C16 A Slap on the Face

The speaker was none other than Fann Jianrong.

He had been racking his brain on how to sabotage the budding relationship between Su Ruoxue and Faang Yu. Little did he expect that Faang Yu would hand him the perfect opportunity so quickly.

Who was Old Master Su? The esteemed founder of Su's Group, a titan of the business world in his heyday. Today wasn't a birthday celebration, but a housewarming party, which is still a significant life event. Attending such an occasion demanded a gift of substance.

There's wisdom in the old adage: don't fear the goods, fear the comparison.

Nearly everyone in attendance was a business magnate or a successful entrepreneur, each with a net worth in the hundreds of millions. The gifts they brought were nothing short of impressive, with some even gifting landscape paintings valued at 100,000 yuan.

But Faang Yu? He presented a mere jade pendant. It might have looked decent, but it was worth, at best, a few thousand yuan.

How could he dare to offer such a paltry gift?

Fann Jianrong was clearly contemptuous.

Although...

He hadn't brought a gift himself.

But his father had—a nanmu inkstone, one foot square, valued at tens of thousands of yuan.

Many of the business elite present furrowed their brows, not over Faang Yu's gift, but because of Fann Jianrong's tactless remarks. Today was Old Master Su's housewarming celebration, and regardless of the value of Faang Yu's gift, it represented a thoughtful gesture.

Old Master Su hadn't even commented, yet here was Fann Jianrong, a junior, making a fuss and criticizing Faang Yu's modest offering. His behavior was presumptuous, almost as if he was trying to upstage the host.

Fann Junxiang shot his son a fierce glare and scolded, "Quiet, you fool!"

If his son's earlier comments had soured Old Master Su's opinion of their family, Fann Junxiang would be beside himself with regret.

It was like trying to prop up a wall with mud!

In such a setting, what place did his son have to speak?

Fann Junxiang was at his wit's end. His eldest son was a paragon of grace and capability, always courteous and respectful. But his second son? Far from being utterly reprehensible, he was the epitome of a spoiled rich kid—reckless in his actions and words, regardless of the setting, often leaving his father with a throbbing headache.

On this occasion, he had brought his two sons to celebrate Old Master Su's housewarming joyfully. His intention was for them to mingle and gain some experience. His eldest son was doing quite well, engaging effortlessly with the business tycoons and creating a harmonious atmosphere. However, his second son was causing trouble.

Had the setting been different, he might have been tempted to give his son a good slap.

Fann Jianrong's face showed a flicker of irritation, yet his gaze remained defiant.

Faang Yu, on the other hand, was unfazed. He had full confidence in the gift he brought. It was a simple jade pendant, but crafted from spirit jade, its value was in the millions. Without his connection, finding such a pure jade pendant would be nearly impossible. Besides, even if the pendant was of lesser value, as long as Old Master Su appreciated it, that was all that mattered. What others thought was beyond his control, wasn't it?

"A jade pendant? Quite nice. I've been looking for a new accessory. Much appreciated, young friend!" Old Master Su was unconcerned about the monetary value of Faang Yu's gift. He had extended the invitation to Faang Yu primarily because he saw potential in the young entrepreneur, who reminded him of his own younger days. Additionally, the furniture Faang Yu had sold to him was unlike anything he'd seen before, with a mysterious quality that was beneficial to one's health, piquing his interest.

Old Master Su wasn't intent on uncovering Faang Yu's secrets but knew that befriending a young man with an air of mystery like Faang Yu was undoubtedly a wise move.

Upon receiving the jade pendant, Old Master Su immediately felt a refreshing coolness in his palm, followed by a familiar scent that was significantly more potent than the porcelain bowl he had purchased days earlier.

Old Master Su believed that if he continued to wear this jade pendant, it might not only prolong his life but at least slow down the aging process, perhaps even improving his health to some degree—a coveted dream for many elders.

While everyone accepts that aging and illness are natural laws of life, it's a universal desire to age gracefully, free from the grip of disease.

Old Master Su still felt robust, but at over seventy, no one can predict how many good days lie ahead.

The jade pendant Faang Yu had given him was beyond value.

He wouldn't hesitate for a second to pay a million yuan to purchase it from Faang Yu if necessary!

"Old Su, let me have a look at that jade pendant," requested Old Man Jiang, who was initially just a bystander. The worth of Faang Yu's gift was none of his concern, but upon laying eyes on the dragon and phoenix jade pendant, he couldn't help but feel intrigued. As an aficionado of antiques with considerable expertise in porcelain and jade, his reputation in the industry was well-established. A mere glance was enough for him to recognize the pendant's uniqueness.

Understanding his friend's curiosity, Old Master Su casually passed the jade pendant to Old Man Jiang.

Old Man Jiang accepted the pendant with care, nudging his reading glasses with his pinky, and began an attentive examination.

The business tycoons in the vicinity were drawn by their curiosity, gathering around to silently observe the unfolding scene.

Fann Jianrong, despite his animosity towards Faang Yu due to Su Ruoxue, was wise enough not to interfere at such a moment, knowing full well his father would not tolerate any disruption.

In his heart, Fann Jianrong remained skeptical about the value of Faang Yu's gift. His knowledge of ancient jade was limited, but he could discern that it was crafted from mutton-fat jade. It might be somewhat valuable, but certainly not in the tens of thousands, he thought.

As time ticked by, nearly ten minutes, Old Man Jiang's eyes shone brighter, his breath growing heavier—an excitement palpable to all around. Was it possible that this jade pendant was truly exceptional?

"Young man, this is quite the lavish gesture," Old Man Jiang finally remarked after several more minutes, his gaze lifting from the pendant with evident admiration. He turned to Faang Yu, his eyes alight with newfound respect, and brandished the dragon and phoenix jade pendant, saying, "If you were to auction this piece, it would fetch no less than a million yuan, perhaps even more. The scent it exudes seems to have health-improving properties. If I'm not mistaken, this is a piece of spiritual jade!"

Upon hearing those words, everyone but Faang Yu and Old Master Su was left utterly astonished.