Little Cousin's Envy, Jealousy, and Resentment

When it came to her husband's expertise in jade appraisal, Li Jingyi had absolute confidence. "What kind of jade did you see? How much do you estimate it's worth?"

"It's a Seaborne Guanyin jade pendant. The seawater beneath is a pure azure blue, while the upper part is a vibrant imperial green. Although I didn't get to examine it up close, the colors are unmistakable at a glance. As for whether this pendant is glassy jadeite, I'm not completely certain—it might be high-ice quality. But even if it’s high-ice, its value is inestimable. It would fetch at least a hundred million," Wang Chuanjie explained.

"It's definitely worth more than a hundred million. Imperial green combined with azure blue is an extremely rare and precious color pairing. And it's carved into a Seaborne Guanyin—so even if it's high-ice, it's a priceless treasure. I haven't seen the pendant myself, but I imagine it must be a breathtaking work of art," Li Jingyi said, valuing the pendant even higher than her husband.

Although Wang Chuanjie's appraisal skills were on par with his wife's, he was not a professional, so his sensitivity to pricing couldn't compare to Li Jingyi's.

"The carving is vivid and lifelike, the craftsmanship is exquisite—definitely the work of a master. It's truly a pity I couldn't inspect it more closely," Wang Chuanjie lamented.

"Although Miss Cheng's grandmother isn't a Buddhist devotee, she is quite pious. If the pendant’s owner is willing to sell, I think Miss Cheng would be happy to pay a high price for it. We need to arrange a meeting with him as soon as possible, to see if he’d consider selling," Li Jingyi suggested.

"Anyone who casually wears such a priceless pendant around his neck clearly isn't short on money. I suspect it’ll be very difficult to buy it from him. Don’t get your hopes up," Wang Chuanjie replied, doubting their chances.

Li Jingyi sighed. "I know it’s a long shot, but it’s worth trying—maybe we’ll get lucky. The Cheng family’s requirements are extremely high this time. From all the sources I have access to, there are only three top-grade jadeites that qualify, but all three are the flagship pieces of major jewelry companies. The cost to acquire them would be astronomical, and I have no way to intervene. If we want to build a good relationship with the Cheng family, we’ll have to try every possible avenue. Even if we don’t make a profit this time, the opportunities for future business will multiply."

As a jewelry broker, Li Jingyi usually worked with private buyers and sellers. The jewelry companies had broader networks than she did, and she couldn't get a foothold with them. Moreover, the prices set by those companies were typically very high, leaving no room for a broker like her.

The Cheng family was an invisible giant—though not listed on any rich lists, their true fortune was at least twenty billion. If she could leverage this opportunity to build a relationship with them, she’d break into the real world of the wealthy elite. With those connections, lucrative deals would be within reach.

"Arranging a meeting shouldn't be a problem. That young man is worldly and refined. Even if nothing comes of it, it’s good to get to know someone like him. Tomorrow, I’ll meet with Xiao Banxia and set up a time to visit her house," Wang Chuanjie decided.

The next morning, after they woke, the family chef had already prepared a lavish breakfast.

Normally, Banxia's breakfast consisted of little more than a glass of milk and perhaps an egg. Today's feast made her feel an overwhelming sense of happiness. Money might not be everything, but the ability to enjoy life was enough.

After breakfast, Xiaoyao said, "There are four cars at home. Sister, see which one you like. You can have any of them as your personal car, or switch between them whenever you want."

To his surprise, Banxia actually declined. "All four of these cars are too ostentatious. Even the least expensive, the Rolls-Royce Phantom, costs more than ten million. I'm just a regular employee at the company—driving something that flashy to work would definitely turn heads, but I doubt I’d ever have a moment’s peace."

"How about this, then: For now, let our driver take you to work and pick you up. In a couple of days, when you’re off, go buy a new car—whatever you like, price doesn’t matter. Your little brother is loaded now, so don’t hold back," Xiaoyao insisted. As a true hidden tycoon, he couldn’t let his family suffer any indignity.

"Alright, then. I've always dreamed of having my own BMW—this will save you some money," Banxia replied.

Though Banxia had the heart of a princess, she'd always lived as a Cinderella. Becoming a true princess would take some time to adjust.

Clad in designer labels, Banxia walked into her office, immediately drawing the attention of everyone present. Their gazes were varied—some tinged with disdain, others with envy.

Before she could sit down, Sakinah and Elia hurried over.

Both were good friends of Banxia’s. Sakinah asked bluntly, "Monica, who was the guy who picked you up yesterday? A lot of the girls in the company are jealous—they're saying you ditched your old boyfriend and snagged yourself a golden bachelor."

"Let them be jealous. The one who picked me up yesterday was my brother, not some rich boyfriend," Banxia announced, her eyes sweeping the room as a warning to the gossips.

"So the tall, handsome guy in the Rolls-Royce Phantom is actually your brother?" Sakinah was astonished.

Elia’s eyes widened too. "If your brother is a rich, handsome guy, that makes you a wealthy beauty! You hid it well—we're only just now discovering your true identity."

"I apologize! I admit my mistake!" Banxia raised her hand in surrender. "How about I have my brother treat you both to a lavish dinner tonight? You can pick the place—order as much as you want, no limit."

"Now that's more like it. At least you have a conscience," Elia said, rolling her eyes at Banxia before pulling her aside and whispering, "Be honest, what are your brother’s hobbies? What kind of girls does he like?"

"All I can tell you is, my brother doesn’t have a girlfriend yet. As for the rest—well, if you want to know, it depends on how sincere you are," Banxia teased.

"Sis, how about I treat you to Western food on the second floor at lunch? I’ll spend half a month's salary—does that show enough sincerity?" Elia said, striking a coquettish pose.

"Alright. Sakinah, if you dare to leave me out at lunch, you'll find yourself with an extra competitor," Banxia threatened.

"Come on, you already have a boyfriend. Someone as fickle and flirtatious as you would never catch his eye—you'd better have some self-awareness," Elia retorted mercilessly.

"What’s going on here? Why so lively?" Department manager Tian Yongfeng walked in.