Chapter 7: Not Even Worthy to Hold His Shoes

Gavin Smith and Lily Turner burst into laughter at Henry’s words. Gavin tauntingly said, “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year. You penniless fool, do you even know how much this ticket costs? Thousands per ticket, and even if you had the money, they're not just up for grabs.” Gavin roared with laughter, pointing at Henry mockingly, seemingly on top of the world. Lily, seizing the opportunity, gestured at the jade pendant hanging around Gavin’s neck, “See this? Gavin's wearing a top-notch Imperial Green Jade pendant. Worth more than ten million. Compared to him, you're not even qualified to hold his shoes.” Just the mention of the Imperial Green Jade caught many admiring glances in the hall. After all, getting a glimpse of such a rare gem was a treat in itself. Basking in the admiration, Gavin confidently declared, “Why even mention the price to this pleb? And it's not entirely accurate what you said, Lily. This particular Imperial Green is the best one ever mined in our country. If it weren't for my close ties with the previous owner, it wouldn’t be mine even for twenty million.” “Sophie,” he continued, trying to impress her further, “my friend has another Imperial Green jade bracelet. If you like it, I'll buy it for you.” A murmur of excitement spread through the crowd. But through it all, Henry remained calm, quietly observing Gavin’s bravado. When Gavin finally stopped boasting, the corners of Henry’s lips curled into a sly smile. “What? Not convinced?” Gavin sneered, noticing Henry’s amusement. Henry responded, his voice dripping with condescension, “I’m just wondering if you’re trying to flaunt your sense of superiority or flaunt the depths of your ignorance.” The room went silent. Gavin Smith, the future heir of The Smiths, wielded power and influence that not many could challenge. Not even members of The Mitchell family dared to cross him, let alone a son-in-law like Henry. The air was thick with tension as all eyes focused on Henry. “Damn you, what did you say?!” Gavin fumed. Ignoring Gavin's rage, Henry chuckled lightly and continued, “Jadeite, which we commonly refer to as jade, wasn’t originally from our country. It was imported from Myanmar during the early Qing dynasty. It was dubbed ‘jadeite’ to differentiate it from the indigenous jade.” “So, your claim that the finest Imperial Green was mined in our country is, frankly, nonsense.” “You…” Henry cut him off, “Wait, I'm not finished. The genuine old pit Imperial Green jade has a rich green hue with a subtle blue tint. It’s vibrant and lively. But looking at yours, its color is dull, neither truly green nor blue. It's obviously a C-grade jadeite, artificially dyed. Market price? About ten bucks.” A wave of whispers and murmurs washed over the room. The idea that the proud Gavin Smith was wearing a cheap fake jade pendant was both shocking and hilarious. “Hmph! With your penniless looks, you're pretending to be an expert on antiques? My family has a vast collection of treasures worth billions. Have you ever even seen an antique?” Gavin's face was beet red with anger. Today, he couldn't let Henry upstage him, especially not in front of his beloved Sophie. As expected, the crowd's sympathetic gazes turned back to Gavin. After all, what would a broke guy like Henry know about jade? But Henry wasn’t done. “You know the saying, men wear Guanyin and women wear Buddha pendants. Judging by your enthusiasm for that fake jade Buddha, I have a pretty good idea of whether your family’s collection is treasure or trash.” A hushed silence enveloped the room. Gavin Smith, usually brimming with confidence, now looked flushed with anger, his gaze piercingly cold as he stared at Henry. Just as Gavin was about to retort, Sophie, who had been silent all this while, forcefully tugged Henry behind her. Part of her was annoyed, not wanting Henry to further embarrass her. Yet, she also wanted to shield him from Gavin’s derision. “Gavin,” Sophie quickly interjected, “he's just talking nonsense. Don’t take it to heart. We all know your jade is authentic and about your passion for antiques.” The moment Sophie spoke, Gavin’s demeanor shifted. He fixed Henry with a cold stare before turning his charm back to Sophie. “So, you're aware of my hobby? Are you free now? I can give you a tour of my collection. It'll be a real treat!” “I appreciate the offer, Gavin, but I've got other commitments. And this concert ticket is too valuable. I can't accept it,” Sophie replied, looking to make a quick exit. “I need to go.” Undeterred, Gavin persisted, “Sophie, where are you headed? I just got an Audi Q7. How about a ride?” “Thanks, but I have my own ride,” Sophie responded, her patience wearing thin. She turned to Henry, her voice tinged with annoyance, “What are you waiting for? Want to embarrass me further?” “Oh, right.” Henry snapped back to reality, hurrying over to unlock his electric scooter. “Lily,” Sophie addressed her friend, “you and Gavin should enjoy the concert. I won't be attending.” With that, she took her seat on the back of the scooter. As they slowly rode away, the crowd watched them, a mix of amusement and pity in their eyes. “I don't want to go home...” Sophie's voice was a fragile whisper. She felt overwhelmed with resentment. After years of dedication to her family business, this was her reward. And Henry, typically unassertive, had added to her humiliation. The thought of facing her incessantly critical mother was unbearable. She yearned for a quiet sanctuary to collect her thoughts. Sensing her mood, Henry thought for a moment, then softly suggested, “Alright, I know a place.” They arrived at the city's outskirts, by the moat. An ancient willow tree swayed gently with the breeze. Staring into the serene water, Sophie finally asked, “What got into you today?” Today's Henry was different, far from the man who'd always swallowed his pride. After skipping a stone across the water, Henry turned to Sophie with a hint of a smile, “It's simple. The moment you said the word, I knew I had to step up and protect you.” Puzzled, she inquired, “Which word?” “Husband.”