Chapter 167: Teasing Junior Sister in Public
Although the Pei Family’s status in Sijiucheng was not as high as the Jin Family’s, they were still a force to be reckoned with in the circle of the powerful and influential.
Madam Pei’s casual glance carried an unspoken deterrent.
Lian Li suddenly had a bad premonition, her eyelids twitching almost imperceptibly.
“What is it?” Her expression was gentle, her tone adopting the respectful pitch of a junior.
“There are many types of red jade, but natural red jade is very rare,” Madam Pei said, touching the cool jade, her voice even and slow. “These two pieces of cinnabar jade have natural color, even distribution, internal natural inclusions and fine textures, and a unique luster. They are antique jewelry, ultimate treasures, possessing an unreplicable scarcity.”
Since ancient times, Chinese people have greatly revered the color red, believing it to be a symbol of auspiciousness and joy, and capable of warding off evil and ensuring peace.
Red jade is rare and precious, and in ancient times, it only circulated within imperial courts and royal families. Lian Li’s jade pendant has a bright and vivid color and a clean, firm texture. Most red jade publicly sold on the market today is impure. Those who can obtain such jade are extraordinary.
Lian Li listened intently, while Pei Qingji remained silent beside her, thoughtfully pouring tea. He was brewing the tea house’s specialty, named “Jinghua Yunyan” (Capital Mist and Smoke), its aroma like clouds and mist, possessing a rather ethereal artistic conception.
Finally, Madam Pei said, “May I take a couple of photographs?”
Lian Li replied, “Of course.”
Upon hearing this, Pei Qingji proactively opened his mobile phone’s camera and took two photos of the red jade pendant bracelet placed on the table, no more, no less.
“I’ll need to check the information when I get back. I’ll have Qingji sync the details to you then, alright?” Madam Pei held a high position, yet she had no airs about her.
Lian Li felt grateful, her eyes glistening with a genuine smile. “Then I’ll trouble you.”
“Secretary Bai is waiting outside. I’ll escort you out.” Pei Qingji glanced at his wristwatch, finished speaking with his mother, and then said to Lian Li, “Junior Sister, please wait here for me for a moment.”
Lian Li nodded, politely stood up, and watched Madam Pei leave until their figures disappeared from sight. Only then did she sit back down and put the bracelet back on her wrist.
Over the years, she hadn’t failed to ask gem appraisers for help in researching it, but the answers were always inquiries about whether she wanted to sell it. The jade was excellent, and its origin didn’t matter as long as it was from a legitimate channel.
For merchants, profit was paramount, but for Lian Li, understanding her origins was crucial to moving forward better.
Her mother’s burden had firmly trapped her, encompassing regret, feeling wronged, unwillingness, desire, anticipation… almost all the emotions in the human world.
While she was contemplating.
Pei Qingji returned, walked around the mountain and river screen, and said gently and elegantly, “Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride.”
“Wangfu No. 1,” Lian Li said without pleasantries.
Pei Qingji asked, “Meeting someone for a meal?”
Lian Li wasn’t sure if Xue Shufan had informed Pei Qingji about her blind date, so she replied, “Yes, I’m meeting my Senior Sister.”
As they exited the VIP private room, they happened to encounter Jin Shuyu, who was instructing staff to prepare tea. She wore a black qipao embroidered with gold, her hair simply styled with a jade hairpin, exuding an elegant and graceful demeanor, as flawless as a sculpture.
Every time Lian Li saw Jin Shuyu, she felt a sense of conflict. She was both gentle and elegant, yet also upright and assertive, like a versatile female spy from the Republic of China era.
Since Jin Shuyu was busy, Lian Li and Pei Qingji didn’t greet her and calmly and quietly left the tea house.
After taking four or five steps, before reaching the door, they unexpectedly bumped into an acquaintance.
A familiar figure in a black suit entered Lian Li’s vision. The man had an excellent build, and the exquisite suit he wore exuded a calm and aloof aura.
Jin Shi Yue stood before Lian Li, accompanied by a beautiful woman with slightly curly, shoulder-length hair.
Although the woman’s attire was simple and elegant, it was clear she came from a scholarly family, a young lady of status.
Lian Li knew her: the renowned war correspondent Xu Jingxi, famous for her outstanding professional skills and beauty, even more popular than celebrities. Many people at school were her fans.
Xu Jingxi glanced at Lian Li, then shifted her gaze and said to Pei Qingji, “Young Master Pei.”
“Reporter Xu,” Pei Qingji replied politely. He subtly glanced at Jin Shi Yue, whose gaze seemed to rest casually on Lian Li’s face.
“Are your eyes in the back of your head?” Jin Shi Yue said, casting a light glance at her.
Lian Li’s gaze subtly swept over Jin Shi Yue and Xu Jingxi, and she calmly said, “Brother Shi Yue.”
Xu Jingxi seemed quite surprised. She glanced at Jin Shi Yue, then at Lian Li, appraising this composed young woman.
Pei Qingji was accustomed to Jin Shi Yue’s public ‘teasing’ of Lian Li.
Despite Second Young Master Jin’s usual aloofness, when he truly cared, he was as cunning as a peacock, wishing the other person would pay attention to him at all times.
“Jingxi,” Jin Shuyu’s voice came, laced with a smile.
Lian Li and Pei Qingji didn’t linger. They bid farewell and headed out.
As Lian Li brushed past Jin Shi Yue, he silently extended a long finger and tickled her palm.
A ticklish sensation arose, and Lian Li suppressed it, not looking back.
Jin Shuyu, not far away, saw their small interaction and narrowed her eyes.
That brat, still saying they weren’t girlfriend and boyfriend.
Lian Li took Pei Qingji’s car to Wangfu No. 1.
On the way, Xue Shufan called her, asking where she was and how long it would take to arrive.
“About ten minutes,” Lian Li replied.
Xue Shufan hummed, “I’ve sent you the information about the person I’m meeting for a blind date. Take a look.”
Lian Li found it amusing, “Are you going on a blind date or am I?”
“You’re my closest Junior Sister, so anyone I meet for a blind date must first be approved by you,” Xue Shufan said, taking a sip of her latte, enthusiastic about vetting men for her Junior Sister.
Lian Li smiled and agreed, “Then I’ll help my dearest Senior Sister take a look.”
After hanging up the phone.
Lian Li tapped on WeChat to view Xue Shufan’s blind date’s resume. He was a doctoral graduate from Jing University’s School of Medicine, from a medical family, and had a handsome appearance. He seemed to be a reliable doctor.
Pei Qingji leaned slightly to the side and asked Lian Li, “Is Xue Shufan on a blind date?”
He had likely overheard, and there was no point in hiding it now. Lian Li replied, “Yes.”
Pei Qingji paused while flipping through a contract, his hand stiffening, almost creasing the smooth white paper.
Upon arriving at Wangfu No. 1, Lian Li got out of the car, thanked Pei Qingji, and then entered the hotel.
Her blind date hadn’t arrived yet. Xue Shufan was sitting at their table, listlessly eating Hokkaido gold leaf ice cream.
Lian Li ordered the same ice cream and asked while eating, “The doctor’s information is quite comprehensive, even detailing how many relationships he’s had.”
“Whether it’s true or not remains to be seen,” Xue Shufan said. “Many people like to pretend they haven’t dated to deceive others.”
For some reason, Lian Li thought of Jin Shi Yue.
Seeing her Junior Sister lost in thought, Xue Shufan waved her hand in front of her eyes. “What are you thinking about?”
“Do you know Xu Jingxi?” Lian Li asked.
“Xu Jingxi,” Xue Shufan repeated the name, then thought for a moment and said, “I don’t know her personally, but I know of her. She’s the daughter of the Director of the Municipal Station, a graduate of the University of Southern California, and a famous reporter in the journalism industry.”
“Why are you suddenly asking about her?”
