Reborn Treasure Appraiser: I Really Didn’t Want to Be an Expert

Chapter 331 Oh no, this is bad.

With two more lights turned on, the tea room became much brighter.

The woman sat down gracefully, the coffee table wobbled slightly, and the lamplight shattered into silver scales in the cup.

A light-colored short-sleeved wool sweater, her two hands were fair and slender. A well-fitting plaid cotton skirt, her legs were rounded and long, her ankles delicate, and her veins were faintly visible, like the cracks spreading on off-white porcelain.

Her hair was loose and hung diagonally in front of her chest, which was taut and round like a fully drawn bow.

There were a few faint lines at the corners of her eyes, and her eyes were like deep pools, profound and bright. The outer corners of her eyes slanted into her temples, leaving a few creases like ink wash.

She is very beautiful and refined, with a great figure, comparable to Yu Jiyao, and exudes a unique charm for her age.

Her temperament is unique, less deliberate and more natural. Seemingly subtle, yet incredibly alluring.

Lin Sicheng was looking at her, and she was looking at Lin Sicheng.

Be serious and meticulous.

After looking for a long time, she exhaled softly, "Twenty-two?"

Lin Sicheng smiled, took two new cups, and roasted a pinch of raw tea leaves: "President Ren, would you like to see your ID?"

The woman shook her head: "No need!"

Facial features don't lie.

Her pupils were clear, her eyeliner was sharp, and her eyebrows were thick and gathered, yet soft and gentle.

A thin layer of downy hair covered its face, reflecting a faint golden hue under the light.

In classical Chinese texts, you often see the phrase "yellow-mouthed child," which doesn't refer to whether the child has a beard or not, but rather to the layer of downy hair on their body.

If I weren't twenty-one or twenty-two, I would have already lost all my youthful looks.

Ren Danhua didn't disbelieve it, but rather found it somewhat incomprehensible.

Yu Jiyao's beauty is undeniable. Her charm is well-known to those who know her.

In the past, he was always successful in his missions. Whether the person was seventy or eighty years old, or young and vigorous, whether they were shrewd and experienced, or outstanding and spirited, he was undeterred.

Of course, it's not about scheming or setting traps, but rather a means to enhance relationships and mutual understanding.

It doesn't necessarily have to be something serious; a little bit of ambiguity, a hint of something indescribable and enchanting, can lead to a breakthrough in the relationship.

This is the cornerstone of mutual trust and even deep cooperation.

But looking at Lin Sicheng, there's absolutely no ambiguity. And what's with all that "romantic charm"?
He seemed more composed and worldly-wise than those seventy- or eighty-year-old experts and sanctimonious scholars.

Surely there can't be a physiological problem?
That's impossible.

Eyes don't lie: when he looked at himself, it was the kind of look a normal man would give a stunning woman.

She could even sense that Lin Sicheng was more curious about her than Yu Jiyao was.

Of course, this is purely out of curiosity. Ren Danhua has seen countless people, and that much is certain.

So she couldn't understand: where does someone of this age get such composure?

He doesn't seem like a young person at all; he's more like a wise and enlightened monk who has seen through the illusions of the world.

What, that's too exaggerated?
Food color also.

How many people were dragged down by this small red building? How many seemingly unyielding and unapproachable figures were ultimately swayed by her charms?
Even the hardest steel fears the softest touch...

Lin Sicheng remained silent and unhurried. The tea leaves were evenly spread on the Xuan paper, and the temperature of the heating plate gradually rose. The tender leaves slowly curled up, and a delicate fragrance filled the tea room.

Ren Danhua stared intently at his skillful movements: "Manager Lin is also skilled in tea ceremony?"

"I wouldn't call myself virtuous, I just know a little bit about it." Lin Sicheng used wooden tongs to turn over the tea leaves. "Since the beginning of porcelain, teaware has been the most revered!"

For a moment I forgot that besides being an appraiser, he was also a highly skilled porcelain restorer.

Ren Danhua smiled and said, "Originally, I was going to meet with Manager Lin after those two items were repaired. But my elder sister said, 'Trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust.' Since we've decided to cooperate, we should be open and honest!"

Sure enough, if there's a second sister, there's an eldest sister.

Lin Sicheng paused slightly: "It's my honor!"

Ren Danhua nodded, and Yu Jiyao immediately understood. She took the purse and took out a small box.

Upon receiving it, Ren Danhua opened the box and gently pushed it over.

That pocket watch?
As Yan Wenjing was leaving today, he kept saying: "Let's not talk about whether we can find out the key figures or take down this gang. But Teacher Lin, we absolutely must find a way to get this pocket watch back."

Even if it's a bad one.

As he pondered this, Lin Sicheng took a closer look: it was indeed the same one.

"Please, Manager Lin!" Ren Danhua said solemnly, "Name your price!"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "To be honest, Mr. Ren, I want to do long-term business, the kind that grows slowly but surely. After it's repaired, Mr. Ren can take a look at the quality first."

"Long-lasting is good," Ren Danhua thought, "long-lasting is better than Lin Sicheng."

She paused briefly, then tapped the lid of the box. "There's still a small problem I need to ask: where can I get it repaired?"

This is normal: it's a national treasure, after all, and its value is immeasurable. Even if she admires Lin Sicheng, this is only their first collaboration, and she can't simply let him take the pocket watch away.

Even if it's just a bad one, it's worth tens of millions. What if Lin Sicheng runs away?
Lin Sicheng said without hesitation: "President Ren decides!"

"Oh?" She raised her eyes. "Aren't you afraid that someone will steal your skills?"

Lin Sicheng glanced at Yu Jichuan beside him and said, "President Ren, to be honest, this technique is really hard to learn!"

It's more than just being unwilling to study.

The recipes are largely the same, and the key points of the process are not secrets, but Yu Jichuan has studied for twenty years and is still far behind Li Jiansheng.

Talent and comprehension account for 99% of success; only then do we consider character and patience.

Ren Danhua was even more satisfied: "That's good, thank you for your understanding, Manager Lin!"

Perhaps feeling the heat, she asked Yu Jichuan to remove the charcoal stove and replace it with an electric one. Then she personally filled a kettle with water and sat down on it.

"Manager Lin is a seasoned veteran and a leader among his peers. He naturally knows that doing this kind of work is not only tough, but also nerve-wracking. There are so many complicated things to do, we have to run around all the time..."

Ren Danhua glanced at the two siblings beside her, "So the business in the capital has always been managed by my cousin and my sister. My cousin excels in technical skills and dislikes interpersonal relationships, while my sister, though young, is intelligent and eager to learn. In the future, we will need Manager Lin to provide more guidance..."

"I dare not presume to offer guidance. Miss Yu is so insightful and clever; I should be learning from her!"

"It's not really about studying her; just don't treat her like a thief. After all, we'll be working together frequently in the future..."

After a slight pause, Ren Danhua raised the corner of her eye, exuding an indescribable charm, "She doesn't eat people, does she?"

It doesn't eat people, but it can harm them.

Lin Sicheng smiled and avoided the topic: "President Ren, President Yu, have some tea!"

The spout is tilted slightly, and water flows out in a torrent. Steam rises and the aroma of tea fills the air.

Two cups of tea were placed in front of the two people. Ren Danhua picked them up, blew away the foam, and took a sip.

It has a slightly bitter taste, but a sweet aftertaste, making it a unique flavor.

Ren Danhua put down her teacup, glanced sideways, and Yu Jiyao shook her head slightly.

It wasn't that her arrangements went wrong, nor that Lin Sicheng knew there was something strange about the tea, nor was it that he was overly wary.

Besides, if someone wanted to harm him, there were plenty of ways. They could put the drug in raw tea, boiling water, or even just burn some incense—where couldn't they put it?

If he wanted to be on guard, he would definitely bring bodyguards, not come alone. Let alone personally roasting and brewing tea, Lin Sicheng would absolutely not even drink a drop of water.

Therefore, this is just human nature.

But that's okay. Everyone has preferences, and even those who aren't attracted to beauty certainly have things they like. It's simply a matter of catering to their tastes...

As she pondered this, her phone buzzed, and Ren Danhua picked it up.

"It's the driver. He had a minor accident on the way here, and he just finished dealing with it! That's why he's been delayed for so long. He hasn't even had a chance to eat."

She glanced at the text message, then put it back: "If Manager Lin doesn't mind, I'd like to have a few drinks with you. If you don't drink, tea will do, and we can talk about the rest later..."

Lin Sicheng paused for a moment, then nodded: "Okay!"

"Cousin, go and make the arrangements!"

Yu Jichuan got up and left the tea room.

Lin Sicheng's heart skipped a beat, but he asked casually, "You cook here?"

"Of course not!" Ren Danhua smiled. "But the environment is nice and quiet!"

At first glance, it seems normal.

That pocket watch is priceless. It's not that Lin Sicheng can repair it, but Ren Danhua is also willing to repair it. So, just hand the watch over to him and that's it.

Where to repair it, how to repair it, what materials, tools, and instruments to prepare—all these details definitely need to be finalized.

But this is the abnormal part.

It's certainly a good place to discuss business, but to do it while eating feels a bit out of place.

Let's look at the layout and decor of this place: it's a maze of twists and turns. The tea room is filled with screens and mirrors. It wouldn't be difficult to build another dark room with a view outside.

Even more unusual was the text message from earlier: "We've arrived."

Whose driver is so rude?

The word "们" is used well: besides the driver, who else is there?
Subconsciously, Lin Sicheng sniffed again, thinking of that ordinary-looking woman who smelled strongly of medicine.

If they were strangers, of course we could meet. Unfortunately, they were not only acquaintances, but also people with deep-seated grudges.

They're all old foxes, what are they singing about? The moment that woman sees me, she'll be enlightened, as if struck by lightning.

So it's not that we can't meet, but that we should meet right now...

After a moment's thought, Lin Sicheng gently pressed the knob on his watch twice.

Ren Danhua seemed to just remember: "Manager Lin, do you have any dietary restrictions, or what kind of food do you like?"

Yu Jichuan has already entered the elevator, why are you only asking now?
It seems they weren't there to arrange food and drinks, but rather to pick someone up.

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "I'm not picky. I can eat food from anywhere and drink any kind of wine!"

"That's good!"

With a smile, Ren Danhua picked up the kettle and turned to fill his cup.

Lin Sicheng said "thank you" and picked up his teacup.

Just as it was about to be brought to his lips, "whoosh!"—everything went dark.

It was black, not just any kind of black, so black you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

Yu Jiyao exclaimed, "Ah!" "The power's out?"

"Seems like it?" Ren Danhua replied, standing up.

Perhaps she had risen too suddenly, she cried out and fell softly to the ground.

Quite by chance, she didn't even touch the large coffee table in the middle, and instead fell straight into Lin Sicheng's arms.

As if by instinct, one hand hooked around Lin Sicheng's neck, while the other hand slid down his chest.

No, ma'am, where are you touching?

Your subordinates can't handle it, so you come in person, right?

Lin Sicheng stepped back and helped him straighten up. Just then, footsteps came from outside the door: "Miss Yu, I'm sorry, there's a sudden power outage, and the property management is working on repairs." Yu Jiyao turned on her phone's flashlight, and Ren Danhua subtly released her arm from Lin Sicheng's neck.

The flashlight was quickly moved aside and shone towards the door: "Is the whole building without power?"

"Yes, Miss Yu!"

How long will it take to fix?

"The property management notified us that there seems to be a short circuit somewhere; it should be resolved soon!"

Such a large building, how can it be so easy to investigate? Even if it's quick, it will still take at least "hours".

It was pitch black; even if the older sister came up, what could she possibly see?
Unless face to face...

Just as she was having a sudden thought, Ren Danhua's phone lit up again.

She glanced at it: "Manager Lin, it seems we'll have to find another place!"

"It's alright!" Lin Sicheng said calmly. "Another day is fine too!"

Just as he finished speaking, Lin Sicheng's phone rang again. He answered it immediately, and Zhao Da's voice came through: "Master, which floor are you on!"

"I'm on the third floor, but this place is too complicated, you probably won't be able to find it. You don't need to come up, it's just a power outage..."

After exchanging a few words, Lin Sicheng hung up the phone, and Ren Danhua sighed softly.

What bad luck!
My older sister has studied a wide range of subjects, including physiognomy, so she wanted to personally observe this incredibly young, incredibly composed, and incredibly skilled young man.

However, the older woman suspected that this person was there for her and didn't want to meet her directly, so she arranged to meet him here so she could take a look in the mirror.

But everyone had arrived, and then a sudden change occurred?
It's too late to change the location at the last minute, and there's no suitable place available, so we'll have to reschedule for another day.

Perfect, this will give me an excuse.

Ren Danhua glanced at the watch on the coffee table and spoke softly. The two, who had been facing each other, were now shoulder to shoulder, extremely close, their breaths brushing against Lin Sicheng's face.
"Manager Lin, I'm truly sorry for today. It seems we'll have to discuss this another day."

"Another day is fine!" Lin Sicheng smiled. "Still here?"

“Okay! Once the time is set, I’ll have Ji Yao call Manager Lin!”

If it's just about discussing business with Ren Danhua, she can set a time now; there's no need to leave things hanging.

Sure enough, that woman arrived...

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Okay!"

As they were talking, footsteps came from outside again, and Yu Jichuan returned.

“Perfect timing, cousin, you escort Manager Lin downstairs.”

"No need to trouble yourself, Boheng is right outside. Besides, it's not safe to leave you two here in the dark!"

There are subordinates next door, so there's no need to worry about safety at all, but Lin Sicheng probably never expected this.

Ren Danhua nodded: "I'll see Manager Lin off!"

The two stood up, and Yu Jiyao took the coat for Lin Sicheng first.

She even carefully stretched it out and helped him put it on.

They escorted us to the door, said goodbye, and shook hands with each other.

Turning out of the corridor, a tall figure stood at the entrance of the teahouse.

The emergency lights weren't very bright, but Zhao Da's figure could be vaguely seen.

Without a doubt, the special agent who came in the same car was hiding in the corner behind him.

"Master?"

"I'm here!"

After replying, Lin Sicheng turned around and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the three of them: "Goodbye, gentlemen!"

"Goodbye!"

Watching the two figures leave the teahouse and turn the corner, Ren Danhua frowned, muttering to herself, "Why is it so unfortunate?"

It's not just bad luck, it's downright terrible.

Yu Jiyao gritted her teeth: "Second sister, where is eldest sister?"

"It was too dark down there, and she was sick, so I didn't let her come up!"

Yu Jiyao propped her chin up with her hand: "When are we going to ask him out again?"

"The sooner the better, preferably tomorrow, but I need to ask my older sister first!"

After replying, Ren Danhua pointed inside and said, "Pack your things and let's go!"

"Phew, what a wasted trip!"

Yu Jiyao mumbled something, opened the box, and glanced inside.

The gold watch is certainly there.

The child wouldn't try to take advantage of the situation, and of course, even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to.

Ren Danhua sighed: "What's wrong with you today?"

"Second sister, this isn't my fault. He's as slippery as an eel, there's nothing I can do!" Yu Jiyao said with a bitter face. "He won't take the bait, I can't just strip naked in front of him, can I?"

It won't make a difference even if you take it off.

In terms of appearance, Yu Jiyao is no less attractive than those celebrities on screen, and may even be more so.

In terms of talent and charm, she has received professional training and is more than ten levels above those who only know how to sell their looks.

But if you've exhausted all your tricks and he remains unmoved, what can you do?
“Let my eldest sister ask around again!” Ren Danhua frowned. “He’s an old hand at this, that’s true. But he can’t still be a detached, worldly-wise old monk, can he?”

"Second sister, he's after money, we're repairing things, isn't a normal cooperation enough?" Yu Jiyao pouted, "Why invest so much?"

Ren Danhua snorted: "If you don't understand, shut up!"

Actually, on that day at Qianjinlu, she had the idea of ​​replacing her: she could appraise, she could repair, and she was so young.

The key is that they have incredibly sharp eyes.

We don't need to ask how skilled he is, as long as he's no worse than Li Jiansheng, he's a more suitable partner than Qianjinlu.

Afterwards, upon seeing the sachet that the brother and sister had brought back, Ren Danhua realized that her vision was no longer an ordinary collaboration, but rather a partnership where they would be bound together, sharing both prosperity and adversity.

Afterwards, once the eldest sister learned about his background, this desire became even stronger. Even though the two were complete strangers and had only met once, Ren Danhua went so far as to send out Yu Jiyao, whom she had always kept as her trump card, in an almost blatant attempt to seduce him.

Analyzing mountains and waters, seeking the dragon vein and dividing the gold.

The eldest sister, who had been a powerful and influential figure in the area for over a decade, why did she end up being taken over by someone else and forced to do such menial work?
Simply due to a sudden turn of events, the expert in locating the burial site encountered an accident. From then on, his fortunes declined steadily, getting worse year by year. In the end, he had no choice but to willingly become someone else's vassal.

Previously, they had worked seamlessly together, like siblings. Why did they suddenly turn against each other, like mortal enemies?

The eldest sister went to great lengths and spent a lot of money to hire an expert. But after only two diggings, the expert was taken away by Ma Shan.

Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents...

Ren Danhua knew what her eldest sister was worried about: the greater one's ability, the more arrogant one becomes, and the higher one's standards become.

With such excellent skills, why should I follow you and do a business where I risk my life and live in constant fear?
If you force someone into a conflict, the cooperation might only last a few times at most, and it's not a long-term solution. It could even create resentment, leading to sabotage at crucial moments.

But Ren Danhua felt: Why must we use a hard approach? Why can't we use a soft approach?
Just like those big shots who were once incredibly successful but ended up in jail, were they incompetent or lacking in vision?
Everyone has hobbies; money, women, even power—there's always something that can move him.

At worst, we can start from scratch: he can be the head chef, and my older sister can be the strategist. It's better than what we're doing now: taking the biggest risks but earning the least money.

Ren Danhua knew even better what Lin Sicheng was guarding against: he was guarding against being dragged into their scheme.

Because he's a seasoned veteran, he knows very well which money can be made and which cannot.

But because of this, Ren Danhua's desire only intensified: so young, yet so clear-headed, with such strong willpower—she was born to be a leader…

In a flash, Yu Jiyao packed up her things and helped her put on her trench coat.

After settling the bill, Yu Jichuan called out three of his men from the next private room.

The six people had just stepped out of the teahouse when suddenly, their eyes lit up.

Yu Jiyao opened her eyes wide: "Sis, the phone's back on?"

Ren Danhua didn't know what to say: How could it be such a bad coincidence?
The power outage was unfortunate, and the power restoration was even more unfortunate, with only five minutes in between?
We can't exactly call Lin Sicheng and ask him to come up again, can we?
Too deliberate...

"Let's go!"

She sighed, took out her phone, and dialed a number.

……

The signal was sent by Lin Sicheng, and the electricity was stopped by Yan Wenjing.

But before the power went out, a fire alarm went off in the building. However, the tea room was too deep inside, and its decoration was also very special for soundproofing, so Lin Sicheng didn't hear it.

Furthermore, it was close to nine o'clock, and there were few customers in the mall. Although the power went out, it did not cause any chaos.

Seeing a beam of light shining in their direction, the security guard shone his flashlight on them and said, "Gentlemen, are you going downstairs? I'll escort you..."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was quite loud in the spacious building.

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "We have emergency lights, and we also have flashlights!"

"Alright, the stairs are this way. Please be careful!"

Just as he pointed towards the stairwell, "whoosh," his eyes lit up.

The electricity came so suddenly that Lin Sicheng squinted.

I opened my eyes and looked around: the huge shopping mall was empty, with hardly anyone around.

There were even fewer guests, just a few here and there.

Some were on the phone, some were walking slowly down the stairs, and others were looking around aimlessly.

The third floor, in particular, was noticeably more crowded.

Perhaps it was just paranoia, but he always felt that something was off about these people.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

Was it Yan Wenjing's special agent, Ren Danhua, or perhaps that woman's subordinate?
Lin Sicheng didn't know yet, but he did know: things could get really bad!

A thief who's used to being a thief sees everyone as a soldier. Especially those with blood on their hands, the kind who'd be shot if they went in.

Lin Sicheng didn't know which floor the woman was on, but he knew she was in the mall. Given this situation, it would definitely arouse suspicion.

More importantly, one wrong move and they'll be exposed. The moment they see Lin Sicheng's face, they'll be completely exposed.

Hiding?
But where can we hide? What if one of these people happens to be one of that woman's men?
There's a saying, "This is like trying to hide something obvious..."

With his mind racing, Lin Sicheng's gaze swept across the room, and suddenly, a light appeared in his eyes.

The baseball cap I saw on the first floor before?

You're a single guy, and you spend three hours shopping in a mall?
A thought struck him, and he pulled his foot back from the stairs, heading straight towards the person in front of him.

The young man was clearly taken aback, wondering why Lin Sicheng wasn't coming downstairs, but instead walking towards them.

But he couldn't reveal his identity, so he only paused for a moment before his expression returned to normal. The young man crossed his arms, looking nonchalant, as if he were waiting for someone.

The two passed each other, only three or four meters apart. Lin Sicheng glanced at his hand, then looked at his neck, and smiled slightly: "What's up?"

(End of this chapter)