Chapter 125: It Hurts a Little Here!

William Ji did not expect a single question from him to move Xiao Ziyin to tears. He felt a flash of resentment, worried that others might suspect they shared some unspeakable secret. However, he maintained the signature smile of a "ladies' man," asking softly, "Why are you crying? Who bullied Ziyin? Tell me, and I’ll go make them pay for you."

As he spoke, he considerately pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

Xiao Ziyin took the handkerchief to wipe the tears from her eyes, forcing a smile as she said, "It’s nothing. I just accidentally poked my eye a moment ago, and when you asked, I suddenly felt aggrieved..."

She truly could not bear to repeat the humiliation she had just suffered; doing so would only make people look down on her further.

That fat man named Qian had spoken to her with a tone and command that treated her as if she were a hostess in a private room—she was a lady, but certainly not that kind of lady.

"Heh, you really are delicate," William Ji said with a smile. "As long as you're alright. Come on in. It’s Yihan’s birthday today; we should be happy."

Xiao Ziyin nodded. Looking at the baby's breath William Ji was holding, she remarked, "Why did you buy this, Young Master? Roses or tulips would have been lovely."

"Yihan likes them," William Ji replied with a smile. He stepped aside and said respectfully, "Master Fahong, please, this way."

Only then did Xiao Ziyin notice a monk following behind William Ji. Although he wore gray robes, his bald head and the ritual scars atop it were quite conspicuous.

*A monk visiting a nightclub?*

"Young Master, who is this?"

"You'll know in a moment," William Ji said with a mysterious smile.

As the old monk passed by Xiao Ziyin, he performed a one-handed salute and chanted, "Amitabha."

"Monk—Master, greetings," Xiao Ziyin, unsure of the proper etiquette, hurriedly mimicked the salute.

A master is a master; he took no offense at Xiao Ziyin’s awkwardness. Instead, he gazed gently at her chest and said, "Please, laywoman."

"After you, Master," Xiao Ziyin quickly stepped aside.

William Ji was dressed in a black suit with a silver pin on his lapel, paired with a white stand-collar shirt and a bowtie. Tall and handsome, his hair was swept back and held in place with gel, looking dark, lustrous, and sharp.

As the renowned "ladies' man" of Mingzhu entered the room, he immediately became the focus of everyone’s attention. With his gentle, handsome smile, he walked straight toward the birthday girl, Qiu Yihan, holding the bouquet of baby's breath.

"Yihan, happy birthday." He handed her the large bouquet and smiled, saying, "Do you remember? When we were kids, I took you to the flower market. You said you wanted to buy flowers. I asked what you liked, and you said you loved baby's breath best. I asked why, and you said it was because of a song that went... *Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.* You said baby's breath were the stars in the sky—do you remember?"

"I remember." Qiu Yihan’s eyes widened as she looked at William Ji, surprised that he still remembered something from so long ago.

"What? You don't like them anymore?" William Ji asked with a laugh.

"I do, I do," Qiu Yihan quickly replied.

"Then why haven't you taken the flowers yet?" William Ji looked at the sweet-faced girl with doting eyes. "Are you worried that the gift from Brother William is too light?"

"No, not at all." Qiu Yihan quickly cradled the bouquet in her arms.

William Ji’s mouth curved into a mischievous yet incredibly charming smile. The "ladies' man" of Mingzhu certainly had the credentials to back up his reputation.

"If I had only brought you a bouquet of baby's breath, that certainly would have been too thin. Even if you didn't mind, Uncle Qiu, Aunt Zhang, and your grandmother would scold me for being stingy."

He pulled a vintage wooden box from his suit pocket. The mere sight of the box released a refreshing, soothing scent of rare wood.

Xie Minghu, Xiao Ziyin, and the others crowded around, eager to see what kind of gift William Ji would use to win over the eldest daughter of the Qiu family. Even Hua Feng and Hua Ming looked on with curiosity, waiting for William Ji to reveal the secret.

The difference between a master of romance and a mere player lies in the details. Being able to remember a girl's childhood remark and manifesting it into a gift years later already marked one as a master of the game. A mere player would likely open the box himself to reveal the surprise to the crowd, but a master would not.

William Ji held the box out to Qiu Yihan with both hands and said, "This is your second gift. Open it and see for yourself."

He handed the initiative to the girl, shifting the gaze and anticipation of the room toward her. He wanted her to feel unique and profoundly respected. She was different from everyone else; she was the one to open the box and reveal the truth to the room. More importantly, she was the first to experience that surprise.

Qiu Yihan had never experienced such a moment. Her face flushed, her mind a blur, and she didn't know what to say or do.

"Yihan, open it," William Ji urged again.

"Open it, open it, open it—" the onlookers chanted.

Qiu Yihan’s small hands trembled, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her delicate nose. She carefully took the box and gently opened it.

"Ah—"

The onlookers gasped.

Jade.

Inside the box lay a heart-shaped pendant, as clear and translucent as winter snow, white chrysanthemums, or the skin of an infant. Its color was pure, its texture elegant, and it possessed a warm, delicate luster.

Everyone in the room was worldly; they knew that based on the quality of the jade, the craftsmanship, and the grade of the stone, its value was immeasurable.

"Beauty adorned with jade," William Ji said, satisfied with their reaction. He smiled and added, "Our Yihan is a true little beauty. Besides, white complements your skin perfectly... Shall I put it on for you?"

"Ah?" Qiu Yihan’s small, rosy lips parted slightly, startled by his suggestion.

With a carefree, dashing smile, William Ji took the exquisite mutton-fat white jade from the box, undid the clasp, and said, "Let everyone see. Let them see if my taste is up to par."

Without waiting for her to refuse, he stepped behind her and, with an incredibly solemn and earnest posture, placed the jade pendant around her snow-white neck. He then carefully fastened the clasp.

"Wow, it’s truly beautiful. Young Master Ji has such great taste."

"Yihan is so lucky. If someone gave me a piece of jade like that, I’d agree to marry him on the spot..."

"Beauty and jade, they complement each other perfectly. Young Master Ji is truly thoughtful."

The praise was endless. Even the "Perfect Young Master" Hua Ming had to admit that this kid was truly a master at wooing women—perhaps even slightly better than himself. If he were a woman, he would certainly choose a man like that.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak and Qiu Yihan felt as if she were soaring in the clouds, William Ji announced that he had a third gift for her.

He brought over the monk, who had seemed so out of place, and said to Qiu Yihan with a smile, "Master Fahong is a monk of great virtue, whom I specially invited from Puye Temple. The reason I arrived so late is that I was accompanying the Master back from Puning."

"I heard from your grandmother that you had a serious illness as a child, and it was only after she prayed to the Bodhisattva at Puye Temple that you recovered so quickly. That is why your grandmother visits the temple every year to fulfill her vows."

"They say that jade has a spirit. I thought, on your birthday, I would ask Master Fahong to chant the *Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Fundamental Vow Sutra* and the *Medicine Buddha Sutra*, to consecrate this white jade you are wearing right here on the spot, to dispel misfortune, prolong your life, and clear away any karmic obstacles. From now on, may you be free of illness and disaster, and live happily until you are old."

"Amitabha," Master Fahong chanted. "I am old and did not wish to endure the fatigue of travel, but Master Ji’s repeated invitations and his sincere, infatuated heart moved me. Thus, I agreed to come with him to fulfill this union. Even if I must step into this 'pool of wine and forest of meat,' I have no regrets, regardless of the disdainful looks of others."

A monk does not lie. It is said that a monk never deceives, but when a monk *does* deceive, even the spirits and gods believe him—let alone ordinary people.

Hearing the great monk say this, William Ji’s image became even more magnificent and radiant.

"I will first chant the *Medicine Buddha Sutra* for this laywoman to eliminate her illnesses and pray for her safety," Master Fahong said. He then closed his eyes and began to chant, "Thus have I heard: At one time, the Bhagavan was traveling through various countries and arrived at the city of Vaishali, staying beneath the Music Tree. Together with eight thousand great Bhikshus, thirty-six thousand Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, as well as kings, ministers, Brahmins, laypeople, the eight legions of gods and dragons, and countless other beings, all gathered in respectful attendance to hear the Dharma..."

Everyone stood in solemn silence. The atmosphere in the room was incredibly quiet. Compared to the boisterous noise in the surrounding rooms, it was eerily still.

When Master Fahong finished chanting the *Ksitigarbha Sutra*, the room finally returned to its lively state.

"I'm going out for a moment," Tang Zhong said, standing up and turning to Hua Ming beside him.

"I'll go with you," Liang Tao said, also rising to leave.

Hua Ming grabbed Liang Tao and said to Tang Zhong, "Go ahead. The restroom is to the left."

As Tang Zhong walked through the center of the room, Qiu Yihan, surrounded by the crowd, happened to look over. Their eyes met, and there was a brief moment of stiffness and coldness.

Then, Tang Zhong nodded at her, offered a faint smile, and strode away.

As his figure was blocked from view and the room door opened and closed, as Tang Zhong’s back disappeared entirely, Qiu Yihan’s face suddenly turned deathly pale, a look of pain crossing her features.

"Yihan, what's wrong?" William Ji noticed the change in her expression and asked with concern.

"I don't know," Qiu Yihan said, tears streaming down her face. She pointed to her chest and said, "It hurts a little here."