Special Expert of Beauty CEO

Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Su Xuejiao’s Birthday Gift

”Thank you, thank you. As long as you all are healthy and safe, that’s my greatest joy, hehe...”

On his birthday, Murong Bei was brimming with vitality, leaning on his cane and wearing a wide smile.

The four of them sat down in the living room, and Murong Fei went out to the car trunk to fetch a beautifully wrapped box, saying, ”Grandpa, I know you like antique paintings, so here is an original Zheng Banqiao. It took me a long time to find it, and I hope you like it.”

As she spoke, Murong Fei, with the help of a servant, opened the box and slowly unfolded the painting in front of Murong Bei.

Zheng Banqiao was a famous painter in the Qing Dynasty. In his lifetime, he only painted orchids, bamboo, and rocks and was one of the famed ”Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou.” In modern times, his originals are very valuable.

Murong Bei was particularly fond of collecting paintings. Looking at the bold and powerful bamboo depicted, with Zheng Banqiao’s seal upon it, he realized it was one of Zheng Banqiao’s representative works, the ”Ink Bamboo Painting”!

”Hehe, the ’Ink Bamboo Painting’?”

Upon seeing the painting, Murong Bei’s eyes visibly lit up, and he turned to Murong Fei, asking, ”Fei’er, wasn’t the ’Ink Bamboo Painting’ already in someone’s collection? How did you get it?”

Murong Fei smiled faintly, ”Grandpa, don’t worry about it. What matters is that I got it. I’m glad you like it.”

”Like it, like it. I like it very much.”

Murong Bei carefully examined the authenticity of the ”Ink Bamboo Painting,” even taking out a magnifying glass to appreciate it in detail, looking every bit the art enthusiast.

”Ah, Grandpa is really an old antique. What age are we living in, and he’s still like this...” The young Su Xuejiao couldn’t understand these things and chuckled dismissively.

After observing carefully for several minutes, Murong Bei finally had someone put the painting away and said with a smile, ”Fei’er, this painting must have been costly. You didn’t need to buy anything like this. Having you here to share a meal with me would be enough.”

”It happened to be available, so I bought it,” Murong Fei said calmly.

”Hmph, Grandpa, my sister bought you such an expensive gift for your birthday, and I don’t have as much money as her. I can’t afford to give you something so valuable,” Su Xuejiao stepped forward to say, but she was speaking the truth. Murong Fei was the CEO of their corporation, whereas she was a student and certainly couldn’t compare.

”Xuejiao, you are still young, in school. After you’re finished with your studies, it won’t be too late to give Grandpa gifts,” Murong Bei said with a smile.

”I have prepared a gift already, Grandpa. Won’t you think my gift is very LOW?” Su Xuejiao said.

”Ah?”

Murong Bei was taken aback, not quite catching the last word Su Xuejiao used.

Murong Fei explained, ”That’s the trendy language these young people use. They like to mix Chinese and English, trying to show they are sophisticated.” She too laughed.

Murong Bei looked at Su Xuejiao, who pouted curiously, ”My Xuejiao has a gift for me too? Hehe, what is it? Whatever it is, Grandpa will certainly be happy.”

Seeing Murong Bei’s teasing, Su Xuejiao hesitated for a moment, then pulled something out of her tote bag amidst everyone’s gaze, holding out a piece of paper.

”This is my birthday gift to you, Grandpa. Please don’t disdain it,” Su Xuejiao said as she handed the piece of paper to Murong Bei.

Qin Tian was bewildered on the sidelines. A piece of paper for a birthday gift?

There were words written on the paper—it was neither a cheque nor a painting. It looked odd, and Qin Tian couldn’t guess what it was. Could it be just a simple birthday wish?

Not only was Qin Tian astonished, but even Murong Fei’s usually calm face showed a look of surprise. What was Su Xuejiao doing, giving a piece of paper as a birthday gift?

Murong Bei looked at the paper with a curious expression, slowly bringing it closer to his eyes. As soon as he saw it, his gaze froze.

”Grandpa, with that expression, do you dislike my birthday gift?” Su Xuejiao had been watching Murong Bei’s expression intently, and when she saw that look on his face, she immediately pouted.

Murong Fei and Qin Tian, both curious, stepped forward, wanting to see clearly what Su Xuejiao had actually given as a gift.

Before the two could get a clear look, Murong Bei burst out laughing, ”Hahaha, good, good, this birthday gift is wonderful! It’s even more sincere than your sister’s!”

Suddenly, Murong Bei laughed heartily.

Murong Fei and Qin Tian, standing beside him, were dumbfounded. A piece of paper had made Murong Bei laugh so openly?

Murong Fei, curious, took the paper from Murong Bei’s hand, and upon closer inspection, she too was stunned.

Qin Tian glanced from the side. The paper wasn’t ordinary, it was an exam paper!

The exam was a math test, a midterm, with a total score of 150 points, and Su Xuejiao scored 122!

So, this was the young lady’s birthday gift?!

Qin Tian was astounded. The young lady had really come up with something, using this as a birthday gift, I’m impressed!

However, Qin Tian saw the expressions on the faces of Murong Fei and Murong Bei, both filled with satisfied smiles. It seemed that Su Xuejiao’s birthday gift had pleased not only the birthday boy Murong Bei but also Murong Fei.

At this moment, seeing the expressions on Murong Fei and Murong Bei’s faces, Su Xuejiao felt even more triumphant.

”122 points, Xuejiao, you didn’t cheat on your midterm exam, did you?” Murong Fei paused for a moment, then asked Su Xuejiao.

”Sister... am I that kind of person?”

Hearing Murong Fei’s words, Su Xuejiao immediately glared at Murong Fei in annoyance, ”Whatever I score, that’s what I score. I have never had the habit of cheating. Moreover, this is a birthday gift for grandpa. If it isn’t the score that I earned myself, how can it show my sincerity?”

Murong Fei nodded and stopped talking.

Su Xuejiao indeed was someone who wouldn’t cheat—even if she scored low, she wasn’t afraid of losing face. She disdained such dishonest shortcuts.

Yet, Su Xuejiao’s math scores had always hovered around the 90s before, so how did it suddenly jump to 122?

Murong Fei, who had watched Su Xuejiao grow up, was puzzled and asked, ”Xuejiao, how did you score so high this time? Your math...”

”Sister, times have changed. It’s just that I didn’t want to study before, but now,” Su Xuejiao glanced at Qin Tian, her face slightly red, ”now I’ve had an epiphany. I’ve decided I want to study. What’s so hard about studying? I just found a male classmate who has a crush on me to tutor me every day, and my grades improved within a few days. I’m incredible, right? Hehe.”

Su Xuejiao’s words left both Murong Bei and Murong Fei tongue-tied, while Qin Tian was also taken aback.

Indeed, she was a masterstroke. Find a male classmate who has a crush on her to tutor her—he’d certainly do his best and even waive the tutoring fee. Brilliant!

Qin Tian internally gave Su Xuejiao a thumbs-up. This girl was so shrewd.

”Mhm mhm, not bad, Xuejiao. Out of all the birthday gifts you’ve given grandpa, this one is his favorite, hehe, grandpa is going to keep this test paper as a keepsake!”

Murong Bei said laughing, carefully putting away the test paper, looking very pleased.