The next day, after returning from his run, Cheng Xiyu saw breakfast laid out on the table: a plate of exquisite crystal shrimp dumplings, a steamer basket of Aunt Wang’s specialty xiaolongbao, sandwiches with ham and fried eggs, accompanied by plain congee and pickled vegetables.
Jiang Shu was not at the dining table. Cheng Xiyu leisurely went upstairs to look for her. Pushing open the study door, he saw Jiang Shu organizing her materials. She was so absorbed in her task that she didn’t notice Cheng Xiyu’s entrance. Only when he spoke did she suddenly look up.
“Starting work officially today?” Cheng Xiyu asked.
“Mm,” Jiang Shu replied, her hands still busy as she slipped the last few documents into a folder.
“I’ll have the driver take you over in a bit.” Cheng Xiyu moved closer from behind, bracing his hands on the desk and tilting his head to look at her.
The man was tall and broad, and this posture almost enveloped her in his embrace. Jiang Shu’s cheeks flushed uncontrollably. Flustered, she nodded, clutching the folder tightly in her hand—both delicate and obedient.
Cheng Xiyu’s gaze darkened as he watched her. He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, took a deep breath, and suppressed the desire stirring within him.
After breakfast, Jiang Shu went to Baili. She had been hired directly by the boss as a top graduate and was assigned to the appraisal department.
“Xiao Jiang, I heard you graduated from Nan University—you’re an alum of our young master! Do you have a boyfriend?” The deputy director, a woman in her forties, smiled warmly and enthusiastically.
Jiang Shu replied, “Mm.”
“Nan University graduates are impressive. Look how lovely you are! Come, this is your workstation, right next to Xiao Yu. You two are around the same age—you should have plenty to talk about.”
The deputy director handed Jiang Shu the key to the workstation safe. “This is for the small safe. Use it when you’re working with the instruments yourself, or to store any appraisal items you’re handling to prevent accidents.”
“Okay, thank you,” Jiang Shu said.
Though her face wore a polite smile, her tone was cool. Her eyes showed little emotion, carrying a hint of aloofness and detachment.
Yu Meng watched her with some hostility, saying nothing as she focused on her own work.
Jiang Shu was puzzled but didn’t seek out trouble. She wasn’t the type to enjoy chatting with others anyway, so Yu Meng’s coldness didn’t bother her much. If Yu Meng helped her once, she would find a way to return the favor.
Jiang Shu’s workstation was by the window. As soon as she sat down, she noticed a new text message on her phone.
Lin Miaomiao: Shu-shu jie~ Are you at work? Can you do me a favor?
[kitten rolling around emoji]
Jiang Shu smiled slightly, her lips curving upward. Just as she was about to reply, the stern and somewhat severe-looking department head strolled over. “New here?”
The appraisal department had always been under his control. He had brought his niece in with the hope of securing the young master, Bai Shuxi, as a son-in-law. Now, with Jiang Shu appearing as an obstacle, he was naturally displeased.
Upon seeing Jiang Shu’s appearance, he paused for a moment, then felt even more disdain. He had taken leave that day due to a family matter and missed the group dinner, so he didn’t know Jiang Shu had a boyfriend. He assumed she had bewitched Bai Shuxi to land a job at Baili. He had always looked down on recent graduates from academic backgrounds—inexperienced and overly delicate.
“Stop dawdling on your phone. Take your things and head to the testing room,” the supervisor urged. “A new batch of items just arrived today. The higher-ups are in a hurry—we need to issue the certificates by today.”
He was determined to see just how capable this college graduate, with nothing but a pretty face, really was. Hmph!
Jiang Shu did not argue and entered the inner room with several ordinary appraisers.
Each table was laden with jade and porcelain pieces of varying quality and color.
A colleague who had come in with her lamented tearfully, “So many! How late will we have to work today…”
“What can we do? They need the results today.”
“I think it’s not about the results—they want my life!”
While the supervisor was out, the group complained loudly.
Jiang Shu randomly chose a table, turned on the instruments, and began her examination. She had promised Lin Miaomiao they would have dinner together tonight, and to avoid standing her up, she needed to finish as quickly as possible.
The batch of items was generally of decent quality, though their colors varied significantly.
After a preliminary review, Jiang Shu categorized the jade by type and sorted out the counterfeit pieces mixed in with the porcelain to prevent substandard items from being passed off as genuine.
She numbered each appraised item, using instruments to measure their reflective points and dimensions. Gradually, the surrounding chatter quieted down, as if the others had gone for lunch.
Jiang Shu remained at her station, continuing her work. By the time everyone returned in the afternoon, only a few jade bracelets remained on her table. She finished labeling them and placed them in jewelry boxes.
When she looked up, her head felt slightly dizzy, and her eyes were sore and uncomfortable. Staring at these objects for so long had made the lighting seem glaring.
Outside the glass partition, the supervisor was giving a tour to Bai Shuxi and several executives.
Jiang Shu glanced over inadvertently and met his gaze. Bai Shuxi’s smile deepened slightly, and he signaled for her to check her phone—