“…”
Li Xiangfu’s lips quivered slightly, struggling to suppress a laugh. With a deep breath, he reassured, “Back then, seven thousand was already a generous offer.”
“Keep that in mind; it’s a memorable line,” he added with a hint of irony.
Qin Jin had already begun dialing the reporting number, but a chilling touch halted his action midway. He glanced up to find Li Xiangfu’s eyes still holding a trace of amusement.
“Hold on a moment,” Li Xiangfu intervened.
After ensuring the audience was engrossed in the performance, he gestured to Qin Jin and whispered, “I’m going to have another chat with that lady.”
Qin Jin remained silent but rose from his seat.
Exiting together, the pair left the other guests whispering and speculating about their sudden departure. Some speculated about another visit to the restroom, finding Li Xiangfu’s repeated trips intriguing.
In the dimly lit corridor, Sister Hua was engrossed in a phone call until she noticed Li Xiangfu approaching. Initially hopeful, her expression soured upon spotting Qin Jin behind him.
Having closely monitored Li Xiangfu, she had even covertly filmed a video to showcase his genetic superiority. Now, her regret was palpable as the situation unraveled before her eyes.
Without sparing her a glance, Li Xiangfu had been texting since their arrival. Finally lifting his gaze, he asserted, “We’re not here to settle old scores.”
With a solemn tone, he enlarged a photo of Xiang Tuo sent by Li Xichun and declared, “Let’s head to the fifth floor, find a way to meet this man alone, and offer him 100,000 yuan to inquire about his willingness to donate sperm.”
“One hundred thousand?” Sister Hua’s astonishment momentarily eclipsed her fear. Squinting at the photo, she spat venomously, “For that sum, even seven or five thousand would be too much for me.”
“…”
As if recalling some uncomfortable memories, Sister Hua hastily and cautiously explained to Qin Jin, “The seven thousand back then was just the initial offer…”
Avoiding his penetrating gaze, she spoke with a guilty tone, her head lowering further with each word.
“Follow his instructions,” Qin Jin interjected, cutting off any further discussion.
Sister Hua hesitated, “But about the money…”
“Tell them that upon agreement, you can immediately provide half of the deposit as an advance payment,” Li Xiangfu intervened, retrieving the business card from her left hand. “I’ll be in touch later.”
“But this is my livelihood…” Sister Hua protested weakly.
“It’s a business without capital,” Li Xiangfu reminded her firmly. “I’m not asking you to actually pay; I just want to gauge this man’s response.”
With clenched teeth and trembling facial muscles, Sister Hua relented, “Fine.”
“Cease this business immediately. If we hear of similar activities in the future, you know the consequences,” Li Xiangfu warned before departing. “I must say, your judgment is severely lacking.”
Qin Jin, taken aback, chuckled softly. “Don’t sympathize with me over this matter.”
Throughout the remainder of the play, Li Xiangfu was preoccupied and absent-minded. Subconsciously, he hoped for Xiang Tuo’s well-being and that this encounter might lead to a positive outcome.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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“…”
“Observing his reaction, it seemed like he was hesitating to refuse but couldn’t bring himself to do so. It’s hard to put into words…” Li Xiangfu remarked.
“Wanting to refuse, but wanting to welcome,” Li Xiangfu added.
“Exactly!” Sister Hua exclaimed enthusiastically. “That’s precisely the vibe.”
After ending the call, Li Xiangfu forwarded the follow-up results to Li Xichun. Upon looking up, he announced, “I’m thinking of heading back early.”
The meticulous planning of this encounter made them uneasy, as if there were hidden traps awaiting the moment to slip up.
Qin Jin reminded, “First, check if there are any available tickets.”
Li Xiangfu searched and discovered that all tickets for the next two days were sold out, and he wasn’t keen on transferring to other cities.
“I could arrange for a private plane to take us back, but the earliest departure would be in the early morning. You’ll need to complete the formalities, so we can’t fly back immediately.” Qin Jin suggested.
…
Li Xiangfu ultimately declined Qin Jin’s offer, feeling out of his depth in the world of the wealthy.
Upon returning to their guest room, Li Shasha, who had opted out of attending the theater that night, sat quietly playing with a Rubik’s Cube. Soon after, Li Xichun returned, wearing an expression too complex to be summed up in a single word.
“Did you confront him?” Li Xiangfu inquired.
Li Xichun shook her head. “I didn’t reveal it on the spot.”
Taking a sip of water, she furrowed his brow. “My older brother also messaged, confirming that Xiang Tuo is a local fisherman who has never left Yaochuan before.”
This revelation was significant and sparked intrigue.
Li Xiangfu stressed the urgency of their departure. Xiang Tuo’s presence confirmed a targeted scheme, and the risk of exposing the conspiracy was too great. He couldn’t compromise his personal safety, so discretion seemed prudent for now.
“Our family has arranged for a private jet; we can depart at 5 a.m. once the flight is approved,” Li Xichun informed.
Li Xiangfu chuckled, “Our family… appears to be rather unsophisticated.”
Li Xichun chuckled in response, “Dad bought one for convenience two years ago. How does that relate to sophistry?” She proceeded to pack her bags, while Li Xiangfu sat down, gripping the chair’s back. “I might just be the most unsuccessful wealthy second-generation .”
“To buy a Guqin, I have to undergo DNA testing to earn money,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, Li Shasha calmly played with the Rubik’s Cube, stating matter-of-factly, “As the wealthy third-generation family, I’ve never had a peaceful day following you.”
“…”
—
Gazing at the night sky filled with clouds, a sense of calm washed over one’s soul.
Li Xichun had already donned a sleep mask and drifted off. Li Xiangfu tenderly covered Li Shasha with a blanket, adjusted his posture on the chair, and prepared to rest as well.
Suddenly, Li Shasha spoke up: “Leaving like this, how will Qin Jiayu send the flower petals?”
“If we delay for a day, he could still send them through express delivery,” Li Xiangfu suggested.
“But doesn’t he have OCD? Wouldn’t it bother him to miss a day?” Li Shasha countered, tilting his head.
Li Xiangfu widened his eyes in realization. “You’re right.” After pondering for a moment, he added, “In that case, if we refuse the express delivery for the first two days after returning, it might make him feel even more uncomfortable.”
With that resolved, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep without giving it further thought.
After observing the sleeping face of his companion for a few moments, Li Shasha couldn’t help but feel that Qin Jiayu’s OCD would eventually be cured by the host’s assertiveness.
The plane landed just before dawn, and Li Huaichen personally drove them back. As they approached the entrance, Li Xiangfu paused, noticing a newly installed crossbar.
“When was the threshold repaired?” he asked, puzzled by the sudden addition.
“Dad consulted a Feng Shui master and had it repaired in a rush,” Li Huaichen explained.
As they crossed the threshold, Li Xichun kicked off her high heels and inquired, “Is there something wrong with the business?”
Li Huaichen explained flatly, “Dad got worried because you’ve encountered unkind people before. The Feng Shui master suggested adding a crossbar, symbolizing that once a woman crosses it, she’ll be destined to marry into the family.”
Clearly, even he found the decoration choice a bit peculiar.
Li Xichun couldn’t help but smirk and muttered, “Some people actually believe this.”
“Where’s our second brother?” Li Xiangfu inquired.
“He’s in his room,” Li Huaichen replied.
Heading upstairs, Li Xiangfu retrieved his old mobile phone from Li Anqing. With the amnesia prank no longer feasible, he needed his original number for various purposes.
After a short nap on the plane, he awoke as dawn broke. After a light meal, Li Xiangfu brought his guqin out to the courtyard. It had been a while since he last played, and the instrument seemed to yearn for attention. Just as he set it down, a message notification popped up on his phone.
[-: Where are you?]
Li Xiangfu replied: [At home.]
There was no further response from the other party.
Li Shasha, anticipating some guqin melodies, remarked casually, “Those who achieve greatness don’t fuss over trivial matters. Qin Jiayu is overly fixated on formalities, hindering his potential.” With a dismissive wave, he added, “Forget about it; let’s focus on the music first.”
Li Xiangfu settled into his seat, adopting a composed and contemplative demeanor before commencing his guqin performance.
However, just as he began to pluck the strings, Mr. Li interrupted, urging him to join for some outdoor exercise and mountain climbing. Along the way, he shared his experiences in Yaochuan, hinting at their significance.
Sensing the underlying importance, Li Xiangfu changed into sportswear and joined them outside, where he found Li Xichun also present. She explained, “Dad wants me to discuss Xiang Tuo with him.”
Nearby lay a renowned mountain, now transformed into a tourist attraction requiring an entrance fee. The trio ascended the stone steps steadily, immersing themselves in the natural surroundings. As they climbed, Li Xichun recounted her brief encounter with Xiang Tuo, addressing the key points swiftly.
Mr. Li reflected, “It appears he was hired to cause trouble.”
Li Xichun added, “But some aspects still don’t add up.”
“Seeking wealth and romance?” Mr. Li mused, skeptical of the notion. “If that were the case, there’d be no need for intermediaries. Hiring someone to pursue this matter would be a waste of resources.”
Suddenly, the sight of a fortune teller caught Mr. Li’s attention.
Li Xichun declined, uninterested in such superstitions, despite the abundance of fortune tellers at the mountain. Mr. Li, though not typically superstitious, was swayed by his daughter’s jest and decided to consult the fortune teller, focusing solely on character analysis.
The fortune teller, feigning wisdom, remarked, “I sense you’ve been troubled lately.”
Li Xichun burst into laughter, unimpressed.
Mr. Li’s discomfort was evident as he rushed through the character decoding process, eager to save face. “Indeed, a member of my family is facing romantic woes,” he confirmed.
The fortune teller, pretending profundity, offered, “When one door closes, another opens.”
Even Li Xiangfu couldn’t help but interject, “I believe that’s from the Sanskrit.”
Aghast at the fortune teller’s antics, he noted, “Aren’t these local fortune tellers supposed to not believe in deities?”
Mistaking Li Xiangfu for a girl due to his obscured vision, the fortune teller inquired, “Are those two your children?”
Mr. Li nodded, prompting the fortune teller to declare triumphantly, “See, it’s just one door closing and another opening!”
Author’s note:
Today:
Mr. Li: …This is a waste of money.
Later:
Mr. Li: Please line up and get your love number plate.
Qin Jin: What’s my number?
Mr. Li: Ten digits.
Qin Jin:…
Ahhaha QJ has a long way to go, 10 digits in the queue, might take a few years to reach him. The only way for him is that the mc takes the initiative.
Thanks for the chapter~~~
Is it just me , or does anyone else have trouble following along!
I’ve edited the chapter once more! But if you want me to tell you the content of this chapter, it’s basically trying to expose Xiang Tuo for Li Xichun, and immediately going back home when they discovered his ‘true face’ because they think Qin Jiayu is also targeting Li Xichun.
Due to the misfortune of her luck in love (being scammed etc), Mr. Li brought them to fortune teller, saying that if Li Xichun’s door for love is closed, other door could be opened; Li Xiangfu’s.
This book makes my day.. this kind of cold humour is actually the funniest thing one can create. I always stare at my notification bar waiting for the prompt… Once done, I reread. Then, I reread again. After that, I once again reread.
Aww seeing your comment makes my day! Sorry for not updating, there’ll be a surprise soon! ❤️