Chapter 33: Shall We Go Upstairs for a Bit?

“This is the rose perfume. Now, can you finally tell me what hobbies your cousin has?”

As soon as they sat down, Lin Fan took out the exquisitely packaged box containing the perfume and handed it over.

“What’s the rush? We haven’t even eaten yet, and you’re already so eager to court my cousin…” Ouyang Qi shot him a sideways glance.

She unhurriedly picked up the menu, ordered a few dishes, and then passed it to Lin Fan.

But Lin Fan had no appetite; he just randomly ordered a steak. This woman was clearly stringing him along, and he was growing more and more annoyed.

After all, the perfume he had bought for Ouyang Qi was worth a million, and there was no cashback! According to the system’s rules, only purchases made for goddesses with a beauty score above nine would grant a rebate. Ouyang Qi’s beauty score was only 8.5! That meant he had wasted a million for nothing.

“I didn’t expect you to be so capable. You actually managed to get your hands on such a rare luxury perfume in China. I’m really curious—what kind of family are you from?” Ouyang Qi opened the box and admired the rose perfume with a tinkling laugh.

Lin Fan hesitated. From her words, it sounded as if Su Juanmo had already looked into his background. After all, someone of Su Juanmo’s stature could have him investigated with a single word.

Lin Fan simply smiled and stayed silent. He would never reveal his secret to anyone.

But Ouyang Qi’s next words were even more surprising.

“Are you perhaps the rumored illegitimate son of Lin, the billionaire tycoon?”

Lin Fan nearly spat out the water he had just swallowed.

“What a coincidence. If I really were the illegitimate son of the wealthiest Lin, would I be here right now?”

The ‘Lin’ they spoke of was the former real estate tycoon who had dominated the country’s rich list for years and happened to share his surname. The man owned countless assets both at home and abroad, and his personal fortune was rumored to be in the hundreds of billions. There were even rumors online that he had an illegitimate child in his youth.

Clearly, Ouyang Qi had mistaken him for that child. Of course, he knew she was only joking.

“My dear sister, I’ve brought you everything you asked for. Now, please tell me, what are your cousin’s interests? How can I win her favor?”

“Hmm… how about buying me something else later? Then I’ll definitely tell you!” Ouyang Qi’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Damn! This woman is just as materialistic as Chen Yanzi, her eyes lighting up at the sight of money!”

Lin Fan couldn’t help but complain inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged.

“Of course, no problem. Whatever you want, I’ll buy it for you!” Lin Fan said with a bright smile, though he was cursing inwardly.

“Hehe, you’re so generous! If only you were my boyfriend!” Ouyang Qi rested her chin on her hands, gazing at him with starry eyes.

Lin Fan noticed her favorability toward him soared to 50 in an instant! The speed at which her feelings changed only proved how mercenary and insincere she was, a master of pretense. It was entirely possible she was probing him on Su Juanmo’s behalf.

In his heart, he was reluctant to spend money on Ouyang Qi. But to complete his mission, to befriend Su Juanmo, he had no choice but to play the fool.

“Do you really like my cousin that much? Both of us are beautiful, you know. She’s hard to win over, but I’m easy to court…” Ouyang Qi’s voice was honeyed, her gaze filled with hope.

Such an obvious trap! Even a fool wouldn’t blurt out, “I want both!” If he did, her favorability would drop to zero in a heartbeat.

Thinking quickly, Lin Fan replied, “We’re just not meant to be. I’m a quiet person, probably not suited for someone as lively and outgoing as you. I prefer women with an icy, aloof temperament like your cousin.”

“Is it the challenge of pursuing an ice queen that entices you? You rich types have the strangest tastes…” Ouyang Qi asked bluntly.

Lin Fan was startled—she had guessed his predilection exactly.

He did have such a habit. Whenever he encountered a goddess with a beauty score of nine or above who disliked him, he felt compelled to take on the challenge, to prove that money could compensate for any shortcoming.

Of course, it was more about completing his system’s tasks! Becoming a close friend to Su Juanmo would unlock the power and influence feature, making him a true titan.

His ultimate dream wasn’t just to possess unimaginable wealth, but also to wield unrivaled power.

After their meal, Ouyang Qi tried to tempt Lin Fan again.

“Now that we’re full, why don’t we go upstairs and have some fun?”

“Go upstairs?” Lin Fan was caught off guard, eyeing her warily.

“She must be testing me on purpose. I can’t fall for it!”

Though Ouyang Qi was stunning—just a sliver away from goddess status, and with a bit of effort could rival any celebrity—he remained unmoved.

Now, he was only interested in goddesses the system judged to be above a nine in beauty.

“How about we take a walk outside? Maybe catch a movie, do a bit of shopping…” Lin Fan gazed calmly out the window.

He refused to step into her trap.

But Ouyang Qi burst into cheerful, cunning laughter.

“Do you know why I brought you here?”

“There must be a reason beyond my guessing…” Lin Fan answered tactfully.

Had he said “I don’t know,” it would have revealed his displeasure. So he opted to play dumb.

As expected, Ouyang Qi was pleased with his response and stood up. “Hehe, you’ll find out upstairs.”

Lin Fan couldn’t help but pull a face. This woman really loved to keep him in suspense. No wonder her innocence score was so low—these siren-like beauties were all seasoned experts, and Ouyang Qi was a charming little minx indeed.

Soon, they arrived on the third floor, where Ouyang Qi led him into Hall One. Only then did Lin Fan realize there was a treasure appraisal event in progress, with quite a crowd in attendance.

“They hold these appraisal events here regularly, every two weeks. Many people bring family heirlooms and collectibles to have them appraised, traded, or auctioned. The hall across is for auctions…”

“The reason I brought you here is because my cousin has a very unique hobby—she loves collecting ancient calligraphy and paintings.”

“I see now!” Lin Fan finally understood after Ouyang Qi’s explanation.

“Was there any need to be so roundabout? You could have just told me instead of all this mystery…” Lin Fan was exasperated.

“I’m helping my cousin test your patience and sincerity. Turns out, you’re not just a player looking for some idle amusement!” Ouyang Qi grinned slyly.

Lin Fan felt a headache coming on. Thank goodness he had the system and had stayed vigilant, or he really might have failed the test.

No wonder she could be a teacher at such a young age—her acting was unmatched!

“Take a look around and buy a couple of paintings or calligraphy pieces. I’ll take them back and deliver them to my cousin for you. Maybe she’ll even arrange to meet with you herself…”