Chapter 172: Chapter 146: Is He That Strong? (Seeking Subscriptions)_3

Youyou picked her most satisfying selfie with him and sent it to Mingyue, and after a thought, she also snapped a photo of the Jade Spring Vase and sent it over: “This is the gift he gave me.”

“Wow, such a handsome couple, quite a match! And he even brought such a delicate gift, seems like your treasure really puts in the effort,” Mingyue teased.

“Sister Mingyue is making fun of me again,” Youyou replied with a smile in her eyes.

“He doesn’t come to Modu often, you’d better entertain him well, grasp your treasure tightly!” Mingyue replied.

“Don’t worry, who knows, maybe his next book will be adapted into a film and then he’ll come to Modu again,” Youyou responded with a smile.

“The next time he comes, will you still have him stay at a hotel?” Mingyue asked.

Youyou asked in confusion, “If not a hotel, where should he stay?”

“Why, at your place, of course.”

Mingyue’s shocking words made Youyou’s pretty face flush, and she quickly responded: “Mingyue, what nonsense are you spouting?”

“I’m not talking nonsense, look at your selfie, you’re slightly looking up at him with such tenderness in your eyes, about to spawn threads, I think you two have a shot,” Mingyue remarked with the tone of someone watching the drama unfold.

“That was all the photographer’s direction, today’s our first official meeting,” Youyou hurriedly made an excuse.

“A whole day since meeting, others have love at first sight,” Mingyue teased again.

“I should take a shower.”

Youyou ‘escaped’ swiftly, ending the conversation.

…

Under the night sky.

Inside ‘Ancient Moon’ private museum, the light was soft and warm, casting a glow upon each exhibit, from calligraphy and paintings to porcelain, and also the rare ancient books. Every piece was carefully selected and arranged.

Zhang Yixing stood in front of a newly hung painting, appreciating it from up close, occasionally letting out sighs of admiration.

“How about it, what do you think of my latest acquisition?”

Next to Zhang Yixing, a man around forty, dressed in a Chinese-style robe and wearing glasses, looked scholarly and amiable as he pointed at the painting and laughed. He was the owner of this private museum and a well-known antique collector in Modu, Hu Shu.

“I’m not that expert, but I can still feel the zen-like aura exuding from this ink-washed landscape, nurtures the soul,” Zhang Yixing laughed heartily and gave it high praise.

“Chief Editor Zhang has an eye for quality,” Hu Shu replied with a pleased smile.

“Mr. Hu flatters me,” Zhang Yixing laughed awkwardly, knowing his own level. Then he added, “Mr. Hu, I have here a Douli Bowl, would you be interested in taking a look?”

With a slightly raised eyebrow, Hu Shu responded eagerly: “Of course, I’m interested.”

Appraising antiques is one of the joys of collectors, a process that serves as a dialogue with history and a reading of the stories behind the antiques.

Zhang Yixing took a brocaded box from the side, walked to the table, and said with a smile: “Please.”

Hu Shu glanced at Zhang Yixing and then slowly opened the brocaded box. Inside rested a ‘Qing Kangxi Five-colored Fish and Algae Pattern Douli Bowl’, its glaze shimmering with light, the colorful fish seeming to swim amongst the algae, the rim and body of the bowl exquisitely crafted, showing signs of age.

This took Hu Shu by surprise: “You’ve got yourself a genuine ‘Qing Kangxi Five-colored Fish and Algae Pattern Douli Bowl’, and it’s extremely well-preserved too.”

Zhang Yixing didn’t play coy, laughing: “Mr. Hu, actually this Douli Bowl was replicated by a friend of mine.”

“Replicated?”

Hu Shu furrowed his brow while looking at the Douli Bowl, his face brimming with surprise, “Did I make a mistake today?”

Zhang Yixing gently picked up the Douli Bowl and pointed at the marking on the bottom, laughing: “Mr. Hu, take a look.”

Hu Shu pushed up his glasses, took the Douli Bowl, and saw the replication marking. He didn’t put down the bowl immediately but continued to scrutinize it carefully in the light.

After a while, Hu Shu finally exclaimed: “This is as valuable as gold.”

Zhang Yixing was taken aback upon hearing this: “Mr. Hu, this Douli Bowl is replicated, and no matter how well done, its value is limited.”

However, Hu Shu disagreed, his eyes still fixed on the Douli Bowl, and he shook his head with a smile: “This particular Douli Bowl might be limited in value, but knowing the person who replicated it is in itself worth a fortune!”

Zhang Yixing frowned and asked: “What do you mean by that, Mr. Hu?”

Hu Shu’s gaze remained on the ‘Qing Kangxi Five-colored Fish and Algae Pattern Douli Bowl’, his face full of admiration as he sighed:

“The way he replicated this Douli Bowl, put in front of any master proficient in porcelain, visually, they can’t tell it’s forged. This alone proves his profound expertise in porcelain. Such a person could rightfully be called a master in the antiques world. It’s a work that only a true master could replicate!”

“Ah?”

Zhang Yixing’s mouth hung open, utterly astonished.

When he had acquired the Douli Bowl, he knew Lin Chuan’s replication skills were exceptional, but he hadn’t expected it to receive such high praise from Hu Shu.

Lin Chuan was a true master in the antiques world? That strong?

Reluctantly placing the Douli Bowl back into the brocaded box, Hu Shu turned to Zhang Yixing with a smile: “Chief Editor Zhang, I’d appreciate if you could introduce this master to me.”

Zhang Yixing smiled: “To be frank, Mr. Hu, the master you are talking about is just a young man in his mid-twenties.”

“Oh? A young man in his mid-twenties?”

Hu Shu’s eyes lit up, he said eagerly, “In that case, Chief Editor Zhang, you must introduce me.”

“To introduce…”

Zhang Yixing pondered briefly, recalling the schedule Youyou mentioned for tomorrow, and then said, “He will be attending the collectors’ event in Modu tomorrow afternoon at five to witness the repatriation of artifacts from abroad. We can meet there.”

“Great, great, great!”

Hu Shu immediately showed a smiling face, “Then tomorrow, I will meet this young master at the event, haha…”