Chapter 33: Elder Wei
Arrogant!
Domineering!
For a moment, everyone present was stunned. They stared at Zhou Fan in disbelief, and then smirks appeared on the faces of those settling in to watch the show.
No matter what their conflict was, causing a scene at Wang Tianhao's banquet was a blatant sign of disrespect toward him!
Sure enough, Wang Tianhao frowned slightly and walked over with a few people from his side.
"Eldest Young Master Wang, you're just in time! You be the judge. All I said was that her bracelet was worthless, just a string of cheap rocks, and her husband hit my boyfriend. Isn't that just barbaric?"
Seeing Wang Tianhao approach, Liu Mengqi completely forgot about helping Liang Hao up. She rushed forward, pointed at Chu Yan and Zhou Fan, and wailed about the injustice.
'Liang Hao? He's nothing but a stepping stone for her to climb to a higher social class!'
"President Chu, may I see the bracelet?"
Wang Tianhao nodded at Liu Mengqi before walking straight up to Chu Yan and asking politely.
Chu Yan glanced at Zhou Fan. Seeing no reaction from him, she took off the bracelet and handed it over.
Wang Tianhao took the bracelet, examined it carefully for a moment, and then returned it to Chu Yan. "This is no cheap rock. It's Rose Quartz, which has a mild effect of refreshing the mind and alleviating fatigue. Coincidentally, I acquired a string of similar quality last month for over five hundred thousand US Dollars."
An uproar swept through the crowd.
They naturally believed Wang Tianhao. They were all shocked to hear that this string of stones was actually Rose Quartz and worth over five hundred thousand dollars.
Even Chu Yan herself hadn't expected the bracelet Zhou Fan had casually given her to be worth so much. 'That bastard, he really has been hiding a lot from me!'
Zhou Fan, however, frowned slightly. 'Something given to me by *that person* is only worth this much?'
"However, even if it isn't a cheap rock, sir, that doesn't give you the right to hit someone, does it?"
Wang Tianhao turned to Zhou Fan, still wearing that same smile that made many of the women around him swoon.
Instantly, everyone's gaze turned to Zhou Fan, full of mockery. This, of course, included Liu Mengqi, a now-standing Liang Hao, and President Li, whom Zhou Fan had ridiculed earlier.
"That's how barbarians are. Having someone like him at this banquet really lowers the tone!"
"To think Elder Chu would tarnish the reputation he's built for decades by choosing a son-in-law like this!"
"And here I thought President Chu would marry someone exceptional. Turns out he's nothing special after all!"
Hearing the crowd's mockery, Chu Yan's expression soured. Even if Zhou Fan was in the wrong for hitting someone, he had done it for her. Besides, he was her husband, and she would not allow them to talk about him like that!
"Eldest Young Master Wang, I don't think we're very welcome here. We'll be taking our leave."
Chu Yan first spoke apologetically to Wang Tianhao, then took Zhou Fan's arm, gave the crowd a haughty glance, and prepared to leave.
Chu Yan knew full well that leaving like this meant she would likely offend half of Nanjiang City's business circle, but she was not afraid.
"Wait a moment!"
But just then, a voice, slightly aged yet powerful and resonant, rang out. The crowd followed the sound and saw an old man in simple clothes walking over.
"Elder Wei!"
Seeing the newcomer, Wang Tianhao bowed respectfully and greeted him politely. The others also began to enthusiastically call out, "Elder Wei!"
"President Chu, would you allow this old man a look at that bracelet?"
Elder Wei ignored the crowd, his old eyes fixed intently on Chu Yan's bracelet.
Chu Yan hesitated for a moment but still took it off and handed it to him. The influence of everyone else in the hall combined probably couldn't match that of this one Elder Wei.
He was a leading figure in the jewelry industry, whose influence was felt not only throughout Nanjiang City but carried significant weight across the entire country.
Very carefully, Elder Wei took out a handkerchief, wiped the bracelet clean, and then produced a magnifying glass. His expression was so intense that Zhou Fan almost thought he was watching porn.
"This is it... It must be!"
"To think there are actually so many, enough to be strung into a whole bracelet... What an extravagant gesture!"
Listening to Elder Wei muttering to himself, many people began to frown. No one was a fool; they could all hear the shock and adoration in his voice for this bracelet.
"Elder Wei, isn't this bracelet Rose Quartz?"
Wang Tianhao stepped forward and asked softly.
"It is, and it isn't!"
Elder Wei shook his head and returned the bracelet to Chu Yan. "President Chu, may I ask where this bracelet came from?"
"My husband gave it to me!"
Chu Yan said with a smile, pushing Zhou Fan forward.
"Sir, may I have your name? And could you tell me where you acquired this bracelet?"
"Zhou Fan. A friend gave it to me."
Zhou Fan's tone was flat. Other people might know Elder Wei, but he didn't. And in his opinion, the old man was being too long-winded.
"Mr. Zhou, if this old man is not mistaken, this should be Ice Flower Rose Quartz, shouldn't it? A single bead from this bracelet would be enough to sell for a million US dollars—and that's if you could even find one for sale!"