Chapter 79: Then Allow Me to Wish You a Fate Worse Than Death!

“I originally had nothing to say to someone like you, who possesses nothing of value.” Chu Fei paused for a moment. “But since you demand evidence, I’ll make sure you die with your questions answered.”

Meng Xinghe was somewhat bewildered. He didn’t quite grasp what “possesses nothing of value” meant. He hadn’t read much, so it was beyond him. Only when Uncle Zhao behind him whispered, “Young master, he’s insulting you—calling you short in a roundabout way!” did Meng Xinghe react.

“Nonsense!” Meng Xinghe snapped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his emotions surging. “I’m not short at all!” Yet the more he protested, the more insecure he appeared. Even Shen Linglong, who arguably had the most authority on the matter, fell silent beside him. Some topics, after all, were deeply wounding to one’s pride.

Chu Fei had no interest in lecturing them about such professional matters. They wouldn’t understand anyway; better to have someone with authority prove the painting was a forgery. So, in front of everyone, Chu Fei made a phone call.

Shen Miaoyu was aware of the auction, but she didn’t know the painting was fake, nor how Chu Fei could convince everyone. So when she saw him dialing, curiosity got the better of her. “Who are you calling?”

“Lin Tianhao. He was the one who auctioned off the painting; naturally, he knows if it’s genuine.” The guests were startled to see that Chu Fei knew Lin Tianhao. They had assumed, based on first impressions, that Chu Fei was the family’s so-called worthless son-in-law. But if he was truly useless, how could he be acquainted with someone as prominent as Lin Tianhao?

Meng Xinghe knew Chu Fei and Lin Tianhao were on good terms. But businessmen always put profit first and would never do anything to harm their own interests. If Lin Tianhao dared to admit the painting was fake, his auction house’s reputation would collapse, so Meng Xinghe felt supremely confident.

Shen Linglong and the others agreed. In their view, Chu Fei’s actions were nothing short of self-inflicted humiliation. They watched gleefully, waiting for him to embarrass himself.

Soon, the call connected.

“Mr. Chu, what can I do for you?” Lin Tianhao’s tone was politely reserved, but that meant little.

“I’m attending the Shen family’s banquet today—many people are here, Meng Xinghe among them.” Chu Fei spoke bluntly. “I just want to ask: the Mingfeng landscape painting you auctioned to him last time—is it genuine or fake?”

Chu Fei’s candor made several people chuckle aloud.

Unless Lin Tianhao was an utter fool, he would never admit the painting was fake in such a public setting. Meng Xinghe couldn’t help but mock, “You really are beyond hope, calling Lin Tianhao as your witness. You think Lin Tianhao will—”

He didn’t finish the sentence before Lin Tianhao’s voice rang out, decisive and clear.

“I wouldn’t call it fake, per se. At most, it’s a high-quality imitation.”

Lin Tianhao was tactful enough. But what’s the real difference between a high-quality imitation and a fake? The real question was, how could Lin Tianhao dare admit this so openly?

Everyone looked at each other in stunned silence. No one had expected Lin Tianhao to cooperate so readily.

“Lin Tianhao… what did you say?” Meng Xinghe demanded, “You actually sold me a fake painting? Are you out of your mind?”

Lin Tianhao couldn’t have cared less about Meng Xinghe’s threats.

“Master Meng, mind your words,” he replied calmly. “Not all auction items are guaranteed authentic; it’s up to each buyer’s discernment. That’s clearly written in the auction’s terms and conditions—surely you read them?”

“Besides, the proceeds from the charity auction are meant for good deeds. Does authenticity really matter? No—the true importance lies in the spirit of generosity. Or are you saying, Master Meng, that spending this money for children in poor mountain areas isn’t worthwhile?”

A consummate capitalist: shifting focus, turning the tables, and ending with a dose of moral pressure. That triple blow left Meng Xinghe speechless. If he said it wasn’t worthwhile, he would be branded callous and heartless. If he said it was, then spending fifteen million for a painting made him look like a fool.

And no matter how unwilling Meng Xinghe was, from the moment Lin Tianhao declared the painting fake, it became fake—even if it had once been real.

As Meng Xinghe fell silent, Lin Tianhao continued, “By the way, Mr. Chu, I was just about to inform you: the fifteen million from the last auction has already funded several Hope Primary Schools in your name. Construction will begin soon!”

This made Meng Xinghe even more unhappy.

“I paid, but he gets the credit for good deeds?” Meng Xinghe shouted angrily, “Lin Tianhao, aren’t you going too far?”

“Master Meng, you’re mistaken,” Lin Tianhao replied earnestly. “If Mr. Chu hadn’t raised the price, no fool would have spent so much on a fake painting. So Mr. Chu deserves the credit—it’s only right to use his name.”

“But don’t lose heart, Master Meng. Our auction house is always open to you. I can sell you another fake painting, and you’ll have another chance to do good deeds!”

Meng Xinghe: “……”

—How peculiar. He felt both insulted and oddly encouraged!

Except for the Shen family, the surrounding guests were barely holding back laughter. Old Lin truly was a master of the craft! Faced with mocking glances from all sides, Meng Xinghe was utterly humiliated—dragging the entire Shen family’s reputation down with him.

To make matters worse, after hanging up, Chu Fei delivered a final, cutting remark.

“Your parents should have spent those ten minutes taking a walk. If they had, they wouldn’t have produced such a joke as you.”

“You…!” Meng Xinghe pointed at Chu Fei, speechless with fury.

“What? Can’t you even pretend to have a brain?” Chu Fei shrugged helplessly.

Shen Miaoyu gave him a high five—because six was no longer with them. Chu Fei, my champion in verbal sparring!

“Even if the painting was fake, at least Xinghe spent fifteen million to buy a gift for Grandma!” Shen Linglong tried to salvage Meng Xinghe’s dignity. “What about you? What gift did you prepare for Grandma?”

Meng Xinghe seized on her words. “Look at him—what could he possibly offer? Probably some cheap trinket from a street stall. Certainly nothing valuable!”

“You overestimate him. He’s just here freeloading with Shen Miaoyu. There’s no way he brought a gift!”

“No way—did he really come empty-handed? How shameless can you be?”

Shen Miaoyu glanced at Chu Fei. She remembered him mentioning a gift a few days ago. If he said he’d prepared something, he must have. She only hoped it wasn’t anything too bizarre.

“Who said I didn’t prepare a gift?” Chu Fei produced a small box from his pocket and handed it to the old lady.

Since it was a birthday gift, the occasion called for a congratulatory speech. Phrases like ‘may you live as long as the mountains’ or ‘wishing you good health’ were so overused. Chu Fei’s words were explosive:

“Since it’s hard to have everything go your way, I wish you a death worthy of your deeds!”