No matter how she thought about it, Liu Suxiang felt something was off about this situation.

Her second uncle and aunt had always treated her and her mother harshly. Once, when Liu Suxiang had a fever and her mother had just paid rent with no money left to take her to the hospital, she went to the Liu family for help, hoping to borrow just ten or twenty yuan.

Yet, Liu Weiwen and his wife had fed their dog beef costing over ten yuan a pound while claiming they had no money and saying that since the family was split, everyone should manage on their own.

Such heartless and unkind people were now, for no apparent reason, offering to buy their house for 50% more than the market price?

No matter how she looked at it, there was something fishy about this.

“What are you thinking about, looking so gloomy first thing in the morning?”

A female colleague, changing clothes nearby, bumped into her and asked.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Liu Suxiang placed her clothes into the locker and replied, “It’s nothing. Just some family matters I can’t figure out. Can you help me see if I’m overthinking this?”

She then explained her family situation to her colleague.

Her colleague froze for a moment, putting on her uniform, and said, “You’re absolutely right to be suspicious! Offering 50% more? Your apartment might be small, but it’s still worth at least two million yuan. That’s a million extra! Why would some estranged relatives, who haven’t been in touch for years, suddenly be so generous? If you ask me, it’s obvious—they’re up to no good!”

Relieved, Liu Suxiang said, “So you think the same? That means I’m not overthinking it!”

“You need to think this through. Like you said, they’re shady relatives. Maybe they know your area is about to be redeveloped and want to buy the place in advance,” the colleague suggested. “My aunt’s family had a house that got redeveloped. They ended up with two new apartments—way more than just a million yuan.”

“That’s not possible. Our apartment complex was built just a few years ago. There’s no reason for redevelopment here,” Liu Suxiang replied, shaking her head.

Another colleague, who had clearly been eavesdropping, chimed in, “If it’s not this or that, why not just ask that fortune-telling master who helped us last time to take a look?”

“Miss Gu?” Liu Suxiang was momentarily stunned as she thought of Gu Xicao.

“Yeah, her! I think she’s got some real skills. I heard her fees aren’t expensive either—only 188 yuan. For peace of mind, it’s worth asking her for help,” the colleague said.

At 188 yuan, the price was indeed reasonable. Labor costs in Hong Kong were high, and amusement park workers made seven to eight thousand yuan a month.

This was an expense that Liu Suxiang could afford.

She hadn’t considered this option before, but her colleague’s suggestion now seemed like a good idea.

The next day, during her day off, mother Liu hosted Liu Weiwen and Jin Liu at home to view the apartment.

Jin Liu walked around the small apartment while Liu’s mother accompanied her, smiling. “How do you like it? Our apartment may be small, but it has a balcony and great ventilation. The feng shui is excellent! Don’t you think so?”

“What’s so great about it? Even as a doghouse, I’d find it subpar…”

Before Jin Liu could finish, Liu Weiwen nudged her arm, signaling for her to watch her words.

Jin Liu pouted and folded her arms. “Well, I guess it’s livable.”

“Well then…” Liu’s mother said, wringing her hands. “Why don’t we finalize things today? I’ve prepared the bank card and ID. If you’re ready, we can settle everything today…”

Before she could finish, the sound of keys turning came from the door.

When the door opened, Liu Suxiang walked in, froze for a moment at the sight of visitors, then turned back to glance at Gu Xicao before stepping inside. “Mom, didn’t I tell you not to rush this? Why did you invite these two over?!”

Liu’s mother quickly gestured for her to be quiet, signaling: Don’t let money slip through our fingers. Watch your words!

Liu Weiwen and Jin Liu looked at Liu’s mother.

“Sister-in-law, what’s going on? Haven’t you two agreed on this? We’re not desperate to buy your apartment, you know. We could use that 50% extra to buy a house anywhere else!”

With a natural smile, Liu’s mother replied, “Second Brother, she’s just a child who doesn’t know better. Don’t take it to heart. She’s just reluctant to move.”

Frustrated, Liu Suxiang sighed. She had clearly told her mother not to rush into selling the apartment, but it seemed her mother had secretly decided to proceed anyway, likely out of fear that she’d make a scene and refuse to sell.

Thank goodness Master Gu had urged her to rush back; otherwise, if the sale had gone through, it would’ve been too late to regret it.

“She’s reluctant to move? That’s easy to solve. This building has other apartments available for rent. You can just move into one of those,” Liu Weiwen said considerately. “But aside from your clothes, you’re not allowed to take anything else from this apartment. We’ll even give you two months’ rent to find another place.”

His magnanimity left Liu’s mother stunned.

However, Liu Suxiang immediately responded, “Second Uncle, there’s no need for further discussion. We’re not selling this apartment!”

“You’re not selling?! Are you playing games with us? We’ve made several trips here, and now you say you’re not selling?!” Jin Liu exploded in anger, glaring at Liu Suxiang with fire in her eyes.

Ignoring her, Liu Suxiang turned to Gu Xicao and asked, “Master, you said there’s something priceless in our home. What is it?”

Priceless?

The expressions of Liu Weiwen and Jin Liu changed dramatically.

Even Liu’s mother was taken aback, laughing awkwardly. “Ah Xiang, what nonsense are you talking about? We don’t have anything like that in our home!”

Though she had initially doubted it herself, after consulting Gu Xicao, who claimed there was a treasure hidden in their house, she couldn’t help but feel curious.

Their family had nothing of value left. When she and her mother were kicked out of the Liu family, they had left with nothing but her father’s belongings.

But if Gu Xicao had correctly predicted her mother inviting her second uncle and aunt over, perhaps the treasure was real too.

“Whether or not it’s true, we’ll know once the Master takes a look,” Liu Suxiang said, pulling her mother aside and whispering, “Mom, think about it carefully. Those two came out of nowhere, offering to pay so much more for the apartment. Don’t you think that’s strange?”

Of course, Liu’s mother knew there was something fishy.

But she had assumed they had nothing worth coveting, so she didn’t think much of it.

Seeing her mother’s hesitation, Liu Suxiang turned to Gu Xicao and asked, “Master, could you tell us what the treasure is?”

Gu Xicao replied, “The treasure is one of your father’s paintings.”

“A painting?”

Liu’s mother frowned. “He had lots of paintings—at least twenty or thirty.”

“Exactly! My elder brother painted those himself. How could they be treasures? Don’t make me laugh!”

Nervous that their prize was slipping away, Liu Weiwen mockingly sneered, tugging at his wife’s sleeve. Jin Liu quickly caught on and chimed in, “Exactly! It’s just a painting. We’ve seen better things!”

Gu Xicao turned to Liu’s mother. “Didn’t your husband have many friends back in the mainland?”

Liu’s mother hesitated. “That’s true… but how do you know that? My husband’s been gone for many years.”

“Mom, she’s a fortune-teller. What can’t she figure out?”

Liu Suxiang said, “Let me be honest with you. The reason we rushed back today is that the master calculated you were going to sell the apartment to Second Uncle and Aunt, so we hurried back. See? She’s truly capable and isn’t making things up. Maybe one of Dad’s belongings really does include a valuable painting.”

“A fortune-telling master?” Liu’s mother was taken aback.

Gu Xicao said, “Among those paintings, there’s one called Listening to Rain on Withered Lotus. You should remember it, right?”

Liu’s mother nodded mechanically, her eyes filled with astonishment. “That painting was my husband’s favorite. He used to admire it daily and wouldn’t let us touch it. I once asked him about it, and he said it was a gift from a friend.”

“That painting is the work of Zhang Daqian,” Gu Xicao said. “Mr. Zhang Daqian passed away many years ago, but the value of his works has only increased over time. I estimate that painting is worth at least one million.”

A painting by Zhang Daqian?!

Everyone’s minds buzzed at once.

Especially liu’s mother and daughter—they had never imagined their home could actually contain such a valuable piece.

“You’re lying! Zhang Daqian’s paintings are priceless! How could my older brother own one?”

Liu Weiwen’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot. Stubbornly refusing to concede, he pointed at Gu Xicao and said, “Stop spouting nonsense! Sister-in-law, don’t listen to her! That painting may not even be Zhang Daqian’s. You’d better play it safe and sell the apartment to us.”

Although Liu’s mother was greedy, she wasn’t stupid.

The mere thought of Zhang Daqian’s painting made her dizzy with excitement. Seeing her brother-in-law and his wife still insist on buying the apartment, she had an idea. “How about this: we’ll sell you the apartment as planned, but we’ll take all of Ah Xiang’s father’s belongings with us. How about that?”

The expressions on Liu Weiwen and Jin Liu’s faces looked as if they had just swallowed flies.

Especially Jin Liu, who scoffed angrily, placing one hand on her hip and pointing at Liu’s mother. “Sister-in-law, you’ve got some nerve. You want to take all the good stuff while selling us this broken-down apartment? Do you think this place is worth three million?”

“Oh—so what you’re saying is you’re really after my dad’s painting?”

Liu Suxiang immediately caught the loophole in Jin Liu’s words and questioned her.

Jin Liu was left speechless, stammering incoherently.

“Mom, that’s enough! We’re not selling this apartment!” Liu Suxiang shot her second uncle and aunt a glare before turning to Jin Liu. “If we really have that painting, we’re already set for life. Why would we settle for just a million?”

“Ah Xiang, don’t speak too soon! Who knows if that painting is even real?”