C60 The First Time They Were Together

Zhao Shude looked up and his eyes immediately landed on Chu Yan.

At first, he thought his eyes were deceiving him, so he quickly rubbed them.

Once he confirmed it truly was Chu Yan, Zhao Shude's face lit up with a smile as wide as a blooming chrysanthemum, and he hastened over.

Meanwhile, the servant was still babbling: "Kid, do you realize who this is? This is Shopkeeper Zhao from the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce, who's on great terms with our Young Master Fei Yu—"

"Young Master Chu, welcome!"

Zhao Shude's booming voice cut the servant off mid-sentence.

His voice was so saccharine it sent shivers down Chu Yan's spine.

"Shopkeeper Zhao, our young master's last name is Bai, not Chu—" the servant interjected urgently.

But once again, he was cut off before he could finish, as Zhao Shude, in three swift strides, brushed past Bai Feiyu and went straight to Chu Yan, grasping his hand warmly: "Young Master Chu, at last you've arrived. I've been eagerly awaiting your visit these past days, and finally, you're here!"

"Hiss—"

Bai Feiyu and his servant's eyes bulged as they inhaled sharply.

They had been to the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce several times, where Shopkeeper Zhao had always treated them with the courtesy due to ordinary clients. They had never seen him this enthusiastic.

To the uninformed observer, the scene might suggest that Shopkeeper Zhao was a madam of a brothel, and "Young Master Chu" a well-heeled, familiar patron.

"He just called that country bumpkin what?" Bai Feiyu finally snapped out of his daze, struggling to process the astonishing scene before him.

"Young... Young Master Chu..." The servant stammered, tongue-tied.

Yet Zhao Shude continued to ignore the master and servant, leading Chu Yan toward the inner hall: "Young Master Chu, please, let's talk inside. We've just received a shipment of exquisite spirit tea the day before yesterday—two hundred Spirit Money per cup. Have a taste, and if it's to your liking, feel free to take a couple of bags with you when you leave."

Bai Feiyu's mouth twitched uncontrollably at the words he heard.

He was well aware of the spirit tea and that the Bai Family Patriarch, when hosting guests, would serve the finest spirit tea valued at a mere 80 Spirit Money per cup.

Yet here was Shopkeeper Zhao, lavishing a country bumpkin with a 200 Spirit Money cup of tea, and seemingly so anxious to please that he was practically shoving it at the guest in an obsequious manner.

Could this really be the same Shopkeeper Zhao he knew?

Bai Feiyu's gaze shifted to Chu Yan, filled with newfound scrutiny.

Just who was this guy?

"Hey, let go or I'm going to get angry," Chu Yan said, his brow furrowed, his tone cool and detached.

To Chu Yan, Zhao's overzealous warmth seemed utterly inexplicable.

Keep grinning like that, and you'll get a beating first.

Bai Feiyu's heart leapt once more. "This guy's lost his mind! To talk to Shopkeeper Zhao like that! When our Bai Family elders come to purchase inscriptions, they're nothing but polite to him. Who would dare to be so brash?"

Then, another scene unfolded that shattered Bai Feiyu's worldview.

Zhao Shude let go of Chu Yan's hand, his smile cautious, his face smeared with sycophancy. "Absolutely, absolutely, my apologies, Young Master Chu. Please don't be upset. Today's just a bit unfortunate, as Master Li He happens to be out on business. Otherwise, he would certainly be here to greet you in person."

"Oh my god, my mother!" Bai Feiyu internally screamed, feeling as though he'd been struck by lightning. His mind went blank, with only the reverberating words of Shopkeeper Zhao echoing through the void.

"Master Li He", "personal reception".

What level of esteem was this?

The Bai Clan Patriarch himself would have to send a visiting card days in advance and wait for Master Li He to have the time to grant an audience.

And yet this simpleton had somehow earned the proactive offer of company from Master Li He himself.

Bai Feiyu felt as though his very soul was on the verge of drifting away.

His body shook uncontrollably, as if seized by an epileptic fit. Clinging to the armrest, he managed to stay upright.

All he wanted was to leave this place and find a secluded corner to calm his nerves.

But at that moment, Bai Feiyu's legs turned to jelly, utterly beyond his command.

It was then that his servant, with ill-timed meekness, spoke up, "Shopkeeper Zhao, our Young Master's business isn't finished yet..."

At that instant, Bai Feiyu harbored a fierce urge to strike down his own servant.

Young Master?

Your 'Young Master' was obliterated in the presence of that "Young Master," not a trace left behind!

Are you suggesting your young master met his end too slowly?

Zhao Shude turned, casting a brief glance at Bai Feiyu. The obsequious smile he wore for Chu Yan shifted into the polite smile reserved for ordinary customers. "Young Master Bai, we have an honored guest today, so we're suspending other inscription services for now. Please, reschedule your visit for another time."

His words suggested a discussion, but his tone left no room for negotiation.

To accommodate Chu Yan, he was putting all other business on hold!

With that, he left Bai Feiyu and his servant, stunned and motionless, and with a bow, ushered Chu Yan into the inner hall.

As Chu Yan stepped toward the inner hall, he paused and gave Bai Feiyu a dismissive glance.

That look cut through the darkness like a flash of lightning.

Bai Feiyu's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed, unconscious.

Led by Zhao Shude, Chu Yan entered the inner sanctum of the inscription shop.

Though termed an inner hall, it resembled a tastefully simple reception room that naturally induced a sense of serenity. Within this space, one's breath seemed to carry a newfound clarity of thought.

Zhao Shude eagerly prepared a pot of spirit tea, valued at two hundred Spirit Money, for Chu Yan.

With one sip, Chu Yan felt a comforting warmth radiate through his body, spreading a profound ease to every corner of his being.

"If Young Master Chu is pleased, feel free to take some with you," Zhao Shude offered with a warm smile.

Chu Yan cast a cool glance in his direction and remained silent.

Zhao Shude's demeanor today was undeniably suspect.

Chu Yan was aware it had something to do with Master Li He.

What puzzled him was why Master Li He took an interest in him.

As Chu Yan sipped his tea, Zhao Shude fidgeted and asked, "May I know what brings Young Master Chu here today? Do you have any guidance for us?"

"Guidance?" Chu Yan scoffed internally.

Your Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce boasts both Inscription apprentices and masters. It's more likely you'd have advice for me. Are you mocking me with your question?

With that thought, Chu Yan let out a derisive snort and spoke coolly, "I've crafted a few more Heavy Equipment Inscription Patterns. What's the going rate, Shopkeeper Zhao?"

"Six hundred each," Shopkeeper Zhao indicated with a hand gesture.

"What?" Chu Yan's brow furrowed.

Last time, for the same Heavy Equipment Inscription Patterns, Zhao Shude initially offered only two hundred and sixty Spirit Money each. After some haggling, he agreed to purchase three for a total of one thousand Spirit Money.

But now, without any negotiation, the price was six hundred Spirit Money each, amounting to one thousand eight hundred for three—nearly double the previous rate.

Moreover, Chu Yan knew all too well that the Heavy Equipment Inscription Patterns sold by the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce were priced at only five hundred Spirit Money each.

Buying for six hundred and selling for five hundred—has the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce lost its mind?

Suspicious!

Far too suspicious!