Chapter 701 Show Sincerity
The housekeeper didn’t expect that Luo Jiachi would be that surprised.
During all these years in Harbor City, Luo Jiachi had seen quite a lot of good stuff. How valuable could the thing sent from Yuncheng’s Shao Family be?
n.o.body but the housekeeper who had served Luo Jiachi for decades knew what he liked and disliked.
He was just interested in calligraphy and painting.
And the calligraphy and painting in the family collected by him were his favorite. Those he couldn’t get had long been lost.
There couldn’t be calligraphy and painting in this small mahogany box, so it was strange for Luo Jiachi to be like that.
Mrs. Xu thought of these. She felt a bit worried when seeing the elder feel surprised, asking, “Lord?”
Luo Jiachi ignored her. He just took over the box with his shaking hands and took the sandalwood comb out of the box, goggling.
Seeing that the comb was engraved with a magnolia, Mrs. Xu immediately understood why Luo Jiachi’s behavior was abnormal.
“My lord, is this…”
“Yes, yes.” Luo Jiachi’s eyes misted over, and his mouth began to tremble involuntarily. He was excited and couldn’t conceal his sorrow, “This is the comb I gave to Minzhi years ago.”
The housekeeper frowned and was impressed by Miss Shao’s little trick.
The comb had been lingering in Luo Jiachi’s heart since his wife died as her dying wish was to find it. In the past 30 years, he had been going to antique auction houses and antique shops to look for their token of love that was p.a.w.ned when he was at the lowest point of his business.
But thirty years had pa.s.sed, he still didn’t find it.
Luo Jiachi was about to give up.
But just at this moment, someone from the Shao Family found it and gave it to him. How thoughtful they were.
“My lord, eh. Miss Shao is still waiting for you outside.” The housekeeper reminded him kindly.
Luo Jiachi had mixed feelings. He stroked the comb, felt excited, and recalled many memories of being with his wife.
“Go get her here.” The elder ordered.
He wanted to see what kind of girl she was.
Hearing that, Mrs. Xu nodded and went out at once.
Meanwhile, Shao Xue and Zang Linger were waiting in the living room.
Zang Linger took a sip of tea. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shao Xue was clenching her fists.
She smiled, consoling her, “Take it easy.”
Shao Xue pressed her lips, replying, “Did Mr. Luo also let you help him look for the comb?”
Since it was very important to the elder, he must have come to the Zang Family to look for it as the Zang Family was a place of previous and valuable antiques.
Zang Linger nodded and answered frankly, “Yes. He did come to look for it.”
“Then why didn’t you give it to him?”
Shao Xue was bewildered.
Zang Linger smiled, answering, “It was not good timing.”
Though Zang Linger put it simply, Shao Xue immediately understood.
Indeed, it was not good timing.
At that time, the Zang Family didn’t need Luo Jiachi’s help. Thus they didn’t have to give him the thing that could restrain him.
If they had given it to Luo Jiachi, its function would have been wasted.
Zang Linger didn’t continue explaining to Shao Xue.
But judging from Shao Xue’s countenance, she must have figured out the pros and cons.
Shao Xue exhaled a breath, replying, “I hope that Mr. Luo won’t be mad.”
If Mr. Luo knew that she used the token of love to make him approve of her marriage with Luo Xi, would he feel threatened?
Zang Linger smiled, replying, “No. And he will thank you.”
“I won’t expect him to thank me. I’ll be happy if he’s not mad at me.”
Shao Xue smiled.
Just at the moment, the housekeeper came downstairs, calling Shao Xue, “Miss Shao.”
Hearing that, Shao Xue looked up towards the sound.
The housekeeper appeared polite but cold. However, she seemed to be a lot kinder than just now.
The housekeeper added, “Miss Shao, Mr. Luo wants to see you.”
Shao Xue nodded, replying, “OK.”
Then she got up and followed Mrs. Xu upstairs.
Zang Linger also stood up, preparing to go along with Shao Xue.
But the housekeeper pondered for a moment and remembered that Luo Jiachi only wanted Shao Xue to see him, so she said politely, “Sorry, Miss Zang.”
Zang Linger halted.
Mrs. Xu said apologetically, “Please wait here for a moment.”
Zang Linger knew that the thing had almost been settled, and it would be fine even if she did not follow Shao Xue to see Luo Jiachi. Thus she sat back on the sofa, saying, “I’ll wait here.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.”
After that, Shao Xue followed Mrs. Xu to Luo Jiachi’s study.
The Luo Family’s villa was not inferior to the Shao Family’s. They were both wealthy families, and the decoration and furnis.h.i.+ngs of their villas were carefully selected and designed.
When they arrived at the door of Luo Jiachi’s study, Mrs. Xu halted and knocked on the door, saying, “My lord, Miss Shao has arrived.”
“Come on in.”
An old and commanding voice came from inside.
Shao Xue felt a bit nervous.
The housekeeper smiled at Shao Xue, saying, “You may enter now, Miss Shao.”
Mrs. Xu opened the door for Shao Xue.
The study was bright and large. Shao Xue could only see a coffee-cream carpet with exquisite patterns in the study.
She took a step ahead. Then the housekeeper closed the door sensibly, waiting outside.
When Shao Xue was walking side, she saw bookshelves full of various books on the walls of the study.
The bookshelves were high, and they almost reached the ceiling.
On the bookshelves, there were also many picture scrolls.
Luo Jiachi was sitting behind the desk, and there was a big shelf behind him, on which there were all kinds of original Franch and Englesh books.
Luo Jiachi raised his head as if he had heard Shao Xue’s footsteps.
It was the first time that Shao Xue had seen Luo Jiachi in person. She immediately greeted him, “h.e.l.lo, Mr. Luo.”
“Please have a seat.”
Luo Jiachi motioned her to sit opposite him.
After sitting down, Shao Xue saw that there was a book lying in front of Luo Jiachi. On its pages lay the sandalwood comb which was taken out from the mahogany box.
“Where did you get it?”
The elder directly asked her.
Shao Xue could not say that she got it from the Zang Family, and she couldn’t say that it was from the Shao Family, either.
Luo Jiachi didn’t approve Luo Xi of the marriage, and the reason he turned him down was that he didn’t want to a.s.sociate with the Shao Family.
Or maybe he hated the Shao Family.
Shao Xue hesitated. But after pondering it over again and again, Shao Xue still told the truth, “Yunxuan helped me find it.”
“Yunxuan?”
Luo Jiachi slightly frowned.
Shao Xue thought he didn’t know Song Yunxuan, so she explained, “Song Yunxuan from the Song Family in Yuncheng.”
Hearing that, Luo Jiachi remembered her, “You mean Song Yan’s youngest daughter?”
“Yes.”
Shao Xue nodded.
Luo Jiachi had heard of Song Yunxuan. After all, during the time Song Yunxuan was in Harbor City, she fought against the Huo Family for a long time. Just because of Song Yunxuan, the mother and daughter of the Huo Family lost their power and were ruined by the childe of the Luo Family.
Song Yunxuan played a crucial role in it.
“Miss Song is really forethoughtful.”
Hearing that, Shao Xue felt he was both praising and criticizing Song Yunxuan. Thus she didn’t comment on it.
But judging from his action, Shao Xue could see that neither did Luo Jiachi like Song Yunxuan nor detest her.
Shao Xue couldn’t see his preference.
Looking at the sandalwood comb, Luo Jiachi asked, “When did Luo Xi and you meet each other?”
Song Yunxuan had told Shao Xue how to answer the question before she left Yuncheng.
So, when Luo Jiachi asked about this, Shao Xue answered without any hitch, “At the school fete of the Harbor City two weeks ago.”
Luo Xi once told Song Yunxuan that he attended his old school’s centennial two weeks ago.
Luo Jiachi wanted his eldest grandson to go to the parties that were good for him. He didn’t want him to attend valueless parties held by playboys.
Therefore, Luo Jiachi was satisfied with Shao Xue’s answer.
“Luo Xi and you are not schoolmates, right?”
If there were schoolmates, they would get to know each other earlier, and it would be impossible for them to meet just two weeks ago.
Shao Xue nodded, “I’m a former student from Yuncheng Business College. I came to Harbor City as an exchange student. And just at that time, I heard about the school anniversary. Thus I came to Harbor City to have a look. Coincidentally, I met Luo Xi.”
Shao Xue didn’t say anything that happened later. But judging from her red face, Luo Jiachi understood what happened next.
Luo Jiachi nodded, saying, “It’s fate.”
Shao Xue acquiesced in it.
Luo Jiachi asked further, “I’ve heard that you are not Shao Tianze’s own younger sister.”
Hearing that, Shao Xue knew there was something that she couldn’t tell him.
In order to cover up his origin, Shao Tianze killed Shao Xue’s parents. Shao Xue naturally couldn’t bring that up. On the other hand, Luo Jiachi disliked Shao Tianze. She would make Luo Jiachi hate her if she said that she was very close to Shao Tianze even though they weren’t siblings.
It was really a trick question to answer.
Seeing that Shao Xue still did not answer him, Luo Jiachi didn’t push her. Instead, he changed the subject, “You won’t hurt Luo Xi after you marry him, will you?”
Hearing that, Shao Xue immediately replied, “Definitely not.”
Shao Xue answered quickly and firmly.
And she promised subconsciously, “I will absolutely not hurt Luo Xi after I marry him. You can rest a.s.sured.”
Shao Xue and Luo Xi were just going to take advantage of each other, so Shao Xue had never thought of hurting Luo Xi.
She even wanted to thank Luo Xi for sheltering her in such a critical moment.