Chapter 239
Chapter 239:
Victor sounded genuinely pleased when he heard she was returning to work. “That’s good news. Take today to rest and report to the institute tomorrow p>
“Alright p>
After the call ended, Kristine lay back on the bed and felt a long-missed sense of comfort settle in. Peudon, after all, was the place where she truly belonged. She turned her head toward the window and studied the plane trees outside, their branches stripped bare — nothing like Gridron, where the trees stayed green all year and the seasons barely shifted. That contrast felt right to her. In the end, she still favored the north.
The following morning, Kristine arrived at the institute ahead of schedule. The moment her colleagues noticed her, excitement spread and they gathered around.
“Kristine, you’re back at last. When you have time, can you help me take a look at a painting p>
“Hey, that’s not fair. Kristine, come to me first. I really need your help p>
“Don’t forget about me p>
Seeing how animated and eager they all looked, Kristine found herself smiling along with them. “Alright. I’ll check in with Mr. Todd first, then I’ll come find you p>
“That works p>
Only then did the group finally step aside and let her pass.
Kristine made her way down the corridor toward Victor’s office. Before she even had a chance to knock, his voice sounded from inside. “Come in. I could hear them from a distance — I knew you must be back p>
𝘖𝘳ga𝘯𝘪𝗓𝘦 𝗒𝘰𝗎𝗿 𝗹i𝘣𝗿a𝗿𝘺 oո.соm
Kristine opened the door, and the moment she saw Victor, her eyes grew faintly moist. “Mr. Todd p>
“It’s good to have you back.” He looked at her with a warm smile. “I knew you’d return, so I kept this position open for you. Your father always wanted to truly make a name for himself in antique restoration. Now that you’ve carried on his work, he would be very proud if he knew p>
Kristine nodded with quiet sincerity. Restoring antiques had always mattered to her — especially because it had once been her father’s dream.
“Oh, right,” Victor added suddenly, as if something had just occurred to him, “you came back at exactly the right time.” Kristine looked at him with curiosity. “What’s this about p>
Victor let out a soft laugh. “My cousin recently launched a television program — I think it’s called something like Antique Matchup. It focuses on antiques, but not in the usual lecture style. The idea is to help people understand the history and culture behind these pieces in a more engaging way. Just having experts explain things feels too dry, so she turned it into a competition to draw in viewers. The problem is finding participants who actually understand antiques and can handle being on camera. She asked me to watch for suitable candidates. You’re knowledgeable about antiques, and you have the presence for it p>
Kristine caught his meaning right away, but still refused. “I’d rather not get involved p>
Victor waved it off. “Why turn this down? It’s a wonderful chance to promote cultural heritage. It’s decided — I’ll speak with my cousin p>