C4 Limited Edition Imitation

Lee Chade was decked out in a full Armani suit, his wrist adorned with a Patek Philippe watch. Finely crafted Findy leather shoes on his feet and Kadeo glasses framing his eyes, he radiated the unmistakable vibe of a wealthy, successful man.

He accepted the watch and scrutinized it closely.

"This appears to be an authentic Patek Philippe. Xiaoya, did you purchase this?"

"No, it was a gift from Fengqiu's husband to her."

Li Xiaoya's face soured at the suggestion of its authenticity.

"Lee Chade, are you sure you've examined it thoroughly?"

She couldn't fathom how Jiang Yan, a man whose days were spent cooking and cleaning at home, could possibly afford such a luxury.

Lee Chade affirmed once more, "Yes, it's genuine. Patek Philippe watches have unique serial numbers on the back. The simplest way to verify authenticity is to call the brand's local boutique."

Deep down, Li Xiaoya had suspected the watch might be real, yet she clung to a sliver of hope.

She wanted the watch to be counterfeit, as it would further validate her belief in Jiang Yan's worthlessness.

Otherwise, her previous disparaging remarks to Xu Fengqiu would amount to nothing more than self-sabotage, undermining someone else's marital bliss.

"It's inconceivable. Even if the watch is genuine, there's no way Jiang Yan could afford it. Fengqiu, you've said you control his spending money each month. Do you honestly believe he could purchase a timepiece valued in the hundreds of thousands?"

"This..."

Xu Fengqiu's face betrayed her uncertainty, puzzled over how Jiang Yan could have acquired such an extravagant watch.

A glimmer of realization sparked in Li Xiaoya's eyes as she pointed accusingly at Jiang Yan. "I've got it. You didn't steal this watch, did you? Jiang Yan, stealing such a valuable item could land you in prison. Don't drag Fengqiu down with you."

Xu Fengjiao's gaze shifted to Jiang Yan, fraught with anxiety. The thought of the watch being stolen was a profound disappointment.

Jiang Yan's brow furrowed as he responded, "Didn't you see the receipt and invoice in the gift box? With clerks and security cameras all over the boutique, how could I possibly steal a watch right under their noses? What do you take me for, the 'Pirate Saint'?"

Li Xiaoya scrutinized the receipt and invoice with a skeptical eye. "These could easily be fakes," she scoffed. "How do I know you didn't prepare these in advance?"

Unfazed, Jiang Yan replied, "The store's contact number is right there on the receipt. If you're doubting its authenticity, a quick phone call should clear things up."

"You think I'm afraid to call?"

Convinced that Jiang Yan couldn't possibly afford a Patek Philippe watch, Li Xiaoya was sure he was all talk.

She promptly dialed the number listed on the receipt. The call connected almost immediately. With a sly move, she switched to speakerphone, eager for Xu Fengqiu to witness Jiang Yan's deceit unravel firsthand.

"Hello, Patek Philippe boutique, this is Manager Du Jianli speaking. How may I assist you today?"

Casting a sidelong glance at Jiang Yan, Li Xiaoya inquired, "Hi, I have a watch from your boutique, and I'd like to verify its authenticity."

"Of course, ma'am. There's a production number on the back of the watch. Could you please read it to me?"

After Li Xiaoya recited the number, Du Jianli confirmed, "Yes, ma'am, that watch is indeed one of ours. It was purchased by a customer earlier this afternoon."

Li Xiaoya's expression shifted as she probed further, "Can you tell me the name of the person who bought the watch?"

Internally, Du Jianli wondered why the caller didn't know the buyer's identity. Had they found the watch? The thought of the Centurion Black Gold Card in Jiang Yan's possession sent a thrill through her. Despite Jiang Yan's wealth, returning the watch could be a favor he'd appreciate, and it might even lead to further opportunities to connect with him.

"I apologize, ma'am, but our clients' names are confidential. We cannot disclose that information. If you've found the watch, please return it to our boutique. We'll contact the rightful owner and offer you a finder's fee as a token of our appreciation."

Li Xiaoya, unable to contain her curiosity, blurted out, "Was the buyer named Jiang Yan?"

Du Jianli paused for a moment, her mind racing. She had already committed Jiang Yan's name and phone number to memory in secret, and recalled them with crystal clarity.

"Do you know Mr. Jiang Yan?"

Li Xiao Ya was taken aback. The question, though seemingly innocent, confirmed that Jiang Yan was indeed the buyer of the watch.

She ended the call and handed the watch to Xu Fengqiu.

"Jiang Yan, I never imagined you could afford such a luxurious watch. How did you manage to pay for it? You didn't use Feng Qiu's house down payment savings, did you?"

Xu Fengqiu turned to Jiang Yan, her eyes wide with shock. After all, he had access to her bank card number and password.

She couldn't fathom any other way Jiang Yan could have acquired enough money to purchase such an expensive watch.

Jiang Yan bristled at the repeated doubts cast his way.

"You're not my wife; I don't owe you an explanation, do I? Feng Qiu, rest assured, I haven't touched your money. The watch was bought with my own funds. I'll explain everything once we're home."

"Alright!"

Xu Fengqiu gave a nod, her trust in Jiang Yan solidifying. He was the man she had been intimately close with for three years, after all.

Had she not seen something special in Jiang Yan's character, she would never have gone against her family's wishes to marry him.

Sensing the tension, Lee Chade offered a comforting smile. "Haha, looks like we've had a bit of a mix-up. We're all friends here; let's not dwell on it. Xiao Ya, it's getting late. How about we grab some dinner?"

Li Xiao Ya glanced at Lee Chade, feeling her spirits lift instantly.

What did it matter if Jiang Yan had splurged on a Patek Philippe watch?

Could he really stack up against her boyfriend?

One was a domestic cook, the other a high-flying vice-president freshly returned from abroad; one a nobody clad in bargain-bin clothes, the other a corporate ace draped in designer labels.

The contrast between them was stark, a chasm as wide as that between the heavens and the earth.

"Feng Qiu, would you like to join us? Lee Chade has specially booked a table at the Dragon River Hotel tonight. Jiang Yan has never taken you to such a fancy restaurant, has he?"

Xu Fengqiu didn't want Jiang Yan to endure any more discomfort, nor did she wish to strain her relationship with Li Xiaoya, so she declined the invitation.

"We'll have to pass; our movie is about to start."

Jiang Yan chuckled and responded, "The Dragon River Hotel? Isn't that owned by our future brother-in-law? Since it's family-run, why don't we go show some support, Fengqiu?"

"Future brother-in-law?"

Li Xiaoya was momentarily taken aback, her gaze shifting to Xu Fengqiu in confusion.

Xu Fengqiu clarified, "My sister, Feng Jiao, is dating Zhao Yu, the son of the owner of the Dragon River Hotel. They just met with our parents today."

Embarrassment crept onto Li Xiaoya's face. She had hoped to use the dinner as an opportunity to mock Jiang Yan and save face.

The realization that the hotel she intended to dine at was owned by her future brother-in-law was unexpected.

Going there now might only lead to further embarrassment.

Caught in a bind, she hesitated.

Xu Fengqiu offered her an out, "Xiao Ya, you should head out on your date. Jiang Yan and I won't third-wheel you."

As Xu Fengqiu and Jiang Yan prepared to leave, Jiang Yan paused and inquired, "Lee Chade, right? Nice watch. Did you buy it at a boutique?"

Lee Chade puffed up with pride, replying with a smile, "I purchased my watch while working abroad. It set me back a hefty sum—hundreds of thousands, but in dollars, not yuan. Plus, it's a limited edition, not available in China."

Jiang Yan flashed a bright, toothy grin.

"Really? You might want to have it authenticated at a boutique, because it looks like a high-quality replica to me. You could have been duped."

Lee Chade's face twisted, a flicker of barely noticeable panic in his eyes.

Annoyed, Li Xiaoya retorted, "Jiang Yan, stop talking nonsense! How can you act like some kind of expert after seeing a few pricey watches?"