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"Your Royal Highness!"
As soon as Lu Xing entered the museum gates, he saw a middle-aged man running toward him from a distance.
Liu Qingqing was astonished. "What did he just call you?"
"Cough, cough... just my online name."
For a rare moment, Lu Xing cleared his throat awkwardly.
Seriously, he wondered: Can people please not use their real names on the internet, and can they please stop using their online names in real life?
Gong Zhenbao and Xiao Zhou reached Lu Xing's side.
"Aiya, Prin—hmm?"
Just as he was about to speak, Lu Xing cut him off with a heavy bear hug, smothering his words.
"I'm begging you, Uncle Gong. Just call me Little Lu."
Lu Xing whispered urgently into Gong Zhenbao's ear.
Liu Qingqing stood there, shell-shocked.
Oh my god!
She had been working so hard for so long to get close to him, and then this uncle appears and gets a hug immediately? All her previous efforts felt like they were in vain!
Lu Xing had never hugged her that affectionately!
Liu Qingqing frowned with frustration.
Five seconds.
They had been hugging for a full five seconds!
A wave of gloom rose in her heart. Just as she was about to interrupt their sappy reunion, Lu Xing finally let go.
Gong Zhenbao glanced to the side and saw the young girl standing behind Lu Xing like a dutiful little wife.
But why did he get the feeling that this little girl wasn't very happy?
"Little Lu, is this your girlfriend?"
Gong Zhenbao naturally assumed as much, so he asked directly.
Instantly.
Gong Zhenbao watched as the girl’s expression transformed; her lips curved into a smile and she waved her hand, appearing both bright and sweetly innocent.
"No, Uncle. I'm Lu Xing's senior sister."
Oh...
Not a "friend," not a "classmate," but the specific term "senior sister" to define the relationship.
Gong Zhenbao flashed a knowing, "uncle-style" smile.
'So, it's in the 'ambiguous' stage.'
Lu Xing didn't deny it; after all, it was technically the truth.
"That's right, Uncle Gong. This is my senior sister."
Gong Zhenbao tsked internally.
'Yo, yo, yo, "my" senior sister?'
And you still say it's not the ambiguous stage?
Ah!
Youth!
Since the two young people seemed thin-skinned, Gong Zhenbao didn't press the issue.
Was he kidding? If he upset Lu Xing and the boy decided to go cooperate with the rival Haicheng Museum next door, what then?
Gong Zhenbao pointed toward the nearby gift shop with a wide grin.
"Prin—uh, Little Lu, your idea was truly brilliant. The wood carvings and engravings are selling incredibly well. Bloggers come to the shop every day to film, which has pushed our visitor traffic to a new record high."
Xiao Zhou nodded eagerly from the side.
"That's right, Teacher Lu. Even my brother saw the viral videos and wants me to buy one for him."
Liu Qingqing knew what Lu Xing had been working on, but seeing the crowd nearly bursting out of the gift shop still felt a bit like magic.
Lu Xing remained composed, simply saying with a smile:
"How can you say that? My creativity is just a branch of the tree. The museum's heritage and exhibits are the trunk. If the trunk isn't strong, the branches are just a final, fleeting burst of light."
"It's because you, Uncle Gong, and Brother Zhou have nurtured the trunk so carefully that the tree can grow strong. I'm just adding the finishing touches."
Holy f*ck!
Xiao Zhou was dumbfounded.
He included me too? This guy is giving me a masterclass in social skills!
Gong Zhenbao was taken aback, his mouth twitching into a smile he couldn't suppress. By the time he regained his composure, he realized he had been "CCed" by Lu Xing's charisma.
He had originally thought that since Lu Xing was young, he wouldn't be able to handle praise, so he had planned to use flattery to win him over.
But now...
Gong Zhenbao looked back at Xiao Zhou, who was still savoring the compliment, and completely dismissed that idea.
Comparing himself to this kid was truly infuriating.
The Lu Xing in front of him wasn't a greenhorn; he was a cunning little fox.
Realizing flattery was useless, Gong Zhenbao flexibly changed his strategy and began speaking to Lu Xing as an equal.
This was exactly what Lu Xing wanted.
A person's maturity cannot be measured by age; some forty-year-olds aren't as mature as a child.
Gong Zhenbao's initial flattery was, in a sense, a form of condescension, thinking a young person could be easily coaxed. It was a hidden arrogance common in adults.
It didn't mean Gong Zhenbao was a bad person; it was just human nature.
But Lu Xing had come here today specifically to dispel that notion. Only when everyone sits on equal ground can a partnership truly last.
Still, Lu Xing found Gong Zhenbao quite interesting. The man had no hidden malice; he was purely devoted to the museum and loved taking jabs at other institutions.
For instance, Gong Zhenbao was now leading them through the exhibits, stopping in front of a display case.
Looking at the exquisite craftsmanship inside, Liu Qingqing sighed.
"Now this is true artistry."
Looking at the same exhibits, Lu Xing sighed.
"How come my family didn't pass down the secret arts of Feng Shui and tomb-raiding?"
Liu Qingqing: ???
Gong Zhenbao: ???
You're saying this in a museum? Criminal! Truly criminal!
Gong Zhenbao snorted with mock pride.
"Don't look at that. It's a replica. The real one is in the capital."
Lu Xing noticed Gong Zhenbao was practically begging to be asked why, so he obligingly asked:
"Wow, how come it's in the capital?"
Liu Qingqing lowered her head to hide a laugh. Such exaggerated acting.
But since Gong Zhenbao had been given the opening he wanted, he replied grumpily:
"Some museums... I don't even want to name them. Simply shameless! Whenever they see a local museum has something good, they just say 'Hand it over!' They're basically the domestic version of the British Museum!"
Gong Zhenbao looked like he had been holding that grudge for a long time. Lu Xing found the rant quite amusing.
Suddenly, something soft and smooth poked his palm.
Lu Xing glanced back, but only his senior sister was standing there, so he didn't pay it much mind.
A second later, the same touch poked his palm again.
Lu Xing’s expression remained nonchalant as he continued chatting with Gong Zhenbao, but his hand tightened, grabbing the "little hooligan" who was harassing him.
Only then did he realize... it was the senior sister poking his palm with her fingertip.
Lu Xing turned his head slightly and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Liu Qingqing’s cheeks were slightly red. She said embarrassedly, "I need to go to the restroom."
"Want me to go with you?"
"No, no."
'Too close.'
Liu Qingqing’s hand was pressed against Lu Xing's shoulder.
"I'll go by myself. You keep chatting with Uncle Gong and Brother Zhou. I'll message you in a bit to find out where you are."
"Fine, message me if you need anything."
After bidding Uncle Gong a quick goodbye, Liu Qingqing turned and left.
About a minute later, she stopped.
She looked back and could no longer see Lu Xing.
Then, she turned to face the blonde girl with an arrogant expression standing in front of her.
Ever since they were at the display case, she had felt a gaze on her, intermittent, but persistent.
It wasn't malice, but it carried a subtle... hostility.
Because of that, Liu Qingqing had turned around and met the other girl's eyes.
The girl was very beautiful, a flamboyant, arrogant kind of beauty. She had directly gestured for Liu Qingqing to follow her.
And so, here they were.
Liu Qingqing didn't know this girl, but she had two guesses.
First: This beautiful girl knew Lu Xing.
Second: This beautiful girl was a psycho who liked picking fights with strangers.
Which possibility was more likely?
Liu Qingqing put on her softest, sweetest, and most harmless smile.
"Excuse me, who are you?"
"Xia Yeshuang."
...
...