Chapter 20: Trouble! Caught in the Act!

Page 1 of 3

An abandoned sofa lay quietly outside the gold shop.

Its leather had been cut into shreds.

Quite a crowd had gathered at the shop by then, all of them wealthy men and women adorned with gold and jade.

“This bronze tripod is truly a fine piece! I bought it for seven million—a fortune made!”

“That’s nothing compared to my jade burial suit. I hear the complete set is worth over a hundred million. Mine is only the helmet, but it’s still incredibly valuable.”

“They say this bracelet was once handled by the Qianlong Emperor himself. Look at that rich patina!”

Several wealthy men held the junk Chu Feng had collected, acting so convincingly they could have rivaled award-winning actors.

Outside the gold shop, Ma Long stuffed a check into Chu Feng’s hand.

“After deducting my commission, it’s sixty million.”

Even Ma Long had never expected Chu Feng to pull off such a trick.

He had used crude counterfeits that could be bought anywhere along the road as disguises, turning all of Ma Long’s money into legitimate earnings.

Even a complete novice would have realized at a glance that the pieces were obviously fake.

In fact, one of the ceramic jars even bore a factory stamp.

“Mr. Chu, you really are lucky! To find such a magnificent bargain…” Xuanxuan approached in a qipao and smiled faintly at him.

“Not at all.” Chu Feng smiled. “I’m the one who should apologize. I frightened you at the street stall last time, Miss Xuanxuan.”

“You certainly did frighten me. But I never expected you to know Zhang Fuqiang’s daughter. Could it be that you’re his future son-in-law?” Xuanxuan appeared gentle and docile, yet there was a probing note in her voice.

Chu Feng knew she was trying to find out more about him.

“We’re merely classmates.” He had no intention of continuing the conversation.

Xuanxuan was about to say more, but Ma Long stopped her with a glance.

Chu Feng noticed the little exchange.

“I’ll see you out,” Xuanxuan said. She brushed back her hair, revealing a small pink ear.

There was no denying that Xuanxuan had a stunning figure.

Her delicate, oval face and exquisite features, combined with her voluptuous figure, made her no less alluring than Li Xueli.

Slim where she should be slim, curvaceous where she should be curvaceous—she seemed utterly flawless.

“To celebrate my successful bargain, how about I treat you to some milk tea?” Chu Feng pointed toward the shop ahead.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

“Then I’ll gladly accept!” Xuanxuan smiled brightly.

A strange glint flashed through Ma Long’s eyes beside them. He smiled and said, “My niece just graduated from university. I’ll have to trouble you, little brother Chu, to teach her a thing or two about dealing with people. Tell her not to be so excitable all the time—she still acts like she hasn’t grown up.”

“Uncle~” Xuanxuan protested coyly.

She winked at Chu Feng. “I’m going to change clothes. Wait for me!”

Chu Feng lit a cigarette and nodded.

The night breeze brushed against his face, bringing a trace of coolness to the scorching summer evening.

Outside the antique street, Chu Feng and Xuanxuan walked side by side through the night market, each holding a cup of milk tea.

Meanwhile, Chu Feng searched his memories for anything he knew about Ma Long and Xuanxuan.

Unfortunately, all he knew about Ma Long was that the man had handled money transfers for the underground casino.

They had not been in the same cell block, after all, and in his previous life Chu Feng had never spoken to him.

“Mr. Chu, what’s wrong?” Xuanxuan asked when she noticed his silence.

Chu Feng was momentarily startled, then smiled. “Nothing. You should be two years older than me, Xuanxuan. Just call me Little Chu. We’re not in a business setting now, so there’s no need to be formal in private.”

Xuanxuan smiled. “I didn’t expect you to be so easygoing in private.”

“What? Do I usually look fierce?” Chu Feng rested his elbow on a railing and gazed at the artificial river in the distance.

Xuanxuan lowered her head and took a sip of milk tea without answering.

“Big brother, buy a rose for your sister!”

A little girl carrying a basket approached Chu Feng.

He looked over and saw a sweet child with her hair tied into two braids, apparently around eleven or twelve years old.

Then he remembered. “The Qixi Festival must be coming in a few days.”

His eyes fell on Xuanxuan. She had been staring at the roses, seemingly longing for one.

It was only natural. Girls were born with a fascination for beautiful things.

Flowers were one of them.

Chu Feng took out a ten-yuan bill. “I’ll take a yellow rose.”

“I’ll give you your change,” the little girl said.

“Keep it. Consider the rest my treat, so you can buy yourself some milk tea.” Chu Feng handed the rose to Xuanxuan. “Red roses represent love, while yellow roses represent friendship. We’ve gone from strangers to familiar acquaintances, so friendship seems just right.”

Xuanxuan held the rose beneath her nose and breathed in its fragrance.

It smelled wonderful.

“Thank you. This is the first time anyone has ever given me flowers.” She looked genuinely delighted.

“That can’t be right. A girl like you has never had anyone pursue you?” Chu Feng asked curiously.

Xuanxuan shook her head. Holding the yellow rose, she gazed at the stream of people in the distance.

“Some people are born carrying a destiny on their shoulders. Do you believe in fate?”

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

“Fate? I do…”

Chu Feng clenched his hand.

After all, he had been reborn. To make up for the regrets of his previous life and live this one on his own terms—that was his destiny.

Outside a café, Zhang Yanran and Yu Xiaoyu stepped out onto the street.

They had spent the day shopping, chatting, and laughing together.

“Most people would have told your father where you were the moment they saw him. Chu Feng is pretty decent—he kept your secret.” Yu Xiaoyu affectionately linked her arm through Zhang Yanran’s.

“Mm.” Zhang Yanran looked into the distance. “At least he still has a little conscience.”

“Actually, Chu Feng is fairly good-looking, Yanran… If you don’t like him, why not give him to me?” Yu Xiaoyu joked.

Yet Zhang Yanran’s heart gave a sudden jolt.

All this time, she had been accustomed to having Chu Feng cherish her as though she were the most precious thing in the world.

She had wondered what would happen if, one day, Chu Feng stopped pursuing her and another girl stood by his side.

Now that she thought about it, she was suddenly overwhelmed by a strange sense of insecurity.

All at once, Yu Xiaoyu’s expression stiffened. She stared fixedly ahead.

“What is it?” Zhang Yanran followed her gaze, and the sight before her left her mind completely blank.

She saw Chu Feng holding a rose out to a tall, beautiful girl.

In that instant, Zhang Yanran suddenly understood.

No wonder Chu Feng had stopped contacting her after what happened at the bar.

No wonder he kept saying he was busy.

Zhang Yanran’s face darkened at once.

Xuanxuan also noticed Zhang Yanran, and a trace of resentment appeared in her eyes.

Zhang Yanran felt her breathing grow heavy, as though something that belonged to her had suddenly been snatched away.

How could Chu Feng do this?

Just because she had not yet agreed to let him pursue her, he had gone off with another girl…

She shook her head, and tears instantly spilled from her eyes. In the next moment, she turned and ran into the distance.

“Yanran!” Yu Xiaoyu cried out.

She hurried to grab her, but failed to catch her.

Chu Feng stared in astonishment. “Xiaoyu? What are you two doing here?”