Zhang Yunyao, disregarding Wang Chaoyang, walked directly toward me.
"Mr. Wu," she began politely, "Could I purchase that amulet from you?"
Her sudden appearance surprised me.
While my other classmates remained unaware of my true identity,
Zhang Yunyao had visited my courtyard with her father - she knew exactly who I was.
My master had forbidden me from conducting my first business transaction with anyone in Yanbei.
Though it was just a small amulet, I couldn't sell it to her.
My classmates were oblivious to its value, but Zhang Yunyao understood its significance.
"Classmate," I smiled, "Wang Chaoyang doesn't seem to appreciate theamulet, so I'll gladly give it to you. No need for money."
Overjoyed and worried I might change my mind, Zhang Yunyao quickly took theamulet.
"Mr. Wu, this is incredibly valuable. It's not right to take it for free. I have ten thousand yuan on my card, and if that's not enough, I'll ask my father to deliver the rest personally," she insisted.
"No need," I waved my hand dismissively. " I've given it to you." Giving it away wouldn't technically be a business transaction, so it shouldn't violate my master's rule.
Confusion descended upon Wang Chaoyang and the others.
Why would Zhang Yunyao treasure a simple amulet so much?
"Yaoyao," Wang Chaoyang questioned, bewildered. "Why are you treating that piece of junk like it's something special?"
"Wang Chaoyang," Zhang Yunyao responded, "You're completely oblivious to his talents."
"Talented?" another classmate scoffed. "He's at the bottom of our class, the only one who didn't get into college. What talent?"
"You clearly don't know who Mr. Wu truly is. His master is Li Xuantong, the King of Feng Shui! My father and I tried to meet him several times, but it was impossible. This amulet is priceless! Do you really think the King of Feng Shui's disciple needs to go to college?"
No one dared to question the words of Zhang Yunyao, daughter of the chairman of Julong Group.
Silence fell over the table as my classmates stared at me in disbelief.
The unremarkable, quiet student they knew was the disciple of Li Xuantong, the King of Feng Shui?
The title alone suggested extraordinary abilities.
The commotion drew curious onlookers, and soon, Wang Chaoyang's father joined us.
"Chaoyang, Yaoyao," he inquired, "What's happening?"
"Uncle Wang," Zhang Yunyao explained, "This is Wu Jie, Li Xuantong's disciple and Wang Chaoyang's classmate."
Wang Chaoyang's father's eyes widened in excitement.
The name Li Xuantong, the King of Feng Shui, was familiar to every wealthy individual in Yanbei City.
For years, my master had declined almost all requests for his services, shrouding himself in an aura of mystery.
"You rascal!" he roared at Wang Chaoyang, incensed. "Why didn't you tell me you knew someone like Mr. Wu? He's a distinguished guest! How could you let him sit here?!"
"Dad, I... I didn't know he was the King of Feng Shui's disciple. He never said anything," Wang Chaoyang stammered, bewildered by his father's outburst.
Zhang Yunyao intervened, "Uncle Wang, Mr. Wu gifted Wang Chaoyang a amulet, but he ridiculed it, claiming it was cheap. I simply accepted the amulet since he didn't want it."
Wang Chaoyang's father was furious.
He kicked Wang Chaoyang, yelling, "You foolish boy! Do you have any idea how much a amulet from the King of Feng Shui is worth? And even if you didn't want it, why offend Mr. Wu? You need a good beating for this!"
Wang Chaoyang, on the verge of tears, felt utterly wronged.
His father turned to me, shamelessly pleading, "Mr. Wu, please, come sit with me. I had no idea who you were! Knowing you're Chaoyang's classmate... perhaps I could finally have the chance to meet the King of Feng Shui?"
"Uncle, please, there's no need to be so polite," I said, amused. "But I'm quite full now."
"Well, do you perhaps have another amulet?" he pressed. "Could you spare one for me?"
"I'm sorry, Uncle Wang," I smiled. "I came in a hurry and only brought one. Wang Chaoyang didn't want it, so I gave it to Zhang Yunyao."
Regret washed over Wang Chaoyang's father as he shot his son another venomous glare.
Choosing to ignore the spectacle, I pretended to continue eating.
Everyone else had left, and I didn't feel comfortable being the only one remaining.
Wang's father, realizing his pleas were futile, left with slumped shoulders.
Zhang Yunyao approached and sat beside me.
"Mr. Wu," she asked politely, "May I have a word with you?"
"It's a little noisy here," I replied. "Why don't you wait for me outside after the banquet?"
"Of course," she agreed immediately. "I'll wait for you outside."
Business with Zhang Yunyao's family was out of the question, even considering her help earlier.
I couldn't disobey my master.
However, I was willing to listen to her family's situation and offer some advice – a good deed was still a good deed.
As I sat there after everyone left, no one dared to mock me or call my amulet a doodle.
Their gazes had transformed, now filled with a newfound respect tinged with awe.
Their change in attitude did little to move me.
Instead, I felt a subtle sense of boredom.
Our paths were diverging.
From this point on, my classmates and I would inhabit different worlds.
Despite this, many classmates tried to rekindle our nonexistent friendships.
They flocked around me, showering me with warmth and familiarity, as if we had been the closest of friends for years.
Strangely, their sudden attentiveness only amplified my loneliness.
The innocence of youth had faded, replaced by materialistic desire and thinly veiled social climbing.
I yearned for the days when I was invisible to them, before their actions were driven by greed and status.