691: Chapter 686 The Biggest Pain Point

He was not shocked by the value of the jewelry.

It was because he had seen this necklace before.

In his memory, from when he was only five years old, on the treasured, yellowed black-and-white photograph his mother kept.

In the photo, his beautiful and elegant grandmother was wearing this very necklace, smiling sweetly and captivatingly.

That was the last glory of the entire family.

The old man's eyes instantly turned red.

He extended a trembling hand, wanting to touch the necklace, but stopped mid-air, as if afraid it was just a fragile illusion.

"It... How could it... be with you?"

"I got it back from a man named Vincent Moretti."

Shen Yan said calmly.

"And he took it from the Metropolitan Museum."

"As for how it originally got to the museum, I think you should know better than I do."

Shen Yan mentioned the Nazi officer and the hypocritical 'donation'.

He presented the entire chain of events completely before the old man.

Elias closed his eyes, and a line of hot tears slid down the wrinkles on his face.

The truth.

This was the truth their family had pursued for decades, only to be repeatedly dismissed by cold legal clauses.

Now, it was being stated so casually by a strange young man.

After a long time, he opened his eyes; his emotions had settled.

He looked at Shen Yan, and his gaze had changed.

No longer cautious and scrutinizing.

But a deep, complex emotion tinged with respect.

"Young man, thank you."

"You have recovered the most important thing for our family."

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"Money? Shares? Or something else?"

"Although the Vanderberg Family is not what it used to be, we can afford this small repayment."

He believed Shen Yan wouldn't have gone to such great lengths purely out of kindness.

There must be an equivalent exchange behind it.

Shen Yan, however, shook his head.

He closed the box and pushed it toward Elias.

"I don't want anything."

"It belongs here originally."

"I am just the postman who delivered it home."

Elias was stunned.

Martin was also stunned.

They had prepared for a difficult negotiation, but they never expected the other party's response to be so simple.

"Why?"

Elias couldn't help but ask.

"Perhaps I cannot stand people who lock away the national hatred and sorrow of others only to show off in their own safes."

Shen Yan's answer deeply shook Elias.

He finally understood that this young man before him was different from everyone he had met before.

His vision had long surpassed the scope of money and profit.

"I understand."

Elias let out a long breath.

He stood up solemnly and bowed deeply to Shen Yan.

"Mr. Shen, from today onward, you are the most honored friend of the Vanderberg Family."

"I still hold some influence in Antwerp and in the world diamond industry."

"In the future, whenever you need anything from this old man, just say the word."

"The Vanderberg Family will assist with all our might."

This was no longer just a favor.

It was the most solemn promise from an ancient family possessing immense influence in a specific field.

A thousand times more precious than any amount of money.

Shen Yan calmly accepted this goodwill.

His objective for this trip had been achieved.

He turned around, preparing to leave.

"Mr. Shen, please stay."

Elias called out to him.

"This necklace is a family heirloom, but it carries too much sorrow."

"We will not let it see the light of day again."

"But its brilliance should not be extinguished just like that."

The old man picked up the pink diamond he had been polishing from the workbench and handed it to Shen Yan.

The diamond was nearly complete, presenting a perfect heart shape, emitting a soft and dreamy luster.

"This gem is named 'Heart of Athena'; it is the masterpiece I am proudest of in my life."

"Please, you must accept it."

"Give it to the most important person in your life."

"Let new brilliance cover the old scars."

"This is the best destination for it."

Shen Yan looked into the old man's sincere eyes; this time, he did not refuse.

He took the pink diamond, which still held a trace of body warmth.

In his mind, Liu Hui's gentle smile surfaced.

The heart-shaped pink diamond seemed truly alive in Shen Yan's palm.

Its warmth traveled through his skin, warming him to the core.

Heart of Athena.

Shen Yan clearly pictured Liu Hui's appearance in his mind.

What expression would she have when she saw this diamond?

She would probably widen her eyes and say, 'It's too valuable, I can't accept it,' while her body would be honestly captivated by its beauty.

Then she would carefully cradle it, as if cradling the most precious treasure in the world.

A trace of tenderness, one he hadn't even noticed himself, involuntarily curved Shen Yan's lips.

Only she was worthy of this diamond.

Elias and Martin both thought he would take his leave then.

After all, returning the property and unexpectedly gaining an unparalleled pink diamond, this trip to Antwerp was more successful than imaginable.

But Shen Yan did not move.

He carefully placed the 'Heart of Athena' back into the box and put it into an inner pocket.

Then, he looked back at Elias.

"Mr. Vanderberg, actually, besides returning the necklace, there is one more thing I came for today."

A flash of understanding crossed Elias's eyes.

He knew things wouldn't be that simple.

A young man capable of snatching someone from under the noses of the Knights Templar and safely delivering a hot potato like the 'star of ishtar' to him could not possibly have only one objective for every action.

Martin beside him instantly became vigilant, leaning slightly forward like a protective leopard.

"Mr. Shen, we acknowledge your kindness, but if you intend to use this to meddle in the Vanderberg's business..."

"Martin!"

Elias sharply interrupted his son.

His gaze remained fixed on Shen Yan's face, calm and profound.

"Mr. Shen, please speak."

Shen Yan ignored Martin's hostility, pulled over an old wooden stool, and sat down casually, as if this wasn't the core workshop of a diamond dynasty, but his own office.

"I want to discuss a business deal with you."

"A business deal about the future."

Martin scoffed.

"The future? Mr. Shen, the Vanderberg Family has been cutting diamonds since my great-grandfather's generation; we inherently represent the past and future of this industry."

"Is that so?"

Shen Yan smiled noncommittally.

"Then may I ask, what was the annual revenue growth rate for Vanderberg Diamond Company over the past ten years? And what is our market share in Asia?"

Martin's expression instantly froze.

This was core company confidential information, and it was also their biggest pain point.