Even those who originally had no intention of buying anything, upon seeing other tourists in the group carrying large and small bags, would feel embarrassed and end up purchasing something. After all, people are naturally competitive—if everyone else is buying and you’re the only one not buying, it makes you look stingy. On top of that, the tour guide would stare at you with a look of disdain, making you feel extremely uncomfortable.

“Tour guide, is there anything good for sale in here?” Among the tourists getting off the bus, a pot-bellied man with a thick gold chain around his neck pulled out a pack of Soft Zhonghua cigarettes, took one out, tossed it to the tour guide beside him, and asked.

The man looked to be about forty, with the appearance of a nouveau riche. His hair was slick and shiny, and next to him was a curvy young woman with an alluring figure, clinging to his arm. Her hands were wrapped around his arm, and her 36D chest pressed and rubbed against him, forming all sorts of shapes, making the young tour guide next to them swallow hard.

“Mr. Brooks, I’m still missing a bracelet. Go in and buy me one, will you?” The woman clung to the man’s arm, her chest swaying constantly. Not only the young tour guide, but even the other male tourists sneaked a few glances.

“Alright, alright, I’ll go in and buy you one right now. Tour guide, take us to the jewelry store for a look.” The middle-aged man laughed heartily and opened his briefcase, which was filled with stacks of crisp, unopened 100-yuan bills. He pulled out a few and handed them to the young tour guide.

“Boss, you’re too kind. I know this mall like the back of my hand—I know exactly where the best jewelry is. I’ll take you there right away.” The young tour guide’s face lit up with a huge smile at the sight of the bills. It was obvious this man was a nouveau riche, out traveling with his mistress. The tour guide had served many such people before—they were usually generous spenders, and he could earn a lot of extra tips from them.

Still, the young tour guide didn’t forget to remind the other tourists to return here in an hour to regroup, then led the man toward a section of the mall.

“Judging by his face, this middle-aged man is a cunning and flashy type, usually the kind who are lazy and up to no good,” Henry Foster also observed the nouveau riche-looking man’s face and felt something was off. According to the records in the Zhuge Medical Classic, this man’s features suggested he was a swindler, not someone who should be wealthy.

Although he didn’t plan to buy anything, Henry Foster still entered the mall and wandered around. The mall was not far from the tourist attraction, and Henry Foster saw groups of tourists led by guides shopping throughout the mall.

The mall was filled with dazzling goods and had three floors. The first floor was mostly jewelry counters and cosmetics stores. As soon as Henry Foster entered, he saw the young tour guide leading the nouveau riche-looking man and the busty woman into a counter. However, it seemed the busty woman wasn’t satisfied with the jewelry there and wandered off to another counter.

“Huh, what are they doing?” Henry Foster noticed a plainly dressed elderly person stop the busty woman and seemed to be showing her something. The woman’s face lit up with surprise, and she clung to the middle-aged man, talking about something. Soon after, the group quickly left the mall. Although Henry Foster was curious, it wasn’t convenient to follow, so he continued to wander around the mall alone.

After wandering aimlessly for a while, Henry Foster bought a can of chewing gum, paid, and headed to the agreed pick-up spot, only to find the young tour guide already standing there, glancing around excitedly, grinning as if he’d just won five million in the lottery.

The young tour guide was tightly clutching a delicate little box in his hand. Henry Foster recognized this type of box—it was usually used for jewelry. When he saw Henry Foster approaching, the guide’s gaze lingered for just a second before moving past him, scanning the area ahead.

“Wasn’t he supposed to be with those two buying jewelry? Why is he alone now?” Henry Foster wondered, feeling that something was fishy, especially after recalling the appearance of the elderly person and considering the young tour guide’s unlucky face. A hunch formed in his mind: “The tour guide must have fallen for a scam.”

Although he didn’t have much fondness for the tour guide, Henry Foster still walked over and reminded him, “Be careful not to get scammed.”

“Get scammed?” The young tour guide looked at Henry Foster suspiciously, not understanding why he would say that.

“Are you waiting for that middle-aged man? And did you lend them money?” Henry Foster guessed.

The young tour guide looked surprised, then nodded and replied, “Mr. Brooks’s little... cousin took a liking to a blood jade bracelet, but Mr. Brooks didn’t have enough cash and borrowed thirty thousand from me. Mr. Brooks has gone to the bank to get cash to pay me back.”

“He borrowed thirty thousand from you? Did you know this Mr. Brooks before?”

“No, but Mr. Brooks left the blood jade bracelet with me for safekeeping, so there shouldn’t be any problem.” As he said this, the young tour guide looked smug. Mr. Brooks had promised that when he came back with the cash, he’d return fifty thousand, with the extra twenty thousand as interest.

Thinking about earning twenty thousand in just half an hour, the young tour guide was beaming with joy—this was equivalent to half a year’s salary.

“Looks like I was right,” Henry Foster thought to himself after a moment’s reflection, and murmured softly.