Even with mental preparation, Wang Guan was taken aback upon hearing this. He could naturally sense that Gao Dequan’s attitude had completely shifted, shedding the previous scrutiny and wariness.

“Your appreciation for antiques is excellent; utilizing that talent in financial management is frankly a waste,” Gao Dequan said, half-explaining, half-joking. “If you put in the hard work to study, I suspect it won’t take more than a few years for you to surpass your mentor.”

“Manager Gao, I…”

For a moment, Wang Guan couldn't sort out his thoughts, unsure how to respond.

“What, you’re unwilling?” Gao Dequan frowned.

“Of course not.”

Wang Guan quickly shook his head, and in a flash of thought, he suddenly understood.

He had heard that the true circle of antique connoisseurs was fiercely exclusive. To integrate himself, he needed a guide, and Gao Dequan, possessing both ability and connections, was likely the best candidate.

Since Gao Dequan showed this willingness to mentor him, Wang Guan felt he had no reason to refuse. He decided to go with the flow, breaking into a smile. “Thank you for your consideration, Manager Gao.”

“Mm!”

Gao Dequan, however, frowned again. “If you are learning under me from now on, that form of address might need to change.”

“Change to what…”

Wang Guan paused, then immediately reacted, saying with a smile, “Uncle De, I’ll have to trouble you from now on.”

“As long as you study diligently, I will teach you seriously,” Gao Dequan nodded and said solemnly. “Remember, this suggestion comes from Elder Qian. I hope you don't disappoint him in the future.”

“Uh!”

Only then did Wang Guan fully grasp the situation.

A complex feeling, somewhere between laughter and tears, washed over him. He had initially intended to repay a favor, but unexpectedly, not only did he fail to clear that debt, but he incurred another instead.

Never mind. Debts rarely crush one person; there will always be a day to repay any favor owed.

Wang Guan thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered something. “Right, Uncle De, do you have Yu Feibai’s contact information?”

“Why, do you need him for something?” Gao Dequan asked, somewhat puzzled.

“The deal went through. He was the middleman, wasn't he? About the three-to-two split.”

Wang Guan looked slightly embarrassed. “I was a bit confused just now and forgot about that.”

“Haha, there’s no need for that.”

Gao Dequan burst into laughter. “You actually took him for a mere broker! He’s purely playing around; he doesn’t care about that little bit of money. If you give him cash, it will only embarrass him.”

Wang Guan nodded, thinking that was probably true; with Yu Feibai’s background, how could he possibly be just an intermediary?

“Wang Guan, don’t overthink anything else. Just settle in comfortably at the Antiquity Collection Studio,” Gao Dequan suddenly smiled. “In a way, this is your opportunity. Don't let it slip away.”

“I understand, thank you for the reminder, Uncle De.”

Wang Guan smiled, then hesitated slightly. “Uncle De, may I request a few days off…”

“Take time off? What are you going to do?”

Gao Dequan was startled. Hadn’t they just settled everything? Why the sudden request for leave, especially on his first day of work?

“I plan to go home for a while,” Wang Guan rubbed his nose, a hard-to-conceal smile on his face. “I’ve just come into some money, and my family doesn’t know yet…”

Gao Dequan instantly understood, a hint of approval in his eyes. He smiled softly. “Returning home in glory—that’s a natural human sentiment, completely understandable. You should definitely go home and give your parents their due filial piety.”

“Isn’t that right,” Wang Guan replied with a modest smile. “I realize requesting leave so abruptly might be inappropriate, but I’m a bit impatient. I ask for your understanding, Uncle De.”

“Inappropriate? What’s inappropriate about it?”

Gao Dequan waved his hand grandly and slapped the desk. “Go back tomorrow. Spend quality time with your family. As for the duration of the leave, don’t worry about it—return whenever you feel ready.”

“Thank you, Uncle De.” Wang Guan’s face lit up with joy.

“Alright, judging by your state, you won't be able to sit still anyway. You can clock out now and go pack your things. By the way, do you drive? Shall I lend you a car to take home?” Gao Dequan was tactful and didn't mind adding icing to the cake.

“No trouble…”

Although the form of address had changed, their relationship hadn't reached the point of true familiarity yet. Wang Guan politely declined, offered a few more thanks, and then left the Antiquity Collection Studio, hailing a cab toward the train station.

After buying his ticket for the following day at the station, Wang Guan returned to his residence. He quickly packed a few items of clothing, the almost unbearable excitement making him want to dial the phone number repeatedly to share the good news with his family.

However, wanting to give his family a huge surprise, Wang Guan managed to restrain himself. After lying on the bed for a long time, his agitated emotions finally began to subside.

As his thoughts wandered, Wang Guan suddenly recalled the situation he noticed in Yu Feibai’s car. He immediately turned over, retrieved a mirror, and began to examine himself closely.

The familiar image appeared on the glass; everything looked no different.

Truthfully, while Wang Guan wasn't conventionally handsome, his features were balanced, and his demeanor was relatively gentle, giving people a feeling of steadfast reliability. With ordinary looks and average height, though not outstanding, he appeared approachable.

In any case, looking at himself in the mirror, Wang Guan had never felt inferior; on the contrary, he thought he looked rather handsome.

After slightly adjusting his hairstyle, Wang Guan ended his moment of narcissism and focused his gaze intently into the mirror, concentrating hard. Soon, he felt the aura latent between his brows begin to circulate again.

At first, Wang Guan saw no change, but when the energy flowed to his eyes, he clearly observed, in the crisp reflection of the mirror, that delicate, gossamer-like golden threads were appearing within his pupils.

Although this strange phenomenon was extremely brief, flashing in and out of existence, Wang Guan was certain he hadn't misseen it; this was definitely not an optical illusion.

Fortunately, Wang Guan was mentally prepared. He took a deep breath, suppressed the astonishment welling up inside him, and slowly calmed down, observing his eyes again with meticulous care.

By this time, the gossamer golden threads had vanished, but Wang Guan clearly sensed that they were still coiled within the depths of his pupils, yet they no longer showed up in the reflection.

This meant that these golden threads must be like the radiant aura emanating from antiques—only he could see them; others wouldn't notice.

Thinking this, Wang Guan let out a sigh of relief. At least now he wouldn't have to fear being unintentionally discovered when using his special abilities. Otherwise, being mistaken for a superhero might be tolerable, but being seen as a monster and sent to a research institute for dissection would leave him weeping tears of regret.

“However, this isn’t the main point…”

Meanwhile, Wang Guan seemed to have grasped something else and continued to scrutinize his reflection. Immediately, he noticed that his eyes looked different from usual.

Previously, like ordinary people, due to long-term exposure to UV rays, dust, and other contaminants, pigment had clumped into macules on his conjunctiva, making his pupils a pale yellow, appearing rather turbid.

But now, Wang Guan noticed his eyes seemed to have instantly reverted to his childhood state: his pupils were incredibly clear, as dark and pure as those of a small child.

.................. New book! Seeking collection and recommendations; please give your support.