allonlinenovel Chapter 440 The Art of Disguise!
Chapter 440 The Art of Disguise!
“My sixth uncle did die, but before he died, we didn’t sit idle. We dug up a few more pits.”
Zhong Yuemin's voice was steady, carrying a confidence unique to this line of work.
"Everything is here. You're an expert, you have a sharp eye, take a look for yourself."
The bespectacled man immediately became interested. He adjusted his glasses and his gaze fell on the photo. The photo wasn't particularly professionally taken; the lighting was a bit dim, but the features of the objects were still clearly discernible.
A bronze ding covered with thick, colorful rust, with an ancient shape and strange patterns; a celadon vase with a warm glaze and beautiful shape; and several jade artifacts, although covered in mud, reveal an extraordinary texture and craftsmanship, which are indeed high-quality items, and they look to be from a good quarry.
In order to lure out this middleman, the items in the photos are all genuine antiques, not just fakes. Any one of them would fetch hundreds of thousands or even millions at an antique auction in Hong Kong.
The bespectacled man examined the photo carefully for a long time, his fingers gently tracing the edge of the photograph, before he looked up, his face regaining its cautious politeness.
"The items... are indeed quite good, but this is a big deal, I can't make the decision on my own. I need to take these photos back to the boss for his review first. Only after he takes a look can we make a final decision. Do you think this is acceptable?"
"Okay, we understand the rules."
Zhong Yuemin nodded, withdrew his hand, leaned back slightly, and spoke with a hint of urging.
"However, I can't wait that long, so I'll leave it to three days."
He held up three fingers, emphasizing his words.
"This time, not only my sixth uncle, but several of his brothers also went in. Their families are old and young, desperately waiting for rice to cook and money to save their lives."
We need to give an explanation to our brothers inside and our families outside. If we don't hear from them in three days, we'll find another way. These days, there are more than one knowledgeable people out there.
After the bespectacled man left, Haiyang said, "That guy was quite cautious. Did he notice anything unusual?"
Probably not, don't worry, just wait for news.
For the next three days, the group waited at the hotel, but received no reply. It was likely that the middleman was still unsure of their identities and was observing and waiting.
Either test whether they have other buyers, so you can negotiate a lower price later.
As planned, on the evening of the fourth day, Zhong Yuemin attended a charity dinner organized by a local television station.
Before setting off, Yang Qing personally performed a series of amazing transformations on his face, including a wig, a meticulously trimmed beard, adjustments to his nose and cheekbones with special clay, and even the contours of his lips were enhanced with a makeup brush.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he saw a middle-aged man with a wild and unrestrained temperament, long, slightly curly hair, and a full beard, completely different from the sharp-eyed, masculine, and roguish Zhong Yuemin he usually was.
He couldn't help but be secretly surprised; he hadn't expected Yang Qing to possess such superb disguise skills.
"How is it, how does it feel?"
Zhong Yuemin nodded.
"That's right, with my appearance, even my own father probably wouldn't recognize me, let alone people I don't know very well. How did you end up like this? Did you do something bad in the past?"
Yang Qing glanced at him and packed up her tools. "I learned this kind of technique before, it's just a hobby."
Then, with a hint of doubt, he asked:
"Actually, you can just go as you are. You've never been to Hong Kong Island before, and nobody here knows you. Why make things so complicated?"
Zhong Yuemin adjusted the angle of his fake beard in front of the mirror, his tone calm:
"Better safe than sorry; it's always good to be cautious!"
He didn't say much. He had come to Hong Kong Island a few times privately on business before. Although he wasn't a celebrity, there were probably people who recognized his face.
Tonight's occasion is a mixed bag, and there's always someone with sharp eyes. It's better to avoid trouble. If I get recognized and cause any more problems, that would be a real headache.
After carefully dressing up, the two set off in their finest attire. The banquet was held in the banquet hall of a five-star hotel, where elegant ladies mingled and glasses clinked in a lively atmosphere.
Yang Qing wore a well-tailored black off-shoulder evening gown, her long hair cascading down her back. A simple yet dazzling diamond necklace adorned her neck, making her look stunning. She attracted countless eyes as soon as she entered the venue, becoming the undisputed focus of attention.
Zhong Yuemin tilted his head slightly, leaned close to Yang Qing's ear, and teased her in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Miss Yang, isn't your entrance a bit too flashy? All the men in the room are practically glued to you."
Yang Qing smiled politely and responded in a low voice:
"That's the effect we want. If it's not flashy, how can we get the mouse hiding in the corner to peek out?"
That middleman, or even his real boss, might be among these people. I'll introduce you to a few in a bit. Just act as we agreed, relax, don't show any fear, and definitely don't be nervous!
"rest assured!"
Zhong Yuemin's lips, hidden beneath his fake mustache, seemed to curve slightly as his gaze swept across the banquet hall.
"Look at these people, all of them are so glamorous and adorned with jewels. They look much more friendly and lovable than those mantises wielding scythes and man-eating green apes we encountered underground in Death Valley. What do I have to be nervous about?"
Yang Qing said no more, took his arm, and gracefully walked into the depths of the hall.
Zhong Yuemin now knows a little about Yang Qing's family business. The business empire is indeed huge, with its headquarters in the United States and involving multiple fields such as real estate, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. As a global trade center and an important hub, Hong Kong Island naturally has branches there, and they are quite powerful. Therefore, quite a few people recognized her at the scene.
"Good evening, Ms. Yang. You look even more beautiful than ever!"
"Mr. Yang, it's a pleasure to meet you. I didn't expect you to be in Hong Kong Island as well."
"And this is...? Miss Yang, won't you introduce him?"
Yang Qing smiled and nodded to everyone, responding politely. However, when it came to her uniquely styled male companion, she only vaguely referred to him as a friend, which only fueled everyone's curiosity.
A series of inquisitive gazes fell upon Zhong Yuemin. His long hair, full beard, and well-tailored but slightly rugged suit made him stand out starkly against the slicked-back hair, expensive watches, and refined manners of the surrounding tycoons.
Whispers from the surroundings
"Miss Yang's taste... is truly unique. So she likes this kind of art style full of primitive charm?"
"Wild, unrestrained, haha, maybe this is the kind of vibe that's popular in America now?"
"Don't judge a book by its cover. Maybe he's some unassuming collector or artist..."
Zhong Yuemin ignored the gossip and his gaze swept aimlessly across the banquet hall. He spotted a familiar figure and a smile crept onto his lips…