Chapter 48: Tinged with a Hint of Disdain for Him...

Such a blunt refusal left the bearded man awkward for a moment; only then did he realize that this girl probably had no idea who he was. He cleared his throat and began to introduce himself.

“My name is Ron, and I am the chief designer of this jewelry company,” he said with confidence.

The name Ron was one that anyone with even a passing knowledge of jewelry, whether at home or abroad, would recognize. He assumed that once he finished his introduction, the young woman before him would immediately agree with delight.

But—she did not.

After hearing his introduction, Lin Nanxun blinked at him in confusion. She seemed to have heard that name somewhere before.

Seeing her remain silent, Ron could not help but press further. “I will take you as my last apprentice. This is a rare opportunity.”

However, after listening to his words, Lin Nanxun simply shook her head, carefully folded the drawings she had just made, and tucked them into the pocket of her down jacket, paying him little mind.

Ron was left embarrassed.

It was well known that he never took on students. Most believed it was due to his arrogance, but they did not know that, all these years, he simply had never met anyone he wished to teach.

He had always thought his fate would be to guard his life’s work and depart this world in solitude, forgotten by all. He never expected, at nearly fifty years old, to finally meet a promising young talent he wanted to mentor as his last disciple.

Yet she refused.

“Little girl, don’t regret this,” Ron said, somewhat unwilling to accept her answer. It wasn’t that he absolutely had to have an apprentice, but after so many years, having finally found someone he wanted to teach, he couldn’t help but try to win her over.

But—

The girl before him was already ignoring him, likely finding him tiresome.

Ron's expression showed defeat, but he was not ready to give up. He continued, stubbornly, to persuade her.

“As my apprentice, your future will be bright. You’ll become the most renowned jewelry designer.”

His words finished, Lin Nanxun was already ignoring him, quietly shifting her seat and resuming her fruit from before.

Ron was helpless; he suspected she hadn’t fully understood him, so he simplified his pitch.

“You can earn a lot of money!” Money was never something he cared to mention, but for a potential apprentice, he would make exceptions.

Unfortunately, Lin Nanxun seemed utterly uninterested in his words, continuing to eat her fruit in silence.

Ron looked at the unmoved girl and felt a pang in his heart. Perhaps this was karma: so many had tried desperately to become his apprentice only for him to turn them away, and now that he finally met someone he wished to teach, she ignored him, her large eyes even showing a hint of disdain.

Just as Ron was sighing and troubled, a noise came from outside, and suddenly the office door was pushed open.

Shen Hanzhi, just finished with a meeting, entered with a stern face, radiating an air of unapproachability. His mood was evidently poor.

Upon seeing the man walk in with a grim expression, Ron was startled. He was about to kindly pull the girl up, lest she offend Shen Hanzhi, when—

Lin Nanxun, still eating fruit, saw who had returned and her face instantly lit up with a joyful smile.

“Villain!”