Qigong Master
After Ye Qian's rejection, Huo Xuan had cautiously approached Liu Ting—a quiet classmate who spent lunch breaks buried in textbooks. It took five months of tentative interactions before their hands brushed during a library study session, sparking a chaste courtship.
Graduation loomed when Liu Ting's parents—C-grade municipal clerks subsisting on 4,000 yuan monthly—discovered the romance.
"Marry this gutter rat?" Her mother's mahjong tiles clattered with fury. "Your face is our marital asset!"
Liu Ting's resolve crumbled like stale steamed buns. The breakup letter arrived typed—not handwritten—on graduation eve.
Ye Qian's invitation had mentioned Liu Ting's attendance. Closure, not reconciliation, propelled Huo Xuan's decision.
"First loves carve permanent grooves," Lin Yue murmured, lacquered nails tracing her jade pendant.
"Will you accompany this walking wound?" Huo Xuan's grin held shattered glass.
Lin Yue's Patek Philippe glinted as she checked her schedule. "My Wednesday just cleared."
That day, Huo Xuan accompanied Lin Yue to several Lin family jewelry stores in Jiangzhou's prime locations. One flagship store on Central Street—purchased at 66,000 yuan per square meter for a total area of 2,000 sqm—made him realize the astronomical costs of prime real estate.
After touring the stores, Lin Yue led him to a café. "Still confident, junior?"
To her surprise, Huo Xuan's eyes blazed with calculations:
Rent: 1,000 sqm × 200-300 yuan/day × 365 = 73-110 million yuan annuallyRenovation & Staff: 20 million yuanInitial Inventory: 80-100 million yuan
"Total startup capital: 200 million yuan."
Lin Yue gaped. "You think 200 million grows on trees?"
Huo Xuan tapped the table. "My 10 million cash is insufficient, but the 54 rough stones we bought—when cut—will cover the gap."
"Expecting 100 million yuan from those rocks?" Lin Yue's espresso spoon clattered. "Delusional gambler!"
Huo Xuan decided to reveal partial truths to bolster Lin Yue's confidence. "Senior, do you truly believe back-to-back jadeite strikes were mere luck?"
Lin Yue's mascaraed lashes froze mid-blink. "Don't tell me you've got X-ray vision?"
She guessed it! Huo Xuan's pulse spiked, yet his tone remained glacial: "Not x-ray, but I trained under an extraordinary mentor since childhood. My qigong practice granted... material sensitivity."
He leaned closer, shadows pooling under his eyes. "On that train ride with you, I first sensed jadeite's vibrations. Each stone whispers its secrets through qi resonance."
Lin Yue's Tiffany bracelet rattled against her untouched latte. "This isn't some web novel plot?"
"Test me." Huo Xuan's knuckles whitened on the marble tabletop. "Unlock all 54 rough stones tonight. Let empirical data shatter your skepticism."
After three controlled breaths, Lin Yue's CEO composure resurfaced. "Assuming this isn't psychosis—why confide in me?"
"Because trust flows both ways." His unblinking stare held corporate-boardroom intensity. "My survival hinges on your silence."
Though Huo Xuan had fabricated this story, it came with deadly risks. If Lin Yue leaked his "secret," he would be plunged into grave danger. Once certain parties discovered the existence of such a "human cash cow," they would stop at nothing to control him and exploit his abilities to plunder the jadeite industry.
After gaining his ability, he had imposed a strict rule of absolute secrecy. Yet this seemingly reckless decision was in fact coldly calculated:
First, his subconscious had inexplicably deemed Lin Yue trustworthy—a baseless yet ironclad conviction that drove his choice.
Second, working closely with Lin Yue would inevitably expose his 100% accuracy rate. Even the most skilled appraisers only achieved a 35% success rate at best. Without revealing his unique edge, Lin Yue would never agree to an equal partnership.
Lin Yue stared blankly for a full minute before murmuring, "Qigong? How is that possible?" She abruptly stood, her chair screeching. "Let's go to the warehouse—now!"
Huo Xuan remained seated, his tone glacial. "Wait. There's more."
Lin Yue slowly exhaled, crimson nails digging half-moon marks into her palms. "Confess this is a joke now, or I'll beat you until even your mother won't recognize you."