C14 Night Pearl

What an odd character! Xiao Nan couldn't fathom Elder Lin's background. They had only met briefly, and given his own humble status, why did Elder Lin see potential in him?

Pondering this, Xiao Nan approached Ai Xiaohan's car once again.

Ai Xiaohan couldn't wait to ask, "What did Elder Lin say to you?"

"He's offered to take me on as his disciple. I'm not sure what got into him," Xiao Nan said with a chuckle.

Xiao Nan was candid with Ai Xiaohan, thanks to a skill he'd just received from the system. He saw that Ai Xiaohan was a straightforward girl—beautiful, poised, and kind-hearted. She was definitely someone worth getting to know.

Ai Xiaohan was taken aback by his revelation. "Really? I've never heard of Elder Lin accepting a disciple. It's like your ancestors have blessed you with good fortune for him to notice you."

"It's not that dramatic," Xiao Nan drawled. "I haven't decided if I want to be his disciple yet. He's given me three days to think it over. Honestly, I'm not all that interested."

Ai Xiaohan gave Xiao Nan a look of scorn. "Oh, please. You're playing coy after landing such a lucky break. Do you have any idea how many people would jump at the chance to get close to Elder Lin? He dismisses most of them. If it weren't for my grandfather's esteemed status, we probably couldn't have even invited him. And here you are, wanting to 'think it over'? I can't fathom your thought process!"

"The thing is, I know nothing about Elder Lin or what his intentions might be."

"Suit yourself," Ai Xiaohan retorted. "But let me offer you some advice: you'd be wise to accept his offer quickly. He has a lot to teach you."

Ai Xiaohan's advice did resonate with Xiao Nan. Even with the help of his appraisal system, its capabilities were limited to verifying the authenticity of treasures; it couldn't facilitate personal relationships. To truly empower himself, wealth alone wasn't sufficient; connections were crucial. The Ai family might be affluent and well-connected, but their outlook was somewhat insular. To broaden his horizons, he needed to mingle with the elite. Considering how everyone, including Old Mr. Ai, held Elder Lin in such high regard, the man's influence was undeniable. With Elder Lin as a mentor, Xiao Nan's path to strength seemed all the more assured.

Reflecting on this, Xiao Nan resolved to make a decision. He felt the pocket watch hidden inside his jacket and considered that perhaps becoming Elder Lin's disciple was indeed the smartest choice.

By the time he got back to school, it was well past eleven. The university was always accessible, with the main gate never closing throughout the year. The diligent security staff at the entrance ensured that anyone with a student ID could come and go freely. Unfortunately, Ai Xiaohan couldn't provide the necessary identification and was stopped at the gate, unable to escort Xiao Nan back to his dorm. The remainder of the journey was one he had to make on foot.

As Xiao Nan strolled towards his dorm, a thought struck him. Each system upgrade seemed to come with a complimentary treasure hunt chance. Now at level three, it was unlikely this time would be any different.

"Is there a free treasure hunt opportunity this time?" he inquired of the system.

Without hesitation, the system confirmed, "Yes."

Elated, Xiao Nan commanded, "Use it!"

The system promptly obeyed.

"Within the school, a Night Pearl has been detected, valued at one million!"

A Night Pearl worth a million? How could that be? The school did house a number of wealthy heirs, but it seemed improbable that they would bring such a treasure to campus. Then again, it was conceivable that one of these pampered rich kids had no idea they were in possession of a Night Pearl, given their lack of discernment for valuables. They might well mistake a premium item for a mere trinket. This could turn into quite the spectacle, and there was a chance he could actually acquire this prized possession, potentially turning a handsome profit.

The night passed quietly, and with the break of dawn, Xiao Nan rose early, the Night Pearl still on his mind. He wondered which unlucky child was unwittingly holding onto the gem.

Seated in the cafeteria, Xiao Nan listlessly picked at his breakfast while pondering how to track down the Night Pearl.

Meanwhile, Zhao Fei, who had embarrassed himself at the previous day's banquet, was also in the dining hall. His father's scolding had left him battered, and he had been thrown out of the house, stripped of his allowance. If not for his cunning act of pilfering a few antiques from the living room, he might have been destitute. He had offloaded some trinkets to his classmates the night before for a pittance. With little left to his name and scant knowledge about the items, he was merely trying to scrape together some cash for food. If his father ever discovered the low prices at which he'd sold the family's antiques, Zhao Fei knew he might very well wish him dead.

Zhao Fei, clutching his tray, scanned the room for an open seat. To his dismay, he spotted Xiao Nan dining off to the side, which instantly ignited his fury. If not for Xiao Nan, Zhao Fei wouldn't have found himself in such dire straits.

With that thought in mind, Zhao Fei marched over to Xiao Nan, slammed his utensils onto the table, and spat out, "You've got some nerve showing your face around here. I'll show you what's what today!"

Xiao Nan, lost in thought, jumped as Zhao Fei burst in. Recognizing him, Xiao Nan couldn't help but smirk and retort, "Look who it is—if it isn't Zhao Fei, the ousted rich kid. What's the matter, didn't get enough humiliation last night so you're back for more?"

Times change, and so had Xiao Nan's fortunes, filling his pockets and his words with newfound confidence. He had always loathed entitled heirs like Zhao Fei, and encountering this one so early in the day was a stroke of misfortune.

"Don't let the Ai family's young miss backing you get to your head. I've seen plenty of men leeching off women. Mark my words, you'll end up a beggar one day!" Zhao Fei fumed.

Xiao Nan just laughed it off, "I'd rather be a beggar than be thrown out like a dog."

Zhao Fei was at a loss for words.

"Fei, I heard you've got some treasures to sell. What have you got? Show me," chimed in a voice. It was Yu Hui, Zhao Fei's classmate and another wealthy heir, who never went anywhere without a few lackeys in tow. As usual, his entourage was busy fetching his food and cleaning his seat.

Zhao Fei's spirits lifted at the question. He had been itching for a way to put Xiao Nan in his place, and now fate had delivered a golden opportunity. Xiao Nan, a novice to the finer things in life, would never have seen such treasures. What better time than now to quash his cockiness?