C13 Be My Disciple

Unable to appraise the value? Does that mean the worth of this pocket watch is beyond the system's capabilities? Xiao Nan examined the timepiece but noticed nothing out of the ordinary.

Then, the system chimed in again.

"Unknown item, value indeterminable!"

How could this happen? Usually, the system issues a single alert. Why two this time? Was the system malfunctioning?

Xiao Nan pondered and queried the system, "What are you implying? Is this watch beyond price?"

"The pocket watch's value is an extreme; it's either exceedingly valuable or not at all. Its uniqueness prevents the system from making an assessment!"

Such a scenario existed? It appeared Elder Lin was no average man, possessing an item that even the system couldn't appraise. Undoubtedly, he was enigmatic.

"Very well, Elder Lin, I gratefully accept your generous gift," Xiao Nan said with deference.

Elder Lin remained silent, simply lifting his teacup for another sip.

Once Xiao Nan had departed, the butler approached Elder Lin, his face etched with confusion, and inquired, "Master, you've had that pocket watch for years. Why give it to this naive young man?"

Elder Lin replied calmly, "What's meant for you will always find its way back. I'm confident that what belongs to me will return, even if it departs for a short while."

The butler couldn't grasp Elder Lin's cryptic words and was about to probe further when Elder Lin gestured for silence—the auction was resuming.

Back with Ai Xiaohan, she was astonished to see the painting in Xiao Nan's embrace. "How did you get this painting? Didn't Elder Lin just win it? And where's your glass piece?"

"Traded the glass for this painting. Do you think it was a fair exchange?" Xiao Nan quipped.

"You swapped the glass for this? Has Elder Lin lost his mind? Surely, this painting's value far exceeds that of the glass," Ai Xiaohan remarked, puzzled.

Xiao Nan gave a resigned shrug and said, "What can I do? He just prefers glass, doesn't he?"

Ai Xiaohan couldn't help but steal a glance at Elder Lin, a titan of the business world who had never made a losing deal. Could it be that even he had misread the situation this time?

The auction featured over forty items. While none were exceptionally valuable, they served their purpose, and Xiao Nan had snagged quite a few bargains, turning a tidy profit. His success bumped him up from a level two to a level three, and in addition to his previous abilities, the system granted him a new talent for discerning a person's character, allowing him to differentiate between good and bad individuals.

Xiao Nan was thrilled. He had assumed the system was solely for appraising treasures, never imagining it could evaluate people too—a delightful surprise!

Old Mr. Ai's birthday celebration stretched on until past ten o'clock. Once the majority of the guests had departed, he finally had a moment to approach Xiao Nan.

"Not bad at all, young man. You've got quite the eye for treasures. You must have found some real gems today," Old Mr. Ai quipped with a chuckle.

Feeling a bit sheepish, Xiao Nan quickly replied, "I'm just riding on Grandpa Ai's coattails. Without that, I doubt I'd have had such luck."

"Well, you've got a way with words, young man. How about this? Stay with the Ai family and become Xiaohan's personal appraiser. Don't worry about the compensation; we'll make sure you're more than satisfied."

Caught off guard by Old Mr. Ai's offer, Xiao Nan was momentarily speechless. After a brief pause, he responded, "Grandpa Ai, I'm still a student and not looking to start working just yet. I need to complete my education first, so I'm afraid I'll have to decline your generous offer."

Old Mr. Ai nodded with a smile, "No problem at all. I understand how important your studies are to you. I'm not insisting you join Ai's Group right away. You can focus on your schooling, and if there's ever a need, Xiaohan can find you on campus. Rest assured, it won't interfere with your academic pursuits."

Ai Xiaohan chimed in, "Exactly. While Ai's Group is known for dealing in antiques, we're not constantly appraising treasures. So, there's no need for concern. My grandfather truly appreciates your talents and fears you might head elsewhere after graduation. Consider it an early reservation of your services."

Xiao Nan scratched his head, chuckling, "I see. No worries, Grandpa Ai. I'll lend a hand whenever possible."

Old Mr. Ai simply nodded, offering no further comment.

With evening approaching, Xiao Nan needed to hurry back to school. Despite his current financial comfort, he remained a student bound by school regulations. Staying out all night would mean deductions from his academic record, potentially jeopardizing his graduation certificate. So, he had no choice but to make his way back.

After bidding farewell to Old Mr. Ai, Ai Xiaohan accompanied Xiao Nan out of the banquet hall. Before they could reach their car, another group in somber black suits blocked their path, an intimidating presence even without sunglasses.

"Elder Lin would like a word with you by his car," one of them stated.

Xiao Nan glanced at the vehicle beside him. While not a car connoisseur, he understood that a lower chassis often indicated a pricier ride. Yet this car's chassis wasn't particularly low, nor did it bear the emblem of the usual luxury brands. He wondered why Elder Lin had chosen such a model—wasn't he concerned about its value?

Without dwelling on it, Xiao Nan shared a knowing look with Ai Xiaohan and approached Elder Lin's car alone.

Elder Lin stayed inside, rolling down the window instead of inviting Xiao Nan in. "I was preoccupied with appraising items during the banquet and missed the chance for a proper chat. So, tell me, would you consider becoming my apprentice?"

Apprentice? Xiao Nan was puzzled by Elder Lin's proposal. He scratched his head and replied, "Elder Lin, you're not pulling my leg, are you? Am I truly cut out to be your apprentice?"

Elder Lin drew a deep breath from his cigar and remarked, "A servant cannot serve two masters. I had intended to bring you into my fold, but alas, Old Mr. Ai beat me to the punch. Therefore, I'm left with no choice but to extend this offer. Naturally, if you're not inclined to accept, I won't press the matter."

No pressure? Elder Lin's tone hardly seemed unassertive; it was decidedly dominant.

Xiao Nan hadn't even responded when Elder Lin continued, "You'll have three days to mull it over. After that time, bring the token I've given you to Lin's Group, and someone there will show you the way."

As he finished speaking, the car window slid down, and the driver promptly departed.