Quentin Hua gazed at the pair of bracelets, the corners of his mouth twitching in mild amusement. Just moments ago, Raymond Lei had claimed that only in his hands could these items reach their true potential—was he implying the bracelets would suit a woman like him?
Still, this truly was a rare treasure. At a touch, he could sense the precious quality of the jade, and its appearance was exquisite—a slender, delicate circle, charming and lovely. Roxy would surely adore it, so Quentin decided not to argue with Raymond’s earlier remarks.
Seeing Quentin Hua tempted, Raymond Lei relaxed and said with a hint of flattery, "Such a spiritual artifact could only belong to someone as extraordinary as the Lotus Sect Master. But the bracelet is quite small—it would suit a petite young lady best."
He knew Quentin Hua was surrounded by beautiful women, and worried that if Quentin casually gifted the bracelet to someone who couldn’t wear it, it would be awkward. More than anything, he feared Quentin might lose face and blame him, so Raymond thought it best to clarify things in advance.
Although he knew Quentin Hua wasn’t careless by nature, men could get impulsive around women! Better safe than sorry—he had no desire to provoke Quentin and end up regretting it.
Quentin Hua stroked his chin, contemplating the bracelet in his hand. It seemed a bit large for now, but when Roxy grew up, it would fit perfectly. However, it might be difficult to remove then.
Then he thought, since it was a gift from him, there would be no need to take it off anyway. If Roxy truly disliked it in the future, she could simply destroy it—he wouldn’t mind in the least.
Quentin Hua prepared to return and please his little darling, carefully putting away the bracelet. Then he looked at Raymond Lei, his expression calm as he said, "I understand the whole situation now. The fault lies with the Hua Family, not you. Do as you see fit, Hall Master Lei. I’m always reasonable—everyone loves beauty, and if you truly care for that young lady from the Hua Family, marrying her would be perfectly fine."
Raymond Lei’s eyes lit up in surprise. He hadn’t expected Quentin Hua to let him off the hook so easily, even turning a blind eye to the Hua Family’s troubles. Clearly, the family had failed to win his favor!
Not only did his gift come at no loss, he actually gained from it. After all, the Hua Family was the richest in Dongkui Town, and their wealth far exceeded the silver he’d spent!
Raymond Lei happily poured Quentin Hua a drink, his voice brimming with excitement. "Lotus Sect Master, you truly are a person of principle. This impartiality—choosing justice over family—is rare indeed!"
Quentin Hua paid him no mind, merely took a sip of tea and replied, "I have important matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave." He knew that once he left, Roxy would surely go looking for trouble with the Hua Family. Though he trusted her abilities, he still worried she might be wronged—he’d best hurry home.
Raymond Lei wasn’t the least bit offended by Quentin Hua’s lack of courtesy. He was positively elated! He’d been anxious, fearing Iron Sand Hall was doomed, but who could have guessed that a pair of bracelets would win Quentin’s support? With the Lotus Sect Master backing him, even other factions would have to think twice before interfering.
Thinking of the Hua Family’s fortune, Raymond Lei couldn’t stop grinning. With that wealth, Iron Sand Hall’s ranking would surely rise in no time. Even if Quentin Hua kicked him out, he’d still see him off with a smile.
Ah... If only he knew that Quentin Hua never intended to side with the Hua Family, what would his expression be then? In the end, the real winner was Quentin Hua!
Meanwhile, Hua Mansion was bustling with life. The beautiful garden, once peaceful, was suddenly shattered by a piercing scream.
Du Qiyue clutched her cheek, staring in disbelief at the smiling Roxy. Tears welled in her eyes as she stammered, "You... you hit me?"
After Quentin Hua left, Roxy originally planned to confront Wendy Hua, but instead ran into Du Qiyue in the garden. The woman insisted on fawning over her, refusing to let her go.
As the saying goes, ‘No one flatters without a motive.’ Roxy decided to see what Du Qiyue was up to. After stuffing herself with fruit and pastries, she finally understood—Du Qiyue’s flattery was all for Quentin. Roxy hadn’t expected her to try this route; did she really think her man was so easily swayed?
At first, Roxy was in a good mood and had no intention of stooping to her level. But Du Qiyue was especially ignorant of boundaries—Roxy had made it clear Quentin wouldn’t like her, yet Du Qiyue threatened that if Roxy didn’t cooperate, she’d make Quentin abandon her!
Hmph! Foolish woman, so full of herself—who does she think she is? If she wants to daydream, she shouldn’t drag me into it! I was only doing her a favor by waking her up to reality.
"What happened here?" Du Zhiqiu heard the scream and came over, only to find Roxy sitting calmly on a bench, swinging her little legs, cheeks puffed out, mouth busy chewing, and clutching half a pastry. She seemed thoroughly pleased with the taste, her big eyes curved into crescent moons.
Meanwhile, Du Qiyue was clutching her cheek, head bowed, shoulders trembling. Her low sobs sounded as if she were trying not to cry aloud, but it only made her more pitiable.
Du Zhiqiu frowned, momentarily puzzled by the scene. After all, Roxy was just a two-year-old child, with no maid in sight—surely she couldn’t have bullied Du Qiyue?
Drawn by the commotion, Ren Xiaoyao wandered over, and Wendy Hua also slowly made her way toward them.
Du Qiyue’s maid glared angrily at Roxy, her voice sharp. "Madam, this little brat actually struck Miss!"
Du Zhiqiu looked surprised—a two-year-old child hit Yue’er? Ren Xiaoyao, on the other hand, seemed unfazed; a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes. He knew Roxy’s abilities, and though she was young and a bit wild, she wasn’t unreasonable. If Du Qiyue hadn’t provoked her, Roxy wouldn’t have bothered to act at all.