As An Antique Shop Owner, It's Only Reasonable That I Know A Bit Of Magic - Chapter 14

Su Fan pulled out the ledger from the counter drawer.

First order of business: paying the six months of back rent he owed.

He had to admit—Old Man Su had some serious connections.

Despite being in arrears for so long, the landlord hadn’t kicked him out. Pure kindness alone couldn’t explain it. The only reason Su Fan could think of was the goodwill Old Man Su had built up before his passing.

But favors don’t last forever, and Su Fan had no intention of being a deadbeat. Now that he had the money, settling his debts was the first priority.

With that in mind, he headed to the nearby bank to withdraw the cash.

Starlight Boulevard, as a well-known cultural landmark, was always bustling with tourists. Though security was tight, the crowds inevitably attracted all sorts of unsavory characters.

To avoid drawing unwanted attention—and trouble—Su Fan only took out enough for the rent, transferring the rest into his account.

The trip back to the shop was uneventful, with no pickpockets or troublemakers crossing his path.

Now, all that was left was to contact the landlord.

Su Fan flipped through his contacts, found the landlord’s number, and stepped into a nearby phone booth.

Mobile phones did exist in this era—they were just prohibitively expensive.

And when you couldn’t even afford rent, shelling out for a cell phone was out of the question.

The call connected quickly, and a woman’s voice answered.

“Hello, who’s calling?”

“Is this Ms. Kate? This is Su Fan, your tenant.”

“Su Fan? Oh—you’re Old Man Su’s foster son, right?”

The voice on the other end softened with recognition.

“Is everything alright? Are you in some kind of trouble?”

Her tone was gentle, almost motherly, putting Su Fan at ease.

“Not at all. I was actually calling to ask when you’d be free so I can pay the back rent in full.”

Su Fan kept his tone polite.

The country was still at its peak, the undisputed global leader.

Sure, there were plenty of racists and people who looked down on Asians, but there were also genuinely kind-hearted folks—like the Kates.

Unlike the performative “white saviors” who flaunted their sympathy for clout, the Kates were real good people.

“Oh! So you’ve gotten back on your feet? That’s wonderful news, Su Fan.”

Her voice brightened noticeably.

“We’re free all day today—you can drop by anytime.”

“Great. Thank you, Ms. Kate. Have a lovely day.”

“…You too. Goodbye.”

Just as Su Fan was about to hang up, he caught the slightest hesitation in her reply.

[Huh. Sounds like something’s bothering her.]

His casual pleasantries had unintentionally struck a nerve.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t minor.

But Su Fan shook his head.

Even if Kate was dealing with something, it wasn’t his place to pry.

A family with multiple properties under their belt didn’t need his help.

Back in the shop, Su Fan picked up another book—this time, The Complete Guide to Talismans.

Since his battle with Mary Shaw, he’d been thinking about his combat options beyond raw physical attacks and one-off spells.

The conclusion?

He was severely lacking in versatility.

Ideally, he wanted to conserve his Qi for critical moments—like incantations or high-powered techniques—rather than brute-forcing every fight.

Hence, The Complete Guide to Talismans.

The title was laughably generic—no fancy, mystical names like Records of the Three Caverns’ Divine Sigils or Jade Mirror of the Numinous Treasure.

But with no alternatives at hand, Su Fan had to make do.

Please don’t be some cheap knockoff, Old Man.

To his surprise, the familiar chime of the system echoed in his mind.

[You’ve diligently studied The Complete Guide to Talismans, gaining a foundational understanding of talisman craft.]

[This knowledge will serve as the cornerstone for your future talisman-making endeavors.]

[Talisman Mastery Progress: 1%]

Satisfied, Su Fan set the book aside.

It was time to settle the rent.

After counting out the cash, he stepped outside, flagged down a cab, and set off.

It was a little past 2 PM.

Factoring in the ride, he’d reach Kate’s place by around 4.

Paying rent wouldn’t take long—maybe some small talk, then back in time for dinner.

The Kates were well-off but preferred the quiet charm of the suburbs over the noisy city center, settling in an upscale gated community.

Thanks to Jamie and the detective’s generous payments, Su Fan didn’t wince at the cab fare. The comfort was a welcome upgrade from crowded buses.

Having money really does make life easier.

Arriving at the cozy villa, Su Fan rang the doorbell.

A child’s voice called out moments later.

“Just a sec!”

The door swung open to reveal a boy in his early teens.

White kids tended to mature early, and this one was no exception—though his face was still boyish, he already stood up to Su Fan’s chin.

(For reference, Su Fan was over six feet tall.)

Clearly, the kid had been sent by his mother to answer the door.

But the moment the boy saw Su Fan, his eyes flickered with disdain.

Su Fan raised an eyebrow.

What’s this little brat’s problem?

“You here to beg for money? We don’t want your kind around!”

The outright hostility caught Su Fan off guard.

His eyes narrowed.

The boy suddenly shivered.

Something about this Asian man felt… dangerous.

The insults died in his throat.

Before the standoff could escalate, a blonde woman hurried over, greeting Su Fan warmly.

“Hey, Su! Long time no see.”