The Style Is Going Off Track

The Style Is Going Off Track

After leaving the jade shop, Lu Zheng continued wandering around Treasure Pavilion and visited two more stores.

This time, Lu Zheng had learned his lesson. Every time, he asked them to lay down a velvet cloth and put on gloves.

His behavior struck the owners of both shops as rather amusing, but they still complied with each of Lu Zheng's requests.

Because both places charged appraisal fees.

Five hundred at one, eight hundred at the other! And neither was a specialized appraisal—they merely took a casual look and made an initial judgment.

The first declared that Lu Zheng's bloodstone was a fake, while the other told him it was dyed Xiuyu jade.

Not until the third shop did someone appraise Lu Zheng's Phoenix Blood Stone seal at three million.

Finally, Lu Zheng arrived at Sea Treasure Pavilion, a large jade shop at the other end of the street.

"The piece is nice, but what a pity. Though the flaws do not obscure the jade's brilliance, its value has still fallen sharply."

"The color is vivid, but it spreads too broadly. It hasn't formed a natural pattern, so it isn't attractive enough."

"There are subtle differences between the color inside and outside, making it easy for people to mistake it for a counterfeit."

"Still, our master carvers can make a few minor adjustments. Perhaps there's still hope."

"Sir, even the finest bloodstone currently on the market only goes for a little over a million. This piece has certain flaws as well. If you truly wish to sell it, we can offer five hundred thousand!"

"Sir, those auction listings are all internal proxy auctions, methods used to drive up prices. Look, how many transactions have actually been completed over all these years? Most deals are done privately."

"If you don't believe me, I can introduce you to an auction house. You can ask them in person!"

"Of course, you can also go through the auction process. It's fine, as long as the appraisal fee and handling charges are deducted afterward."

"Sir! Sir, please don't leave yet. We can still discuss the exact price."

"We're very sincere, and everything we've said is the truth. Those other little shops either have poor judgment or too many tricks up their sleeves. They're places that eat people without even spitting out the bones."

"Sir, here is my business card. My phone number is also my WeChat ID, so you can add me anytime. I can even have one of our store's Grade-A appraisers take another look for you."

Lu Zheng politely yet with great difficulty extricated himself from Sea Treasure Pavilion.

"What era is this? They're still using tricks from more than ten years ago. No wonder they've fallen so low that they can only do business with tourists."

Lu Zheng looked back at Sea Treasure Pavilion, with its luxurious storefront standing at the street corner, then walked away without looking back.

At noon, Lu Zheng grabbed a quick bite, then returned to the first shop he had visited that morning, Zhong Jade Studio.

"Usually, people shop around and eventually come back to the first store. Who would have thought I couldn't escape this trope either?"

Lu Zheng grumbled inwardly. Still, it's fortunate that Zhong Jade Studio's owner isn't a beautiful girl. Otherwise, this would feel exactly like an urban webnovel.

Then Lu Zheng spotted a beautiful girl at a glance.

On her feet were white open-toed stiletto sandals adorned with tiny diamonds. She wore a sleeveless sky-blue knitted dress that fell below her knees, a watch on her wrist, and a handbag resting on her legs. Sitting elegantly on a chair beside a round table in Zhong Jade Studio, she had a tall, slender figure and long black hair that was straight and fell past her back. She wore an attentive expression.

As for her face, Lu Zheng could only say that he had never seen such an exquisitely beautiful girl before.

When she saw Lu Zheng enter, the woman merely glanced at him from the corner of her eye without even turning her head.

Lu Zheng swiftly gave her a once-over without staring further, then quickly met the eyes of Zhong Jade Studio's owner.

At the same time, he saw another Old Man.

Gu Pingzhong was not seated behind the counter by the entrance. Instead, he sat at a round table inside the shop with Old Man, and was currently pouring tea for him.

"Boss!"

"You're back. What, didn't you find anyone willing to offer more than I did?"

"Two said it was fake. One appraised it at three million, and another at five hundred thousand."

Gu Pingzhong had already named a price, so Lu Zheng had nothing to hide.

"Then you simply didn't look in the right places. There are still some ruthless experts with good eyes out there." Gu Pingzhong smiled. "Of course, they have to be present."

Many experts were like him; they did not squat in their shops every day.

"I don't have the energy to visit every store one by one."

"That's several million!"

Lu Zheng said as though it were only natural, "That's exactly why money in the pocket is money at ease!"

As Lu Zheng spoke with Gu Pingzhong, Old Man and the woman finally looked toward him. Upon hearing the words "several million," both showed a little more interest.

"Sit!" Gu Pingzhong pointed toward a seat at the side. "I'll call an old friend and have him come over. Then wait for me to finish discussing this deal first."

"I'm not in a hurry. Please, go ahead." Lu Zheng shook his head, then asked tentatively, "Um, while you're discussing business, can I watch?"

Before Gu Pingzhong could speak, Old Man laughed first. "It's not as if we're doing anything illegal. We're only buying and selling collectibles. What's there that you can't watch?"

Gu Pingzhong then took out his phone to make a call, while Old Man studied Lu Zheng, guessing what valuable item he intended to sell.

Lu Zheng sat down, only then seriously looking at Old Man beside him.

He wore casual clothes. Lu Zheng still could not identify the brand, but they looked comfortable, smooth, and delicate. They were probably not cheap.

His features were ordinary enough, except his eyes were bright. Combined with his neat head of black hair, he had quite an imposing presence.

He was probably a successful businessman.

Then Lu Zheng's gaze shifted to a box on the round table.

It was a twenty-centimeter-square wooden box, and inside lay a pair of white jade bangles.

This was probably the deal they were discussing.

After Gu Pingzhong finished his call in just a few words, he continued speaking to Third Master Liu. "That's why Third Master Liu split that piece of Hotan Seed Jade, which he'd kept for twenty years, into three portions. I was there at the time and acquired one portion myself. I had several pieces of jewelry made from it, and the most precious was this pair of Twin Phoenix White Jade Bangles."

"So that's how it was. Then pricing this pair of bangles at three million is indeed worth every penny."

"Precisely."

Lu Zheng was speechless. Good heavens, another deal worth millions. Was this how antiques and collectibles were traded? The two continued chatting about the history of that jade, while Lu Zheng listened quietly without interrupting. From time to time, he also glanced at the woman, who was listening quietly as well.

Then, by accident, their eyes met.

They smiled at each other knowingly, then each looked away.

Next, the tea was finished, the money was transferred, and the transaction concluded amid a harmonious and friendly atmosphere. Old Man picked up the jade bangles, then helped the woman remove her watch and put the jade bangles on her wrist.

Lu Zheng blinked, suddenly feeling that the style was a little off.

Then they stood, said goodbye, and Gu Pingzhong escorted them to the entrance. Lu Zheng saw the woman hook her arm through Old Man's, the two lowering their heads close together as they whispered while walking away as though no one else existed.

With his sharp eyes, Lu Zheng even saw the woman quickly kiss the corner of Old Man's lips.

Lu Zheng: ╭(°A°`)╮