Cen Huaishan had taken an overnight high-speed train. When he arrived, the first thing he heard from inside the room was: “Hahaha…”
The old man was puzzled.
This voice… sounds a bit like that kid from the Xu family?
Pushing the door open, he was caught off guard by the sight of Xu Yao with his mouth wide open—whoa! So it really was him laughing!
Now the old man was even more confused.
“…Old Cen!” Upon seeing the newcomer, Xu Yao immediately stopped laughing, but the amusement still lingered in the corners of his eyes, impossible to hide.
“What’s so funny?” the old man muttered as he walked forward, his bushy mustache twitching.
“Ahem!” Xu Yao coughed lightly and instructed his subordinate, “Go pour some tea.”
The subordinate left, not forgetting to close the door behind him.
“Please, have a seat, sir.” Xu Yao quickly gestured.
Cen Huaishan didn’t stand on ceremony. He plopped onto the sofa and even crossed his legs comfortably.
“Didn’t you lose money yesterday? Why are you so happy today?”
“The other party is more tactful than I expected. They sent me this.” Xu Yao handed over a box.
Cen Huaishan didn’t take it, just glanced inside from Xu Yao’s hand. “That jade seal from Muhammad?”
“Mm.”
The old man pondered for a moment. “Tell me everything about this person in detail. You weren’t clear over the phone yesterday…”
Xu Yao directly pulled up the surveillance footage for him.
“…Right! That’s when they patted you on the back and rubbed rosin and pomelo leaf on you.”
“So, in your opinion, what’s their background?”
“Hard to say.” The old man stroked his mustache. “How about this—you arrange a meeting. I’ll see them in person.”
“Alright.”
…
When Jiang Fuyue received Xu Yao’s call, she and Liu Sisi were packing their things, preparing to return to Linhuai the next day.
“Dinner?”
“Yes. You gave me such a big gift, I should at least be a proper host and show my appreciation.”
“Time and place.”
…
After ending the call, Xu Yao nodded at Cen Huaishan. “It’s set.”
“Good. Then I’ll head back to the hotel, take a bath, and get some sleep. Let me tell you, naps are crucial for us old folks, blah blah blah…”
Only after sending the old man off and watching him walk away did Xu Yao finally exhale deeply.
That old geezer and his endless chatter… my ears can’t take it.
Not messing with him, not messing with him.
…
As night fell, Yongxing Street, the most bustling area in A City, lit up with neon lights and a dazzling array of colors.
Jiang Fuyue was still dressed as she had been when she went to the casino yesterday—tall, refined, and strikingly handsome.
Liu Sisi, however, had changed into a white dress, following beside the “man” like a quiet and elegant lotus flower.
As soon as they stepped into the restaurant lobby, a waiting attendant smiled and led them into a private dining room.
The room was spacious. Besides the round mahogany dining table, there was a partitioned tea area, and further inside, a restroom.
Xu Yao and an old man were already seated. When the two entered, the old man remained still, while Xu Yao stood up and invited Jiang Fuyue to sit.
The moment she sat down, she immediately noticed a sharp gaze falling upon her. Jiang Fuyue’s lips curled into a faint smile.
No need to look—she knew it was that old man scrutinizing her.
She ignored it, calmly picked up her teacup, and took a sip.
The old man seemed a bit surprised, even slightly suspicious, before suddenly speaking: “What do you think of this tea?”
Jiang Fuyue: “It’s alright. Quenches thirst.”
Cen Huaishan’s mouth twitched.
Xu Yao snapped his fingers, calling in the server. “Serve the dishes.”
During the meal, he introduced both sides—
“This is a respected elder of mine, surnamed Cen.”
“This is a new friend of mine, surnamed Jiang.”
Jiang Fuyue nodded slightly, crisp and straightforward. “Senior Cen.”
She openly began sizing up the old man. He looked to be in his sixties, slightly overweight, with a round face and plump earlobes—clearly someone blessed with good fortune.
His black, front-buttoned Tang suit was from a well-known domestic tailor, expensive and elegant. His hair was slicked back, glossy and well-maintained, with no visible gray strands—obviously dyed and regularly groomed.
The most distinctive feature was his thick, bushy mustache, neatly groomed and seemingly often stroked, giving it a smooth and tidy appearance.
In short, he was a meticulous and somewhat vain old man.
Oh, and he liked to stare people down with an air of scrutiny.
Cen Huaishan wanted to say: I’m not pretending to be sharp—I really am sharp, okay?!
Why do these young people never believe it…?
Tsk!
While Jiang Fuyue was assessing the old man, the old man was also evaluating “him.”
A man with feminine features—destined for a hard life.
Which made things even more curious…
How could someone like this possibly have better luck than that Xu family brat? And actually win millions of dollars from him?!
Holy shit! Millions! And in U.S. dollars!
This wasteful little punk…
As the old man and the young one locked eyes for an increasingly long time, the atmosphere grew more and more awkward.
Xu Yao coughed lightly and called for the waiter. “Serve the dishes!”
The tension was finally broken as both of them withdrew their gazes, and the mood gradually warmed up.
As expected of the most renowned restaurant in A City—the flavors were impeccable.
Jiang Fuyue gave due respect to the meal, earnestly tasting every dish and even asking the waiter for an extra bowl of rice.
Liu Sisi followed suit. She hadn’t eaten since noon, so she was now enjoying her feast to the fullest.
The two of them ate with such satisfaction that Xu Yao and Cen Huaishan were momentarily stunned.
“You two aren’t eating?” Jiang Fuyue asked between bites.
“Huh? Eating, of course, eating…” Xu Yao hurriedly picked up his chopsticks and grabbed the closest piece of sweet and sour pork.
Half a bite in, his entire face scrunched up from the overwhelming sour-sweet taste.
Meanwhile, Jiang Fuyue simply kept her head down, eating in peace, completely ignoring everything around her.
Cen Huaishan tried several times to speak, but seeing how deliciously the “kid” was eating, he suddenly didn’t know how to interrupt.
…Fine, might as well eat too.
And once he started, he had to admit—the food was indeed excellent! No wonder they were enjoying it so much.
Xu Yao kept waiting for the old man to speak, but after waiting what felt like an eternity, there was still no sound.
Turning his head—good grief!
The old man was munching away, his mouth greasy, nodding approvingly at every bite.
Well…
Forget it. Might as well eat too.
And so, what was supposed to be a tense, high-stakes dinner—full of hidden dangers and psychological maneuvers—ended up being nothing more than a hearty meal shared by four hungry diners.
At last, Jiang Fuyue was full. She pulled a napkin over and elegantly wiped her mouth.
Liu Sisi followed suit, setting down her chopsticks.
Xu Yao, seeing this, swallowed the last bite of his rib and sat up straight.
Cen Huaishan smacked his lips and regretfully glanced at the plate of tomato-stuffed tofu that was just out of his reach. “Hic~”
“……”
Looking at the towering pile of bones on the table, Xu Yao had to admit—he was shocked and confused.
Wasn’t this dinner supposed to be about gathering intel and figuring out her background?
What the h*ll did I just do?
Did I just… have a feast instead?!
On the other hand, the old man had no such concerns. He had eaten, and now, he could get down to business.
“So, where are you from, young friend?” he finally asked.
Jiang Fuyue: “The capital.”
“Oh, oh, the capital is a good place. And what do you do for a living?”
“I’m used to a carefree life—dabble in a bit of everything, but I don’t excel in anything.”
The old man’s mouth twitched. Smooth talker!
“That’s quite the humble statement. You must have a special skill, at least—otherwise, how would you know the unique properties of rosin and pomelo leaves?”
Here it comes.
Xu Yao tensed up, watching Jiang Fuyue’s face closely for any changes in expression.
Unfortunately, her demeanor remained utterly composed. “Rosin and pomelo leaves? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Still pretending? Fine, keep pretending!
Cen Huaishan let out a cold snort internally but maintained a polite smile. “If you don’t understand, then no one in the world would.”
Jiang Fuyue gave him a puzzled look.
D*mn, she’s good at acting.
Cen Huaishan’s expression darkened. He got straight to the point. “Who is your master? What sect do you come from? Being able to alter my ‘Five Ghosts Wealth Formation’ and win millions from this kid here—surely, you don’t belong to some no-name sect. Speak your name!”
Jiang Fuyue turned to Xu Yao and sighed softly. “Your elder must have had a few too many drunken shrimp. He’s not making any sense. You should take him home to rest. An elder’s health is no small matter—you need to be more mindful.”
Xu Yao: “???” (Why am I suddenly getting scolded?)
Cen Huaishan: “???” (Why am I suddenly being treated like a senile old man?)
Jiang Fuyue stood up. “It’s getting late, and dinner is done. I’ll take my leave now. Goodbye.”
With that, she walked off with Liu Sisi.
The old man immediately reacted and stepped forward to chase after her.
Xu Yao grabbed him. “Where are you going? Forget it. With that attitude, they’re not going to tell you anything.”
“I won’t ask—I’ll test him directly! Let’s see if he dare take my strike!”
And with that, he bolted out the door like a gust of wind.
Jiang Fuyue had just stepped out of the restaurant and was reaching the street corner when a burning talisman suddenly whizzed past her ear, radiating a faint heat.
She spun around instantly and struck back with a punch.
The movement was pure instinct—no time to think.
BANG!
The old man hit the ground, his left eye turning black and blue.
A few seconds later, he struggled to sit up, glaring at Jiang Fuyue in disbelief.
“Young people these days have no martial ethics! You—you—you—take a lesson from the mouse’s tail juice*!”
Jiang Fuyue: “???”
(*TL Note: “耗子尾汁” (hàozi wěi zhī) is a viral internet phrase derived from a mispronunciation of “好自为之” (hǎo zì wéi zhī), which means “take care of yourself” or “be mindful of your actions.” The phrase became a meme when an old man said it angrily in a viral video, and it’s now often used humorously.)
