Disguised to Buy Jade

Zhou Mei and Miao Ruolan exchanged glances.

They felt a mix of excitement and speechlessness.

Taking two beautiful women to a jewelry store was certainly a dream of his, perhaps even the dream of all men.

But they also knew this was purely a joke.

They weren't going to the jewelry store to show off their wealth or flaunt their status, but to investigate a case.

Miao Ruolan, in particular, knew her role was never that of a beautiful woman; she considered herself to be miles away from the label "beauty."

Her true role was as a fighter! A bodyguard!

Was there a fight needed today?

It wasn't just that; the revelation of such a major case carried a life-or-death risk...

She understood, and Zhou Mei understood even more clearly.

"Do we need to inform Captain Zhang in advance?"

Lin Xiaosu nodded lightly, "Yes!"

Zhou Mei made a simple call to Captain Zhang: "We're going to visit the Fengcheng Jewelry Store. Xiaosu wants you to be prepared."

Captain Zhang sat behind his large desk, motionless for a long time. The cigarette in his fingers burned down to his flesh before he suddenly flicked it away...

Fengcheng Jewelry Store.

Fengcheng's largest jewelry store.

The owner's surname was Zhang, and he was known as "Divine Eye Zhang."

This man was very prominent and mysterious, the heir to a jade family in Biannan Province (the province bordering Qingmian Country). His ancestors had been in the jade business for hundreds of years and possessed a unique skill for appraising jade.

His fame in the jade industry began with a television interview where the host presented several raw jade stones, asking him to analyze their internal composition based on their outer surfaces.

As the saying goes, "Even immortals cannot judge the jade within an inch," and raw jade stones have always been a gamble.

However, this Mr. Zhang, on-site, made judgments and opened the stones with astonishing accuracy, thus earning him the reputation of "Divine Eye Zhang." Along with it came the legendary jade-related tales of his ancestors, "Knocking Fingers to Judge Jade" and "Reverse Sky Window."

He owned a company and came to Fengcheng to open this Fengcheng Jewelry Store. Socialites and movie stars who had done business with him subsequently visited, and his fame soared along with his wealth.

The Fengcheng Jewelry Store was located in the southern part of the city.

Normally, when influential figures open businesses, they don't prioritize rent. Most would choose the old city center with high foot traffic, where rent becomes less of a concern once business is good.

But the Fengcheng Jewelry Store was inexplicably located in the southern district.

Some said this was the magnanimity of the elite; they didn't rely on their surroundings but could improve them.

Others suggested it was actually a matter of necessity, as the Fengcheng Jewelry Store had its workshop behind the storefront. The old city center simply didn't have that much space, which was why they chose the southern district.

It had to be said that after this store opened, the surrounding businesses thrived.

Even the external environment improved.

The wide road was where luxury cars were most frequently parked.

Cherry Blossom Avenue was a popular spot for social media influencers.

At this time of year, the cherry blossoms had just fallen, with some pure white flowers, like remnants of snow, hidden in flowerbeds and adorning the branches.

This added a unique artistic touch to the beauty of the area.

A car stopped, and passersby turned their heads because it was a top-tier luxury vehicle, an international brand: Lawrence.Dream Shadow!

Three people alighted from the car.

One man and two women.

The man was, of course, Lin Xiaosu.

The women were Miao Ruolan and Zhou Mei.

But at this moment, they were completely different from their usual selves.

Lin Xiaosu was wearing a snow-white casual suit with a pale yellow shirt underneath. He wore a pair of tinted glasses and a neatly trimmed mustache. This appearance, not to mention in a small place like Fengcheng, would attract attention even in the provincial capital, Jiangcheng.

Miao Ruolan was wearing a qipao that fully showcased her figure. She had light makeup on, likely the most beautiful moment of her life.

Even Lin Xiaosu looked at her with a hint of surprise. He had always thought this girl was quite pretty when she wore makeup, as she usually didn't bother.

Zhou Mei hadn't changed much, except she let down her hair and put on eyeshadow and mascara. Her entire demeanor had transformed.

These three, let alone in the southern district where they rarely came, might not even be recognized by people in the shops opposite the detective agency's entrance.

This was the work of a wedding company.

Wedding companies' makeup artistry was truly superb.

They were also experts at creating a persona of wealth. For a wedding between two ordinary people from the countryside, they could make the couple appear as if they were the heirs of two major business conglomerates getting married. What couldn't they achieve?

This makeup transformation had taken a full two hours.

The two women had asked if it was necessary.

Lin Xiaosu's answer was: "It's necessary!"

Why?

If Fengcheng Jewelry Store was truly the mastermind behind the assassination of Lin Xiaosu, as they had envisioned, they would have been able to recognize them through various means. At the very least, the person in charge's phone must have had a photo of Lin Xiaosu!

The two women exchanged a glance, completely accepting his explanation. Therefore, the task they gave the makeup artist was to make everyone appear different from their true selves.

The direct result was that when they emerged, they felt like they didn't recognize each other…

The three entered Fengcheng Jewelry Store. A welcoming attendant hurried over, "Welcome to our store! What can I help you find today?"

Lin Xiaosu smiled, "Jade!"

His Mandarin was standard, with no trace of local dialect.

"Sir, you have excellent taste! What price range are you looking for?"

"What price ranges do you have?"

The sales attendant smiled sweetly, "We are the largest jewelry store in the area and have items in all price ranges. This is the accessible section, with prices mostly around a thousand yuan. This is the elite section, with prices mostly around ten thousand yuan. And over there is the high-end section, with prices generally above one hundred thousand."

"One hundred thousand is considered high-end?" Lin Xiaosu asked. "Do you have anything more high-end?"

The attendant's eyes suddenly lit up, and the eyes of the sales staff behind several counters also brightened simultaneously.

One hundred thousand, and he still wasn't impressed.

This was truly a major client.

"Sir, we have a VIP section! It contains all collector-grade treasures, with prices ranging from millions to tens of millions!"

"Take us to see it!"

"Certainly, sir, ladies, please come upstairs!"

The attendant bowed deeply, a perfect gesture as she led them to the second floor.

As they ascended, several sales assistants began to gossip, "This handsome guy brought two women…"

"Is having two a problem for rich people? Ten or twenty isn't unusual."

"That's true. When your wallet is thick enough, the number of women around you depends on the strength of your kidneys…"

Pfft!

The women all scoffed at her…

"Guess which one he's buying it for?"

"I guess it's the one on the right. That woman is truly beautiful."

"But the one on the left has such great temperament. She's quiet and composed, giving off the impression of someone who's seen it all. I think it might be for her…"

Yes, this was likely the general consensus.

Zhou Mei was wearing casual clothes, her hair down. Apart from her beauty, there was nothing else about her… at least, no hint of her being a police officer.

As for Miao Ruolan, even though her appearance at this moment was the best it had ever been, she still wasn't considered particularly beautiful. However… her practice of Ancient Martial Arts gave her a refined aura.

Heaven be my witness, everyone thought she was accustomed to grand occasions, but in reality, they were completely mistaken. Quite the opposite, she had never experienced such a scene before.

Yet, her temperament, her presence, combined with her dedicated study of Surveying and Criminology over the past month, and her excellent control over micro-expressions, made her truly seem like someone who had seen the world.

In the VIP room, the dim lighting reflected the most beautiful aspects of the jades displayed in the boxes before them.

Each piece was extraordinary.

Lin Xiaosu smiled gently, "Mei'er, Lan'er, choose for yourselves."

Zhou Mei felt a surge of disdain. You're really getting into character with this act? You just blurted out "Mei'er" so casually. If you're so capable, actually buy me something. You don't have to buy a million-dollar piece, but would you even spend a thousand yuan?

Miao Ruolan smiled slightly, "Show me that one!"

Her voice was extremely soft and pure.

The sales attendant's gaze fell upon it, and her heart skipped a beat. Her estimation: 3.2 million!

Good heavens, you dare to point at a treasure bracelet worth 3.2 million?

When will I ever reach this level?

She carefully took the bracelet out from inside, placed it on a red velvet tray, and presented it to Miao Ruolan.

"Do you like it, Lan'er?" Lin Xiaosu asked.

"Mmm, I think it's quite nice."

The sales attendant said, "Miss, your taste is truly exceptional! This is genuine high-ice jade. Our boss even gave it a name, 'Ice Valley Orchid.' Look at the fine green lines here, combined with the high-ice base color, doesn't it truly resemble an Ice Valley Orchid?"

"Ah, Ice Valley Orchid! Husband, it has a nice connection to my name!" Miao Ruolan's cheeks flushed.

The word "husband" came out without warning, causing Miao Ruolan's face to turn red.

Zhou Mei's heart trembled.

Today was an act, but it was a rather loosely scripted one.

There were no explicit lines.

Miao Ruolan called him "husband." Why did I feel like you, little girl, were adding your own personal touch?

Lin Xiaosu smiled, "Have your boss come over. Let's talk price."

The sales associate's heart pounded again. Talking price!

The sale was already a done deal; it was just a matter of price.

Completing a high-end transaction like this meant a hefty commission. Even if she didn't close the entire deal herself, she'd still get a reward. She was going to get rich...

The sales associate quickly called the boss.

In less than five minutes, a middle-aged man appeared at the door of the VIP room.

He was a middle-aged man wearing glasses, with his long hair tied back, exuding an artistic aura. His face was full of smiles. "I'm the owner of this establishment. My friends all call me Old Zhang. May I know your surname, sir?"

"Li!" Lin Xiaosu said, "Li as in the character for wood."

"Mr. Li, to be so successful at such a young age is truly remarkable..."

"You flatter me, you flatter me!"

Boss Zhang said, "This Ice Valley Orchid is truly top-quality ice and color. For you to recognize its value at a glance shows you have discerning taste and a true connection to this bracelet."

"Let's get straight to the point. What's the lowest you'll sell it for?"

Boss Zhang said, "Normally, a collectible treasure like this is rare and hard to come by, and there isn't much room for negotiation. But since I feel an instant connection with you, Mr. Li, I'll give you a lucky number: 2.8 million. It's a steal for you!"

"What's lucky about two-eight? One-eight is the lucky number!" Lin Xiaosu said, "1.8 million! I'll take it!"

Boss Zhang's heart leaped into his throat.

This young man didn't know the market.

Business wasn't that easy these days. Finding someone who was both rich, clueless about the industry, and foolishly brave was truly rare