Chapter 23: Enjoying the Scolding?

Lin Qiongqiong took the business card, then pulled out her phone to display her WeChat QR code.

"Alright, I'll scan you."

Jing Huaiyao thought she meant to add him as a contact, but to his surprise, the code revealed a payment interface.

Lin Qiongqiong smiled. "Shall we settle the advertising fee first?"

Jing Huaiyao raised an eyebrow, scanned the code, transferred 200,000, and asked, "Can we add each other as friends now?"

Lin Qiongqiong hadn't expected him to actually pay, and she secretly marveled at how 200,000 really was like pocket change to the wealthy.

After they added each other, Jing Huaiyao had someone bring over a brocade box and handed it to Lin Qiongqiong. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lin. This is a token of my regard."

Lin Qiongqiong opened the box to find a dazzling blue diamond necklace inside.

Chu Miaojing looked on with surprise. "Is this the treasure of Jingyao Jewelry? The 'Tears of the Ocean,' a naturally formed teardrop-shaped blue diamond?"

Jing Huaiyao nodded.

Lin Qiongqiong, however, saw through it at a glance. "Fake."

The two of them looked at her in unison.

Having taken many courses on jewelry appreciation in preparation for marrying into the He family, Chu Miaojing said, "This should be real. It made the news when it was first unearthed. It's considered a once-in-a-century wonder."

Lin Qiongqiong replied, "It is a real blue diamond, but it wasn't naturally formed; it's synthetic."

Diamonds can be synthesized, but their value is significantly lower compared to natural ones. Although to Lin Qiongqiong, who majored in chemistry, they were both just carbon and no different.

Chu Miaojing looked puzzled, but then remembered something. "I heard that in the early 20th century, Jingyao Jewelry was ransacked. Although the 'Tears of the Ocean' was recovered, there has always been a rumor that the real one was swapped."

Jing Huaiyao looked at Chu Miaojing with renewed interest. "Miss Chu is quite well-informed. That is indeed the case. For a long time, our family believed it was the genuine article, and countless appraisers were unable to tell the difference. It wasn't until technology advanced and we used sophisticated laboratory equipment that we confirmed it was synthetic."

He turned to look at Lin Qiongqiong with admiration. "I didn't expect Miss Lin to be able to identify it as synthetic at a single glance."

Lin Qiongqiong said languidly, "So, does Young Master Jing enjoy giving out fakes as gifts?"

Jing Huaiyao apologized immediately. "That was my presumption. I was so eager to test Miss Lin's abilities that I resorted to such a tactic. However, I am sincere in inviting you to serve as the chief jewelry appraiser for Jingyao Jewelry."

Lin Qiongqiong felt a slight stir. She had always been aware of the danger of "bearing a treasure while being innocent." When one possesses great wealth without the backing of family status or power, one is like a lamb to the slaughter in the eyes of others. Therefore, she was tempted by the olive branch offered by the Jing family, one of the elite clans in Jiangcheng.

Moreover, she was currently living off the money provided by the system's missions, and her personal accounts were empty. If she became the chief appraiser for the Jing family, she would finally have some savings.

However, she decided to play hard to get. "I am personally very interested in jewelry, but my laboratory has ongoing projects, so I'm afraid I don't have the time."

Hearing this, Jing Huaiyao knew there was a chance. "Miss Lin, please rest assured. We have a professional team for routine appraisals; we would only need you for special circumstances. We would schedule appointments in advance and wouldn't take up much of your time."

Lin Qiongqiong nodded. "That works."

Having witnessed her capabilities, Jing Huaiyao did not dare to be negligent. "Our chief appraiser receives an annual salary of one million. I assume money is of little concern to you, so we will also gift you a piece of jewelry from a famous designer every year. How does that sound?"

Lin Qiongqiong wanted to say she didn't want jewelry, she wanted cash. But then she realized that these would be pieces earned through her labor, unlike the items bought with the system's money, which meant they could likely be sold. She agreed immediately.

Afterward, Jing Huaiyao offered to drive Lin Qiongqiong and An Ling home. Seeing that Chu Miaojing was also there, he opened the front passenger door and raised an eyebrow at her. "Miss Chu seems to be on good terms with my new chief appraiser. Would you like to join us?"

An Ling quickly urged, "Miaojing, Qiongqiong's new home is quite impressive. Don't you want to take a look?"

Lin Qiongqiong had invited Chu Miaojing before, but she had been busy with engagement matters and declined. Now, it seemed that engagement wouldn't be happening anytime soon. Chu Miaojing nodded and took the passenger seat.

On the way, Jing Huaiyao suddenly asked, "Miss Chu, with the He family's jewelry business embroiled in such a massive scandal, can the engagement ceremony between the He and Chu families still proceed?"

Lin Qiongqiong and An Ling immediately perked up. They had wanted to ask, but felt it would be too presumptuous.

Chu Miaojing remained silent, turning her head to look at Jing Huaiyao, who wore a half-smile tinged with a hint of schadenfreude. She had almost forgotten that he was He Fangfeng's sworn rival and would naturally be happy to see the He family fall into misfortune.

"The alliance between our two families is not something Young Master Jing needs to worry about," she replied coldly.

Jing Huaiyao gave a light scoff. "Miss Chu certainly has deep feelings for He Fangfeng. It's just a shame that He Fangfeng seems much closer to your foster sister than to you. Even at the charity gala the other day, they were each other's dancing partners."

Chu Miaojing was aware of this. If this had happened when she first returned to the Chu family, she might have made a scene, but now she was numb. She had long grown accustomed to her parents and fiancé revolving around Chu Miaoyi.

She was willing to marry into the He family not because of He Fangfeng, but because of his mother, Mrs. He. Unlike the fickle Chu Miaoyi, Mrs. He preferred a high-achieving student like her as a daughter-in-law. She had been kind to Chu Miaojing and promised to help her secure the Chu family fortune if she went through with the marriage. She had already lost her parents' love; she couldn't afford to lose their money too.

"Is Miss Chu a tortoise? You're so good at enduring?" Jing Huaiyao glanced behind her, as if looking for a shell.

Chu Miaojing found this man insufferable. It was one thing to deal with He Fangfeng, but now he was here to mock her to her face. "Are you a dog? You're so good at barking!"

Lin Qiongqiong and An Ling, who were eavesdropping in the back, were stunned. The air in the car fell silent for a moment. Then, they heard Jing Huaiyao's low, husky laughter.

Lin Qiongqiong felt that he didn't sound angry; it was almost as if he had enjoyed the insult...

"We've arrived. Please be careful." Jing Huaiyao checked the navigation and pulled up outside Lin Qiongqiong's villa.

Chu Miaojing immediately stepped out and slammed the door, her anger still simmering. "Thanks, driver."

She was treating Jing Huaiyao like a taxi driver.

Jing Huaiyao wasn't offended. He smiled at her and said, "It was a pleasure to be of service, Miss Chu."