As the birth of a legendary jadeite unfolded before their eyes, everyone was filled with excitement and jubilation.
However, amidst the celebratory atmosphere, the protagonist Ye Xingchen stood out with a pallid complexion, looking more defeated than ever. His face mirrored a spectrum of emotions: from pale to yellow, from thin to earthy, from ashen to dead gray.
In short, he looked as desolate as one could possibly imagine!
His spirit was crushed, and he felt an overwhelming urge to end it all. What started as a plan to make Lin Beifan suffer some financial loss had backfired spectacularly. Instead of losing money, Lin Beifan had made a fortune beyond Ye Xingchen's wildest nightmares!
In just one day, Lin Beifan had accumulated a wealth of 500 million, a feat that even the legendary demon king of chaos from Ye Xingchen's previous life couldn't achieve in such a short time!
Ye Xingchen was beside himself with rage, his frustration boiling over until he felt like lashing out at himself.
Ye Xingchen's inner turmoil reached a boiling point as he unleashed a torrent of self-directed anger:
"Talkative fool!"
"You just had to complicate things, didn't you?"
"Why do you always have to be such a pain?"
"But now look at you, the main antagonist has struck gold ahead of schedule!"
"If it weren't for you, this whole plan would have taken at least another week!"
"You just can't seem to get anything right, can you?"
"And now, you've gone and messed it all up!"
"Damn it!!!"
At this moment, Ye Xingchen found himself enveloped in a warm and firm embrace, belonging to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan's hands clapped Ye Xingchen's back excitedly as he spoke:
"Great job, brother! I had a feeling you'd bring me something good, but I never expected a surprise this big! That rough stone, worth less than 10 million, turned into a 400 million jade! You've truly outdone yourself. When we get back, I'll make sure to reward you generously!"
Ye Xingchen managed a smile, though it felt forced. "Thank you, Mr. Lin, but I really didn't do much."
Perplexed, Lin Beifan noticed Ye Xingchen's discomfort. "Why's your face like that? And those two big mouth marks—what happened?"
Taking a moment, Ye Xingchen concocted a quick excuse. "Oh, those? It's nothing, Mr. Lin. I had a bit too much to drink last night, and I'm still feeling the effects. Slapped myself a couple of times to shake off the grogginess."
Concern etched on his face, Lin Beifan lamented, "Brother, why didn't you say something earlier? If I'd known, I wouldn't have let you drink so much!"
At that moment, Huang Lao approached once more, leaning on his cane as he reached out to touch the jade with trembling hands. His voice was filled with awe and reverence as he exclaimed, "This is truly a priceless treasure, a gem that will be cherished for generations to come! In my nearly 80 years of life, I have never laid eyes on such a flawless piece of jade. To witness it now... even if I were to depart this world, I would have no regrets!"
"Don't speak like that, Mr. Huang. May you live a hundred years!" Lin Beifan responded respectfully.
"We are fortunate to have elders like you guiding us," added Ye Xingchen, echoing Lin Beifan's sentiment.
Amidst the admiration and awe from the crowd, Huang Lao expressed his desire to purchase the stone. He turned to Lin Beifan with anticipation, asking if the stone was for sale.
Lin Beifan nodded affirmatively, stating, "Of course! I'm here to make money!"
Huang Lao continued, "That's good! I am eager to acquire this stone for my shop, as I find this jadeite truly exceptional. I am willing to offer 450 million yuan for it. What do you think?"
The onlookers erupted in astonishment.
"450 million!"
"Huang Lao's loyalty knows no bounds!"
"What an admirable gesture! Huang Lao truly values this stone!"
"The young man has made a fortune!"
Quickly, Lin Beifan interjected, "Old Huang, 450 million is too much. 400 million is sufficient!"
Huang Lao shook his head with a smile, indicating, "To be honest, I acquired this stone for 450 million, and that was already a considerable gain. If this stone were to be sold at auction, it could fetch at least 500 million."
Lin Beifan insisted, "Old Huang, if someone else were to buy this stone from me, I would indeed sell it at such a high price. But for you, I'll stick to 400 million, and I won't take a penny more! Consider this 50 million as a gift from me to you. Otherwise, I'll be in for a scolding from my dad when I return home!"
Huang Lao chuckled and accepted the offer, remarking, "Alright, I'll accept your generous gift! It's true what they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and Lin Nanshan has indeed raised a fine son!"
Turning to the young individuals accompanying him, Huang Lao advised, "You youngsters should interact more often in the future! Especially you, learn from the Lin family's young man. Observe his demeanor, his approach towards people and situations. You'll stand to gain a lot from it."
"Yes, Grandpa!" the young man responded with a nod, offering a warm smile to Lin Beifan.
Indeed, Lin Beifan not only made a considerable profit but also established a valuable connection with Huang Lao. This demonstrates Huang Lao's high regard for Lin Beifan's character and potential. In the world of business and entrepreneurship, such connections and relationships can be incredibly valuable, sometimes even more so than financial gains.
Ye Xingchen, on the other hand, might be feeling a mix of emotions—perhaps envy, frustration, and regret. While he initially aimed to make Lin Beifan lose money, the situation turned out quite differently, with Lin Beifan not only profiting but also gaining a significant advantage in terms of networking and reputation. This turn of events might leave Ye Xingchen feeling overshadowed and unsuccessful in comparison.