C2 One Could Not Judge a Book by Its Cover

Jiang Yan's lips curled into a smile as he read the text message.

"Has the family finally lifted their restrictions?"

Originally named Chiang Yan, he hailed from the prestigious Chiang family, embodying the classic rich second generation. The extent of the Chiang family's wealth was a mystery even to Jiang Yan himself.

He once lost a staggering $30 billion in a single night of reckless gambling. His father's subsequent scolding still echoed in his mind. "Losing money is one thing, but losing the Chiang family's reputation is another. I won't waste more words on you. Go and reflect. In the time it took to have this conversation, I've already recouped the $30 billion."

The reprimand lasted less than ten seconds, yet in that brief span, the Chiang family had effortlessly earned back what Jiang Yan had squandered overnight. That meant billions were flowing into their coffers every second. The Chiang family's wealth was growing so rapidly that even its members couldn't keep track; assets were already changing before they could finish counting.

Three years ago, Jiang Yan's missteps led to his expulsion from the family, leaving him to fend for himself on the streets until he joined the Xu family as a son-in-law. During that time, he was barred from contacting his family or accessing a single cent of their fortune—a punishment from the Chiangs.

Now, after three years, his exile was over. The family had lifted his punishment.

Returning to his bedroom, Jiang Yan retrieved his wallet, which contained only his ID card and a black credit card—the Centurion Black Gold Card. Renowned as the "King of Cards," the Centurion Black Gold Card was the epitome of elite credit cards, shrouded in an aura of mystery. Designed for the upper echelons, it boasted no spending limit and was the card of choice for politicians, billionaires, and social elites worldwide.

Cardholders of the esteemed "King of Cards" are afforded the pinnacle of prestige, tailor-made services, and unmatched global privileges. These include round-the-clock concierge services ready to fulfill any request, VIP access to a myriad of prestigious events, and exclusive treatment at top private clubs in major cities worldwide.

"I've been married to Fengqiu for three years now. She's endured a lot because of me, so it's high time I made it up to her."

Jiang Yan went back to the dining room to finish cleaning up the dishes, while his mother-in-law sat in the living room engrossed in her television show.

Casting a disdainful look at Jiang Yan, Zhou Hui commanded, "Go wash some fruit for me!"

After washing the fruit, Jiang Yan presented it to Zhou Hui.

"Mom, Fengqiu and I are planning to see a movie tonight. I'll be picking her up after work, so you'll need to take care of dinner on your own."

Zhou Hui scoffed and retorted, "You have the nerve to go out to a movie? A grown man without a real job, living off my daughter. She pays for everything—shopping, dates, movies. Aren't you embarrassed?"

"How Fengqiu ever got it into her head to marry a loser like you, I'll never understand. You've got three days to find a job and start contributing, or you can just go ahead and finalize a divorce with Fengqiu. Don't waste my daughter's life."

With that, Zhou Hui angrily knocked the freshly washed fruit to the floor and stormed off to her bedroom.

Zhou Hui's disdain for Jiang Yan wasn't new; she often seized opportunities when Xu Fengqiu wasn't around to belittle and insult him, hoping to incite a divorce.

Even when divorce was mentioned in front of Xu Fengqiu, she flatly refused. The reasons for this were known only to Jiang Yan and Xu Fengqiu.

Picking up the fruit, Jiang Yan left the house by himself.

He hailed a cab to Yunzhou's largest shopping mall, intent on picking out a thoughtful gift for Xu Fengqiu—a surprise for their movie date that evening.

Yunzhou, as one of the most bustling first-tier cities in the south of Huaxia, boasted a plethora of international luxury brands within its shopping centers.

To Jiang Yan, these so-called luxuries were indistinguishable from the wares hawked at roadside stalls.

Back when he lived with the Chiang family, everything he used—from food to clothing—was of the highest caliber, often beyond the reach of money.

He found himself at a Patek Philippe boutique, recalling a previous visit with Xu Fengqiu.

Xu Fengqiu had fallen for a particular watch, but even the most affordable Patek Philippe was priced over 100,000 yuan—prohibitive for the average person.

As a real estate sales agent, Xu Fengqiu's earnings, including commissions, started at 10,000 yuan monthly, sometimes peaking at 30,000 yuan.

Yet, she was frugal, diligently saving for a down payment on a house to escape her parents' ridicule of Jiang Yan.

Despite being able to afford the watch, she had resisted the urge to splurge, leaving the store with a wistful glance.

Standing at the counter, Jiang Yan eyed the watch and instructed the sales associate, "I'd like to see that watch, please."

Sun Xiaofei appraised him in his simple attire, his outfit not worth more than a few hundred yuan, and her expression soured with scorn.

"Sir, we deal in high-end watches here. If they're out of your range, I'd advise against trying them on."

Jiang Yan's brow furrowed. "Who says I can't afford it?"

Sun Xiaofei scoffed, her voice dripping with condescension. "I've encountered plenty like you. A modest salary, nowhere near enough for luxury. You try on a watch, snap a photo for social media to flaunt, fishing for likes and envy, duping naive girls. Then, claiming the watch isn't quite right, you walk away."

Jiang Yan simply smiled, sparing himself the hassle of a debate. Without a word, he produced the Centurion Black Gold Card.

"Swipe the card, and please wrap up the watch for me!"

Sun Xiaofei paused briefly before retorting, "Why put on airs? Buying luxury items with a credit card doesn't mean you won't have to pay it back. It feels great to show off now, but the stress of repayment will tear you apart."

At that moment, another woman sporting a "Manager" badge approached. She glanced at the card Jiang Yan presented, and her expression shifted.

As the boutique's manager, she had encountered numerous wealthy clients and undergone specialized training, giving her a perspective well beyond that of the average sales associate.

"Good day, sir. My name is Du Jianli, and I'm the manager of this boutique. How may I assist you?"

Witnessing her manager's courteous demeanor, Sun Xiaofei was taken aback.

She had never seen her manager show such deference, even to multimillionaires.

Jiang Yan responded coolly, "I'd like to purchase this watch. Please wrap it up and charge it to the card—the PIN is six zeros."

Du Jianli's heart raced with excitement. A young man like Jiang Yan, in possession of a Centurion Black Gold Card, was clearly no ordinary customer.

Forging a connection with someone of his stature could bask her in reflected glory and potentially open doors to new opportunities.

"Very well, sir. Sun Xiaofei, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and process the payment!"

Du Jianli retrieved the watch and took care of the packaging herself.

Once Sun Xiaofei had completed the transaction and returned, Du Jianli handed the card and the elegantly wrapped watch to Jiang Yan.

"Sir, is there anything else I can help you with?"

Jiang Yan shook his head and replied nonchalantly, "That's all, thank you."

He wasn't averse to purchasing more extravagant gifts for Xu Fengqiu, but he was keen on keeping his family background under wraps to maintain the tranquility of their current life.

As Jiang Yan made to leave, Du Jianli quickly interjected, "Sir, may I have your phone number? Should any issues arise with the watch, we can arrange for it to be collected and serviced. We offer a complimentary 12-year repair service."

Without giving it much thought, Jiang Yan acquiesced, "Sure, that's fine."

He swiftly jotted down his name and phone number before turning on his heel and walking away.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Sun Xiaofei asked, "Sister Jia Li, why do you treat him with such deference? He only purchased the most basic watch, and from the looks of his clothes, he doesn't seem wealthy."

Du Jia Li shot Sun Xiaofei a sharp look and retorted, "What do you know? Appearances can be deceiving. That man could become one of our top clients. Make sure to notify me the moment he returns."

She kept the detail about the Centurion Black Gold Card to herself, harboring her own ulterior motive.

After all, aren't all these young ladies eager to reach for the stars?

If Sun Xiaofei were to discover Jiang Yan's true status, she might go out of her way to ingratiate herself with him, and that's the last thing Du Jia Li needed – another rival in her midst.