"That's right."
Wang Dehai came to a sudden realization.
His eyes glared with fierce menace, "Little brother, you almost made me forget!"
"This scoundrel just said he wouldn't go through the pawnshop and wanted to buy my painting privately. So, that was his intention."
"Zhao Yecheng, you dare to deceive even me. I think you're tired of living."
Lin Ying's pretty face could no longer maintain its composure.
Her expression turned icy, and she asked coldly, "What exactly is going on?"
"I... General Manager Lin, believe me, I was just careless and misjudged. It's not what they're saying." Zhao Yecheng knew something was terribly wrong, his legs weakened, and his voice trembled.
He still wanted to muddle through.
Unfortunately, Lin Ying's discernment was incredibly sharp. Seeing his demeanor, she knew the matter was not without basis.
She was not unaware of Zhao Yecheng's character.
But out of respect for his past collaboration with her father, she had tolerated him repeatedly.
She had turned a blind eye to his petty gains, letting minor matters slide.
Who would have thought he would push his luck, disregarding the pawnshop's reputation, and lining his own pockets?
An ungrateful beast!
"Zhao Yecheng, for my father's sake, I won't hold you responsible for this matter."
Lin Ying took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, her voice devoid of any emotion. "But Donglin can no longer accommodate you."
"Pack your things and leave."
"Wait!" Wang Dehai's tone was hostile as he questioned, "You're just going to let him go like this?"
"If it weren't for this young brother, I would have suffered a great loss!"
"Mr. Wang, this was ultimately our pawnshop's mistake. I will purchase your painting for two million yuan in full. What do you think?" Lin Ying said neither servile nor overbearing.
Her words instantly extinguished Wang Dehai's anger.
"A heroine, truly magnanimous!" Wang Dehai gave a thumbs-up, his face full of admiration.
Two million yuan would finally alleviate his urgent need.
Fortunately, the painting hadn't been swindled after all; it was a stroke of luck in misfortune.
Since there was no substantial loss, and his reputation was salvaged, there was no need to pursue the matter further. He shot Zhao Yecheng a glare and warned him, "Don't let me see you in Qin Zhou again."
"Otherwise, I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair."
"Get out!"
Zhao Yecheng's face was pale, and he dared not say another word.
He stumbled away.
Once outside, infinite resentment flickered in his eyes.
Since Lin Zhendong was imprisoned, he had profited immensely from the pawnshop.
Now, it was all gone, thanks to an unfamiliar youngster.
To cut off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.
He wished he could tear Li Chonglou apart.
"Brother, thank you so much today. Otherwise, I would have been thoroughly cheated."
Having received the money, Wang Dehai, beaming, pulled out his business card and expressed his gratitude, "I, Old Wang, have seen my ups and downs and am accustomed to true and false friendships."
"You give me a good impression. If you think Old Wang is worthy, let's be friends."
"Take this card. If anyone in Qin Zhou bothers you in the future, feel free to come find me!"
"I have urgent business and must leave now. Oh, by the way, what's your name?"
"Li Chonglou." Li Chonglou replied calmly as he took the business card.
He was helping Donglin Pawnshop, not Wang Dehai.
"Contact me when you have time. I'll treat you to a meal!" Wang Dehai said politely before leaving the pawnshop.
Seeing that Li Chonglou didn't seem to be leaving, Lin Ying beckoned him to sit by the tea table.
She leisurely brewed tea, remaining silent.
Li Chonglou looked at his senior sister, whom he hadn't seen in years, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
After all, the past was the past, and this life was this life.
He was truly not good at socializing and didn't know how to introduce himself.
The atmosphere became strange and awkward.
"Do you know my father?" Lin Ying asked softly after the tea was brewed.
"Yes, Teacher Lin has been kind to me." Li Chonglou answered earnestly.
"Xiao Lou, my name is Lin Ying. Thank you for what happened today."
Lin Ying smiled faintly, her expression profound, "Without you, Donglin's reputation might have been ruined."
Just like the first time they met in his past life, Lin Ying called him this.
Li Chonglou's heart warmed.
He picked up his teacup to hide his emotional fluctuations, "It was just a small gesture. I hope you don't blame me for being inconsiderate."
Hiss…
He didn't realize the tea was too hot and gasped, fumbling in his haste.
This scene did much to dispel the awkward atmosphere.
"You were able to discern the authenticity of that painting just by looking at it. You're very skilled."
Lin Ying suppressed a laugh and praised, "For some reason, I feel like you look familiar, yet I've never met you."
"Perhaps I inherited my father's aesthetic sense. No wonder I find you pleasing to the eye."
As she spoke, her expression dimmed, and she sighed, "My father, that man, has too much of a rough edge."
"The current outcome isn't anyone else's fault."
"It's just a pity he's still so stubborn. Everyone else is vying to earn merits for reduced sentences, but he remains indifferent."
"Perhaps he has his own plans." Li Chonglou's voice was low.
His master had always been cold, taciturn, and aloof.
Although no one dared to provoke him in prison, he was constantly ostracized.
Thinking back, much of his current personality was influenced by him.
Although there was no blood relation between Lin Zhendong and him, they were as close as father and son.
Unfortunately, before his master could be released, he was provoked into killing someone in prison and was subsequently sentenced to immediate execution.
When Li Chonglou received the news and rushed back to Qin Zhou, all he saw was a handful of ashes.
"Let's not talk about him."
Sensing Li Chonglou's mood, Lin Ying changed the subject, "I have my own affairs to attend to and am not always at Donglin."
"It's difficult to find another trustworthy appraiser on short notice."
"What are you doing now?"
"Sister Ying, my mother is hospitalized, and I'm temporarily unemployed." Li Chonglou knew Lin Ying was considering recruiting him.
Indeed, Lin Ying immediately asked, "Are you willing to work as an appraiser here? The monthly salary is ten thousand."
"Okay!" Li Chonglou readily agreed.
The fate of his past life would continue in this life; Donglin was his second home.
He couldn't ask for more.
Lin Ying was not surprised by Li Chonglou's promptness.
When facing Li Chonglou, she felt as if she were meeting an old friend of decades.
They chatted for about an hour until Lin Ying received a phone call and had to leave, agreeing to start work the next day.
Li Chonglou then returned to the hospital from Donglin.
As soon as he entered the hospital lobby, his brow furrowed.
Lü Yunxu stood elegantly by the elevator, chatting and laughing with an old man with white hair and a steady demeanor.
"Brother Li!"
Soon, Lü Yunxu also saw him and greeted him enthusiastically, "I heard from the driver about your mother's condition."
"I took the liberty of inviting Elder Huang of Qishan Mountain to perform the surgery for your mother."
"Elder Huang, thank you for your trouble." Li Chonglou shook hands with the old man.
He had been worried about his mother's surgery, and Lü Yunxu was truly a lifesaver.
He had seen Huang Qishan's name countless times on television; he was the foremost heart surgeon in Jiangsu Province and renowned nationwide.
Furthermore, he was an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a true master physician.
It was difficult to even get such a renowned doctor without strong connections, even with wealth.
Lü Yunxu had managed to invite him to perform surgery on his mother.
The risk of his mother's surgery was undoubtedly minimized.
They had only met yesterday, and today she had actively found such a famous doctor for him.
Lü Yunxu's visit was likely not solely for the purpose of making friends.
But regardless, this was an immense favor.