I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?

"Really just passing by?"

"Mhm."

Gu Yuan didn’t believe it for a second. His eldest uncle had been in charge of Yu Min Pawnshop before. For him to show up at such a critical moment made Gu Yuan suspect that someone at the pawnshop had tipped him off.

’Looks like it’s time to clean house at the pawnshop,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, won’t every little thing get back to my uncle immediately?’

"You don’t need to worry about what to call me, Mr. Gu. I have some other business to attend to, so I won’t keep you," Ye Qianning said, turning to sit back down in her carriage.

Seeing this, Gu Zhifeng clung to the carriage. "What business do you have, Miss Xiang? Why don’t you tell me? Perhaps I can help you with it."

Gu Yuan turned and glared at Gu Chi. "Don’t tell me you were ’just passing by’ either."

"Cousin Yuan, it’s fine if you don’t understand things, having just taken over the business. You’ll get the hang of it if you study up," Gu Chi said.

"You... you’re stealing my customer!"

"Stealing? If I’m not mistaken, Miss Xiang was about to leave. Your deal fell through. Are you saying she isn’t allowed to find another shop?"

"She hadn’t left yet, so there was still a chance to turn things around! Why did you have to stick your nose in it?"

Gu Chi chuckled at his words and patted him on the shoulder. "Don’t be angry, Cousin Yuan. Business is all about competition. If you don’t fight for it, do you expect money to just fly into your hands?"

"You..."

"Don’t be mad, don’t be mad. When you get back, make sure you study the art of business properly." Gu Chi removed his hand.

The color drained from Gu Yuan’s scholarly face as he fumed.

Gao Yunyue’s heart ached for him. "Husband, it’s just one deal. There’s no need to be angry. They stole from us, so we’ll steal from them in the future. We’ll leave them speechless."

Gu Yuan took a few deep breaths. Looking at Gao Yunyue’s beautiful face, his simmering anger subsided a little.

Ye Qianning peered at Gu Zhifeng through the carriage curtain. ’The eldest of the Gu family does have a head for business. He doesn’t cheat people, and Yu Min Pawnshop used to be his. His breathing is a bit ragged; he must have rushed here in a hurry. Since that’s the case...’

"I want to pawn something."

"Pawn what? Miss Xiang, you should come to me. I have a pawnshop under my name as well," Gu Zhifeng said.

"Yu Min Pawnshop?"

"No, it’s in the west of the city... Qian... Guangjin." The name sounded so awkward that Gu Zhifeng grimaced as he said it.

’What kind of terrible names does Third Brother give his shops!’

"Qian Guangjin? As in, ’Money Pours In, but Never Comes Out’?" ’With a name like that, I doubt many people would dare to enter.’

"Please don’t laugh, Miss Xiang. As you know, the Gu family has split its assets. The shops were all assigned by drawing lots. I used to be the owner of Yu Min Pawnshop, but now... well. Miss Xiang, if you trust me, pawn your items to me. I guarantee I’ll give you the highest price," Gu Zhifeng said with a sincere expression.

Ye Qianning thought for a moment. "Alright."

Gu Zhifeng’s heart leaped with joy. "And the items you wish to pawn, Miss Xiang?"

Ye Qianning kicked the two sacks forward with her little foot. "Here."

Gu Zhifeng saw how mercilessly the little girl kicked them and feared she might damage the contents. He’d heard from a messenger sent by the shopkeeper that they were all top-quality goods.

Ye Qianning kicked the sacks to the edge of the carriage by the curtain, and Gu Zhifeng gingerly lifted them up.

He placed them on the carriage floorboard, and Gu Chi leaned in for a closer look.

Gu Zhifeng opened one of the sacks. The first thing that caught his eye was a necklace of large pearls. The pearls were huge, and their color and quality were the finest he had ever seen.

He picked it up. ’Big. They’re so big.’

’What kind of giant clam could produce a pearl this large?’

"Father."

Gu Chi, amazed, picked up another string of pearls. They were pure purple.

"Whoa, now this is a real eye-opener." Gu Zhifeng’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.