Lin Wansheng stood in the second-floor hallway, lowered his head, and smiled. So that's what tonight's dinner was all about.
He couldn't be bothered to listen anymore.
With Spencer's damaged brain, getting him to understand Hank's painstaking intentions would probably take at least an hour of explaining.
He turned and walked into the bathroom, pulled open the drawer beneath the sink, and behind some bottles and jars, his fingertips touched several square packages.
He casually grabbed a few Trojan Magnums and turned to walk back to Kate's room.
……
……
Some time later, Kate lazily stretched, her feet pressing against the soft carpet.
She extended the tip of her tongue and licked her full red lips with a slightly reminiscent air.
"Alright," she glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand, a trace of sly, lingering satisfaction on her face.
"We should pretend to go for a walk outside."
She walked to the window, skillfully pushed it open, and pointed at a metal ladder clinging tightly to the wall outside.
"Going down from here, no one will be the wiser." She turned back and winked at Lin Wansheng. "Wouldn't want that old fox Hank to get impatient and think we're up to something 'bad' upstairs."
At this moment, Lin Wansheng's mind was clearer than ever before.
He instantly realized a detail he had previously overlooked.
"Why do you always call your stepfather by his last name?"
"Because I don't like him," Kate answered without thinking. She walked up to Lin Wansheng.
She reached out and gently poked his chest. "You're so stupid, only realizing it now."
Lin Wansheng caught her mischievous finger, the corner of his mouth curving into a wicked smile.
"You certainly didn't think I was stupid a moment ago."
Kate's cheeks instantly flushed red. She slapped Lin Wansheng's hand away in mock annoyance and turned to climb the ladder first.
One after another, the two descended the ladder like a pair of night cats, silently slipping into the yard.
Before long, Kate's phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID and pressed speakerphone.
"Where did you two run off to?" Hank's voice came through the phone, carrying a trace of impatience.
"Just got back from a walk," Kate lied without blushing or her heart skipping a beat. "What's up?"
"Hurry back. Mr. Levin is about to leave."
……
……
……
Lin Wansheng and Kate circled around to the front door, putting on an act of having just returned from a walk, and re-entered the brightly lit living room.
He swept a glance around; Spencer was already gone. It seemed Hank had successfully "persuaded" his spoiled nephew.
Hank and scout Levin were sitting on the sofa. Seeing them return, Hank's expression didn't change at all. He merely pointed at the few coins gleaming silver under the light on the coffee table.
"Your items are in excellent condition," he said to Lin Wansheng.
Then he looked at Levin and said in a tone that brooked no argument, "Elvin, you chat with this kid. I'll go see how they're doing with dessert."
With that, he pulled a reluctant Kate toward the kitchen, leaving the entire living room to Lin Wansheng and Levin.
A seventeen-year-old high school student faced an old fox who had immersed himself in the college sports circle for many years and seen countless people.
A silent contest of wits thus began.
Levin didn't rush to make an offer. He picked up one of the coins, using the lamplight.
He examined it carefully with a magnifying glass he carried with him, making appreciative clicks of admiration.
"Perfect CC mint mark, almost no trace of circulation. Kid, these treasures of yours are truly rare in such good condition."
He put down the magnifying glass, a kind smile appearing on his face. "Hank told me you urgently need some money for a college visit tour?"
Lin Wansheng nodded without speaking.
He was very clear that the other party was probing his bottom line.
"How about this," Levin pondered for a moment, as if making a difficult decision. "I know you're a good kid, and Hank thinks highly of you too.
"Personally, I also really like supporting young people with ambition. Two thousand nine hundred dollars, how's that?
"This price is already fairer than what any antique shop on the market would offer."
He spoke with extreme sincerity, as if offering this price was the greatest manifestation of his kindness.
Lin Wansheng sneered inwardly. He might not know antiques, but he understood human nature.
From Kate's initial reaction and Levin's determined gaze, he had already judged that the value of these coins was absolutely far more than that.
He didn't argue or counter-offer. He merely looked quietly at Levin and slowly shook his head.
"No rush," he spoke, his voice calm, betraying no emotion. "I'm actually not in such a hurry for this money. I came across these coins by a very chance opportunity. To me, they're also a kind of memento. If the price isn't right, I'd rather keep them myself."
A trace of imperceptible surprise flashed through Levin's eyes.
"Three thousand one hundred dollars," he raised the offer again. "Kid, one can't be too greedy. This is already the highest price I can offer."
Lin Wansheng still shook his head. He even began reaching out to collect the coins on the table one by one.
"Mr. Liu from Chinatown told me these coins are worth at least four thousand dollars," he said as he collected them, in a casual tone.
"Four thousand?!" Levin acted as if he had heard some huge joke. "He's an outsider watching the spectacle! Kid, you have to know, with collectibles, prices fluctuate greatly..."
"Then three thousand five hundred dollars," Lin Wansheng interrupted him. He spread the coins he had already collected back onto the table. "Final offer. If yes, I'll sell them to you right now. If not, I'll continue keeping them as a memento."
His tone was unquestionable, and there was absolutely no room for negotiation in his eyes.
Levin stared at him for a full ten seconds. Finally, his serious face suddenly bloomed into a hearty smile like ice thawing.
"Good kid," he pointed at Lin Wansheng. "You're even more interesting than Hank said."
He took out a checkbook from his wallet and cheerfully signed a check for three thousand five hundred dollars.
Only after Levin left satisfied with the coins did Hank emerge from the kitchen.
He brought Lin Wansheng into his study.
Inside the study, a thick scent of cigars and leather assailed the nostrils.
On the walls hung photos from Hank's playing days and various trophies. On the desk sat several monitors.
Hank took out a bottle of whiskey from the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass, and raised the bottle to gesture at Lin Wansheng.
"Want a drink?"
"No, thanks," Lin Wansheng shook his head. "Training is heavy this week. Can't drink alcohol; it'll make me lose muscle."
Hank smiled approvingly. He sipped the amber liquid in his glass, his eyes full of satisfaction.
"You're much more disciplined than that kid Spencer."
He walked behind the desk and sat down, gesturing for Lin Wansheng to sit as well.
"I've spoken with Spencer," Hank got straight to the point. "For this Friday's game, he'll find an excuse and won't play."
There wasn't the slightest surprise on Lin Wansheng's face. He had long expected this outcome.
Looking at his calm face, Hank couldn't help but raise his assessment of this kid once again.
He had originally thought that by benching Spencer and then "bestowing" this opportunity upon Lin Wansheng, this kid would at least show some gratitude.
But he didn't.
This showed that this kid's focus wasn't on social niceties at all, but on the opportunity itself.
Just like a pure beast, only staring at the prey, not caring who the hunter was.
However, that was fine too.
Dealing with this kind of focused smart person was much more worry-free.
Anyway, his nephew shouldn't have been playing this high-risk game in the first place. Now was the perfect time to do a convenient favor, killing two birds with one stone. Why not?
"So," Hank downed the whiskey in his glass in one gulp, in a tone that brooked no argument.
He made the final decision. "For Friday's game, you will start as the wide receiver."
He stood up, walked to Lin Wansheng, and looked down at him from above.
"Kid, this is your only opportunity. Whether you can seize it or not depends on you."