Chapter 32: Sabotaging My Sister in Style

Xu Mu stood by the railing on the second floor, quietly observing the bustling lobby below.

At this moment, Xu Shuangyi arrived fashionably late. When she first entered the shop and saw such a large crowd, she assumed business at Jinhua Pavilion had truly picked up. However, she quickly noticed something was amiss; the people inside were merely browsing and no one was actually reaching for their purses to make a purchase. She took a closer look and realized that all the items had been marked with price tags, and the prices were far from low. Familiar with the standard market rates of several common goods, she noticed the tags were double their original prices.

Xu Shuangyi ascended to the second floor and walked over to Xu Mu. "Xu Mu, is this how you do business? Are you not oversimplifying the art of making money?" she asked. She was convinced that by doing business this way, he wouldn't sell a single item.

"What’s the rush? The promotion hasn't even started yet. Let’s wait until a few more people come in."

"Even if a thousand more people walk in, no one is going to act like a fool and overpay."

"Oh, there will be. In fact, some will even fight for the chance to be that 'fool'."

Seeing Xu Mu’s air of calm confidence, Xu Shuangyi felt deeply intrigued. Xu Mu certainly possessed some skills, but they seemed entirely focused on manipulating others.

Half an hour passed. The number of people in the shop continued to grow. The six shop assistants scurried through the crowd, but as expected, not a single person made a purchase.

*Clap! Clap!*

Xu Mu suddenly clapped his hands. "Distinguished guests, please look this way."

The lobby fell silent instantly. Everyone turned their gaze toward the second-floor railing, where a man and a woman stood side by side. Most of them recognized the pair: one was the infamous good-for-nothing of Liangzhou, Xu Mu, and the other was Xu Shuangyi. For many, this was their first time seeing Xu Shuangyi in person, and they were immediately captivated by her figure and beauty.

"Today, Jinhua Pavilion is holding a massive clearance sale. Every purchase is a bargain!" Xu Mu cleared his throat and continued.

"Everything in the store is twenty percent off for one item, thirty percent off for two, forty percent off for three, and fifty percent off if you buy five or more! Quality is guaranteed at Jinhua Pavilion. You won’t lose out, you won't be cheated—every purchase is a gain. Give up a bowl of tea today to bring home a treasure you love; skip a jar of wine tomorrow to take home everything your heart desires. Everyone, your money isn't being spent—it is simply being transformed into something you love more, staying by your side in a new form."

As soon as Xu Mu finished speaking, the entire hall fell into a stunned silence. Twenty percent off for one item, and up to fifty percent off?

Many of the people present were wealthy, and they were suddenly moved—not because the goods at Jinhua Pavilion were truly cheap, but because of Xu Mu’s final remark. The money wasn't gone; it had simply been converted into a form they preferred more, staying right there with them. Thinking of it this way, their hesitation vanished. They decided they had to buy at least two items today!

By now, Xu Shuangyi could clearly see the shift in the eyes of everyone present. When she first arrived, their eyes were dull and filled with disdain. Now, almost everyone’s gaze burned with the desire to consume. She had to admit, even she was tempted by Xu Mu’s words to pick out a couple of things to keep for herself. While the original prices were set high, the discounts made them feel like a steal. And this tactic of his—the more you buy, the deeper the discount—was absolutely brilliant. It perfectly exploited the consumer psychology of everyone in the room.

If one item is twenty percent off and two are thirty percent off, then two is definitely a better deal. But if you’re already buying two, why not go for three? Wouldn't forty percent off be an even better gain? And if you’re getting three, why not just go all the way and get five? After all, the money wasn't gone; it was just staying with them in a different form.

Just when everyone thought this was the extent of Xu Mu's tricks, he clapped his hands again.

*Clap! Clap!*

"Ladies and gentlemen, lend me your ears once more!" Xu Mu scanned the crowd. "Jinhua Pavilion has a mysterious activity today. Would you like to know what it is?"

"Master Xu, what kind of activity?"

"Stop keeping us in suspense. Tell us what it is so we can decide whether to participate."

"Exactly! Don't tease us now only to pull a stunt later—who would want that?"

Xu Mu waved his hands and laughed. "Very well, since everyone is so eager to know, I shall tell you."

The entire hall went quiet again, all eyes fixed on Xu Mu.

"The customer with the highest total purchase today will win a candlelight dinner with Miss Xu Shuangyi!"

As soon as these words left his lips, every eye in the room turned to Xu Shuangyi. With her looks, she was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women in Liangzhou. She was a talented woman renowned even in the capital; to dine with her would surely become a legendary tale. Most people realized they didn't have the means to reach the highest purchase total, but a few of the truly wealthy guests were determined to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Master Xu, what is a 'candlelight dinner'?" someone asked.

"Only the winner will find out," Xu Mu replied loudly. "But I guarantee, this lucky person will not be disappointed."

However, at this moment, Xu Shuangyi wore a dark, stony expression, a murderous impulse flickering deep in her eyes. When did she ever say she would have a candlelight dinner with the top spender? She had tolerated Xu Mu bossing her around like a servant—for the sake of the Heaven-rank cultivation manual—but this was crossing the line. What did he take her for? A commodity with a price tag? Or a bonus item to be given away with a purchase? Did she have no self-respect at all?

"Xu Mu, when did I ever agree to dine with a stranger?" Xu Shuangyi hissed through gritted teeth, her voice trembling with rage.

"It’s called a gimmick. How else are we going to keep these rich folks here? Besides, you want to make money, but you can't just lie at home and expect it to fall into your lap—that’s a specialty of the courtesans. To make money, you have to sacrifice a little, don't you?" Xu Mu whispered.

"You can't just make decisions for me! You need to get my consent beforehand!"

Xu Mu glanced at her, seeing her baring her teeth in a way that was almost endearingly fierce. "If you don't agree, you can tell them right now. I’m not forcing you. But if you speak up, everyone here will think you’re insincere and walk out immediately. Then, all this potential profit goes down the drain." He chuckled.

This brat, he was truly a stubborn rogue! It was a good thing she had come today; if she hadn't, who knows how much further he would have sold her out? Even if he was a foster brother, was this any way to treat his own sister?