Chapter 73: Stealing the Card

“What a bold claim, Lin Yang. Are you so shameless that you risk your life for a boast? Who do you think you are, expecting us to obediently hand you money with interest?” Liu Qian mocked.

Lin Yang couldn’t be bothered to respond to her. He turned to the shop assistant and said, “Wrap up all the outfits we picked earlier. And this dress as well—I’ll take it.”

“Sir, I’m sorry, but this is a limited edition item and not for sale. If you want to purchase it, you’ll need a Diamond VIP Card,” the store manager replied, especially careful after noticing the boss’s son was at odds with these two. If it weren’t for the owner, Hou Guiwen, having recently ordered all managers and staff to treat every customer with utmost respect, the manager would have sided with Hou Xiaoqiang and ignored Lin Yang and Liu Qian altogether.

The manager had heard that another store’s manager, Feng Yuqiao, had lost her job and was even beaten—nearly thrown into the Luo River to feed the fish—all for offending a customer. What she didn’t know was that Lin Yang, standing before her, was at the heart of that very incident.

“Putting on airs, are you? You want to buy a limited edition? Do you even know how much you have to spend to get a Diamond VIP Card? There aren’t even a hundred cardholders in all of Luo City. No way you qualify for one,” Liu Qian continued to ridicule.

“Weiwei, I heard you’re secretly working as a hostess at the Phoenix Palace. It’s not easy to earn money that way, is it? As your cousin, let me advise you—women in that line sell their bodies and smiles for every penny. Why insist on buying luxury brands? Even if a beggar dons imperial robes, he’ll never be an emperor.” Her words dripped with scorn and malice; she deliberately exposed Shen Youwei’s supposed profession in front of everyone, her intent unmistakably sinister.

“You’re talking nonsense! I’m not a hostess!” Shen Youwei protested angrily.

“Still denying it? A friend of mine was at Phoenix Palace just days ago. She saw you and even filmed a video for me. All our relatives and friends know now,” Liu Qian gloated, her smile wicked.

Shen Youwei was shaking with anger. Such rumors were impossible to dispel—though she only poured drinks at Phoenix Palace and never sold herself, who would believe her?

“Liu Qian, what grudge do you have against me that you’d go this far?” she asked, trembling.

“I do it because it pleases me. Seeing you like this makes me indescribably happy!” Liu Qian replied, beaming with smug delight.

Smack! A crisp slap landed on her face, cutting her laughter short.

“That laugh is grating. Shut up,” Lin Yang said coldly.

“You… How dare you hit me!”

Liu Qian clutched her burning cheek, eyes blazing with fury as she glared at Lin Yang. Hou Xiaoqiang quickly stepped forward, his voice cold and menacing. “You’re awfully bold, aren’t you? Hitting my girlfriend? Do you know who I am?”

Lin Yang ignored him, instead pulling out the Black Diamond VIP Card Hou Guiwen had given him and tossing it to the manager. “I don’t have a Diamond VIP Card—but I do have a Black Diamond Card. That should be enough to buy this dress, right?”

The manager’s eyes went wide at the sight of the Black Diamond Card. It was a newly issued, top-tier card—so exclusive that it wasn’t available for purchase or upgrade, and had been personally gifted by Hou Guiwen to the most powerful people in Luo City. The manager knew there were only ten in existence.

“A Black Diamond Card? How could you possibly have one? It must be fake!” Hou Xiaoqiang snatched the card from the manager, scrutinizing it. It was real, complete with an official serial number—the number on Lin Yang’s card ended with ‘001’.

“Brother Qiang, what’s a Black Diamond Card? I thought the Diamond VIP Card was the highest level your family had?” Liu Qian asked, still holding her cheek.

“The Black Diamond Card is brand new—only ten exist, and each was personally given by my father. Anyone holding it gets a fifty percent discount at all our luxury stores,” Hou Xiaoqiang explained.

“Fifty percent? That’s practically selling at a loss!” Liu Qian was no fool; she immediately realized this card was a gift used by Hou Guiwen to curry favor with important people—such a steep discount would certainly cost them money.

“There’s no way he has such a high-level card. It must be fake!” she insisted.

“It’s genuine. Every card has a serial number and anti-counterfeit features. Any fake would be exposed the moment it’s swiped,” Hou Xiaoqiang replied.

“If it’s real, how could he possibly have one? His family’s been in decline for years. Even when his parents were alive, he wouldn’t have qualified for a Black Diamond Card,” Liu Qian said, full of doubt.

Hou Xiaoqiang nodded. “There’s only one possibility: he stole it, or found it somewhere.”

“Exactly! He must have stolen it. I heard he’s a gambling addict and a junkie. It’s not surprising he’d stoop to theft. He probably stole the card, used it to buy things at half price, and resold them for profit,” Liu Qian concluded, her analysis only bolstering Hou Xiaoqiang’s conviction that Lin Yang had stolen the card and was taking advantage of their family.

“You’ve got some nerve, punk! Not only did you hit my girlfriend, but you stole the Black Diamond Card to scam us. You must be tired of living!” Hou Xiaoqiang rebuked.

“How did Hou Guiwen end up with a son as foolish as you?” Lin Yang said calmly.

“What did you say? Still acting tough? I’ll make you pay for that,” Hou Xiaoqiang shouted, then handed the Black Diamond Card to the manager. “He stole the Black Diamond Card, used it to defraud us, assaulted someone, and insulted me. Call mall security now, detain him, and report him to the city guards.”

“Yes, young master,” the manager replied, convinced Lin Yang could not possibly be the legitimate holder of the card. She dutifully called security and the city guards.

“Brother, tell me honestly—you really didn’t just find this card somewhere, did you?” Shen Youwei whispered anxiously.

“Of course not. Hou Guiwen gave it to me himself—he insisted I accept it,” Lin Yang replied openly.

Hou Xiaoqiang burst out laughing. “Go on, keep bragging! You’re so full of it, you might just float away. My father gave you a card and begged you to take it? Who do you think you are?”

“I think he’s fried his brain with drugs—violent and delusional. Brother Qiang, my face still hurts. You have to punish him for me,” Liu Qian whined.

“Don’t worry, baby. The hand he hit you with—he won’t be keeping it,” Hou Xiaoqiang promised.

Lin Yang was done wasting words. He took out his phone and dialed Hou Guiwen.

“Hello, who is this?” Hou Guiwen’s voice came through the line.

“This is Lin Yang. I used the Black Diamond Card you gave me at your store, but they accused me of stealing it and want to call the police. You’d better come handle this,” Lin Yang said calmly.

Hou Guiwen’s expression changed instantly. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He remembered the Murong family’s birthday banquet—he had realized that the mysterious Mr. Lin was none other than Lin Yang himself.