Chapter Nine: The Jade Pendant

The salesman also knew Chen Kai and greeted him immediately, but didn't flatter him excessively. After all, everyone was in this business—whoever had money was the true boss. Chen Kai was certainly a big client, but the two people standing before him were the real owners. Not to mention the Porsche, there were very few who possessed a Centurion Black Card.

His enthusiasm toward Jiang Xiaotian was now on a whole different level.

Beside him, Yang Yuan was sharp-eyed and instantly recognized the origin of the car key, startling him: "Did you take the wrong one? That’s..."

The salesman, afraid of offending Jiang Xiaotian, quickly shook his head: "How could that happen! Mr. Jiang is a VIP at our store. He paid in full for the 911!”

At those words, silence swept over the crowd.

Even Chen Kai’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Chu Ran cried out, “Impossible! That poor guy? How could he afford it? You must have made a mistake!”

The salesman frowned, “Miss, you can’t say things like that. Mr. Jiang really paid for it.”

Chen Kai reacted quickly, realizing what was happening. He clapped his hands with a smile, “So that’s how it is—I misjudged. It seems this young lady is the true patron? May I ask whose daughter you are? The Chen family still has some connections in Beihai. Why are you targeting me so?”

Ling’er rolled her eyes, refusing to respond. She was annoyed just by looking at Chen Kai’s smug face; if not for wanting to stand up for Jiang Xiaotian, she wouldn’t have bothered with him at all.

Seeing her silence, Chen Kai took it for acquiescence. “Alright, don’t bother with people like him. He’s just here to show you around. Has he even said a word yet? Since it’s your car, may I ask whose name is on the registration?”

Chen Kai was convinced Ling’er was also a wealthy heiress, and probably quite rich, so he didn’t dare to mock her. But Jiang Xiaotian, he was still a nobody.

“You two are quite the pair. Why not take your act to the stage? You’d be naturals!” Jiang Xiaotian finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

He’d kept quiet to avoid escalating things, but now—with Ling’er by his side, money was no longer an issue, and he had some skills and a bodyguard named Long—why keep shrinking away?

“You!” Chen Kai flushed with anger.

Chu Ran was even more furious. She’d broken up with Jiang Xiaotian because he was poor, and went out of her way to humiliate him every chance she got—yet now, she’d been humiliated countless times herself. How could she not be angry?

“Jiang Xiaotian, what are you! How dare you talk to Kai like that! You worthless loser, you think you’ve found a rich woman and now you’re on top of the world? A worm will always be a worm, never a dragon!”

Jiang Xiaotian laughed bitterly. The girl he once adored now insulted him over money—it was truly ironic. Who had really sold their dignity?

But you’re wrong; I really do have a dragon behind me.

Both salesmen were sweating, especially Yang Yuan. He wanted to speak up for Chen Kai but didn’t dare. The car bought by the two newcomers was twice as expensive as Chen Kai’s. They were on a whole different level—people who could make him disappear with a word.

“I see you all know each other, why not go inside to talk?” Yang Yuan wiped his brow, worried about trouble if anyone else showed up.

Jiang Xiaotian waved him away, unwilling to waste another word.

But Chu Ran refused to let up; she had to humiliate Jiang Xiaotian.

“You! Bring over his sales slip! Tell me, who paid for the car?”

The salesman hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the pair behind him for their opinion.

Ling’er subtly pointed to Jiang Xiaotian; the salesman understood immediately.

“Mr. Jiang paid for the car. Is there a problem?”

“Impossible! You’re lying!” Chu Ran shrieked again.

How could he possibly have so much money?

She was about to lose control when Chen Kai patted her shoulder, “Don’t be foolish. At this point, they can say whatever they want. If you have the nerve, let’s see whose name is actually on the registration. And then, maybe you’ll say it’s bought for that girl, right?”

With that, Chen Kai cut off all escape routes.

Jiang Xiaotian sighed—these two idiots were really annoying—then handed over the sales slip: “Go ahead, take a look.”

Chen Kai took it and didn’t bother with anything else—he looked directly for the owner’s name. There, in bold letters, was “Jiang Xiaotian.”

Chu Ran saw it too, her face contorted as if she’d eaten something foul, unable to say a word.

Jiang Xiaotian, for some reason, felt a surge of satisfaction. Vanity flared within him. “I won’t pretend anymore; I’ll come clean. I hit the jackpot, won the lottery. This is my new girlfriend—beautiful, isn’t she? At least better looking than you, Chu Ran.”

Chu Ran was so angry she nearly fainted, trembling all over. Chen Kai’s expression was icy; he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. “No wonder. But I hope you cherish your fortune—it’s probably all the luck you’ll ever have.”

“Thanks for the reminder, but I genuinely used up all my luck just to meet her,” Jiang Xiaotian said, glancing at Ling’er.

She was startled, then quickly looked away, giving him a warning glare.

Half a joke, half serious—meeting Ling’er might have used up all the luck from several lifetimes.

“Hmph, you’re impressive, but it’s just the look of a newly rich man. Yang Yuan, I’m not waiting any longer. I’ll come pick up my car in a couple days.” Chen Kai finished, then walked away with Chu Ran—he couldn’t bear to stay any longer.

The salesmen didn’t dare comment. Someone who won the lottery, with a black card?

“Kai, we’re just leaving like this? I really can’t accept it! How can that loser be so rich?” Chu Ran grumbled as soon as they stepped outside, nearly beside herself with rage.

But Chen Kai, adjusting his mood, was no longer so irritated: “Don’t waste your energy on people like that. I think he’s just showing off to upset you. That girl probably isn’t his, maybe he paid her to play along. Don’t be fooled by his current glory—can he afford to maintain the car?”

Maintenance, fuel—especially for a supercar—was no small expense.

“When he runs out of money, he’ll have to sell it. Then we can enjoy the show. Besides, I’ve got a surprise prepared for him.”

Chen Kai grinned.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaotian couldn’t be bothered to stay any longer. He’d wanted to leave early, but these two had ruined his mood.

Yet unexpectedly, he felt quite refreshed. So that’s why people enjoyed showing off.

“Thank you. If not for you, I’d have been mocked again,” Jiang Xiaotian said sheepishly as they stepped outside, scratching his head.

If not for Ling’er…

Ling’er gave a cold laugh, “That’s what a girlfriend should do.”

Jiang Xiaotian shivered, realizing she was about to settle the score for his earlier comment.

But dragons are easy to please—Jiang Xiaotian soothed her with a meal of braised pork.

On the way home, they hailed a cab. Ling’er still got carsick and threw up.

She was still excited; soon she’d have her own car.

In truth, the registration was in Jiang Xiaotian’s name because Ling’er had neither identification nor a household registration, so it had to be bought under his name.

She wasn’t worried—the pride of a dragon meant no one dared to deceive her.

But when they arrived home, both were stunned.

Jiang Xiaotian couldn’t believe what he saw.

The front door was wide open; inside, everything was smashed and chaotic. All the useful belongings were strewn across the floor!

“What… what happened?” Jiang Xiaotian trembled as he rushed inside, only to find the situation even worse.

The bedsheets were stained, clothes scattered everywhere, the TV broken, the refrigerator ruined, even the mirrors shattered to pieces!

Jiang Xiaotian ignored it all, crawling under the bed to retrieve a suitcase.

He sighed with relief, opening it carefully. Inside was a small box, which he opened with equal caution.

A jade pendant shaped like a dragon lay quietly within.

Jiang Xiaotian took it out and held it to his chest.

Ling’er watched him in silence.

“This is the only thing my parents left me.” With that single sentence, he revealed the depth of his sorrow.

Ling’er frowned, and Jiang Xiaotian carefully put the pendant away and stood up. “It seems they weren’t ignoring me, but waiting for an opportunity. Well, I guess there’s no time for a good meal today—I need to clean up first.”

Watching his back, Ling’er suddenly felt something strange.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him outside. “With things like this, let’s just buy a new place. I don’t want to live here anymore.”