Eventually, the intermediary still made an international call to her.

In fluent English, Gu Shengsheng stated bluntly, “No matter what you say, I pieced it together from fragments.”

“If you’ve got what it takes, don’t try to settle with me. Either shut my museum down, or I’ll shut yours down.”

The intermediary on the other end laughed. “How long has the Da Ying Museum been around? Longer than you’ve been alive.”

“Miss Gu, you should choose your words more carefully. A few small museums like yours could go under, and it wouldn’t affect the Da Ying Museum in the slightest.”

“Piss off. You’re a pain.”

‘Choose my words carefully? My ass.’

‘Do these people think they can run the whole world? And now they’re trying to control my brand-new private museum?’

Normally, Gu Shengsheng didn’t pay much attention to online media or publicity.

But now, she went straight to Instagram and posted a ton of photos of the Ru Kiln Sky Blue Glaze Sunflower Bowl. She included the story of its origin, making the subtext perfectly clear.

Apparently, Gu Shengsheng decided her subtext wasn’t obvious enough, so she went ahead and posted the audio recording on Instagram.

She pulled no punches. “Is this the caliber of the Da Ying Museum?”

She wasn’t holding back at all and was ready for a direct confrontation. She never let consequences stop her; she did what needed to be done.

This was already a huge issue, but before her followers could even rally to make it bigger, Gu Shengsheng took matters into her own hands: “@JointCouncil, please help deal with this. Please help us protect our rights.”

Gu Shengsheng dragged the entire affair out into the open.

She was incredibly direct, even calling the Joint Council administrator who had handled her previous live stream issue.

This time, no one could play dumb. They all stepped forward, issuing a statement that the matter would be handled properly.

To be clear, the artifact at the Da Ying Museum had been there for a very long time. What was unusual was a major institution like them targeting a small, private museum like Gu Shengsheng’s.

For now, there wasn’t much Gu Shengsheng could do but wait a few days for the investigation results. She might even have to take a trip abroad to the Da Ying Museum for mediation.

After getting home and putting down her phone, Gu Shengsheng checked the time. It was almost time to head out.

Just as she started to feel a little hungry, she habitually went to check the front door for a takeout delivery.

But as she approached the door, she froze.

The doorway was empty. She’d forgotten—she had moved, and Lu Shijing no longer lived across the hall.

There wouldn’t be an extra portion of food waiting for her.

‘Habit really is a terrifying thing.’ For a moment, Gu Shengsheng felt a pang of emptiness.

She didn’t regret divorcing Lu Shijing.

She knew they weren’t right for each other. Lu Shijing seemed to know everything about her, not a single detail missed. But she knew nothing about him.

A man like that was unfathomable.

Now that he was in love with her, he seemed willing to give it his all—Gu Shengsheng could feel that.

‘But what if he falls out of love? What if a conflict arises? What would she do then?’

Gu Shengsheng, at least, didn’t dare to make that gamble. She couldn’t bet the rest of her life on a man like that, especially since Lu Shijing had never even planned on telling her his true identity from the start.

Even though she had feelings for him—and Gu Shengsheng would admit that his constant presence was comforting and brought her joy—the affection was definitely there.

‘But spending the rest of her life with him? She couldn’t even imagine it.’

Rather than gambling her future on someone else, she’d rather walk the path alone for a while. She would focus on earning money, channeling that gambler’s instinct into her business and her antiques. At least that promised a chance of a good return.

A person like Gu Shengsheng could never be completely irrational.

As she was trying to sort through the mess of thoughts in her head, she heard Grandma Lu’s voice. “Shengsheng, is everything okay with the museum?”

“Do you want Grandma to make some calls for you?”

After all, Mrs. Lu Sr. had been a force to be reckoned with in her day. She still knew plenty of people, and every one of them was a big shot.

Gu Shengsheng smiled. “No need, Grandma. I know how to handle it. You just need to relax at home.”

“I was just thinking, I might have to go abroad in a few days.”

‘Going abroad? Perfect!’

Mrs. Lu Sr. was ecstatic. ‘If she goes abroad, maybe she and Lu Shijing can have a future together again!’

‘She could tell at a glance that there was something more between those two. They just weren’t willing to face their own feelings yet.’

Then Grandma Lu said, “Ah, I see.”

“Shengsheng, I have to go out,” she said, starting to wobble toward the door on unsteady legs.

Gu Shengsheng asked with concern, “What’s wrong with your leg? It seemed fine just a moment ago.”

Mrs. Lu Sr. sighed. “It happened the other day. I was walking down the street, brisk as ever, when a child insisted on helping me cross. He said he hadn’t finished his homework, so if he was late for school, he could just tell his teacher he was helping an old lady.”

“I mean, can you believe it? I refused him on the spot. I’m not so old that I’m going to let some kid use me as an excuse!” Mrs. Lu Sr. planted her hands on her hips, still fuming.

“So I refused to move, and in the middle of our little tug-of-war, I ended up hurting my leg.”

Gu Shengsheng was speechless. For a moment, she had no idea what to say to that.

Silence seemed to be the only appropriate response.

“So, where are you headed now, Grandma? I can give you a ride.” ‘Best to just solve the problem,’ Gu Shengsheng thought.

Finally, she was asking the right question. The old woman was internally overjoyed, but she put on a pained expression. “It’s that stinky brat Lu Shijing’s birthday. For the past few years, we’ve just been sending him things like it was the anniversary of his death. Now that he’s back among the living, I figured I’d send him a cake.”

Gu Shengsheng glanced at the sloppy, haphazardly decorated cake.

“It’s fine,” she said. “I can deliver it.”

She didn’t hesitate. It was his birthday, after all, and he hadn’t celebrated it in years.

It was only right for his grandma to send a little something. It was just inconvenient for Gu Shengsheng to go herself. “I’ll just call a delivery service,” she said.

‘That won’t do at all!’

The old woman protested, “What a waste of money! Besides, we used to live there. It was your home too! You could also grab my flowerpot while you’re there. Shengsheng, why don’t you go?”

Gu Shengsheng nodded. “Okay.”

When Lu Shijing saw Gu Shengsheng at his door, he seemed to hesitate for a moment before his expression turned to one of pleasant surprise.

“Do you regret divorcing me?” he asked.

Gu Shengsheng was speechless.

“No. Grandma said it’s your birthday and sent something for you.”

She then opened the cake box. “Great,” Lu Shijing said.

Just as Gu Shengsheng was looking for an opportunity to leave, he finished the cake.

He then looked up at Gu Shengsheng. She saw that his face was completely flushed, as if he’d been boiled.

Something was clearly wrong. “What’s the matter with you?”

“I’m allergic to cream.”

Gu Shengsheng was speechless again.

‘Doesn’t Grandma Lu know he’s allergic? Even if she doesn’t, how could he not know himself?’

“It’s one thing for Grandma to be clueless, but how could you be so careless?” The worry in her tone was unmistakable.

Lu Shijing said, “You’re the one who brought it. I had to finish it.”

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