Hidden identities of the AI Heiress

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: It’s Fake
 

Upon entering the teahouse and pushing the door open, several friends, all equally passionate about art, had already taken their seats.

The elderly man sitting in the very middle particularly caught the eye: his hair was completely silver, and his gaze sharp.

At first glance, Old Master Lu recognized him as Old Master Qi of Hai City.

Qi Huan made introductions for the two of them.

“It is an honor to meet you, Old Master Qi. I had not expected to encounter you here.”

Old Master Qi smiled and replied, “Now that I’m retired and have nothing much to do, it was fortuitous that Qi Huan was coming to Shangjing, so I decided to join and have a look.”

As the two were talking, someone knocked on the door. A servant entered, cradling a wooden box in his arms.

“Master Lu, your painting,” the servant announced.

Old Master Lu instructed, “Open it directly.”

“Yes,” the servant complied, opening the wooden box with gloved hands and drawing out the scroll from within.

A group of old gentlemen, quite interested, inquired.

“Old Lu, what treasure have you acquired this time?”

“Is it a masterwork by some great artist?”

Qi Huan clarified for them, “Recently, Old Lu acquired a painting by Master Qiao An, but we’re unsure of its authenticity, so he brought it here for everyone to weigh in.”

Upon hearing this, Old Master Qi’s eyebrows lifted, and he gently shook his head, “There’s no need to look at it; it’s fake.”

Sure of himself, Old Master Qi only spurred further curiosity among the group. He hadn’t even looked at it – how could he know it was counterfeit?

“How can you say that?” Old Master Lu asked, confused.

Old Master Qi picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and replied, “Qiao An would only paint to give as gifts. He usually didn’t paint at all, and he rarely gave away his works, which is why there are none on the market.”

His certainty stemmed from the fact that Qiao An was an alias used by Qiao Ansheng, Qiao Yun’s grandfather – who had long passed away. Where could one find him to paint now?

Qiao Yun held many of his works, but she was not short of money and would certainly never consider selling any.

Upon hearing this, a glint of disappointment flashed in Old Master Lu’s eyes; it was unclear what he had been hoping for.

The group of veterans immediately expressed their righteous indignation.

“Someone dares to forge Master Qiao’s paintings; they must be found and severely punished!”

“Exactly, it’s utterly despicable, an insult to art! An insult to Master Qiao!”

“Old Lu, from where did you acquire this painting?”

Pressed by the group of elders, Old Master Lu let out a few awkward chuckles.

If they knew that the painting was a gift from his granddaughter, this group of old gentlemen would likely confront Qiao Yun with a lesson on moral values.

Had he known, he wouldn’t have brought the painting at all; it had indeed caused an embarrassment.

“Just unfold the painting; let me have a look,” insisted Old Master Qi.

He was eager to see just how close to the original the painting that Old Master Lu could not discern as fake or real was.

On hearing this, the attendant carefully unfurled the scroll, and as the image of ‘Elk Chasing the Moon’ appeared perfectly intact.

Old Master Qi’s hand, holding the teacup, twitched slightly. A few drops of warm tea splashed onto the back of his hand, but he paid it no mind.

Eagerly, he approached the painting, leaning in to scrutinize it closely.

Before Old Master Lu could figure out why Old Master Qi was suddenly so animated, he heard him saying, shaking with a mix of astonishment and disbelief.

“It’s actually genuine!”

The declaration rippled through the room like a stone cast into water, leaving everyone stunned.

Old Master Lu was the first to recover, nervously asking, “What’s genuine?”

“This painting,” Old Master Qi continued in admiration, “is indeed by Qiao An hand. I was there when he created this ‘Elk Chasing the Moon’ piece, there is no way I could be mistaken.”

Moreover, this painting had never been shown publicly; it was impossible for someone to have crafted such an accurate forgery.

Old Master Lu gasped, his eyes widening as if they were large copper bells.