Chapter Eighty-Eight: A Ruthless Trap

The price Zhang Can offered and the words he spoke made Su Xue bite her lip in contemplation. Then, with a charming smile, she said, "It would be wonderful if things were truly as you say. If it's really that valuable, then I definitely can't sell it now. I ought to keep it safe and wait for an even better price in the future. They say that antiques only grow more valuable with time, don't they?"

Zhang Can gave a wry smile. Su Xue was too sharp; with just a casual remark, she had blocked off the lead he was trying to pursue. Still, his actions had unsettled her to some extent—at the very least, she now believed he was indeed an exceptionally skilled appraiser.

"Hmm, Xiao Zhang, tell me about your work. What do you actually do? Aren't all those in the antiques trade a bunch of old men?" Su Xue shifted the conversation again, turning to question Zhang Can.

Her words were somewhat amusing, yet that was precisely the impression the general public held. Even Zhang Can himself had thought so in the past, and in truth, the reality wasn't far off—most true antique appraisers were indeed older folk.

Zhang Can thought for a moment, then replied with a smile, "Miss Su, I really am an antique appraiser. I work at Old Stone Studio. If you ever have the time, you’re welcome to come by. It's true that experience grows with age, but, just like studying, some have talent and others don't. Teachers always say that all other pursuits are inferior, only study is noble. Yet, in a world this vast, how many truly make their way through study alone? There are thirty-six trades, and champions emerge from every field!"

He felt the conversation had gone far enough; lingering any longer would not serve to prove anything more. Yet Su Xue showed not the slightest inclination to send him away or any sign of displeasure. This, in itself, said much. A young and beautiful woman, even if considering him just a neighbor, would never keep a strange male neighbor in her home for a long conversation. They had already far exceeded the bounds of what an ordinary girl could tolerate. Anyone who gave it a moment’s thought would sense that something was off.

Zhang Can smiled, though he kept his thoughts to himself, and stood up. "It's getting late, Miss Su. You should rest. I’ll be going now."

"You’re leaving already? Why not… stay and chat a bit longer?" Su Xue, not having achieved her aim, was reluctant to see him go so soon. She tried to persuade him, "It’s not that late yet. Sit a while longer. I should thank you for your help. Let me make another cup of hot tea—have some before you leave."

Zhang Can shook his head and declined, heading straight for the door as he spoke, "No, thank you. After nine o’clock, I get terribly sleepy—so much so that not even thunder can wake me. I really should get home."

Behind him, Su Xue’s brows creased ever so slightly. This young man, according to the investigation, was an utterly ordinary country boy, no different from any other migrant worker. The only unusual thing about him was the sudden fortune he had acquired in just the past month. It was during that brief period that Zhang Can had gotten rich, yet his wealth had nothing to do with the drug trafficking case she had been investigating. This frustrated her. They had checked every vehicle and person who had passed through the coastal checkpoint, but found no real suspects. All signs pointed to the newcomers being unrelated to the theft of the traffickers' goods. The true perpetrator had never returned to the coastal highway. But in the course of her investigation, Su Xue had discovered something strange about Zhang Can: his bank account contained a staggering forty-seven million yuan. Tracing the source of these funds led only to accounts involved in antique transactions, unconnected to drug dealers.

Su Xue and her team were at their wits’ end. After investing so much manpower and resources, they had come up empty-handed at the last moment. The prize had slipped from their grasp—how could they not be vexed?

Investigating Zhang Can was a last resort—his inexplicable fortune was suspicious. Though there was no evidence linking him to drugs, they could not rule out a connection. Thus, they pinned their final hope on him, which had led to this very scene.

Su Xue was usually very proud, her exceptional beauty and formidable abilities making her a force to be reckoned with at work. The men around her were all hopelessly infatuated by her charm.

Yet this peculiar antique appraiser Zhang Can seemed immune to her. He hadn’t shown the slightest interest in her beauty, not even sparing her a sidelong glance during his entire visit. Their conversation had revolved solely around her string of rosewood beads. Now, even when she personally tried to make him stay, she could not. This infuriated her—Zhang Can truly was an odd one!

Annoyed, Su Xue quickly stepped forward just as Zhang Can reached for the door. While he was opening it, she darted in from the side to block his way, all the while exclaiming, "Let me get the door for you!"

Su Xue moved with such speed that Zhang Can, no match for her physical prowess, could not retract his outstretched hand in time. His hand, moving to open the door, instead made contact beneath Su Xue’s raised arm, landing directly on her chest. His mind realized what was happening, but his body could not react quickly enough. With a startled cry, his fingers brushed against the fabric of her shirt.

It was a trap Su Xue had set for him. The moment his fingers touched her shirt, she deftly seized his arm in a brutal lock and, with a swift motion, flipped him over her shoulder, slamming him onto the living room floor with a loud thud. He lay there, unable to get up for quite some time.

Eventually, Zhang Can regained his senses, his face, nose, and body aching all over. Sitting up, he wiped his face—his left cheek was swollen and throbbed painfully, his nose was bleeding, and his right hand hung uselessly at his side, likely dislocated from the fall.

"Oh, I’m so sorry! So sorry!" Su Xue now feigned panic, rushing over to help Zhang Can to the sofa and dabbing his face with a towel. She apologized profusely, "I’m so sorry! When your hand touched me just now… I just reacted instinctively and threw you."

Zhang Can said nothing, only groaning in pain to mask his thoughts. Clearly, Su Xue had set him up. Had he meant to take advantage of her? Not at all—it was she who had thrust herself in front of him, all but inviting the contact. In truth, his hand had barely brushed her; it hadn’t even really touched her at all.

One thing was certain: Su Xue was extremely skilled, a true expert. He was just an ordinary man—no match for her in any contest of strength, not even close.

Su Xue quickly brought a basin of hot water for Zhang Can to wash his face and clean off the blood. Apologizing again, she explained, "I’m really sorry, it’s just a habit. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I studied taekwondo for several years, that’s all…"

Zhang Can didn’t believe a word of it. Taking a small mirror from Su Xue’s table, he saw his face swollen as though he’d been stung by a wasp, nose still bleeding, and his right hand dangling helplessly. How was he supposed to go home like this? His sister Zhang Hua would be terrified!

Though Su Xue apologized, a hint of satisfaction played across her lips. Biting her lip, she couldn’t help but smile as she said, "Xiao Zhang, it seems you’re not really in any condition to be seen. Is there anyone else at your home? If it’s inconvenient, why not just stay here for the night?"

Her true intention was finally revealed. Zhang Can couldn’t help but draw a cold breath. This woman was nothing like her beautiful, gentle appearance suggested—she was downright ruthless!

He really couldn’t go home in his current state, face swollen, nose bloodied, and right hand dislocated. He needed a hospital. Gritting his teeth, Zhang Can felt utterly miserable but had to endure and play along with Su Xue.

"I… I should go to the hospital. My hand and my face hurt so much!" he said, struggling to his feet.

"Wait!" Su Xue pressed a hand on his shoulder, and a forceful strength pinned him down, making it impossible to move, let alone stand.

"I’ve studied traditional Chinese medicine and orthopedic techniques. This is a simple injury—I can fix it right here; no need for the hospital!"

When Su Xue insisted on tending to him herself, Zhang Can felt a chill run down his spine. She was far too formidable. He couldn't fight her—he hadn’t stood a chance even when uninjured, and now, half-crippled, he was even more helpless.

No wonder Su Xue was so unconcerned about having him spend the night here—she knew he posed no threat. In fact, she’d given herself the perfect excuse to keep him: he couldn’t go home, and her place was now the most convenient option. It was going to be a long night. Perhaps she hoped that, in the course of conversation, he might inadvertently reveal something. After all, the more one talks, the more likely they are to make a slip. Maybe this was precisely her strategy.

If he hadn’t been so greedy that day by the sea and hidden those three large trunks, this fierce woman wouldn’t be bullying him like this. Now, Zhang Can could only grit his teeth and endure.

While Su Xue set his bones, she smiled and said, "Xiao Zhang, who would have thought our meeting would end up like this? I’m really sorry!"

"Enough apologies… ow… could you be a bit gentler… ow…" Zhang Can’s forehead was beaded with cold sweat. Su Xue’s technique wasn’t particularly unskilled, but it was certainly painful.

Their meeting, meticulously orchestrated by Su Xue, had brought them together, but she hadn’t expected Zhang Can to see through her identity because of that string of beads. From that point on, no matter how convincingly Su Xue acted, she was really just performing for herself.

Once his arm was set, Zhang Can’s right arm was sore but not seriously injured. After a while, it would be usable again. Su Xue brewed him a fresh cup of hot tea and said, "Keep applying this warm towel to your face. In a bit, I’ll boil some eggs for you to roll over the swelling. By morning, it should be gone. You’ll be fine for work—no one will notice a thing!"

She had even planned out his schedule for him. Zhang Can had no romantic thoughts whatsoever; instead, looking at Su Xue’s beautiful, smiling face, he felt a shiver run down his spine.

This woman was truly not to be trifled with. His momentary lapse had landed him in terrible, possibly even mortal, trouble.

For a moment, Zhang Can considered spilling everything about those three trunks, confessing all at once. But after witnessing Su Xue’s methods, he hesitated. She was not to be trusted. With so much contraband, she could easily pin a pack of drugs on him and that would be the end—death sentence, no question.

"Does it still hurt?" Su Xue wrung out a snowy white towel from hot water and handed it to him to press to his face, then went to the kitchen to boil eggs.

Zhang Can watched her graceful figure and grumbled, "How could it not hurt? If you don’t believe me, try it yourself!"

Of course, he knew he was in no position to make Su Xue experience any of this herself.