Chapter Forty-Two: Li Jingya

“Haha, you’re quite modest, aren’t you?” Old Mr. Li patted Qin Feng on the shoulder. “Here’s the thing—Jingya has recently taken a keen interest in our craft. She keeps saying she wants to experience it for herself. I heard you’ve been working on figure carving lately, so I thought you might take her under your wing for a while. What do you say? Are you willing?”

Qin Feng’s eyes flickered at this, but after a moment’s thought, he decided it might be fate’s arrangement.

“Of course I’m willing, as long as Miss Li doesn’t think I’m too rough around the edges,” he replied with a smile, though he already had his own calculations in mind. After all, she had come all the way here, and given Old Mr. Li’s status, refusing would be terribly ungracious.

“That’s wonderful! Thank you so much for agreeing to guide me,” Li Jingya said sincerely.

“It’s nothing, really, no need to be so polite.”

“Really?” Li Jingya’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as she looked at Qin Feng.

“Of course it’s true. Or do I look like someone who would lie?”

“Of course not! I believe you’re not that kind of person at all,” Li Jingya replied playfully, sticking out her tongue in a charmingly impish way.

“Alright then, let’s have lunch together later,” Old Mr. Yan interjected, a faint smile on his face as he watched the two get along. “By the way, did you bring back any nice materials?”

“Of course I did. They should arrive tomorrow. When they do, Master, you’ll have to take a look. Otherwise, I’d worry about wasting such fine stones on myself,” Qin Feng flattered him subtly, sighing inwardly at how money and influence always seemed to hold sway.

“Don’t worry. Bring them tomorrow and I’ll be sure to give you my expert opinion,” Old Mr. Yan replied with a hearty laugh.

“Thank you for your trouble, Master.”

Soon, noon arrived. The four of them didn’t dine out but instead had the housekeeper prepare a meal at home. It was only in the afternoon that Qin Feng left Old Mr. Yan’s studio.

With his hands behind his back, he headed toward the parking lot. Just then, Li Jingya ran after him.

“Qin Feng! Wait for me!”

He stopped, turning back with a puzzled look. “Miss Li, is something the matter?”

“I heard from my grandfather that you’re going to Jade Pavilion. I’d love to see it too, if it’s convenient for you?”

Li Jingya asked with a bright smile.

“Uh… alright.” Qin Feng hesitated briefly but finally nodded. Jade Pavilion wasn’t far from his home, though traffic nearby was always troublesome, which had hurt business lately. Still, if Li Jingya wanted to see it, there was no harm in bringing her along.

And so, Qin Feng took Li Jingya to Jade Pavilion.

As they arrived, they happened to see Lin Wanting just getting out of her car.

“Wanting!”

Qin Feng waved to her, gesturing for her to notice Li Jingya at his side.

Lin Wanting paused for a moment, then cast a curious glance at the two of them, her expression a little odd. Finally, she focused her gaze on Li Jingya, as if trying to confirm her identity.

Li Jingya’s eyes lit up when she saw Lin Wanting. She hurried over, took Lin Wanting’s hand, and laughed. “Sister Wanting, it’s been so long!”

Lin Wanting’s brow furrowed slightly as Li Jingya held her by the wrist. She tried, without making it obvious, to free her arm. “Mm,” she replied simply.

Li Jingya noticed her reluctance but didn’t show it, keeping her arm linked with Lin Wanting’s and smiling brightly.

“You two know each other?” Qin Feng asked, oblivious to any tension, simply remarking on their apparent acquaintance.

“Come on, we’ve got some arrangements to make, and the warehouse area needs to be expanded.”

“Great! I was hoping to look around anyway,” Li Jingya agreed, then glanced at Lin Wanting. “Sister Wanting, come with us? We’re all friends here.”

“You two go ahead. I have some other things to take care of. I’ll catch up with you later,” Lin Wanting declined politely, then turned to Qin Feng. “Take care of yourself, Qin Feng.”

“I will, don’t worry. Nothing will happen,” Qin Feng smiled, nodding as he watched her leave. Only then did he and Li Jingya head toward the warehouse area.

This was where Jade Pavilion stored all its raw stones. Unless there was a major exhibition or sale, the area was usually closed to outsiders.

Qin Feng led Li Jingya to a row of warehouses filled with stones he’d purchased. He pointed to the piles inside and said, “These are the jadeite rough stones I intend to sell.”

“Wow!” Li Jingya exclaimed, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment. “Qin Feng, you bought so many?!”

Qin Feng chuckled. “Yes, they were inexpensive and all high-quality stones.”

“You’ve really got an eye for this,” Li Jingya praised, giving him a thumbs-up.

“But of course!” Qin Feng replied without a trace of modesty, though his tone quickly turned rueful. “It’s just a shame that rough stones are so expensive nowadays. I bought so many this time, it’ll be hard to sell them all quickly.”

Li Jingya thought for a moment before saying, “Don’t rush. Just take your time selling them. By the way, how much do you expect to make from this batch?”

“Hm?” Qin Feng raised an eyebrow. Was she up to something?

After considering, he decided Li Jingya probably wasn’t the scheming type. She was, after all, Old Mr. Li’s granddaughter—surely she wasn’t short on money.

“What, are you worried I’ll cheat you out of your money?” Li Jingya asked, blinking her clear eyes.

Qin Feng shook his head. “I’m not afraid you’ll cheat me. I’m just worried you might take a cut of my profits. Who knows how much money a rich young lady like you actually has?”

Li Jingya laughed, covering her mouth, then rolled her eyes at him. “Do I look like a money-grubber to you?”

“Your grandfather dotes on you, that’s true. But that doesn’t mean every word you say is law,” Qin Feng said, shaking his head.

“How could you say that?” Li Jingya pouted in mock annoyance.

Qin Feng shrugged. “If there’s nothing else, I need to get back to work. You can look around on your own.”

With that, he turned to leave. But Li Jingya grabbed his sleeve, pouting coquettishly. “I want to come with you!”

Qin Feng glanced at her. “I’m going to work. What would you do?”

Li Jingya mumbled, “You shouldn’t be alone. What if you run into trouble?”

Qin Feng rolled his eyes, not bothering to argue. In the end, he couldn’t refuse her, so he nodded and let her follow him into the workshop, where he began working on jadeite jewelry.

…