Zhao Ruyu, who had been unhappy after hearing her words earlier, grew even more displeased when she saw how casual and unrestrained Gu Xicao was.

She stepped forward and pulled at Lin Hexu. “Son, let’s go. Many relatives and friends want to meet you. What’s the point of staying here dealing with all these nonsense? Are they treating you as a fool?”

“Mom, just five more minutes. I want to see if she really has the ability to make this happen,” Lin Hexu refused to leave.

He was playful by nature, especially fond of new things. Such an interesting event, how could he miss it?

Whether Gu Xicao was right or not, it would be a great story to boast about later.

“You… you really are…” Zhao Ruyu couldn’t drag her son away and instead drew curious looks from the people around her. Her face flushed with embarrassment.

Grandpa Lin said, “Ruyu, if Ah Xu wants to try, let him. It’s just a game for the kid, no one will take it seriously.”

“Father-in-law, that may be true, but if Miss Gu is wrong, won’t that be embarrassing?” Zhao Ruyu glanced at Gu Xicao. “I’m just thinking about Miss Gu. With so many people here today, if she gets it wrong and word spreads, her reputation will be ruined.”

“Ring ring—”

Almost as soon as Zhao Ruyu finished speaking, the phone rang.

Grandpa Lin and the others were all shocked. Lin Hexu immediately stood up straight, his eyes fixed on the phone, his mouth hanging open in surprise. “There’s really a call?!”

“Second Young Master Lin, it’s your call. Aren’t you going to answer it?”

Gu Xicao accepted the cup of tea from the server, taking a sip to cleanse the sweetness lingering in her mouth, and calmly reminded him.

Lin Hexu hesitated for a moment, then snapped out of his daze and quickly grabbed the receiver. “Hello?”

His tone revealed an unusual mix of caution and curiosity.

The so-called fortune-teller had just predicted that this phone call would bring unpleasant news. While he had initially dismissed it as nonsense, a trace of nervousness crept in now that the phone had actually rung.

“Hello? Hexu? It’s me!” A familiar voice came through on the other end. It was his university roommate. Lin Hexu immediately recognized the voice.

“Why are you calling?” Lin Hexu’s nerves eased slightly. After all, hearing from a friend wasn’t likely to bring any disasters.

But he wasn’t prepared for what came next.

“It’s a big problem, Hexu! Professor Dong has found out that I wrote your thesis, and now he’s demanding an explanation from both of us. What should we do?!”

“What?!” Lin Hexu almost collapsed to the floor. His legs went weak, and he clutched the receiver tightly. “How could he know about that?!”

“Professor Dong said your past assignments didn’t even use the correct formulas, so he found it suspicious that your thesis suddenly became so polished. He questioned me, and… and I couldn’t lie my way out!” The voice on the other end was frantic and panicked.

Lin Hexu’s face darkened. “So you admitted it?”

“Hexu, I didn’t mean to! Professor Dong is too cunning—he claimed someone reported it. I panicked, and before I realized it, I spilled everything!”

There was silence for a beat before his roommate added in resignation, “He’s already issued me a disciplinary notice. You’ll have to figure out how to explain things to him yourself.”

Click.

The call abruptly ended.

Lin Hexu stood frozen in place, his face pale, sweat beading on his forehead.

Those watching the scene unfold were equally stunned.

Grandpa Lin, though furious with Lin Hexu’s irresponsibility, couldn’t help but marvel. Miss Gu’s prediction… was completely accurate?!

Lin Hexu, now in full-blown panic mode, clung to Gu Xicao’s arm as if she were his last lifeline. “Master, I truly believe you now! Please help me—what should I do?!”

Zhao Ruyu snapped back to reality, her gaze filled with surprise and weariness as she looked at Gu Xicao. “Son, why are you asking her for help? This time, she might have just guessed it right by chance. And you, why didn’t you write your thesis yourself? Hiring someone else to do it and then getting caught—what were you thinking?!”

Grandpa Lin scowled, his tone heavy with disapproval. “Zhao Ruyu, stop coddling him. Outsourcing thesis is dishonest. If he’s been caught, he deserves to face the consequences. Hexu, how can you call yourself a university student if you can’t even write a simple thesis?”

“Grandpa, writing a thesis is harder than it looks!” Lin Hexu’s voice broke as he grew more desperate. His usual carefree attitude was completely gone, replaced with anguish and regret.

Standing nearby, Ma Qi silently observed the chaotic scene, thinking to herself: If Lin Hexu’s parents were to pass away, he probably wouldn’t even be this upset.

Gu Xicao, resting her chin on her hand, shrugged. “This problem is beyond my expertise. My only suggestion is to ask your elder brother for help.”

“My brother?” Lin Hexu blinked, turning to look at Lin Qianshi. “Big Brother, do you know Professor Dong?”

Caught off guard, Lin Qianshi was momentarily stunned. He shook his head. “I’ve just returned from abroad. How would I know your professor?”

“That’s right. Your brother is capable, but he doesn’t know everyone.” Zhao Ruyu, always quick to defend her son, said, “Why don’t we just donate some money to the school and ask them to overlook this?”

“It won’t work,” Lin Hexu muttered, defeated. “Professor Dong isn’t someone who can be swayed by donations. Even if we build him a library, he’ll still insist I rewrite the thesis. I’m doomed this time.”

Gu Xicao, propping her chin up lazily, couldn’t help but laugh lightly. “Have none of you thought about the fact that both eldest young master Lin and second young master Lin studied finance? Your brother holds a master’s degree—helping you with an undergraduate thesis would be effortless for him. Isn’t that right, Mr. Lin?”

Lin Qianshi finally snapped out of his daze, a wry smile tugging at his lips. How had he overlooked something so obvious?

“Yes, of course. If Hexu is willing, I’m more than happy to help.”

“Really? That’s amazing! Thank you, Big Brother!”

Overcome with relief, Lin Hexu practically tackled Lin Qianshi in a grateful embrace.

Grandpa Lin was overjoyed to see such harmony between the two brothers. “This is how it should be. Qianshi, as the elder brother, you should take good care of your younger brother. Hexu, you must also work hard. Relying on others is never the solution; what you learn and retain in your own mind is truly yours.”

Zhao Ruyu stood off to the side, her smile stiffening.

Her son has stupidly become a stepping stone for the eldest son, and he is still so happy.

If it weren’t for the crowd present, she would have pulled her son aside and scolded him thoroughly.

“Second Young Master, a bet is a bet. I don’t need to remind you, do I?” Gu Xicao said with a faint smile.

Lin Hexu froze, looking at his wristwatch, his eyes filled with reluctance. “It’s… it’s just a watch, isn’t it? I haven’t forgotten.”

With visible struggle, he removed the watch from his wrist, forcing a smile that was more bitter than cheerful. “Big Brother, this watch is very valuable, a limited edition. You… you…”

He tried to appeal with a pitiful expression, hoping Lin Qianshi might relent and return the watch.

Lin Qianshi found the situation amusing but remained composed. Smiling, he replied, “I know what you’re trying to say.”

Lin Hexu’s face lit up with hope as he looked at Lin Qianshi pitifully.

Lin Qianshi calmly reached out, took the watch, and placed it into his suit pocket. “Don’t worry. I’ll sell this watch for a good price and use the money to buy warm bedding for the children at the orphanage. Winter is coming, and it’s cold. With these blankets, they’ll have a warm winter.”

Lin Hexu’s jaw dropped as he watched the watch disappear into his brother’s pocket, his expression akin to sheer despair.

“Master, you miscalculated,” Ma Qi suddenly said, breaking the silence.

Gu Xicao looked at Ma Qi in confusion.

Ma Qi, with a straight face, pointed at Lin Hexu’s now bare wrist and declared, “The Second Young Master didn’t just suffer one piece of bad news. He lost two: his watch is gone too.”

Lin Hexu: “…”

Who is this person? Why are they rubbing salt in the wound?

The group couldn’t help but laugh, including Grandpa Lin, whose chuckles were particularly hearty.

Except for Zhao Ruyu and her son, everyone seemed entertained.

“Master, Old Master, Madam, something terrible has happened!”

A maid suddenly ran in from outside, her face pale with panic. She spoke with a trembling voice, clearly frightened.

Father Lin frowned deeply, chastising the maid, “Watch your words! The Old Master is elderly. If you frighten him, will you take responsibility?”

Grandpa Lin waved dismissively, unfazed. “It’s not that serious. I’m old, but my nerves are still strong. What happened, Xiaoshu?”

The maid, Xiaoshu, who had been trembling under father Lin’s reprimand, gained a bit of courage after Grandpa Lin’s reassurance. She stammered, “Someone outside has collapsed… and… and someone said… they might be dead.”

Dead?!

Everyone was stunned.

If a death had occurred at the banquet, it would be disastrous for the Lin family’s reputation.

Lin Qianshi immediately led everyone toward the scene.

The incident occurred near the lawn, where a set of wicker chairs was arranged. Wang Xueli and her group were gathered around one of the chairs.

The music from the band had already stopped.

As Lin Qianshi approached, Wang Xueli, tearful and distressed, ran up to him. She tried to grab his arm, but he subtly avoided her touch.

Walking alongside her, Lin Qianshi asked, “Miss Wang, the staff mentioned an incident here. What happened?”

Wang Xueli dabbed her tears with a handkerchief and choked, “Brother Qianshi, I don’t know either. Ren Xiran was just drinking with us earlier, but he suddenly collapsed, foaming at the mouth and convulsing. Now… now he’s completely unresponsive.”

The Lin family members exchanged worried, puzzled looks.

Gu Xicao followed Lin Qianshi into the crowd. Lin Qianshi, having some basic medical knowledge, reached for a tissue, intending to check on Ren Xiran.

“Ah!” Wang Xueli suddenly screamed, stopping Lin Qianshi mid-motion.

He frowned and turned to her. “Miss Wang, what’s the matter?”

“Brother Qianshi, we already checked. He’s really gone. No breath, no pulse. Please don’t touch him. We don’t know who might have harmed him, and if we destroy any evidence, how will we catch the culprit?”

Wang Xueli’s words, though seemingly considerate, subtly implied concern for Lin Qianshi’s involvement.

After all, someone had died at the Lin family’s event. Even if the Lin family wasn’t responsible, suspicion would inevitably arise.

“She’s right, Qianshi. You’re not a professional. Don’t touch anything,” Grandpa Lin advised. “Has anyone called the police? Hurry up and call them!”

Li Yali responded, “Grandpa Lin, we’ve already called the police, but they haven’t arrived yet. It’ll take a little while.”

“What’s the use of the police? Hong Kong’s police are useless; they’ll never catch the culprit,” Ren Xirou said, her eyes red as she sniffled.

“Xirou, stop crying. If someone really harmed your brother, we won’t let them go!” Wang Xueli declared righteously.

“But we need to know who did it first. My brother has always been in good health. He couldn’t have just died out of nowhere, right?” Ren Xirou said tearfully.

Wang Xueli hesitated, then suddenly turned her gaze to Gu Xicao. “Actually, compared to the police, isn’t Master Gu more reliable? Master Gu is much better at uncovering the truth. Let her find the culprit—it’ll be faster!”