116: Chapter 116 Conspiracy

At this time, Zhao Feiyu...

...was completely unaware that Young Master Yu had launched another conspiracy against him.

Over the past two days, Zhang Yafei had been busy with the design group's affairs and hadn't been home for several days.

Fortunately, his elderly mother was being looked after by a nanny, so there was no need to worry.

As for Zhao Feiyu, since Li Qingluo's antique shop was about to open, he spent all day on Haixin Island helping her.

After several days of getting to know her better...

...Zhao Feiyu felt as if he were getting to know Li Qingluo all over again.

Though she seemed young, she possessed extremely professional knowledge and experience in the field of antiques.

During these past few days, with the help of Zhang Baiyu's father...

...Zhao Feiyu had helped Li Qingluo scout and collect several hundred antiques.

The total value exceeded two billion.

But for Li Qingluo, this was far from enough.

"Brother Feiyu, Li Qingluos antique shop is basically all prepared now, but..."

Li Qingluo said with a worried expression.

"...but we're currently lacking a 'treasure of the shop.' Without a presentable centerpiece, Haixin Island's Li Qingluos antique shop won't count as a high-end antique shop in the country!"

"I'll help you find a way for that!"

Zhao Feiyu thought for a moment and readily agreed.

Since it was to be the 'treasure of the shop'...

...it certainly wouldn't be cheap.

The money Li Qingluo had on hand definitely wouldn't be enough to buy it.

As long as Zhao Feiyu discovered such a treasure, bought it, and then gifted it to Li Qingluo, he could trigger the cashback mechanism.

He could make a fortune once again.

[Ding-dong!]

[Spending successful. 100x cashback of 8 trillion. Current balance is 15.1699 trillion.]

Just then.

The system notification suddenly rang in Zhao Feiyu's mind.

"It's finally here!"

Zhao Feiyu was instantly excited.

In recent days, Zhao Feiyu had helped Zhang Yafei acquire all the design companies in Jiangbei City.

The total expenditure reached eighty billion.

But the cashback had been delayed in arriving.

It seemed that only after Zhang Yafei completely merged the companies...

...did the system categorize it as a consumable cashback event.

[Ding-dong!]

[Congratulations to the host! Cashback amount has exceeded ten trillion. System functions upgraded.]

[Added Skill and Item Cashback functions.]

[When spending a certain amount on girls, you may choose between cash rewards, or skills and items. Additionally, skills and items can be upgraded using money.]

...

Hearing the successive system prompts...

...Zhao Feiyu stood frozen on the spot.

The system had upgraded again. Zhao Feiyu remembered the last upgrade only added the function to check others' beauty scores and favorability.

He hadn't expected it to add cashback for skills and items this time.

He wondered what kind of things those skills and items actually were.

This made Zhao Feiyu instantly thrilled.

"Brother Feiyu!"

Just then.

An excited voice came from outside.

Zhang Baiyu walked in with a smile and a light step.

"What's making you so happy?"

Zhao Feiyu snapped out of his delight over the system upgrade.

"I have good news for you!"

Zhang Baiyu said excitedly, "Zhanlan Fishery is actually going to hold an antique auction!"

"Zhanlan Fishery?"

Hearing the name, the image of Young Master Yu immediately appeared in Zhao Feiyu's mind.

"They're in the fishing industry, why would they hold an antique auction?"

"You wouldn't know!"

Zhang Baiyu explained, "Fish Shark has been going out to sea since he was in his teens."

"But why was he able to monopolize the entire fishing industry in Jiangbei City?"

"It's because over ten years ago, during a fishing trip, Fish Shark salvaged a shipwreck."

"From that shipwreck, he salvaged countless gold and silver jewelry and antiques."

"It was by relying on those things that he achieved what he has today!"

"It's safe to say that the antiques in Fish Shark's hands are definitely what everyone in the antique industry dreams of."

"Every time his company needs money or encounters an economic crisis, he holds an auction to raise funds and get through the difficulties."

"Looks like he must have run into some trouble again!"

Hearing this, Zhao Feiyu's eyes lit up. "Do you know if there are any particularly precious antiques in this auction? Sister Qingluo's Li Qingluos antique shop is currently lacking a 'treasure of the shop'!"

"The auction list is already out!"

Zhang Baiyu immediately took out his phone, pulled up a list, and handed it to Zhao Feiyu.

Looking through it, a long series of precious antiques appeared before his eyes.

Boxwood Carving of an Arhat Statue

Ivory Seated Buddha

Jade Plate with Cloud and Dragon Pattern

...

And at the very end, a familiar name caught Zhao Feiyu's eye.

"mingtang jade buddha head!"

"This is...!"

Zhao Feiyu looked closely. "Isn't this the item taken from the Old Summer Palace in Kyoto when the imperialists invaded China?"

"Exactly!"

Zhang Baiyu nodded seriously.

"Back then, this Jade Guanyin Buddha was so large that the invaders split it into over a dozen pieces. This Buddha head is one of them. I didn't expect it to be in Fish Shark's hands!"

"Then this Buddha head is simply a priceless treasure!"

Zhao Feiyu said excitedly.

"If we can win it at auction and make it Sister Qingluo's shop treasure, it would be magnificent! Then, we could mold a golden body for it and attach the Buddha head—it would be perfect!"

"When does the auction start?"

"In exactly three days, at the Jiangbei City Cultural Relics Research Center!"

"Great!"

...

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Zhanlan Fishery.

Young Master Yu frowned slightly as he looked at the somewhat sleazy old man before him.

"Li Desheng, how are the preparations going?"

"Young Master, everything is ready!"

Li Desheng showed a fawning smile and spoke with total confidence.

As he spoke, he took out an auction list.

"Young Master, this is the list of items for this auction."

"Most of the antiques on it are real."

"They are the genuine treasures you took from the old master."

"Only the last one..."

"mingtang jade buddha head?"

Young Master Yu thought carefully. "I don't recall my father having that item?"

"Hehe!"

Li Desheng gave a mysterious smile.

"I picked this up at the antique street for 188,000. There's a trick to this Buddha head."

"First of all, its backstory is widely circulated in the antique world, which adds a lot to its perceived value."

"Secondly, this Buddha head was originally a defective piece. That is to say, it was originally genuine, and it's even an item from the Qing Dynasty."

"Although it was damaged, it has been repaired using modern techniques to the point where it can pass for the real thing."

"I'm certain that unless it's a true titan of the antique world, no one will be able to tell the difference. Otherwise, no one will discover it's a fake!"

"Furthermore, the people at the Jiangbei City Cultural Relics Research Center have all been bribed by us. With the certification they issue, we can definitely screw over Zhao Feiyu big time!"

Li Desheng secretly gloated.

In fact, he had bought this Buddha head for 88,000.

He could make a profit of 100,000 just by passing it on here.

As for the certification from the research center...

...with a giant like Zhanlan Fishery backing them...

...Li Desheng only needed one word to make them obediently issue the certificate.