It was all there in black and white—the evidence was irrefutable.
Zhou Shenping’s face fluctuated between shades of pale and livid. As he recalled his desperate attempt to argue his case just moments ago, he felt like nothing more than a clown performing a futile struggle.
"Damn it! You motherf—"
The sudden reversal of fortune was too much; Zhou Lin had completely snapped. As he hurled insults, he rolled up his sleeves, ready for a brawl.
But while the son might be a hotheaded fool, the father was not about to lose his composure. The contract had been signed and sealed, and the outcome was set. If they continued to make a scene now, they would only be shooting themselves in the foot.
"Enough! Are you not embarrassed enough? Come with me!" Zhou Shenping’s face was dark. He no longer had the heart to stir up trouble for Brocade Pavilion. He grabbed the only remaining antique on the table and stormed out.
There was nothing for it. No matter how much Zhou Lin seethed with resentment, he had no choice but to glare spitefully at Yang Fan and slink out of Brocade Pavilion in defeat.
"Yang Fan, you’re something else! Your planning was airtight."
"You said it! If it weren’t for our brother Fan stepping up today, those two wouldn't have been put in their place!"
"Brother Fan, you’re the hero of Brocade Pavilion!"
A group of people gathered around Yang Fan, giving him thumbs-ups and showering him with praise.
Embarrassed by the adulation, Yang Fan scratched his head and laughed. "It wasn't that much. If Sister Jing and this old gentleman hadn't arrived in time, people like Boss Zhou would have surely found other ways to give us trouble."
"All right, Yang Fan, there’s no need to be modest." Su Jing was a seasoned businessperson with a sharp eye for character; just looking at the recent farce, she had already deduced the ulterior motives of the Zhou father and son. Had Yang Fan not been so meticulous, the famous painting would likely have slipped right through their fingers.
"Oh, right!" At the mention of the painting, Su Jing recalled the old man’s staggering offer and couldn't help but ask, "Old Qin, the market price for this *Yuxi Painting* is only 3.7 million. Why pay an extra 300,000?"
Old Qin stroked his beard and smiled pleasantly. "Boss Su, you don't understand. A painting by Zhang Zeduan isn't just a commodity; it’s a collector's item. Look at his late works—the *Along the River During the Qingming Festival* and the *West Lake Competition*. Aren't they all hanging in museums? If I can obtain one of his works, what does a little extra over the market price matter? It’s worth it!"
Seeing the man’s genuine passion, Su Jing was more than happy to finalize the transaction. She had Yang Rong pack the painting in a high-quality box worth a thousand yuan before handing it to Old Qin.
"Old Qin, please, take care with this!"
Taking the scroll, Old Qin beamed as if he had just discovered a priceless treasure. "Excellent, excellent! Many thanks, my dear. I shall come to visit again another day!"
Su Jing’s expression remained calm, wearing only a faint smile, but inside, she was overjoyed. With Old Qin’s endorsement, Brocade Pavilion’s reputation in the antique world was well and truly solidified.
"Yang Fan, we owe this entirely to you. Brocade Pavilion wouldn't have turned this crisis into such a blessing without you." Once Old Qin had left, Su Jing made no attempt to hide her delight. She took out her phone and transferred money to Yang Fan. "This million is your reward. Keep up the good work!"
A million?!
He had never seen so much money in his entire life. Looking at the balance on his phone, Yang Fan’s hands trembled with excitement. He felt like breaking into a tap dance right there on the spot.
"Thank you, Sister Jing! This is the first million I’ve ever had in my life!"
Seeing his excitement, Su Jing couldn't help but be infected by his energy. Deciding to be generous to the end, she waved at Yang Rong and smiled. "Yang Rong, you’ve worked hard today as well. I’ll double your commission. Also, take an extra half-day of paid leave. Go and relax."
"You got it, Sis!"
Yang Rong’s eyes lit up. The commission was one thing, but for a working girl, paid leave was the ultimate joy!
"Yang Fan, to celebrate your first million, I’ve decided..."
"You’re taking me out for a luxurious feast!"
As soon as they stepped out of Brocade Pavilion, Yang Rong let her true nature out, teasing her younger brother as she liked. Yang Fan enjoyed it, too. He had been an unwanted orphan until the grandmother who scavenged for recyclables took him in. There were three other girls in the house who had been picked up by the same kind-hearted woman, and Yang Rong was one of them.
Although they weren't blood-related, the gears of fate had bound them together for life, allowing Yang Fan to experience the warmth and deep love of a family.
It was just a pity...
"If only Grandma were still here," Yang Fan sighed, feeling a pang of sorrow.
Yang Rong, despite her boisterous exterior, was the most sensitive of the four siblings. Thinking of the unconditional love their grandmother had given them, her eyes turned red, and she choked back a sob. "I know. If Grandma were still here, we could finally repay her and let her live in comfort. And our eldest and second sisters—they would come back to Fengcheng more often..."
Yang Fan knew enough about their second sister, Yang Qin—she was an assistant to a popular celebrity, constantly swamped with work and without a moment to spare. But their eldest sister, Yang Lan, was as good as missing; they hadn't heard from her in two years.
Yang Fan started to bring it up, but seeing his third sister’s teary eyes, he feared she would break down completely. He quickly pointed toward the Lanxin Restaurant nearby to change the subject. "Third Sister, didn't you want a luxurious feast? Let’s go here!"
"Lanxin Restaurant? No, absolutely not. The food there is outrageously expensive. A glass of plain water costs eighteen yuan!" Yang Rong recoiled in protest.
Lanxin Restaurant was famous among the upper crust. It had top-tier service and a pianist for ambiance, but that was for the wealthy. For people like them who were used to living frugally, any place was a good place to eat. Whether it was barbecue or hot pot, didn't they all count as a feast?
"Oh, come on, Third Sister!"
Yang Fan knew she was just worried about money, fearing this might be a one-time windfall. But what she didn't know—and what he knew all too well—was that with his new X-ray Vision, this million was only the beginning.
"I’ve got a million in my pocket. What does spending ten or twenty thousand matter? I’ll still have over nine hundred thousand left!" Yang Fan puffed out his chest and said grandly, "Come on, today is all about treating ourselves!"
Truth be told, the same situation looks very different depending on your perspective.
Yang Rong eased her mind and followed Yang Fan into Lanxin Restaurant with enthusiasm, determined to enjoy the experience. However, as the dishes were brought to the table, they both stood there, stunned.
"Excuse me... I didn't order a 'growing salad,' did I? Why did you bring us a pot of soil?"
"And this? The beef isn't even cooked. It's still oozing blood..."
Yang Fan’s mouth twitched. He really couldn't help but ask. He was completely baffled by the two signature dishes the waiter had recommended.
"Sir, this is our signature 'Growing Salad.' If you pour water into it, vegetables will sprout. Both the soil and the produce are edible. As for the beef, you ordered it medium-rare. It is quite normal for it to appear that way. If you are not accustomed to it, I can take it back to the kitchen and have it cooked to medium-well."
The waiter explained politely, his voice at a moderate volume. The sudden little incident drew stares from the surrounding diners, their eyes filled with the condescension and disdain of the elite.
Among them was someone Yang Fan knew all too well.
"You low-life scum!"
"My sister just gave birth to your son and walked through the gates of hell to do it, and you haven't been home for days! So this is what you’ve been doing—finding a mistress behind her back!"