NOVPUBAs the sky outside had darkened, Chen Nan finished the tea in his cup and slowly stood up, "President Wang, let’s leave it at that for today. I’ll head back now. Call me when you find those jade stones."
Wang Guodong quickly stood up and said, "Mr. Chen, would you like me to send someone to take you back?"
"That would be good."
Creating amulets was a huge drain on Chen Nan, and he didn’t want to have to hail a taxi after leaving the antique street.
After descending the stairs.
Wang Guodong’s driver was also waiting at the entrance of the Bo Yu Xuan, his vehicle a Maybach worth millions, exuding luxury and grandeur.
As soon as he got into the car, Xu Nuo called him to go to the Zelin Villa Hot Spring Resort Hotel. That day, she had booked a villa at the resort specifically to celebrate Lu Anran’s birthday.
By the time Chen Nan reached the resort hotel it was already half past seven in the evening.
Arriving at the villa Xu Nuo had booked, the parking lot was already filled with numerous luxury cars, with Mercedes-Benz and BMW being the most basic.
Beyond that, there were some supercars as well.
At that moment.
The villa was brightly lit, decorated with many fresh flowers and balloons, creating a warm atmosphere.
Next to the large hot spring pool stood a group of attractive men and women, especially the women, who had fiery figures and were dressed in sexy bikinis, looking quite sultry.
They were holding wine glasses, clinking drinks with those around them, occasionally bursting into hearty laughter.
As the star of the day.
Lu Anran was wearing a red strapless evening dress. Her makeup was exquisite and captivating, her fair skin looked even more tender against the red dress.
Every move she made exuded the charm of a mature woman. Although her face also bore a gentle smile, there was an underlying forced happiness in her expression.
Today was her birthday.
Many friends had come to congratulate her.
Logically, her mood should be very good.
But it was not.
One man she deeply loved had not appeared.
She knew that if she called him, he would surely come.
But she also knew that Chen Nan’s herbal tea shop had just opened, and it was a busy time. She didn’t want to disturb him.
Furthermore.
She knew Chen Nan didn’t like such lively places, didn’t like dealing with strangers.
That’s why she hadn’t called Chen Nan to tell him that it was her birthday today.
"Hey, what are you thinking about?"
Just as Lu Anran was lost in thought, a familiar voice reached her ears.
Lu Anran suddenly looked up, and when she saw Chen Nan, she initially thought she was hallucinating, her eyes revealing a look of disbelief.
"Isn’t... how did you come here?" Lu Anran looked at Chen Nan with surprise, feeling as if she were in a dream.
Chen Nan’s eyes were deep with reproach, "Today is your birthday, why didn’t you tell me?"
Lu Anran chuckled, "Don’t you dislike such occasions?"
Chen Nan shook his head helplessly, "I indeed don’t like these noisy events, but as long as you are here, I can overcome other issues."
"Hello, Brother Nan."
At this time.
Lu Anran’s younger brother, Lu Ming, approached with a smile, respectfully greeting Chen Nan.
Seeing how excited Lu Anran was in front of Chen Nan, everyone else became curious about his identity, with some even inquiring who Chen Nan was to Lu Anran.
In response, Lu Anran boldly wrapped her arm around Chen Nan’s wrist, acknowledging that Chen Nan was her boyfriend.
Lu Ming was utterly bewildered.
He knew Chen Nan was his sister’s lifesaver—the man who had saved her life—but he hadn’t realized they were now in a romantic relationship.
Although Chen Nan was two years younger than his sister, he didn’t mind at all.
But he was aware of how popular Chen Nan was with women at school.
Being with him, he didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing for his sister.
"Anran, I advise you not to be blindsided by love!" A tall, voluptuous woman in a black bikini, with a glamorous look in her eyes full of dissatisfaction, said to Chen Nan, "This guy might be handsome, but if I’m not mistaken, he’s with you for your money. You better be cautious!"
Hearing the other party maligning Chen Nan, a flicker of displeasure passed through Anran’s eyes, "Yangyang, Chen Nan is my lifesaver, and it was I who pursued him. I won’t allow you to speak ill of him."
"As for whether he’s after my money, I know better than you do."
"And even if he is really after my money, I don’t mind giving him all of mine!"
The woman named Yangyang showed a helpless look, "Your love-blind brain is really incurable!"
The handsome men and beautiful women nearby all showed bitter smiles. Anran, despite being a wealthy beauty from Jizhou’s high society, was well known to everyone for being foolishly enamored when in love.
However.
Everyone thought her foolish love had been cured after her failed marriage.
But now it seemed, not only had it not been cured,
It had even worsened.
Thinking about this, many people envied Chen Nan.
After all, having a foolishly enamored, wealthy, and beautiful girlfriend was something many men dreamt of!
"I heard it’s your birthday, so I prepared a gift specially for you; I’m not sure if you’ll like it." Chen Nan produced the Hetian seed-jade pendant he had purchased earlier.
Anran nodded repeatedly and happily, "I love it, as long as it’s from you, I’ll love it."
She stared at the jade pendant in Chen Nan’s hand and couldn’t help herself, "This pendant mustn’t have been cheap, right?"
"You say you only make several thousand a day with hard work, there’s no need to buy such an expensive gift for me."
"It makes me feel quite guilty."
With these words,
a dead silence fell around them.
Except for Xu Nuo, everyone was stunned, their expressions revealing shock.
Chen Nan could make tens of thousands a day?
Damn!
That was just outrageous!
It must be said, of those present here, although all were from affluent families with businesses of their own—except Anran and Xu Nuo—none could earn that much.
Chen Nan smiled and said, "This jade isn’t worth much, only a few thousand."
"That’s a relief," Anran sighed and her face lit up with happiness, "It’s not easy for you to earn money. I wouldn’t want you to overspend on me."
Just then,
a muscular, handsome man in his mid-twenties said coldly, "Chen Nan, why are you lying?"
"What is your real purpose in getting close to Anran?"
Chen Nan looked puzzled, "When did I lie?"
Zhao Jian snorted heavily, "You might fool Anran, but you can’t fool me. That piece of jade you’re holding is fake; it’s just a piece of artificially colored rock."
"I’m really confused. You make a substantial amount, so why would you give Anran a piece of junk stone?"
The crowd was in uproar, not expecting Zhao Jian to claim that the stone Chen Nan gifted was actually a piece of junk.
Chen Nan’s smile became thought-provoking, "How can you be so sure it’s just a junk stone?"
