Zhang Yun Yao ignored Wang Chaoyang's words and walked straight over to me, politely asking, "Young Master Wu, would you sell me that talisman?"
I glanced at Zhang Yun Yao, surprised she suddenly showed up.
Others didn't know my true identity, but Zhang Yun Yao definitely did—after all, she and her father had visited the courtyard where I lived.
Master had told me that my first business deal couldn't be made in Yanbei. Even though it was just a small talisman, I couldn't sell it to Zhang Yun Yao here.
Most classmates didn't recognize the value of this talisman; only Zhang Yun Yao understood its importance.
I smiled and said, "Since Wang Chaoyang looks down on this talisman, I'll give it to you as a gift. No charge."
Upon hearing that, Zhang Yun Yao was overjoyed. Worried I might change my mind, she quickly took the talisman and thanked me repeatedly.
"Young Master Wu, such a valuable item shouldn't be free. I only have a bank card with 100,000 yuan on me. If that's not enough, I can have my father personally bring you the payment," she added.
"No need. I said it's a gift—no payment," I waved her off.
Since Master said I couldn't do business in Yanbei, giving the talisman away for free didn't count as a transaction. That way, I wasn't breaking his rule.
Wang Chaoyang and the other classmates looked utterly confused, unable to understand why Zhang Yun Yao valued the talisman so much.
"Yao Yao, this is just a scrap of paper Wu Jie doodled on for fun. Why are you treating it like treasure? What's so special about it?" Wang Chaoyang couldn't help but voice what everyone was thinking.
"Wang Chaoyang, don't you know what kind of classmate you have?" Zhang Yun Yao shot back.
"He's amazing? His grades are the worst in our class—the only one who didn't get into university. How amazing is that?" a classmate nearby chimed in.
"You guys really have no idea who Young Master Wu is. His master is Feng Shui King Li Xuantong. My father and I have visited him many times, but we never got to meet the man himself. Do you know how precious these talismans are? Many have spent huge sums and still couldn't get one. And… do you really think the disciple of the Feng Shui King needs to go to university?" Zhang Yun Yao said in one breath.
As the daughter of Julong Group chairman Zhang Yucheng, no one doubted her words.
The whole table was stunned, staring at me in disbelief.
They couldn't understand how someone so low-key and invisible in class could be the disciple of Feng Shui King Li Xuantong.
Although none of them knew exactly who Li Xuantong was, anyone called a "King" must have extraordinary power.
Our little scene attracted a crowd, and Wang Chaoyang's father approached, curious.
"Chaoyang, Yao Yao, what's going on here?" he asked.
"Uncle Wang, let me introduce you. This is Wu Jie, the disciple of Feng Shui King Li Xuantong. He's in the same class as Wang Chaoyang," Zhang Yun Yao explained.
Wang Chaoyang's father's eyes widened in excitement; he clearly had heard of my Master's name.
In Yanbei, every wealthy person worth their salt had heard of Feng Shui King Li Xuantong—and he lived right here.
But over the years, my Master had almost always refused to handle Feng Shui matters for anyone, making him even more mysterious.
"You little brat! You have such an impressive classmate and didn't tell me? He's a VIP! How could you let him sit there?" Wang's father glared fiercely at Wang Chaoyang and scolded him loudly.
"Dad, I… I didn't know he was the Feng Shui King's disciple. He never said anything," Wang Chaoyang stammered.
"Uncle Wang, Young Master Wu gave Wang Chaoyang a talisman, but he looked down on it and even mocked him. I'll keep this talisman," Zhang Yun Yao said.
Hearing this, Wang's father exploded with anger, kicking Wang Chaoyang's backside. "You wastrel! Do you know how much a talisman from Feng Shui King Li Xuantong is worth? You didn't want it, fine, but why insult Young Master Wu? You deserve a good beating."
Wang Chaoyang looked aggrieved and helpless.
Then Wang's father shamelessly approached me, politely saying, "Young Master Wu, please join me. I never expected someone of your status to be in my son's class. If I had known earlier, I might have met the Feng Shui King myself."
"Uncle, no need for that. I'm already full," I replied with a smile.
"By the way, do you have any more talismans? Maybe you could give me another?" he asked.
"Sorry, Uncle Wang. I was in a hurry when I came and only prepared one. Since Wang Chaoyang doesn't appreciate it, I had to give it to Zhang Yun Yao," I said with a smile.
Wang's father looked disappointed and glared sharply at Wang Chaoyang again.
After that, I ignored everyone and sat pretending to continue eating. Since no one left, I felt awkward about leaving.
Wang's father, seeing I wouldn't give him a talisman, left helplessly.
At that moment, Zhang Yun Yao came over and sat beside me politely.
"Young Master Wu, can we talk for a moment?" she asked.
"It's a bit noisy here. Wait for me outside after the banquet," I said.
She nodded eagerly, "Alright, it's a deal. I'll wait for you outside."
I didn't plan to do business with her family. Although she had helped me today, I wouldn't break Master's rule.
Even if no business came of it, I wanted to hear what was going on with her family and maybe give her some advice.
After everyone left, I stayed at the table.
No one laughed at me anymore or mocked my talisman as some silly doodle. Even their looks changed.
Yet inside, I felt nothing but a faint emptiness.
From today on, I and this group of classmates were from two different worlds.
But afterward, more classmates started reaching out, many who barely spoke to me before now eagerly greeting me like old friends from a lifetime ago.
Surrounded by so many, I still felt inexplicably lonely and wistful.
Youth was gone, and my classmates were no longer innocent.
Honestly, I missed the old days when they simply ignored me—at least then, there was no smell of money or snobbery in the air.