Chapter 28: It Actually Is...

From the beginning of the auction to its end, Fei Jing kept his attention almost entirely fixed on the emerald bracelet.

Several elders from other families had hoped to win the bid, some even subtly sending representatives to negotiate with him. But the CEO’s stance remained unchanged: "My apologies. I am willing to concede on any other item, but this bracelet belonged to my mother-in-law and is the apple of my wife’s eye. I cannot give it up."

The messenger was taken aback, only to return shortly after. This time, however, they did not approach Fei Jing but whispered directly to Lu Tian.

"Mrs. Fei, Elder Zhao said that since you have blocked his desires today, if any accidents happen tomorrow, you had best bear the consequences yourself."

Elder Zhao, hailing from Macau, was a man of distinct and formidable status. Lu Tian’s gaze darkened, and when she looked at Fei Jing, her expression held a complex, probing quality.

On stage, the auctioneer struck the gavel. Ultimately, Fei Jing secured the imperial green bracelet—which was not even all that rare—for sixty-eight million. Yet, he was as happy as a child, embracing her excitedly and smiling. "Wife, I’ve found it. The heirloom you would mutter about in your sleep—I’ve finally found it for you."

Watching the man’s genuine, fervent excitement, Lu Tian felt a suffocating tightness in her chest. The words Lu Youyou had spoken in the restroom echoed in her ears.

The auction concluded. Fei Jing went with his company accountant to settle the payment and collect the item. Lu Tian waited at the exit. Even though she tried her best to suppress the chaotic emotions surging within her, her legs paced back and forth restlessly, and her hands were clenched so tightly that her palms were slick with viscous, hot sweat.

"Are you afraid that Brother Fei will actually give your mother’s heirloom to me?" Lu Youyou appeared, followed by three or four servants from the Lu family, each carrying bags of goods. After all, Lu Zhi had spent a fortune at the auction for his most beloved younger sister.

Lu Tian felt a throbbing in her temples. She turned away, remaining silent; she had no desire to engage with such a persistent mistress.

Lu Youyou laughed behind her hand. "Heh, those who aren't loved are always anxious and insecure. It’s just a pity that for someone as universally adored as I am, there’s truly no need to worry about being a jinx."

"Lu Youyou, you..." Lu Tian had reached her limit. But before she could strike, another hand, fueled by thunderous rage, slapped the young lady of the Lu family so hard that she bled from the corner of her mouth and collapsed to the ground in a pathetic heap.

Fei Jing wiped his hand with a handkerchief in disgust.

Lu Zhi rushed over, eyes wide with fury. "Fei Jing, have you lost your mind? Youyou is carrying your—"

"Coming before my wife to flaunt your arrogance? Lu Zhi, I don’t care if she is the second miss of your Lu family. If there is one more time that she makes Tian Tian unhappy, the consequences will be far worse than this!"

He reached out and took Lu Tian’s hand. In front of the many onlookers, he took the safe box from the accountant, opened it with a tender expression as if presenting a treasure, and asked, "Wife, shall I put it on for you?"

The bracelet, engraved on the inside with the names of her mother and grandmother, was right before her eyes. Lu Tian took a deep breath. Despite her resistance to his sycophancy, she couldn't help but hold out her hand. As the bracelet slid onto her wrist, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause.

"CEO Fei, you’ve truly mastered the art of being a henpecked husband, haha..."

"CEO Fei, you are the quintessential man of the twenty-first century!"

"Oh, Mrs. Fei is so happy. If I could marry a man who doted on me like this no matter the time or place, I would have no regrets in this life."

The men jeered, and the women envied. Fei Jing shielded Lu Tian as they walked through the bustling venue to leave. As they passed Lu Youyou, who had been completely humiliated, she inexplicably offered Lu Tian a bizarre smile—as if she held the winning hand.

On the way to the Fei family estate, a call came in. The group’s headquarters had been deliberately ransacked, several employees were injured, and the chairman was urgently needed to take charge. Lu Tian, who had no desire to be in the car with him anyway, spoke "understandingly." "Company matters are important. I can go home by myself."

"I’ll have the driver take you."

"No need, I’ll just take a taxi."

Before the words were even out, she jumped out of the Rolls-Royce as if fleeing. Every corner of that car was filled with the lingering traces of Fei Jing and Lu Youyou’s intimacy. Lu Tian felt sick to her stomach. She managed to cross the crosswalk, but once she reached the other side, she leaned against a utility pole and began to retch uncontrollably.

The driver was puzzled. "It’s strange. Madam used to love sticking to Sir, but lately, it feels like she’s been avoiding you."

"She wouldn't! And she can't!"

She was a peacock that he had locked in a cage and plucked clean of her feathers. No matter how proud she was, that was all she would ever be! Fei Jing loosened his tie, rubbed his throbbing temples, and ordered the driver to go. He seemed to mutter to himself, "Lu Tian cannot survive without me. That’s right! She can’t survive, so she won't leave me..."

Her stomach churned with pain. Lu Tian, walking with unsteady feet, was just about to hail a taxi on the side of the road when a heavy blow struck her from behind. Before she could react, she slumped and lost consciousness.

When she woke, her hands and feet were chained to a wooden chair. The environment was pitch-black and chaotic—likely an abandoned factory.

"It’s a fake." Directly in front of her, an old man with a small braid smashed the jade bracelet in his hand in a rage.

Lu Tian saw it and screamed, "No!"

The secretary who had delivered the message earlier stepped forward, weighing the broken pieces of the bracelet in his hand, and rolled his eyes. "Your husband is truly stingy. He auctions for the real one, calls it a gift for you, and then what? He swaps it for a fake to play us for fools?!"

Elder Zhao picked up an iron bar from the floor and, without a word, brought it down on Lu Tian’s arm. The sharp pain, accompanied by the sound of a bone fracturing, echoed with irony.

A fake... The heirloom jade bracelet Fei Jing gave her was actually a fake!

"Call that brat, Fei Jing."

"No, let’s video call him. He loves his wife so much, right? Let him see what has become of his ‘treasure’ because of him."

The call connected. The image on the screen showed a large, messy bed, still stained with the aftermath of passion. Lu Youyou was sprawled across Fei Jing’s bare chest, and on her fair wrist, the glowing green bracelet was blindingly conspicuous.

"Oh my, sister, how did you end up so hurt?"

"Boo-hoo, I’m so scared. Luckily, my husband arranged everything for me beforehand."

"Otherwise, wouldn't the one being captured by Elder Zhao right now be me?"

The young girl flaunted her tears. She tilted her head, deliberately revealing a patch of hickey marks. "Also, sister, although you are suffering in my place, Brother Fei is still asleep. Sorry, he can't rush to save you. You’re on your own. Bye-bye~"

The video call was unilaterally disconnected.

Elder Zhao’s secretary sneered with contempt. "So they’re a plastic couple, huh? Elder Zhao, what shall we do with this woman?"

"She’s pretty. Sell her to Northern Myanmar; she’ll fetch a good price."

"Understood."

This time, a towel soaked in anesthetic was pressed over Lu Tian’s nose and mouth.