Chapter Eight: Green Tea and Dogs

Following the sound, Lin Feng saw a young man dressed in the latest Armani suit, his arm around a strikingly beautiful woman, both smiling warmly at him.

At the sight of this man, Lin Feng’s brows twitched ever so slightly, a flicker of anger rising in his chest.

This man was Zheng Wu, the eldest son of the Zheng family, a third-tier household in Binhai City.

The Zheng family had made a name for itself in the city’s financial circles, holding minor shares in the largest securities firm in Binhai. Their assets were considerable, and Zheng Wu himself was both wealthy and handsome.

The woman he held was none other than Wang Fan, the cherished daughter of the Wang family and a lifelong friend of Yao Qianqian.

She was one of the five renowned beauties from the city’s old families—her looks were exceptional, her figure alluring. By virtue of her beauty alone, she had earned her place among the famed five, a rare gem among women. Even Yao Qianqian paled in comparison when standing beside her.

In his previous life, Wang Fan had always overshadowed Yao Qianqian, often using Lin Feng as a means to humiliate her under the guise of friendship—a hollow sisterhood, nothing more.

Zheng Wu, eager to please her, had repeatedly joined in belittling Lin Feng. The two delighted in it, considering their cruelty a sport.

Lin Feng glanced at them indifferently, unwilling to engage.

He was no longer who he once was. The heavens are impartial, regarding all living things as mere straw dogs.

To Lin Feng, these two were but ephemeral creatures beneath the vastness of heaven and earth, their lives fragile and fleeting.

The laws of nature were merciless; in the blink of a century, all would turn to dust.

Lin Feng would defy the heavens, transcend the cycle of rebirth, master the Dao, and become immortal. As the saying goes, “Summer insects cannot discuss ice, nor can well frogs imagine the sea.”

How could Lin Feng waste time arguing with such people?

Yet his silence, in Yao Qianqian’s eyes, was nothing but cowardice.

He showed no trace of the courage or responsibility a man should have, not even deserving to be called one.

“What am I even hoping for? This man is my husband in name only—a thorough and utter failure. Do I still expect him to win me some dignity?” Yao Qianqian sighed inwardly, her gaze turning desolate.

Zheng Wu looked down at Lin Feng with mocking eyes, then called out boastfully to the saleswoman, “By the way, bring out the jade bracelet I ordered last time. I want to give it as a gift.”

“Of course, Young Master Zheng. Please wait a moment. The bracelet you reserved has arrived—I’ll fetch it for you right away!” The saleswoman replied with utmost deference, immediately abandoning Yao Qianqian, who had arrived first, to attend to Zheng Wu instead.

“Young Master Zheng, this bracelet is carved from a single piece of high-grade glassy jade, crafted over half a month and polished entirely by hand. It’s the most precious piece in our store, priced at 5.1 million. You’re an old customer—let me give you a discount and round it down by a hundred thousand.”

Beaming, the saleswoman carefully packed the bracelet and presented it to him with both hands, her obsequiousness plain to see.

“Here you go, Fanfan—your birthday present, as promised. Five million isn’t that extravagant, but since you like it, how could I refuse? Unlike some useless pretty boys who can’t even afford a decent gift,” Zheng Wu said, raising his eyes in provocation toward Lin Feng.

“Thank you, darling!” Wang Fan exclaimed with delight, planting a kiss on Zheng Wu’s cheek. She slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, raising her arm to examine the jade’s clarity in the light.

She pulled Yao Qianqian close, her joy evident. “Qianqian, help me take a look—do you think this bracelet is clear enough?”

Yao Qianqian knew perfectly well that Wang Fan was showing off on purpose, but the facts were undeniable. A wave of helplessness and grievance rose within her.

Just one of their bracelets cost five million! Even a hundred thousand shaved off the price was merely a trifle to the saleswoman.

And as for her...

A birthday gift worth fifty-five thousand—never mind whether she could afford it, she couldn’t even scrape together five thousand for a deposit!

Comparisons are odious. When it came to men, Lin Feng and Zheng Wu were worlds apart.

Yao Qianqian forced herself to play along with Wang Fan, her heart heavy with humiliation turned to tears, her right hand clenched so tightly her nails nearly drew blood from her palm.

“By the way, Qianqian, are you here to buy jewelry too? Which one caught your eye? Let me take a look for you!” Wang Fan’s voice was light and pleasant, seemingly offering friendly advice, yet in truth searching for an opportunity to embarrass her.

“It’s nothing—I’m just browsing. Lin Feng, let’s go,” Yao Qianqian said, her face changing as she prepared to leave.

“Are you really just browsing? If I recall, your grandfather’s seventieth birthday is coming up. You must be here to buy a gift. I think that one—the glassy jade Guanyin for ten million—would be perfect. Don’t you want to take a look?”

“Wang Fan, I…”

“No worries! If you don’t have enough money, I can lend you some. We’re sisters, after all.”

Wang Fan arched an eyebrow, her gaze full of challenge and amusement, carelessly pointing to the most expensive piece in the entire store—a clear provocation, waiting for Yao Qianqian to make a fool of herself.

Before Yao Qianqian could explain, Lin Feng calmly pointed to the jade Guanyin on display at the center of the counter and said, “Excuse me, could you take down that Guanyin so I can have a look?”

The saleswoman, a seasoned professional, took one look at Lin Feng—his entire outfit worth less than five hundred yuan, all cheap market goods. From Zheng Wu’s earlier jibes, it was obvious: this man was a useless live-in son-in-law, dependent on his wife for everything.

She raised an eyebrow, replying coolly, “Sorry, sir. Only VIP customers are allowed to handle that Guanyin.”

Inwardly, though her words were polite, she scoffed: “You, a country bumpkin, want to see our store’s most expensive jade? You’re just putting on airs for show, trying to save face in front of Young Master Zheng. Spare yourself the embarrassment!”

She looked down on Lin Feng, ignoring him entirely. Why would she abandon a truly generous customer like Zheng Wu to serve a penniless hanger-on like Lin Feng?

“I said, take down that jade Buddha. Did you not hear me?” Lin Feng’s tone turned sharp, seeing through her excuses.

To his surprise, the saleswoman was infuriated. She snapped, “If I take it down, can you afford it? This Guanyin is priced at twelve million. If you could actually buy it, I’d let you see it to your heart’s content. Yet here you are, dressed in rags, living off a woman. You can’t afford anything in this store, let alone the Guanyin!”

She didn’t utter a single vulgar word, but managed to shame Lin Feng from head to toe.

“Hahaha! I knew it. Lin Feng, you bankrupt pauper, still pretending here. Got any money in your pocket? A kept man living off your wife, and you think you can look at that Guanyin? If you can actually buy it, I’ll cut off my head and give it to you as a chamber pot!” Zheng Wu burst into laughter, quick to mock Lin Feng after the saleswoman’s outburst.

Wang Fan, too, arched her brows, a mocking smile on her lips as she covered her mouth and said, “Oh dear, Qianqian, your husband really lacks self-awareness. Known throughout Binhai as a worthless son-in-law, yet he still pretends to be rich here. It’s laughable.”

“Marrying someone like him—you really are pitiful.”

She feigned sympathy while flaunting her own jade bracelet, deliberately provoking Yao Qianqian.

Witnessing all of this, a tidal wave of shame, embarrassment, disappointment, and helplessness surged through Yao Qianqian, leaving her drained and weary.

“Lin Feng, what are you doing! I told you, outside the house you’re to listen to me. Even if you don’t care about your own dignity, I still care about mine! Apologize now!”

Her anger, like a spark to dry grass, finally consumed her reason as she lashed out at Lin Feng.

At that moment, Zheng Wu, Wang Fan, and the saleswoman all wore expressions of malicious glee, coldly watching to see what sort of farce would unfold between the couple.