Lu Cheng took the stone from the vendor, casually tossing it in his hand, his movements as light as if he were playing with an ordinary pebble.
The vendor was all smiles, bowing and scraping by his side, looking at Lu Cheng as if he were a walking god of wealth.
Two hundred thousand!
This broken stone, which he had picked up from a pile of scrap and was planning to use to prop up a table leg, actually sold for two hundred thousand!
He felt like he was dreaming.
Lu Cheng, however, didn't spare him another glance. He put away the stone, and his gaze returned to Hao Jian.
That look was no longer purely teasing, but held a hint of scrutiny, like he was appraising a tool.
"You seem to be very good at stone gambling?"
Lu Cheng's voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.
Hao Jian's heart suddenly constricted.
He didn't understand what this man wanted to do.
Was the humiliation not enough?
His opportunity snatched, his girlfriend forced – could these not satisfy his twisted, perverse taste?
He clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding with a "clack, clack" sound from the effort.
He chose not to speak.
In the face of such a power disparity, any words seemed pale and ridiculous.
He chose silence to maintain his last shred of dignity.
Lu Cheng didn't seem to care about his silence either.
He turned his head to look at Tang Bingyun, who was still trembling slightly, and the smile on his face became gentle again.
He stretched out his hand, pointing to the countless stalls, big and small, stretching as far as the eye could see, and issued a new command.
"Have him buy back all the inconspicuous small stones from all the outdoor stalls today, as long as they contain goods, and bring them all to me."
This request, once made, stunned not only Hao Jian but also Bai Zhi and Lu Xuan behind Lu Cheng.
All?
The outdoor stalls, big and small, numbered at least eight hundred, if not a thousand.
To buy back all the stones with goods – the workload was simply preposterous!
This wasn't buying things; this was making things difficult, tormenting someone!
As if Lu Cheng thought the fire wasn't burning brightly enough, he slowly added another sentence.
"Remember."
His tone was as gentle as if he were cautioning a child going out to buy groceries.
"Only profit, no losses."
These words struck Tang Bingyun like a bolt from the blue, hitting her hard on the head.
Only profit, no losses?
In the business of stone gambling, even immortals find it hard to judge a sliver of jade!
Even the most experienced master wouldn't dare to say he could guarantee a hundred percent profit without any loss!
This was simply an impossible task!
But... this was Lu Cheng... what would happen if she didn't listen to him?
She didn't know, but perhaps by tomorrow morning, the entire Tang Family would have vanished.
Tang Bingyun's body trembled even more violently. Her beautiful eyes, filled with pleading and despair, looked at Hao Jian again.
"A-Jian..."
Her voice was choked with sobs.
"Please... please help Mr. Lu..."
"I beg you..."
And at this moment.
In Hao Jian's mind, the cold system screen lit up again.
This time, what popped up was no longer a temporary quest, but a main quest radiating a thick golden light!
"[Main Quest Triggered: Endure Humiliation for Love!]
[Quest Content: Fulfill Lu Cheng's unreasonable demands. Use your True Sight to sweep the entire outdoor stone gambling area for him and protect your girlfriend Tang Bingyun's safety!]
[Quest Reward: Pure Love Value +2000!]"
Two thousand points of Pure Love Value!
Seeing this number, Hao Jian's heart, which was almost filled with humiliation, was instantly injected with a strong stimulant.
With these two thousand points of Pure Love Value, he could exchange for the [Ancient Kidney Body] that he had coveted for a long time in the System Mall!
At that time... and then unlock a dual cultivation technique, wouldn't the Pure Love Value be within reach?
Moreover... a shrewd glint flashed in Hao Jian's eyes.
Although this quest sounded like he was working for Lu Cheng for free, it wasn't entirely a bad thing for him.
He had [True Sight] and could see through the interior of all raw stones.
When buying goods for Lu Cheng, he could completely use this information asymmetry to manipulate the accounts a bit, secretly earning a sum for himself!
This was simply killing two birds with one stone!
The only cost was... his gaze fell on Lu Cheng, then he looked at the tearful, pitiful Tang Bingyun beside him.
He had to endure this humiliation.
He had to watch his beloved woman stay by that devil's side.
A great man knows when to yield and when to stand firm!
For Yunyun, for those two thousand points of Pure Love Value, for future revenge!
He endured it!
"Alright..."
Hao Jian used all his strength to squeeze out this word from between his teeth.
"I agree."
Lu Cheng smiled in satisfaction.
He casually pulled out a black bank card from his pocket and tossed it at Hao Jian's feet like trash.
"The password is six eights."
Then, he reached out and, to the bewildered gazes of everyone, very naturally put his arm around Tang Bingyun's soft, slender shoulder.
Tang Bingyun's body stiffened abruptly, but she dared not resist in the slightest.
"Very good."
Lu Cheng gave Hao Jian on the ground a devilish smile.
"Then you can start working."
"I'll take your girlfriend for now."
"We'll find a place to have some tea and wait for your good news."
After speaking, he, with his arm around the pale, doll-like Tang Bingyun, turned and walked towards the other end of the street.
Hao Jian watched Lu Cheng's hand, the hand wrapped around his beloved woman's shoulder, and felt all the sounds in the world fade away from him at that moment.
Although he had prepared himself mentally, still... what would that scoundrel do to Yunyun?
Would he... countless sordid and terrifying fantasies, like poisonous snakes, wildly gnawed at Hao Jian's sanity.
Teahouse?
Would there be a private room?
And then?
He dared not think further!
"Ah--!"
Hao Jian clenched his fists and let out an extremely suppressed roar towards the sky!
But for the mission, for Yunyun's safety, for that damned Pure Love Value!
He could only endure it!
He suddenly bent down, picked up the black card on the ground, then turned and rushed towards the nearest stall.
He wanted to complete this damned mission as quickly as possible!
Then, he would reclaim his Yunyun from the devil's hands!
...Meanwhile, on the other side.
Inside a private teahouse, the most high-end in Yun City.
In the antique-style private room, sandalwood incense wafted gently.
Lu Cheng sat leisurely in the main seat, sipping top-grade Pu'er tea.
Lu Xuan and Bai Zhi sat on his left and right, curiously observing the unfamiliar environment.
Across from them, Tang Bingyun sat like a schoolgirl who had made a mistake, her head bowed, her hands restlessly twisting the hem of her clothes, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Lu Cheng had none of the sordid intentions Hao Jian imagined.
He didn't even spare Tang Bingyun another glance from beginning to end.
He merely gestured with his eyes towards the tea set on the table.
Tang Bingyun immediately understood. She quickly stepped forward, picked up the Yixing teapot, and with hands trembling slightly from nervousness, poured tea for the three of them.
Some tea spilled due to her trembling hands, splashing onto the tabletop.
"Clumsy!"
Lu Xuan immediately expressed her displeasure. She frowned and spoke unceremoniously, in a tone used to scold a subordinate.
"You can't even pour tea. Is this how your Tang Family teaches its daughters?"
Tang Bingyun's face instantly turned pale. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she could only bite her lip and apologize in a low voice.
"I'm... I'm sorry..."
"What's the use of just saying sorry?"
Lu Xuan folded her arms across her chest, leaning imperiously in her chair, and pointed at her own shoulder with her chin.
"This young lady carried a useless fellow yesterday, and he was quite heavy. My shoulder is sore."
The "useless fellow" she referred to was, of course, Bai Zhi.
Bai Zhi blinked innocently, choosing to remain silent.
"You, come here and give me a massage."
Lu Xuan commanded Tang Bingyun.
Tang Bingyun's body stiffened abruptly.
She, the dignified eldest daughter of the Tang Family, had been pampered since childhood. How could she have ever suffered such humiliation?
To make her massage the shoulders of a girl her own age?
This was more unbearable than killing her!
However, when her gaze inadvertently met Lu Cheng's smiling yet unsmiling eyes.
All the grievances and unwillingness in her heart were instantly replaced by endless fear.
She could only take heavy steps, walk behind Lu Xuan, and with trembling hands, gently began to massage her shoulders.