Chapter 13: Chapter 12: Princess Bamboo Leaf

“It’s like this. Both families' proposals were perfect, especially our lake ecological park that integrates antiques with flora and fauna, which earned his great admiration. However, he stated that only those who truly love antiques and jade will put their heart into building it. He doesn't want a tragedy like the Fang Group's last time to happen again, so he intends to hold a stone gambling tournament to test us. To be precise, he wants to test you and Feng Yang.” Having reached the main business, Xiang Zelin stopped teasing and laid out the entire cause and effect in one breath.

“Oh? I didn't expect Director Wang to have such a taste. A stone gambling tournament? To make such a grand spectacle... if I don't show up to meet him, it would be quite disrespectful.” Yu Luoxuan’s long, well-proportioned fingers stroked his smooth chin. The ice in his eyes seemed to melt slightly, yet he spoke with his usual overwhelming dominance.

“But, Chairman Yu, you don't seem to know how to gamble on stones,” Xiang Zelin stated his superior's shortcoming with complete seriousness. He seemed to have grown accustomed to this and felt no impropriety in saying it.

“Tsk, you don't need to worry about that. Instead, there is something more important I need you to do.” Yu Luoxuan stood up unbothered. Xiang Zelin was his capable assistant and a rare, valued subordinate; if he were to fly into a rage and punish him just for speaking the truth, then he, Yu Luoxuan, would be no different from an incompetent tyrant. Relatively speaking, he preferred to listen to the opinions and suggestions of his subordinates; when it came to work, he was never vague.

“Isn't this a ring face? Is there something special about it?” Taking the small, transparent sealed bag handed to him by Yu Luoxuan, Xiang Zelin recognized the piece of jade at a glance. Although the quality was good, it wasn't particularly rare.

“Hmm, aren't you always the smart one? Take a guess.” Yu Luoxuan gave a mysterious smile, not intending to reveal the truth so quickly. The feeling of keeping someone in suspense was indeed quite pleasant; no wonder that freak Xiang Zelin found it so effective every time.

Xiang Zelin took it out of the transparent bag and examined it in his palm. He rarely frowned, but he did so now, saying with a feigned look of sudden realization, “You aren't planning to give this to Miss Yang, are you? For someone of your status, isn't that a bit petty? But then again, Miss Yang's recent fuss about getting married is likely just to get Young Master Yu's attention. With your charm, this jade ring should be more than enough.”

This was blatant teasing, and how could Yu Luoxuan not hear it? Upon hearing this, he seemed to withdraw his aura of coldness and returned to his usual manner, lying down lazily and saying with squinted eyes, “Oh, is that so? If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten her. However, she is not worthy of this jade.”

“No way?” Xiang Zelin dropped the joke and walked toward the fixed flashlight stand. From the moment Yu Luoxuan took out that ring face, he knew it wasn't as simple as it appeared. Given Yu Luoxuan's personality, he never did useless work, especially in a place as serious as his office.

“Did you find something?” Seeing Xiang Zelin's unpredictable expression shift from shock to confusion, then to disbelief, and finally freezing into an expression bordering on fanaticism, Yu Luoxuan knew the answer was coming soon. He jumped up and asked impatiently.

In truth, he didn't know any less than Xiang Zelin; his IQ was even higher. The reason he felt it was familiar but couldn't recall it was because he had been trapped in the mental loop created by Chen Yuyue, preventing his thoughts from diverging to other possibilities. From the beginning, he had assumed this jade with the special mark was produced by Chen Yuyue's family, and Chen Yuyue had insisted on this with great conviction. Therefore, his line of reasoning had been focused on which family it belonged to, rather than the jade itself.

Xiang Zelin lifted his eyes, his pale, thin lips trembling slightly as he said, “The 'Chen' mark, the Bamboo Leaf Princess, the earring...”

“Yes, that's it, the Bamboo Leaf Princess.” Yu Luoxuan felt a sudden enlightenment. Although Xiang Zelin's words were fragmented, it was enough for him. His previously blurred mind instantly cleared. The Bamboo Leaf Princess—no wonder it felt so familiar; how could he not be familiar with it?

But why would she possess such jade, or rather, why would her family possess such craftsmanship? Had that person's exclusive design been stolen by her family? Countless thoughts flashed through Yu Luoxuan's mind. Gripping the ring face in his hand, he felt immense anger, disgust, and contempt toward Chen Yuyue's family for such plagiarism. Nothing had ever brought him a sense of shock quite like that person's work.

“Chairman Yu, where did you get this? Who could imitate it so perfectly? If we can get them into Shangwo Antiques, we will be like a tiger with wings added.” Xiang Zelin finally recovered from his shock, adamantly insisting it was a counterfeit because the person who truly designed it no longer existed. At the same time, he could hardly suppress the excitement in his heart; one had to know that a good jade carver was extremely rare.

“I have my own ways. You don't need to worry about this.” Yu Luoxuan swept a cold glance over him, his tone carrying a clear warning.

There were some things he could discuss with brothers like Wu Enfan, whom he had grown up with, but he would never let his subordinates know. Although he sometimes treated Xiang Zelin as a close friend, his primary identity was his subordinate, and that was something that could never change.

“Yes, Chairman Yu. Zelin was speaking without thinking.” A flash of gloom and disappointment crossed Xiang Zelin's gentle face before he returned to normal. If one stripped away the prestige of being the Deputy Manager of Hongxing, no one would know that he was once just one of many high-achieving graduates standing far on the outside, fanatically wishing to enter the Golden Triangle. But what made him different from them, leading to his status today, was that he didn't just view entering the Golden Triangle as the finish line, but viewed following Yu Luoxuan as his life's pursuit. And no one knew how much he had sacrificed for this.

“Mm, go and get busy. You will know what you need to know sooner or later,” Yu Luoxuan said mildly, waving his hand.

Just as Xiang Zelin was about to turn and leave, he suddenly remembered something else: “There is one matter that requires instructions. Regarding the stone gambling tournament, do we need to hire several famous stone gambling masters? Additionally, Director Wang mentioned that a partner must be brought along. Should I notify Miss Yang to prepare?”

“No need. Since Director Wang wants to test me and Feng Yang, he will naturally take the field himself. Don't worry, I still have a bit of luck.” Yu Luoxuan was full of confidence; this attitude of looking down upon the world was one of the reasons Xiang Zelin was willing to follow him for life.

“As for bringing a partner,” a dark silhouette flashed through Yu Luoxuan's mind, tugging at the corners of his sexy lips, “I have my own arrangements. Dismissed.”

Chen Yuyue—it would be a waste not to utilize such a good resource. Yu Luoxuan's wicked thoughts slowly expanded in his mind until a beautiful jazz ringtone sounded, interrupting his scheming. Indeed, the name displayed on the rose gold phone was Lin Shuhao.