Chapter 67: Money Is the Least of My Concerns

“Really?” Madam Shen asked in disbelief.

“It’s true, Mother, it’s true! I just drank half a bottle of water in my room, and I’m perfectly fine. It doesn’t hurt at all!” Aqi said happily.

“Good, that’s wonderful, truly wonderful.” Shen Qiang couldn’t even remember the last time his daughter had smiled so joyfully. Seeing her radiant smile, his own eyes grew red with emotion.

Standing off to the side, Jiang Shan watched Chen Yun, who was smiling quietly. He was utterly shocked. Ever since meeting Chen Yun, he had been amazed time and again: from that very first plate of stir-fried cucumbers, to the creation of master-level dishes, to curing Old Wang’s incurable Heart-Eating Poison, and now, this evening, to miraculously curing the world-renowned disorder of aquagenic urticaria. Could Chen Yun truly be the legendary favorite of the heavens?

“Mother, you must thank Chen Yun properly. If he hadn’t helped me, I would have spent the rest of my life in pain,” Aqi said, clutching her mother’s hand.

“Of course. Chen Yun has cured your illness—he’s your savior and the savior of our whole family.” Zhao Li turned to Chen Yun. “Chen Yun, tomorrow I’ll have my personal lawyer bring the share transfer agreement to you. All you need to do is sign it.”

“Shares? What shares?” Chen Yun was confused.

“I once made a promise: whoever could cure Aqi’s illness would receive 30% of my Azure Group’s shares,” Zhao Li said with a smile. “Now that you’ve cured her, I must honor my word. Don’t refuse me—Azure Group owes its success to my reputation for keeping promises.”

What?

You want to give me 30% of Azure Group’s shares?

My goodness!

Have I been possessed by the God of Wealth today?

At noon I earned a hundred purple coins. Then Wang Hong wanted to make me his god-grandson and give me his whole company. Now, this evening, someone else is giving me shares?

Chen Yun felt dizzy and quickly shook his head. “No, I can’t accept that!”

“Oh? Why not?” Zhao Li was surprised, then added, “Perhaps you don’t understand the value of these shares. Let me put it in simpler terms: 30% of Azure Group’s shares, converted to cash, would be no less than sixty million gold coins. And that’s a conservative estimate.”

Sixty million gold coins!

Before Ye Ming could react, the surrounding guests were already in an uproar.

Though they’d long known about Zhao Li’s promise, none of them had realized Azure Group was worth so much!

“Astonishing generosity! To give away sixty million gold coins for your daughter’s happiness—truly admirable!”

“No wonder Azure Group has become so successful. Just seeing the love for your daughter, I know Boss Zhao is a person of integrity. Doing business with someone like her, you can rest easy!”

“Indeed, such magnanimity is beyond what we can hope to match.”

“I’ve decided—the land I own in the western suburbs, I’ll sell it to Boss Zhao at the original price!”

“Hey, Old Xu, didn’t we already agree that I’d buy your land at a high price?”

“What good is an agreement if there’s no contract? I can sell to whomever I please. Honestly, your reputation… tsk tsk tsk…”

“You—!”

Amid the guests’ commotion, Chen Yun and Ye Ming were tempted, but Chen Yun still shook his head. Ever since acquiring the system, Chen Yun no longer cared much about money. If he wished, sixty million—no, even sixty billion—would be within his reach. Once he mastered more secondary professions and rose in rank, money would be nothing more than a number. To be honest, money was the least of his concerns.

“Auntie, thank you for your generosity. I only treated Aqi because I couldn’t bear to see her suffer. I had no ulterior motives. I appreciate your kindness, but I absolutely cannot accept these shares,” Chen Yun said firmly and resolutely.

“But…”

“There’s no need to persuade me. While money is a good thing, and everyone likes it, for me, having enough is sufficient. Any more would just be a burden.” Chen Yun walked over to Chairman Jiang. “It’s getting late. Aqi has just recovered and needs time to recuperate. I’m sure your family has much to discuss. Chairman Jiang, let’s take our leave.”

“Very well.” Jiang Shan was deeply impressed by Chen Yun’s perspective. He hadn’t expected Chen Yun to express such thoughts—having enough is sufficient. It sounded simple, but how many people in the world could actually live by those words? In that moment, Jiang Shan was completely won over by Chen Yun’s character.

“Well said—having enough is sufficient. Since you insist, I won’t press the matter. My family owes you a life. If you ever need anything, come to me. As long as it’s within my power, I, Shen Qiang, will never refuse!” Shen Qiang looked at Chen Yun with admiration. This young man was truly remarkable!

“Thank you, Uncle Shen. Aqi, take care and recover well at home. Goodbye!”

“Ch—Chen Yun, goodbye.” As she watched Chen Yun leave the banquet hall, Aqi pouted, unable to hide her reluctance.

Shen Qiang was thoroughly satisfied with Chen Yun’s character. Skilled in the culinary arts, able to heal, uninterested in wealth, of noble character, and so young—such a person was a true national treasure. The more Shen Qiang looked at Chen Yun, the more satisfied he felt. Glancing from Chen Yun to Aqi, who was clearly reluctant to see him go, a scheme began to form in his mind. Such an outstanding young man would not disappoint Aqi. If they could be together, he would be the perfect son-in-law.

“Chairman Jiang, you should head back,” Chen Yun said to Jiang Shan at the entrance of the restaurant. “You don’t need to see me off. I’ll be living in this city for years to come and should get to know it better.”

“All right, then I won’t see you off.” Jiang Shan replied, “Chen Yun, after tonight, now that you’ve cured Shen Qi, your reputation in high society will steadily grow. That’s a good thing, but it’s also a bad thing.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Chen Yun asked, puzzled.

“It’s simple. High society can help you build connections, broaden your horizons, and open up your social circle. That’s the good part. But high society is also the most complicated circle of all—a concentrated microcosm of the broader world, filled with all kinds of people. When you interact with them, remember what you told me: stay true to yourself. Don’t let them corrupt you, understand?”

Jiang Shan looked at Chen Yun solemnly, his tone earnest. Although he and Chen Yun were, on the surface, just employer and employee, in his heart, he already regarded Chen Yun as a member of the younger generation worth guiding. That was why he spoke with such gravity.