C20 It Was a Forced Sale

"What do you think, Mr. Dong? Jiajia wasn't wrong, was she? This piece has been passed down from her ancestors. It's a fine jade with a long history, highly collectible!" Lee Wen said, smiling broadly.

Dong Xiaofei's expression was a mix of emotions. In such a situation, what could he possibly say? Should he call the item garbage? That would be intentionally causing trouble for Liu Jiajia.

"I've always said that Mr. Dong must have a profound knowledge of antiques. Just look at how you spotted the exceptional quality of this jade pendant at first glance. Admiring it from every angle, you must be in awe of the ancient craftsmanship! However, I must commend the skill it took to carve such an intricate double phoenix pattern on such a small pendant. Truly remarkable!" Lee Wen exclaimed in admiration.

Dong Xiaofei's mouth twitched involuntarily. He had the urge to throttle Lee Wen. Was he being taken for an idiot? It was clear that the pendant was machine-carved, a product of mass production!

"Mr. Dong, there's no need to be uncomfortable. Jiajia mentioned that she planned to sell the jade pendant for 70,000 yuan. At the time, I thought the price was a bit low, but I didn't say much, fearing we couldn't find a knowledgeable buyer. Now that we've encountered a connoisseur like you, Mr. Dong, the pendant has found its rightful owner. Let's do this: you can take it for 99,998 yuan. This price won't undermine the pendant's worth!" Lee Wen said, chuckling once more.

Liu Jiajia shivered, standing next to Lee Wen. She stretched out her hand and pinched his arm forcefully. A pendant bought for ten yuan at a street stall was being sold for such an exorbitant price—it was outrageous!

Dong Xiaofei's face was a picture of discomfort, holding the jade pendant as if it were a hot potato, unsure whether to keep it or discard it.

"Mr. Dong, didn't you just mention wanting to purchase an antique valued between ten and a hundred thousand yuan? Surely the price isn't an issue for you? Given your wealth, this should be a mere trifle!" Lee Wen looked puzzled, not understanding the hesitation.

His gaze flickered with contemplation before he posed the question, "Does Mr. Dong believe this jade pendant isn't worth the asking price? If that's the case, let's just go with Jiajia's initial price point of seventy thousand. That should settle it, right?"

"Impossible! This jade pendant is clearly a fine piece. Seventy thousand really is an insult to its value. Ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight is a much more appropriate price!" Dong Xiaofei said, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

Internally, he was seething, wanting nothing more than to rip Lee Wen to shreds. With the conversation having reached this point, what could he possibly say? He had no choice but to begrudgingly accept, lest he devalue the item in front of Liu Jiajia.

After all, Liu Jiajia had claimed the pendant was a family heirloom. To openly challenge its worth would be akin to a slap in the face, and how would that help him win her over?

Meanwhile, Jiang Lan was delighted by the exchange. She wasn't concerned with whether it was a jade pendant or a ring; as long as it was valuable, that was all that mattered. Dong Xiaofei had promised to buy her something today, and even if she decided to sell it later, she stood to make a tidy profit. She wasn't interested in the history of the piece—her focus was on securing it for herself.

"Xiaofei, this jade pendant is so pretty, and I really love it. Would you give it to me?" Jiang Lan asked sweetly, her voice soft and alluring.

Dong Xiaofei's mouth twitched in annoyance, a stream of curses running through his mind.

He took a deep breath, then with a feigned air of magnanimity, he placed the jade pendant into Jiang Lan's hand, declaring, "Since you like it so much, it's yours!"

Having made his offer, Dong Xiaofei promptly paid up. The transaction was completed at Tingyu House, and a portion of the payment was likely Lee Wen's commission, so he transferred the funds directly to the establishment's account.

"Jiajia, may I have the pleasure of taking you out for a meal sometime?" Dong Xiaofei inquired, smiling at Liu Jiajia.

"Why?" Liu Jiajia responded, curious.

Dong Xiaofei was at a loss for words.

He couldn't outright admit that he had done her a huge favor, so perhaps he was now seeking some gratitude in return.

"Oh, you don't actually believe that purchasing that pendant was doing me a huge favor, do you? I certainly don't see it that way. That heirloom jade pendant is worth a lot on its own. It wouldn't have made a difference who bought it!" Liu Jiajia said with a dismissive curl of her lip.

Dong Xiaofei's expression briefly stiffened, then he mustered a strained smile and exchanged a few more words. Taking Jiang Lan by the hand, he promptly left Tingyu House.

"Xiaofei, you're so wonderful!" Jiang Lan beamed, linking her arm with Dong Xiaofei's as they walked out, not sparing Lee Wen a single glance.

To her, Dong Xiaofei's gesture had significantly boosted her pride. There was no point in exchanging further words with Lee Wen. The incident had already affirmed that her initial decision was the correct one.

"Hahaha..."

Shortly after they departed, Lee Wen burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"You really are no good, so wicked! You managed to swindle someone out of 100,000 yuan for a mere trinket!" Liu Jiajia chided Lee Wen with a pinch.

"Hehe, he was the one who came knocking at my door. If he hadn't wanted to buy it, could I have forced him? He was the one trying to show off; I couldn't very well stop him, could I? That would upset our wealthy friend!" Lee Wen said with a mischievous grin.

He then turned to Liu Jiajia and asked, "Do you want the 100,000 yuan in cash, or should I find you a genuine piece?"

"You're the one who tricked him, I don't want that money. Just give me 10 yuan, and I'll pick up another jade pendant from a boutique shop!" Liu Jiajia declared.

"Is that so?" Lee Wen raised his eyebrows, playfully took hold of Liu Jiajia's hand, and started to lead her inside.

"Lee Wen, enough already!" Liu Jiajia's face flushed with discomfort as her hand was seized. She quickly slapped away Lee Wen's hand and scolded him with a sweet yet stern tone.

Lee Wen just smirked, said nothing more, and disappeared inside for a moment. He soon emerged with a jade pendant in hand.

"Look at this, a top-quality jade pendant. It may not be an ancient artifact, but its quality surely matches the value of 100,000 yuan!" Lee Wen proclaimed cheerfully.

Liu Jiajia's expression stiffened as she gave Lee Wen an odd look. "Why are you suddenly so generous today?" she asked. "You've owed me car fare for ages, and now you're suddenly handing over a hundred grand. What's your angle?"

"Such a captivating young lady, of course, I'm trying to woo you!" Lee Wen laughed, threading a red string through the jade pendant and moving to place it around Liu Jiajia's neck.

Moments later, Liu Jiajia felt the warmth of the jade pendant against her chest and smirked. "Even though I'm just a girl from the Old Quarter, I'm not that easy to charm. If you really want to woo me, you'd need to at least get plastic surgery in Korea first."

Lee Wen's face fell, and he reflexively slapped Liu Jiajia's shapely behind.

"Ouch... Lee Wen, I'm going to kill you!" Liu Jiajia's delicate face flushed with blood, her eyes brimming with embarrassment.

Lee Wen's slap wasn't forceful, but it felt as though he had struck her heart, making it race uncontrollably.

With a pout, she turned to yell, but realizing her mother wasn't nearby, she could only shoot Lee Wen a glare before dashing off.

"Jiajia, you haven't treated me to dinner yet!" Lee Wen called after her.

"In your dreams! If anyone's treating, it's you treating me!" Liu Jiajia's voice faded into the distance, quickly lost in the crowd.

Lee Wen touched his nose and turned back to his shop, resuming his work with a smile. Business had come early, and though it wasn't the most reputable kind, he was in high spirits.

Through his recent experiences, he had come to understand that in the world of jade and antiques, success was all about skill. Being cheated was just part of the game. His goal was to avoid deceiving others like Zhou, and when it came to opportunists like Dong Xiaofei, he wouldn't show any mercy.

After all, one has to open their doors for business, right? Making money to put food on the table is essential.

Meanwhile, after returning, Liu Xinmei greeted the guests before heading into an inner room. The moment she opened the door, she was met with a pungent smell of blood. Liu Xinmei frowned at the sight of the figure sprawled on the sofa and said coldly, "You've been too careless. You've been at it for so long without a hitch, and now you've nearly been taken down by someone else. Have you let your guard down?"

The person on the sofa slowly sat up; it was none other than Gao Zheng, who had been shot by Lee Wen but had managed to escape. His face was ashen, betraying his extreme weakness. At Liu Xinmei's words, a look of bitter resentment flashed in Gao Zheng's eyes. Clenching his teeth, he said, "Boss, I didn't drop my guard. It's just that the kid is weirdly skilled. He's only been at Tingyu House for a few days, earning an intern's wage. How could I have known he was so adept, and to top it off, he even had a gun? If I hadn't reacted quickly, I might not have made it back at all!"

Liu Xinmei, upon hearing Gao Zheng's account, recalled the moment Lee Wen effortlessly caught the teacup. Indeed, she had her reasons for visiting Tingyu House—it was to verify whether Lee Wen's abilities were as formidable as Gao Zheng claimed. Considering Lee Wen's impressive reflexes, Liu Xinmei's gaze grew complex. With such skills, he was nearly on par with those who had undergone extensive training. And with a gun in hand, it was no surprise that Gao Zheng had found himself at a disadvantage.

"Do you think that kid could be an agent sent by that old man to assist Ye Tingyu?" Liu Xinmei mused aloud, a new thought occurring to her.

Gao Zheng bit his lip and shook his head. "No, that old man already sent me to support Ye Tingyu, and he trusts me completely. If he were to send someone else, he'd definitely inform me. There's no way he'd plant someone without giving me any notice."