Chapter 20 A Perversion of the Truth

“I’ve paid for it already. Are you kidding me?” Chase’s face turned sullen. He raised the cup, avoiding the shop owner’s snatch. People around all looked at the owner. How could he be so shameless to snatch the sold thing because of a raise of its value! “You’re still in my shop, so I have the right to decide if it’s for sale or not.” The owner looked gloomy, intending to threaten Chase. “I’ve already paid you money. You’re so unreasonable!” Jayne Lin felt wronged. “Good, I’d like to be reasonable. You’ve stolen my cultural relic, so how can I let you go?” The owner sneered. Chase Lu looked around the shop, no camera, no device to record the fact, so the owner seemed to decide to turn the thing upside down. “Chase, let’s go. Can he rob us in broad daylight?” Jayne snorted, pulling Chase to leave. “Go? Do you think you can go with the cup?” The owner sneered, clapping his hands. Then, several strong men came over to surround Chase and Jayne, heavyset, hellish, and silent. Jayne was terrified, holding Cassie tightly and standing closely by Chase. “Boy, sell me the cup, so that I can help you.” Todd looked at Chase, ignoring those strong men. The owner’s face changed. He could easily deal with an ordinary person like Chase. But Todd Yu was different. Todd was a reputable expert, with wide connections and powerful background, who no one dared to offend casually. “Boy, quickly sell the cup to professor.” “Yes, you may be imprisoned if you’re really sued for stealing the cultural relic.” People around persuaded Chase. “We paid money for it! How did you see we steal it?” Jayne was enraged. The crowd was always the most hateful. They weren’t the involved people who had suffered, keeping no same feelings as the people involved, but always casually spoke what they thought was right, without noticing that it might hurt others. “Young man, the treasure should belong to the deserved. Even if you really paid for it, you have no power to protect it.” An elder shook his head with pity. “What do you mean by saying that even if we really paid for it? We indeed paid! We gave the money! It’s a law-based society now. I don’t think the police will distort the fact like you!” Jayne took out the mobile phone and was ready to call the police. “Police? Just call. We shall see who the police will trust.” The owner sneered. Actually, he preferred to call the police, because by doing that, Todd wouldn’t insist to persuade Chase to sell him the cup. Jayne was stunned. She was not stupid. The owner’s attitude certainly meant that he had relationship with the police. “Boy, I can offer you more 50,000. Just think about it.” Todd offered. Jayne pulled Chase’s arm. “Or you sell it to professor Todd?” Chase smiled. “It’s a gift for father, so I won’t sell it.” Jayne sighed, speechless. “Give me the cup, or I’ll send you to prison.” The owner threatened. As he spoke, those strong men stepped forward and prepared to snatch. Chase stepped out, protecting Jayne and Cassie behind him. The crowd saw the owner prepare to snatch by force, shaking their heads and watching. “The last chance, boy. Give me the cup.” The owner said in a deep voice. Chase suddenly agreed. “I can give you the cup, but first you let my wife and daughter go.” He didn’t fear of those strong men, but he didn’t want to fight in Jayne and Cassie’s faces. “Good, let them go.” The owner sneered, nodding to the men. “Why don’t you sell the cup to professor? Then you can go with us.” Jayne was confused. “Go, don’t speak too much. Wait for me in father’s home.” Chase ordered. Jayne began to realize that Chase decided to fight. She knew Chase was good at fighting, so she didn’t worry. Maybe Chase didn’t want Cassie to see it, so she agreed. “Be careful.” Then she left with Cassie in arms. “Boy, now, you can give it to me.” The owner was in such a hurry. Chase squinted, “what if I refuse?” “Refuse?” The owner laughed. “To ask what kind of man I, Swain Zhang, is. Give me the cup now, and I’ll give back your money, or I’ll break your hands.” “Break hands? All right, since you want this, I’ll give you.” Chase took out the phone. Swain laughed, and Todd shook his head. Swain was wide-connected, so only a few people dared to offend him. Even if Chase tried to call someone for help, the people he asked might not dare to be against to Swain. Chase was bound to suffer today.