**
A figure emerged from the manor just as the black Mercedes parked.
"Dad!" Ning Feipeng called, jogging over to greet the man—Ning Jianye, the head of Dragon Leap Jewelry, and his mother, Li Chunmei.
Rumor had it the two were high school sweethearts who fell hard for each other. Their passion led to Ning Feipeng's birth before they even tied the knot.
Ning Jianye nodded at his son. "Everything ready?"
"All set, just waiting for the banquet to start," Ning Feipeng replied seriously. This event was too crucial for him to slack off, even as the heir to Dragon Leap Jewelry.
Ning Jianye gave a curt nod, casting one last glance at the Lamborghini Huracan nearby before taking Li Chunmei's arm and heading into the manor.
---
Inside, Lin Fan trailed Zhou Momo through Tianhai Manor, his jaw practically dropping. The place oozed extravagance—world-famous paintings adorned the walls, tableware gleamed with pure gold, and even the toilet paper was gold-plated! *Poverty really did limit my imagination,* he thought, stunned.
Zhou Momo smirked. "What, never been here before?"
Lin Fan nodded honestly. "I was dirt poor before. Worked my butt off every day. No way I could afford a place like this."
She rolled her eyes, clearly skeptical. With Lin Fan's skills, how could he *not* make money? Lin Fan just shrugged—nobody believed the truth these days.
They soon reached a private suite where two men waited, both in sharp suits. The middle-aged man on the left, wearing retro glasses, looked frail enough to be knocked over by a breeze. The older man on the right, decked out in gaudy gold and silver, leaned on a diamond-encrusted cane, his face radiating arrogance.
The middle-aged man stood and smiled. "Miss Zhou."
The old man, however, stayed seated, twirling his cane without a glance.
Zhou Momo ignored the slight and introduced Lin Fan. "These are Zhoufu Jewelry's appraisers. This is Master Quan, and that's Master Xiang. Both are top material appraisers, especially Master Xiang—he's a legend in the jewelry world with a 40% accuracy rate."
Lin Fan nodded. Forty percent wasn't jaw-dropping, but in the jewelry game, it was impressive enough to show the old man had skills.
Master Quan extended a hand, smiling warmly. "Nice to meet you, young man. Are you an appraiser for the Zhou family too?"
Lin Fan shook his hand, keeping it humble. "Nah, I'm just here to check things out. Can't compare to you masters."
Quan chuckled. "Fair enough. Tonight's a big deal—top players and appraisers from the jewelry world will be here. You'll learn a lot just by watching."
They exchanged pleasantries before falling silent. Zhou Momo glanced at Master Xiang, frowning. She'd brought Lin Fan here, but the old man hadn't even acknowledged him, let alone stood to greet her. His rudeness grated on her, but she bit her tongue. Xiang's appraisal skills were vital to Zhoufu Jewelry—she couldn't afford to cross him.
Lin Fan noticed her frustration but brushed it off with a smile. If the old man wanted to ignore him, he wasn't going to waste his breath either.
Clearing her throat, Zhou Momo said, "The banquet's starting soon. Zhoufu Jewelry is counting on you three." She glanced at Lin Fan, grinning. "You've got some luck, so keep it up. Find us some good stuff, and we'll split the profits 50-50."
Lin Fan nodded casually, but inside, he was thrilled. *Good stuff? With my system, it's not about finding treasure—it's about whether I bother to pick it up!*
Master Quan raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Miss Zhou, you seem high on this kid. Does he actually know appraisal?"
He'd assumed Lin Fan was just here to spectate, but Zhou Momo's tone suggested she had real expectations. This banquet was the jewelry industry's big leagues—only tycoons and elite appraisers attended. Her confidence in Lin Fan implied he had some skills.
Lin Fan waved it off modestly. "Just a little."
Quan nodded, unconvinced. The kid was young—probably knew a few tricks at best, nowhere near their level.
But then, Master Xiang, who'd been silent, let out a sneer. "Hmph, a brat who hasn't even grown his beard yet? What does he know? Outsiders see the show, but insiders see the craft. One look at this kid, and I can tell he's got nothing."
His mocking tone dripped with disdain. "Miss Zhou, it's fine to let him tag along for a look, but pinning your hopes on him? Save it. This kid's useless."
Lin Fan's eyes narrowed. This old man wasn't just rude—he was downright insufferable. Still, for Zhou Momo's sake and potential future deals, he held his tongue.
Zhou Momo, however, wasn't so restrained. Her frown deepened. "Master Xiang, I respect you as a senior, but you don't get to insult my friend like that."
"Friend?" Xiang stood slowly, leaning on his cane. He shot Lin Fan a scornful glance. "So what? I don't respect him. What's Miss Zhou gonna do, kick me out?"
With a mocking chuckle, he hobbled out of the room, cane tapping arrogantly. He knew Zhoufu Jewelry needed his skills and wouldn't dare touch him.
His arrogance was on full display.
---
**