<h4>Chapter 493: 489</h4>


    "Scram, kid, and from now on, you’re not allowed to speak."


    Lu Tianxing’s face darkened, wishing he could p Tie Niu far, far away. He had already caught the glimmer of a cold light in Bai Zhiqing’s eyes.


    "Fu Tu, it’s your turn, remember, don’t spout nonsense like Tie Niu."


    Lu Tianxing swept his gaze toward Fu Tu, his eyes shing with a threatening re.


    "Hello sister-inw, I don’t have Tie Niu’s extravagance, this is for you, sister-inw, to see if you like it or not."


    Fu Tu took out a brocade box from the side and ced it on the table, then gently pressed on the box. Instantly, the sides of the box unfolded, and in a sh, under the reflection of the light, a series of dazzling luster sparkled forth.


    Lu Tianxing’s eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief as he looked at Fu Tu’s gift. What on earth were these two guys trying to do?


    "This... this is an Empress’s phoenix crown from ancient times."


    Upon seeing the item, Bai Zhiqing immediately eximed in surprise, her face radiating with incredulity.


    This was a Six Dragons and Three Phoenix Crown worn by Empresses at their weddings, the whole crown iid with hundreds of gems, all of the finest emeralds from among the jewels and jade, and embellished with thousands of top-grade pearls, symmetrically designed, with the dragons and phoenixes auspiciously aligned.


    Under the light, it sparkled with blinding brilliance, exuding a strong aura that made one feel as if an Empress, majestic and honorable, stood before them. The thick air of nobility hit one squarely in the face, especially the gems which were almost irresistible to any woman. Even Bai Zhiqing, who had seen many ups and downs, couldn’t help but be spellbound. She could never have imagined that Fu Tu would give her such a gift.


    "A phoenix crown? Fu Tu, where did you go tomb raiding? From which dynasty is it?"


    Lu Tianxing was shocked as he looked at the phoenix crown on the table. These two guys were surely too wealthy; he had never realized it before, to think that they would steal a phoenix crown worn by an empress.


    "Boss, what do you know, tomb raiding—you’re the one who went tomb raiding."


    Before Fu Tu could speak up, Tie Niu had already jumped in: "Tomb raiding? That’s robbing the dead. Can we give dead people’s stuff to sister-inw? We had this made ording to the ancient Empress’s phoenix crown. It didn’t cost much, just a few tens of millions of US dors. But Fu Tu is loaded, he doesn’t care about this bit of money."


    Smacking his lips, Tie Niu continued, "Originally, Fu Tu and I also nned to make a matching ceremonial robe to go with this phoenix crown for sister-inw, so it’d be aplete set with the phoenix crown and robe. Unfortunately, those guys weren’t skilled enough to produce that kind of august imperial feeling. We’ll find someone else to make er, and then we’ll supplement it for you, sister-inw."


    "This... this is too valuable, I can’t ept it."


    Bai Zhiqing’s heart was in turmoil. She had never expected Lu Tianxing’s brothers would give her these things. She thought at most it would be some jewelry, but what she saw was indeed jewelry, yet of an entirely different order of value. Not to mention the value of the bottle of "Finger-Clicking Beauty", just the phoenix crown alone, if taken out, would be worth a fortune, enough to be the treasure of a store and be passed down to future generations.


    "Sister-inw, this gift is just our brotherly sentiment. If you don’t ept it, you’ll be looking down on me, as if you don’t consider me as family," Fu Tu solemnly said.


    "This... this won’t do, the gift is really too expensive, I truly cannot ept."


    Bai Zhiqing’s gaze reluctantly moved away from the phoenix crown. She did hope one day to wear the phoenix crown and ceremonial robe to enter the hall of matrimony with the man she loved, to be the Empress of his heart for a lifetime, but the item was simply too costly.


    Though she wasn’t in the jewelry business, she had some understanding of jewels and was well aware of the value of the phoenix crown. Just the emeralds and top-grade pearls alone were worth a fortune, not to mention the entire artistic value of the phoenix crown.


    "Sister-inw, what does it matter how valuable it is? We are the boss’s brothers. If it weren’t for the boss, we might have died long ago. This little gift means nothing. If you don’t like this phoenix crown, some other day, I’ll go get the crown off the Queen of Britain’s head for you," Tie Niu said brusquely, as if he was simply taking something from his own home.


    "That’s right, sister-inw, we know you’re not short on money, you might not care for these gifts. If you don’t like the phoenix crown, some other day I’ll go to Britain with Tie Niu and snag the Queen’s crown for you. That thing would be great for your collection," Fu Tu nodded in agreement.


    "What Fu Tu said is right. Besides, sister-inw, look, you’ve already epted my gift. If you don’t ept Fu Tu’s, you’ll be looking down on him. If you really feel bad, why not introduce a girlfriend to Fu Tu? He’s been a bachelor for so many years, he should have a woman to take care of him, stop him walking around with a cold face all day long," Tie Niu said, wholeheartedly agreeing,pletely oblivious to Fu Tu’s increasingly grim gaze.


    "This..."


    Bai Zhiqing didn’t know how to respond, so she could only look at Lu Tianxing with a pleading gaze.


    Lu Tianxing sighed. He hadn’t expected the gifts prepared by Tie Niu and Fu Tu to be so frightening, especially the "Finger-Clicking Beauty." If it fell into the hands of someone who knew its worth, it could spark a bloody storm. Moreover, for a woman, it was surely an irresistible temptation.


    "Wife, just ept it. There’s no need to be polite with them. Each of them is a big tycoon; they don’t care about the money. Keep it as a family heirloom forter, and besides, if you don’t ept it, Fu Tu won’t take it back anyway," Lu Tianxing said.


    Hearing Lu Tianxing’s words, Bai Zhiqing finally nodded, saying, "Okay, in that case, I’ll ept it. If there’s anything you guys need help with in the future, juste to me, sister-inw. As long as it’s within my abilities, I won’t shy away from it."


    "Thank you, sister-inw."


    A spark of excitement shed in Tie Niu’s eyes as he pondered how many beauties Bai Zhiqing would introduce him to, ideally those gentle and clingy girls from the water towns of Jiangnan, which he adored the most.


    "You’re wee. And I should be the one thanking you for taking care of Tianxing in the past."


    Bai Zhiqing smiled gracefully, exuding theposure of a virtuous wife.


    As dishes quickly filled the table, the atmosphere in the private room grew increasingly harmonious, and everyone merrily engaged in toasting and drinking.


    Bai Zhiqing didn’t drink much, quietly listening to Tie Niu boasting on the side while she gathered information about Lu Tianxing from his ramblings.


    "Sister-inw, let me tell you, the boss needs a good dressing down. If he ever dares to disobey you, you just give it to him hard. Don’t pay him any mind. If he dares toy a finger on you, tell me and Fu Tu, and we’ll make sure to tie the boss up for you to teach him a lesson anytime, no need to be polite with us."


    Tie Niu, inebriated, let out a belch, his speech starting to slur.


    Lu Tianxing watched Tie Niu with a speechless expression, instantly realizing that the guy was drunk again. As for Tie Niu’s ridiculous behavior, Lu Tianxing had no idea what to say. "You like drinking so much, you should be able to hold your liquor, right?"


    But Tie Niu was indeed a peculiar flower. He enjoyed his drink, but his tolerance was embarrassingly low, typically floored after just two bottles.


    Upon hearing Tie Niu’s words, Lu Tianxing said in an annoyed tone, "How do I need a dressing down?"


    "How do you not need a dressing down?"


    Boldened by alcohol, Tie Niu shot Lu Tianxing a fierce re and sneered, "Boss, do you remember Angel? When she was pursuing you and you wouldn’t give her the time of day, didn’t you end uppletely under her thumb after she went for you aggressively, and soon you two were all lovey-dovey under the moon? If that’s not needing a dressing down, I don’t know what is."


    "Fuck!"


    Lu Tianxing’s face went pale. This damn Tie Niu, always talking nonsense when drunk. It was one thing to do so in the past, but now, discussing such things in front of Bai Zhiqing, wasn’t this asking for trouble?


    You can’t betray a brother like this; it’s like digging one’s grave, not stopping until you’re six feet under.


    "Is that so? Does our boss have any other areas where he needs a dressing down?" Bai Zhiqing asked, her expression unchanging, still smiling.


    "Of course, he does. The boss always preached to us, ’I’m single, I’m proud, I represent singleness,’ but what happened? As soon as he returned home, he got married. Sister-inw, don’t you think the boss needed a dressing down for that? He just had to make such a fuss," Tie Niu blurted out unabashedly, ignoring Lu Tianxing’s warning re, emboldened by the alcohol and fearing no one.


    "Tianxing, is what Tie Niu said true? Do you really crave being single? Do you want me to grant you this little wish?"


    Bai Zhiqing looked at Lu Tianxing with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, her eyes showing a chilling menace despite the curve of her lips.


    In an instant, Lu Tianxing felt a chill in his loins as if a pair of scissors were hovering over his privates.


    "No need, no need."


    Lu Tianxing quickly came up with a response, grinning awkwardly, "That was my old way of thinking. My new motto is, ’Wife is the sky, wife is the earth; my wife is my heaven and earth, everything must align with her.’


    "Really?" Bai Zhiqing said, herughter tinged with coldness.


    "Of course," Lu Tianxing replied earnestly. "Didn’t you say, my wife, that people change? I’ve changed too. I’ve gone from being a bachelor to a staunch supporter of married life. Now, on Valentine’s Day, I can go out with my wife and make single dogs envious instead of being the one who’s pitied. Tie Niu is ndering me out of his own envy, jealousy, and resentment, for sure."


    "Why would I envy you? Sister-inw is nning to introduce me to a girlfriend. Why should I envy you?"


    Tie Niu, hupping from his drink, continued, "Sister-inw, not to say, it’s better to believe pigs can climb trees than a man’s word. Why don’t men like women guessing? It’s not because women are chatty, but because their guesses are too urate."


    "Then what do you think I should do?"


    Bai Zhiqing’s eyes, filled with barely concealed murderous intent, nced over Lu Tianxing, causing him to shudder involuntarily. Was he about to face misfortune?


    Thanks to Finger-Clicking Beauty for the tip. It’s not that I don’t want to burst out with more, but the editor wants me to save drafts, no choice!!