Chapter 592: Zhang Yaqian: Master, please give me some advice!
"Hello, Master Shen, this is Zhang Yaqian."
After the call connected, a sweet, soft female voice came through, elegant and pleasant to the ear, with an excellent tone and very polite.
"Who is Zhang Yaqian?" Shen Anyu tilted his head, feigning an almost childlike surprise as he delivered the counter-question. The deliberate blankness in his tone was a carefully crafted opening move in a game only he was playing.
On the other end of the line, Zhang Yaqian's starry eyes widened in disbelief. For a fraction of a second, the world seemed to stutter. She, the sole heiress of the Yunhai Group, the jewel of Hangzhou's high society, was a name that opened doors and silenced rooms. And he… he didn't know who she was? An unfamiliar sting of indignation pricked at her pride, but it vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by a wave of sharp self-reproach.
'Zhang Yaqian, oh Zhang Yaqian, get a hold of yourself,' she chastised internally, her perfectly manicured fingers tightening on her sleek smartphone. 'It's perfectly normal for a true Master not to know you. He wasn't trying to hit on you yesterday; he was there to save your life. Don't be so narcissistic.' The realization settled over her, cooling her initial shock and transforming it into a deeper sense of admiration. He was truly above the mundane world of status and recognition. Taking a quiet, steadying breath, she let her voice flow once more, as sweet and composed as ever.
"It was yesterday evening, have you forgotten? The girl in the back seat of that extended Bentley. You gave me a tissue talisman and a business card." Her words were measured, aiming to jog his memory without sounding demanding. The memory of the event was still a razor-sharp shard in her mind. "Later, there was a car accident… and if it weren't for the talisman you bestowed, Zhang Yaqian would probably be in the hospital right now, or even worse… met with misfortune."
She paused, letting the weight of her gratitude fill the silence. "It was too late last night, and I didn't want to disturb your rest, so Zhang Yaqian specifically called you today to thank you for saving her life."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Shen Anyu's lips. He leaned back in his chair, the morning sun casting a warm glow across his living room. "Karma comes and goes. Since you have averted the disaster of blood and steel, and the one-hundred-million-yuan thank-you gift has already been sent, there's no need for any further thanks." His tone was indifferent, as if dismissing a trivial matter that was already ancient history.
Zhang Yaqian gently bit her lower lip, the simple, dismissive words leaving her momentarily speechless. How was she supposed to respond to that?
Throughout her life, with her impeccable beauty, immense status, refined temperament, and obvious charm, she had never known a world that wasn't compliant. It wasn't just men who fell over themselves for her attention; even other women treated her with deference and admiration. From the moment she could walk, she had been the sun around which her social circle orbited. Others vied for a moment of her time, a glance in their direction. Yet here was a man who seemed completely immune to her allure, treating it with a profound, almost insulting, indifference.
Strangely, Zhang Yaqian felt no annoyance. Instead, a burgeoning sense of awe bloomed in her chest. 'As expected of a Master Shen,' she thought, her respect deepening. He truly possessed the demeanor of a transcendent expert, viewing beauty and wealth as nothing more than fleeting clouds, dust in the wind.
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Zhang Yaqian's favorability +3, plundering +9000 Destiny Points!]
…
However, a delicate furrow appeared between Zhang Yaqian's brows. The gratitude was real, but it wasn't the only reason for her call. She still had something she needed to ask Master Shen, a question that had kept her awake all night, and she was now scrambling for a way to broach the subject without sounding presumptuous.
"Miss Zhang Yaqian, if there's nothing else, I, Shen An, still need to meditate and regulate my breathing." Shen Anyu's voice, calm and detached, cut through her thoughts. The smirk on his face was now harder to suppress than the recoil of a fully automatic rifle.
Hearing that deep, resonant male voice on the verge of ending the call, a flicker of panic ignited within Zhang Yaqian. She could no longer afford to hesitate. Her red lips parted slightly as she spoke, her voice laced with an uncharacteristic urgency.
"Master Shen, Zhang Yaqian has some confusion and would like to meet with you to discuss it and receive your guidance." 'Confusion,' in this context, was a profound mental obstruction, a feeling of being utterly lost at sea, unable to find the shore or a ferry to carry her across.
Shen Anyu was, of course, more than willing to guide her through her so-called confusion. But the script demanded he play hard to get. The hook had to be set properly.
"That's rather inconvenient," he replied, his tone flat and unaccommodating. "I, Shen An, have just cast a divination. The signs indicate it is not suitable for me to go out today."
Zhang Yaqian was left utterly dumbfounded. Her starry eyes widened again, this time in sheer bewilderment. This was the absolute first time in her life anyone had refused her request for a meeting. And the excuse… it was so preposterous it was almost comical. He cast a divination? Seriously?
Though on the surface she was a poised and elegant young lady, a graduate of the most exclusive etiquette classes with perfect scores and glowing praise from every instructor, Zhang Yaqian was not, in reality, a docile girl who followed every rule. She was simply an excellent actress, a master of her own public persona.
But today, she had met Shen Anyu, who was an even better actor. Her entire character design was being dimensionally crushed by a superior performer.
She took a gentle, calming breath, forcing down the spike of irritation that had threatened to rise. Her logical mind warred with the sheer absurdity of his excuse, but her awe of him ultimately won.
'As expected of a Master Shen,' her inner voice supplied once more, this time with a hint of resignation. 'He even has to consult a divination before leaving his home. Perhaps it really isn't a suitable day.'
The memory of yesterday's miracle surged back, vivid and terrifying. The screech of tires, the impossible crumpling of metal, the way the world had tilted on its axis. He had accurately predicted her bloody disaster down to the hour. And a simple talisman, hastily written on a tissue with a Montblanc fountain pen, had shielded her from the brutal impact of a high-speed collision. It was beyond miraculous; it was divine.
The thought of it had kept her tossing and turning all night, her sleep plagued by the phantom sensation of shattering glass. She had woken this morning, unable to wait a moment longer, desperate to meet him and seek his wisdom.
And now he had refused her.
Should she just wait for a more suitable opportunity? A flicker of pride, the ingrained pride of a woman who had never had to wait for anything, rebelled at the thought. Beneath Zhang Yaqian's serene and pure appearance was a will of steel. She didn't want to wait.
"Master Shen," she began, her voice taking on a new, more transactional tone. "How about a travel fee of one hundred million for you to meet with me?"
She spoke with complete confidence. Based on yesterday's encounter, this Master Shen drove a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Though he was an otherworldly expert, he clearly wasn't detached from material wealth. He must care about money. And if he cared about money, then this would be simple.
As the only daughter of the chairman of the Yunhai Group, one of Hangzhou's top ten wealthiest men, money was the one thing she never lacked. Furthermore, after the shocking annihilation of the Hangzhou Zhang Family and the mysterious disappearance of Zhang Zhiyun, she was the sole survivor. The entire inheritance of the once-dominant Zhang Family had fallen into her hands. Twenty years ago, they had been Hangzhou's premier wealthy family.
The current Zhang Yaqian could rightfully be called Hangzhou's ultimate package of beauty, wealth, and status—the city's top 'white, rich, and beautiful' woman, with a personal net worth soaring into the hundreds of billions.
Money wasn't an issue. It was a tool. If one hundred million wasn't enough, she would offer two hundred million. She was absolutely determined to meet this Master Shen today.
Trying to sway him with money?
Shen Anyu raised a single, curious eyebrow. A slow, deeply amused smile spread across his face. He had swayed countless people with money. Suzuki Natsuki, Zhou Luyao, and a long list of other Destined Heroines had been won over, directly or indirectly, by the overwhelming power of his wealth.
And now, a Destined Heroine was trying to use that same tactic on him? This was a true reversal of the natural order, a salmon swimming up a waterfall.
Was he, Shen An, someone who cared about a paltry one or two hundred million?
'Heh.' He wanted the money, of course. But he wanted the person offering it even more.
"Miss Zhang Yaqian," Shen Anyu's voice suddenly dropped, shedding its indifference and taking on a sharp, cold edge. "Are you trying to insult me, Shen An, with money?"
The sudden chill in his tone sent a jolt through Zhang Yaqian. Her heart skipped a beat. She had miscalculated. Horribly.
"Master Shen, you've misunderstood!" she explained quickly, a note of genuine panic in her voice. "You are Zhang Yaqian's lifesaver; how could I possibly insult you with money? It's just… Zhang Yaqian is truly confused and deeply troubled. Especially these past two days, I've felt so uneasy, and I urgently need a true expert like you to resolve my doubts and guide me."
"For this," she took a deep breath, her decision made in an instant, "Zhang Yaqian is willing to offer three hundred million for your assistance!" She gritted her silver teeth as she made the offer, raising the price to a staggering sum.
But it was true. The restlessness and sense of foreboding that had haunted her for the past two days were very real. If an expert of his caliber could offer her guidance, she was certain she would gain something invaluable. Even a sky-high travel fee of three hundred million would be worth it.
The other end of the phone fell silent. The silence stretched, thick and heavy, each passing second amplifying her anxiety. Her heart pounded against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat in the quiet of her luxurious suite. If any of the young masters from Hangzhou's upper crust could see this scene, they would be struck dumb with disbelief. The most sought-after heiress of the Yunhai Group, the untouchable Elf Princess Zhang Yaqian, was waiting with bated breath for a man to accept her meeting request—a request for which she was offering a king's ransom.
"Alright, alright," Shen Anyu's voice finally returned, as indifferent as if he were agreeing to pass the salt. He had toyed with her long enough. "Meeting is a matter of destiny. I shall make an exception and meet you today."
"Thank you, Master Shen, for being willing to meet!" Zhang Yaqian was overcome with joy, a radiant smile finally breaking through her tense composure. Her eyes curved into beautiful crescent moons.
"Master Shen, you also live in the Jinxiu Mountain Villa residential area, don't you?"
"Mm."
"Then it's a coincidence. Master Shen, would you be able to come to the lakeside pavilion in the Jinxiu Mountain Villa residential area for a discussion?"
"Yes."
Shen Anyu lightly uttered the single word. As Zhang Yaqian's grateful, sweet voice continued to flow, he simply hung up the phone, cutting her off mid-sentence.
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Zhang Yaqian's favorability +1, plundering +3000 Destiny Points!]
…
A peculiar smile played on Shen Anyu's lips. 'Even that increased her favorability?'
Indeed, one should never fawn over women, especially beautiful ones. Just think about it—women of her caliber are surrounded by a constant swarm of sycophants and simps. How could you possibly succeed by joining that pathetic chorus? Doing the exact opposite often yields miraculous results.
Of course, one's own conditions were a critical factor. If you looked like some kind of grotesque monster, then you could forget about playing hard to get.
"Heh, you rotten master with a head full of bad ideas, scheming again?" Bai Bing, who had been sitting beside him the entire time, glanced sideways at Shen Anyu. Her stunning phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous, cold glint flashing within their depths.
[Akarin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/AkarinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/AkarinTL
🔗 All My Links: linktr[.]ee/AkarinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]