SDVPP Chapter 44

The very center of the ancient street was the location of the Fang family ancestral residence. The front gate still preserved the original old-time decorations: two stone-carved auspicious beasts, one crouching and one sitting, stood on either side, exuding a heavy sense of solemnity and the weight of years.

Besides the people from the Jade Appraisal Association, many other influential figures had also come.

Although everyone privately had mixed opinions about Fang Jingluo taking over, on the surface, the relationships and respect still needed to be maintained.

It was nearly noon now. The first and second floors inside the ancestral residence were already filled with banquet tables, and everyone was happily walking inside together.

Fang Jingluo loosened his tie a little, his face faintly showing some impatience.

The person he had sent to find Chi Han reported that Chi Han had already left, so why hadn’t the person stationed at the ancient street gate received him yet?

The temperature was gradually rising, and people’s hearts were becoming more restless.

Fang Jingluo’s interest in new things had always been short-lived. What he liked today, he might discard tomorrow without any regret.

Even though he was reluctant to part with the ornaments carved by “Han”, nothing seemed to stay on him for more than two days.

The longest-lasting affection Fang Jingluo ever had was all given to Xu Ting alone.

This was also why, back when Xu Ting hadn’t gone abroad yet, he was envied and resented by many.

What could be more precious than the devotion of a man who was otherwise fickle?

From afar, Chi Han looked at that tall young man who, despite his slightly sullen expression, still carried an elegant and captivating demeanor. A trace of mockery flashed in his eyes.

Such a wasted face.

The author must have been thinking with a toilet in his head to come up with such a character setup, right?

Rong Xu slightly lifted his delicate chin and turned his eyes to glance at Chi Han.

But when he realized that Chi Han’s gaze was directed at Fang Jingluo, the charming allure in his brows and eyes instantly sank, carrying a hint of seductive sharpness. The slender tails of his eyes were like bee stingers ready to strike.

The assistant standing nearby caught a glimpse of this and instantly sobered up.

He looked at Chi Han, who was still staring at Fang Jingluo, and couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Good heavens, good heavens.

Did this little boss not dare lower his head and take a look at the expression of the person standing next to him?!

In fact, Chi Han hadn’t been looking at Fang Jingluo for a while. His attention had always been focused on the high-ranking officials and dignitaries entering the old residence.

Ordinary people naturally didn’t qualify to go in, but that didn’t stop them from gathering around to watch.

Several children sat on their fathers’ shoulders, craning their necks to peer inside. This scene—how to put it…

Chi Han had once seen something similar at a zoo.

Looking at the carver Lu Min, who was repeatedly being pulled to the front and shown off by Old Master Fang, a faint, cold smile appeared at the corner of Rong Xu’s lips.

After all this buildup, the real show was finally about to begin.

Just at that moment, Fang Jingluo’s uncle happened to arrive late, still wearing his usual warm and amiable smile.

Ever since the last time the two of them had each brought someone to meet Old Master Fang, Fang Chen hadn’t shown up again.

For no other reason than that the person Fang Chen had found was truly unpresentable in terms of skill.

Old Master Fang had been deeply embarrassed. He had always thought Fang Chen’s biggest flaw was in character, but he hadn’t expected his judgment to have declined so much as well.

Compared to the exquisite craftsmanship of the “Han” that Fang Jingluo had brought, the person Fang Chen had brought could only be described as utterly mediocre.

That very night, Fang Chen was driven out by Old Master Fang, who was in a fury.

Not long after, news came out that Fang Jingluo would be taking over.

Facing all the varied gazes around him, Fang Chen’s smile didn’t falter in the slightest.

He glanced unobtrusively at Rong Xu, who stood behind the distant crowd. His fox-like eyes curved a little more.

Back when he discovered that “Han” was actually Chi Han, he had indeed developed some improper thoughts.

The position of the Fang family head was far too important to him. For that seat, using a few underhanded tricks was nothing unusual.

Besides, it’s not like he wasn’t going to offer Chi Han something in return.

Just as he was about to make his move, however, a hand from the shadows quietly gripped his lifeline—Xianyu.

“Xianyu” was the result of years of his hard work. Fang Chen had poured endless effort into turning it into the most renowned jade store aside from the Fang family’s own flagship shop, Mo Fei Ge Store.

He hadn’t expected that recently, resources had been snatched from him one after another. At first, Fang Chen thought it was Old Master Fang stepping in to punish him. But when he got to the bottom of it, it turned out to be that wheelchair-bound youth with a pair of naturally cold eyes.

The first time he met Rong Xu in the true sense, Fang Chen immediately realized that he had probably misjudged this person all along.

All these years, under the deliberate influence of the Rong family’s madam, Xu Man, everyone in the Rong household had treated Rong Xu as a good-for-nothing.

But who would believe that this so-called “useless” young man had once been a top-performing student before his legs were crippled, and had been the heir apparent in the eyes of the Rong family patriarch, Rong Guanyu?

Things only changed after both his grandmother and mother passed away, and Xu Man married into the family.

After learning about what had happened back then, Fang Chen couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

What a pity.

Rong Xu swept his phoenix eyes over, sharp and piercing to the extreme.

Fang Chen suddenly found himself thinking that perhaps, in the future, Xu Man would come to regret what she had done back then.

If she knew that Rong Xu’s wolf-like nature now had been forged bit by bit by her own hand, she might’ve been better off just raising Rong Xu as a pampered and idle nobleman, letting him live out his days in peace and luxury.

After getting tripped up by Rong Xu a few times in a row, Fang Chen wisely invited him out alone and sincerely promised that he would absolutely not lay a finger on Chi Han.

But to his surprise, Rong Xu turned around and threw him a person, then demanded that within two weeks, this person be trained to become a counterfeit version of “Han”.

As long as he could replicate a one-of-a-kind jade piece, something never publicly seen before, to the point of both visual and spiritual likeness, that would be enough.

According to Rong Xu’s instructions, Fang Chen deliberately leaked information about “Han”, then “accidentally” let Fang Jingluo recruit the man.

In the end, he had no choice but to hastily find someone random to handle the meeting, only to be kicked out by Old Master Fang.

And just like that, under Fang Chen’s flawless performance, Lu Min, who barely knew the basics of carving, was smoothly inserted beside Fang Jingluo. With just two weeks of intensive training, he even earned the honor of publicly carving at the succession ceremony.

Fang Chen withdrew his gaze, his smile as soft as silk and as sharp as a blade.

He was quite curious. What kind of wonderful expression would Fang Jingluo’s ever-dignified grandfather show a little later?

Fang Chen let out a quiet chuckle.

He truly couldn’t wait to see it.

***

“Alright, let’s go in too.”

Rong Xu adjusted his cuffs, habitually reaching for the safety talisman pendant at his chest. But when his fingertips brushed against nothing, he remembered—it had shattered in the rain last time.

He pressed his lips together and turned his gaze to Chi Han.

“You—”

Chi Han immediately shot him a glare and snapped, “Are you trying to make me wait outside again?”

He bent down, his face dark with frustration. “What, is someone in the Fang family going to eat you alive or what? At least if someone tries to bully you, I can beat them up. Worst case, I can grab you and run!”

Rong Xu held back, but the smile in his eyes couldn’t quite be concealed.

He let out a muffled laugh and nodded. “Then I’ll thank Young Master Chi in advance for saving my life.”

Chi Han tilted his head back and gave a couple of proud snorts, then began pushing the wheelchair toward the entrance of the Fang family’s ancestral residence.

He didn’t know why Rong Xu was so set on going in, but since the other wanted to, he’d go with him. Simple as that.

At the entrance, Fang Jingluo’s expression was growing increasingly impatient. But when he saw the figures approaching from a distance, a spark of light finally flickered in his eyes.

“Chi Han.”

Fang Jingluo curled his lips, brimming with certainty and confidence.

His gloomy gaze swept over Rong Xu, filled with disdain.

The one standing next to Chi Han wouldn’t be him for much longer.

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