Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Capital of Lin, Part Four

Last night, they reheated the cold takeout, and that was how everyone ended up with a rather uninspiring “gourmet meal.” Some things can only be cooked once; repeat the process, and the flavor simply isn’t the same.

At dawn, everyone was up unusually early. The two women were dressed particularly beautifully today, each in a casual little dress. These were the ones they’d bought at the mall last time, still unworn until now.

“You two look stunning today,” Boss Jin couldn’t help but tease, though he lamented to himself that he didn’t have a girlfriend, yet again left to watch others enjoy themselves. It seemed he’d have to find a well-matched young lady to marry.

An Feng and Leng Xue nodded; dressed in skirts, they seemed more like the sweet girls next door than the professionals they usually were.

Qian Yin and Mo Lan blushed deeply. Though praise from friends was always pleasant, to hear it spoken so openly was dreadfully embarrassing. They smiled awkwardly, then sat down to breakfast—only to discover that, surprisingly, no takeout had been ordered today.

“No breakfast? Are we in such a hurry?” Mo Lan eyed Boss Jin suspiciously. Weren’t auctions usually held in the afternoon or evening? It couldn’t possibly be so early.

“We’re going out to eat. A few friends invited me to breakfast, and I’m bringing all four of you along,” Boss Jin announced, heading straight out the door. Mo Lan and the others had no choice but to follow and drive over together.

Mo Lan suddenly thought that being the boss wasn’t so bad after all; people were always inviting you to meals. Her father, for instance, never lacked a seat at the table, his days full of banquets and gatherings—he couldn’t have avoided them even if he’d wanted to.

They split into three cars as usual. Qian Yin sat in the front passenger seat, holding Leng Xue’s hand and idly playing with his fingers. From time to time, she glanced at his hand to see if there were any scars—after all, as a hitman, he was bound to have picked up a few injuries.

But she noticed that his hand, aside from being a little rough, was actually quite attractive—long, slender fingers and beautiful bones, with hardly a scar, though somewhat tanned.

“All these years as a hitman, and you don’t have a single scar?” Qian Yin asked curiously.

“There’s one on my chest. It’s still there,” Leng Xue replied, a flash of coldness in his eyes. That scar wasn’t from his years as a hitman, but from a year before he ever took up the profession. The one who left it had yet to be found, but when he did, he’d make sure that person suffered and wished he’d never been born.

“Show me one day,” Qian Yin said, her tone full of concern. Though he’d worked as a killer for so long, she herself had barely any scars—just a small one on the back of her hand, courtesy of Mo Lan, hardly worth mentioning.

Leng Xue turned crimson. He was a decent man, never had he bared himself before anyone, and here was Qian Yin, a young woman, saying such bold things.

Qian Yin, noticing the sudden silence, glanced up to see his ears flushed red. She burst out laughing. This man was far too adorable—so different from those “commonplace, unremarkable” types outside.

They arrived at the restaurant in no time. Upon entering the private room, they realized there were some familiar faces—Boss Wang from Nanjing, of all people. Fate had certainly brought them together again. Last time, Mo Lan had nearly lost her temper and dealt with him herself, if not for An Feng’s intervention.

“You’re here, please sit,” the other bosses, recognizing Boss Jin, didn’t even bother to raise their heads, simply gesturing for them to take their seats.

Once seated, the bosses stared at the four of them for a long time. Since there were other bosses present, the two bodyguards couldn’t join them at the table. The most awkward of all was Boss Wang, confronted once more by this group. He hadn’t yet settled the score with them from last time in Nanjing, and here they were, brazenly appearing again.

“Boss Wang, long time no see,” Mo Lan was the first to greet him, her gaze so sharp it made people uneasy.

“The gift we prepared for you last time—did you enjoy it?” An Feng chimed in, stirring the pot. As long as Mo Lan was pleased, he could act nonchalant. He needed to practice these behind-the-scenes maneuvers, otherwise, how could he protect Mo Lan from being bullied in the future?

Boss Wang sat awkwardly, not daring to offend Boss Jin. He was only here today thanks to a friend’s connections. Boss Jin was a titan in the jade industry—who would dare cross him?

“You know each other?” Boss Jin was surprised. He hadn’t expected Mo Lan and An Feng to be acquainted with those people; after all, Boss Wang was the owner of an herbal shop. But thinking about how well-connected their families were, it wasn’t all that strange.

“Not only do we know him, but our relationship is quite… intricate,” Qian Yin interjected. Boss Wang was a shady character, fond of underhanded tricks and kicking people when they were down. Boss Jin really shouldn’t partner with such a man—he’d only end up suffering for it.

Boss Jin listened, rather puzzled, but having known the four for some time, he could read between the lines. It was clear their relationship with Boss Wang was less than friendly, and that he’d managed to get on their bad side.

Boss Jin had no interest in befriending people his friends didn’t like. After all, good friends were for life, and making the wrong friends would only lead to unnecessary detours.

The other bosses, sensing the tension in the room, hurriedly said, “Let’s eat breakfast first. We’ll head to the auction together later—any issues can be discussed another time.”

“Yes,” Boss Jin agreed, picking up his chopsticks and starting to eat. The others did the same, keeping their heads down. The place was a small restaurant, not very large, but the breakfast was excellent. The bosses focused on their food, while Boss Wang sat awkwardly, hardly able to eat, every bite tasting like wax in his mouth.

After breakfast, Boss Jin glanced around to see that everyone was done. They each got into their own cars and headed to the auction. Mo Lan and An Feng gave Boss Wang a meaningful look as they left.

The auction was held in Building A, in the first-floor hall. There were round tables in the center between two aisles, and all around were chairs and tables packed with people. Many were already seated, greeting and chatting with one another.

Boss Jin sat in the middle, the four of them taking seats on either side. The two bodyguards stayed outside, as they weren’t allowed in. Some people had brought secretaries, others brought friends.

The place was noisy, filled with constant chatter, as the auction hadn’t officially begun yet. No food was served—only a bottle of mineral water for each person.

“Boss Jin, what’s being auctioned this time? Is it yours?” Mo Lan asked, wondering if Boss Jin had put up the “Rainbow Jade” for sale.

“Yes, I’ve arranged for someone else to auction it, without revealing it’s mine,” Boss Jin replied. He needed to let the world gradually learn of his “Rainbow Jade,” but he couldn’t auction it under his own name—otherwise, people would come after him in droves.

Hearing this, the four understood that Boss Jin was a shrewd man who knew how to make the right choices. They fell silent, waiting quietly for the auction to begin.