Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1633 - 891: Gift (Part 2)

The store manager let out a soft chuckle as she replied, "Of course you are free to try."

She truthfully hadn't expected the young woman standing before her, who appeared to possess such keen intuition, to actually indulge in such a far-fetched fantasy.

She sighed inwardly, musing on the natural wonder of youth that allowed one to still entertain daydreams.

Unlike her own experience—as the years piled on, she found even her sleep disturbed by a restless spirit.

Le Qin bumped into Jiang Ning, nudging him toward the stage; she was practically vibrating with anticipation to witness if he truly possessed the demeanor of a great master.

Guo Ran felt rather at a loss for words. She knew full well that Le Qin was simply outspoken without a malicious bone in her body, even if she could be a bit impulsive and fiery.

"If he actually succeeds, I’ll just hand the silver beans over to Jiang Ning... Yes, that is decided," Guo Ran reasoned to herself, finding some comfort in the thought.

Just then, a spectator who had been observing from a few paces away tossed in a comment, "That lad has a sturdy build; I bet he’s going to lift it!"

"Indeed, the younger generation never fails to surprise us," another bystander chimed in.

The elderly man who had earlier made a joke about seeing Diao Chan laughed loudly, "Naturally, back when I was in my prime, I could hoist my entire house with a single arm!"

The crowd traded barbs, releasing the frustration of being excluded from the challenge, as honestly, not a single soul believed the young man could actually budge the brick.

It was a joke; even the hulking fitness coaches and the local laborers couldn't make it move an inch!

Five seconds passed.

Jiang Ning stepped forward with an air of nonchalance, casting a glance at the golden brick to confirm it was the genuine article: a heavy trapezoidal wedge, wider at the base than at the top. The shape alone, lacking any purchase for human fingers, rendered it nearly impossible to hold.

Still, if an athlete underwent rigorous specific training and utilized heavy magnesium powder, reaching for the prize might be within the realm of possibility.

However, the shop’s strict regulations required participants to wear standard shop gloves, turning the task into a near-impossible trial.

"Go for it, handsome!" the female manager cheered, swayed by his striking appearance. Nevertheless, as the one responsible for the shop, protecting the company profits was her primary concern.

Jiang Ning slid on the gloves.

Even though Guo Ran was fully aware this was likely a fantasy, she couldn't help but offer her support, "You can do it!"

Le Qin watched with bated breath, "Great master, you definitely have what it takes!"

The elderly man, clearly enjoying the attention, chuckled, "Young fellow, that hunk of metal is no joke!"

He had tested his own strength earlier, and the brick hadn't budged by so much as a hair.

As he spoke, Jiang Ning wrapped his left hand around the golden block, his brows furrowing just slightly.

"He’s hit a wall, he’s going to fold now, isn't he..." a murmur rippled through the crowd. Most previous challengers had simply gripped the object, strained for a moment, let out a frustrated huff, and retreated in embarrassment.

Everyone fully expected this youth to follow the same predictable path.

Cunning parents seized this moment to push their children closer, determined to be first in line when the failure eventually happened.

Someone muttered, "It’s solid gold; physics won't allow it!"

Under the gaze of the entire shop, Jiang Ning frowned and remarked, "It is indeed quite heavy."

In the next heartbeat, he hoisted the brick of gold into the air.

"I told you it was heavy... wait, what?" The old man was left completely thunderstruck, momentarily questioning his own sanity.

His eyes stretched wide as he began to ramble disorientedly, "Great-grandma, haven't you been pushing up daisies for thirty years? I was just watching some kid lift gold, and somehow, I seem to have passed on to see you!"

Guo Ran felt as though the world had become untethered from reality.

Yet, the sharp sting of Le Qin’s fingers digging into her wrist served as a constant reminder that this was reality.

Her face—often noted for its ethereal, foxy charm—was frozen in pure shock, her field of vision locked solely on Jiang Ning's slender, composed frame.

Le Qin, ever the lawyer, maintained a sliver of rationality and shrieked, "Start the timer! Someone, start the clock!"

The store manager was paralyzed with disbelief, while the nearby notary stammered, "1, 2, 3..."

Le Qin cried out, "Too late, we missed the start!"

Jiang Ning held the brick effortlessly with one hand, his arm as steady as a mountain, and sighed with mild annoyance, "I'm starting to get bored just holding this."

"4, 5, 6... 10!"

As the count reached ten, Jiang Ning let go, and the fifty-pound brick slammed back onto the table with a resonant thud that seemed to shake the very foundations of the shop.

The boisterous old man clutched his chest as if he’d seen a specter, his penchant for jokes utterly silenced.

The atmosphere in the room turned suffocatingly tense.

Jiang Ning calmly removed his gloves, produced a wet wipe, and cleaned his hands with graceful, deliberate movements. His voice remained cool and detached, "I must admit, that was a moderately difficult task."

Guo Ran stared at his hand. It was an exceptionally beautiful feature—slender like carved jade, with prominent, defined joints, elegant yet undeniably formidable.

She was now acutely aware of the terrifying power hidden within that grip.

A wild, stray thought flickered through her mind: *If he can lift fifty pounds of solid gold without breaking a sweat, does that mean picking me up would be like lifting a feather?*

...In the dazed silence that followed, everyone finally processed what had occurred.

This youth, who looked far from a powerhouse, had actually mastered the challenge.

Le Qin immediately pressed the advantage, "Manager! He succeeded, so we get to choose any piece of jewelry we want, right?"

The store manager shook off her shock, her jaw working as she scrambled for a way out.

Before she could issue a denial, Le Qin pulled out her law practice credentials and her phone, "Ma'am, I have the entire thing recorded, so I suggest you stick to your promise!"

The manager paused for a long second before breaking into a practiced, bright smile, "Of course! We are a reputable establishment, after all. We never go back on our word!"

Privately, she felt a chill of relief; when the corporate office first insisted on using a multi-million-value gold brick as a prop, she had been deathly afraid someone would actually claim it, but thankfully, she had convinced them to keep the actual prize separate.

She addressed the crowd loudly, "You all heard it! We are a store of our word—someone has finally succeeded in the challenge!"

The onlookers erupted in excitement. Someone had actually done it!

The old man who had failed earlier moved closer, trying to inspect Jiang Ning's arm. Jiang Ning recognized the unruly elder and teased, "My humble strength could never compare to yours; I'm told you were lifting houses in your youth!"

The old man chuckled sheepishly, "You cheeky brat!"

The manager handed the microphone to the clerk and pointed toward the display cases, "Young man, please, select any piece of jewelry from the counter."

Le Qin hooked her arm into Guo Ran’s, overcome with excitement; who could resist the lure of free gold?

She urged, "Pick something heavy! A massive gold bracelet, get the biggest one!"

She was so delirious with joy that she briefly forgot to praise Jiang Ning’s bravery; the sight of refined gold held a primal, irresistible pull.

Scanning the glass cabinets, Le Qin grew visibly disappointed; there wasn't an eighty-gram bracelet in sight.

Jiang Ning turned toward Guo Ran and asked, "Guo... sister, is there something you fancy?"

Guo Ran was still drifting in a cloud of disbelief, "Wait, me?"

Jiang Ning watched her bewildered expression with a rare warmth, "Who else would I be asking?"

Le Qin felt entirely ignored, but she knew better than to interrupt this intimate moment.

Guo Ran glanced down at the cabinets, the glittering gold catching the light, and whispered, "I really haven't the slightest idea."

Jiang Ning concluded, "In that case, I will choose for you."

He gestured at the cabinet, "We will take this one."

The shop clerk hurried over, pulling out a pair of earrings, and introduced them with practiced flair:

"Excellent choice! This is our newest 'Butterfly Tassel' collection. It uses Light Sand Technology, so the gold creates a shimmering movement whenever you walk. Truly, 999 pure gold, and at 5.9 grams, the beauty is priceless—though, naturally, it is free for you today."

The clerk looked on with envy, adding, "Just the artisan fee for this piece is over five hundred yuan."

Jiang Ning looked at her, "Do you like them?"

Guo Ran didn't speak, but her bright, lingering gaze said everything that was needed.

Jiang Ning nodded, "Alright, we’ll take these." The clerk carefully boxed the earrings and led them toward the register to finalize the transaction.

While they waited, Le Qin gave Jiang Ning a thumbs-up, signaling his brilliance, before wandering off to continue perusing the heavier items.

Guo Ran hesitated, finally speaking up, "This is too expensive to accept." Jiang Ning offered a relaxed, easy smile as his clear voice echoed, "Consider it a gift." Guo Ran looked at him, her eyes clouded with complicated emotions, "It wasn't necessary... your heroic performance today was the only gift I needed."