Rebirth 93: Break off the engagement at the beginning and marry Bai Fumei

Chen Yang turned around, his gaze falling on an exquisite glass display case where a golden wristwatch lay quietly. He gently pointed to the watch, his voice tinged with barely concealed excitement: "Ladies and gentlemen, the watch I'm about to introduce can be described as a jewel in the watchmaking world. It is still a Patek Philippe creation, an extremely rare 18K gold minute repeater watch, model number 2419."

Seeing the curious looks on everyone's faces, Chen Yang smiled gently. "I suppose some of you are still unfamiliar with the term 'minute repeater watch,' so let me explain it to you."

"Minute repeaters are hailed as 'mechanical poets' in the watchmaking world. They are not only timekeeping instruments but also works of art that sing," Chen Yang said, his voice filled with professionalism and enthusiasm. "This precision mechanism, known as a three-spring watch, is one of the most complex timekeeping functions in wristwatches. Its unique feature is that a carefully designed button or lever on the side of the case can trigger a delicate internal striking mechanism. When we activate this mechanism, a small metal hammer gently strikes a specially made ring spring, like an elegant musician playing a tune, using different tones to sequentially strike the current hour, quarter-hour, and minute."

?6?8“一共分为三种声响，当声?6?8代表小时，如3响为3点；叮当声?6?8代表刻钟，比如每响15分钟，2响即30分钟；叮声?6?8代表分钟每响1分钟，这就是三问腕表！”

Looking at the amazed expressions on everyone's faces, Chen Yang smiled and added, "That's the magic of the minute repeater watch; it gives time the wings of sound."

Finally, his fingers gently traced the glass of the display case. "This Patek Philippe vintage minute repeater watch is a true gem among gems. Its production is extremely limited. It is said that Patek Philippe only produced two in total, but only this one remains. Its status in the watchmaking world is like that of the Mona Lisa in the art world. It is the highest level and the rarest work, and its value cannot be measured in money."

As he spoke, Chen Yang held up one finger, "I want to remind everyone that even such a rare and precious artifact was produced between 1948 and 1949, which is after China had experienced World War II and established the People's Republic of China!"

This precious timepiece was created between 1948 and 1949, after the war, by the renowned SternFreres watchmaking workshop. Its case back is crafted using a silver-plated solid gold technique, reflecting an elegant luster under light, like moonlight spilling onto a silver lake. The dial itself is a warm, jade-like milky white, as delicate and smooth as fine mutton-fat jade. Exquisite enamel craftsmanship outlines intricate and elegant text and signatures on the surface, each stroke embodying the artisan's dedication.

The precise layout of the outer minute markers and auxiliary dials showcases Patek Philippe's meticulous tradition. Most striking is the unique hand-painted "Swiss" lettering, its delicate and fluid strokes seemingly telling a story of a bespoke creation. The five bullet-shaped gold hour markers encircling the dial are meticulously polished, each facet reflecting a dazzling golden light like five shimmering stars. The hand-engraved enamel details throughout the dial, from the minute markers to the small seconds subdial and the signature, all demonstrate the exceptional skill of the master watchmaker.

As Chen Yang eloquently explained the subject, Smith, Yoshida, and Jason exchanged a knowing glance. They were all top watch experts in their respective countries, yet they were deeply impressed by this young man. From Smith's slightly furrowed brow to Yoshida's unconsciously clenched fist, and Jason's somewhat stiff facial expression, undisguised astonishment was evident in everyone's eyes.

This seemingly ordinary young Chinese man possessed an astonishingly thorough understanding of watchmaking history, able to recount even the most minute details of the craftsmanship. This led them to secretly wonder: Had China invited a reclusive master watchmaker this time? The watchmaking techniques, which even they themselves might not fully comprehend, were spoken of with such ease and fluency by this young man, as if he knew more than they, the so-called experts.

Meanwhile, a middle-aged man seated at the back of the cherry blossom pavilion, dressed in an elegant black kimono, wore a somber expression. His sharp eyes were fixed on Chen Yang, who was speaking eloquently in front of him, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. As Chen Yang continued his rambling explanation, his fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest of his chair. This detailed knowledge of clocks made him feel uneasy.

“Miss Zhimei,” he lowered his voice, turning to the woman beside him, dressed in a business suit and with refined features, “do you know the name and identity of this young man from China?”

Zhi Mei shook her head slightly, her slender fingers quickly flipping through the folder in her hand. She pulled out an identity information document from the Chinese files, her eyes filled with doubt. "Mr. Takeda, I haven't seen this person before. According to the Chinese records, he seems to have suddenly appeared in this delegation."

“I only have his basic information here. His name is Chen Yang, and his identity…” She paused, carefully checking the document, “His identity seems to be that of an antique dealer? But this information seems a bit suspicious.”

"Whoosh!" Upon hearing this, Takeda's expression changed drastically, his heart filled with shock. He clenched his right fist tightly, his knuckles turning white, then forced himself to relax. He nodded slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "So he's Chen Yang, the guy who caused us such a huge loss. It seems we don't know enough about him!"

"Does Mr. Takeda know him?" Orimi put down her documents and asked warily from the side. She noticed Mr. Takeda's unusual reaction and had a bad feeling.

Takeda nodded slightly, his voice low and filled with murderous intent, "Miss Orimi must know Mr. Nakamura, right? The hero who gave his life for the Sakura Kingdom."

“Of course,” Zhi Mei’s voice was filled with excitement and admiration, “He is our hero, it’s just a pity…” At this point, a look of regret appeared on Zhi Mei’s face, and her eyes reddened slightly, “I heard that while on a mission in China…”

“The one who murdered Mr. Nakamura,” Takeda said through gritted teeth, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes, “was this Chen Yang right here!…”

"What?!" Orimi's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. She looked tremblingly at Chen Yang, who was explaining Patek Philippe watches, her heart filled with shock. This seemingly carefree young man was actually the terrifying adversary who had caused Japan so much damage?

By this time, Chen Yang had finished introducing the watches and clocks. He chuckled and shrugged, completely unaware of the undercurrents between the two men behind him. He said to Jason with a slightly teasing tone, "Mr. Jason, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier—aren't these the names of famous European watch brands? If Zhang Xingji were from Europe, why aren't they called Zhang Dafeili, Zhang Diya, and Zhang Shidanton?"

“You…” Jason glared at Chen Yang, clearly finding no connection whatsoever with Europe. “Shit!”