Chapter 46: The signal here isn’t very good~~

Qian Lin, stung by the retort, could only watch as her million slipped into Sui Yi’s hands. Li Ling felt a bit dazed; after all, she worked for others, slogged for seven or eight years, and might never save up a million. Yet this high school–looking girl, just by speaking a few words, had earned a million? Was the world turning fantastical?

But she understood: such opportunities couldn’t be sought, only stumbled upon. Without ability, even if one encountered them, success was uncertain—harder than winning the lottery. The latter relied on luck, the former required skill.

Skill… Was she actually feeling this girl was truly skilled? The world, it seemed, was indeed fantastical!

———

As everyone wrapped up the event and casually exchanged their thoughts, Old Lin remained unsettled, pressing Sui Yi about how she had suddenly gained such prowess.

He was Old Tang’s business partner, knew a bit about Sui Yi, and had always assumed her talents lay in handling affairs. Now, she had abruptly become a miniature expert in antiques—still raw, but the progress was astonishing, even uncanny…

Sui Yi, unaccustomed to defying elders, replied offhandedly, “I read some books last night… One was about porcelain… It was just luck.”

Old Lin was stunned. “Read books? Last night?”

“Yes… Books from Old Tang’s study, ones he gave me…”

Everyone turned to look at Old Tang. He was deeply shaken, instinctively asking, “You read them all? Remembered everything?”

Sui Yi gently shook her head. “No, only three. There are some I didn’t remember.”

Likely, she hadn’t finished them, and some seemed unnecessary, so she hadn’t bothered.

Ah, such words, such tone—humble, perhaps? Humble? Was this humility?

Everyone felt astonished!

Old De watched Sui Yi for a moment, then chuckled, “Remarkable memory, and you put what you learned to use. Excellent, excellent…”

Old Tang was delighted, his smile stretching to his nose.

Old Lin glanced at Old Tang’s smug expression, quite displeased. “What are you grinning for? It’s not as if you taught her; the girl read the books herself!”

“Mind your own business. I chose those books! That proves my discerning eye!”

So now even book selection becomes a matter of discernment?

Sui Yi smiled mildly, recalling how Old Tang had simply grabbed a few books for her last night…

Although she had revealed her extraordinary memory, making a splash for once, it was also a way to patch the loophole in her sudden “awakening” and lay groundwork for the future.

Yu Quan looked at Sui Yi deeply—this girl was no ordinary one.

———

With the dust settled, Qian Lin and her father, unwilling to linger, found an excuse and left.

Once the black-faced pair were gone, everyone felt more at ease. Laughter flowed freely as they adjusted their moods, preparing to bid Old De farewell and depart.

Yet just then, Old De called out to Old Tang.

“Manager Tang, would you sell me your ‘Collection of Tilted Hats’?”

“Huh?” Old Tang was taken aback, then quickly plastered on a smile. “Old De, what’s all this talk of selling? If you like it, I’ll give it to you!”

Sui Yi raised an eyebrow at this.

“It’s not for myself,” Old De replied with a smile, “but my employer is particularly fond of Nalan Xingde. He’s tasked me with collecting his works, and I believe the ‘Collection of Tilted Hats’ would suit his taste.”

He glanced at Sui Yi, the meaning unclear.

Sui Yi frowned, shifting slightly aside.

Employer!

Old Tang and the others perked up. They all knew Old De’s background was extraordinary, his influence spanning the Jiangnan region. Thus, his “employer” must be someone even more remarkable.

“If it’s for Old De’s employer, all the more reason to gift it…” Old Tang acted as though he insisted on giving it away, generous to a fault.

The others felt a pang of envy. If only they could forge such a connection—never mind gifts worth thirty thousand, even three hundred thousand would be handed over without hesitation!

Then, Old De, seizing the moment, said, “In that case, let me call my employer.”

Old Tang was startled, as were the others.

Something felt off. Was Old Tang really about to climb the social ladder with a thirty-thousand-yuan item?

Tang Hanyan’s gaze flickered as she observed Old De’s expression for a while.

Trouble was brewing.

“Yes… Employer… It’s about ‘Collection of Tilted Hats’… Fine… Sui Yi, take the call.”

Utterly baffling—Old De had already handed his phone to Sui Yi.

Everyone was stunned.

This wasn’t right—why have Sui Yi answer the call?

Old Tang was dumbfounded.

Damn, I’m the one giving the gift!

Old De… Sui Yi’s heart skipped a beat.

She had recognized Old De as the elder previously seen in the teahouse, a man connected to Yi Chilian. She didn’t wish to get entangled, hence her pretense of ignorance, but once Old De called her out, she knew there was no avoiding it.

Now… Sui Yi frowned, exhaled slowly, took the phone, and after a moment’s hesitation, suppressed the urge to withdraw.

She had nothing to hide, and it was best to be forthright—after all, she wasn’t the one seeking connections.

“That ‘Collection of Tilted Hats’ is yours?” came Yi Chilian’s always-cool voice from the phone.

“Yes…”

“Heh, since you have it—and I’m the one who saved you—why haven’t you thought of repaying me? Seems I’m not on your mind at all…”

Elegant and noble Mr. Yi, was this a demand for gratitude?

Sui Yi mentally erased such words from her characterization of Yi Chilian and replied, “Mr. Yi jests. I didn’t know you enjoyed such things…”

“Did you not…? Didn’t you look through my study’s books?” Yi Chilian’s laugh was tinged with amusement.

As if saying, how could you not know my tastes?

Playing dumb, are you?

“Sorry, I didn’t think that far… If Mr. Yi likes these, I’ll buy such items for you in future, to repay your kindness…”

Sui Yi felt something odd; this man’s moods were unpredictable, and he seemed intent on teasing her.

His connections were vast, far beyond her ability to resist. Best to keep distance.

Sui Yi thought for a moment, then moved the phone slightly away…

As everyone watched, wondering what she intended—

They heard Sui Yi, through the air, apologetically say to the phone, “Sir, the signal here isn’t great… It might cut off soon, disconnect automatically…”

Then, she hung up.

Old Tang’s face turned green!

The others were all stunned, as if frozen.

Sui Yi, looking perfectly natural, handed the phone back to Old De, speaking sincerely.

“I’ve said what I needed to… I’ll repay Mr. Yi’s kindness in the future. If you need my help, Old De, just ask.”

Without arrogance or servility, Old De’s gaze lingered on Sui Yi’s face—not with the others’ fleeting disbelief—but with a smile, taking back his phone. “Good, I’ll pass your words to Mr. Yi. If you’d like, you can come to the teahouse for tea someday. My Biluochun is not bad.”

With that, he led a bewildered Old Tang away to complete their transaction.

He was a man of influence; Yi Chilian was even more so. Naturally, he wouldn’t take things for free.

“Yi Chilian? I didn’t expect it’d be him… but it could only be him…”

“No wonder.”

As realization dawned, everyone scrutinized Sui Yi again. They saw no hint of discomfort, recalling her respectful, cautious manner during the conversation with Yi Chilian. They seemed unfamiliar—there was mention of gratitude, perhaps some connection.

That explained it.

Yi Chilian had occasionally saved many people; Sui Yi was but one among them.

Though Old De’s attitude suggested Sui Yi was slightly special, that was all.

At departure, Yan Qingwu bid farewell to Sui Yi, bringing her mother over out of courtesy.

Yet a fleeting heaviness crossed her face.

She understood her own family’s circumstances, knew well what kind of person her mother was. Given Sui Yi’s past, her mother might have found her off-putting. Luckily, today, her mother’s impression was favorable.

“Sui Yi, is it?”

“Hello, Aunt.” Sui Yi saw Tang Hanyan extend her hand, her gaze flickering, and reached out to shake it briefly, then swiftly withdrew.

In her heart, she confirmed one thing—Tang Hanyan’s magnetic response was peculiar, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

Could she be trained as well?

Tang Hanyan would never have guessed that Sui Yi could detect a trace of her secret with magnetic sensitivity. With a graceful, elegant smile, she said, “You’re very impressive.”

Just four words, accompanied by an approving glance, yet it stirred intense envy in Li Ling.

“Aunt flatters me.”

Tang Hanyan quickly got into the car with Yan Qingwu—the vehicle was quite valuable, worth several times more than the million Sui Yi had just acquired.

———