Collection Hiromi

Chapitre 3

Watching Lin Xiang's happy expression, Master Chen said nothing more. He turned back, gently closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep. In his dream, Master Chen thought of his daughter, Chen Yuanyuan...

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Volume 1: Life's Encounters, Chapter 7: Bargaining

Chapter word count: 2761 Update time: 08-02-29 17:43

Lin Xiang discussed with his mother at home about attending the birthday party of his classmate Lu Xiangxiang. The old lady was very supportive. Xiang'er's classmates often visited the old lady, which made her feel much happier. In particular, she liked the classmate named Lu Xiangxiang very much and always felt a sense of familiarity with her, as if she had known her for many years.

The old woman knew what Xiang'er was thinking, smiled mysteriously, and then took out ten red sun bills from the drawer and handed them to Xiang'er. Lin Xiang said in surprise, "Mom, we don't need that many." As she spoke, she pulled out five bills from the ten.

The old woman stuffed all the money into Lin Xiang's hand and said with a smile, "Silly child, take it all. Your classmate has always been very kind to your mother, so you should repay him properly."

Lin Xiang couldn't refuse the old woman, so he had to put the money away. In fact, Lin Xiang knew in his heart that his classmates all came from very wealthy families. Given Lin Xiang's family situation, he simply couldn't afford to give anything decent as a birthday gift. For this reason, Lin Xiang had tried to decline the invitation, but no matter what excuses he made, Lu Xiangxiang seemed to be following him around like a ghost until he agreed.

Lin Xiang agreed, but he wasn't sure if he would attend. After all, such an occasion wasn't suitable for someone from a family like Lin Xiang's. On this point, Lin Xiang's pride was still very shaken. He wanted to hear his mother's opinion, but he didn't expect her to agree, which boosted Lin Xiang's pride to some extent.

Lin Xiang used his weekend to take Yang Yingying all over the streets, following Master Chen's advice. Antiques? They were really too expensive, ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions. Good heavens, Lin Xiang felt a wave of depression. He really didn't know how many years he would have to work to save up that kind of money.

Yang Yingying knew that Lin Xiang was going to attend a high-society birthday party, which put a lot of pressure on Lin Xiang. She really wanted to help him, but she was afraid of hurting his self-esteem. Now they were both grown up and no longer the innocent and pure teenagers they used to be.

"Ying-mei, what birthday present did you buy?" Lin Xiang asked, glancing at Yang Ying-ying.

"Nothing much? Just some ordinary decorations," Yang Yingying replied casually. For her, the important thing about a birthday party wasn't the gifts. If there was any special meaning, it was simply being able to spend this special day with her beloved. That was all she needed to know. Of course, she wouldn't tell a boy that. Because Yang Yingying always felt a little uneasy, as if she was about to lose Lin Xiang.

Lin Xiang was still not convinced. It wasn't until he finished browsing the last few antique shops in Wind City that he realized it was true. Lin Xiang took a deep breath and sighed, "It seems there are quite a few rich people in this world." Although he smiled bitterly, he had to admit that what he had experienced in his youth was still vivid in his mind.

"Ying-mei, let's go! Actually, the most important thing about a birthday party is the sentiment behind the blessing; the gift isn't that important." Lin Xiang pulled Yang Ying-ying along, disappearing into the luxurious, glittering antique shop with the crowd. Yang Ying-ying was overjoyed, never expecting Lin Xiang to be so understanding, and her admiration for him grew even stronger.

The Decoration City, the largest logistics building in Wind City, is overflowing with goods and bustling with people, indicating its booming business. Yang Yingying took the elevator from the first floor to the fifteenth, then back down to the first floor, but to her dismay, she found nothing she liked. Her legs felt weak as she followed Lin Xiang, watching him intently searching for something, seemingly tireless. She was mesmerized. She couldn't believe how carefully and patiently Lin Xiang would look for something. It was a pity the gift wasn't for her. In her heart, Yang Yingying had already begun secretly planning her twentieth birthday.

Finally arriving at the underground mall, on the third underground floor, Lin Xiang finally found an item that he thought was meaningful and liked: a small necked bottle. Yang Yingying exclaimed in surprise as she saw that the exquisite little necked bottle looked a bit like the vase held by the Guanyin statue, but slightly smaller. It was just the right size to place on the bedside table with a daffodil in it.

Yang Yingying also thought it was very beautiful. It seemed Lin Xiang had good taste. The shopkeeper came over and praised, "Young man, you have good taste. This jade-necked vase was a favorite of Qin Shi Huang, who amassed it from the people. It is said that Qin Shi Huang later gifted this jade-necked vase to Shaolin Temple to receive Buddhist light and spiritual energy, so that it could return to his side in the future to help him achieve immortality. However, Qin Shi Huang, on his deathbed, still remembered this jade-necked vase and hoped that it could be buried with him so that he could continue to live as long as heaven and earth in another country. It was passed down by later generations, and that's how this item ended up here..."

"Wow... Boss! Are you selling things? Or telling stories?" Yang Yingying shouted from the side, as if she wanted to drag Lin Xiang away.

The boss was also a little panicked. He had finally gotten a customer. You see, business downstairs is never as good as business upstairs. He had been open for several days already, and he had finally gotten a customer. How could he let him slip away? If he had run into a novice, he could have ripped him off and made his money back this month. No wonder the boss was so boastful.

Judging from the young girl in front of him, she was clearly a skilled bargainer. The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, and he quickly smiled ingratiatingly, "Look, business is tough these days. If you like them, take them. The price is negotiable." Indeed, if you looked back, there were hardly any customers in the aisle. It was strange here; the ground floor was packed with people, but business seemed to decline with each floor. And this was already the third floor.

"How much is this small neck bottle?" Lin Xiang asked.

The shopkeeper did a quick mental calculation, then smiled slyly and said, "If you like it, I'll give you a fair price: five thousand yuan..."

ah…

Before the shop owner could finish speaking, Yang Yingying screamed, "Boss! You're robbing me! This little porcelain vase costs five thousand yuan, you might as well rob a bank!" Her screams attracted many shop owners who rushed out to look.

The shop owner quickly gestured, "Oh my god! Keep your voices down." He glanced outside, then sighed sadly, "Since you like it, I'll sell it to you at a loss, one thousand yuan..."

"Three hundred yuan!" Before the shopkeeper could finish speaking, Yang Yingying chopped the knife in half.

"Six hundred yuan!" The boss stood firm, hands on his hips.

"No! Just three hundred yuan!"

"Six hundred yuan!"

The haggling between the two left Lin Xiang completely bewildered. He remembered that when they left home, Yang Yingying had repeatedly told him that she would negotiate the price and he shouldn't say anything. Lin Xiang had entrusted this entirely to Yang Yingying. He never expected that Yang Yingying, who usually seemed so gentle and mild-mannered, would appear so fierce and unyielding. In Lin Xiang's opinion, he would have bought it even if the asking price was eight hundred yuan. He never expected the shopkeeper to ask for six hundred yuan, and he thought he could even get a discount.

"It's only three hundred yuan. If you don't want it, then forget it. Brother Xiang, let's go downstairs and take a look." After saying that, he put down the small bottle and pulled Lin Xiang away.

After walking a few steps, the shop owner suddenly ran out and said, "Young man, come here. It's three hundred yuan, but... it's not easy for an old man like me to do business. I'll sell you one at a loss today."

Yang Yingying ran back excitedly and said, "I knew the boss was the kindest! Let's just go all out and help pack it in a box."

"Ah..." The shopkeeper looked surprised, sighed, and put the small bottle inside. Then he took out pretty wrapping paper, wrapped it layer by layer, tied a bow, and carefully cut it with scissors. Then he said, "Alright! I'll go all the way and give it to you!"

Lin Xiang reached out and took the money, then pulled out three red sun bills and handed them to the shopkeeper. Yang Yingying happily grabbed Lin Xiang's hand and walked away, asking, "How was it? Today wasn't a wasted trip, was it?"

Lin Xiang praised, "I never imagined Ying-mei was so clever and capable. Whoever marries Ying-mei in the future will be truly blessed!"

A single word of praise made Yang Yingying blush bright red, and she cursed inwardly, "You idiot! Yingying only likes Brother Xiang, only an idiot like you wouldn't know that!"

"Come on... Yingmei, let's go get some KFC..."

Yang Yingying cheered, overjoyed, and completely unaware of her fatigue. She jumped up happily, grabbed Lin Xiang's hand, and ran ahead.

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Volume 1: Life's Encounters, Chapter 8: Birthday Party

Chapter word count: 2960 Update time: 08-02-29 17:43

Today is Lu Xiangxiang's birthday, and the class is bustling with excitement. All forty-five students will be attending. Of course, the school's number one beauty, our class teacher Zhang Haixia, will also be there. Her rationality, maturity, and figure have made many men swoon. Her captivating smile is irresistible to ordinary people.

I heard that not only will our homeroom teacher Zhang Haixia be attending, but also all nine of the school's most beautiful girls will be there. Unexpectedly, there will also be ten cool guys! Fang Yetong, the class's all-knowing scholar, took his notebook and sat on the podium during a break, muttering to himself, which caused a lot of noise in the class. Beauties and cool guys, it seems that tonight's birthday party is going to be quite eventful!

Lin Xiang propped his face up on the desk with one hand, his other hand constantly turning the pen. He watched the female students scream with anticipation when they heard that the Top Ten Cool Guys would be participating, and the group of boys who called themselves the dashing and romantic Tang Bohu. When they heard that the Nine Golden Flowers would also be participating, they were eager to try as if they had met the Nine Autumn Fragrances, their faces full of lust. Sigh... that's how rich kids are.

"Handsome Lin, you're going to the event tonight too, right?" Liu Hui, a female classmate sitting next to Lin Xiang, blinked and asked, just like the female lead in an idol drama was about to charm him. If the male lead wasn't careful, he would be charmed and lose his virginity.

"Hehe..." Lin Xiang smiled but did not answer directly. In fact, even now, Lin Xiang was still a little hesitant.

"Lin's smile is so charming!" Liu Hui's dreamy expression made Lin Xiang extremely embarrassed. He hummed several times, hoping Liu Hui would tone it down, but Liu Hui didn't notice. Instead, it attracted the attention of the female classmates. Oh my god! Lin Xiang quickly lowered his head, pretending to be focused on reading. When did Lin Xiang become one of the top ten coolest guys in the whole school, ranking third? Apart from his bad family background, everything else about him—character, grades, and appearance—was top-notch.

Perhaps it's because Lin Xiang is a year older! Although Lin Xiang ranked third, his reputation has actually surpassed that of the first place. According to the survey by the all-knowing scholar Fang Yetong, girls generally prefer boys who are older than themselves, perhaps because they feel safer and more mature. In Fang Yetong's modern terms, it means that girls need boys to cherish them; feelings and awareness are very important. You can't have a relationship between an older woman and a younger man! This statement became a classic quote from all the girls in the school when rejecting boys who pursued them.

Lin Xiang is now a handsome man with a strong physique. If we went back two years, I don't think that boss would have said he'd wait until he reached 140 pounds. He would have immediately recruited him, and earning over 100,000 yuan a month would no longer be a myth.

What changed everything was Lin Xiang's rapid transformation and growth during his second year of high school, which felt like a dream. Now, in his third year of high school, Lin Xiang has become somewhat perfect, and he has thousands of fans in and around the school.

Before the female classmates could speak, a figure stood in front of Lin Xiang's desk. "Lin Xiang, you'll be coming tonight, right?" Hearing the voice, Lin Xiang suddenly looked up and knew it was Lu Xiangxiang. In front of her, Lin Xiang seemed unable to refuse, so he nodded and said, "Yes, it's your birthday, I'll be there."

Lu Xiangxiang smiled, as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and said happily, "Thank you. I was really afraid you wouldn't come to my birthday party." Hearing this, the class cheered, as if the birthday party had already started ahead of schedule.

Before the end of the evening class, the homeroom teacher, Zhang Haixia, announced that the evening self-study class would be canceled tonight to celebrate Lu Xiangxiang's birthday. The class raised the "Long Live" flag in celebration. When Teacher Zhang saw the students' reaction, it was as if she was seeing herself in high school, except that she was not as arrogant and eager for freedom as the boys.

Before leaving, Lu Xiangxiang didn't forget to say goodbye to Lin Xiang: "Don't forget, it's my birthday tonight."

Lin Xiang smiled and waved. Yang Yingying was already waiting downstairs. When she saw Lin Xiang come out, she immediately went up and grabbed his hand to go home together. She seemed afraid that Lin Xiang would get lost and not be able to find his way home. The students at school were used to it. They had seen this kind of thing for more than two years.

"How about going to the birthday party of the most beautiful girl in your class tonight? Have you decided yet?" Yang Yingying asked from the side.

"Yes!" Lin Xiang nodded in confirmation.

“Let’s go together tonight!” Yang Yingying said happily. It turned out that Yingying met their classmates because of Lin Xiang. Yingying was Lin Xiang’s good friend, so she naturally became their good friend as well, and that’s why they all accepted Lu Xiangxiang’s invitation.

"Okay, come and call me after dinner, and take me with you!" To be honest, Lin Xiang had never been to Lu Xiangxiang's house before. Besides, it was a wealthy area, and even if Lin Xiang just went in like that, the security guards might not let him in. Of course, mobile phone communication is very good in today's society, but our male protagonist Lin Xiang does not yet own a mobile phone.

As night fell, Yingmei came to call Lin Xiang. The old man personally saw Lin Xiang out. After Lin Xiang left, the old man frowned, kept clutching his stomach with his hand, and felt waves of pain. He staggered back to bed and lay down. He endured the pain for a while, and only when he felt that the pain was not so bad did he show a slight smile.

On the way, Lin Xiang and Yang Yingying boarded a bus and sped towards Lu Xiangxiang's house. Tonight, Yang Yingying looked much prettier. She carried a trendy handbag, wore a beautiful and well-fitting long dress, and silver-white high heels. Her fair hands and delicate neck made Lin Xiang feel restless. Especially when he gently held Yang Yingying's small hand, which was soft and smooth, he felt a surge of heat and cursed inwardly, "Damn summer, it's too hot at this time!"

Yang Yingying looked blissfully happy. At that moment, she felt as if she were on a date with Lin Xiang. Thinking of this, her heart pounded and her face flushed.

After an unknown amount of time and several transfers, they finally arrived at the entrance to the upscale neighborhood. Yang Yingying ignored the security guards and pulled Lin Xiang inside. Lin Xiang, used to the stares from others, didn't think much of it. Following the door numbers, 01, 02, 03...20, Yang Yingying exclaimed happily, "Finally found it!" She took out the invitation card from Lu Xiangxiang from her handbag, swiped it on the card slot on the door, and a green light flashed. "Identity confirmed, welcome, please come in!" The door clicked open slowly.

Yang Yingying pulled a surprised Lin Xiang inside. The door closed automatically. Lin Xiang had never seen such a convenient door before. Although Lu Xiangxiang had explained to him how to use the invitation card, he was still very worried. Wasn't he afraid that bad guys would use the card to break into the house and steal things? When Lin Xiangxiang asked this, Lu Xiangxiang couldn't help but chuckle. She explained that the invitation card was a temporary key and would be useless after her birthday, since it was an electronic door and the program was already set up.

Lin Xiangcai realized how unsophisticated he was, and was extremely embarrassed. Now he finally got to see high-tech things.

As they entered the gate, a covered electric vehicle automatically pulled up. It had eight seats and could even talk. "Welcome! Please get in and let me serve you." Yang Yingying pulled Lin Xiang into the vehicle, which then said, "Please be seated. This journey will take ten minutes. Have a pleasant trip!"

Lin Xiang was filled with curiosity, while Yang Yingying laughed happily, "Haha...it seems this birthday party is going to be very interesting."

The bonsai trees along the way were beautiful under the lights. Before long, the car automatically drove into a large courtyard. Wow, it was brightly lit and luxurious. Lin Xiang was stunned for a moment. Then the two smiled and said, "Lu Xiangxiang, happy birthday!"

"Thank you! Lin Xiang, you're here!" Lu Xiangxiang, her face full of anticipation, happily accepted the gift and made a move to lightly kiss Lin Xiang's cheek. A "whoosh" sounded, causing a stir among those present. It seemed that only Lin Xiang received such special treatment. Yang Yingying was furious and pulled Lin Xiang away. Just as Lu Xiangxiang was feeling embarrassed, a couple who looked quite well-off walked over and smiled, "Xiang'er, aren't you going to introduce them to your parents?"

Lu Xiangxiang turned around happily and said, "These are my dad and my mom." Then she turned to her head and said, "This is Lin Xiang, my classmate, and this is Yang Yingying, my schoolmate."

"Hello, Uncle and Aunt," Lin Xiang and Yang Yingying said in unison. Although Yingying was a little annoyed by Lu Xiangxiang's affectionate behavior towards Lin Xiang, she still maintained basic manners.

"Okay! Welcome to my daughter's birthday party. I hope you have a great time tonight! Please make yourselves at home." After greeting everyone, Lin Xiang and Yang Yingying still had to greet and entertain other guests. They looked around the room and saw many unfamiliar faces. Finally, they found their classmates, who were chatting and laughing together, having a lively time.

Not far behind Lin Xiang, a pair of eyes were watching, and a figure moved, gradually approaching... approaching...

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Volume One: Life's Encounters, Chapter Nine: The Mystery of Xiang Shaolong

Chapter word count: 3237 Update time: 08-02-29 17:43

Seeing Lin Xiang walking over hand in hand with Yang Yingying, the boys in the class cheered, thanking God that they had shaken off another major competitor. The girls in the class immediately screamed, realizing they had lost a chance to confess their love. Lin Xiang looked helpless and went up to them, asking, "What's wrong with you guys? You seem really strange!"

The students were speechless, their eyes fixed on one direction. Lin Xiang and Yang Yingying followed the gaze downwards. Good heavens! Yang Yingying was holding Lin Xiang's wrist, and their outfits made them look like a married couple or lovers. The two blushed and separated their hands. Before they knew it, Yang Yingying was so close to Lin Xiang.

Seeing the two of them act simultaneously, the classmates joked, "Turning a mistake into an opportunity, in four words, instant success!"

Damn! They're making fun of me!

Lin Xiang thought to himself, but smiled and said to Yang Yingying, "Yingying, let's ignore them. Classmates are all like that and like to joke around. Let's find a place to sit."

Lin Xiang suddenly felt someone lightly pat his shoulder and greeted, "Hi... Lin Xiang..."

Lin Xiang helped Yang Yingying sit down, then turned around and saw a familiar face. The young man in front of him was smiling and said, "What? It's been two years, and you've become even more outstanding. You don't recognize me anymore, do you?"

"Li Tianxiang, President Li?" Lin Xiang finally remembered the young man driving a luxury sports car at the gas station in the western suburbs of Wind City two years ago. Since Li Tianxiang did not complain about Lin Xiang's negligence at work, he left a good impression on Lin Xiang.

"Hehe... You still remember me. It's been two years, and we still manage to meet. It seems we are truly destined to meet!" Li Tianxiang said with a smile.

"What? Aren't you going to introduce me to the pretty girl next to you?" Li Tianxiang joked.

Yang Yingying had already stood up, and Lin Xiang introduced her, "This is my friend, Yang Yingying."

"This is Li Tianxiang, whom I met once two years ago. He is the president of Space Technology Unlimited Company." Li Tianxiang nodded, indicating that Lin Xiang was correct, and then smiled and said, "Ms. Yang, it's a pleasure to meet you. This is my business card." After saying that, he stepped forward and handed Yang Yingying a business card.

Yang Yingying was taken aback. She hadn't expected Lin Xiang to know such an important figure. Li Tianxiang was the richest man in Fengzhi City, and his father, Li Xiaochao, was a key member of the National Committee. Of course, Lin Xiang didn't know any of this information. He only knew what was on the business card and nothing else.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, President Li." Yang Yingying reached out and took Li Tianxiang's business card.

Hehehe...

Li Tianxiang smiled and said, "Miss Yang, you don't mind if I take up a few minutes of Lin Xiang's time, do you?"

"Of course not!" Yang Yingying was happy for Lin Xiang, not expecting him to have such a friend. She thought that since he was about to graduate from high school, whether he went to university or not, if he could have someone like Li Tianxiang to help him, finding a job in the future would not be a problem at all. In fact, Yang Yingying did not realize that in Fugui High School, any of the parents could provide Lin Xiang with a good working environment.

Li Tianxiang said mysteriously, "Lin Xiang, let me introduce you to someone!" Regardless of whether Lin Xiang agreed or not, he pulled Lin Xiang away. Helpless, Lin Xiang told Yang Yingying that he was leaving for a moment, and then followed Li Tianxiang out of the courtyard. After turning left and right, they arrived at a study. There were two burly men standing upright at the door of the study, probably bodyguards or something.

The two burly men, who were calling him "Young Master," showed him great respect as he approached.

Is my dad in the study?

"The chairman is in his room..."

Before the burly man could finish speaking, Li Tianxiang had already pulled Lin Xiang through the door. Lin Xiang was surprised when he was dragged inside, and the door slammed shut behind him.

The room was pitch black. What was going on? It was so mysterious. Lin Xiang felt a sense of unease. Suddenly, the light came on, and he saw an old man with a full head of white hair sitting at a desk. His skin was dry and somewhat damaged, revealing sharp bones. He did look a bit scary. He was resting with his eyes closed. If you didn't look closely, you would think he was already buried. Behind him stood two expressionless men in suits, their backs straight, like soldiers.

Lin Xiang looked around the room. It was full of antiques! My God! Could it be decorations? But looking at the color and appearance of that bottle, it was somewhat old, like it had just been unearthed, making it seem real. However, these antiques were too big. He thought about the birthday present he had bought, which was a very small jade-necked bottle. Lin Xiang had searched through the entire Qin Dynasty antique collection to find the only similar jade-necked bottle.

“Dad! The person I told you about two years ago has been brought here,” Li Tianxiang said softly as he stepped forward.