CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34: CHLOE PRESTON, I’M NOT HAPPY RIGHT NOW

After dinner, Chloe Preston drove alone to the jade shop.

Today, she wore a pure white, form-fitting qipao with intricate embroidery that accentuated her slender, graceful figure. Two white jade hairpins held up her thick, black hair, and her expression was both glamorous and cool. Her entire bearing was one of classical elegance—pure, dignified, and with a gentleness like flowing water.

The man had chosen it for her. At the time, he had carried her into the dressing room, stood her before the full-length mirror, and helped her put on each piece.

As soon as Chloe walked into the shop, the staff immediately came to greet her. "Chloe, you’re here!"

Chloe nodded, lightly turning a bracelet made of 108 imperial green jade beads in her hand. "Where’s Sir Sutton?" she asked.

"He’s inside," a staff member replied.

Chloe followed them in. In the room, a kind-faced old man was leaning back in a huanghuali wood chair, dozing with his eyes closed. Wisps of sandalwood smoke drifted from an incense burner on the table, creating a calm and serene atmosphere.

"Sir Sutton?" Chloe walked over and called to him softly.

Old Master Sutton immediately opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her. "Ah, you’re here..."

"Yes," Chloe said. "You mentioned on the phone that you had something urgent to discuss with me. What is it?"

With a head full of white hair, the old master slowly rose. He walked over, picked up a camphorwood box from the table, and handed it to her. "Chloe, I wanted to ask for your help in restoring an ancient painting. It was the first gift my father ever gave me, and I cherish it greatly."

He continued, "I remember you’re an expert in cultural relic restoration. You even helped me restore an original work by Yan Zhenqing before, which is why I sought you out."

Chloe opened the box, carefully unrolled the painting on the table, and studied it for a moment. "The damage is indeed quite severe, but I will do my best."

Old Master Sutton smiled warmly. "Excellent! As long as you can restore this painting, you can name your price!" He then asked, "By the way, are you still single?"

Chloe looked at him, her brow furrowed slightly. "Why do you suddenly ask?"

"I have a grandson who has yet to marry. I think very highly of you, and I’d like for you two to find some time to get to know each other!" the old master said. "My grandson is very handsome, smart, ambitious, and caring. He’d be a perfect match for you."

Chloe politely declined. "Sir Sutton, I do apologize, but I currently have no plans to date or get married."

Not expecting her refusal, Old Master Sutton leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "What girl doesn’t want to fall in love and get married? Tell me, is there already someone you like?"

As he spoke, an image of Donovan involuntarily flashed through Chloe’s mind. She lowered her gaze, a blush creeping onto her cheeks, and nodded. "Yes."

Hearing her answer, the old master leaned against the table and sighed heavily. "Alas, my grandson has no such luck. It seems you already belong to someone else!"

For the rest of the evening, Chloe remained in the room, restoring the ancient painting. From cleaning the scroll to separating its layers, every step required the utmost caution. The entire process was so intense that onlookers hardly dared to breathe.

Absorbed in her work, Chloe lost all track of time. Before she knew it, it was late at night.

「The Xavier Residence.」

Donovan Xavier returned from his company with a bouquet of white roses, feeling cheerful.

He went upstairs and opened the bedroom door. "Chloe, I bought you flowers."

Donovan entered and glanced around, but she was nowhere to be seen.

He then went to the study but couldn’t find her there either.

Next, he went downstairs and called for Housekeeper Wallace.

"Sir, what can I do for you?" Housekeeper Wallace asked.

"Where is she?" Donovan demanded.

Housekeeper Wallace shook her head. "I’m not sure. Miss Preston left this morning and hasn’t come back."

Hearing this, Donovan’s brow furrowed even more tightly. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the time.

It was nine o’clock. He had returned home despite being swamped at the office, so why wasn’t she back yet?

Without another thought, Donovan dialed her number.

"The number you have dialed is currently switched off. Please..."

Donovan tried calling two more times, but her phone was still off.

Where did she go? Could something have happened to her?

A knot of worry tightened in Donovan’s chest. The next second, he dialed another number.

The call connected instantly. Liam Keane’s lazy voice came through the line. "Mr. Xavier, what’s up?"

"You have three minutes," Donovan said. "I need you to check all the jade shops in Kryton."

Liam immediately grew frantic. "Mr. Xavier, three minutes isn’t enough! You might as well just kill me!"

"Then you have three and a half minutes," Donovan retorted.

Liam was left speechless.

"You’re a lifesaver, really," Liam said, his tone shifting. "I’ll get right on it for you. By the way, Mr. Xavier, there’s a ’Jade Street’ on Orrin Road. Most of the shops there sell jade..."

Before he could finish, Donovan hung up, walked out the door, and got directly into his car.

「On the road.」

He drove straight toward Orrin Road.

Twenty minutes later, the car reached its destination. Donovan got out and began searching each shop, one by one.

He entered one shop, where a woman immediately greeted him. "Sir, are you buying a bracelet for your wife? All my goods here are guaranteed authentic!"

Donovan shook his head, his brow heavy. "I’m looking for someone named Chloe Preston. Do you know her?"

The woman paused for a moment before her face lit up in recognition. "Oh, you’re looking for Chloe! She’s just up ahead. Let me take you there!"

Donovan nodded.

As they walked, the woman smiled, sizing him up. "Young man, you’re quite handsome. Are you and Chloe dating?"

Donovan simply smiled, not denying it.

Soon, they arrived at a storefront. The woman turned to him. "Here we are. This is Chloe’s shop. Her business on this street is incredibly successful."

"Alright, you can go in and find her," she said.

Donovan nodded and walked steadily inside. The interior featured classic Chinese decor, creating an ancient and charming atmosphere.

In the back room, Chloe stood at a table, still methodically restoring the ancient painting. When she was focused on something, she forgot everything else.

Donovan quietly walked in and stood behind her, his deep, dark eyes fixed on her.

A moment later, he cleared his throat softly.

Chloe heard it and immediately spun around.

"You... what are you doing here?!"

Donovan stepped forward, his hand closing around her waist as he leaned in to meet her gaze. "I should be asking you that. Why are you still here so late instead of coming home?"

Chloe pursed her lips lightly. "I... I was working."

Donovan’s face grew sullen, and he spoke with a hint of childish petulance. "So you’re choosing work over me? Is your work more important than I am?"

He walked over, glanced at the painting on the table, and scoffed. "You didn’t come home... for this piece of junk?"

"Chloe Preston, I’m jealous."

Hearing this, Chloe’s eyebrows lifted slightly. She walked over to him. "What did you just say?" She never imagined that the ever-proud man would one day openly admit to being jealous. "Are you really jealous of a painting?"

Donovan wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him. His eyes narrowed, and his deep, magnetic voice was utterly domineering. "Of course I am! You still haven’t come home, and your phone was unreachable. Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

"I almost thought something had happened to you!"

"Chloe Preston, if you ever come home this late again, or if I can’t reach you again, I’ll tie you up and lock you in The Xavier Residence!"

Chloe inhaled his faint, pleasant sandalwood scent and nodded. "Okay."

Donovan took two steps forward, pressing her firmly against a nearby bookshelf. He leaned down, his forehead resting against hers. "Chloe Preston, I’m very unhappy right now."

For a moment, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "So what should I do? I just lost track of time and didn’t get back. Why are you so angry?"

"Coax me," Donovan said.

"How do I do that?"

"Get on your tiptoes and kiss me."