Chapter 21: These Jewels Are All Forgeries!

Zhong Ling didn't take the two young women's words too seriously, assuming they just wanted to see the world, so she was willing to indulge them. "Certainly. Follow me."

"These are the most expensive evening gowns in our shop. They cost at least hundreds of thousands! The small diamonds on them are all real!" Zhong Ling pointed to the dresses displayed in the glass cabinets.

Lin Qiongqiong immediately set her eyes on a lake-blue evening gown. "How much is this one?"

Zhong Ling gave a nod of approval. "You have a great eye, miss. You picked the most expensive one right away. This is a high-fashion piece worn by celebrities; it costs nine hundred and ninety thousand!"

Lin Qiongqiong asked, "May I take it out to look at it?"

Zhong Ling took it out immediately, though she added a cautious reminder, "We have a policy against trying on the clothes, but you are welcome to hold them up against yourself for comparison."

Lin Qiongqiong expressed her understanding and held the dress up to the mirror.

Just then, Qi Na walked over, arms crossed, and sneered, "Zhong Ling, don't blame me for not warning you. Such an expensive dress—if they knock any diamonds off, it will be your responsibility."

However, Lin Qiongqiong spoke up: "I'll take this dress."

Qi Na clearly didn't believe her. "Nine hundred and ninety thousand—can you afford that?"

The next moment, they watched as Lin Qiongqiong scanned the payment code at the counter, followed immediately by the automated voice: "Alipay payment of nine hundred and ninety thousand received."

Both Qi Na and Zhong Ling were stunned. They rushed to the counter to check the computer, confirming that it was indeed 990,000 and not 99.

Lin Qiongqiong and An Ling went on to pick out several more gowns worth hundreds of thousands, all of which they handed to Zhong Ling to process. Looking at the total of 6.88 million on the bill, Zhong Ling felt dizzy. Their commission was one percent, which meant she would be making sixty-seven thousand today!

Qi Na, standing nearby, was dumbfounded. She never imagined that these two seemingly ordinary college students could casually spend millions. What was most infuriating was that she had been the one to greet them first, yet Zhong Ling had reaped the benefits.

After leaving the clothing store, Lin Qiongqiong took An Ling to a top-tier jewelry store. Jewelry was even more expensive, with prices easily reaching into the millions or tens of millions.

An Ling stared at the price tags in the display cases; she had never even dared to step inside such a shop before. "I suppose I can finally say I've seen a pair of earrings worth two million. The fire in them is truly dazzling."

Lin Qiongqiong didn't even look. "You like these earrings? Buy them!"

An Ling: !

Just then, a young woman in high heels walked in, pointed at the earrings they were eyeing, and told the clerk, "I want these violet jade earrings!"

The woman was draped in designer brands and jewelry; one look made it clear she was from a wealthy and prominent family. The clerks fawned over her. "Miss Chu, you're here. We'll wrap these violet earrings up for you right away."

An Ling was immediately displeased. "Hey, didn't we say we wanted these earrings first? Why are you giving them to her?"

Chu Miaoyi looked at the two of them and sneered, "Can nobodies like you afford these? You probably can't even identify the type of jade. Without any appreciation for jewelry, if these fell into your hands, it would be a total waste!"

An Ling was so angry she couldn't speak, though it was true—she didn't know much about jewelry and just thought they looked sparkly and pretty.

At this moment, Lin Qiongqiong finally looked at the violet earrings the clerk had taken out, a flash of surprise in her eyes. "These earrings are fake."

As soon as she said this, the clerks and Chu Miaoyi glared at her.

"What gives you the right to say these are fake? These were designed by a famous designer at He’s Jewelry, and they use top-grade ice jade."

Chu Miaoyi laughed scornfully, "Go on then, tell us, what is fake about them?"

Lin Qiongqiong replied, "This isn't jade; it's just an imitation."

She scanned the jewelry in the glass cabinet, adding with some surprise, "It's not just the one in your hand. This entire cabinet is full of fakes. Your He’s Jewelry has an inside job; you should call the police."

An Ling couldn't help but be shocked. Although she didn't know how Qiongqiong distinguished real jewelry from fake, she knew she wouldn't speak without cause. "If so many pieces are fake, the losses must be in the hundreds of millions, right?"

The clerk retorted angrily, "You are spreading rumors to smear He’s Jewelry!"

Lin Qiongqiong said, "Whether it's a smear or not, take them to a professional appraisal agency and you'll find out. Regardless, we won't be buying any of this."

Chu Miaoyi didn't believe it. "I think you’re just sour grapes because you can't afford them. He’s Jewelry has always had a great reputation, and I am going to buy from them!"

With that, she picked out several more sets from the collection Lin Qiongqiong had labeled as fakes, swiped her card decisively, and shot a provocative look at Lin Qiongqiong.

Lin Qiongqiong looked at her as if she were a fool and pulled An Ling to the jewelry store next door.

"Qiongqiong, are these real or fake?" An Ling asked, feeling uneasy.

Equipped with her "Fake-Buster" buff, Lin Qiongqiong could tell at a glance: "Real. You can buy with confidence. An Ling, see if there's anything you like?"

An Ling no longer held back. Her eyes lit up as she pointed at the counter: "I want this, this, and this!"

Lin Qiongqiong waved her hand dominantly: "Buy them! Buy them all!"

Chu Miaoyi naturally heard their conversation, crossed her arms, and sneered, "If you're going to buy them, then swipe your card."

Lin Qiongqiong walked to the counter: "Apologies, I don't have my card. Can I just tap to pay?"

The clerk was stunned. "Yes, of course."

Hearing the successful payment notification from Alipay, Chu Miaoyi's face showed shock.

"Miaojing!"

At that moment, An Ling spotted an acquaintance and waved her arm.

Chu Miaojing and He Fangfeng had been taking engagement photos, but He Fangfeng had received a text from Chu Miaoyi saying someone was causing trouble at the He’s Jewelry shop and had rushed over, leaving their session behind.

Chu Miaojing was somewhat displeased, feeling that this could have been handled by subordinates, but because of a single message from Chu Miaoyi—"Brother Fangfeng, please come quickly"—he had ignored their engagement shoot.

She didn't expect, however, to see Lin Qiongqiong and An Ling upon arriving.

Chu Miaoyi also saw them and immediately ran over, clutching He Fangfeng’s arm. "Brother Fangfeng, you're finally here! It's these two—they're spreading rumors that your He’s Group jewelry is fake!"

She pointed at Lin Qiongqiong and An Ling to complain to He Fangfeng.

Chu Miaojing, watching from the side, saw their intimate behavior and the fact that He Fangfeng didn't pull away; her expression darkened. She had mentioned to He Fangfeng before that she felt he and Chu Miaoyi were too close, but he had dismissed her as narrow-minded.

He Fangfeng had told her that Miaoyi was her sister, and therefore his sister, too, and asked why she, as the older sister, had to be so petty and begrudging toward her own sibling.