After Ye Qiu and the others had been gone for a while, Myles finally snapped out of his daze. He walked up to his bodyguards and slapped each one across the face.
Slap!
Slap!
Slap!
The bodyguards lowered their heads, letting Myles vent his anger.
“You watched me get hit, and not one of you dared to move. Useless lot.”
After venting, Myles ordered the bodyguards, “Find out who that man is. I want to know his identity now.”
His gaze fixed on the direction where the van had disappeared. He clenched his fists and muttered, “No matter what, I will win Tangtang.”
“She’s the granddaughter of a powerful figure in China. If I can marry her, our family can break into the Chinese market.”
“If I succeed, the family elders will see me in a new light.”
“I might even become the heir to the family.”
Then he touched his slapped cheek, cursing under his breath, “Bastard, you dared to hit me. No matter who you are, I won’t let you off.”
At that moment, a bodyguard asked, “Young master, are you still going to Miss Tangtang’s concert tonight?”
“Of course I’m going,” Myles said. “Everything must be arranged as I instructed. Tonight, I’ll make the whole world know that Tangtang belongs to me.”
…
When Ye Qiu brought Tangtang to the pavilion, Qiusan Nange had already changed and was chatting with Qian Jinglan and the others.
“Auntie!”
Tangtang stepped forward to hug Qian Jinglan, then greeted Lin Jingzhi and the others warmly.
Afterwards, she formally met Qianshan Xue.
As a celebrity used to big occasions, Tangtang was skilled at socialising. With her beauty and charm, she quickly hit it off with Qianshan Xue.
“Little Ruyi is so cute. Auntie, let me hold her.”
Tangtang carefully took little Ruyi from Qian Jinglan’s arms and said to Qianshan Xue, “Sister Xue, I’m so jealous of you.”
Qianshan Xue smiled faintly, her eyes brimming with happiness.
At that moment, Sun Mengjie dragged a large suitcase into the pavilion.
Lin Jingzhi smiled and said, “Little Xue, these are gifts from the sisters. Mengjie, open the suitcase.”
Sun Mengjie opened it, revealing an assortment of items inside.
Lin Jingzhi explained, “This pair of gold bangles is from Luoying, the cosmetics are from Sister Wan, the limited-edition bag is from Bai Bing, and oh, the snacks are from Xiaoxiao.”
Qianshan Xue said happily, “Thank you all. I’m embarrassed to make you spend so much.”
The gifts showed that everyone had accepted her.
“Don’t thank us yet. I’ve got something for you too,” Lin Jingzhi said, instructing Sun Mengjie, “Bring the items.”
“Yes.” Sun Mengjie quickly brought two wooden boxes.
The boxes, about four feet long, were antique and made of rosewood. Ye Qiu glanced at them, knowing the contents must be extraordinary.
As expected, Sun Mengjie opened the first box, revealing an ancient zither.
The tail of the zither was pitch black, as if scorched.
Qianshan Xue’s eyes lit up. She ran her delicate fingers over the strings, producing a sound like a babbling spring.
She plucked another string.
The tone shifted sharply, like cracking metal, soaring to the heavens.
“Is this… the Jiaowei zither?” Qianshan Xue asked, shocked.
“Little Sister Xue has a keen eye. Yes, this is one of the four famous zithers in our country,” Lin Jingzhi said with a smile. “I thought you might feel lonely up here, so I got you this zither.”
Qianshan Xue said, “This zither is priceless. I can’t accept it.”
Lin Jingzhi replied, “I went to great lengths to find this zither. It’s my gift to you, so you can’t refuse.”
“I…” Qianshan Xue began, but Lin Jingzhi added, “If you don’t accept it, you’re not recognising me as your sister.”
Hearing this, Qianshan Xue accepted the zither and said gratefully, “Thank you, Sister Lin.”
“No need for formalities.” Lin Jingzhi opened the second box, revealing a simple, ancient longsword.
“Nange, as a martial arts master, can you tell the origin of this sword?” Lin Jingzhi asked.
Qiusan Nange picked up the sword, examined it, then drew it from its sheath.
“Clang!”
The sword rang out like a dragon’s cry.
“What a sword!” As a martial arts master and sword expert, Qiusan Nange instantly recognised its quality.
The blade gleamed with a chilling sharpness.
Suddenly, her attention was drawn to two small characters on the back of the hilt.
“Qinggang!”
Qiusan Nange’s heart raced as she exclaimed, “Is this the Qinggang sword?”
“Nange lives up to her title as a martial arts master. You spotted it at once,” Lin Jingzhi said. “Yes, this is the Qinggang sword, wielded by Zhao Yun during the Three Kingdoms period.”
It was said that during the Three Kingdoms era, Cao Cao owned two legendary swords, one called Yitian, the other Qinggang.
Cao Cao kept Yitian for himself and gave Qinggang to Xiahou En.
The Qinggang sword could cut through iron like mud. When Zhao Yun single-handedly rescued his lord at Changban Slope, he killed Xiahou En with one spear thrust, taking the sword. Seeing the word “Qinggang” on the hilt, he knew it was a treasure. With spear and sword, he charged through a million soldiers, saving his young lord, earning the legendary name of Changshan Zhao Zilong.
“What a sword!” Qiusan Nange exclaimed again.
Lin Jingzhi said, “Since Nange likes it, this sword is yours.”
“What, for me?” Qiusan Nange was stunned. “No, no, I can’t take it.”
“Why, do you look down on it?”
“Of course not. It’s just too precious.”
Lin Jingzhi said, “A sword may be precious, but what’s it worth compared to our sisterly bond?”
Qiusan Nange understood, stealing a glance at Ye Qiu, her cheeks flushing.
“Nange, this is Sister Lin’s heartfelt gift. Accept it,” Ye Qiu said.
Qiusan Nange took the sword and said to Lin Jingzhi, “Thank you.”
“We’re family, no need to be formal,” Lin Jingzhi said with a gracious smile.
Ye Qiu thought to himself, Sister Lin is meticulous and thoughtful, with the air of a matriarch.
At that moment, Qian Jinglan pulled a large red envelope from her pocket and handed it to Qianshan Xue, saying, “Little Xue, this is for you. Don’t think it’s too little.”
Lin Jingzhi chimed in, “It’s ten thousand and one yuan, symbolising one in a million.”
Qianshan Xue took the envelope and said respectfully, “Thank you, Auntie.”
“Still calling me Auntie?” Qian Jinglan pretended to be stern.
Qianshan Xue understood, blushing as she shyly said, “Mum.”
The other women looked on with envy.
Qian Jinglan said, “Don’t be jealous. Have children, and you’ll get red envelopes too.”
Except for Lin Jingzhi, the other women were so shy they could barely lift their heads.
