Chapter 224: Chapter 224 An Unusual Emotion Surfaces in Her Heart Chapter 224: Chapter 224 An Unusual Emotion Surfaces in Her Heart Uncle Gu looked at Ning Wanru, and for a moment, he couldnât distinguish which of her words were true and which were false.
It was a moment later that he simply spoke, âSecond Lady, remember your place and remember the words of the Old Patriarch, please go back.â
Since he couldnât discern the truth from the lies, he might as well not talk at all.
A clean and quick dismissal was the real solution.
Ning Wanru sighed softly, her eyes brimming with moisture, âIf you wonât look, then donât look. The Old Patriarch has shown me kindness as heavy as a mountain, I just hope I can die before him, so I wonât have to feel sad or heartbrokenâŠâ
Qiaoqiao thought to herself, you will certainly die before Gu Qingfeng, rest assured!
Uncle Gu was not a man gifted with words, and Qiaoqiao had no wish to speak to this old lady either.
Thus, the scene turned into one where Ning Wanru was talking to herself.
However, she had achieved her objective for the day.
Wiping the corner of her eye with a silk handkerchief, Ning Wanru laughed at herself with a wry smile, then stared intently at Qiaoqiao for a good while before addressing Uncle Gu, âIâm leaving, please convey my blessings to the elder. I just hope I can be of some help to him.â
Uncle Gu fell silent for a moment, âAlright.â
Ning Wanru didnât continue speaking, but turned around and left.
Qiaoqiao, watching her receding figure, furrowed her brows slightly. Why did she feel as if Ning Wanru had come specifically for her?
Also, shouldnât Ning Wanru be trying very hard to conceal the mystery of her own birth? Why then did she bring up her resemblance to Lady Yu on her own initiative?
What is she trying to do?
If going about it secretly isnât working, is she trying a more direct approach?
Uncle Gu gave a few instructions to the bodyguard at the door and then led Qiaoqiao out.
Upon reaching the hospital square, they saw Ning Wanru get into a small sedan and drive away.
Uncle Gu opened the car door, let Qiaoqiao in, and then drove in the direction of the Jade Carving Workshop.
The hospital was quite far from the Jade Carving Workshop.
Along the way, it was apparent Uncle Gu was still pondering why Ning Wanru had suddenly come to the hospital to say such inexplicable things.
Qiaoqiao was thinking the same.
Therefore, the car ride was rather silent, with her gaze directed out the window.
She suddenly noticed a man sitting in front of the window of a café on the street that looked like Qin Yize.
And the woman across from him had long hair and slightly resembled Lin Qinghuan.
But it was just a fleeting glimpse.
By the time she tried to take a closer look, the car had already moved some distance.
Qiaoqiao turned her head to look back, but she couldnât see anything anymore.
A strange emotion welled up inside her.
Was it really Qin Yize and Lin Qinghuan?
The hand Qiaoqiao had placed on her knee clenched, then she quietly relaxed it again.
At that moment, inside the street-side cafĂ©, Qin Yize sat in a coffee chair, his cool gaze fixed on Lin Qinghuan as he spoke indifferently, âIâm asking you again, have you really not been in touch with Choo Lan or Zhu Xiaohong?â
Lin Qinghuanâs face changed slightly; biting her lip, she suddenly looked up at the handsome man across from her, suppressing the flutter in her heart, and nodded her head with an ostensibly cheerful voice, âI havenât been in touch, itâs not convenient to call them.â
Qin Yizeâs deep, pool-like eyes swept over Lin Qinghuan, a trace of coldness flashing through them as he stood up, looking down at her from above, a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, âRemember what you said today.â
Having said that, he turned and left at a measured pace.
Lin Qinghuan watched Qin Yizeâs retreating figure foolishly until he disappeared, then she drew her gaze back.
She sat there, head bowed, her long hair obscuring her cheeks, her thoughts hidden from view.
The Jade Carving Workshop was located on another street behind Yubao Square.
It was much quieter here.
This was a stand-alone quadrangle.
The area was large and the neighboring buildings were of the same architectural style.
The pedestrians on the street seemed much more leisurely than on the main streets.
Uncle Gu and Qiaoqiao stood in front of the large vermilion and mottled gate.
Uncle Gu raised his hand to knock on the door.
Soon, the door opened.
It was an old man with a scar across his face, hunched over.
Upon seeing Uncle Gu, he broke into a smile, then turned to look at Gu Qiaoqiao, glancing back at Uncle Gu inquiringly.
Gu Qiaoqiao took out a wooden key.
Uncle Gu said, âFrom now on, this child can come and go freely at our Jade Carving Workshop.â
âOhâŠâ The old man paused for a moment, then nodded his head immediately.
He then stepped aside to let the two of them in.
The somewhat old but incredibly sturdy door closed again.
Gu Qiaoqiao looked around curiously.
To her surprise, the courtyard was surrounded by Sichuan pepper trees.
Then, on the courtyard walls, there were climbing ivy with trumpet flowers.
A path paved with pebbles ran through the middle, and in two corners of the courtyard stood large, heavy water jars.
As they entered the main house, the buzzing sound of machinery could be heard.
This sound was familiar to Gu Qiaoqiao.
It was the noise of the cutting machines slicing through jade.
Inside, the space was divided into several small rooms.
The carving masters were all of a certain age.
But the atmosphere here was quite relaxed.
Some were drinking tea, others reading, and some were focused on their meticulous carving.
Each person had their own unique skills.
Gu Qiaoqiaoâs carving skills were orthodox to the Gu Family, and she had mastered the techniques of round carving, openwork carving, and deep and shallow relief carving.
Aside from age and experience, she excelled above these people.
Therefore, Gu Qiaoqiao did not go in to watch.
A few of the old masters saw Uncle Gu coming in and greeted him with a smile, meanwhile curiously asking Uncle Gu who Qiaoqiao was.
In these many years, Uncle Gu had never brought an outsider here.
âThis is Gu Qiaoqiao, the Old Patriarch has given her special permission to enter the Jade Carving Workshop at any time, come⊠Qiaoqiao, meet your grandfathers and say hello,â Uncle Gu introduced.
Following his words, Gu Qiaoqiao greeted the old men, her face brimming with a smiling expression.
A Gu surname?
The old men exchanged glances.
Was she a relative of Old Patriarch Gu?
It seemed so, otherwise, why would she be allowed to come and go in the Jade Carving Workshop as she pleased?
Uncle Gu then took Gu Qiaoqiao to the backyard.
The area was filled with jade rough stones.
All were transported from the Jade Mine in Diannan, varying in size and shape.
As Gu Qiaoqiao arrived there, she felt her fingertips heating up.
She thought it might be because of the jadeite hidden within.
Looking at the jade rough stones in the courtyard, saying that Gu Qingfeng was wealthy enough to rival a nation might be an exaggeration, but his wealth was indeed staggering.
She stood still, as there was no talk of stone gambling at that time, and she hadnât intended to come here looking for a bargain.
She turned to Uncle Gu, âUncle Gu, letâs go. Itâs worrying to have the Old Patriarch alone in the hospital.â
Uncle Gu nodded, agreeing that what Gu Qiaoqiao said made sense, and so he left with Gu Qiaoqiao.
Gu Qiaoqiao told Uncle Gu to drop her off at the entrance of Antique Street, as Uncle Gu was indeed worried about Gu Qingfeng in the hospital and thus drove away on his own.
Gu Qiaoqiao stood by the roadside, glancing at Yubao Square not far away, then headed for the bus station.