C18 Humph!

Lee Wen's eyes briefly scanned Dong Xiaofei, finding nothing amiss. He abandoned further scrutiny and turned his attention to Liu Xinmei, offering her a smile. "What brings you to our establishment today, Ms. Liu?"

Liu Xinmei gave Lee Wen an exasperated look. Despite being in her thirties, she managed to exude a girlish innocence combined with the allure of a mature woman, making her presence captivating.

"Master Lee, you've changed your tune," she teased. "The last time we were alone, you were quite different—adorably so..."

Lee Wen's cheeks flushed, and he quickly coughed to interrupt her. "Ms. Liu, you must be teasing!" he exclaimed.

He then glanced at Jiang Lan and Dong Xiaofei, smiling. "Please take your time browsing. I'll go prepare some tea." With a nonchalant wave, he turned and headed off.

Lee Wen wouldn't have left them alone with the antiques on any other occasion, knowing the risk of damage or theft. However, with Liu Xinmei's arrival, his concerns vanished instantly. He couldn't pinpoint why, but he trusted that Liu Xinmei, despite her interest in him, would never compromise her reputation.

Lee Wen returned swiftly, carrying a tray with several cups of tea, resembling a diligent waiter.

"Oh no..." Liu Xinmei's hand shook as she reached for her cup, sending it tumbling toward the floor.

With a quick reflex, Lee Wen stepped across, scooped the teacup from the ground, and placed it back on the table. He then slid his own cup towards Liu Xinmei, saying, "Please, Ms. Liu."

Liu Xinmei's lips parted in a small 'o' of surprise, her delicate hand patting her chest as she regained her composure. "You gave me quite a fright. Thank goodness for your quick reflexes, Lee Wen. Breaking a teacup is hardly a good omen in an antique shop!"

Lee Wen offered a slight smile, remaining silent as he nudged his teacup a bit closer to Liu Xinmei. He was still unsure of this woman's intentions and preferred to keep his distance.

Liu Xinmei's face was graced with a smile of gratitude as her gaze gently swept over Lee Wen's features. A contemplative look flickered in her eyes but was quickly concealed.

She had noticed Lee Wen's subtle display of strength. He had definitely been holding back; otherwise, his reaction would have been much swifter than what he let on.

After all, the tea spill had been no accident. It was a deliberate move on her part to gauge Lee Wen's response, and her focus had been entirely on him.

"Master Lee, have you ever trained in martial arts?" Liu Xinmei inquired with feigned nonchalance.

Lee Wen shook his head, replying, "Ms. Liu, you flatter me. I'm merely a recent graduate from an average family. How could I afford martial arts training?"

"But your reflexes seemed quite sharp just now, far beyond those of an ordinary person!" Liu Xinmei said with a smile.

"Well, I was short on cash recently and took a job moving bricks on a construction site. That's probably where I picked up a bit of speed. Ms. Liu, you might not be aware, but construction sites are fraught with unseen dangers. A moment's inattention could be fatal, so I had to learn to react quickly..." Lee Wen spun his tale, confident that Liu Xinmei, who likely had never set foot on a construction site, wouldn't see through his fabrication.

As expected, Liu Xinmei's expression faltered briefly upon hearing his words, but she quickly regained her composure. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, she set down her teacup and rose to her feet. Smiling at Lee Wen, she said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Master Lee. Should you encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to seek me out. My door is always open to you, and we can discuss compensation then."

"Thank you, Ms. Liu," Lee Wen responded, standing to express his gratitude as he escorted her to the door.

"Tsk tsk, such fortune is truly enviable. To be so favored as a pretty boy, it's enough to make anyone green with envy!"

Dong Xiaofei's voice dripped with sarcasm as he watched Liu Xinmei leave. Lee Wen merely furrowed his brow and chose not to engage, smiling politely instead. The antique shop was open for business, after all, and regardless of his comments, Xiaofei was still a customer. It would be excessive to chase a customer away over such remarks.

Lee Wen's silence did not go unnoticed by Jiang Lan, who stood nearby with a peculiar glint in her eye. Still smarting from Liu Xinmei's stinging words, she now sensed an opportunity. "Could Xiaofei be onto something? Is Master Lee Wen's identity a sham? Is he really just a pretty boy kept by a woman?" The thought buoyed Jiang Lan's spirits considerably.

If Lee Wen had no real accomplishments, then her previous actions were justified, and her regret was unwarranted.

With a forced smile, Jiang Lan joined in on Dong Xiaofei's conversation. "Hehehe," Dong Xiaofei chuckled with a sneer, "Lan, you might not be aware, but Ms. Liu has quite the reputation around here. She's known for her ambiguous relationships with numerous men. To be chosen by her, to receive gifts of cars and houses, hehe!"

"What kind of master is he? He's nothing but a master in name, while in reality, he's playing the gigolo!" Dong Xiaofei added with a mocking tone.

Despite his scornful expression, there was an undertone of envy in his voice. After all, it was Liu Xinmei, a woman known for her seductive charm, a woman whom ordinary men could hardly attract. Countless men longed to be close to her but failed to do so. Now, Lee Wen had seemingly been taken under her wing as a gigolo, which naturally stirred a mix of jealousy and desire in Dong Xiaofei.

Jiang Lan, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief, her regret dissipating as she adopted an air of superiority. She looked down at Lee Wen with the haughty demeanor of an aristocrat and said, "Lee Wen, even though I've discarded you, you shouldn't just resign yourself to this fate. How can you allow yourself to be kept by someone else? What sets you apart from those who are maintained by nightclubs? You need to think this through. With hard work, you could find a regular girl to date, get married, have children, and lead an ordinary life. Why degrade yourself for money?"

Her words carried a weight that made Lee Wen's eyebrows twitch involuntarily.

With a faint smile, Lee Wen responded, "I've moved on from the past. Let's not bring it up again; it only serves to make things awkward."

"Lee Wen, you weren't like this before. Did our breakup really leave such a deep wound? I feel terrible thinking I hurt you this much," Jiang Lan feigned a look of remorse.

Lee Wen's eyebrows twitched once more. He couldn't fathom how he had failed to see this facet of her character before—her narcissism was astounding, bordering on shamelessness.

This wasn't mere self-absorption; she seemed to derive pleasure from his pain. Such a disposition deeply troubled Lee Wen.

He must have been blind to have ever been attracted to someone with such a flawed character.

When he thought of Ye Tingyu, the contrast was stark. She had the courage to step in when he was in danger—a testament to her noble spirit. Even Liu Jiajia was a far better person than the woman before him.

"Cursed be my titanium alloy dog eyes!" Lee Wen internally berated himself, managing only a forced chuckle without engaging in further conversation.

Jiang Lan's incessant chatter was a delight to her, especially seeing Lee Wen in such straits. Her glee was the polar opposite of the feigned regret she had shown earlier, nearly making her giddy with satisfaction.

"Are you two actually interested in purchasing anything?" Lee Wen asked, his face betraying his annoyance.

He was so irritated by Jiang Lan's prattle that he imagined slapping her face with a slipper.

"Tsk tsk, such a temper. You're not yet under Ms. Liu's care, so you can't have much money. I could easily buy a couple of items and earn you a nice commission. And yet, you dare to show such an attitude?" Dong Xiaofei said with a sneer.

"Exactly, Lee Wen. I know it's embarrassing for you to see me under these circumstances, and you probably feel like you've lost face in front of a woman you love. But there's no need to assert your dignity this way. Just apologize to Xiaofei, and then I'll have him buy a few more things," Jiang Lan suggested with feigned benevolence.

Lee Wen inhaled deeply, struggling to keep his composure and avoid slapping himself out of frustration. He managed to squeeze out a rigid smile and asked, "May I inquire about the price range you're considering for your purchase, Mr. Dong?"

"Somewhere between ten and thirty thousand yuan. As long as it appeals to me, the rest..." Dong Xiaofei gestured grandly, exuding an air of nonchalance about the cost.

The reason for his thriftiness was Jiang Lan; she had insisted on shopping today, so the expenditure couldn't be too extravagant. Even so, Dong Xiaofei winced at the thought of the expense. Those tens of thousands of yuan could have been spent on the company of several beautiful college students.

"Lee Wen, you should be quick to thank Xiaofei. This could earn you a handsome commission!" Jiang Lan chimed in with a laugh.