C17 The Nightluminescent Pearl That Was in His Hands

As Zhao Fei looked on in astonishment, Xiao Nan had already transferred the money via WeChat. Everyone in the room was in disbelief, particularly those who shared a dorm with Xiao Nan; their jaws practically hit the floor.

Remembering the past, Xiao Nan would pinch pennies for ages just to buy Su Xiaoyan a gift. On one Valentine's Day, he knew she had her eye on a necklace that wasn't even pricey, yet he resorted to a week of instant noodles and a slew of odd jobs just to make her happy. Today, Xiao Nan hasn't changed a bit—same old clothes, same humility, no airs of a nouveau riche. Yet, there's a newfound assertiveness in his voice, and let's not forget, his phone payment swagger was undeniably cool.

"Xiao Nan, did your family's place get torn down? How else did you get all this cash?" Ratty sidled up to Xiao Nan, his voice barely above a whisper.

Xiao Nan just smiled, offering no reply.

"A second-generation demolition beneficiary, huh? That explains the big spending. These trinkets aren't worth much—money sure lets you throw your weight around!" came a snide comment from among the students.

Second-generation demolition? Was Xiao Nan's dilapidated home really demolished? Zhao Fei's eyes widened, hardly able to believe it.

"What second-generation demolition? His ramshackle house fetching a good price? I think he's just mooching off some woman. It's definitely that girl's money from yesterday," Su Xiaoyan sneered.

"Exactly! I've been saying, there's no way he'd ever make it on his own. He's totally living off someone else!" Zhao Fei added with scorn.

Clearing his throat, Xiao Nan retorted, "Your stuff doesn't look all that valuable. Considering you're selling off family possessions, it seems your fortunes have turned. Here's what we'll do: pull out that item you stuffed in your pocket earlier. I'll give you two grand for it—consider it a charitable act."

Xiao Nan's mind was fixated on the Night-Luminescent Pearl. His eagerness to snap up Zhao Fei's items was purely to set the stage for acquiring the pearl. He was certain his challenge would hook Zhao Fei.

Sure enough, Xiao Nan's biting remarks left Zhao Fei red-faced with anger. Even in his current state of financial drought, he wasn't about to be outdone by Xiao Nan. After all, a starving camel is still larger than a horse. The real issue was his father's ongoing fury. For now, he had to swallow his pride, but once his father's temper cooled, they'd be back on top, laughing triumphantly in their circles.

In a fit of rage, Zhao Fei yanked the Night-Luminescent Pearl from his pocket and slammed it onto the table, declaring, "I'm swimming in these at home. You look like you're scavenging for scraps. Here, take it—it's yours. I won't charge you a dime!"

Xiao Nan chuckled and replied, "No thanks. I'm not in the junk-collecting business anymore. I see you're down on your luck, so consider this a helping hand. This trinket doesn't impress me much. Tell you what, keep it for a thousand yuan, and don't accuse me of being unfair."

With that, Xiao Nan pulled out a wad of cash, a thousand yuan, and with a dramatic flourish, he slapped it onto the table, then casually pocketed the pearl.

His suave gesture left the female classmates around him in awe. They were utterly charmed by Xiao Nan. Lacking the air of nobility, it was his earthy charm that truly captivated them.

"There we have it, all of this is mine now. If Young Master Zhao has nothing left to pawn, I'm afraid I can't offer you an escort," Xiao Nan quipped with a mischievous grin.

"You'll regret this!" Zhao Fei spat out, not budging an inch. He spun around and began to furiously dial a number.

Xiao Nan had struck gold this time. The thought of the pearl's potential selling price, compared to the paltry thousand yuan he'd paid, was enough to make anyone wake up laughing from their dreams.

Su Xiaoyan sensed the tide was turning. Xiao Nan, usually so meek, had never shown such bravado before. It seemed this 'salted fish' might just turn the tables after all.

Recognizing the winds of change, Su Xiaoyan, ever the opportunist, knew she couldn't afford to slip back into her old ways, lest she become the butt of everyone's jokes.

With this in mind, Su Xiaoyan stepped forward and approached Xiao Nan, suggesting, "Xiao Nan, let's make amends and be friends again."

Xiao Nan was taken aback. He truly hadn't anticipated Su Xiaoyan pulling such a move. With a scoff, he said, "Come on, you've got your Fei Fei. His family's loaded, and he can give you everything you desire. Me? I've got nothing to offer you."

"How can you say that? All these things belong to you, don't they? Just one word from you, and I could be the mistress of it all, right?" Su Xiaoyan retorted, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.

She was utterly shameless. They say women are materialistic, but Su Xiaoyan took materialism to a whole new level!

Xiao Nan felt a wave of revulsion. He shot Su Xiaoyan a brief glance before deliberately averting his eyes. Addressing the crowd of girls, he announced, "I'm in a good mood today. Every girl here gets to pick something I've bought—everyone except Su Xiaoyan!"

His declaration sent waves of excitement through the girls, their faces lighting up with delight—all except for Su Xiaoyan, who was visibly seething.

"Guys, this is the punk! He's way too damn cocky! Beat him to a pulp!" Zhao Fei's voice, laced with rage, cut through the chatter. Behind him stood five or six burly men, clearly not students, probably hired by Zhao Fei in a fit of spite to get back at Xiao Nan.

Xiao Nan's heart skipped a beat. Sure, he had money now, but he was alone—a scholarly type with no match for a group of toughs. It was too late to run. He inwardly sighed, wondering if today was the day he'd take a beating.

The ringleader, a man with a scar slicing down from his forehead across his nose—a memento from some past brawl—looked particularly menacing. Despite his scarred face, he hadn't backed down; his unwavering resolve was almost commendable.

The scar-faced man swaggered over to Xiao Nan, hurling insults. "You think you can mess with Brother Zhao and live to tell the tale? You're asking for it!"

Just as he was closing in on Xiao Nan, a gust of wind whipped up from behind. Before Xiao Nan could even turn around, Scar was sent flying, landing a good ten meters away.