C10 Admiration

Xiao Nan caught the shift in Old Mr. Ai's demeanor but remained unfazed, offering a serene smile. He lifted his hands, motioning for silence, and once the room quieted down, he spoke, "Old Mr. Ai, I come from humble beginnings and haven't experienced much of the world. I'm aware that Grandpa Ai built everything from the ground up and lacks for nothing. Yet, I still wish to offer a token of my respect. This stone might not be highly valuable, but it encases a fine raw gem. I believe it's something Old Mr. Ai would appreciate!"

His statement was met with laughter, his modest attire betraying his poor background. Clearly, he was out of his depth in understanding true valuables, or so the crowd seemed to think.

"Do we not have eyes to see what's before us? Presenting this as a birthday gift to Old Mr. Ai is nothing short of an insult. Consider this: who among us hasn't brought a gift worth at least two to three hundred thousand yuan in celebration?" A biting voice cut through the air, belonging to an older individual dripping with scorn.

Echoing that sentiment, another chimed in, "Truly, bringing such a worthless stone as a gift is inappropriate for this occasion. Young man, it would be best if you took your stone and left."

The room filled with laughter once more.

Unperturbed, Xiao Nan simply smiled and suggested, "Well then, since I intend to gift this raw stone to Grandpa Ai, let's have the Treasure Master open it up. I'd like to personally present whatever is inside to Grandpa Ai. If it's still deemed unworthy, I'll take my leave immediately."

The previous speaker looked on with derision, his eyes conveying scorn as he coldly remarked, "You're only embarrassing yourself!"

Despite her concern, Ai Xiaohan couldn't help but hold Xiao Nan in high regard. Having witnessed his knack for finding hidden treasures before, she harbored a deep, unspoken admiration for him. She suspected that Xiao Nan's keen eye might reveal a pleasant surprise, even with this stone.

Still, Ai Xiaohan couldn't shake off the worry that Xiao Nan might be mistaken this time. After all, as the saying goes, no one is infallible. With that in mind, she anxiously hoped for the best on his behalf.

On stage, Xiao Nan remained unfazed, his face still lit with a confident smile, showing no hint of fear or anger. This poise caught Old Mr. Ai off guard. To see such composure in one so young was indeed a sight that brightened his eyes.

"Very well, regardless of the stone's value, it represents his thoughtfulness. Let's go ahead and crack it open to discover what treasures it might hold," Old Mr. Ai suggested with an air of elegance, rising to his feet.

Soon after, a middle-aged man donned in white gloves and armed with tools ascended the stage. He carefully positioned the stone on the table and began to chisel away.

As the stone chips scattered, the hidden gemstone within gradually came into view. Initially, the onlookers were dismissive, unwilling to spare it a second glance. But as gasps of astonishment filled the air, even the most haughty among them found their attention irresistibly drawn to the unfolding spectacle.

"Wow, this is quite the find! Who would've thought such a nondescript stone could house such exquisite jade? It seems we've all been too quick to judge!"

"Indeed, who would have guessed a treasure lay within? This young man has truly stumbled upon a gem!"

A chorus of awe echoed through the crowd, and even Old Mr. Ai, a man seasoned by countless experiences, rose to his feet, his eyes wide with amazement at the gemstone now revealed to all.

The stone emitted a soft glow, its brown hue reminiscent of the mist at dawn, exuding an endless allure.

Xiao Nan himself was taken aback upon seeing the gemstone. He knew the stone harbored a treasure, but he had no inkling of its actual form. The system had only informed him of its value, offering no clues about its appearance. So, the revelation was indeed a shock. And with that shock came a twinge of regret for his hasty promise to gift the stone to Old Mr. Ai. If only he had known the true worth of this treasure, he might have kept it for himself.

But what's said is said, and like water spilled, it cannot be reclaimed. Nevertheless, it mattered little. With the system's assistance, Xiao Nan was confident that more opportunities to acquire treasures would come his way. He wouldn't let this one instance cloud his judgment.

Ai Xiaohan found herself drawn to the raw gemstone as well, and with that, her anxiety dissipated. She hadn't misjudged him; Xiao Nan truly had skill. With this thought, she approached the stage, shooting Xiao Nan a flirtatious look before grabbing the microphone. "This gentleman is a friend of mine with a unique knack for spotting treasures. Often, the more inconspicuous an item, the more it piques his interest. So let's not judge a book by its cover, shall we? My friend may not be wealthy, but he's a person of great character. Anyone with a genuine heart is worth befriending. And since he's my friend, I'd appreciate it if you'd all be kind enough to make his path a little smoother and not give him a hard time!"

Ai Xiaohan's emphasis on the word "friend" sent a chill through the crowd.

Old Mr. Ai gave a knowing smile and gestured with a wave of his hand. His butler caught on immediately, stepping away for a moment before returning with a leather suitcase.

"I'm quite fond of this stone," Old Mr. Ai said warmly. "Today may be my birthday, but I have no desire to claim your item under that pretense. So, how about this? I'll buy it for five hundred thousand yuan!"

Five hundred thousand yuan? Good heavens, that was a grand gesture. Xiao Nan had never imagined Old Mr. Ai would be so lavish. He'd thought he was at a loss, but it turned out to be a windfall!

"I'm not sure that's appropriate..." Xiao Nan murmured, a touch of embarrassment in his voice. He had intended to gift the stone to Old Mr. Ai, and accepting money now would seem like reneging on his word.

Old Mr. Ai chuckled as he stroked his beard. "I've taken your kind gesture to heart. Consider this money a token of appreciation for your respect. And I do hope you'll continue to mentor Xiaohan. She's always had a keen interest in antiques, and with your guidance, I believe her discernment will become even sharper."

So that was Old Mr. Ai's angle—securing talent. True to form for a businessman, always intertwining interests with actions. With Old Mr. Ai's endorsement, it seemed unlikely anyone would dare to challenge Xiao Nan again. Impressive.

Ai Xiaohan laughed softly, addressing the bewildered Xiao Nan, "Just take the money. Today, my grandfather is the man of the hour—it's his call!"

"Well, I suppose I must graciously accept," Xiao Nan said, feigning difficulty as he took the leather bag, while inwardly he was brimming with delight.

Armed with this half a million as my base, how could I possibly miss out on snagging some treasures at the upcoming auction?

As Xiao Nan reveled in his excitement, the system chimed in with another alert.

"Raw stone successfully sold. Congratulations, you've earned five hundred thousand experience points. You're now just two hundred thousand experience points shy of the next level up!"