Fake Antique Ceramics

 “Serena, you’re here?” Mrs. Hoodie was happy that she could finally meet Serena again. Then the expression on her face changed when she saw Daren. Yes, Mrs. Hoodie didn’t like Daren very much. “Why did you bring that useless guy?”

“Come on, Grandma. He is my husband, how could I not invite Daren to be with me on your birthday? Especially since we have prepared a gift for you, and Daren chose the gift himself.”

Mrs. Hoodie was silent, she looked at a sweet crystal ball in the box. Then Mrs. Hoodie smiled faintly.

“Is it true that Daren bought this?”

“That’s right, Grandma. I chose it, Serena gave me responsibility for it. Serena said Grandma suffers from insomnia, and this item is very helpful in getting a good night’s sleep. I hope that with this object next to grandma, then grandma can sleep soundly.”

“Thank you, maybe you can’t afford an expensive gift, but you have given me the most useful gift of all. Thank you very much again, Daren.”

Daren was beyond happy to hear this. He smiled broadly then his gaze fell on Serena.

“Daren, can you come out for a moment? There are several things I want to say to Grandma and they are confidential.”

“Grandma, happy birthday!”

And sure enough. Before Serena had time to say anything, Miles had arrived, carrying his antique ceramics.

“Look grandma, I have bought you antique ceramics, and these ceramics are worth a hundred million dollars!”

“Only a fool would believe that cheap ceramics were worth a hundred million dollars.” Daren muttered, loud enough to make Miles immediately glare at him.

“Okay, thank you very much, Miles. Can you guys go first? I want to have a private conversation with Serena.”

Daren and Miles finally came out. Both of them were still looking at each other with hostile eyes, as if they were reluctant to get along with each other at all.

Meanwhile inside, Serena took a deep breath. Finally, Miles wasn’t here and that made Serena’s heart immensely relieved.

“Tell me what you want to convey, Serena? It seems like you’re about to say something quite… important?” asked Mrs. Hoodie to her only granddaughter.

“Grandma, I want to discuss the antique ceramics from Miles, and I want to know whether it is true that the antique ceramics are fake or genuine. I know that Grandma knows best about this matter.”

 “What about the ceramics?” Mrs. Hoodie asked her granddaughter.

Serena was silent for a moment, then she glanced at the antique ceramics which were on her right side. “Can Grandma see and examine the antique ceramics? Maybe it’s not the antique ceramics that Miles said.”

“Why do you ask like that, Serena? Do you feel that you don’t trust your cousin?”

“No, I’m just curious. Where did Miles get the antique ceramics? Who is his acquaintance?” Serena asked.

Her grandmother smiled again, then she nodded her head. She got up from her seat and examined Miles’ ceramics.

“The smell of paint from this ceramic is quite strong, it seems like this ceramic has strange paint. Like … a dangerous paint.” Mrs. Hoodie spoke. “It looks like this antique ceramic is fake. You realize that, right? That’s why you asked me about these ceramics?” she continued.

Serena became excited when she heard that. How could she not, of course this was a really exciting thing. Serena can prove that Daren’s words were true, and for some reason Serena was happy with that. She didn’t  know how Daren found out about all this. But Daren being able to prove Miles’ lies was a very proud thing.

“Actually, the one who realised about this problem is Daren, Grandma. He was the first to tell me that the ceramics were fake and worth less than a hundred dollars, but Miles continued to be stubborn and said that the antique ceramics were worth a hundred million dollars. I don’t know whether Miles was lied to, or whether it was Miles who lied to his father. But at least Daren has spoken several times and confirmed that the ceramics were fake, and said that the paint on the ceramics could give Grandma a serious lung infection.”

“Then get rid of the fake ceramics and keep them away from me! I don’t want to get sick just because of that cheap thing!”

“Okay, Grandma. I will do it right away.”

“And…” Mrs. Hoodie trailed off, she looked at Serena with a serious expression on her face. “Is it true that Daren was the one who found out about all this?”

Serena nodded firmly then answered. “Yes, Grandma.”

“Then tell Daren to meet me now, I want to talk to him face to face.”

“Okay, Grandma.”

Serena left, then she saw Daren who was waiting for her in the living room.

“How is it, Serena?”

“You were told to come in.”

“What? I?” Daren asked, almost in disbelief. Daren even pointed at himself in disbelief.

“Is there another Daren here besides you, huh?”

Daren smiled then he nodded his head perfectly. Serena was right.

“Okay, I’ll be there.”

Serena nodded then she glanced at Miles who was passing in front of her. Serena immediately looked away from Miles.

Meanwhile, Daren knocked on the door of Mrs. Hoodie’s room, then he smiled stiffly.

“Grandma, did you call me?”

“Yes, I did. I wanted to talk to you about a few things. Sit down .…”

Daren then sat in a chair not far from Mrs. Hoodie.

“How do you know that the antique ceramics given to you by Miles are fake and the paint is very dangerous to me, Daren?”

Daren was silent for a moment, he started to think that maybe Serena was the one who said all this so that her grandmother knew.

“I saw and smelled it, Grandma. I have been in a paint factory. And I can distinguish the smell of expensive paint, the smell of paint from ancient times, and the smell of rotten paint with a high risk for health. Even from a distance, it can be clearly smelled that the paint is paint with quite high chemical content.”

“Then how can you tell if it’s fake antique ceramics?”