it for you like it was some kind of treasure. I seriously don’t get it.”

“There’s a broken porcelain shard in there. I almost threw it out, you know? You can go ahead and toss it yourself now.”

Gu Shengsheng nodded. “Yes, it’s just a pile of junk. Not really your style.”

“Of course it isn’t. I’m far too delicate. Thank goodness I didn’t have to live in an environment like that. Gu Shengsheng, you look pretty happy with that bag of trash, don’t you?”

“Heh. So shallow. Do you really think it’s some kind of treasure?”

At this, Gu Shengsheng said, “Yes, it is a treasure. And I happen to love it.”

With the bag in hand, Gu Shengsheng had no desire to linger. She wanted to get back to Beijing City as soon as possible to get the restoration work done.

‘Besides, my private museum has already accumulated 852 artifacts. It’s about time for the grand opening.’

‘When the time comes, the prize-winning Jadeite rough stone and this large Ru Kiln bowl can both serve as crown jewels for the museum.’

‘Of course, as far as Gu Shengsheng was concerned, she had plenty of items that could be considered crown jewels.’

‘The items she acquired through her appraisals were typically priceless things others couldn’t get their hands on even if they begged.’

‘Of course, the most important matter was still the divorce.’

After collecting her thoughts, Gu Shengsheng walked out and stood before Lu Shijing.

Guan Wutian sat there with a solemn expression, all traces of his earlier, overly familiar fawning—calling Lu Shijing his “dear son-in-law”—gone.

Lu Shijing, on the other hand, now looked every bit the boss addressing a subordinate.

Gu Shengsheng: ‘?’

Lu Shijing sipped his tea. “Xiao Gu,” he said, “the vast majority of small and medium-sized enterprises here in Rui City are already under our umbrella. If you think you can just carry on or start over, it’s simply not possible.”

“You’re welcome to try your luck on your own first. But I’m only making this offer once. If you’re willing, sign the contract and become a subsidiary of the LG Group. Once you do, our headquarters at LG will be sure to look after you.”

Gu Shengsheng: ‘???’

‘Guan Wutian is “Xiao Gu” now?’

‘Lu Shijing just came here to keep me company, and now he’s in the middle of a corporate acquisition?’

Guan Wutian was breaking out in a cold sweat.

His face was pale with fear. He said, looking extremely uncomfortable, “I understand. I understand completely. How about this… I’ll think it over. I’ll give you my final decision before your plane lands in Beijing City. I promise.”

“Mm.” Lu Shijing stood up and took Gu Shengsheng’s hand.

“Let’s go home, honey,” he said.

Gu Shengsheng didn’t ask anything on the way out. It wasn’t until they were in the car that she finally couldn’t hold back anymore. “Lu Shijing, how did you do that?”

“The carrot and the stick. Just the usual tactics for a business negotiation.”

Gu Shengsheng shook her head. She had a feeling it wasn’t that simple.

Guan Wutian wasn’t a fool. He was a freeloader who wanted to use Gu Shengsheng as a bargaining chip to get Lu Shijing’s help. Why would he ever agree to an acquisition?

Lu Shijing said, “I broke it down for him. As his son-in-law, I could naturally help him build up his business, with him still in charge. But I already have a company under my management that’s absolutely dominating the market. The dividends from that one company alone are equal to the Gu Group’s entire profit. Don’t you think he’d be green with envy?”

“But even so, I don’t think that would be enough for him to give up his company,” Gu Shengsheng said.

Lu Shijing continued, “Of course, on top of that, I painted him a very pretty picture. I laid it all out for him, making him feel like earning a hundred million a day was within his reach.”

Gu Shengsheng was speechless.

‘Even a professional con artist probably couldn’t spin a tale as well as he can.’

“So what’s your plan for what comes next?” Gu Shengsheng asked.

“Take complete control,” Lu Shijing said. “If you were in my shoes, what would you do?”

Gu Shengsheng didn’t mince words. “They’re insatiably greedy. I certainly wouldn’t let them off easy.”

Lu Shijing said, “Exactly. I’m a businessman, and my priority is profit. At first, it’ll go just as they expect. But once they’ve had a taste of the benefits, I’ll start sidelining them. We’ll bring in our own professional management, and eventually, I’ll swallow the company whole.”

“Their ultimate fate has nothing to do with me.” All Lu Shijing cared about was the company.

Gu Shengsheng was speechless.

In a way, she and Lu Shijing were very similar in character.

Selfish and self-serving. And most importantly, neither of them was a particularly good person.

And yet, they found something inexplicably agreeable about each other.

Lu Shijing said with a smile, “Seeing how capable I am, does it make you reluctant to leave? Maybe you’ll reconsider and we can continue our married life.”

“Not a chance,” Gu Shengsheng said firmly. “We’re getting a divorce. We’ll file the papers as soon as we get back. There are no more reasons for delay, Mr. Lu.”

Lu Shijing said nothing, falling silent.

He remained silent for the rest of the trip and even deliberately booked a seat that wasn’t next to Gu Shengsheng’s.

He put on an act, trying to look pensive and deep in thought about everything.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep up the act for long. Halfway through the flight, he traded seats with the person next to Gu Shengsheng, sat down beside her, and offered her a food container. “Time to eat.”

Gu Shengsheng said, “It’s okay, I ordered my own. It’ll be here in a minute.”

Lu Shijing felt a pang of jealousy. ‘She ordered food for herself, but didn’t think to get any for me?’

“Why didn’t you think about me? I want to eat too.”

Gu Shengsheng was taken aback. “…If you want to eat, don’t you have your own hands?”

A moment later, Gu Shengsheng’s meal arrived. Just as she was about to eat, Lu Shijing snatched it away and handed her the one he had bought. “Eat this. I’ll have what you ordered.”

“Fine.”

She didn’t pay much mind to such minor details, her attention already back on her phone, scrolling through messages and all sorts of comments from her fans.

Even though she hadn’t been in Beijing City and hadn’t done any livestreams, there was still plenty of buzz about her online.

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