After helping Zhou Erbao bathe and wash up until well past midnight, Cen Sui’s mind was completely blank. She fell asleep with her eyes closing from exhaustion.
She slept so deeply that she did not dream at all. The next morning, she woke to the sound of her alarm, hurriedly washed up and got dressed, then greeted Tao Miner, who was still asleep, and left for school.
Her dormmate Ni Ni had brought her books for her. When she arrived at school, she did not return to the dorm but headed straight to the classroom.
She sat down beside her dormmate, not even having time to steady her breathing before the class bell rang.
Since she had not brought her exam prep materials, Cen Sui simply sat and listened attentively to the professional course.
During the break between classes, she received a message from Rong Mo asking her: 【When are you coming over?】
Cen Sui certainly remembered the part-time job at the antique shop and replied immediately: 【I have class in the morning. I’ll go over this afternoon.】
Rong Mo did not say much: 【Alright】
Rong Mo was not supervising her in the capacity of a boss. After all, business at his shop was never busy, and he could handle everything by himself.
Besides, Cen Sui was not taking a base salary. She mostly wanted a quiet place to read and study, so there was no need to regulate her working hours strictly.
After confirming that Cen Sui would be coming in the afternoon, Rong Mo went somewhere first.
He asked someone to make an extra set of keys for his shop and put them together with a simple keychain.
*
Because of Zhou Erbao, Cen Sui had been running around busily since the previous night, never stopping long enough to relax.
So after class she returned to the dormitory to rest for a bit, chatted leisurely with her dormmates, then ate lunch on campus before heading to the antique market.
After taking a taxi to Chenggu Road, she first went to the stall area to check whether the stall owner who sold her the porcelain shard was there.
Once again, she did not see that stall owner, so she headed straight to Rong Mo’s shop, Treasure Pavilion.
Today, the door of Treasure Pavilion was open. Stepping onto the stone steps, she entered and saw Rong Mo sitting behind the counter, his gaze fixed intently on his laptop. He looked as though he was busy with something important.
Not wanting to disturb him, Cen Sui greeted him briefly. “I’m here.”
Rong Mo lifted his head and glanced at her. His reply was just as simple. “Make yourself comfortable. I have something to take care of first. I’ll come find you once I’m done.”
Cen Sui nodded and did not say anything else. She found a seat on her own, took out her book, and began reading.
This time, she did not go into the back room where the elegant seating area was. Instead, she sat directly on one of the antique wooden pieces in the outer room.
A rosewood writing desk made of elm from the Qing dynasty sat there, and beside it was a huanghuali rose chair from the same era.
The items in Rong Mo’s shop were quite varied. Gold, stone, jade pieces, porcelain, paintings, calligraphy, miscellaneous curios, even wooden furniture—he had almost everything.
Among the wooden pieces, several were from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Because of the inherent nature of wood, which decays easily and is difficult to preserve, antique wooden furniture from earlier periods had almost never survived.
Cen Sui sat on the carved rose chair, breathing in the scent of sandalwood in the shop. Surrounded by antiques, she felt an inexplicable sense of having traveled back in time.
If not for occasionally looking up and seeing people in modern clothing passing by the doorway, she would genuinely have thought she was in ancient times.
The atmosphere and environment in Treasure Pavilion were exactly what Cen Sui wanted. She opened her book, and her heart quickly settled. She began reading seriously.
Once she focused, she forgot about time entirely. She did not know how long she had been reading when a set of keys suddenly entered her field of vision.
Cen Sui returned to her senses and looked up to see Rong Mo sitting down in front of her.
Rong Mo placed the keys on the book in front of her and said, “Work and rest should balance each other. Take a break. These are the shop keys.”
Cen Sui picked up the keys from the book and examined them carefully.
Her eyes were drawn even more to the three-legged golden toad pendant on the keychain. Its surface shimmered with a bright sheen, its feet stepping on a large gold ingot, making it look prosperous and regal.
After studying it in detail, she looked at Rong Mo and said, “This isn’t an antique.”
Rong Mo could tell she was teasing. He did not mind at all and even played along, looking at her with feigned curiosity. “Are there any bosses who give antiques to their employees?”
Cen Sui clearly looked like she liked it very much, yet she still asked on purpose, “If it’s not an antique, then is it real gold?”
Rong Mo was willing to accompany her in such idle chatter and replied in a matching tone, “Someone as poor as me can’t afford to give real gold.”
Of course, Cen Sui could tell that the main material of the golden toad was copper.
But judging from the shimmering surface, some gold and silver had likely been melted and fused onto the copper exterior, giving it a bright, golden gleam.
Holding the luxurious little golden toad between her fingers, she looked at Rong Mo again and said, “Crying poor, huh? Your shop may be small, but the things in here aren’t cheap. Sell just a few items and it would be enough for an ordinary family to live on for a lifetime, and you still want to fool me…”
Rong Mo smiled and did not continue the playful back-and-forth. He returned to his calm, steady demeanor and said, “I cast it myself. You should be able to tell what the material is. It’s not worth much. Just a small token. I hope you achieve success in your studies.”
Hearing this, Cen Sui felt delighted and followed along brightly, “And may great wealth and prosperity come too.”
The symbolism of a three-legged golden toad was mainly about attracting wealth and prosperity, bringing in endless fortune.
Of course, because of the phrase “achieving success in the Moon Palace,” it also carried the meaning of a bright future. Rong Mo had given it to her specifically because she was preparing for the postgraduate exam.
Cen Sui curled her fingers around the golden toad in her palm and finally became serious. Looking at Rong Mo, she said, “I really like this. Thank you, Boss!”
Boss Rong found that being called “Boss” was unexpectedly pleasing. It sounded especially comfortable to him.
But he did not put on any airs of a boss. Instead, he asked in a tone that seemed like he was seeking her opinion, “Do you want to rest a little longer? I can show you around the shop and familiarize you with the items. Since you’re here to work, you should at least look a little like you’re working, don’t you think?”
That was well said.
Cen Sui nodded in agreement. “Boss is right!”
Rong Mo familiarized her with the items in the shop mainly by introducing them one by one.
He explained the names and characteristics of each antique, then their era and origins. Some pieces required a long explanation, others only a short one, but every introduction ended with the current market price.
No matter how many stories or legends an item carried, the most important thing was still that it could be sold to make a living.
After explaining four or five pieces, Rong Mo stopped, worried she might not be able to absorb everything. He turned to her and asked, “Can you remember all that?”
Cen Sui flipped through the small booklet Rong Mo had prepared for her beforehand. “More or less. If I forget something, I can check again. I can tell the general quality and age of an item. The main thing is to remember the prices accurately, so I don’t accidentally undersell anything for you.”
Rong Mo had never expected her to actually help sell things. No one understood better than he did just how difficult antique business could be.
Since she was willing to listen and eager to learn, he continued explaining with the same seriousness.
He enjoyed talking about antiques, so he did not find it tiring at all.
Cen Sui followed by his side, listening just as attentively.
The objects on the shelves, originally lifeless, suddenly seemed to gain their own vitality after Rong Mo’s explanations.
Even the jade Buddha on the shelf appeared to shine with a different kind of radiance.
Cen Sui looked at the outline of Rong Mo’s profile. She listened while nodding, occasionally offering a few personal insights of her own.
But as she listened, her mind wandered for several minutes. Her gaze remained fixed on Rong Mo’s profile, yet her ears stopped processing the words he was saying.
Rong Mo noticed her spacing out and assumed she was tired of listening. He paused and looked at her. “Did I explain too much at once?”
Cen Sui snapped back to her senses, gathering her thoughts. Instead of answering his question, she abruptly asked, “Do you really not have a girlfriend?”
“???”
Rong Mo stared at her, then replied directly, “Do you want to pursue me?”
Hearing that, Cen Sui immediately shook her head so fast her hair nearly flew. “No.” He must not misunderstand.
She was simply curious. With Chen Yu’s looks and charisma, even if he acted like a complete playboy, there were still plenty of girls throwing themselves at him.
Someone like Rong Mo, with his deep and refined features, an otherworldly temperament, and a mature, steady personality—did he really not have a girlfriend?
Rong Mo’s eyes held a hint of inquiry. “Then why ask?”
Cen Sui smiled casually. “Just wanted to confirm again. If you had a girlfriend, I wouldn’t come here to work.”
So that was her logic?
“You’re afraid my girlfriend would get suspicious and jealous?”
Cen Sui nodded and deliberately said, “Of course. I’m this beautiful. Seeing each other every day, who would feel secure if they were the girlfriend?”
Rong Mo could not help letting out a laugh. “You really aren’t modest.”
Cen Sui gave him a look as if to say, Don’t be fake, then spoke with mock seriousness. “Boss, that’s called being pretentious. Those sayings about being beautiful but unaware are all lies. If someone is truly good-looking and has been complimented since childhood, praised everywhere they go, how could they possibly not know they’re pretty?”
Rong Mo smiled and did not argue with her on that point. He only said, “One last time. I do not have a girlfriend.”
Cen Sui believed him and exhaled lightly. “Good. Happy cooperation.”
Rong Mo ignored that remark. After looking at her for a moment, he suddenly asked, “What about you? You’re this beautiful. Do you have a boyfriend?”
Cen Sui lifted her shoulders in a shrug and answered neatly and without hesitation, “No. And I don’t want one. I still have a lot of other things to do. Dating is meaningless. It’s a complete waste of time.”
Rong Mo had not expected her to say something like that and found himself somewhat surprised.
After all, at her age, she should be yearning for and enjoying romance. How could she sound as though she had already seen through the world of love?
There had to be a reason behind it. But since it involved personal matters, he did not ask any further. He simply nodded, turned, and continued speaking. “Let’s go on. Next, a bronze mirror, a Tang dynasty mirror with phoenix and floral motifs…”