69: Chapter 69 Weekend Get-Together

On the other side, Liu Yanran followed Lin Wei into her home.

Lin Wei's living room wasn't large, but it was tidily kept and cozy. Several throw pillows were piled on the light gray fabric sofa, and the coffee table held fruit and snacks.

As soon as Liu Yanran sat down on the sofa, Lin Wei leaned over, staring intently at her.

"Let me take a good look—" Lin Wei deliberately drew out her words, "Wearing this outfit, did you completely bewitch Qiao Yichen?"

Liu Yanran turned her face away, a faint blush creeping up her ears.

"What are you talking about..."

"Still saying no?" Lin Wei smiled meaningfully, "You usually dress too formally, just like Su Qing—shirts, slacks, dresses, all that workplace attire."

She reached out and tugged at the cuff of Liu Yanran's knit top:

"This kind of private dressing is a critical hit for men—the cold, little director instantly transforms into a sweet girlfriend."

Just as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang.

Lin Wei got up to open the door, and Liu Yanran took the opportunity to compose herself.

Su Qing walked in, carrying a bag of fruit. The moment she saw Liu Yanran, her steps paused.

"Oh," she said, placing the fruit on the coffee table and looking Liu Yanran up and down, "I haven't seen this outfit before."

Lin Wei immediately chimed in: "Right? Right! I was just saying, this whole look could drive a man wild."

Su Qing sat down on the single sofa and poured herself a glass of water:

"It is indeed better looking than your usual clothes."

Liu Yanran pursed her lips, her gaze falling on Su Qing—a dark gray knit top paired with black casual pants, simple and neat, similar to her usual attire at the law firm.

She seized the opportunity to counterattack:

"Lin Wei just said your problem is even more serious than mine."

Su Qing raised an eyebrow and looked at Lin Wei.

Lin Wei said cheerfully: "I was stating a fact. Yanran can occasionally wear a dress at the office, but you? Commuter clothes every day, and you still have to work overtime on weekends. When do you have time to dress up?"

Su Qing sighed helplessly and leaned back against the sofa: "I'm just a junior lawyer, just trying to make a living. Having one day off on the weekend is already great, not like you two."

She paused and looked at Liu Yanran: "You're lucky, you have someone to go shopping and dine with. On weekends, I can only lie around at home or work overtime at the firm."

Liu Yanran didn't respond, picking up her water cup from the coffee table and taking a sip.

Lin Wei suddenly remembered something and leaned over to ask: "By the way, where did you come from at noon? I wanted to ask earlier."

Liu Yanran put down her cup: "The Cantonese seafood restaurant at MixC City. We just finished eating."

"With Qiao Yichen?"

"Mhm."

Lin Wei's eyes lit up: "Ooh, I know that place. A couple's lunch, eating that well?"

Su Qing leisurely added from the side: "Your boyfriend still owes me a meal."

Liu Yanran looked at her.

Su Qing explained: "When I helped him set up his studio before, he said it himself—'I'll treat you to a meal next time.' I remember that."

Lin Wei laughed: "You definitely have to remember that, can't let him get away!"

She changed the subject: "But speaking of which—where did your boyfriend go after dumping you this afternoon? If he could drive directly into our complex, I wouldn't have had to go downstairs to pick you up."

Liu Yanran fell silent for two seconds.

Lin Wei and Su Qing both looked at her, waiting for her to speak.

"He went to the Old Street."

"The Old Street?" Lin Wei frowned, "Which Old Street?"

"Renhe Old Street."

Lin Wei paused: "Isn't that the antique street? Why did he go there?"

Liu Yanran lightly rubbed the teacup with her finger.

"To check the market rate."

"Check what market rate?" Lin Wei was even more confused.

Liu Yanran looked up at her two best friends.

"Do you two remember that time I helped him inquire about the Private Negotiation Fair?"

Lin Wei nodded: "I remember. Neither Su Qing nor I could help back then."

Su Qing also nodded.

Liu Yanran paused and continued: "Later, he entrusted an elder to help, and finally got in. At that Private Negotiation Fair, he took a liking to a cabinet and bought it for 260,000."

"A cabinet?" Lin Wei blinked, "What kind of cabinet?"

"A Huanghuali square corner cabinet, inlaid with 'a hundred treasures,' featuring flower and bird patterns."

Lin Wei and Su Qing exchanged a glance, both looking somewhat bewildered.

Liu Yanran continued: "He said that cabinet is quite valuable, probably worth around two million."

The living room fell silent for two seconds.

Lin Wei opened her mouth but no sound came out.

Su Qing put down the water cup in her hand, her expression becoming serious.

"So what does he plan to do?"

Liu Yanran shook her head: "He didn't say. So him going to the Old Street today is probably just to inquire first."

Lin Wei recovered and leaned back on the sofa: "Holy crap... what's your boyfriend's background? He looks like an ordinary office worker, spending 260,000 on a cabinet, and that cabinet is worth two million?"

Liu Yanran didn't reply, only offering a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.

Lin Wei sat up straight abruptly: "Where is the item now?"

"At my place. It was just delivered this morning."

Lin Wei immediately stood up: "Let's go take a look. A cabinet worth over two million, I have to see what it looks like with my own eyes."

Su Qing also stood up and picked up her bag.

Liu Yanran was pulled along by them, still saying: "What about dinner?"

"We'll figure it out when we get to your place," Lin Wei said without turning back, "Think about what you want to eat on the way, and we'll order takeout when we arrive."

The three went downstairs, and Lin Wei's car was parked in the underground garage of the complex.

The car drove out of the complex and merged into the Saturday evening traffic.

Su Qing, sitting in the back seat, glanced out the window: "What should we eat tonight?"

Liu Yanran thought for a moment: "I don't have much in my fridge. Should we stop by that restaurant near my complex and pack a few dishes to take back?"

"Sounds good," Lin Wei signaled to turn.

Su Qing also nodded in agreement.

When they arrived at Liu Yanran's place, Lin Wei hadn't even finished taking off her shoes before eagerly asking: "Where is it? Where is the item?"

Liu Yanran pointed toward the spare bedroom: "In there."

Lin Wei immediately rushed over, with Su Qing and Liu Yanran following behind.

Pushing open the spare bedroom door, the light turned on.

The cabinet stood quietly in the corner. The warm yellow light shone on the wood grain, and the flower and bird patterns inlaid with 'a hundred treasures' emitted a soft luster.

Lin Wei leaned in to look, circled it once, then stepped back a couple of paces to examine it, finally turning to look at Liu Yanran:

"This is... over two million?"

Liu Yanran nodded.

Su Qing also stepped forward to look closely, but after a long look, she could only manage: "...I can't see anything special about it."

Liu Yanran smiled, walked to the cabinet, and pointed to several spots:

"He said to look at the mortise and tenon joints—the wear on an old piece is natural; replicas are often too deliberately made. Also, the transition of the wood color—the genuine article fades gradually. Furthermore, there are subtle shrinkage marks on the edges of these inlays after a long time."

Lin Wei listened, somewhat dazed, but her eyes clearly hadn't kept up.

She took out her phone, opened the camera, and took several pictures of the cabinet from the front, back, left, and right, then leaned in to photograph a few details.

"I have to take one picture to send to my mom and let her guess how much it costs."

Su Qing added from the side: "Your mom knows about this stuff?"

"She doesn't, but I can let her experience what two million looks like," Lin Wei stated righteously.

The few of them gathered around the cabinet and looked for a while longer. Since they couldn't discern any more intricacies, Lin Wei turned first: "Alright, alright, we don't get it, we don't get it. Let's go eat."

The three returned to the dining table, and the takeout dishes were opened one by one, steaming hot.

Lin Wei picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs: "Hmm, this place has good flavor."

Su Qing served herself a bowl of soup: "Better than takeout."

Liu Yanran distributed chopsticks to both of them and sat down herself.

They didn't discuss any serious matters while eating, just casual chatter—Lin Wei talked about a bizarre shop review video she recently watched, Su Qing mentioned a case scheduled for trial next week, and Liu Yanran listened, occasionally interjecting.

The meal lasted for over half an hour.