After putting on pure white silk gloves, Yang Huixian placed the Precious Treasures of Tianlu Imperial Green necklace on a tray and gestured for Lin Chu to examine it himself.
Lin Chu, also wearing gloves, casually picked it up. It felt heavy and slightly cool to the touch. Away from the lights, its rich, verdant color was less brilliant, but it still exuded an understated luxury.
After turning it over in his hands a few tis, Lin Chu was instantly captivated.
’I’ve always had a thing for high-end, traditional Chinese luxury. This one was just pure beads, no fussy accessories. It could be worn by n or won.’
Of course, what Lin Chu valued most was its money-generating function.
’It was incredibly valuable.’
’If I give it away as a gift, even a twofold rebate would net 120 million.’
’If I play my cards right and get a tenfold rebate, that’s 620 million.’
’There’s the money for the plot of land right there.’
"Are you planning to wear it yourself? May I help you?"
Watching Lin Chu hold the beaded necklace up to his chest, Yang Huixian felt a pang of jealousy, as if she were being cheated on and her most beloved possession was being taken away. ’But this is business,’ she reminded herself, ’and he’s the custor.’ She quickly adjusted her attitude.
She even felt a faint sense of anticipation, waiting for a grand, romantic surprise.
"Sure."
"Go ahead, help put it on. I want to see how it looks."
She rose lightly onto her tiptoes, held the beaded necklace, and fastened it around Lin Chu’s neck. Standing so close, Lin Chu’s nose twitched as he caught a faint, feminine scent.
It was different from perfu—a mixture of milky sweetness, floral notes, and a hint of pheromones. Lin Chu felt his briefs tighten.
He looked in the mirror. It didn’t match his current outfit, but the effect was definitely there. ’Damn, this necklace is cool as hell.’
’A little effeminate, though.’
’But with a traditional Tang suit, it would be absolutely perfect.’
"Alright, I’m sold. This is the one. Let’s process the paynt."
Lin Chu said, getting straight to the point.
Yang Huixian pressed her lips together, her face faintly flushed as she looked up at him. Her gaze, however, was complicated.
She even felt her eyes begin to well up. It wasn’t for any particular reason; she just felt like crying.
Others might not understand, but as a jeweler, she had a deep emotional connection to her pieces.
In that mont, it felt strangely like watching her own daughter get married off.
Her conversation with the assistant in the car floated back into her mind, stirring a strange sense of anticipation.
...
On the computer, Lin Chu transferred the money via online banking.
After spending 62 million in one go, his account balance dropped to 54.62 million.
Lin Chu never bothered to keep track of the miscellaneous rebates from his daily spending on als and shopping. He only had a rough idea of his total wealth, and only during a major purchase like this did he see the exact figure.
This was the very definition of financial freedom—not having to count your money, knowing you could afford anything you wanted.
When Yang Huixian saw the notification that the funds had arrived, she let out a long, excited sigh of relief. With this sale, her cash flow for raw materials would be secure for at least six months, drastically improving her financial stability.
But... when her thoughts turned to her own hopes and she looked at Lin Chu again, she suddenly felt a subtle, nervous flutter.
’Will he give it to ?’
’Is he really going to give it to ?’
’This is the first ti we’ve t, right? Is this love at first sight?’
’I...’
’Is it too valuable?’
’If I accept, will he think I’m a gold digger?’
’But I’m so, so hopeful!’
Her mind raced with fantasies, throwing her into a state of frantic inner turmoil.
A few minutes later, however, her fantasy was utterly shattered. Her heart felt as if it had been instantly encased in concrete.
"Alright, that’s everything. Pleasure doing business with you. I’m heading out now, bye."
Lin Chu spoke briskly, without a hint of hesitation. He didn’t even ask for a box. Still wearing the necklace, he turned and headed downstairs without so much as a sip of tea.
Watching his retreating figure, Yang Huixian stood frozen in place, stunned.
’That’s it?’
’It’s over just like that?’
’Nothing else is going to happen?’
’You really just ca here to buy it?’
’And you’re leaving as soon as you’ve bought it?’
’You...’
"Mr... Mr. Lin, wait! Would you like to stay for a cup of tea?"
Snapping out of her daze, she hitched up her skirt and hurried after him, asking softly.
She just didn’t want him to leave so soon.
’Stay a little longer.’
’What if?’
Lin Chu glanced back at her and smiled. "No, thanks. It’s getting late, and I’m a bit tired. Was there sothing else?"
A flicker of awkwardness crossed her eyes, but she quickly recovered, smiling with a hint of playful coyness. "N-no, nothing. I just wanted to chat a little longer. Is that so wrong?"
"Well... I suppose I could."
"What? You gonna take clubbing?"
Lin Chu wasn’t tired of that running gag yet. He could keep it going.
Her: ...
She took a deep breath and clenched her jaw. "Maybe not clubbing, but how about we grab a couple of drinks and chat? I know a hidden gem, a little place that makes amazing cocktails and has a great atmosphere. It’s over in Overseas Chinese Town."
"Isn’t that near my place?"
"What, you buy so jewelry and they throw in the owner for free?"
Lin Chu joked, a half-smile playing on his lips.
She froze for a second, her face turning crimson. Then she laughed and playfully slapped his arm. "You’re awful! Stop teasing . Let’s go."
Her emotions were a tangled ss.
The scene she’d been hoping for hadn’t materialized.
Clearly, Lin Chu had no such intention whatsoever.
On the other hand, she was completely stunned by his wealth.
He was just too rich. Over sixty million, and he bought it without a second thought. What’s more, from the mont he walked in, the entire transaction had been incredibly fast, and he hadn’t even tried to haggle.
At the sa ti, she couldn’t help but feel reluctant to part with the Precious Treasures of Tianlu necklace. A strange feeling in her heart told her that her connection to it wasn’t severed, just facing a few twists and turns.
...
Downstairs, Yang Huixian didn’t even think about her own driver, instead getting directly into Lin Chu’s car and sitting beside him in the back seat.
Her gaze shifted nonchalantly back and forth between Lin Chu’s face and the Imperial Green necklace around his neck.
"What, still sad to see it go?"
Lin Chu asked with a smile.
She nodded softly and sighed. "Yes, I am. When I first acquired it, I even imagined wearing it on my wedding day. I thought it would be the mont I looked my most beautiful."
Lin Chu: ?
"Then how the hell are you going to get married if you’re so against blind dates?"
"Whoa, whoa, you’re breaking character. What happened to the tough-as-nails mob wife vibe? Where’d that energy go?"
Her: ...
She shot Lin Chu a dark, exasperated glare. "What kind of taste do you have? You actually like that type? Sheesh... that’s surprising. I guess you’re breaking character, too."
Lin Chu couldn’t help but laugh. He said nothing, just stared straight into her eyes.
It was a move that never failed.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She nonchalantly looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But seriously, what’s your story? Have you ever been in a relationship?"
"Let the blind date officially begin, Ms. Yang."
His playfully serious tone took her by surprise again. As she snapped back to reality, she thought, ’This man... this man!’
’He’s definitely not a one-relationship kind of guy. He’s a total flirt! An expert flirt!’
"Aha! You lied."
She imdiately pounced on the inconsistency.
"Answer my question first," Lin Chu said, his tone leaving no room for refusal. "Stop trying to change the subject."
She tucked her hair back again and sighed. "No... Ever since I was a kid—well, not a kid, more like since puberty—I’ve thought n were pretty disgusting. Not you, of course. Back then, my dad had just gotten rich and was always finding mistresses. My mother died young, and it had a lot to do with that. The stress he put her through basically killed her."
"Oh. Well, in that case, we’re not a good match."
"You’ve got so serious psychological scars. That’s so severe childhood trauma."
"Alright then, forget the drinks. Should I just take you ho?"
The thought crossed Lin Chu’s mind, and he said it bluntly.
Her: ?
She froze again.
"I do not!"
"I’m a grown woman now, how could I still have childhood trauma? For our generation, if a relationship doesn’t work out, you break up. If you can’t live together, you get a divorce. Isn’t that normal? Tis are different now. My mother was just being foolish."
she denied imdiately.
Lin Chu smiled noncommittally. Her acting was excellent, just like her performance at dinner—completely insincere.
...
...
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