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Gu Jiuque's expression remained indifferent. "Since Boss Zhou has already made the arrangements, why not transfer the fifteen million in payment for my grandfather and me into Antique Appreciation Studio's account first?"

Zhou Mu froze again at that. He stared blankly at Gu Jiuque for a long while before reacting.

Old Master Gu frowned as well, looking at his grandson with some disapproval. "Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Gu Jiuque spoke as if it were nothing. "It was part of the agreement to begin with. Sign the contract first, then transfer the money. Once the payment arrives, Grandfather and I will set off immediately."

Zhou Mu's brows drew tightly together. His mood was far from pleasant now. "But hadn't we agreed that I would pay after the job was done—"

"Boss Zhou needn't worry. Antique Appreciation Studio and the Gu Family Mansion are right here. Could my grandfather and I really run off over a mere fifteen million?" Gu Jiuque gave a faint, almost mocking smile and looked at Zhou Mu. "You say you came because of our reputation, Boss Zhou, but I've never even heard your name before. You want my grandfather and me to travel thousands of miles abroad with you..."

Zhou Mu's expression did not change, but the warm smile in his eyes vanished as he looked at Gu Jiuque. "Young Master Gu, are you worried that I'm a fraud?"

"If that's how Boss Zhou sees it, there's nothing I can do." A hint of amusement flickered through Gu Jiuque's exquisitely painted features as he said casually, "I'm willing to believe in Boss Zhou's sincerity. But my grandfather is advanced in years, and this is my first time traveling abroad on business. We won't know anyone there. I'm also worried that once the job is done, we might not be able to find Boss Zhou."

The implication was obvious: he did not quite believe Zhou Mu could truly produce fifteen million in payment.

Realization dawned on Zhou Mu. He understood that his offhand remark about booking business-class tickets for the Gu grandfather and grandson had aroused Gu Jiuque's suspicion and made him question Zhou Mu's financial resources. It was only natural. How could a client capable of offering fifteen million to hire an appraiser be stingy over the cost of chartering a plane for the trip?

Zhou Mu had only been thinking of drawing Gu Eight Blades into the trap as quickly as possible. He had devoted all his attention to persuading Old Master Gu and had not considered the matter of a chartered plane at all. In his previous life, when disaster struck the Gu family, Old Master Gu had been frantic to raise money and had no time to scrutinize such trivial details.

Only Gu Jiuque, knowing that Zhou Mu and the people behind him harbored malicious intentions, naturally saw flaws in every one of Zhou Mu's words. Bringing them up now was also meant to help Zhou Mu better patch up his scam.

—As for taking his enemy's money and enjoying it, Gu Jiuque had not really thought that way. He was merely using his enemy's money to handle his enemy's affairs. How could helping them be called taking advantage of them?

Zhou Mu never imagined that from the moment he had arrived at the Gu Residence, all his secrets had already been laid bare before Gu Jiuque. After all, he had no apparent connection whatsoever to the boss behind the scenes. Even if Gu Jiuque were suspicious and overly cautious, he could not possibly have thought that far ahead.

So after hearing Gu Jiuque's words, Zhou Mu merely reflected that the young master of Antique Appreciation Studio was not only handsome but also exceptionally meticulous. He had actually spun so many thoughts from just two plane tickets, needlessly placing so many obstacles in Zhou Mu's path.

At that thought, Zhou Mu could not help regretting it. One wrong step led to another. Now Gu Jiuque insisted that he transfer the fifteen million payment into Antique Appreciation Studio's account first. But such a large sum was not something Zhou Mu could decide on his own.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Mu could only force himself to say, "The work hasn't even been done, yet you want me to pay first. Is that how Antique Appreciation Studio does business?"

Old Master Gu also knew that Gu Jiuque's demand was somewhat unreasonable. But he had not wanted to go abroad in the first place, and he had always indulged his grandson. At that, he smiled. "Please forgive him, Boss Zhou. He's young and inexperienced, always acting on whatever thought comes to him. Please don't take offense."

Zhou Mu smiled. "You're right, sir—"

Before he could finish, Old Master Gu continued, "As you just heard, something happened at home, and we're busy rebuilding the west wing. We didn't have time to travel to begin with. In that case, perhaps we can work together another time. If you urgently need an appraiser, I can introduce someone else to you."

Zhou Mu's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately forced a smile. "I still trust your character and discerning eye more, Old Master. How about this? Let me go back and think it over carefully. Would that be all right?"

Old Master Gu felt somewhat awkward as well. He knew Gu Jiuque's request was improper—who asked for payment before doing the work? But Gu Jiuque was his own grandson, and he had always acted with reason and justification. Though Old Master Gu did not know what madness had seized him this time, he knew Gu Jiuque must have his reasons. He did not ask, but he still took Gu Jiuque's side. "...Then think it over carefully."

Seeing Old Master Gu serve tea to signal the end of the visit, Zhou Mu could only leave in frustration. The moment he returned to the hotel, he impatiently made a call and truthfully reported Gu Jiuque's attitude and demands to the other party.

After a long silence, a low voice from the other end of the line said slowly, "...Fifteen million for the Gu family's reputation built over centuries. It's a worthwhile deal."

Chapter 21

"What exactly are you thinking?" After seeing Zhou Mu off, Old Master Gu frowned at Gu Jiuque. "Making the client pay before we do the work isn't in keeping with Antique Appreciation Studio's rules."

"I just wanted to test Boss Zhou's sincerity." Gu Jiuque idly played with the business card Zhou Mu had left behind.

In his previous life, it had been this Boss Zhou who approached Old Master Gu after the fire at the Gu Residence, when members of the Gu family had either died or been seriously injured. Taking advantage of Old Master Gu's panic and lack of energy to think things through, he had destroyed the Gu family's centuries-old reputation in just a few days, leaving Old Master Gu unable to defend himself before he died in despair.

It had been an incredibly profitable deal. So not long after Old Master Gu's death, Zhou Mu's internet company received an investment of over one hundred million. He used the money to take the company public, then rode the wave of the internet boom for several flourishing years.

Gu Jiuque had traced the matter back to Zhou Mu's internet company while investigating the truth behind Old Master Gu's misjudgment. Zhou Mu was shortsighted and arrogant, with little patience and crude methods. After tasting success from framing Old Master Gu, he had continued doing plenty of that sort of business after his company went public.