"Uncle Yao, today marks your grand 50th birthday! As your humble servant, I have specially prepared a gift for you!"

Chen Longhu seized the chance before Xiao Lan and, carrying a painting, approached Uncle Yao.

Under the gaze of everyone, he opened the box and unfolded the painting inside!

"I heard that you're a huge fan of Tang Yin's artwork, Uncle Yao. I hope you'll like this Peach Blossom Landscape Painting!"

"What?"

From outside the crowd, Xiao Lan stood dumbfounded; although she was some distance away, she could clearly see that the painting Chen Longhu held was identical to the one in her hands!

At this moment, Uncle Yao seemed very pleased with the painting Chen Longhu had and kept heaping praises on him.

But Xiao Lan turned deathly pale.

Even she, in her naivety, now understood that Chen Longhu had probably bribed Shu Yan to set her up!

"Humph! Chen Longhu, you're ruthless!"

Xiao Lan cursed angrily, suspecting that the painting she held was most likely a fake!

To present it to Uncle Yao now would be utterly embarrassing!

In the Jinling area, Uncle Yao wielded great influence, which was why Xiao Lan had come to wish him a happy birthday, not to flatter him, but she couldn't afford to snub him either.

Now that Chen Longhu had tricked her, she felt disheartened and decided to turn around and leave.

But at that moment, she heard Chen Longhu's laughter from the crowd.

"Hmm? Qin Lan, why are you leaving? Don't you plan to wish Uncle Yao a happy birthday?"

"Damn it!"

With Chen Longhu's "casual" greeting, all eyes in the villa turned toward Xiao Lan, and her face became incredibly unsightly in an instant.

Encircled by the crowd, Uncle Yao smiled graciously and asked, "Niece Xiao Lan, what's the hurry? You're not even taking the time to wish an old man like me a happy birthday?"

"Uncle Yao, I..."

Xiao Lan forced a bitter smile, not knowing how to proceed. Was she really going to offer Uncle Yao this counterfeit?

What would he think once he saw it?

Even if he didn't suspect anything, Chen Longhu would surely add fuel to the fire!

Considering the pros and cons, Xiao Lan shot Chen Longhu an angry glance. The man was truly despicable for undercutting her at such a time!

"Lan sister, don't worry, go on," Xu Fan said reassuringly, taking her by hand and giving her a comforting look.

In that instant, Xiao Lan felt an immense sense of security, but the next moment, confusion set in.

With only a fake painting in hand, how could he help her?

Guided by Xu Fan, Xiao Lan was led to Uncle Yao, who now looked curiously at Xu Fan, who seemed quite close to Xiao Lan, wondering who this young man might be.

After all, it had been several years since a man had appeared by Xiao Lan's side.

"Young man, who might you be?"

Xu Fan, asked about his identity, replied with a slight smile, "Uncle Yao, I'm Lan sister's sworn younger brother, my name is Xu Fan."

Xiao Lan, overhearing this, blushed uncontrollably; a sworn older sister—did this guy mean something else by that?

What a little rascal!

"Lan sister, the painting you're holding must be the gift for Uncle Yao, right? Why don't you show it to us?"

Seeing Xu Fan trying to change the topic, Chen Longhu couldn't help but give a reminder.

As Uncle Yao's gaze shifted to the box in her hand, Xiao Lan felt extremely uncomfortable and regretted not discarding the box right away.

At that moment, Xu Fan laughed and said, "Uncle Yao, please don't misunderstand; the gift I'm presenting to you is right here with me."

"What?"

Hearing Xu Fan's explanation, Xiao Lan couldn't help but be stunned. Could it be that Xu Fan really intended to give Uncle Yao that fake painting?

Although it was slightly better than the one she had, it was still a fake...

You should know, Uncle Yao hates nothing more than fake paintings!

"Kid, what do you mean by this?"

Right then, Chen Longhu directly scolded Xu Fan!

Uncle Yao watched from the side, somewhat puzzled.

"Longhu, what's this about?"

With the look of someone taking up the cause for another, Chen Longhu said, "Uncle Yao, you don't know, but just now, in an antiques shop, I ran into this guy and Xiao Lan."

"I heard with my own ears that the shopkeeper said this guy had a fake painting, worth no more than five thousand, yet he insisted on buying it. Now, giving it to you, what could that mean? Does he think you're going senile, that you can't tell the fake from the real anyway?"

"You!"

Listening to Chen Longhu adding fuel to the fire, Xiao Lan was enraged, nearly resorting to a showdown!

At that moment, Xu Fan grabbed her and, noticing that Uncle Yao looked somewhat displeased as he glanced over, he gave a slight smile. Under the astonished gazes of everyone, he slapped Chen Longhu's face with the palm of his hand!

With a crisp smack that stunned everyone!

"Who are you calling senile?"

Xu Fan coolly questioned Chen Longhu, who, upon hearing this, nearly passed out from anger!

This guy, he dared to hit him in front of so many people?

"Kid! You present a fake painting as a gift and you still justify yourself?"

Xu Fan coolly glanced at Chen Longhu and hummed disapprovingly, "Blind even with eyes."

Having said that, Xu Fan was too lazy to look at Chen Longhu anymore and turned his gaze to Uncle Yao.

"Uncle Yao, the gift I am presenting on behalf of Sister Lan is not some fake painting, but a true treasure."

"Hm?"

That moment piqued Uncle Yao's interest, and like a playful child, he promptly urged Xu Fan to hurry up and show him.

With a slight smile, Xu Fan placed the painting scroll from the paper box on a table and carefully unrolled it.

"This..."

Once the scroll was unfurled, Uncle Yao couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Spending years immersed in antiques, he had some understanding of authenticating ancient paintings. Xu Fan's painting seemed unremarkable and even at a glance, he noticed several quirks that suggested it was a fake.

"Hmph! Kid, don't think you can fool Uncle Yao with just talk. Anyone who knows even a little about the field can tell that this is a counterfeit! A treasure? You must be joking!"

At that moment, with a venomous snort, Chen Longhu felt somewhat vindicated. Since Uncle Yao was present, it wasn't good for him to take action; otherwise, he probably would have already done so!

All eyes around were fixed on Xu Fan, and even Xiao Lan watched him with intense nervousness.

But Xu Fan remained calm, glanced coolly at Chen Longhu, and started to chuckle.

"When I say you are blind even with eyes, I truly mean it."

Looking at Chen Longhu with disdain, Xu Fan then said, "Uncle Yao, since you like antiques, you must have heard about a painting within a painting, haven't you?"

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Uncle Yao was taken aback. He, of course, had heard of a painting within a painting. It was a method used to preserve some incredibly precious ancient paintings.

Could it be that what Xu Fan had brought was indeed a painting within a painting?

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