Chapter 74: News of the Spirit Stone

Thunderous applause erupted as everyone cheered for Yang Fan’s song. The melody tugged at the heartstrings of all present, awakening a resonance deep within each listener.

Wearing a faint smile, Yang Fan stepped down from the stage. Han Ruobing's gaze lingered on his handsome face, her eyes glimmering with an unusual light. She had only intended for him to sing an ordinary song, nothing more, yet she hadn’t anticipated it would be so moving.

Han Ruobing found herself growing increasingly curious about Yang Fan. Outwardly, he seemed cold and aloof, but beneath that exterior was a warmth that touched the soul.

“Did you write that song yourself?” Han Ruobing asked with genuine curiosity.

Yang Fan shrugged and replied, “No, I just heard someone else sing it once. I liked it, so I remembered it.”

“Then the person who composed it must surely have a story to tell. How else could they write something so moving?” Han Ruobing’s face filled with admiration. “I’ll look it up and download it when I get back.”

“You won’t find it online. The composer never published it on the internet,” Yang Fan said.

“What? Such a beautiful song and it’s not even online? What a pity—it deserves to be heard by so many more people.” Han Ruobing was visibly disappointed at the news she couldn’t download it.

She thought the song would be a hit online, perhaps even make a fortune. More importantly, she believed it could inspire filial piety, encouraging people to cherish their parents.

“By the way, could you write the lyrics down for me?” Han Ruobing looked at Yang Fan with hopeful eyes.

“That’s no problem,” Yang Fan replied.

A bright smile broke across Han Ruobing’s face.

When the performance ended, everyone said their farewells to the elders at the nursing home. Han Ruobing handed Yang Fan a piece of paper and a pen, asking him to write down the lyrics to “Father.”

“What’s your phone number?” Han Ruobing asked, fixing her eyes on him.

Hearing her request, the others glanced over, their eyes full of curiosity.

“Ruobing, don’t tell me you’re falling for him—you’re actually asking for his number!” Zhu Xiaomei teased, her expression full of mischief.

“Of course not, it’s not what you think!” Han Ruobing’s cheeks flushed as she glared at Zhu Xiaomei in exasperation.

“My, my, you’re blushing and still trying to deny it,” Zhu Xiaomei teased further. “If people found out that the most beautiful girl in Capital University has a crush, who knows how many hearts would be broken?”

“You little imp, stop saying nonsense!” Han Ruobing retorted, shooting Zhu Xiaomei a playful yet annoyed look. “I need his number for something important.”

Zhu Xiaomei merely gave her a look that said, “Do you really think I believe you?”

Off to the side, Guo Xiong was filled with envy and frustration. His goddess seemed to like a man she’d only just met, and his heart couldn’t help but ache. Seeing her shy demeanor, it was obvious she had feelings for Yang Fan.

Ignoring Zhu Xiaomei, Han Ruobing turned her attention back to Yang Fan, waiting for his answer.

“There’s no need for my number. Just give me the stone instead,” Yang Fan said.

He suspected Han Ruobing might be interested in him, so he didn’t want to share his number. Right now, he had no interest in romance—his sole focus was on his cultivation and leaving this world as soon as possible.

Han Ruobing glared at him in irritation. “Do you think I like you?”

Yang Fan was taken aback, then nodded.

“You narcissist. I don’t like you at all,” Han Ruobing said with a roll of her eyes, her voice full of charm. “I only need your number to send you a package.”

A package?

Yang Fan looked at her, puzzled. “Why would you send me a package?”

“I didn’t bring the stone with me. It’s still at home,” Han Ruobing explained. “My house is quite far from Yuancheng, so I’ll have to mail it to you.”

Realization dawned on Yang Fan, and he felt a bit awkward. He had thought she might like him, but clearly, he’d read too much into it.

“So now that you know I don’t like you, do you feel embarrassed?” Han Ruobing teased, a playful smile on her lips.

Yang Fan scratched his nose and coughed lightly.

In the end, he gave her his phone number and wrote down an address—the address of his pharmacy, not his home.

After parting ways, Han Ruobing and her group left Yuancheng and returned to Capital University. Yang Fan hailed a car and headed back to Guiyuan Community.

Upon arriving home, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Huang Ma’s number.

“What’s the matter?” Yang Fan answered.

“Mr. Yang, I have news about the crystal you asked me to keep an eye out for,” Huang Ma said excitedly.

“Are you sure?” Yang Fan’s heart leapt.

The crystal he’d asked Huang Ma to find was actually a spirit stone. Now in charge of the Green Snake Gang, Huang Ma could use the organization’s resources to gather information about spirit stones for Yang Fan.

He hadn’t expected news to come so soon.

“Mr. Yang, I’m certain—it’s exactly the kind of crystal you described. But the construction site where it was found has been ordered to halt operations. Excavation can only continue with government approval,” Huang Ma reported.

“Tell me everything,” Yang Fan said with a frown.

Not daring to delay, Huang Ma relayed all the details he had gathered.

The spirit stone had been discovered in Jiangcheng, at a site being developed by Yuanfu Catering Group. Apparently, Tianwei Group had set its sights on the location and had bribed the mayor of Jiangcheng in hopes of taking over the land. With outside interference, Yuanfu Catering Group was unable to proceed with construction. Moreover, the company was facing financial difficulties, further preventing work from moving forward. The spirit stone that had already been excavated was now in the hands of Yuanfu Catering Group’s president.

“Keep a close watch on the situation there. Inform me immediately if anything changes,” Yang Fan instructed.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Yang. I’ll have people stationed there and notify you the moment anything happens,” Huang Ma promised.

After hanging up, Yang Fan began to formulate a plan.

“It looks like I’ll need to return to Jiangcheng,” he thought, determined to obtain the crystal. Since a spirit stone had already been found, that place was likely a special site, possibly containing many more.

“I’ll first try to negotiate with the president of Yuanfu Catering Group. If we can cooperate, that would be ideal. If not, I’ll have to use force,” he resolved. Cooperation was preferable, but if it came to it, he wouldn’t hesitate to resort to violence to increase his strength.

He called Wang Gang, asking him to accompany him to Jiangcheng. Since following Yang Fan back to Jiangcheng, Wang Gang had moved into Guiyuan Community and, after a period of cultivation, had made significant progress in his abilities. He was now certainly much stronger than the He Family’s enforcer, He Gongfeng.

Seeing Wang Gang’s improvement, Yang Fan was quite satisfied.