<h4>Chapter 1087: Chapter 1079: Past Fifty</h4>


    "Oh dear, Xiangrong, you didn’t even let me know you wereing." At this moment, a voice hurriedly came from inside the house, none other than Hua Lao, who had heard that Hua Xiangrong had arrived. With a stride belying his age, Hua Lao quickly came to the side of the two.


    "Xiangrong, Grandpa missed you so much." As he spoke, Hua Lao sat down beside Hua Xiangrong and bombarded her with questions, afraid she wasn’t doing well. It was obvious that Hua Father cherished his precious granddaughter deeply.


    Hua Lao’s enthusiasm made Hua Xiangrong a little embarrassed. She answered all of Hua Lao’s questions positively, also afraid of causing him too much worry. But after so many questions, just like any ordinary parent, the most unavoidable topic was the issue of a significant other.


    "Xiangrong, is there any young man you find decent?" At this point, Hua Lao was just like an old neighborhood auntie, being particrly curious about Xiangrong’s romantic prospects. Hearing Hua Lao suddenly ask this, Hua Xiangrong felt even more embarrassed and quickly shook her head.


    Seeing Hua Xiangrong shaking her head, Hua Lao rubbed his chin and confidently stated, "That’s true; nowadays youngds aren’t quite trustworthy." As he spoke, Hua Lao suddenly turned his gaze to Xiao Yifei, "Not like our Xiao Yifei, honest, smart, reliable, and most importantly, handsome."


    As he said this, Hua Lao couldn’t help but give Xiao Yifei a once-over, clicking his tongue repeatedly, as if he were admiring some rare treasure instead of just Xiao Yifei. With all this praise, Xiao Yifei could only smile awkwardly, but it seemed to be far from over. After studying Xiao Yifei for a while, Hua Lao turned his gaze back to Hua Xiangrong.


    After a moment, Hua Father said something that made the two almost spit blood, "I think you two make a good match." As he spoke, Hua Lao nodded to himself, seeming very proud of his matchmaking prowess. However, for Xiao Yifei and Hua Xiangrong, it was a different story. Hearing Hua Lao say this, the two quickly waved their hands, replying in unison, "There’s nothing between us."


    Having said this in unison, they both looked at each other at the same time, and shared a look of regret. Because by protesting together, it almost seemed like something had happened between them.


    "Haha, why so nervous? I was just joking. But your reaction is so big, could it be...?" Hua Lao watched them, finding it very amusing. For a moment, the atmosphere between Xiao Yifei and Hua Xiangrong was a bit awkward. Xiao Yifei dared not look at Hua Xiangrong, who also kept her head down, too shy to speak.


    After a moment, to ease the awkward atmosphere, Xiao Yifei slowly spoke, "Hey, Xiangrong, didn’t you say you had something to discuss with me?" Hearing this, Hua Xiangrong, who had been looking down, suddenly lifted her head, hesitated a bit, then quickly nodded and continued, "Well, I came to tell you something today—the Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle, there’s a lead on it."


    "Really?" Xiao Yifei, hearing Hua Xiangrong’s words, felt his earlier awkwardness vanish, reced entirely with delight. After all, despite his investigations these past few days, he hadn’t uncovered any clues. Now that Hua Xiangrong imed to have found a lead, how could Xiao Yifei not be happy?


    Hua Xiangrong nodded, saying that the Jing Bureau had caught the thief who stole Xiao Yifei’s Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle. After interrogating the thief, Hua Xiangrong had also obtained some useful clues. Being a smart person, Xiao Yifei immediately gathered that things weren’t that simple, given that Hua Xiangrong spoke of leads, not recovering the needle itself.


    So, Hua Xiangrong told Xiao Yifei all the evidence she had obtained. After hearing what Hua Xiangrong had to say, Xiao Yifei couldn’t help but furrow his brow, as the two ambiguous clues were not enough to pinpoint anyone. Initially hopeful, Xiao Yifei’s mood suddenly dimmed with disappointment.


    But just then, Hua Lao spoke up. Hua Lao, who had been listening to their conversation, understood the whole story, so when Hua Xiangrong mentioned the clues, Hua Lao had been listening intently. He then said to the two, "I think I might be able to find something. A wealthy businessman with a Northeastern ent who can casually drop so much money—there aren’t many like that in Beijing."


    Listening to Hua Lao, both Hua Xiangrong and Xiao Yifei found it made a lot of sense. Indeed, even in the case of the Muyun family, they would hesitate to drop so much money all at once. But that person hadn’t considered much and was determined to buy the Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle. Surely there aren’t many like that in Beijing.


    "Alright, I’ll have my butler investigate. We might be able to find something." Hua Lao nodded as he spoke. Hearing that Hua Lao would help investigate, Xiao Yifei felt much more at ease. After all, Hua Lao had spent many years mingling in Beijing and had connections that Xiao Yifei couldn’t match.


    "Thank you, Hua Lao." Xiao Yifei blurted out, only to find that Hua Lao seemed a bit displeased upon hearing this. Hua Lao, slightly annoyed, admonished him, "Thank you? Being so formal with your grandfather, are you itching for a beating?" As he spoke, Hua Lao rolled up his sleeves.


    Seeing the situation, Xiao Yifei quickly realized that he had misspoken, offering an apologetic smile to Hua Lao. However, Hua Lao didn’t intend to let Xiao Yifei off so easily. In one swift motion, he tucked Xiao Yifei under his arm while his other hand gently tapped Xiao Yifei’s head. Then he stood up, dragging Xiao Yifei into the house.


    "Today, I’m going to make sure you drink until you’re sloshed, or else it’s no fun." As he spoke, Hua Lao knocked on Xiao Yifei’s head again, then addressed Hua Xiangrong behind him, "Rong’er,e on in, don’t sit outside. Watch how I deal with this rascal."


    Upon hearing this, Hua Xiangrong couldn’t help but nce at Xiao Yifei, who at this moment looked ratherical. So Hua Xiangrong also chuckled and followed them in. At this point, if anyone felt the most dejected, it was definitely Xiao Yifei. So used to being polite, his spontaneous "thank you" became the very rope Hua Lao was now using to tie him with, but what could he do? He could only let Hua Lao have his way, "Hey, Hua Lao, go easy."


    Meanwhile, across Beijing, inside a room of a bustling skyscraper, a slightly plump man named Shen Cai was repeatedly admiring a box. The room was furnished with severalrge floor-to-ceiling windows, and being on such a high floor, Beijing’s scenery was disyed most vividly through them.


    The man slowly opened the box and ced its contents into his hand. After meticulously examining it, a confident smile appeared on his face. The sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated the man’s hand, casting over the item. In an instant, the scorching sunlight caused the item to sh a glint of cold light.


    Gazing at the item, the man ced it under the sunlight. If Xiao Yifei were here, he would surely recognize it, for what’s in the man’s hand was none other than Xiao Yifei’s Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle!


    "I went to great lengths for you," the man sighed, his tone vored with a Northeastern ent. He then repeatedly scrutinized Xiao Yifei’s Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle, trying to discern its significance. Yet, he couldn’t fathom anything special about it.


    "Why is the top interested in collecting this thing?" the man mused to himself as he put the Green-eyed Silver-tailed Needle back in the box, his tone full of doubt, as it seemed to him no more than an ordinary silver needle.