"You haven't made a mistake," Liu Yunqi took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions, making her voice sound less agitated, though the slight tremor at the end betrayed her feelings. "On the contrary, you've grown an absolute, one-of-a-kind treasure."

"Really?" Zhong Yun asked in disbelief.

"Truly."

Liu Yunqi nodded firmly, gazing at the potted flower with admiration and intoxication in her eyes. "This is—" she paused, her breath catching slightly, as if sighing, "unparalleled."

Zhong Yun took in her expression, thinking that the rumors were true; she was a true flower fanatic—someone whose adoration for flora bordered on obsession.

After a long moment, she tore herself away from the flower's endless charm and turned to face Zhong Yun. "How did you do it?" She still couldn't quite believe an amateur could cultivate such a legendary rarity.

Zhong Yun scratched his head. "I don't really know. I just followed the instructions that came with the seeds. It was fine at first, but then, somehow, it turned out like this."

What else could Liu Yunqi say but to marvel at his luck? Yet, she still harbored some doubt. "Actually, I'm not entirely certain this is the legendary... I'll take you to see someone; perhaps he can properly appraise it."

Zhong Yun carefully repacked the flower and followed Liu Yunqi inside. She was already on the phone. "Old Man Huang? Where are you? ...The cultivation lab. Okay, I'm coming over now... I have an orchid I'd like you to examine."

They passed through several gates, traversed a long corridor, and finally entered a vast open-air courtyard. Upon entering, a burst of fresh, earthy scent—unmistakably the aroma of plants—wafted over them.

Zhong Yun stared at the rows of familiar and unfamiliar flora, his heart skipping a beat. In his eyes, these were towering stacks of hard cash. Before coming here, he had looked into the market rates for these flowers. Every single one he recognized was worth a fortune, starting in the low six figures. This place must hold thousands of such specimens.

"Yunqi, why are you here?"

Just as Zhong Yun was mentally tallying the courtyard's value, a voice filled with pleasant surprise called out. He turned to see a young man dressed in high-end designer clothing running toward them.

Zhong Yun felt an instant wave of distaste toward the newcomer. The fellow was overly groomed, with slicked-back hair, clearly born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His brow was perpetually furrowed with the inherent arrogance characteristic of young masters from established families.

Liu Yunqi’s expression tightened slightly upon seeing him. She responded coolly, "Fei Yingming. You're here too."

Fei Yingming glanced at Zhong Yun, and a flicker of distaste crossed his face. Though swift, Zhong Yun caught it. Moreover, Zhong Yun was certain Liu Yunqi noticed it too, as her expression became even colder, mirroring the look she had given the receptionist who had initially disregarded him.

In that instant, Zhong Yun seemed to grasp a facet of her character. She valued equality, which was why she attended a public school despite being from a wealthy family. She was genuinely kind; even though Zhong Yun and she had never truly spoken before, she had stood up for him simply because they were classmates. She disliked seeing her friends slighted, whether it was the receptionist or this wealthy fly buzzing around her now.

Realizing this, Zhong Yun's regard for Liu Yunqi increased dramatically—not because of any residual memory from the previous Zhong Yun, but because of her rare and wonderful qualities. He sensed that her demeanor wasn't an act; everything came from within. She possessed a heart of gold.

Fei Yingming, utterly oblivious to his status as an annoying fly, continued to hover near her. "I came with my grandfather."

Zhong Yun had already seen a large group approaching. At the forefront was an elderly man with silver-white hair, yet his bearing was robust, his walk strong and vigorous. Behind him, a crowd enveloped the elder like stars orbiting a planet, indicating his significant status.

The old man spotted Liu Yunqi from a distance and chuckled warmly. "Little girl from the Liu family, you haven't visited this old man in quite some time." His voice boomed like a great bell.

Liu Yunqi smiled sweetly. "Grandpa Fei, my studies have been quite demanding."

Her tone, laced with playful familiarity, caught Zhong Yun's attention. He found this more girlish side of Liu Yunqi even more endearing.

Old Man Fei teased knowingly, "Demanding studies? Or perhaps busy with romance?" As he spoke, his gaze deliberately flickered toward Zhong Yun.

Two spots of red rose in Liu Yunqi’s cheeks. She playfully scolded, "Grandpa Fei, you are truly lacking in decorum for an elder."

Zhong Yun could only smile wryly to himself. That look from the old man earlier hadn't been very friendly. Meanwhile, Fei Yingming, standing beside Liu Yunqi, fixed Zhong Yun with an icy glare that sent a chill down his spine.

Old Man Fei laughed heartily. "It was my fault. How about this: you've always adored my Sapphire Tear orchid, haven't you? I'll give it to you as an apology. What do you say?"

Liu Yunqi gasped in delight. "Truly?"

Zhong Yun nearly choked. Rich people were indeed rich; their generosity was staggering. The Sapphire Tear was one of Dawa's most famous flowers, named for its all-blue hue and a stamen shaped like a teardrop. It had once fetched an astronomical eight million at auction—definitely one of the most expensive flowers in existence.

While Liu Yunqi hesitated over accepting, Old Man Fei addressed his grandson. "Yingming, you can go home later and deliver the flower to little Qi."

"Grandpa Fei, the Sapphire Tear is your treasure; how can little Qi..."

Old Man Fei feigned anger. "Does something Grandpa gives away get taken back?" He softened his tone. "Since you love flowers, it won't be wasted on you. From now on, I entrust him to you; you must take good care of him."

Liu Yunqi truly couldn't resist the temptation. Moreover, their families were old acquaintances; refusing after the elder had gone this far would cause offense. She resolved to gift him something of equivalent value in return. Thus, she agreed.

Seeing her nod, Old Man Fei was greatly relieved, as if giving away a beloved item resulted in him gaining a huge advantage. His gaze shifted to Zhong Yun. "This young man looks unfamiliar. Which family's young master is he?"

"His name is Zhong Yun; he's a classmate. We happened to meet at the entrance and came in together," Liu Yunqi explained.

Old Man Fei nodded, glancing again at the somewhat reserved Zhong Yun. Ah, just an ordinary commoner. He wouldn't pose any threat to Ming'er, he concluded. With that thought, his expression toward Zhong Yun softened.

Fei Yingming, standing nearby, sneered inwardly, believing he had seen through Zhong Yun’s pretense. A toad dreaming of eating swan meat. This low-class nobody thinks he can pursue my Yunqi? Hmph.

Zhong Yun, naturally unaware of Fei Yingming's thoughts, knew that without power or influence, maintaining a low profile was paramount. With ZER by his side, given enough time, everyone before him would eventually be bowing at his feet. He was very patient.

Liu Yunqi steered the conversation back to business. "My classmate has grown a... peculiar orchid and wanted someone to help him appraise it."

"Qi, your own appraisal skills aren't low. Why seek help so far afield?" Old Man Fei said casually. What good could a common young man possibly cultivate?

"I've seen it, but I'm not entirely confident."

"Oh?" Old Man Fei became interested. "Could it be a mutation? Let me see it."

Zhong Yun held the box, holding his breath, and carefully opened it.

"Hmph," Fei Yingming, already irritated by the young man, sneered the moment he saw the flower. "It's just a bud! You dare bring this for appraisal? Who are you trying to fool..." He didn't finish his sentence.

"The Seven Fairies..." a trembling voice exclaimed.

P: It's the fourth day since the new book launched, and I only have a pathetic three recommendations. It's making me feel utterly cold. Brothers, give me some motivation!