Chapter 3: The Ostentatious Suit

Huo Yutong hesitated, glanced at Lu Ming, and said, "Mr. Lu, perhaps you should change into something else?" She, too, felt that Lu Ming's attire was quite inappropriate. The guests at this reception would all be members of Xijing City's upper class, and Lu Ming's T-shirt and slippers were simply too unconventional.

Lu Ming shook his head helplessly and turned to go upstairs.

A short while later, he came down dressed in a wrinkled black suit and a pair of deep-blue leather shoes covered in dust. The suit fit him well, with a cursive "W" embroidered on the chest and no other markings. However, it looked as though it had been lying at the bottom of a suitcase for years before being hastily unearthed, crumpled and worn.

Huo Yufeng looked at him in surprise and said, "Brother, is that the old suit you've kept tucked away for ages?" Then she pointed to herself and her sister, both wearing low-cut evening gowns, and continued, "Do you really think you look appropriate walking with us dressed like that?"

Lu Ming smiled and replied, "What's inappropriate about it? It's not as if I'm marrying you."

"You—" Huo Yufeng was momentarily speechless with anger. She hadn't expected this imposter to dare speak to her in such a manner. Just as she was about to lash out and urge her sister to see reason, Huo Yutong interjected, "Enough. Don't be rude to Mr. Lu. The reception is about to start. We should get going."

Chided by her sister, Huo Yufeng grew even more annoyed, but said nothing further. Her expression, however, was one of barely contained contempt. Once they arrived at the reception, she was certain this charlatan's true colors would be exposed. She couldn't wait to see how he would wriggle out of it then.

"After you, Mr. Lu," Huo Yutong said, and stepped out of the sundry shop. Huo Yufeng followed close behind, the two sisters in their evening gowns making a striking sight as they walked. Lu Ming brought up the rear, closing the shop door behind him without bothering to lock it, and simply walked away.

At the end of the alley, a BMW business sedan was already parked by the roadside. An elderly gentleman with graying temples, dressed impeccably in a suit, stood waiting by the car door. When he saw the Huo sisters approaching, he quickly opened the door and said, "Miss Yutong, Miss Yufeng, please get in."

Huo Yutong nodded and invited Lu Ming into the car, seating herself next to him while Huo Yufeng sat opposite, a cold, mocking smile playing on her youthful, pretty face.

As the car moved off smoothly, Huo Yutong produced a file folder and handed it to Lu Ming. "Mr. Lu, here is the detailed information on our counterpart. Please take a look. I'll give you a brief overview first."

Lu Ming took the file but didn't open it, instead waiting quietly for Huo Yutong to speak.

She cleared her throat softly and began, "The partner I'm negotiating with is Chamu Corporation of Fusang, specifically their China branch. The head of the branch is President Nozomi Yamanaka—"

She had just reached this point when Lu Ming waved his hand, cutting her off, and tossed the file back to her. "If it's Chamu Corporation, that's all I need to know. When we're there, just bring the president over to me."

Lu Ming's original plan was, regardless of the other party's background, to exchange a few favors and resources—more than enough to persuade them. But since it was Chamu Corporation, there was no need for further trouble. Nozomi Miyu should already be in Xijing City.

Catching the folder, Huo Yutong looked at him in astonishment. "Could it be that the legendary owner of the sundry shop really has such influence? Chamu Corporation is a heavyweight, and their branch president is a true elite in Xijing City, mixing with highly significant figures."

At that moment, Huo Yufeng, unable to contain herself any longer, burst out, "Lu, I've put up with you long enough. Do you have any idea what kind of organization Chamu Corporation is, to speak so wildly?"

Lu Ming replied calmly, "It's just a business association. What's so impressive about that?"

"Ha! Just a business association? Aren't you afraid your tongue will twist in this wind? We're talking about a conglomerate with assets in the hundreds of billions. And you, a sundry shop owner, dare speak to them like that?"

Flushed with anger, Huo Yufeng's face was tinged red. In her eyes, Lu Ming was nothing but an outright fraudster, and her sister, desperate for a solution, had fallen for his deception. His nonchalant attitude, she felt, was a facade, a trick to gain her sister's trust.

Now, he was spouting even more nonsense.

"Just bring the president over to me when the time comes!"

Huo Yufeng could hardly believe her ears—was there really someone so brazen in this world?

"Though I'm merely a sundry shop owner, a corporation like Chamu is nothing to me," Lu Ming said, a peculiar smile playing at his lips as he glanced at Huo Yufeng's heaving chest, agitated by her anger. Despite being only seventeen or eighteen, her figure was even more impressive than her sister's—an imposing sight. And with her low-cut gown, nearly half her curves were exposed. With her anger, her chest rose and fell dramatically, as if threatening to spill free at any moment.

Just as Huo Yufeng was about to retort, she suddenly noticed Lu Ming's gaze fixed on her chest. She crossed her arms hastily over her front and snapped, "Pervert! Fraud! If you keep staring, I'll gouge your eyes out!"

Lu Ming burst into hearty laughter, then leaned back and closed his eyes, ignoring the unruly girl.

"That's enough, no more fussing. We're almost there," Huo Yutong said, shooting a glare at Huo Yufeng.

Though rebellious, Huo Yufeng still feared her elder sister and fell silent, inwardly scoffing. Once they reached the reception and this imposter could no longer keep up the act, she would step forward and thoroughly humiliate him, exposing his true nature to her sister, recovering the family heirloom, and earning great credit for the family.

Before long, the business sedan stopped at the entrance of the five-star Triumph Grand Hotel. The three got out, took the elevator straight to the top-floor banquet hall.

The hall was already lively, with many guests holding champagne glasses, chatting in small groups. The arrival of the Huo sisters and Lu Ming drew little attention.

Huo Yutong led her sister and Lu Ming to a relatively secluded corner, where a waiter served them champagne. Each took a glass. Scanning the room, Huo Yutong frowned and said quietly to Lu Ming, "Mr. Lu, the man in the black suit over there is the branch president of Chamu Corporation, Nozomi Yamanaka. The man with the gold-rimmed glasses beside him is one of my strongest competitors, Ji Xizhao from Dingsheng Company."

She pointed subtly ahead.

Lu Ming looked in the direction she indicated. The president, Nozomi Yamanaka, was short and stout, in his forties, with prominent black nose hair jutting out. Next to him was the gold-rimmed glasses man, scholarly in appearance. Several others were with them, all holding champagne and chatting amicably.

From the way they stood, Lu Ming instantly sensed that the true focal point of the group wasn't Nozomi Yamanaka, but a young man in his early twenties. Although young, he exuded a calm maturity and spoke little. The others, whether intentionally or inadvertently, seemed to gravitate toward him, making him the quiet center of the circle—his status evidently out of the ordinary.

Lu Ming, however, paid it no mind. He was here only to resolve Huo Yutong's predicament.

"Go call him over. I'll handle your matter. I woke up early today, so I'd like to finish quickly and get back to sleep," Lu Ming said, sipping his champagne.

"Um…" Huo Yutong hesitated. "Mr. Lu, is it really appropriate for me to just invite him over here?"

She knew that while her own status commanded respect among ordinary people, it meant little in this company. To approach Nozomi Yamanaka directly was a daunting task.

"You're right, I overlooked that. Let's go over to him, then," Lu Ming said, striding off toward Nozomi Yamanaka.

"I'd love to see how long you can keep up this charade," Huo Yufeng muttered coldly, following close behind.

Hearing this, Lu Ming paused, his expression darkening.

Huo Yutong's heart tightened. She deeply regretted bringing this troublemaker along and prayed silently, "Please, not now—don't let anything go wrong!"