I’m a Villain! Why Are You Trying to Date Me?

Chapter 35: Bali Street Antique Market — Lin Tian, Jiang Yifeng, and Xuan Yuan Qingya Gather!

“If I remember correctly, that opportunity should be in the Bali Street Antique Market. In the original story, it was described as being at a regular vendor’s stall to the left front of the Xue Family Antique Store. The vendor is a thin old man…”

Lin Tian mentally reviewed the plot.

He still recalled the original description clearly: the sandalwood incense box had been sitting there for two or three years without being sold. It wasn’t anything valuable, not even made from genuine sandalwood.

However, hidden within the inner layer of that incense box was an ancient scroll, one that contained four secret techniques from the Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon).

Huangdi Neijing was the earliest known medical text in Huaxia history. The existing editions were divided into two parts—Ling Shu and Su Wen—but in fact, there were secret chapters that had never been made public.

A renowned collector had once publicly admitted that he possessed half a page of a lost secret technique from the Huangdi Neijing.

And the one hidden in this incense box… might very well contain all of the secret techniques from the Huangdi Neijing!

Even if it was purely a medical text with no supernatural elements, its value was incalculable!

…

A permanent stall, an unsold item that had sat for years, and an inconspicuous old vendor—putting all those factors together gave Lin Tian a real chance to seize this opportunity.

In his mind, even if he had the worst luck and somehow actually bumped into Jiang Yifeng today, the guy still probably wouldn’t take the opportunity.

After all, even in the original story, Jiang Yifeng only obtained it much later in the plot.

As long as Lin Tian moved fast—buy it and get out—what could Jiang Yifeng even do? Chase him down?

With these thoughts running through his mind the entire way, Shang Chan didn’t interrupt, and the car smoothly arrived at the Xinghai Group headquarters.

Xinghai Group, being a leading enterprise in Licheng, had a headquarters that spanned over ten thousand square meters.

It wasn’t until the vehicle came to a complete stop that Shang Chan finally pulled herself out of her girlish daydream. She glanced at Lin Tian, her cheeks slightly flushed as she spoke softly.

“Lin Tian, are you really going to the Security Department? If you want, I can assign you to another position—something a little easier.”

Lin Tian shook his head. He wasn’t trying to change departments because of the workload. The main issue was that the position of Investment Department Manager was just too high-profile.

Better safe than sorry. If Jiang Yifeng ever came storming in one day, as the Security Department’s Manager, Lin Tian would likely be the first to hear about it—and have the chance to run if necessary…

Of course, whether he’d want to run when the time came, even Lin Tian wasn’t so sure.

“No need. The Security Department is fine,” Lin Tian said softly.

Shang Chan nodded obediently. Having heard much of Lin Tian’s inner thoughts, she naturally understood what he was thinking.

She asked that question partly because the Security Department was a bit rough, but she couldn’t exactly come out and suggest a more discreet position—that would basically expose the fact that she could hear Lin Tian’s inner thoughts.

…

After getting out of the car, the two of them walked into the company building.

Shang Chan had already returned to her usual icy and aloof CEO persona. As she walked through the halls, numerous staff members greeted her respectfully.

“Good morning, President!”

“President, you’re here?”

“Good morning, Manager Lin.”

Shang Chan rarely smiled. At most, she would give a slight nod when passing by familiar employees.

As for Lin Tian, he wasn’t acquainted with most of them. In his memory, he was only somewhat familiar with a few subordinates from the Investment Department, so naturally, he didn’t respond much.

The two of them made their way straight to Shang Chan’s office. Xiaoyun stood outside and formally closed the door behind them.

A few gossip-loving female employees practically teleported into a huddle.

“The President and Manager Lin, are they…?”

“I thought Manager Lin was fired just the other day, but clearly that’s not the case!”

“Could it be that the President agreed to be with Manager Lin?”

“Gasp… Don’t talk nonsense! She probably just brought him in for work-related reasons!”

“They did arrive together though…”

…

Of course, their chatter didn’t reach the president’s office.

Inside the office—decorated more like a study—Shang Chan wore a gentle, smiling expression.

“Lin Tian, have a seat… Should I start processing your transfer paperwork now?”

Lin Tian didn’t sense anything out of the ordinary. He simply nodded and replied calmly, “Yeah, go ahead. I’ve got something to take care of later, so I’ll be heading out.”

“Alright.”

Shang Chan didn’t ask what Lin Tian had to do later. Instead, like a little wife fussing over her husband, she leaned over the desk and personally handled all of his transfer paperwork.

Strictly speaking, these kinds of procedures should never fall to the company president herself. But in Shang Chan’s eyes, Lin Tian was transferring to the Security Department to avoid Jiang Yifeng, so the more discreet this process was, the better.

And besides, when it came to Lin Tian, she only felt at ease if she handled things personally.

There were also smaller, seemingly reasonable justifications swirling in her mind—things like ensuring Lin Tian wouldn’t be sidelined in the Security Department, or making sure that whoever was in charge of handing over responsibilities wouldn’t dare pull any tricks. All these added up to make her feel it was only right for her to manage it herself.

If the manager of Xinghai’s HR department had known what Shang Chan was thinking, they probably would’ve dropped their jaw in shock!

The company president personally handling a transfer because of a bunch of flimsy, half-baked excuses?

Was she worried about him?

No, this was clearly her going out of her way to show presence in front of Lin Tian!

With the president personally stepping in, every part of the process went smoothly and swiftly. The HR department even dropped everything else on their plate and prioritized Lin Tian’s transfer.

The original head of the Security Department was initially unhappy upon hearing that someone was taking over his position. But the moment he found out the directive had come from the president’s office, he immediately quieted down!

After all, whose appointment would come directly from the president’s office? Aside from close relatives of the president, there weren’t many other possibilities.

For a time, Zhang Yang—recently demoted to deputy head—felt an uneasy mix of anxiety and confusion. Staring at the name on the appointment slip, he had no idea how to properly receive this newly appointed superior who had just parachuted in.

“Hurry up! Stop what you’re doing, everyone!” Zhang Yang barked orders to his subordinates. “The new head of Security is arriving. Get everything ready to welcome them properly!”

In a flurry, they tidied up the department’s office, made everyone change into their formal uniforms, and assembled in front of the elevator on the second floor of the Xinghai Group headquarters—fully prepared to welcome their new leader.

However, unbeknownst to the people at the Security Department, Lin Tian, after receiving his appointment notice, never even showed up to report in. Instead, he went straight downstairs and left the Xinghai Group headquarters.

…

“Driver, to Bali Street.”

Sitting in the back of a taxi, Lin Tian spoke with a smile.

Snatching Jiang Yifeng’s fortuitous encounter was, in some sense, a confidential operation—and possibly a dangerous one. Because of that, Lin Tian declined Shang Chan’s offer to send someone with him, opting to take a taxi instead.

The driver gave a simple acknowledgment and began the slow ride toward Bali Street’s antique market.

At the same time, on the other side of Licheng, Jiang Yifeng was also seated in the front passenger seat, en route to the same antique market—accompanied by Xuan Yuan Qingya.

Whether it was fate’s arrangement or a narrative coincidence…

In the end, the event that Lin Tian thought had only a small chance of happening—was happening for real.

Sitting in the front passenger seat, Jiang Yifeng maintained a calm and collected facade, but inside, he was seething with humiliation and frustration!

He had long known that Xuan Yuan Qingya wasn’t someone easy to deal with—but he hadn’t expected her to be this difficult.

The entire ride, he hadn’t been able to get close to her in the slightest. He hadn’t even had a proper chance to talk!

As soon as she got into the car, Xuan Yuan Qingya raised the divider between the front and back seats without hesitation!

The more Jiang Yifeng thought about it, the more infuriated he became. It felt like nothing was going his way lately. Getting snubbed by the Zhao and Bai families was one thing—but even with the Xuan Yuans, he was still getting the cold shoulder?

This woman… he would make her his!

With that determination in mind, the car cruised steadily down the road.

Half an hour later, the driver pressed a button and cheerfully announced:

“Miss, we’ve arrived at Bali Street. Should I drop you off here?”

The divider between the front and back seats slowly lowered, and Xuan Yuan Qingya instantly caught the lingering look of desire in Jiang Yifeng’s eyes.

Her expression turned icy in a flash—she’d seen that kind of gaze far too many times since she was young.

Still, recalling the purpose of today’s trip, she chose not to lash out.

“Mm, we’ll get off here…”

Her voice was calm and indifferent, and her long, waterfall-like hair fell over her shoulder, shielding the coldness in her eyes.

…….

At another entrance to the Bali Street antique market.

“Young man, we’re here. That’ll be eighty-one.”

“Got it, I’ve transferred it.”

Lin Tian smiled, opened the car door, and stepped out.

A wave of noise and bustling voices rushed at him. He took a deep breath.

What happened next would determine whether he could shake off his villain aura and whether he could seize a fateful opportunity meant for Jiang Yifeng. If he succeeded, maybe—just maybe—he wouldn’t have to live every day on edge anymore.

Come on, Lin Tian, you’ve got this.

Cheering himself on silently, Lin Tian walked confidently toward the market.