Chapter 14: The Jiangnan Cloth Merchant and VERO MODA

“So what if it’s a forgery? How many authentic paintings have actually survived to this day? Hmph, even some contemporary calligraphers’ copies are worth a fortune. I bet neither of you can tell who made this copy… It’s Zhang Yun’gao!”

“Zhang Yun’gao!” Zhou Ran clearly recognized the name.

Sui Yi, however, frowned, unfamiliar with it. “If even a copy is worth so much, then what about the real thing?”

Old Tang gingerly touched the picture frame with care.

“Not every copy is this valuable, you know. In ancient times, some painters frequently reproduced masterpieces from earlier generations, and these copies could be worth a fortune too. Even in recent times, there are plenty of copies by contemporary artists that fetch over a million. It depends on the artist and the painting itself. Of course, no matter how expensive a copy gets, it rarely surpasses the original… Just look at this painting.”

His withered finger pointed at the frame, his voice resolute and emphatic: “Do you believe me when I say, if this painting were Guo Xi’s ‘Early Spring,’ it’d be worth tens of millions, at the very least!”

Tens of millions! Zhou Ran stared in utter shock.

Sui Yi could not help but curl her fingers slightly. Tens of millions? In truth, she had just been looking for an excuse earlier, not expecting to find a real loophole.

Still, her ability seemed truly remarkable—at least in the world of antiques, it was nothing short of extraordinary.

“Sui Yi may not understand ancient paintings, but she’s observant and clever, able to spot authenticity at a glance—that’s a strength. As for you, Zhou Ran, you’re still not seasoned enough. You must understand: in appraising treasures, authenticity is everything. Why? Because that’s how you determine their true worth!”

Old Tang’s finger nearly poked Zhou Ran’s forehead. “If you don’t know the value, how can you bargain or set a price?”

He was the very image of a miser.

Dragged aside by Old Tang for a lecture, Zhou Ran hung his head, tugging at his hair in frustration. “Boss, I really am lacking in this area.”

“Nonsense,” Old Tang rolled his eyes.

“But Sui Yi… I think she’s worth training.”

“Why do you say that? She’s nowhere near you when it comes to antiques.”

“Uh…” Zhou Ran racked his brains, embarrassed. “I guess it’s just her aura—so classical and elegant. She looks just like a lady from ancient times… Besides, don’t you think her speech and demeanor are all very… very…”

Unable to put it into words, Zhou Ran gestured awkwardly. Old Tang raised his brows and blurted, “Like someone from ancient times?”

“Exactly! She’s more authentic than those TV actors, and even outshines the students at our school who’ve taken classical etiquette classes…”

This made Old Tang fall silent. He glanced at Zhou Ran and snorted, “This is the antique business, not a talent show. All that’s beside the point. Anyway, her background is clear as day. Quit watching so many soap operas and don’t let your imagination run wild.”

Though he scolded Zhou Ran, Old Tang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

You think I don’t want her on my team? That girl may lack Zhou Ran’s expertise, but her mental acuity far surpasses his. Her powers of observation are outstanding—a crucial gift in the antique trade… If only she were interested!

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Unbeknownst to her, Sui Yi was being discussed by the two men she left behind. She had intended to bring her school uniform with her, but the knife marks on it were too alarming, so she left it at Yan Tang Study. As for the three thousand yuan, she kept it with her.

An hour later, during the last class at Nanjun No. 2 High School, in a corridor filled with the gentle hum of students reading aloud, Sui Yi quietly placed three thousand yuan on the homeroom teacher’s desk for Class 2, Grade 12.

Yesterday was September first; today, September second. She was a day late with her payment, but that hardly mattered—the important thing was that nearly everyone thought she wouldn’t be able to produce the money.

Huang Yan, gripping his ballpoint pen, subconsciously pushed his glasses up, staring at the girl before him. Dressed in a different uniform, she seemed like a changed person. It took a moment for him to recognize her as his student.

What was her name again?

Sui Yi…

He had little impression of her—she was simply too quiet and unobtrusive. In local dialect, she was “dim,” always tucked away in a corner, coming and going in silence.

Still, she was the only one who hadn’t paid her tuition yesterday, so Huang Yan remembered her somewhat. He glanced at the crisp bills on the desk, narrowing his eyes.

“Oh, Sui Yi… You have the money now? Honestly, it wouldn’t have mattered if you’d waited a day or two. No need to look so flustered…”

These days, few teachers bothered to be poetic, especially those who had become “officials” as head teachers. Most were bureaucratic, and Huang Yan was no exception.

Sui Yi didn’t take his words to heart. She simply tapped the desk with her knuckles and said, “Three thousand yuan: two thousand eight for tuition, two hundred for a new uniform. Please take care of the arrangements.”

“Huh? What happened to your uniform?” Huang Yan had already noticed she wasn’t wearing one and studied her clothes more closely.

“Lost it,” Sui Yi replied blandly.

There were several teachers in the office at the time.

They hadn’t paid much attention to Sui Yi, but just then, the head teacher of Class 3, Wang Yan, happened to pass by with a cup of instant coffee. As she walked past, she glanced at Sui Yi and abruptly stopped.

“Hey—are you wearing Jiangnan Cloth?” Wang Yan’s eyes widened as she instinctively pinched a moss-green mark on Sui Yi’s sleeve.

“Jiangnan Cloth?” Several female teachers in the office exchanged glances, their eyes fixing on Sui Yi.

Though Sui Yi wasn’t familiar with the brand, their reaction told her it was well-known and likely expensive. Considering Mr. Yi’s background, it was probably genuine.

Slightly furrowing her brow, Sui Yi calmly slipped her sleeve from Wang Yan’s grasp and answered softly, “I bought it over on West Ninth Avenue.”

West Ninth Avenue? At once, their curiosity faded. West Ninth Avenue—wasn’t that the most famous knockoff market in Nanjun Old Town?

So, it’s a fake after all!

Wang Yan, whose earlier reaction had been extreme, now looked embarrassed and a bit annoyed. She shot Sui Yi a glare, sipped her coffee, and sneered, “I keep saying, girls these days have poor taste—so many clothes to choose from, yet they insist on buying counterfeits… This trend can’t continue. Huang Yan, you need to keep a closer eye on them.”

Her gaze drifted to the money on the desk, her catlike eyes narrowing to slits as she added pointedly, “Especially students whose families are struggling—you never know when vanity might lead a child from a small mistake to a big one.”

Huang Yan felt even more awkward, a touch of irritation creeping in. Class 2’s results always trailed behind Class 3, and among the fifteen senior classes, his was near the bottom. Wang Yan naturally lorded it over him whenever she could.

And today, she’d caught him out.

Because of this, Huang Yan’s patience with Sui Yi wore thin, and his face turned cold.

“That’s enough. Go collect your books, then head to class. You can pick up your new uniform after school.”

Sui Yi nodded, walking past Wang Yan amid the teachers’ vaguely contemptuous glances. As she passed, her gaze swept over the label at the back of Wang Yan’s shirt, her vision instantly sharpening.

A few English letters—delicate and elegant.

“A teacher’s conduct sets the standard, and her words the whip; students follow in her steps. Miss Wang Yan, that VEROMODA piece you’re wearing is quite stylish.”

With that, Sui Yi grasped the doorknob and closed the door behind her with a crisp click, snapping the others out of their daze.

It took a moment for Wang Yan to realize the implication of Sui Yi’s remark.

“Well, Wang Yan, serves you right for wearing designer brands to class—how does it feel being mocked by a student?” teased a few teachers, their tones both mocking and amused. “Teaching by example, eh? Careful you don’t lead your students astray.”

Wang Yan’s face turned ashen, while Huang Yan stared blankly at the money on the desk.

Sui Yi really was different from the average high school student.