Chapter 459: Of Course, It Matters

Barron picked up the box and opened it.

Inside was a piece of transparent green jade, lying quietly. With a trembling hand, he reached out to touch it.

Seeing this, Xu Shaochen smiled, but his palm under the table was already drenched in sweat.

If Barron knew about this jade, he would realize that it warms up when touched, exposing it as a fake.

So, Xu Shaochen was taking a gamble. If he won, he would enjoy the company of beautiful women. If he lost, he’d be working hard on the ground.

Fortunately, he breathed a sigh of relief as Barron seemed to be unaware. He continued to admire the jade with a fascinated expression.

After a while, Barron reluctantly handed the box to a young man behind him: “You’ve seen it before, check its authenticity.”

Xu Shaochen raised an eyebrow at these words, giving the young man behind Barron a proper look for the first time.

“So, you’re Li Taijin’s man. I haven’t seen it before, but he has. What if you’re deceiving me?” Barron glanced at Xu Shaochen with a slight smile, offering an explanation.

Xu Shaochen chuckled silently, cursing Barron as an old fox in his mind, while anxiety rose within him again.

The young man took the box, carefully examining and touching the jade inside. After about two minutes, he handed it back to Barron and nodded.

He was once a member of Li Taijin’s security team and had only seen this jade up close but never touched it.

So, by judging the jade based on its appearance, which was identical to the original, he concluded it was genuine.

No one could blame him. After all, Li Taijin had never allowed anyone to touch this piece with their hands, so he could only rely on its appearance.

Apart from those who have really handled that jade, who would know it gives off heat? “Hahaha, Xu, you’re honest, and you’re decisive too.”

After receiving the young man’s confirmation, Barron burst into laughter, his chubby face nearly squinting his small eyes into slits.

Xu Shaochen also laughed, tapping on the table: “Isn’t it time to sign the contract now? I’ve been decisive, so shouldn’t you be too?”

“Xu, the item is in my hand now. What if I don’t return it and refuse to sign the contract?” Barron asked Xu Shaochen with a faint smile.

As he finished speaking, ten bodyguards in the room drew their guns and pointed them at Xu Shaochen.

Xu Shaochen was only accompanied by Long Yi and Long Er; the others were stopped outside, putting him at a disadvantage.

However, Xu Shaochen remained completely calm and signaled Long Er over.

Long Er pulled a box of cigars from his pocket, took one out, and respectfully lit it for Xu Shaochen before stepping back.

With his eyes closed, Xu Shaochen took a puff, then exhaled the smoke slowly, enjoying the moment as he responded vaguely:

“A Behike cigar. There are only 4,000 of these in the world. A single box now fetches $50,000. The one I’m holding is worth $1,250. Every time you smoke one, the world has one less.”

“I know that. I have five boxes in my collection cabinet. But what does this have to do with our matter?” Barron interrupted, thinking Xu Shaochen was stalling.

Xu Shaochen smiled slightly, handed the cigar back to Long Er, then leaned forward slightly, looking at Barron and speaking each word clearly:

“Of course, it matters. If you don’t sign, you might never get to enjoy such a wonderful cigar again in your life.”

“Are you threatening me?” Barron tilted his head slightly.

“Threatening you?”

As if hearing a joke, Xu Shaochen relaxed his leaning posture and leaned back in his chair, making a ‘please’ gesture: “If you don’t mind, you can go to the balcony and take a look downstairs.”

Barron waved his hand.

A bodyguard headed to the balcony, then returned after a few moments. He glanced at Xu Shaochen, then whispered to Barron: “There are people guarding the entrance below. The corridor is likely covered as well.”

“You know Chen Yu is my property. Why did you choose this place?” Xu Shaochen asked Barron casually, shrugging as he pushed aside the gun held by a nearby bodyguard: “Brother, I hate it when someone points a gun at my head. Do it again, and you’ll die.”

The bodyguard nervously moved his gun aside.

“I chose this place because I never intended to do anything to you.”

Barron suddenly smiled and neatly signed his name on the contract.

“Pleasure doing business.”

Xu Shaochen adjusted his clothes, stood up, and extended his hand to Barron.

“Pleasure doing business.”

Barron extended his hand as well, shaking hands with Xu Shaochen.

“See you in Mg Country.”

Xu Shaochen gave him a slight smile, then took the cigar from Long Er, placed it in his mouth, and headed for the door.

Long Yi bent down to pick up the contract from the table and followed.

Long Er quickly stepped forward to open the door for Xu Shaochen, and Barron stood up to follow him out.

As Xu Shaochen stepped out of the room.

The doors of nearby rooms swung open, and several bodyguards dressed in black emerged, following Xu Shaochen.

“He’s very afraid of death.”

Watching this scene, Barron smiled and said to the bodyguard behind him.

But none of the bodyguards behind him were able to smile because these people could easily turn them into sieves.

Of course, Xu Shaochen feared death. Upon learning that Barron was at the Chen Yu Hotel, he made arrangements over the phone.

He would never risk his life because his life is too precious.

“Good day, Chairman Xu.”

“Good day, Chairman Xu.”

The hotel staff greeted Xu Shaochen one by one.

Xu Shaochen was in a good mood after obtaining an extra 4% of shares with a fake jade. He nodded to everyone who greeted him.

Who knows if one day Barron would find out he was tricked? Would he be infuriated to death?

Or perhaps he’ll never find out in his lifetime? …

Meanwhile, at the Sunlight Inn.

Long San led ten-plus bodyguards inside.

Thanks to a bribe, the unscrupulous hotel owner curtly told Long San which rooms the gunmen were in and even offered them the keys, suggesting that for an extra thousand, she’d personally knock on their door.

With his frugal nature, Long San refused the offer and headed upstairs with his men.

Rooms 012 and 013.

One room had four people inside, while the other had two. Two others had recently died at the Chen Yu Hotel.

Quietly unlocking the door with the key, Long San then kicked it open.

“What are you doing?!”

“Don’t move! Get down!”

“Bang! Crash!”

One room was empty; all six people were in the other room, playing cards.

When Long San and his men stormed in, the six men were caught off guard. By the time they reacted, it was too late. They were all pinned to the ground with guns to their heads.