Chapter 20: Calling the Police, Catching the Swindler

One and a half million! Chen Xian had never imagined before that one day he could earn such a sum.

Suppressing his excitement, he pulled out his phone to check the time and saw the battery was down to just 1%. It was already 9:20. And from the North City Substation to the Flower and Bird Market would take at least forty minutes.

Chen Xian intended to call Zhang Xin, to let her know he wouldn't make it by 9:30 and would be late, so she wouldn't worry. But before he could dial, the phone screen went dark and shut off automatically.

"Of all times for this to happen—the battery dies right at the crucial moment, not a minute sooner or later!"

With a helpless sigh, Chen Xian put away his phone, set his electric scooter to its highest speed, and dashed toward the Flower and Bird Market.

...

At the Flower and Bird Market, in the Orchid Pavilion, a crowd had already gathered.

It was now 9:58, and Chen Xian still hadn't arrived.

"Where is that young man called Chen Xian? Why isn't he here yet?"

"Is he going to stand us up?"

"He claimed he could heal the Golden Sand Chrysanthemum in three days without cutting the plant or the leaves. Did he think he was a god? He's definitely going back on his word!"

"Young people nowadays, no real skills—just full of empty boasts. So flighty!"

The orchid enthusiasts whispered among themselves.

Most of them had been present three days earlier when Chen Xian made his bold claim, and today they had come to the Orchid Pavilion just to see the outcome.

Zhang Xin listened to the murmurs, anxiety etched on her beautiful face. She tried calling Chen Xian, but the call wouldn't go through.

"Zhang Xin, I told you Chen Xian was a fraud. It's already 9:55 and he hasn't shown up," Lan Chao, with his broom-like haircut, looked at her with a face full of feigned concern. "I'd suggest you call the police right now, or else, if that kid runs off, the three-million-yuan Golden Sand Chrysanthemum will be lost."

At his words, Zhang Xin’s fine brows knit together, but she said nothing. There was simply nothing she could argue—Chen Xian was nearly half an hour late and unreachable by phone; she had no idea what had happened.

Old Master Zhang Xingtian’s face was drawn and grim, his lips pressed into a dry line.

The Golden Sand Chrysanthemum was the apple of his eye, a memory left behind by his late wife; he couldn’t bear to lose it. To put it harshly, if the chrysanthemum was lost, it would be like cutting out his heart and taking his life.

"I said it before, it’s impossible to save the diseased Golden Sand Chrysanthemum without removing the old stalks and leaves, and even if someone tried, it would take months. But you didn’t believe me!" Lan Jian, Lan Chao’s uncle, shook his head with a theatrical sigh.

Hearing this, Zhang Xingtian’s expression grew even more somber, as dark as a stormy sky.

"Sis, what’s going on with your classmate? What do we do now?" Zhang Mei, who had come with Zhang Xin, was also anxious, looking to her cousin for answers.

Zhang Mei, too, was beginning to strongly suspect Chen Xian.

"We… let’s wait a little longer. I believe Chen Xian will come," Zhang Xin said, trusting him from the bottom of her heart.

Seeing Zhang Xin still trying to buy time for her “sweetheart,” Lan Chao seethed with hatred and turned to Lan Jian, "Uncle, we signed a contract with that fraud, we can’t let him get away. We must make sure he spends time behind bars—call the police!"

Lan Chao could hardly wait to consign his detested “rival in love” to the lowest depths of hell; now that the opportunity was at hand, he wouldn’t let it slip by.

“That boy boasted at the door of my Orchid Pavilion and ruined my business—he must be punished!” Lan Jian said to Old Master Zhang, “Since you won’t call the police and don’t want to play the villain, I’ll do it for you.”

With that, he puffed out his belly, took out his phone, and prepared to dial 110.

Seeing this, Zhang Xin’s delicate hands clenched tightly in anxiety. She wanted to stop Lan Jian from calling, but realized she had no right, and any protest would be useless.

Lan Jian and Lan Chao were clearly determined to see Chen Xian imprisoned.

"Chen Xian, hurry up, please!" Zhang Xin bit her soft lip, her eyes shimmering with tears.

If Chen Xian really ended up in jail because of this, his life would be ruined.

Zhang Xin had already made up her mind: as long as Chen Xian arrived and the Golden Sand Chrysanthemum was still there, even if he failed to cure it and couldn’t pay Lan Jian, she would borrow money for him and explain things to her grandfather.

After all, Chen Xian had once saved her little niece Hanhan’s life, and he wasn’t a bad person by nature…

Zhang Xin felt she must help him—after all, to err is human.

“Excuse me, could those in front please make way?”

Perhaps heaven heard the silent plea in Zhang Xin’s heart, for just then, a young and familiar voice sounded.

The onlookers crowding the entrance instinctively stepped aside, clearing a path.

Zhang Xin’s tear-bright eyes widened as she looked toward the door of the Orchid Pavilion.

There, a tall, lean young man with a buzz cut and healthy dark skin—shouldering a backpack and carrying two oversized black plastic bags—strode into the Orchid Pavilion.

It was none other than Chen Xian.

The first person he saw was Zhang Xin.

Their eyes met.

Chen Xian saw the worry, the anxiety, and the tears shining in her beautiful eyes.

For some reason, he felt as if their hearts were in silent accord, reading the message in her gaze.

A wave of warmth and tenderness washed over him.

He smiled faintly, the corners of his lips lifting, and nodded to Zhang Xin as if to reassure her.

His gentle smile was calming, easing Zhang Xin’s tension.

“Young man, did you… did you manage to save my Golden Sand Chrysanthemum?” Zhang Xingtian’s voice trembled as he questioned Chen Xian.

At that moment, the old man was torn between hope and dread; he desperately wanted an answer, yet feared it would be “no.”

Just as Chen Xian was about to reply, someone cut him off.

“Chen Xian, you fraud! You dare show your face at the Orchid Pavilion? I’ll see you in jail today! Uncle, call the police—don’t let him run!” Lan Chao, seeing the exchange of glances between Chen Xian and Zhang Xin, felt his jealousy flare up and spoke coldly.

He refused to believe, no matter what, that Chen Xian could cure the Golden Sand Chrysanthemum in just three days.

Lan Jian felt the same. As a veteran orchid expert with decades in the field, he had never even heard of anyone saving a diseased Golden Sand Chrysanthemum in three days—without removing the flowers or leaves, no less.

Lan Jian nodded, a cruel smile crossing his rough features. “Young man, you’re bringing this prison sentence on yourself!”

With that, he made to dial 110.

Many people in the crowd looked at Chen Xian with sympathy; this, they thought, was the price of reckless youth.

Chen Xian ignored Lan Jian and Lan Chao, walked straight up to Zhang Xingtian, and handed him one of the oversized black plastic bags with a smile.

“Sir, the answer is in the bag. You can see for yourself.”

Immediately, all eyes turned to the black plastic bag in Zhang Xingtian’s hands.

With trembling hands, Zhang Xingtian reached out to open the bag.