The old man looked at Qing Luan with immense gratitude before continuing, "Sir, a group of people has broken in outside. I couldn't stop them no matter what. The one leading them seems to be... from the Dongfang family."
As soon as the old man finished speaking in fear, Lin Xingwan's mind immediately conjured Zhou Jinbai's face upon hearing the words 'Dongfang family'.
Could it be that this man had come here?
After all, Lin Xingwan couldn't think of anyone else who would do such a thing besides Zhou Jinbai.
Lin Xingwan cast a fearful, pleading gaze at Duan Muxing. Duan Muxing then said to Qing Luan, "Go help Madam put on her mask."
Qing Luan nodded and quickly walked to Lin Xingwan's side, beginning to adjust the mask that had just been torn off.
Xu Jingkuan watched the scene unfold, not understanding why the mask needed to be put back on.
Perhaps she didn't want people to see her true appearance.
Since his precious daughter was so cautious, Xu Jingkuan naturally wouldn't expose her.
In about tens of seconds, a steady and magnetic voice came from the doorway.
"Mr. Xu, long time no see."
Lin Xingwan's guess was indeed correct, as the speaker was Zhou Jinbai.
Even with her back to Zhou Jinbai, Lin Xingwan would never forget the man's unique, familiar voice.
At this moment, Lin Xingwan became even more anxious because the mask on her face was not yet fully on.
Although Qing Luan was also anxious, her disciplined demeanor remained unchanged as she continued to attach it methodically.
As long as Miss Xu didn't turn her head, Zhou Jinbai wouldn't be able to see Miss Xu's true appearance.
"Mr. Dongfang, what brings you here today?" When Xu Jingkuan saw Zhou Jinbai, his eyelids suddenly twitched.
He had rarely interacted with outsiders in recent years.
However, among those he had interacted with, Zhou Jinbai, the descendant of the Dongfang family, had left a deep impression on him.
A few years ago, Xu Jingkuan had suffered a loss at Zhou Jinbai's hands. Not only had he lost the mountain he was currently living on to Zhou Jinbai, but he had also borrowed the usage rights of this mountain from Zhou Jinbai.
Every time Xu Jingkuan thought about this matter, he felt like beating his chest and stomping his feet.
Why had he underestimated Zhou Jinbai, this junior, and made a bet with him?
A bet was one thing, but the problem was that this junior had actually won against him.
He didn't even know where to put his old face.
"I have no particular purpose in coming today. I just suddenly remembered the agreement Mr. Xu and I signed previously, and I want to sell this mountain."
As Zhou Jinbai spoke, he seemed to not notice Lin Xingwan, Duan Muxing, and Qing Luan. His gaze remained solely on Xu Jingkuan.
But only Zhou Jinbai knew that someone had always been within his sight.
"What? You want to sell this mountain? Sell it to whom? This mountain is blessed with spiritual energy, and it is where the ancestors of our Xu family are buried. If you sell this mountain, won't the ashes of my ancestors be sold too! Mr. Dongfang, what you are doing is simply not honorable. If I die in the future, I will have no face to meet my ancestors in the netherworld."
What Zhou Jinbai said was like a bolt from the blue for Xu Jingkuan.
He had never expected that such a peaceful day would bring so many unsettling events.
"Mr. Xu, there's no need to be so anxious. I've come to you today precisely to sell this mountain to you. I know we made an agreement back then. I am the owner of this mountain and will also lease it to you. As long as you pay me rent, I will lease it to you for any number of years. However, I've been thinking, although I own this mountain, I don't have the right to use it. It would be better to do a favor and directly sell the mountain to you."
Zhou Jinbai's repeated use of "you" made Xu Jingkuan feel belittled.
Even more so, upon seeing the man's unfathomable eyes, Xu Jingkuan became even more flustered.
Those who had never crossed swords with Zhou Jinbai might think he was just born lucky and a bit clever; however, anyone who had suffered a loss at Zhou Jinbai's hands would feel fear when seeing him wear such an expression.
Xu Jingkuan clearly remembered that years ago, Zhou Jinbai had used the same expression to win this mountain from him. Now, he was using the same expression to sell it back to him. Something unusual was bound to happen!
But damn it, the terms he offered were too tempting.
Xu Jingkuan had always been thinking about how to get this mountain back from Zhou Jinbai. He never expected that heaven would present him with this opportunity now.
Even if it meant facing a sea of knives and a mountain of fire, Xu Jingkuan had to take the chance.
"Mr. Dongfang, I don't quite understand what you mean." Xu Jingkuan's eyes were fixed on Zhou Jinbai, his expression conveying: "You brat, I know you're trying to trick me, but I can't help but jump into your trap."
"Then let's discuss it in detail."
Thus, Zhou Jinbai and Xu Jingkuan walked towards a table nearby. The servants standing around quickly served tea.
After Zhou Jinbai sat down, he scanned the surroundings and said, "I almost forgot, Mr. Xu has other guests today. If you don't mind, please join us. The matters I need to discuss are not many and will be concluded quickly."
Zhou Jinbai's demeanor was extremely cold, as if he didn't know the three people in front of him at all.
Duan Muxing smiled and had Qing Luan push him closer to the table. Lin Xingwan could only follow Duan Muxing and sit down.
As fate would have it, Lin Xingwan was seated directly opposite Zhou Jinbai.
Although the mask on her face was already in place, Lin Xingwan felt her heart pounding wildly.
Why would Zhou Jinbai come here out of the blue?
If it were a coincidence, it would be too much of a coincidence.
But if it wasn't a coincidence, then what was it?
The more Lin Xingwan thought about it, the more fearful she became.
Ultimately, Lin Xingwan cast aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind.
She must be overthinking things, which was why she felt so guilty.
If Zhou Jinbai knew her true identity, he would absolutely not be so calm.
Yes!
It must be a coincidence.
Zhou Jinbai and Xu Jingkuan discussed the matter of the mountain, and it was eventually sold to Xu Jingkuan for five times its original price.
With a price of over thirty billion, Lin Xingwan felt that her perspective was too narrow upon hearing the final transaction amount.
If she hadn't heard it with her own ears, Lin Xingwan wouldn't have believed such an exorbitant price could exist.
Xu Jingkuan's face was filled with an expression of impending tears. He knew very well that Zhou Jinbai was treating him like a fool to extort money, but Zhou Jinbai was selling the mountain where their Xu family ancestors were buried. Let alone five times, even ten times, Xu Jingkuan would still have to buy it.
This was to atone for his past mistakes.
"I wonder if Mr. Dongfang has any other matters? It's getting late. If there's nothing else, I think Mr. Dongfang can leave. After all, the mountain road is not easy to travel after dark, and there are many wild beasts on this mountain."
Xu Jingkuan couldn't even bother to maintain a basic smile. For him, just thinking about hundreds of billions flowing away like water made his heart ache to the point of breathlessness.
He had already used up decades of his cultivation to refrain from cursing Zhou Jinbai, this old fox.
"Are you asking me to leave, Mr. Xu? I was planning to rest at your villa on the mountainside. After all, I've been traveling for a long time and don't have much energy."
Zhou Jinbai said, then cast a half-smile at Xu Jingkuan. Xu Jingkuan felt like cursing him.
Traveling for a long time? This man's words were truly infuriating.
The esteemed Dongfang Junze of the Dongfang family traveled by private helicopter, and it only took a few minutes to get here. Yet, he claimed to be tired?
No one would believe that if they heard it.
But in front of so many people, he couldn't afford to offend Zhou Jinbai.
If he angered this man, perhaps he wouldn't sell him the mountain after all.
Xu Jingkuan was extremely annoyed by this feeling of being led by the nose, but he was helpless.
In the end, he could only say, "It looks like it's going to rain. Why don't we all stay here tonight? It's been a long time since I've had such lively company."
After Xu Jingkuan finished speaking, Lin Xingwan instinctively wanted to refuse.
However, Duan Muxing took Lin Xingwan's hand, soothed her emotions, and said to Xu Jingkuan, "Then we'll trouble Mr. Xu."
A flash of intense, dangerous warning crossed Zhou Jinbai's eyes, and at that moment, the temperature in the entire room seemed to plummet.
However, when Duan Muxing looked at Zhou Jinbai, he found that the man's expression remained as usual.
Instead, Duan Muxing, who had always been in control, began to doubt himself.
Was his feeling wrong?
Was Zhou Jinbai's arrival here truly a coincidence?
Otherwise, why would Zhou Jinbai show no reaction when he held Lin Xingwan's hand?
"What are we having for dinner tonight?" Zhou Jinbai asked Xu Jingkuan.
Xu Jingkuan was stunned. Indeed, the thoughts of a big shot were beyond the comprehension of mere mortals like them.
He never expected Zhou Jinbai to ask him what they were having for dinner.
"I will have the chef prepare the most delicious and abundant dinner to entertain everyone. There are many delicacies here, and I guarantee you'll have a feast."
When it came to food, Xu Jingkuan had the right to speak.
Even the wild delicacies picked from the mountain were impossible to buy in the bustling city, no matter how wealthy one was.
If it were Xu Jingkuan, although he was wealthy, he usually wouldn't indulge in such lavish meals.
But today, his daughter had returned, and he had to bring out all the good things he had collected over the years.
"I've eaten countless delicacies over the years. If we have delicacies again tonight, I think it would be a waste of this trip," Zhou Jinbai shook his head, his picky demeanor not only making Xu Jingkuan want to hit him but also making Lin Xingwan feel that Zhou Jinbai had become so... annoying.
And this man seemed to be deliberately finding fault, Lin Xingwan was speechless.
"Then what does Mr. Dongfang want to eat?"
Xu Jingkuan suppressed his anger and asked kindly.
Zhou Jinbai's gaze fell on the patch of land where Xu Jingkuan grew vegetables. "There are so many fresh vegetables planted there. Why don't we have hot pot? It's going to rain soon, and I think hot pot on a rainy day is a very good choice."
After Zhou Jinbai finished speaking, everyone else thought it was a good idea.
Especially Lin Xingwan, she remembered that her favorite thing in the past was eating hot pot on rainy days.
Because on rainy days, Lin Xingwan would often feel down, but eating hot pot and watching dramas would quickly make her feel happy again.
"Alright, then I'll have someone pick the vegetables." After Xu Jingkuan finished speaking, Zhou Jinbai was already walking outside.
The others were confused and could only follow behind Zhou Jinbai.
As for Qing Luan and Duan Muxing, the master and servant, they remained in the room.
"Young Master, this Dongfang Junze feels very strange."
Although Qing Luan hadn't interacted with Zhou Jinbai many times, she had gathered a lot of information about him from the outside world over the years.
"It's fine. We'll just see what he's up to,"
Duan Muxing said, then had Qing Luan push him outside.
Zhou Jinbai actually went to the vegetable patch and picked the vegetables he liked with his own hands.
He was quite picky, only choosing the tenderest parts. Seeing this, Xu Jingkuan's heart bled.
These vegetables were planted when he was bored, and it took several months from germination to harvest for each plant.
But with Zhou Jinbai's way of plucking them, Xu Jingkuan vowed that after one hot pot meal tonight, his small vegetable garden would be ruined.
"Why are you all just watching me? Hurry up and pick. Do you think it's fun to pick in the rain when it starts pouring?" Zhou Jinbai said, even shoving a bamboo basket into Lin Xingwan's hand. "Miss Xu, your fiancé is useless, are you useless too?"
Duan Muxing: "..."
He felt offended!
Lin Xingwan, however, didn't dwell on Zhou Jinbai's words and quickly began picking vegetables.
After all, the wind blowing around was already very cold. Looking at the weather, a heavy rain would arrive within minutes.
Qing Luan also joined the vegetable-picking team, leaving only Duan Muxing sitting outside.
He looked at the busy group of people and then at himself, indeed... quite useless!
Of course, he was referring to his legs.