Hidden identities of the AI Heiress

Chapter 289: Chapter 289: What is your relationship with Qiao Yun?
 

A group of old men immediately crowded over to look.

“It really is Master Qiao’s style, look at the signature; it’s his handwriting too.”

“Indeed, based on my years of experience, it is genuinely authentic.”

“Old Lu, what’s the matter with you? Can’t you even distinguish between real and fake anymore? And to think you claimed to be such an admirer of Master Qiao’s paintings.”

The elder Mr. Lu was still in shock, completely bewildered.

It wasn’t that his judgment was poor; he had also been very confident that the painting was authentic. It was all Lu Rui’s fault, that unfilial son, for insisting that the painting was a fake.

This had caused him to waver as well. Fortunately, he still harbored some doubts, otherwise, who knows how long this painting would have remained hidden from view.

Wait a minute…

The elder Mr. Lu shuddered, his pupils trembling.

If the one he held was authentic, then the one in Lu Rui’s possession could not possibly be a fake!

If he told this group of old men that his family had two of Master Qiao’s paintings, they just might openly rob him.

The elder Mr. Lu quietly pinched himself, “Hiss!”

It really hurt; it wasn’t a dream.

One thing he couldn’t figure out: where had Qiaoqiao gotten this painting from? She was just back from the countryside, but where did she find such connections and resources?

Only now did the elder Mr. Lu realize that not only he but perhaps his second son and daughter-in-law as well, knew very little about Qiaoqiao’s past.

Or perhaps, there was something hidden about Qiaoqiao. If he hadn’t impulsively brought the painting to the exhibition, they might never have had any suspicions about Qiaoqiao’s history.

The thoughts in the elder Mr. Lu’s mind were chaotic, not yet sorted out, when he saw the group of old men, eyes gleaming with greed, ready to snatch the painting.

He hurried forward to put away the painting.

The old men complained discontentedly.

“Why put it away? I haven’t had a proper look yet.”

“Old Lu, why so stingy, are you afraid that we might steal it?”

The elder Mr. Lu feigned nonchalance, “Such a precious painting; of course, I need to store it properly. If you want to see it, visit my house some other day.”

Someone asked, “Exactly how did you come by this painting? According to Mr. Qi, this painting of deer darting to the moon is very rare.”

The elder Mr. Lu just smiled, “A junior heard that I admired Master Qiao’s paintings, and gave it to me out of consideration.”

A group of them were immensely envious, wondering why they didn’t have such filial juniors in their families.

Mr. Qi, upon hearing this, seemed to recall something and blurted out, “What’s your relation to Qiao Yun?”

A puzzled look flashed across the elder Mr. Lu’s face; “She’s my granddaughter. Mr. Qi, how did you know?”

Mr. Qi inwardly cursed his luck; he hadn’t thought too much before asking and had forgotten that the Lu family was still unaware of Xiaoqiao’s identity.

He maintained a calm face, “I heard from Qi Huan that a daughter from the Shangjing Lu family was found after being lost. Since you share the surname Lu, I was just curious.”

The elder Mr. Lu suddenly understood, so that was it.

He hadn’t realized Mr. Qi was such a gossip.

Qi Huan looked absolutely bewildered; he indeed had mentioned the Lu family but had never talked about Qiao Yun, especially since he didn’t even know who Qiao Yun was.

However, right now, he wouldn’t expose his own people.

Right now, the elder Mr. Lu’s mind was full of Master Qiao’s paintings. After telling everyone he would catch up with them later, he quickly left.

*

Lu Shiran was not interested in such overly artistic exhibitions and had collapsed in the rest area.

But having Qiao Yun for company made it less boring.

He thought he would have to wait a long time to see his grandfather, but in less than half an hour, his grandfather had already come looking for him.

“Grandfather, you’re quick today,” Lu Shiran exclaimed.

Based on previous experience, his grandfather would chat with that group for five or six hours before he would leave.

“It’s because I didn’t want Qiaoqiao to get bored,” the old man said, his gaze complex as it rested on Qiao Yun.