Chapter 512: Outwitting the Sea Turtle (1/2)

“That’s not possible! I have a certificate for it!”

“Oh really?” I chuckled as I said, “I invested in a precious gems business with my uncle when I was younger so I can tell whether a diamond is real or fake with a single glance. Just take a look at this horizontal line on the bottom of the box. It’s actually straight even though the light is refracted through the diamond. Just based on the principles of the refraction of light, you can tell that this diamond is fake. What did you major in when you were studying abroad? It can’t have been physics, right? If not, your common sense wouldn’t be so poor.”

Richard’s body shook and he looked rather embarrassed as he replied, “That’s not possible. If the refracted light is straight, then this…”

I grinned before I took the diamond out of the box. After that, I pointed inside the box and laughed as I said, “Oh, it really is real. It’s just that this line wasn’t straight in the first place.”

Richard wiped the sweat off his brow, “Thank god…”

But the fun had just started. I touched the stone and my brows knit together as I spoke up yet again, “Oh drat! It looks like it’s still a fake after all.”

“Ah!?” Richard very nearly fell off his chair. “How is that possible!? It’s still a fake?”

“Just touch it. This diamond actually feels a little warm to the touch, right? But real diamonds don’t conduct any heat. No matter whether it’s thrust into a burning fire or steamed, it will still be cold to the touch. So, the only conclusion I can come to is that this diamond is fake.”

“Ah?” Richard’s eyes widened into saucers as panic began to seize his heart.

I laughed before I put the diamond back into the box. After that, I simply picked up the menu and started to order dishes without a single care in the world. I acted as if our little episode hadn’t even happened.

Sigh, only one fate awaited a turtle who lacked common sense, and that was to be instantly killed!

……

He Yi covered her mouth and clenched her stomach as she tried her best to hold back her laughter. She had already gotten used to my antics by now, so she knew exactly what I was up to. The diamond really was genuine, but Richard had been completely taken in by my act.

But little did he know that the only thing that my uncle dug up from the ground were watermelons!

I was howling with laughter on the inside as I heard him make his silly boasts. This fool definitely hadn’t done his homework on He Yi before he came for this matchmaking interview. He was entirely unaware of just how high-powered this beautiful lady was.

So I asked, “Hey Chard, what exactly did you study in Harvard?””

“Hmmm? I majored in biology, with a focus in DNA sequencing and genetic analysis. But I chose to study many majors while I was in America, this was just one of them.” He shot me a contemptuous grin as he looked towards me. “But I don’t expect you to be familiar with this subject, yes?”

I chuckled and replied, “Oh? Genetic analysis? So that means your studies also touched on genetically modified crops like GM rice, wheat, and soybeans, correct?”

“Hmmm, yes. What of it?” Richard was rather confused by my question.

I simply ignored his question and continued, “Most of the countries outside of China have already stopped eating genetically modified food. No one can tell just what sort of side effects eating these crops will have on the human body. But considering how much their DNA has been messed with, it definitely can’t be good for us. Thus, consuming these genetically modified foods is far too risky. However, a huge amount of these foods can still be found in China. In fact, I daresay that they’re flooding the domestic market. So I do sincerely hope that you have had no part in this vile affair, one which threatens the roots of our present and future populace.”

“No… Of course not…” Richard was more than a little flustered by my words.

“Oh really?” I didn’t let him off the hook. “Your eyes wavered when you said those words, so it looks like you’re suffering from a guilty conscience there, my friend. I’ve heard this about many sea turtles who returned home after studying abroad. They style themselves the elite of society, but in actual fact, they’ve transformed into nothing more than puppets who conspire with the foreigner to drain the lifeblood of our motherland. I’ve heard that they’ve even used things like genetic modification as weapons to harm the motherland. Surely, you aren’t one of those people, are you?”

Richard was now thoroughly flustered. He shot up from his seat, his blush reaching even his ears. “I… I’m not!”

I stood up as well and pressed gently down on his shoulder to guide him back to his seat. After that, I smiled and said, “Oh, don’t be so worried. I believe that you’re not that sort of scum. Because there’s no way that Aunty would introduce you to Eve if that was the case.”

I suddenly switched the topic by saying, “Oh but I must say, that diamond necklace of yours is really beautiful. Hmmm, I’ve actually been wanting to buy a proper necklace for Eve as well. Would you be the better man and allow me the honor of helping Eve put on this necklace? I can’t afford it, but I can at least live vicariously through you…”

Richard had barely survived the ‘great battle’ of the genetically modified foods, so he wasn’t quite all there. He ended up nodding his head in a dazed and confused manner.

I took the chance to present Buddha with borrowed flowers as I took the necklace out of the box. It had a significant weight to it and this further confirmed its quality. Even He Yi’s mother was a bit confused right now. She had been under the mistaken impression that Richard and I had hit it off very quickly, so she was entirely unaware of the secret war that we had been waging against each other from the very start of this meal.

He Yi was a little shocked by my actions too, but once she saw me give the diamond pendant a light kiss, her eyes started dancing with excitement and a little bit of hope. She even started feeling a little shy and a light blush soon colored her cheeks. But she simply sat there quietly, looking like the most elegant and exquisite statue in the world.

I stood behind He Yi and gently lifted up her hair before I looped the necklace around her neck and carefully fastened the clasp. He Yi’s blush deepened as her mother and Richard both stared at her. She suddenly pulled my arms around her before she turned around to peck me on the cheek. She laughed as she said, “Thank you, Lu Chen!”

I felt a little embarrassed by her sudden move. I was really only trying to tease that arrogant sea turtle, and I never expected He Yi to make such an intimate gesture in front of both Richard and her mother.

Ah, I’m dead. There was no way that He Yi’s mother and Richard wouldn’t realise that there was something going on between He Yi and I. As for what this “something” was exactly, even He Yi and I couldn’t quite pin it down.

……

I turned around and returned to my seat. I suddenly gave an awkward laugh and said, “Richard, this necklace is truly beautiful. Since you’ve managed to pick such an excellent necklace and it also seems like Eve really likes it as well, how about I buy it off of you? I’ll make this my birthday present to Eve. How about it?”

Richard’s face went deathly pale, “Can.. you actually afford it?”

“What’s your bank card number?”

“6220,4590, ***********”

Richard immediately gave me his bank card number and I could see the undisguised contempt in his eyes, “This is an ICBC card number. Don’t tell me that a glib punk like you can actually afford it!?”