C10 Wenn Zheming's Treasure

At the entrance of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, Yuh Wenming gazed up the stairs, acutely aware that he needed to be fully prepared for what was to come.

He took a deep breath and was just about to ascend when two figures approached.

"Yo, we meet again. Quite the coincidence, isn't it?"

Glancing down, Yuh Wenming recognized Qiao Siya and Hu Yanyong. It seemed probable they were here to stir up trouble.

"Did you come to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion for a particular reason?"

Their laughter erupted at Yuh Wenming's inquiry. "Do we need to jog your memory?"

The incident in the cafeteria was clearly a thorn in their side, one they were eager to extract without delay.

With a resigned shrug, Yuh Wenming hadn't anticipated this side of them.

"Feel free to follow along if you wish."

Inside the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, two attendants approached with practiced smiles.

"May I ask what brings you here today? How can we assist you?"

Yuh Wenming offered a light chuckle, "I'm looking for Gong Qian in his office. I have a matter that requires his attention."

The attendants paused, uncertain of Yuh Wenming's identity.

Qiao Siya, overhearing the request to see their boss, clutched her stomach with laughter. "You, looking for the boss? That's hilarious."

"Indeed, asking to see the boss straight away is almost dreamlike," added Hu Yanyong.

The attendants managed to keep their composure, having never encountered Yuh Wenming before. If he turned out to be an influential figure, they could be in for complications.

The Treasure Gathering Pavilion bustled with patrons, and a manager was sure to be overseeing the front hall. He approached Yuh Wenming.

"May I know the nature of your business with our boss? I can address your concerns just as well."

The man before him was unfamiliar, likely a recent hire.

"A friend of mine has temporarily stored an item in your Treasure Chest. I'm here to retrieve it."

Only those of a certain stature were aware of the Treasure Chest's existence; to the rest, the Pavilion's special service remained unknown.

"Do you have a token from this place? Or perhaps something that represents it?"

With his eyes closed, he rifled through his thoughts and could only come up with a secret phrase—a line from a poem they both cherished.

The manager, recognizing their exclusive passphrase, gave a slight nod. "Your request is beyond my authority. I'll seek guidance on this matter now."

He signaled to the staff to ensure Yuh Wenming was well looked after, to prevent any potential disturbances.

Upon entering the office, the manager was greeted by a familiar silhouette. It was clear that the situation would be the same for him.

Qiao Siya and Hu Yanyong were taken aback when they learned the manager had indeed gone to summon the boss. They couldn't fathom the source of Yuh Wenming's influence.

Treasure Gathering Pavilion had been a fixture at the school's entrance for years, yet hardly anyone knew the owner. And here was Yuh Wenming, insisting on a meeting with the boss.

"I doubt he's here to meet the boss. More likely, he's gone to call security."

"Exactly, that's what I'm thinking. He must have called security. Who just walks in and demands to see the boss? It's absurd."

Before long, someone emerged from the office and stood before them.

Yuh Wenming glanced at the man, sensing a vague familiarity but unable to place where they had met.

He scoured his memory but couldn't pinpoint any recollection of him.

"I'm not sure who you are... Let me introduce myself. I'm one of the principal shareholders here, and the son of Gong Qian—Gong Yu."

At the mention of his name, Yuh Wenming's face lit up with recognition. "Ah, that explains it. You do bear a resemblance to your father."

If he couldn't recall him, perhaps it was just a striking familial resemblance.

"Don't be mistaken. He's notoriously penniless around our school. If you elevate a worthless nobody, I believe..."

He trailed off, curious to see how they would weigh the situation.

Gong Qian raised his hand to silence them. "There's no need for you to say anything. I trust my own judgment. Should I err, the fault is mine alone."

He didn't give them much of a chance, wearing a slight smile, curious to see if Yuh Wenming could manage to utter the secret code.

Each Treasure Chest was linked to a unique code, meticulously documented in their notebooks.

Wenn Zheming held such matters in high regard; the code was etched deep into his very marrow, emerging reflexively from his lips.

Gong Yu, upon hearing Yuh Wenming recite a line of poetry, looked utterly baffled. "Hold on, let me go upstairs. I've never encountered such an odd code."

Qiao Siya burst into laughter when she realized Gong Yu was clueless, "Of course you haven't heard it. There's no such code. He's clearly made it up on the spot."

Hu Yanyong chimed in supportively, "Exactly. I'd have thrown him out already. Why tolerate such a jester out here?"

Their noisy dispute seemed to go unnoticed as they made their way upstairs alone.

Upstairs, Gong Qian was leisurely brewing tea, savoring his most cherished time of the afternoon break, rarely disturbed by anyone seeking his services.

As the office door swung open, Gong Qian glanced at Gong Yu and gestured to a seat across from him. "Take a seat. What brings you up here?"

Gong Yu relayed the events from downstairs in full, eager to understand the purpose of that particular secret phrase.

With a subtle smile, Gong Qian responded, "The secret phrase is merely part of the Treasure Chest's protocol, a sign that he's a client. Now, what exactly did he say?"

Continuing the conversation, he casually wiped away water stains from the table, seemingly indifferent to the commotion below.

They were accustomed to the treasures within the chests, never surprised nor tempted to claim them as their own.

As Gong Yu spoke the ancient verse, Gong Qian's grip on the towel tightened abruptly.

"What? He's arrived?"

Gong Qian's voice betrayed his excitement, far from the composed demeanor one might expect.

"Quick, fetch the items labeled for Wenn Zheming from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's Treasure Chest. That code is a secret known only to us two, no third party."

Despite Gong Yu's uncertainty about their connection, he dutifully retrieved the item and trailed after Gong Qian. Together, they carried a Treasure Chest downstairs and came to a halt before Yuh Wenming, only to discover that the individual before them was decidedly not Wenn Zheming.