152: Chapter 151 A Bet of One Billion US Dollars

Now that Hao Linger was using her lethal move to threaten Cao Xiao, he actually felt more nostalgia than fear. Even though Hao Linger had been so fierce back then, using ruthless attacks that didn't seem like something a girl would do, looking back years later, Cao Xiao finally understood why she had been so crazy. It wasn't because she was cruel by nature, but because only by completely intimidating those people would she avoid endless retaliation in the future. If Hao Linger hadn't exploded back then, Cao Xiao's fate would have been miserable as well. Therefore, what Cao Xiao truly feared were those moves of hers, not the person herself; on the contrary, he was very grateful to Hao Linger.

"Let's talk things over nicely, we go way back! Look at how loyal I am, even from thousands of miles away, I didn't forget to bring you a gift. I prepared this specially for you. Look at this set of emerald jewelry; its value goes without saying. They are all top-grade, large emeralds, meticulously designed and set by a master. A single piece is already very rare. Although they aren't from Colombia, any one of them would be snapped up for several million us dollars if put on the market. No matter how much money you have, you couldn't buy a complete set like this. If you wear this set out for a walk, I guarantee no one will dare to look you in the eye—if they do, it will definitely blind them! Moreover, emeralds are most suitable for a goddess like you, who possesses both beauty and wisdom. When I got them, the first person I thought of was you, because among everyone I know, only you are worthy of them!" Cao Xiao took a small box out of his briefcase, opened it, and held it before Hao Linger's eyes. His face was covered in smiles as he offered up the flattery he had come up with on the fly without blinking an eye.

"Are you sure these are emeralds and not green glass?" Hao Linger automatically ignored Cao Xiao's flattery, took out an oval ring with a stone nearly 1.5 centimeters long, and asked skeptically.

"Why would I lie to you? You can verify it yourself by putting the ring in a bowl with some water and looking at it with the naked eye. If you don't believe me, just try it!" Cao Xiao hadn't expected Hao Linger to question the authenticity of the emeralds, but since true gold doesn't fear the fire, he wasn't afraid at all and proactively offered a simple appraisal method.

"Fine! I trust you wouldn't dare lie to me, or else you can expect to be KO'd eight hundred times! And where's the watch?" Hao Linger put the ring back in the box, snatched the box into her hand, and held out her other hand to Cao Xiao.

"Here! A Breguet High Jewelry DS1 watch. The design is novel and unique, with a silver-plated gold and mother-of-pearl dial, a sapphire crystal glass lens, and an 18K white gold crown and buckle set with diamonds. The 18K white gold strap is paved with 603 diamonds totaling about fifteen carats. The market price is 3.6 million huaxia currency. After accepting my gift, you'd better work hard for me! Also, if you threaten me again, it'll be hard to say what happens next time! I'm really leaving now, you can enjoy yourself!" Cao Xiao couldn't be bothered to waste more energy on flattery. Seeing that Hao Linger's attention was entirely on the watch in his hand and she wasn't even looking at him, he stuffed the watch box into her hands and turned to leave.

"Go ahead! Next time you come, remember to bring out the gifts first, otherwise, you can imagine the consequences!" Hao Linger waved Cao Xiao away impatiently, then held the two boxes as if she couldn't bear to put them down and returned to her throne.

Cao Xiao closed the office door, his expression looking quite conflicted! He left the company with a bitter smile all the way, vowing in his heart that he would only bring a single popsicle the next time he visited.

What Cao Xiao didn't know was that after his figure disappeared from the office, Hao Linger threw the boxes onto the desk and stared blankly toward the door in a daze. She murmured to herself, "Rotten Wood is about to get engaged, but his fiancée isn't..."

...

Returning to Biyuntian Villa, after finishing lunch and resting for a bit, Cao Xiao practiced a few rounds of boxing. He dawdled until 4 PM before heading out, driving the bugatti veyron himself with He Yueyou as his passenger. The other girls rode in the mercedes-benz s600 stretched bulletproof version, with four mercedes-benz s600 sedans escorting them from the front, back, and sides as they sped toward the Convention Center.

After yesterday's conflict, the exhibition organizers hadn't contacted him, and the police hadn't come to his door; everything seemed calm. Although the matter had passed, Cao Xiao reflected on it afterward. If Alan had seen the girls' dazzlingly bejeweled appearance today, he wouldn't have dared to say those hurtful words. His current net worth was enough to provide his family with the highest quality of life. Although he and his family weren't overly demanding about their standard of living, they couldn't ignore the eyes and opinions of others. While his family lived comfortably and relaxed, having flies come to disgust him from time to time was also quite annoying. So, it was better to dress brilliantly and radiate wealth, so that no blind fools would dare to gossip. At home, he could live however he felt comfortable, but when traveling, his entourage and momentum had to match his status. This wasn't showing off, but rather how it should naturally be. He wasn't afraid of being targeted now; after experiencing the matter with Li Dongping, his mindset had changed. He wasn't exactly showing his sharp edges, but he was at least fearless.

The reason he gave Zhou Xinmeng and the other girls jewelry and watches that were incredibly precious to them was not just to make it up to them, but also to give them confidence and status. Precious jewelry isn't just an ornament; it also reflects corresponding wealth and status. Wearing a set of jewelry worth ten million, even big bosses with net worths in the tens of billions wouldn't dare to look down on them. Someone who can afford jewelry worth over ten million is at least a multi-millionaire. Jewelry is an ornament with no practical value; except for some with collector significance, buying it won't create profit and might even depreciate. A company president with assets over one billion huaxia currency who buys a piece of jewelry worth about a million would consider it carefully, let alone one worth ten million. Even noble ladies only wear such things to show off at important gatherings, keeping them locked in home safes on ordinary days.

Regardless of traffic, the motorcade drove to the entrance of the International Convention Center. Huanghe City was considered a metropolis, yet there were only a few world-class top sports cars like the limited edition Bugatti convertible, making it a rare sight. Moreover, it was followed by a stretched bulletproof Mercedes with four Mercedes escorts around it. One look was enough to tell it was the entourage of a major figure. Thus, even without a police siren to clear the way, the motorcade's formation made other drivers subconsciously give way.

Today, everyone had been meticulously dressed. Before leaving, Cao Xiao had Mi Fan design everyone's personal image—clothing, hairstyles, accessories, and makeup—giving the girls a fresh look from head to toe. Even Cao Xiao himself was no exception; his short hair was styled with gel, with not a single stray strand to be seen. He wore a cream-colored leisure suit, which, while not exactly handsome, made him look quite stylish. On his wrist was a custom-edition Patek Philippe, and while he wore no other accessories, the folding fan with suet-white jade ribs he held in his hand was enough to leave people in awe.

Twelve bodyguards escorted the group through the crowd into the High-end Trading Area. They had come today to bid on raw gemstones. There were only twenty minutes left until the 5 PM opening of the bids, so they went straight to the point, paying the deposit and collecting some bidding cards to prepare for the auction.

Unexpectedly, he met an acquaintance here, though this acquaintance wasn't very friendly toward him—it was none other than the Jade King, Jiang Hezheng. At this moment, Jiang Hezheng was surrounded by over a dozen well-dressed people. Cao Xiao hadn't intended to pay him any mind, but Jiang Hezheng spotted him. Logically, when enemies meet, their eyes should burn with hatred, but when Jiang Hezheng noticed Cao Xiao, he first froze for a moment and then walked toward him with a smile.

"Isn't this Old Man Chen's prized student, the great Young Master Cao! I didn't expect to run into you here; we really are destined! Why don't you greet your senior when you see one? I really don't know how Old Man Chen taught you manners!" Jiang Hezheng said sarcastically as he walked up to Cao Xiao.

"I don't have a senior as devoid of virtue as you. We aren't close, so don't bother me, or else I won't mind 'greeting' your whole family before getting some exercise!" Cao Xiao had no good feelings toward Jiang Hezheng. Even if Jiang Hezheng was an elder, he wouldn't show him the slightest bit of respect.

"How can you speak like that! Didn't your elders teach you to respect the old and love the young?" Before Jiang Hezheng could respond, an old man around sixty who was with him spoke to Cao Xiao indignantly.

"Where did this stray dog come from, barking like that! Is my business any of your concern? Say one more word and see if I don't beat you!" Cao Xiao's expression grew stern, his eyes narrowing like a hawk's as he glared at the old man and shouted while pointing at him.

He most detested these self-righteous busybodies. This old man's words didn't just involve Old Man Chen, but were also a criticism of Cao Xiao's parents. With no relation whatsoever, what right did this person have to say such things? He hated trouble, but he certainly didn't fear it. The concept of 'the ruler as a ruler, the minister as a minister, the father as a father, and the son as a son' from the Sage's words has been misinterpreted since who knows when. Respecting the old and loving the young is a traditional virtue, which is indisputable, but these all have prerequisites. Confucius's original meaning was that if a ruler doesn't act like a ruler, the minister needn't act like a minister, and if a father doesn't act like a father, the son needn't act like a son. Loyalty and filial piety also depend on the object. For a king to earn the loyalty of his subjects, he must possess corresponding noble qualities; for a father to enjoy the filial piety of his children, he cannot be immoral. Respecting the old and loving the young are unified; if an elder doesn't act with dignity, especially without any kinship, how could they earn even half a bit of respect from others? In this world, hooligans come in all ages; a young hooligan who doesn't repent will just become an old hooligan. Cao Xiao's attitude toward such people wouldn't change just because they were older; those who used their age to act arrogantly were even more hateful.

"Who are you? How dare you speak to Elder Jiang and Elder Huang like that? Apologize immediately!" As soon as Cao Xiao finished speaking, a middle-aged man stepped forward in righteous indignation to question him.

"You must be the Cao Xiao that Elder Jiang mentioned! Young and ignorant, and refusing to repent!"

"Apologize! Or we'll make things difficult for you today!"

"Call your elders over. I want to ask them how they raised such an uneducated bastard who dares to raise a hand against his elders. Simply lawless!"

...

Cao Xiao's words were like poking a hornet's nest. Everyone who had been with Jiang Hezheng jumped out to criticize him and force an apology.

But Cao Xiao had no time to entangle with these people and wasn't afraid of offending these 'people of status.' He ignored their words and, after coldly watching them finish, said loudly, "Once you're done talking, get the hell away from me. None of you hanging around this old bastard are any good! If you dare to be insolent in front of me again, I'll throw you all out!"

While they were speaking, Cao Xiao's twelve bodyguards had already slowly surrounded them, staring at them with cold eyes, only waiting for Cao Xiao's order to act.

"You..." A middle-aged man was furious upon hearing this. He took a step forward and was about to point at Cao Xiao when, before he could even raise his hand or say more than one word, Niu Zhen grabbed him by the neck and hoisted him into the air, leaving him struggling terrified in the void.

"Cao Xiao, tell your man to stop! If you have something to say, say it properly!" Jiang Hezheng was also horrified. He hadn't expected Cao Xiao's bodyguards to strike so suddenly and hurriedly spoke up.

"I'll say it one more time: get lost immediately and stop chirping in front of me, or suffer the consequences! Brother Niu, let him go!" Cao Xiao scanned the people in front of him and said each word clearly.

"Everyone, don't get excited. Let me talk to him." Seeing that Niu Zhen had let go and stepped aside but was still staring at them with an unfriendly expression, Jiang Hezheng felt very uncomfortable. However, he was an old hand in the world; with his status, he naturally wouldn't take a bodyguard's threat to heart, so he spoke to the people around him with a calm face.

"Cao Xiao, I admit defeat regarding the last incident. But since you've come here today, I'd like to see the skills Old Man Chen taught his student. You wouldn't want to embarrass your teacher, would you?" Jiang Hezheng said, staring at Cao Xiao with an imposing aura.

"Oh? It seems you still haven't given up. Since you're looking for death, then name your terms. I'd also like to see if your title as the Jade King is just an empty reputation!" Cao Xiao said, looking at Jiang Hezheng with amusement. Since Jiang Hezheng wanted to find trouble with him, he would naturally start with stone gambling. Since Jiang Hezheng wanted to seek his own destruction, he would fulfill his wish, ruining his reputation and bankrupting him, essentially finishing him off once and for all so he could go home and retire early.

"Haha! The Secret Bidding is about to open. We will each bid on three of the raw jade stones. After they are cut, the winner will be decided by their value. The loser pays the winner one billion huaxia currency and then crawls out of here. Do you dare!" Jiang Hezheng said with a cold laugh upon hearing this.

"Do you even have one billion huaxia currency? I recall you just sent me five hundred million a short while ago. If you lose and can't pay, who am I supposed to go to?" Cao Xiao sneered. It seemed Jiang Hezheng was very confident in his stone gambling skills and thought he had him cornered. Any discerning person could see this was a case of the big bullying the small. Jiang Hezheng not only wanted to take back the five hundred million he had paid Cao Xiao but also wanted to make another five hundred million off him. He really was dreaming!

"Elder Jiang, I can provide you with two hundred million in funds!"

"I can put up one hundred million."

...

"One billion in cash, I'll write the check right now!"

Before Jiang Hezheng could even answer, his companions all expressed their willingness to provide funds with great indignation.

"Thank you, everyone! However, I can still come up with a mere billion. Before we start, both sides must undergo asset verification. If you don't have the money, you can owe it, and I'll go ask Old Man Chen for it when the time comes!" After thanking the crowd with some self-satisfaction, Jiang Hezheng looked at Cao Xiao with a smile.

"Since everyone is so enthusiastic about helping, why don't we play a bit bigger? One billion is too little to interest me. Here is a one billion us dollar cash check, equivalent to 6.5 billion huaxia currency. I can accommodate anyone who wants to participate; it just depends on whether you have the guts!" Seeing those people rushing to provide Jiang Hezheng with funds, Cao Xiao felt very annoyed. They were even teaming up to bully him! How could he let them off easy? He might as well drag them all down with him and make them regret ever knowing Jiang Hezheng.

"Hmph! Ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth! Since you have money to give us, we are happy to oblige. I hope you don't go home crying to your parents then! I'll put up five hundred million huaxia currency!"

"Hehe, I'll also take out my 800 million in life savings to play with you!"

"I'll put up three hundred million!"

...

"Seven hundred million from me!"

These thirteen people seemed to have some family wealth and were also die-hard fans of Jiang Hezheng. Believing that Jiang Hezheng was certain to win this time, they all brought out all the cash they could muster, surprisingly pooling together 4.8 billion huaxia currency. Combined with Jiang Hezheng's one billion, they were only 700 million short of the total.

"I can put up another two hundred million. Friends, if you believe in me, the Jade King Jiang Hezheng, why not join in and take this chance to make a fortune?" Jiang Hezheng didn't stop the others from participating. He believed he was ninety-nine percent sure to win this gamble. He had spent the last few days carefully studying all the stones in the Secret Bidding auction area. With his decades of experience, there was no way he would make a mistake. Seeing the funds were insufficient, he turned to the surrounding onlookers to raise more. He felt he was leading others to wealth, so he spoke with great arrogance, without the slightest bit of embarrassment about asking for help.