Back to the present.
Lin Fan stood at the entrance of the antique market, taking a deep breath.
He had finally decided to co here again.
Because today sothing important was going to happen.
In one of the more reputable antique shops inside this market, the owner would sell a fake antique to an extrely wealthy old man for fifty million yen.
At the ti, no one would notice anything unusual. Because the owner’s counterfeiting skills are so amazing.
But a month later, during a major exhibition, the item would be exposed as a fake.
The news would spread across the internet like wildfire.
In his previous life, Lin Fan had spent that entire period holed up in his room, watching the news repeatedly.
He had analysed every detail.
Every step of the incident.
Even now, he still rembers parts of it clearly.
This ti, he wouldn’t miss the opportunity.
As long as he exposed the fake before the deal was completed, he could gain the rich man’s favour.
Perhaps even earn a substantial reward.
With that thought, Lin Fan’s eyes sharpened.
His earlier frustrations faded slightly.
Replacing them was determination.
This ti... He wouldn’t fail again.
***
By evening, the atmosphere in the city had shifted.
Outside Ankang Biotech, a sleek car slowly ca to a stop.
Chu Jing sat behind the wheel, her gaze fixed on the entrance of the company.
She had already done her research. The company had strong growth potential, and it seed Xiao Mu had secured a decent position for himself. Under normal circumstances, she would have been happy for him.
But a small part of her felt dissatisfied.
She had wanted him closer... entirely within her reach. Why couldn’t he just be a house husband?
Just as that thought crossed her mind, she spotted him.
A tall figure stood by the roadside, dressed in the suit she had personally chosen and sent to him earlier.
Her lips curled upward unconsciously.
’As expected of my taste... he looks perfect in it.’
A hint of smugness appeared in her eyes as she lightly honked the horn.
Xiao Mu—Leng Shuang in disguise—turned toward the car, showing a faint smile before walking over.
After getting into the passenger seat, "he" said with a gentle tone, "You look beautiful tonight, Sister Jing."
Chu Jing chuckled, clearly pleased. "And you look quite dashing yourself, Mr Handso."
She tilted her head slightly and added with a playful smile, "So? My fashion sense is good, right?"
"It is," Xiao Mu replied, scratching the back of "his" head in a slightly embarrassed manner. "But... isn’t it a bit too expensive?"
"I don’t think I’ve done anything to deserve this kind of treatnt from you."
Chu Jing glanced at him briefly. "Are you confused?"
He nodded.
Her smile softened, though a faint trace of sothing deeper flickered in her eyes. "I don’t need you to do anything for , Xiao Mu. I just want you to be yourself."
She paused for a mont before continuing more quietly, "You may not realise it, but you appeared in my life at my worst tis. If you hadn’t been there back then... I might have done sothing I couldn’t take back."
Xiao Mu showed an appropriately shocked and concerned expression.
"What do you an, Sister Jing?"
But inside, Leng Shuang’s thoughts were in complete disarray.
’What is she talking about?’
’That day, I just saw her crying on the street, said a few comforting words, and suggested going to a bar...’
’What kind of emotional storm was she going through to interpret that as life-saving support?’
Leng Shuang felt genuinely puzzled.
"Let’s not talk about it," Chu Jing said with a light shake of her head, regaining her usual composure as she started the car. "It’s all in the past."
Leng Shuang wanted to dig deeper out of pure curiosity, but Xiao Mu’s persona didn’t allow that. Pushing further would only seem insensitive.
’Wait...’
A thought suddenly struck her.
’With Xiao Mu’s personality, I should have prepared a return gift.’
’Damn it. I completely forgot.’
Trying to salvage the situation, she quickly opened her office bag and rummaged through it.
’There has to be sothing...’
Her fingers paused.
’This might work.’
She pulled out a simple yet elegant hairpin—the one the old woman had gifted her earlier.
’Sorry, Auntie. I’ll have to use this for now.’
Chu Jing glanced at her curiously. "What are you looking for, darling?"
Xiao Mu showed a slightly awkward smile. "I actually prepared a small gift for you a few days ago."
"Really?" Chu Jing’s eyes lit up instantly. She slowed the car and pulled over to the side. "Then show !"
"Well... compared to what you gave , it might not be worth much—"
Before he could finish, Chu Jing raised her hand impatiently. "Enough of that. Whether I like it or not is my decision. Now hurry up and give it to ."
Her tone carried a hint of impatience, but the excitent in her eyes was obvious.
"Fine," Xiao Mu said with a helpless smile. "But don’t look down on it later."
"I won’t. Now stop talking and give it to ."
She frowned slightly, though the expression only made her look more charming than intimidating.
Even Leng Shuang couldn’t help but admit inwardly—
’She really is... quite good-looking.’
The next mont, she froze.
’What am I even thinking?’
’This woman’s constant teasing is starting to ss with my head.’
A trace of unease appeared in her mind.
’I need to finish this mission quickly and get away from her.’
’The longer I stay, the more dangerous it feels.’
After steadying herself, Xiao Mu took a small breath and said, "You said it yourself... don’t regret it."
Then he placed the hairpin into Chu Jing’s hand.
The car fell silent.
Leng Shuang blinked.
’Why did she suddenly stop talking?’
She looked up to see her expression.
Chu Jing was staring at the hairpin in her hand, completely still.
Her fingers held it gently, almost reverently, as if it were sothing precious.
Her expression... was no longer playful.
It was quiet.
And for a mont, even Leng Shuang couldn’t understand what that reaction ant.
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