Chapter 17: Chapter 16 Capture the Second Criminal Chapter 17: Chapter 16 Capture the Second Criminal While Zhang Lang was still cluelessly bewildered, Jiang Ning hung up the phone, staring intently at the man approaching from the opposite street.
She had just casually glanced up when, what a coincidence it was!
The man was identical to the picture provided by the System!
And as soon as Jiang Ning spotted him, the mental System also chimed in simultaneously: [Congratulations, Host, you have found the mission target He Mingxu.]
[He Mingxu, mastermind of a 2003 break-in and robbery.]
[Reward for capturing him within 3 hours: 10 days of life value.]
Jiang Ning’s eyes deepened.
The reward had increased this time.
Naturally, Jiang Ning didn’t simply attribute it to a sudden act of generosity from the System.
Having played video games for a while, she knew that the more difficult the NPC’s task, the greater the reward—and she assumed the System’s tasks operated similarly.
Understanding the reasoning, Jiang Ning’s face did not betray any fear, but rather a hint of excitement.
She slowly put down her chopsticks, watching quietly as the man walked towards her.
He Mingxu was forty-six years old. The 2003 robbery had earned him a great haul, and from then on, He Mingxu had ‘washed his hands of the past,’ he’d bought houses, cars, and shops in Capital City.
Now he had a curio shop on Happiness Road, leading a comfortable life.
“Old Wang, a bowl of lamb noodles,” He Mingxu called out as he arrived at the breakfast shop, to the owner who was busy inside.
The breakfast shop owner was obviously very familiar with He Mingxu, looked up with a laugh, “Alright, older brother, haven’t seen you in several days.”
“Been out of town for a few days,” He Mingxu chatted idly with the owner, while scanning for an empty spot in the shop.
It was the breakfast shop’s peak period, and there were hardly any seats left.
As fate would have it, He Mingxu ended up sitting right opposite Jiang Ning.
Seeing Jiang Ning glance at him, He Mingxu even gave her a friendly smile.
He Mingxu, over forty but well-dressed in a dark striped shirt with black suit trousers, stood over six feet tall, clean-shaven, with the air of a mature man.
If it wasn’t for the malice value of eighty-five that was sitting on top of his head, even Jiang Ning wouldn’t have been able to tell that this man in front of her had killed before.
Jiang Ning ate slowly while playing with her phone, head down.
Her mobile phone was on the table, her fingers swiping across it from time to time.
The phone screen was very bright, and there was no privacy filter attached.
He Mingxu inadvertently looked up and noticed that Jiang Ning was viewing photos of antiques.
She seemed quite interested in this stuff, looking at it the entire time she was eating her breakfast.
He Mingxu’s gaze landed on the younger girl opposite him, a trace of unusual color flashing in his eyes: “Young lady, you’re interested in these?”
Suddenly addressed, Jiang Ning raised her head, her fair face looking a tad dazed.
She looked at He Mingxu warily and, withdrawing her mobile phone from the table, she nodded, “Um, yes.”
She clearly didn’t want to chat further.
“What a coincidence,” He Mingxu spoke amicably, “I work in this line and even have a curio shop nearby. But having worked so many years, it’s rare to see someone your age who also likes antiques.”
“An antiques shop?” The young lady who had been rather wary perked up the moment he mentioned those three words, likely due to finding a kindred spirit, which made her wariness towards him dissipate substantially: “My grandfather likes these. His birthday is coming up soon, and I’ve been struggling to think of a gift to get him.”
“Since he likes antiques, why not cater to his taste? Make the old gentleman happy,” He Mingxu watched the flicker of interest in Jiang Ning’s eyes and whispered, “Are you interested? You can come take a look at my shop. Just recently, we got a new batch of good items, I guarantee it’s all genuine.”
Jiang Ning looked up, feigning naivety, “All genuine?”
He Mingxu looked at Jiang Ning as if seeing a big fish about to bite, “Of course. Every item in my shop comes with an appraisal certificate, fair dealing all around, tenfold refund for any fake.”
Jiang Ning: “Then alright, I’ll take a look at your shop.”
Both were almost done eating and just as Jiang Ning reached for her phone intending to pay, He Mingxu smiled and extended his hand to cover her phone screen, paying for their meals and saying that this breakfast was on him.
Jiang Ning’s face immediately showed an embarrassed expression.
Watching her youthful visage, the smile deepened in He Mingxu’s eyes.
He Mingxu took Jiang Ning to his shop.
He Mingxu’s antique shop was at the very end of Happiness Street.
When he opened the shop, Jiang Ning suddenly realized that next to his antique shop was the Huanhuan Porcelain Shop, which had commented on her Douyin post yesterday.
The location was not very good, which explained why the business was so dismal.
Jiang Ning glanced inside and happened to see through the glass door a woman around forty years old, intently polishing her ceramics.
He Mingxu opened the door, turned back with a smile, and said to Jiang Ning, “Young lady, come in and have a look, see if there’s anything you like.”
“Alright.”
Jiang Ning cheerfully responded, her voice tinged with excitement.
He Mingxu was startled and glanced at Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning stepped into the store.
The interior was decorated in an old-fashioned manner, but the shelves were packed with a variety of antique ornaments.
Jiang Ning strolled around casually, curiously looking here and there.
He Mingxu followed behind her and asked, “So, do you like anything?”
Jiang Ning pretended to be a novice, “There’s too much to see.”
He Mingxu wasn’t surprised by Jiang Ning’s reaction.
After all, Jiang Ning looked to be only nineteen or twenty years old, it would be odd if she could discern the quality.
If it weren’t for the distinctive aura about Jiang Ning and the Richard Mille watch on her wrist, a luxury brand so exclusive that money alone might not secure it!
Clearly, she was a pampered young noblewoman, unfamiliar with hardship.
And a plump sheep, waiting to be fleeced.
Otherwise, He Mingxu wouldn’t be wasting his time on a youngster like Jiang Ning.
“If you’re not sure which one is good, I can recommend a few suitable for gifting to the elderly for their birthday celebration, then you can just pick one that looks good to you and buy it…”
He Mingxu said, standing in front of Jiang Ning, waxing eloquent about the antiques.
Jiang Ning watched his performance quietly, waiting until He Mingxu had finished introducing each one before asking:
“This one’s nice, how much is it?”
“Not expensive, not expensive, I got it for 800,000, but I can let it go for 880,000 for you. Others would have to pay 1.2 million for it.”
Jiang Ning showed disdain, “It seems a bit small.”
Although the item was disdained, He Mingxu was not angry, but his eyes brightened instead, “No problem, then let me introduce others to you.”
…
Jiang Ning, “This one’s not bad either, how much?”
He Mingxu, “This one, well, it’s a bit more expensive than the one just now, it cost me 1.2 million to obtain…”
…
Jiang Ning, “This one’s fine too, it has a unique appearance.”
He Mingxu, “This one is passed down from the Tang Dynasty! Top-notch craftsmanship!”
Jiang Ning, “How much is it?”
He Mingxu, “Not expensive, just over three million. I can give you a discount if you want.”
…
After the introductions, He Mingxu took a sip from the teacup on the table and asked with some anticipation, “Well? Is there anything you want?”
Jiang Ning nodded, “There is.”
He Mingxu was extremely excited and eagerly asked, “Which one? I can package it for you right now.”
Jiang Ning turned around, raised her hand to point, but she was not pointing to the antiques on the shelves, instead she pointed to the cabinet at the far left by the wall, “I want the one inside that cabinet.”
