Chapter 14: Unlocking
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Shop assistant Xiao Yang had been staring in stunned silence. It was only when Chi Mu handed over her card that she finally came to her senses. Apologetically, she said, “I’m sorry, but this pair of shoes cannot be bought with money alone. There is one condition I haven’t told you about yet.”
Everyone turned to look at her.
Xiao Yang continued, “As the store’s treasured centerpiece, this pair is one of a kind, and its price is remarkably reasonable. The reason it has remained unsold is that no one has yet been able to unlock it.”
She pointed toward the display case again, drawing everyone’s attention.
At the opening of the case hung an exquisite little lock.
It required a four-digit code to open.
“Our brand’s founder, Mr. D, composed a problem. The answer is the combination to this lock. As for the problem itself, please look at the large screen…”
The electronic display inside the shop showed a physics problem written entirely in English.
When Zhao Yingzi saw it, she laughed outright. “I studied abroad in Y Country for three years, and I can only understand a few words up there. Looks like no one will be able to buy these shoes after all.”
The other customers wandering around the shop gathered around as well.
They began commenting on the problem.
“This is a physics problem. All the English terms are from the field of physics.”
“I feel like I’m looking at an ancient, undecipherable text.”
“You’d need a doctorate just to understand this problem.”
“And even if you understood it, you probably couldn’t solve it.”
“I heard some nouveau riche offered ten million for this pair, but D&V refused to sell. Their founder, Mr. D, supposedly said that even if the buyer offered a hundred million, he still wouldn’t sell unless the lock could be opened.”
“I have a friend who’s a physics expert. I asked him to solve it, and he became depressed for an entire week, saying he had let the country down.”
“…”
Resting her chin on one hand, Chi Mu studied the physics problem intently.
Chi Zhen’er understood neither English nor physics.
Listening to the conversations around her, she realized that the problem was extremely difficult—so difficult that even doctors and experts could not solve it.
Chi Mu, naturally, would be even less capable of solving it.
So, when an opportunity presented itself, Chi Zhen’er pretended to be casual and said, “Sister, you’re a graduate student at Haida University. This problem shouldn’t be too difficult for you, right?”
Zhao Yingzi sneered. “What does being a graduate student count for? If she can solve it, I’ll twist off my own head and let her kick it around like a ball!”
“Kicking your head around sounds terrifying. How about barking like a dog three times and crawling around the store instead?”
Chi Mu looked away from the screen and turned toward Zhao Yingzi.
Zhao Yingzi gave a cold laugh. “You make it sound as though you can solve it. If you can’t, will you crawl around the store and bark three times too?”
“Of course.”
“…”
“You don’t dare?”
“Of course I dare!”
“Fine. Then I’ll trouble everyone present to serve as witnesses.”
With that, Chi Mu walked over to the display case.
She picked up the delicate lock and turned the digits one by one to 0180. After waiting two seconds, she turned them again, this time from the last digit to the first, setting them to 5201.
With a soft click, the lock opened.
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Chi Mu took out the leather shoes and handed them to Xiao Yang. “Have them wrapped.”
The entire process had taken less than a minute.
The whole store fell utterly silent.
Then—
Gasps of astonishment erupted, followed by thunderous applause.
Unable to contain himself, the store manager called headquarters. “A customer just solved Mr. D’s problem and bought The One and Only!”
After purchasing the shoes, Chi Mu lazily leaned back against the sofa and looked at Zhao Yingzi, whose face had gone deathly pale. “You can start crawling now. Or bark three times first.”
Chi Zhen’er’s face was equally pale.
It took her a long while to recover before she pleaded on Zhao Yingzi’s behalf. “Sister, Yingzi is my friend. Could you please stop making things difficult for her?”
Chi Mu smiled faintly. “She’s your best friend. You can crawl in her place if you like.”
Chi Zhen’er: “…”
Chi Mu held out a hand toward Zhao Yingzi, looking slightly helpless. “She doesn’t want to.”
The moment Chi Zhen’er heard that, she panicked. “I never said I didn’t want to!”
“Then crawl.”
“I…”
She hesitated, avoiding Zhao Yingzi’s accusing gaze.
Furious, Zhao Yingzi snapped, “Chi Mu, don’t push people too far!”
“True. If my little sister hadn’t kept fanning the flames, I wouldn’t have had the chance to bully you in the first place.”
Zhao Yingzi froze.
If Chi Zhen’er had not constantly told her that the adopted daughter of the Chi family made things difficult for her at every turn, she would never have targeted Chi Mu the very first time they met.
And things would never have reached this humiliating point.
Looking at Chi Zhen’er’s innocent expression, Zhao Yingzi finally understood.
Summoning the greatest courage of her life, she quickly barked three times before turning and hurrying away.
Barking like a dog was already her limit.
Asking her to crawl in public would be no different from asking her to die.
Chi Mu did not stop her, allowing Zhao Yingzi to leave.
After the onlookers had dispersed, she selected a brightly colored brooch and gave it to Ji Yu.
Xiao Yang returned after processing the payment and handed Chi Mu two branded paper bags. “The brooch was 58,888 dollars, and the leather shoes are still being charged at the original price of 111,111 dollars. Have a pleasant day, Miss Chi. We hope to see you again.”
Watching Chi Mu’s departing figure, Chi Zhen’er was so angry that her eyes reddened.
She was clearly so ugly—why could she still become the center of attention?
Whenever Chi Zhen’er stood beside her, she was always the unnoticed one.
And if Chi Mu managed to win over Ji Yuanjing as well, wouldn’t she be trampled beneath her feet forever?
No!
She had to strike first.
…
Chi Zhen’er arrived at the Ji residence, only to be stopped outside by security.
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She stood in the bitter wind for an hour before finally waiting for Ji Yuanjing’s car.
Ji Yuanjing lowered the window and looked at her coldly. “What is it?”
Chi Zhen’er offered him a red invitation. Her voice trembled with cold. “Young Master Ji, my adoption ceremony banquet is next month. I hope you can come.”
Ji Yuanjing ignored her.
Chi Zhen’er continued, “My sister and brother-in-law have a very good relationship. When you came to see her last time, she was afraid her husband would misunderstand, so she deliberately bought him a pair of D&V men’s leather shoes and a brooch today to make him happy.”
“The shoes cost one hundred and eleven thousand, and the brooch fifty-eight thousand, but—”
They were expensive.
Before she could finish, Ji Yuanjing cut her off.
His voice was thin and cold, with a hint of mockery. “If she were willing to accept a gift from the Ji family, why would she settle for something so cheap?”
Chi Zhen’er’s words caught in her throat.
She pressed her lips together, held it in for a long moment, then said, “Young Master Ji, I’m cold.”
“If you’re cold, wear more clothes.”
Ji Yuanjing raised the window without the slightest change in expression and instructed the driver, “Drive.”
He left Chi Zhen’er alone, shivering in the wind and snow.
…
When Ji Yuanjing returned to the Ji residence, he casually tossed the invitation aside.
Ji Yu excitedly presented him with a small blue pill. “Big brother, stop walking around with that icy expression all the time. You’ll never find a wife like that. Here, I’m giving you a beauty pill. It’ll help you seduce your future sister-in-law and bring her home!”
The D&V brooch on his chest sparkled brilliantly.
Ji Yuanjing’s expression darkened. “A new brooch?”
“My Mu-jie gave it to me! Isn’t it beautiful?”
“It’s hideous.”
Ji Yuanjing shoved Ji Yu’s face away as he leaned toward him. “You’d better stay away from me. I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist beating you.”
“What have I done to offend you now?”
“Get lost!”
“…”
Ji Yu jumped in fright.
Damn.
Was he going through menopause?
…
Evergreen Bay.
The moment Chi Mu arrived home, Madam Zhang pulled her aside.
Looking anxious, she said, “Madam and the second young lady are searching your room. They’re saying you stole Young Master Chi Yi’s watch and accessories. Madam listens only to the second young lady these days. Who knows what punishment she’ll impose on you this time?”
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