Chapter 56: The Vintage Store
Xu Youyou had no idea that Lu Jingyao was currently taking a crash course in love. Her eyes were fixed on the gift box in front of her.
This was something Lu Jingyao had brought. Xu Youyou didn’t want to accept it, but he refused to take it back, stubbornly insisting on giving it to her.
【Host, this is your reward for the last treasure-hunting mission.】 The system reminded her.
Xu Youyou sighed. Lu Jingyao’s attitude was annoying, and compared to the system’s rewards, she always had a certain resistance to his gifts.
Under the system’s constant urging, she reluctantly opened the gift box. After removing the elaborate packaging, she was surprised to find something unexpectedly familiar.
The Star of Zhaoyi.
It was currently the most expensive jade jewelry in the world, featuring a centerpiece of an Emperor’s Purple Jadeite weighing 9,949 carats. When it was first introduced, it was priced at a staggering six billion yuan.
Back when Xu Youyou sold the premium Emperor’s Purple Jade she had found, the selling price was based on the original valuation of the Star of Zhaoyi’s raw jade. That was the first time she had learned of its existence.
If it was worth six billion yuan years ago, then she didn’t even need to ask—Lu Jingyao must have paid much more for it now.
Originally, she had harbored resentment toward Lu Jingyao, but seeing a gift worth more than six billion, with its dazzling brilliance, she had to admit—she was just a regular person too. Suddenly, she wasn’t so angry anymore.
【Ding! A treasure-hunting mission has been activated. Please head to the designated location as soon as possible.】
The system’s sudden notification interrupted her thoughts. She set aside her jumbled emotions about Lu Jingyao and quickly had someone notify the driver. Before leaving, she personally placed the jewelry box into her home’s safe.
Calling it a safe was an understatement—it was practically the size of a room. It had been installed before she moved in, saving her a lot of trouble.
The safe was mostly empty, aside from the Star of Zhaoyi and another set of sapphire jewelry—also a gift from Lu Jingyao.
“Oh well, what’s the point of getting mad at a rich guy?” Xu Youyou consoled herself.
After getting into the car, Xu Fang, the driver, couldn’t help but comment, “Miss Xu, you seem very happy today.”
Xu Youyou touched her face and glanced at the rearview mirror, surprised that her happiness was so obvious. She couldn’t help but think that compared to the fleeting warmth of family, gold and jewels were much more comforting.
She even felt like she looked prettier!
As the car exited the underground garage, Xu Fang, who had been studying the city’s map in her free time, quickly realized their route. “Miss Xu, it looks like we’re heading toward Xinle Road. That area is full of vintage stores.”
Xu Fang treated this job like a tour guide role. She took it seriously because it paid well, but Xu Youyou’s needs were minimal, so she had to find her own ways to stay useful.
Xu Youyou didn’t want to reveal the system’s existence, so she vaguely said, “Just wandering around.”
Xu Fang didn’t press further. With the system’s continued guidance, the car eventually stopped on Xinle Road.
As soon as Xu Youyou got out of the car, her bodyguards followed.
Xu Fang hadn’t been wrong—Xinle Road was indeed a street full of vintage stores. Each shop specialized in reselling luxury second-hand items.
From outside one store, Xu Youyou could already see massive luxury brand logos displayed on the merchandise inside.
It was a weekend morning, and the store was quite busy. But as soon as Xu Youyou walked in, she immediately attracted attention.
She had wanted to keep a low profile, but the several men in black suits behind her made that impossible.
Even the shop owner, who had been enthusiastically assisting other customers, diverted some attention toward her. People in this business had sharp eyes—it only took her a second to see that Xu Youyou’s outfit was incredibly expensive.
Xu Youyou wandered around the store casually, waiting for the system’s indicator to lock onto something valuable. From experience, she knew that meant the real treasure hadn’t arrived yet.
After completing a sale, the shop owner approached Xu Youyou and asked, “Miss, are you here looking for rare, limited-edition bags?”
Given her attire, the owner could only assume she was hunting for rare collectibles.
Xu Youyou didn’t want to reveal her true intentions, so she put on a proud and aloof expression and said, “I don’t like being followed while I shop.”
The shop owner chuckled knowingly and tactfully stepped away.
Inwardly, Xu Youyou apologized to the woman and continued wandering, making sure to stay near the checkout counter, since that’s where the system’s indicator was pointing.
Ten minutes passed, and Xu Youyou was beginning to feel at a loss when—
The system finally reacted.
The system’s indicator shifted direction, pointing toward a young man wearing a brown newsboy cap, standing near the entrance. His dyed blonde hair peeked out from under the hat.
Xu Youyou twitched her nose. He smelled like cigarette smoke.
“Boss, do you take bags?” the young man asked.
The shop owner nodded.
Xu Youyou discreetly moved closer and soon recognized the man.
It was the same guy who had once sold her the doucai “chicken cup.”
She recalled how she had bought a six-billion-yuan treasure for just forty yuan and suddenly felt a little guilty.
But in this business, the winner takes all. If someone lacked the expertise, they could only blame themselves for not learning properly.
As she remembered how she had obtained the priceless doucai cup, Xu Youyou couldn’t shake the feeling that this guy’s goods always seemed a little sketchy.
“This bag is called a baguette bag, right? Give me a price,” the young man said, handing over an LV Baguette Bag.
The shop owner took it, immediately frowning. “This bag is heavily worn. Where did you get it?”
The young man’s gaze flickered. “It belongs to my girlfriend. We need money, so we’re selling it.”
The shop owner asked, “Does your girlfriend know you’re selling it?”
The young man responded quickly, “We can’t even afford food—what’s the point of keeping a bag?”
The owner nodded, inspecting the bag as she continued, “Do you have the box and receipt? Selling it like this, just the bag alone? Ugh, it’s even got stuff left inside. You guys are really careless.”
As she shook the bag, they could all hear something rattling inside.
The young man scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Lost the box and receipt, but I guarantee it’s authentic. The retail price is 18,000 yuan, but I’ll let it go for 10,000.”
The shop owner was unimpressed. “It’s real, but with no packaging and such heavy wear, I can only offer 2,000.”
The young man hesitated.
“Up to you whether you want to sell it,” the owner said, clearly not eager to make the deal.
The young man was about to agree when—
Xu Youyou spoke first.
“I’ll take it for 10,000.”
