Imperial Treasure
Chapter 203 - 152: Do You Have Such a Way to Return a Favor?

Chapter 203: Chapter 152: Do You Have Such a Way to Return a Favor?

Su Zihua gave a bitter smile, "With so many people around now, a mix of all sorts, how could we possibly retrieve a painting valued at thousands? Even if there are kindhearted people... the chances are still slim."

"Maybe, we can find it back, we have to at least try," Sui Yi said, preparing to leave.

"Eh, don’t bother, Sui Yi... It’s just an ordinary painting," Su Ziyi was afraid that the other party’s people were still watching.

Sui Yi turned to look at him and said slowly, "It’s a gift from a friend, not just ordinary. I’ll go take a look."

If it were someone else, they might think Sui Yi’s words had a deeper emotional meaning, but Su Ziyi understood.

Sui Yi was actually not easy to approach; her heart was too clear, too cold. Complex matters couldn’t fit in it, overly simple ones she wouldn’t take seriously, and just right ones could only ever be just right.

That one person who could break through everything, reaching the depths of her heart, might not have appeared yet, or if he had, he hadn’t managed to do so yet.

But even being slightly acknowledged by her meant she could treat someone with sincerity.

Sincerity, politeness, encompassing proper etiquette and balance, discreet and serene, content with simplicity.

Such a girl was truly rare these days...

Suddenly, Su Ziyi felt that having given up a painting he liked and used three years of pocket money to buy two paintings, one for his grandfather and one for Sui Yi...

It was all worth it.

Even if the painting might ultimately be lost,

Even if...

"Are you talking about this painting?"

A voice came from above, behind Sui Yi. She turned around and saw a young man standing amid the crowd, distinguished and standing tall like a young pine.

His blazer hung over his arm, wrapped around his waist, wearing a snow-white shirt and a peacock blue tie, his handsome face, appearing to be in his twenties, held a faint expression.

It was hard to discern his emotional state.

—His fingers hooked a slender bag strap.

He carried it with neither effort nor carelessness.

Sui Yi looked at him for a while, then took steps towards him.

"Mr. Yi"

Just a greeting and nothing more, true to his usual style of conserving words—towards him.

Yi Chilian looked at Sui Yi, handed over the bag. "See if it’s yours."

Scientifically speaking, any male seeing another male will have an instinct to defend his territory, especially if this other male is similar or superior to him—such crisis awareness might be even stronger.

Even Su Ziyi felt a bit of this crisis.

This Yi Chilian was like a deep, secluded Lotus Pond; you see the beautifully blooming lotuses on the surface but don’t know the deep, intertwined roots beneath.

He was dangerous.

Su Ziyi stepped forward, took the bag, glanced inside it, then turned to Yi Chilian with a smile, "Thank you, Teacher... But Sui Yi, do you know this gentleman?"

"Hmm..." Sui Yi didn’t say much, turned to Yi Chilian with thanks, "Thank you, Mr. Yi, for today."

"Thanks are just words, anyone can say them, and I have no interest in such cheap expressions of gratitude, and yet you seem to revel in them," Yi Chilian spoke with his usual incisiveness, unapologetically sharp.

Taken aback, Sui Yi then smiled, "Then, what would you like, Mr. Yi?"

What would you like? Yi Chilian looked at Sui Yi in her white shirt... His narrow eyes swept over her, seeming to see his own face.

"The fourth time," he remarked.

"Eh?"

Yi Chilian, looking relaxed but serious, coolly stated, "Compared to three life-saving favors, that just now was like a free dessert... but you’ve never even invited me for a meal."

Understanding, with a slight apology, Sui Yi said, "Then how about I treat Mr. Yi to a meal now, would that be okay?"

"Of course," Yi Chilian said nonchalantly, nodding his head while placing his blazer over his right arm...

Then, seeing Sui Yi turning to Ziyi, "Ziyi, you didn’t eat lunch either, and neither did I, shall we go together?"

"Sure," Ziyi smiled.

Yi Chilian: "...."

————————

The bizarre thank-you dinner thus began; Mr. Yi didn’t say a word throughout the whole meal.

Sui Yi wasn’t one to force conversation just to please others, accustomed to her freedom and laissez-faire attitude towards others, so...

Mr. Yi genuinely ended up not speaking at all.

Ziyi, on the other hand, ate with a smile on his face...

After the meal, as Sui Yi was about to get up to pay the bill, the waiter said it had already been taken care of...

The expressionless Yi Chilian got up, looked at Sui Yi: "You think settling your debt with a meal is enough? Am I just a food bin to you!"