Chapter 25: Avenging You

Jiang Xiao nodded shyly. "Brother Han, thank you."

Han Chunyu smiled. "Xiaoxiao, aren't you being a bit too formal? We'll be family soon enough."

At the mention of becoming family, a look of discomfort flickered across Jiang Xiao’s face.

"Yes, indeed!" Jiang Yueshan laughed. "We are practically family already!"

As a newly acquired son-in-law, Jiang Yueshan found Han Chunyu more satisfactory by the minute. Not only did his fortune and horoscope align with both Chen Fan and Jiang Xiao, benefiting the Jiang family, but more importantly, Han Chunyu was a wealthy returnee from abroad.

"Hey, what are you looking at?"

As Chen Fan peered around with curiosity, an exquisite cocktail appeared before him. The young blonde girl handed it to him, her expression relaxed.

"You were right; sometimes spending money really does make you feel at ease." Zhao Chenxi sat down next to Chen Fan.

Chen Fan took a sip of the cocktail and frowned slightly. It was sweet; it lacked the refreshing crispness of his favorite chilled soda. He didn't look at Jiang Xiao, instead chatting idly with Zhao Chenxi.

However, when Jiang Xiao caught a glimpse of Chen Fan, her body trembled. Seeing the youthful, vibrant blonde girl by his side made her feel even more bitter. First, the cold and noble Fu Xueyue had fallen for Chen Fan, and now this beautiful, radiant blonde... How did Chen Fan suddenly surround himself with such high-quality women right after their divorce?

"Xiaoxiao, what's wrong?" Han Chunyu asked, noticing her fixated gaze on Chen Fan.

Jiang Yueshan looked toward Chen Fan as well, his already weary face hardening with disgust. "Hmph! That’s Jiang Xiao’s ex-husband!" He added quickly, "Don't worry, I have an agreement with him. He hasn't overstepped any boundaries with Jiang Xiao."

At the mention of an agreement, Jiang Xiao’s expression shifted. Their year together had merely been an agreement... Yet, now that they were divorced, she felt a pang of regret. She quickly suppressed the thought, telling herself she was simply unaccustomed to having one less person around.

"Oh, I see." Han Chunyu glanced at Chen Fan, his eyes filled with arrogance.

However, his eyes flashed with surprise when he caught sight of Zhao Chenxi, who was arguably even more beautiful than Jiang Xiao. In particular, the pure white bracelet on her wrist, while appearing unremarkable, was actually a limited-edition haute couture piece worth over four hundred thousand. Could she be in the same business?

Chen Fan sensed Han Chunyu’s gaze and instinctively read his face. He arched an eyebrow. This guy was interesting—a professional con artist. It seemed that with the Jiang family’s feng shui array no longer stable, all sorts of riffraff were crawling out of the woodwork.

"Chen Fan, why do those people keep staring at you?" Zhao Chenxi asked, sipping her drink.

Chen Fan didn't mind. "My ex-wife," he said coolly.

"Ex-wife!" Zhao Chenxi exclaimed, quickly covering her mouth. She shifted closer to Chen Fan, her cheeks flushed, whether from shyness or the alcohol.

"What are you doing?" Chen Fan asked, bewildered by the girl leaning against his arm.

"Hey, that’s your ex-wife. I’m just trying to help you save face," she teased.

Her remark made Chen Fan chuckle. In the distance, however, Jiang Xiao watched the scene, her body trembling with rage.

"Don't be angry, Xiaoxiao. Getting upset over a man who plays around like that only hurts yourself," Han Chunyu advised with a smile. "The auction is starting soon. Once we secure the items, he'll be the one envying us."

Jiang Yueshan was barely able to contain his excitement. "Xiao Han, I don't mean to doubt you, but I just want to ask... can we really find a hidden gem at this auction?"

Han Chunyu frowned, appearing displeased. "Uncle Jiang, would I jeopardize my family's reputation for a joke? This is intelligence given to me by my grandfather, specifically to bid on the four-eared bronze tripod. It’s an item the appraisers missed. Once we win it, my grandfather will handle the rest..." He held up three fingers slowly. "Twenty million. After recouping the capital, we’ll make at least twenty million in profit. And that twenty million will be my betrothal gift to you, Xiaoxiao."

Jiang Yueshan couldn't stop grinning. Jiang Xiao lifted her chin, eager to see the look of regret on Chen Fan’s face. She glanced toward him, only to find that Chen Fan wasn't even looking her way.

She felt a sharp, stinging frustration in her chest. The twenty-million-dollar betrothal gift suddenly didn't feel as satisfying as it should have.

Chen Fan, uninterested, was flipping through the auction catalog Fu had sent him. *Yao'an Iron Finger Ring, starting bid five million, increments of no less than five hundred thousand.*

Only five million... Chen Fan raised an eyebrow. Which appraiser had missed this? He looked at the four-eared tripod—a late Qing dynasty bronze piece with a low starting bid of eight hundred thousand. It would likely top out at one and a half million. As for it being a "hidden gem," Chen Fan could only smile. If there was any true treasure to be found at this auction, it was only the Yao'an Iron Finger Ring.

As the clock in the bar struck two, a hidden door slowly creaked open. Two bodyguards wearing headsets emerged, holding tickets. The auction manager, Song Hong, followed behind them, radiating an air of refined elegance.

"Guests participating in the auction, please come forward to collect your entry passes. I hope everyone finds the items they desire today."

Zhao Chenxi looked surprised. "Chen Fan, this is an auction?"

"Yes," Chen Fan nodded. "Why else would I have told you to bring your savings?"

Zhao Chenxi: ... "Then you must help me get my revenge."

Chen Fan scanned the guests. Some had obvious feng shui auras, while others were deliberately hiding theirs. One concealed presence caught his attention, leaving him slightly surprised. It turned out he could take his revenge right here and now. The black aura clinging to the person who had silenced the Zhao couple—there was no mistaking it.

"After the auction," Chen Fan said with a faint smile, "I'll help you get your revenge."