Sam signed to Aria, "He's not bad!""Your praise is never a good sign," Aria replied slowly. Now that she had saved Philip, she had no desire to linger and face Blake. "Uncle Will, shall we browse the shops?""Sure, let's go." Before leaving, Will scoffed. "Panne Street allows anyone to make a living, but harming others will only lead to lawsuits."Blake offered a light smile. "Mr. Weller, I only help those destined for me. It seems our fates no longer intertwine as of today.""Mr. Windsor," Aria began, fiddling with her pendant. She met his gaze sharply. "You mentioned fate with my uncle. Did you study Decator or Pristine? Considering your prices, Decator seems unlikely. Pristine focuses on cultivation, not fate. They wouldn't use terms like 'fated.' It's interesting how you studied neither."Turning toward Philip, Aria continued, "Mr. Philip, since you paid me, allow me to offer some advice. Nowadays, both Decator and Pristine practitioners have certifications. A truly talented
A crowd gradually gathered on Panne Street after 5:00 pm. Lights flickered on, and vendors began setting up their stalls. With the development of the internet, some people were even livestreaming to sell their items.Despite the sizable crowd, the atmosphere remained subdued. Most people kept to themselves, their conversations hushed.A variety of gemstones were on display, yet Aria struggled to find the topaz stones she desired. This was because of the limited profit in it unless it was carved.Only two stalls offered raw topaz, and their prices were exorbitant.Will picked up a paper fan. "Mr. Martines, a thousand dollars for three stones? That's outrageous!""They came from Topaz Mountain, consider the travel costs! Business has been rough lately, Mr. Weller. How about a deal? Buy something else, and I'll throw in the stones. This oil burner, for instance, has a fascinating history," Ezra Martines countered, attempting a sale.The oil burner did pique Will's interest. "Don't
Charm Coin was also known as Charm Token. It was an ancient coin that people used to ward off bad luck. It originated at least a thousand years ago, rarely seen in the modern day. It was a remarkable feat for Aria to be able to acquire the coin!Ezra's exclamation drew a crowd of curious vendors. "It truly is a Charm Token! My word, you're incredibly lucky!"Vendors swarmed Aria with offers. "Miss, would you be interested in selling the coin? I'll give you five thousand dollars!""Five thousand? Don't try to bluff her! This costs at least 60 thousand dollars!""60 thousand dollars? Miss, don't listen to them! I'll offer you 200 thousand dollars."Ezra felt extremely regretful when he saw the events unfolding. He couldn't believe he had given out Charm Coin as a gift! He even said that Aria knew nothing.How could Will say that Aria was just his niece? She was obviously an expert in ancient artifacts!Ezra felt anxious. "I can give you 300 thousand dollars! Miss, I gave it to
A murmur rippled through the crowd surrounding Aria. "Whoever possesses the Emperor's Coin is guaranteed immense fortune! It's a relic of the royal family, after all!"The people surged toward Aria upon hearing this."Miss, are you willing to sell the Emperor Coin?""I'll offer you 1 million dollars!""Make it 2 million! Miss, please consider it. I need this item as a businessman."The initial commotion had already drawn a crowd, but now, half the market had gathered.Blake was seeing his guests off. As he passed by the throng, he casually inquired, "What's all this commotion about?""A young woman managed to acquire the Emperor Coin. How amazing!"Philip perked up at the mention of a young woman. "Could it be the one who came with Mr. Weller?"Kenny shot the crowd a dismissive look. "Doesn't matter who it is. It's most likely just a publicity stunt. What exactly do you think the Emperor's Coin is? It's not something you can easily collect in its entirety. Vendors who actually
Getting the Emperor Coin was an incredible feat. Even a seasoned archaeologist might have overlooked it in Ezra's stall.For five or six years, Ezra's copper coins had gathered dust. Many customers passed by, some even refusing them as a freebie. Price was all that mattered; nobody cared about rusty coins. But Aria had a keen eye.Disappointment washed over Ezra. He clutched his hair, staring at the candle jar. "How could I have been so blind?"He'd unknowingly possessed a valuable treasure for years. Frustration welled up, turning his eyes red. Millions of dollars worth of items sold for a measly six thousand, the coins included as a throw-in! The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.Just as his frustration peaked, Aria spoke. "Mr. Martinez, your candle jar also seems quite old. It might have come from the same place as the copper coins."Her hint was clear. Not understanding it would be foolish. "Yes, yes. It's from the same place. My ancestors had used it back then.
A large crowd suddenly formed. Will stared at the unbelievable scene before him. Despite having his shoes trampled on several times and his collar askew, he refused to leave.Even after straightening his collar, he remained hesitant. "Ms. Carver, are we just leaving like this? If you want that candle jar, Mr. Martines will definitely give it to you!""The candle jar will only safeguard its original owners." Aria strung the Emperor Coin with the red string before placing it in her bag."Uncle Will, we can't be greedy about others' luck. It might backfire on us. Plus, Mr. Martines is not a bad guy. All his items are genuine," Aria added with a smile.It was true that Ezra sold his items for a higher price. However, the price was reasonable if the items were all legitimate. Ezra rubbed his head after hearing that. "Oh, I thought you'd think I was dumb for constantly buying from him at higher prices.""Good items are scarce these days," Aria said, her intelligence allowing her to se
Sam nodded. He shook the bell again, as if he'd taken a liking to it, grinning widely throughout. Aria's gaze darkened. She'd always believed that nothing was created to be inherently good or evil. Demons were far from being the most terrifying existence in the world—that would be the nature of humanity. She'd taken Sam under her wing and would continue to do so until the end. He was just a boy who loved to eat, and it would be fine if she didn't make him angry. Aria pinched Sam's cheeks. Sam suddenly thought of something. He gestured, "That guy from just now is about to die soon. I could smell it.""Everyone has their own destiny. His, however, hinges on whether he races later." Aria couldn't see through the darkness between another person's brows and could only tell one's fortune by analyzing their facial features. Tobias had taught her how to do face reading. One passage in the manual read, "Those with round noses possess good intentions."While Aria couldn't definitivel
"I'm just curious," Aria said with a smile, "Seems like the rumors aren't nice.""Uh, you know," Will said, "The conversations within this social circle are always about the same stuff.""What kind of stuff?" Aria smiled.Noticing that she didn't mind, Will wanted to warn her about the rumors about her. "In the version I heard, you were found in a village and taken back here. Everyone thinks that you wouldn't be that respectable after growing up in that place and that you don't deserve Mr. Landon. "He's rejected you, and the engagement wasn't canceled only because you insisted on hovering around him.""That's about the same as what I envisioned," Aria said sardonically. Her gaze darkened under the sunlight.All the scenes in her dreams were coming true one after another. Aria remembered clearly how those rumors had been the first step to dream-Aria's downfall."What do you mean that was about the same as you'd envisioned?" Will was dumbfounded. "Why would you even think about t
Back then, a rumor circulated that everyone desired the Grisham family's daughter. Audriana had thought it was an exaggeration. After all, no matter how beautiful a woman was, she would inevitably age. Fiona, no matter how stunning, would eventually face the same fate.However, Audriana had come to realize that some people could indeed look like fairies. Yet, she couldn't show her envy, as Priscilla was still watching her."Why do I think she looks so average? She's not nearly as ladylike as you, Priscilla," Audriana flattered her.Priscilla merely gave her a passing glance. "You don't have to try to flatter me. I don't care about that. With plastic surgery so common these days, I can have any appearance I want."What's important is for a woman to have her own career. But I have to admit, her face is quite stunning."Otherwise, Fiona wouldn't have remained relevant for so many years. But it didn't matter now. Fiona was already married, with so many children. Once a woman became a
"Who doesn't have a career in this day and age? She's the only one with no achievements to speak of, and she even went crazy. How does she have the nerve to reconcile with the Grisham family? I don't know whether to call her naïve or just plain dumb," Priscilla remarked, her voice dripping with disdain as she spoke to the person behind her. As she spoke, the woman slowly rose, revealing her identity—none other than Audriana."Perhaps she doesn't realize that the Draycott family is almost as influential as the Grisham family in Ludwiten. Especially you, Priscilla. Everyone knows the medispa you operate. "Fiona hasn't kept up with the times. I once thought she was capable, with her title as Ludwiten's Red Rose. But now, it seems she's all show, no substance." Audriana chuckled, clearly taking pleasure in belittling Fiona while subtly praising Priscilla. Priscilla, clearly pleased, took a sip of her coffee. "It's a shame she didn't listen to me and meet Ms. Kent."Audriana raised
Priscilla twirled her long hair and took a sip of her coffee. "I didn't have much confidence back then. I always followed you, never daring to try things on my own. It's only now, after trying for myself, that I've realized some things."She added, "Opening a medispa has always been my dream, and that's how it all started. Now, all the wealthy women in Ludwiten come to me for fillers and anti-aging treatments. If you're interested, you should come by. I can even fix your nose a little."Priscilla smiled. However, her smile was a little off, perhaps from a recent treatment. She pressed her fingers to her eyes. "I can't smile too much, or I'll get wrinkles. I envy your flawless, youthful face, Fiona. What's your secret?""Probably just staying indoors and avoiding the sun," Fiona replied, carefully omitting the fact that her soul had entered a manifestation.Priscilla's expression darkened, her voice tinged with frustration. "It's all Owen's fault! How could he be so cruel? You're no
Leon typed so quickly that Aria suspected it was a result of his experience arguing with his online haters. Aria couldn't get a word in as Leon flooded the entire group chat. She was speechless—his typing was even faster than a hacker like her. Celebrity Carver: "I'm worried about Aria. I should have gone on the train too!"Aria freed one hand to reply, "No need to worry. Fergus is with me."Celebrity Carver: "Fergus has never been in a relationship himself. What does he know?"Boss Carver: "Leon, aren't you getting too full of yourself lately?"Leon kept his head down, continuing to type. He was filled with worry for Aria.Unbeknownst to anyone, a mysterious person watched Leon with intense focus. The gaze was unsettling as if the person were ready to explode with hatred at any moment.The person only looked away when Leon entered the VIP lounge. Then, they went to the washroom, and standing before the mirror, revealed an eerie smile. There was no rush. After all, there wo
Their positions were reversed in an instant.Landon was pinned down, a few stray strands of hair falling over his face. His long, dark eyelashes gave him a somewhat coy expression. Aria, on the other hand, appeared dominant, with one hand pressing down on his wrist and the other on his shoulder. This was the scene the attendant walked in on. She cleared her throat slightly before speaking, "Sir, here are your fruits."The attendant's voice caught the attention of Fergus, who was seated in the last row. He put down his tablet and glanced over. What he saw was Aria playfully pressing down on Landon's wrist. Fergus couldn't help but rub his temples, unsure how to express his current feelings.When Leon mentioned that Aria was pursuing Landon, Fergus hadn't thought much of it. However, seeing for himself, he could only think of ways to keep Landon around for Aria.But Aria couldn't be too forward as they weren't married yet. At the thought of that, Fergus deliberately coughed.
It was the first time Aria had ever felt this way. The sensation made her dizzy, yet she couldn't get enough of it. Every inch of her mouth was filled with Landon's scent, and his fingers felt astonishingly hot. The sounds around them faded, leaving only the rumble of the train as it passed through the tunnel. There was an undeniable closeness between them. His soft kisses and teasing bites on her lips made her feel a little lightheaded. With her eyes covered, Aria instinctively sought something to steady herself. The rhythmic thump of his heartbeat echoed in her ears, its force making escape seem impossible. His kiss, commanding and intense, contrasted sharply with his calm demeanor. It seemed as though he was determined to pull her deeper into his embrace. Yet, despite the overwhelming sensation, Aria couldn't bring herself to resent it. Instead, she found herself surrendering to it. The sounds around them slowly returned as they emerged from the long tunnel, light creepi
Landon raised his hand and spoke calmly before ending the call. "Go and tell your boss that only Farshyans can manage the Chamber of Commerce."When Westin tried calling back, no one answered. For years, foreigners had enjoyed preferential treatment in Farshya. As Westin mentioned, some universities favored foreign students, offering them special care. Foreigners received priority access to events, complimentary ice cream, and exclusive show tickets at car exhibitions. Many Farshyans were thrilled just to exchange a few words with them.Westin's best friend even had a Farshyan girlfriend who was utterly devoted to him. She tolerated their insults with a smile as long as he promised to take her abroad and secure her permanent residency.This sense of entitlement made foreigners like Westin feel superior to the locals. Westin, in particular, had been flattered by Farshyan businessmen for so long that he'd never experienced such outright rejection.Other suppliers and port officia
Despite the shifting tides, some stubborn members of the Chamber of Commerce clung to their cunning ways, refusing to yield.Previously, Westin had assumed that his target, known for being money-obsessed, would agree without much resistance. But upon arriving, he found himself drinking far more than discussing business.Two days and a relentless hangover later, Westin realized he'd been played. That wily old man! Refocusing his attention on the task at hand, Westin addressed the screen with renewed determination. "Mr. York, it's not just Ludwiten's companies interested in partnering with us. Even the Wagner family from Janovin is eager to collaborate. "If there's something holding you back, let me know. But remember, opportunities don't wait. I urge you to reconsider—going solo carries significant risks."As Westin spoke, Landon listened calmly, his expression unchanging. He even shifted slightly to make Aria more comfortable in her seat. Nearby, an attendant whispered with a
Aria lay on her side, with Landon seated on her right. She wondered if the York family would grow uneasy about his prolonged absence from home. Landon was clearly in the middle of a meeting. His deep, pleasant voice carried a hypnotic quality, occasionally interspersed with authentic Nobeetan phrases. He spoke so softly that those further away would struggle to hear him, yet his tone was laced with an understated menace that no one could ignore.The person on the other end of the meeting dared not contradict him. Landon's calm demeanor masked a chilling authority. He wasn't the kind of superior who exploded with anger—those were predictable. The truly terrifying ones were those whose moods were inscrutable and whose actions were ruthlessly decisive."We won't pursue a joint venture then. The York Group will proceed independently." Landon chuckled before continuing politely, "Let me remind you, this is Farshya—not the early days when we were inexperienced and desperate for capital.