Chapter 357: Chapter 357: A Farce (Ninth Update)
Si Jin was overjoyed, casting a defiant look at Gong Xiaoqing and Xue An before sneering, “Miss Gong, I’m really sorry, but Mr. Li treats me way better than he does you. You might as well just keep this guy company and take your time shopping! Heh heh!”

Si Jin lost herself in her smugness.

When the server brought out the jade pendant, she couldn’t let go of it, fondling it in her hands and then ostentatiously flashing it in front of Gong Xiaoqing and Xue An.

“See this? This is a top-notch piece of jade worth over ten million! I bet you can’t afford something this expensive in your lifetimes!”

Her words were extremely unpleasant to hear.

Gong Xiaoqing’s face turned particularly ugly; she was about to speak up.

But Xue An just laughed and then shook his head gently, “It’s really pathetic. To be taken for a ride like a pig and still show it off with such pride!”

His words brought a sudden silence to the jewelry store.

Only then did Si Jin, like a shrew, sneer, “What do you mean by that? Who are you calling a pig?”

Xue An smiled faintly. “Sorry, I mean no personal offense. I’m just stating the facts. A jade pendant that’s worth at most one million being sold for ten times that price, that’s not what you’d call a pig.”

Xue An paused, “Because pigs are smarter than you!”

His statement was like a bolt from the blue.

Si Jin was first taken aback, then cried out in shock, “Are you saying this jade pendant is a fake?”

Li Hou’s expression also darkened.

However, the biggest reaction came from the jewelry store itself.

The tall, arrogant-looking female server behind the counter glanced at Xue An disdainfully and then said with haughtiness, “This is Xiangjiang, not some place where you can spout nonsense whenever you want. If you keep this up, we can sue you for defamation!”

“Exactly! Nonsense! We should sue him for defamation,” Si Jin was more agitated than anyone else.

Xue An, looking at Si Jin who was acting like a shrew, let a meaningful smile cross his lips and then addressed the female server, “Whether it’s real or fake, you should know better than I do. Would you like me to elaborate?”

The female server’s face turned extremely ugly and she picked up a phone on the desk and dialed a number.

“Manager, there’s trouble!”

After hanging up, she looked at Xue An with contempt.

“Our manager will be here shortly, and I hope you can clarify everything you just said by then. Otherwise, see you in court!”

Xue An remained nonchalant, “Great! I’ve been wanting to meet your manager!”

Saying so, Xue An took a seat on the store’s couch, waiting leisurely.

Li Hou wore a grim expression, while Si Jin’s features were marred by uncertainty, as if she were pondering something.

Soon, a jumble of footsteps could be heard from outside, and then in walked a middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairdo, followed by a few shirtless toughs.

Upon entering the jewelry store, the middle-aged man shouted angrily.

“Who dares make trouble in my jewelry store?”

The server quickly approached and pointed at Xue An, who was sitting on the couch.

“Manager, it’s him! He keeps insisting our store’s jade pendant is fake!”

Upon hearing this, Manager Zhou’s face turned vicious as he glared at Xue An.

“Kid, you say our jade pendant is fake. Got any proof?”

Xue An looked up at him.

The once arrogant Manager Zhou felt a chill in his heart.

That man’s gaze… it was terrifying!

“Proof?” Xue An said calmly, countering with a question, “I’d like to ask you, is this store owned by Zhou Xiaofu?”

“Of course! I am none other than Zhou Hao, a scion of the Zhou family,” Zhou Hao said proudly.

Xue An nodded, “Good, then let me ask you, who is Kou Xiaoyan?”

Zhou Hao and the jewelry store’s staff were all stunned.

“You… know Director Kou?” Zhou Hao’s tone suddenly softened.

Xue An leaned back on the sofa, fingers intertwined, his tone playful, “Can’t really say I know her.”

Zhou Hao let out a sigh of relief.

Despite also being a descendent of the Zhou Family, he was but a distant relative of little significance.

On the other hand, Kou Xiaoyan was the hottest female designer and director in the Zhou Xiaofu Group.

He had to respectfully address her as ‘Director’ whenever he saw her.

“However… Just a few days ago, she did bring her team to my house to make a complete set of jewelry for my wife, so you could say we’ve made acquaintance,” said Xue An indifferently.

This statement made Zhou Hao and the others first freeze, then exchange glances, before all revealing scornful smiles.

“Kid, just now I thought you were some important figure! Now it’s clear, you’re just a braggart who doesn’t need proof to shoot his mouth off!” Zhou Hao said with a sneer.

“Exactly! Unless it’s a very distinguished guest, our Director Kou seldom makes house calls. As for you… heh!” The arrogantly postured female service staff laughed disdainfully.

Their words plainly suggested that Xue An was not qualified enough.

Xue An said indifferently, “Don’t believe me? Fine, go ahead and call her over now!”

“Who do you think you are? Expecting Director Kou to come over just because you say so? Plus, you were the one who claimed our jade pendant is fake; don’t think about changing the subject!” Zhou Hao said with a hostile expression.

Si Jin and Li Hou were enjoying the scene from the sidelines. Hearing this conversation, Si Jin’s face was full of mocking laughter.

“Manager Zhou is right, don’t try to change the subject.”

Xue An raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded, “Alright then, since you won’t make the call, I’ll just have to do it myself!”

With that, Xue An took out his phone.

Zhou Hao scoffed, “Great, I want to see whom you’re going to call over today!”

Xue An ignored his taunting and dialed Song Yi’s number directly.

“Tell Kou Xiaoyan to come over…,” Xue An looked up and surveyed the store.

“What’s the name of this store?”

Before Zhou Hao could respond, Si Jin already spoke coldly, “Jinyuan Building’s Zhou Xiaofu seventh store!”

Xue An smiled faintly, “Did you hear that? Have her come here, oh, and tell her, I’m giving her fifteen minutes!”

After finishing the call, Xue An hung up. “Now, we just wait for fifteen minutes, and we’ll see whether things are true or not!”

Zhou Hao began to doubt because of Xue An’s indifferent attitude; could he really contact Director Kou?

Remembering the messed-up things he’d done behind the headquarters’ back, he felt apprehensive.

However, wishful thinking still prevailed.

This man seemed so ordinary; how could he possibly have Director Kou visit him at home, as he’d claimed?

Thinking this, Zhou Hao felt a bit relieved and dragged a chair over to sit boldly opposite Xue An, staring him down as if afraid he would run away.

Gong Xiaoqing was somewhat at a loss.

Being just a minor celebrity, she was out of her depths with anything related to the prestigious Zhou Family of Xiangjiang’s number one jewelry dynasty.

Only Si Jin continued to watch Gong Xiaoqing intently, her gaze as if she was about to devour her the next second.

Five minutes passed. No one came.

Ten minutes, still no one.

Just as it was about to reach fifteen minutes.

Zhou Hao stood up impatiently, “Alright, the farce is over. Are you going to voluntarily compensate for the reputation damage and the loss of work at my store, or do you want me to beat you up first and then pay up?”