C21 To Pledge His Love to Her

Xiao Nan eyed Chen Mengqi with suspicion and asked, "Is something up?"

Chen Mengqi was the class beauty, the object of every male classmate's affections. The guys in her dorm were known to whisper her name during their late-night escapades. It was common knowledge that she carried herself with an air of aloofness, never initiating conversations. Any boy daring enough to approach her would be met with her icy demeanor, swiftly dismissed. Yet today, Chen Mengqi was uncharacteristically engaging Xiao Nan in conversation, and it even looked like she was angling for a date.

Xiao Nan was well aware of the previous night's incident; it must have been gnawing at Chen Mengqi. Even though she hadn't broadcasted the event, the awkwardness of their daily encounters was unavoidable.

Flicking her hair with a graceful hand, Chen Mengqi looked down and murmured, "I'd like to invite you to the bar tonight, as a thank you for yesterday..."

Xiao Nan had anticipated this. Without the incident, someone of her allure would never have sought him out. Before witnessing her less-than-graceful moment at the bar, Xiao Nan had harbored his own daydreams about her. Now, those illusions had dissipated, leaving no trace of admiration.

"No, I've got plans tonight. Maybe some other time," he declined.

The thought of turning down the class beauty had never crossed Xiao Nan's mind. He used to fantasize about dating her, imagining countless scenarios. But fate had a twisted sense of humor; the beauty did indeed seek him out for a date, but the enchantment had faded.

Chen Mengqi hadn't expected a rejection. Her face soured slightly as she let out a faint "Oh," and turned to leave.

"Rest assured, I'll keep my promise. You've got nothing to worry about," Xiao Nan added abruptly.

Chen Mengqi paused, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red. She didn't turn back or respond, simply walking away.

The scene didn't go unnoticed by their classmates, who, oblivious to the full story, grew even more envious of Xiao Nan. They were astonished that the class beauty had approached him, only to be turned down. To them, Xiao Nan's actions were incomprehensible.

One evening, Xiao Nan was struck by the realization that he hadn't yet turned in the Night-Luminescent Pearl to the system. He quickly informed the system about the pearl, only to receive a chilly response: "I recommend not selling it. The system can store it for you automatically. Once you've gathered the other three Night-Luminescent Pearls, the system will handle them accordingly."

Is the system getting smart on me now?

Xiao Nan was curious and questioned, "Why do you also suggest I collect all four Night-Luminescent Pearls?"

"Each of the four Night-Luminescent Pearls holds a unique secret. Once you have all four, their secrets will be revealed simultaneously, and you might just uncover something beyond your expectations. So, I advise against selling them."

Four distinct secrets? Could gathering all four pearls actually summon a dragon? Haha, that's just too comical. Well, if the system is hinting at this, I might as well wait. I'm not in need of money at the moment. If I ever am, I can always make a quick buck later.

Feeling idle, Xiao Nan's thoughts drifted to the class beauty's invitation from earlier in the day. Despite feeling a bit resistant, her image kept surfacing in his mind—particularly her innocent, endearing presence when she worked as a dancer at the bar, which tantalized his heart.

Ah, what the heck, I'll just go for a quick look.

With that, Xiao Nan casually grabbed a jacket and headed out the door.

"Mr. Xiao, where are you off to this late?" Qingfeng inquired, catching up to him.

Xiao Nan had overlooked this detail. Once free to embark on spontaneous trips alone, he now had to consider someone else's presence. It was a tough adjustment. What was Elder Lin's intention with assigning someone to stick by my side? Was it to watch over me or to assist me?

"Just stepping out for some fresh air. Care to join?" Xiao Nan asked, squinting slightly.

"My duty is to ensure your safety, Mr. Xiao. I must accompany you wherever you go," Qingfeng responded, his tone even.

"Alright, but let's drop the formalities. 'Mr. Xiao' just doesn't sit right. Since we're about the same age, you can call me Xiao Nan or Nan."

"Alright, Mr. Xiao."

"No, no, Nan."

"That's better!"

Xiao Nan, with Qingfeng in tow, made a beeline for the bar. The city at night buzzed with more activity than during the day, with small merchants and vendors coming alive, eagerly hawking their wares.

"Behold the Night-Luminescent Pearl, a relic from the Shang Dynasty! Come take a look. If my family hadn't fallen on hard times, I'd never dream of selling such a treasure. It's priced to sell and truly worth your while. Don't let this opportunity slip by!"

A crowd had gathered around the vendor's stall, their calls igniting a spark of excitement in Xiao Nan.

Night-Luminescent Pearl? The name piqued Xiao Nan's curiosity. He quickened his pace, parted the onlookers, and when he laid eyes on the so-called Night-Luminescent Pearl, he couldn't help but chuckle. It was indeed a Night-Luminescent Pearl, glowing and all, but nothing more than a cheap trinket meant to deceive.

Xiao Nan's eyes scanned the rest of the vendor's collection. The man dealt in antiques, and while his spread was extensive, few items held substantial value.

"The system has identified a valuable piece of calligraphy and painting: the Phoenix Feather Dragon Scales Painting from the Tang Dynasty, crafted by Tang Bo Hu, valued at three million!"

What? A Tang Bo Hu original? It was astounding that such an inconspicuous vendor had in his possession a genuine work by the renowned Tang Bo Hu!

Xiao Nan surveyed the stall. It was small but well-stocked, and the vendor had arranged his goods with care, grouping like items neatly together. The scrolls were all housed in a white porcelain vase at the far right of the stall. The prized painting was likely among them. How could he purchase it without drawing attention?

"Hey, all this stuff is fake, isn't it?" Zhao Fei had somehow found his way to the stall.

The vendor shot him a look and retorted, "Look if you want to look, buy if you want to buy. No need for idle chatter. Everything here is authentic. Don't even think about using that line to haggle."

Zhao Fei couldn't help but snicker, "Real, huh? If you had anything genuine, you wouldn't be peddling it in a place like this, would you?"

The vendor bristled at Zhao Fei's comments, shooting back, "That's something only someone who can't afford it would say. Scram! If you're not buying, don't get in the way of my business!"

Zhao Fei, not one to back down, retorted, "Your junk? If I really wanted it, I could snap it all up in a heartbeat!"

Despite his youth, Zhao Fei's confidence was outsized. The vendor, no pushover himself, had a knack for sizing people up. He could tell right off the bat that Zhao Fei was trouble, though he couldn't fathom the intent behind his words.

Choosing to ignore Zhao Fei, the vendor turned his attention to peddling his wares to the other customers.

Zhao Fei, feigning nonchalance, sidled up to Xiao Nan with a sardonic grin. "Well, look who's here. Fancy running into you. Scrounging for bargains again, are we? Seen anything that catches your eye?"