Although Gu Jinyao's voice was quite different from Ah-Yao's, Su Hua suddenly felt as if it was Ah-Yao calling her just now.

She paused for a moment, wiping her eyes with her hand.

Turning around, she looked at Gu Jinyao's sharp, handsome face.

It was a face completely different from Ah-Yao's.

She regained her composure and smiled, "Mr. Gu, did you call me?"

Gu Jinyao picked up a business card from the box on the table and walked over to her, "This is my card. If you need anything in the future, feel free to contact me directly."

Su Hua took it with both hands and said, "Alright."

"We have a group of high-end collectors here, including enthusiasts of ancient books and paintings. If any clients need restoration, can they contact you?"

Su Hua smiled, "Of course."

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Gu Jinyao's lips curled up, "Then it's settled. We'll be in touch by phone."

"Okay." Su Hua put his business card into her bag.

As they left and took the elevator, Shen Yuan turned her head to study Su Hua and said, "I feel like you and this young Mr. Gu have an unusual relationship, but listening to you two talk, it seems like you're meeting for the first time."

Su Hua put her hands in her trench coat pockets, staring absentmindedly at the elevator buttons, and replied, "His eyes look a lot like someone I know."

Shen Yuan thought for a moment, "Like Gu Beixian? Their eyes do look similar—big eyes, dark pupils, deep double eyelids, long and thick eyelashes. Handsome people look alike, while ugly ones have their own unique ugliness."

Su Hua didn't respond.

She wasn't fond of sharing her personal matters all at once.

Once in the car, Su Hua asked, "Is your Alipay account linked to your phone number?"

Shen Yuan started the car and casually replied, "Yes."

Su Hua picked up her phone and swiped her fingers lightly across the screen.

It wasn't long before Shen Yuan heard a ding from her phone.

When they stopped at a red light, she glanced at her phone.

What she saw gave her a big shock.

A hundred thousand yuan had been transferred to her Alipay account.

The sender was none other than Su Hua.

Shen Yuan panicked, "Sister Hua, I can't accept this money. I'll transfer it back to you right away."

Su Hua held her hand, "It's not much. Take it and enjoy some tea."

"A hundred thousand yuan isn't much? It's more than my annual salary at the museum."

"Take it. You've been running around with me these past few days. If you don't accept this small token of appreciation, you're treating me like a stranger."

Shen Yuan paused, leaned over, and gave her a big kiss on the cheek, "Thank you, Sister Hua."

Su Hua smiled and lowered her head to text Gu Beixian.

She invited him to have Western food at the revolving restaurant that evening.

Upon receiving the message, Gu Beixian instructed his assistant to let someone else handle the evening's engagements.

At seven in the evening, the two arrived at the revolving restaurant one after the other.

The restaurant was located at the top of the tallest building in the capital.

It was circular, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a 360-degree view and rotated every two hours, providing a panoramic view of the capital's nightscape.

Since it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, they couldn't book a VIP room.

So they dined in the main hall.

The hall was divided into sections.

Though not as private as a room, it was still acceptable.

The restaurant was lavishly decorated, with golden lights reflecting off the frosted glass, creating a fairy-tale-like beauty, accompanied by violin music.

The atmosphere was very romantic.

Most of the diners were couples.

When the Western food arrived, Su Hua glanced at the dazzling night scene outside the window and smiled at Gu Beixian, "Last time you brought me here for dinner, I was happy all night."

Gu Beixian chuckled, "So easily satisfied? Then I'll bring you here often."

"Once in a while is enough. If we come too often, it won't feel special anymore."

"True." Gu Beixian took her steak, cut it with a knife and fork.

He had a pair of beautiful hands, with distinct joints, strong yet elegant, making cutting steak look charming.

His hands were thin and long, clearly from a good background.

After cutting, Gu Beixian pushed the steak back to Su Hua, "Eat it while it's hot."

Su Hua ate a few pieces with her fork; the beef was tender and tasted great.

Halfway through the meal, she took out a card from her bag and pushed it in front of Gu Beixian, saying generously, "This is what your sister earned, spend it as you like. The password is your birthday."

Gu Beixian smirked, teasing, "As expected, women become bad when they have money. You used to be so respectful, but now that you have money, you've suddenly become the big sister, like a serf who has turned over and started singing."

Su Hua burst into laughter, lifting her chin, "Of course, economic power determines one's status at home."

Gu Beixian was amused by her, reaching over to ruffle her hair, "Look at our little Hua Hua, so smug."

Su Hua retorted, "Are you complimenting me or mocking me?"

"Of course, I'm complimenting you."

Su Hua rolled her eyes at him, "I'm not stupid."

With that, she forked a piece of beef and stuffed it into his mouth.

Gu Beixian chewed slowly, swallowed the meat, and asked, "Did you sell the painting you restored a few days ago?"

"Yes, I met someone who liked it. I bought the scraps for ten thousand yuan and sold them for twelve million, with the payment made on the spot."

Gu Beixian praised her, "A profit of over ten million, that's amazing."

Su Hua put down her knife and fork, cleared her throat, and looked at him earnestly, "I want to earn a lot of money in the future, so I can be worthy of you."

Gu Beixian smiled, placing his hand over hers, "You're more than enough for me now, no need to work too hard."

Su Hua was deeply moved, feeling both happy and melancholic, she said hoarsely, "I want to be so outstanding that even your father thinks we're a perfect match."

Gu Beixian fell silent, lovingly holding her hand, his eyes dark, "I'm sorry you have to go through this."

"It's alright."

Suddenly, her phone rang.

Su Hua took her phone out of her bag.

As she did, a business card fell out, but she didn't notice.

She glanced at the caller ID; it was Su Peilan.

Su Hua answered, "Mom, what's up?"

Su Peilan spoke quickly, "I just received a message saying my account has an extra five million yuan. Did you transfer it?"

"Yes, I transferred it at noon, but it took a while to arrive."

Su Peilan complained, "Didn't I tell you? Keep the money Gu Beixian gave you for yourself, don't give it to me. I have my pension, it's enough."

"It's not from him, I earned it myself."

Su Peilan was shocked, "What did you do to earn so much?"

"I restored a painting by The Sage of Eight Mountains and happened to meet a buyer who liked it. Spend the money as you wish, buy whatever you want. Oh, and take some time to join a tour and travel, it'll be a nice break."

"You little rascal, always spending money recklessly." Though she complained, Su Peilan was deeply touched.

After hanging up, Su Hua looked at Gu Beixian with a smile.

But she noticed his expression had turned somber at some point, as he was staring down at a business card next to her bag.

Following his gaze, Su Hua saw it was the card Gu Jinyao had given her before leaving.

Su Hua casually picked up the card and put it back in her bag, saying, "This is the card of the young master of Zhengrong Auction House, it might come in handy later."

Gu Beixian's lips curled with a complex emotion, "Did you sell your painting to him?"

Su Hua answered truthfully, "Yes, Shen Yuan told me Zhengrong Auction House is reputable, so we went. While waiting for an appraisal in the lobby, Gu Jinyao sent someone to invite us to his office. After seeing the painting, he said his father liked The Sage of Eight Mountains' work and was missing an Ink Lotus Painting, so he bought it at the historical auction price."

Gu Beixian's expression changed, a coldness that was hard to describe, his lips curled with a hint of self-mockery, "Do I look like I need your money? You went to him for money."

Su Hua was stunned.

That was too hurtful.

It wasn't just a denial of her abilities, but an insult to her character.

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, ruining her good mood.

She looked at Gu Beixian with a wounded expression.

Gu Beixian hated seeing her like this.

After a few seconds of silence, he was the first to relent.

Rubbing his brow, he softened his gaze and said slowly, "My words were a bit harsh just now, I'm sorry."

Su Hua bit her lip, staying silent.

After a pause, Gu Beixian took her hand from the table, gently stroking the back of it, and said tenderly, "I don't like you getting too close to that person."

It was his way of making peace.

Su Hua accepted the olive branch, no longer holding a grudge.

She pondered his feelings for a moment, then said, "Although Gu Jinyao's name also has 'Yao' in it, he's not Ah-Yao. Ah-Yao passed away thirteen years ago, his surname was Lu, and his name was Lu Yao."