Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 816: Chapter 812: Returnee from Overseas

Originally, Huo Sining planned to spend two days in Zhouzhuang, but because of Zhou Shitao’s phone call last night, she had to leave early. After driving back to S City, she hurriedly packed her things and headed to Taicheng.

Before boarding the plane, Huo Sining called the number Zhou Shitao had given her for the Taicheng Museum. To her surprise, the person on the other end was the museum director, whose surname was Bai.

After Huo Sining explained her purpose, the other party’s initially indifferent tone immediately took a sharp turn. The director became extremely enthusiastic and immediately offered to arrange someone to meet her at the airport. He asked Huo Sining to contact the museum staff as soon as she disembarked.

After getting off the plane, Huo Sining followed the crowd toward the exit while dialing the museum’s number. To her surprise, just as she made the call, she spotted two people standing at the exit. One of them, a middle-aged man in his forties wearing a police uniform, was waving at her. While waving, the man shouted, ”Miss Huo, over here!”

This middle-aged man was none other than Captain Wu, who had previously driven to the Imperial Capital to pick up Huo Sining and Ji Kun for an inspection of the Taicheng Ancient Tomb.

Huo Sining approached him with a smile. Standing next to Captain Wu was a young man in his twenties, stretching his neck and looking around. Upon hearing Captain Wu call out, the young man immediately turned around. When he saw Huo Sining approaching, he widened his eyes in astonishment.

”Captain Wu, long time no see,” Huo Sining said with a smile as she approached and greeted Captain Wu.

Her eyes fell on the young man. Smiling, she asked, ”Hello, are you the Qiao Receptionist that Director Bai mentioned? I’m Huo Sining.” With that, Huo Sining extended her right hand.

The man shook hands with Huo Sining. ”I’m Qiao Zhenhuan. I didn’t expect Miss Huo to be so young.”

Captain Wu laughed twice upon hearing Qiao Zhenhuan’s words. ”That’s right. When I first met Miss Huo in the Imperial Capital, my expression was exactly the same as yours, Zhenhuan. I never expected her to be so young. I thought she was Professor Ji Kun’s student or assistant. Truly, heroes come from the youth!”

Qiao Zhenhuan smiled faintly, but his gaze toward Huo Sining was full of scrutiny and distrust. ”I heard that Miss Huo is Elder Master Zhou Shitao’s closed-door disciple. At the Taicheng Ancient Tomb, it was Miss Huo who discovered the Yue Kiln Secret-Color Porcelain Teacup?”

That question carried a significant undertone, especially since Qiao Zhenhuan was staring directly at Huo Sining with disdain in his eyes, and his face even carried a hint of provocation, as if he was not convinced by Huo Sining.

This was Huo Sining’s first meeting with Qiao Zhenhuan, and she did not expect such hostility from him. This made Huo Sining somewhat displeased, wondering what the Taicheng Museum meant by sending someone like him to pick her up.

Captain Wu, being a shrewd person, saw that Huo Sining’s eyes flashed with displeasure after Qiao Zhenhuan asked that question and the atmosphere tensed up. He quickly tried to ease the situation:

”As unlikely as it may seem, the secret-color porcelain was mixed in with six perfectly identical counterfeits. If it weren’t for Miss Huo’s keen eyes, it would have been taken away by artifact smugglers. Miss Huo’s appraisal skills are seasoned and sharp, so much so that several professors present at the time were full of praise.”

Qiao Zhenhuan scoffed inwardly upon hearing Captain Wu’s words, looking at Huo Sining with even more contempt.

Qiao Zhenhuan had participated in archaeological work before. Typically, professors took students out to give them the experience and build their résumés, but if there were any significant issues like artifact theft, students would never be allowed to intervene.

Captain Wu’s words made Qiao Zhenhuan even more convinced that there was something fishy about the discovery of the Yue Kiln Secret-Color Porcelain. Otherwise, how could such an important artifact be handled by someone as young as Huo Sining? He suspected that she might have made some deal with a professor, taking credit for the discovery to boost her own status.

Qiao Zhenhuan despised those who had unearned reputations. Upon seeing Huo Sining, he preconceived that she was too young to have such keen skills, thus treating her with disdain.

Huo Sining felt it was very strange. Taking advantage of Qiao Zhenhuan’s inattention, she tugged at Captain Wu’s sleeve and whispered, ”Who is this guy? Why is he so angry? I don’t think I’ve offended him, right?”

Captain Wu smiled wryly, lowered his voice, and explained to Huo Sining in a tone only she could hear: ”He’s Director Bai’s nephew, just returned from studying abroad in the United Kingdom. He’s working at the museum with Director Bai now. Apparently, he studied antique appraisal abroad. You know, he’s an overseas returnee!”

Upon hearing this, Huo Sining’s eyes flashed with understanding.

She had encountered people who pulled strings to get jobs before, but Qiao Zhenhuan was taking advantage of his uncle’s connections to work at the Taicheng Museum and yet looked down on Huo Sining. This was like a prostitute erecting a memorial arch, hypocritical to the extreme.

Huo Sining smiled faintly. She didn’t take him to heart; she was here to appraise antiques, and there was no need to make enemies over such trivial matters.

”Captain Wu, Mr. Qiao, I came here immediately after my master’s call. Please lead the way; I plan to head back to S City tonight after showing Director Bai the items,” Huo Sining smiled as she explained to Captain Wu.

”You’re in such a hurry? Won’t you stay for a few days? Besides the ancient tombs, there are plenty of tourist spots to explore in Taicheng. I even took a day off from the bureau to show you around after you’re done at the museum,” Captain Wu said in surprise.

Huo Sining smiled and said, ”I’m afraid I don’t have much time because school starts tomorrow, so I’m pressed for time. I was vacationing in Zhouzhuang, but after receiving my master’s call last night, I hurried back from Zhouzhuang today. Next time, if there’s an opportunity, I’ll definitely ask you to be my tour guide!”

Captain Wu had a favorable impression of Huo Sining. She was straightforward and efficient. He liked this young woman for her practical approach to things.

However, Qiao Zhenhuan had a very poor first impression of Huo Sining. The Yue Kiln Secret-Color Porcelain Bowl was currently in the museum, and he had seen it. He couldn’t see any issues with the piece at all.

Not only could he not identify any issues, but several other antique ceramic experts from Taicheng had also examined it and found nothing wrong.

With so many experts unable to determine its authenticity, Qiao Zhenhuan found it hard to believe that a girl under twenty, still in university, could accurately verify the porcelain bowl.