Chapter Six: The Goal Achieved, The Ancestral Cauldron

He was a middle-aged man, towering like an iron tower. Dressed in a black suit, he stood at least two meters tall. He positioned himself just behind Zhou Yunqiong, his face dark and stern, his eyes sharp and cutting. Even in silence, he radiated an oppressive aura that made people instinctively want to keep their distance. No wonder Li Hansheng had retreated a couple of steps.

“This is Uncle Zuo,” Zhou Yunqiong said with a gentle smile, explaining, “My family worries about my safety when I’m out alone, so they asked him to accompany me.” Her tone was affable, meant to soothe any unease among those present.

“I see,” Li Hansheng replied with an awkward laugh, trying to cover his embarrassment. He then turned to the group and announced, “Now that Yunqiong’s here, let’s all welcome her.”

“Welcome, welcome!”
“Yunqiong, you finally made it.”
“We were getting anxious waiting for you. Please, have a seat.”

Nearly everyone in the room stood up, smiles on their faces, each showing the utmost courtesy. Zhou Yunqiong’s background was well known among her classmates. In today’s world, wealth and connections naturally commanded respect, and so everyone greeted her warmly. As for Uncle Zuo, it was clear to all that he was some kind of bodyguard.

Yet Lu Yuan acted differently from the rest. He remained seated, quietly sipping his drink, showing no intention of rising. This scene caused a few to frown slightly, thinking he was putting on airs. Even if he had done well for himself, could he really compare to Zhou Yunqiong’s family?

But Zhou Yunqiong didn’t seem to mind in the least. At her classmates’ invitation, she took the seat of honor. By now, the dishes had all been served, but no one dared to start eating first; everyone was waiting.

“We’re all old friends here, no need to be so formal. Please, help yourselves,” Zhou Yunqiong said with a soft smile, then took the initiative to reminisce about their university days, finally easing the atmosphere.

She was beautiful—her cool elegance now softened by an approachable demeanor. Soon, a few classmates relaxed and responded more freely. Still, the conversation inevitably revolved around Zhou Yunqiong. Back in university, this would not have been the case; after all, they had not yet entered the real world. Now, having faced the harshness of reality, they understood its weight all too well.

Some of the female classmates were already considering whether they should try to befriend her. If such a connection could land them a position at Wu Zhou Group, even in a branch office, it might well change their fate. After all, this was one of the top three conglomerates in all of Shanghai.

So, many took the initiative to toast her, glasses clinking as they vied for her attention. Most enthusiastic among them were Li Hansheng and Wang Zibo, who kept bringing up amusing stories from their university days. Their banter even drew laughter from Zhou Yunqiong, her smile so radiant it seemed to dim the lights in the room.

“Do you remember, back in our first semester, one afternoon, Lu Yuan walked into the classroom with a bouquet and tried to confess to Zhou Yunqiong?” one female classmate recalled, her spirits high.

Suddenly, the room fell silent as everyone turned to look. But at that moment, Lu Yuan simply lowered his head, quietly eating, unmoved by their stares.

This puzzled everyone. Lu Yuan’s affection for Zhou Yunqiong had lasted four years, something all the classmates knew. Yet now, seeing her again, he showed no reaction at all. Wasn’t he supposed to be the most attentive one?

Zhou Yunqiong glanced over, her brows faintly furrowed. She had noticed too—since she entered, Lu Yuan was the only one who hadn’t greeted her, hadn’t even looked up, his silence almost unsettling. This was not the Lu Yuan she remembered.

“It’s all in the past. Let’s talk about something else,” she suggested, steering the conversation away while casting Lu Yuan a deep look.

“Lu Yuan, it’s rare for us all to get together—why don’t you join in the conversation?” Chen Song, who sat nearby, asked in a quiet voice, clearly puzzled.

“You haven’t said much either, have you?” Lu Yuan replied calmly. He had no interest in gatherings like this; if not for his own reasons, he would not have come at all.

“I… I…” Chen Song stammered and fell silent, head bowed. Among all the classmates, his family’s situation was the worst. He was painfully aware of his own insignificance, always the background, never the center—so unremarkable that even if he left suddenly, no one would notice.

Lu Yuan understood this well and didn’t press further. Instead, he exchanged a few words with Chen Song, inquiring casually about his family.

In this way, time passed, the meal ended, and when Li Hansheng suggested karaoke, everyone agreed at once. They had reserved the most luxurious suite at the Cloud Hotel, with a private karaoke room right next door.

“Lu Yuan, let’s go too,” Chen Song said, standing as he watched the others file out.

“No rush.”

Lu Yuan shook his head and then asked, “If I recall, your family has an heirloom—a small ancient cauldron, right?”

“Yes, it’s still in my father’s chest. Why do you ask?” Chen Song was taken aback, then added, “Are you interested in it, Lu Yuan?”

“I am.” Lu Yuan did not deny it, finally revealing his true purpose for coming. The reunion was just a pretext; what he really wanted was the ancient cauldron from Chen Song’s family.

It wasn’t a treasure, nor did it possess miraculous powers like the Bodhi Tree, which could bestow terrifying benefits after the world’s transformation. Still, it was an extremely mysterious object, closely tied to a series of future plans—vitally important.

“This…” Chen Song hesitated.

“I know that someone once offered two hundred thousand yuan for the cauldron, but your father refused,” Lu Yuan interrupted. “I can offer more. You mentioned your father suffers from diabetes, that your family’s expenses are high, and you need money to get by, isn’t that right?”

“But…” Chen Song still hesitated.

“Five hundred thousand,” Lu Yuan said, raising three fingers. “And I can transfer three hundred thousand as a down payment right now.”

With that, he fell silent, choosing to wait patiently; at a time like this, it was best not to push. His earlier patience had been deliberate—find out what the other person needed, then make an offer. That was the wisest course.

Of course, Lu Yuan had plenty of money and could raise the price further, but why do so if there was a better way?

“I… want to discuss it with my father first,” Chen Song said, clearly startled by the amount, and his family did need the money.

He did not agree immediately, but said he needed to talk it over.

“Then give me your bank account number,” Lu Yuan replied, smiling. He transferred three hundred thousand on the spot. “Let me know what you decide.”

After that, he gave Chen Song a nod and walked out of the room. He knew he had nearly achieved his goal.

“Aren’t you coming to sing, Lu Yuan?”
“No, I have something else to take care of.”