His speech was composed, his demeanor upright—truly, he outshone every peer in the hall.
"Good, good, good." Mr. Gu stood up and personally helped him up, his eyes filled with gratification.
"You radiate flawless character, untainted by the world’s dust. You have truly lived up to your grandfather’s expectations of you back then; you are the future of the Gu family."
The young man smiled faintly, exhibiting a sage-like equanimity, neither joyful nor sorrowful.
Everyone in the hall was even more impressed with him.
Indeed, he was a product of the renowned Gu family of Jingzhou.
Gu Bichen’s appearance instantly became the focus of the gathering. Though modest and low-key, Mr. Gu refused to let him withdraw to anonymity, insisting that he sit next to him.
"The last time I saw you, you were only twelve years old, not yet fully grown, and your height only reached here." Mr. Gu gestured to his waist.
"And now, in the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so tall." He sighed over how swiftly time had passed.
"Grandfather, I’ve brought an honored guest."
A crisp, feminine voice grew louder as its owner drew nearer.
Everyone in the hall turned to trace the source of the voice.
The young girl leading the way was familiar to everyone—Mr. Gu’s granddaughter, the renowned literary prodigy, Gu Yonghe.
Behind her, a bright young woman in a purple gown followed. Her aura was gentle yet dignified, and the moment she appeared, she caught everyone’s attention.
It wasn’t her beauty that was arresting, but the innate noble elegance she carried—something only cultivated by an extraordinary upbringing.
Gu Bichen’s sword-like eyebrows tightened slightly the moment his gaze fell upon the woman in purple, and he lowered his dark lashes impassively.
"Junior greets Mr. Gu and wishes you eternal brightness and enduring vitality like the pine and crane."
With her words finished, the bodyguards behind her presented the congratulatory gifts.
"I recently acquired this exquisite Mei Blossom Inkstone. To me, it’s like a bull munching on peonies, utterly wasted. Mr. Gu, as a renowned expert in the art of calligraphy, this inkstone can only reach its full potential in your hands. Please accept it as a humble gesture of my respect."
Someone gasped, "Could it be the Mei Blossom Inkstone recently sold at the Hanhai Auction for an astronomical price?"
The Hanhai Auction was a prestigious event for collectors of scholar’s artifacts, with inkstones being among the most sought-after items. These are ranked by rarity and quality, and as major mines close, their value as collectibles continues to rise. Among them, the most precious and rare is the Mei Blossom Inkstone, which recently astonished the auction with a multi-million price tag.
And now, it turned out that the buyer of this legendary inkstone was this young lady, whose extravagant gesture hinted at an extraordinary background.
Mr. Gu responded lightly, "It is far too extravagant; an old man like me cannot accept it. However, you are a guest now that you’ve come. Yonghe, ensure you take good care of her."
Yu Ruohuan raised her delicate brows and strode directly to the seat beside Gu Bichen. Seated there was Gu Yonghe’s elder brother, Gu Yinbo.
Gu Yonghe shot her elder brother a meaningful glance, but he failed to respond, remaining stubbornly seated.
Gu Yonghe hurried toward him, pulling him to his feet. "Brother, I need to speak with you."
Yu Ruohuan naturally took Gu Yinbo’s vacated seat.
"But that’s my—" Gu Yonghe covered her elder brother’s mouth, dragging him away.
Mr. Gu’s eyelids twitched at the sight of this unfolding drama.
The intentions here lay beyond mere courtesy.
"Gu," Yu Ruohuan greeted with a bright smile, "we meet again."
Gu Bichen lowered his lashes, responding coolly, "Miss Yu, this is not the place for your games."
Yu Ruohuan rested her chin on her hand. "Who said I’m playing games? I admire Mr. Gu’s scholarly prowess sincerely—that’s why I’ve come to celebrate his birthday. Don’t you believe me?"
Gu Bichen didn’t bother to reply.
"Let me share a little secret with you." Yu Ruohuan leaned closer to Gu Bichen. He frowned and shifted away, but the limited space of the seat prevented him from moving far. Making a commotion to escape would attract undue attention.
To the onlookers, the two appeared close, casually conversing with an air of intimacy that hinted at unresolved dynamics.
"The day after tomorrow, my second aunt is hosting a Mei Blossom Banquet."
Gu Bichen kept his gaze lowered. The Yu family was notorious for their excessive, ostentatious indulgence, and none more so than their second branch.
Yu Ruohuan gazed at the side profile of the young man, inches away, and smiled brightly. "Would you be willing to attend if I invited you?"
The young man refused without hesitation. "Apologies, I won’t have the time."
Yu Ruohuan’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Then what should I do? I’ve invited Shen You’an as well."
Gu Bichen’s head snapped toward her, his gentle eyes suddenly flashing sharp and piercing. "What did you say?"
Yu Ruohuan laughed and shook her head. "Men... You men...."
She laughed so hard tears began welling in her eyes. "What spell has that wretched man cast on all of you? Is it because of his face?"
Gu Bichen grabbed her wrist suddenly. "What exactly are you planning?"
"What I’m planning? Won’t you find out when you attend the banquet?"
Her look transformed into one of madness, like a venomous snake unfurling its forked tongue, her eyes gleaming with the obsession of a predator closing in on its prey.