Zhang Ruochuan, an ordinary high school student from a regular family, felt a bit stiff as he attended such a high-class gathering for the first time. As soon as he got out of the car, he felt uncomfortable all over. If it weren’t for his companions, he wouldn’t have dared to step inside at all.

“Truly a wealthy family; the house is so big, it looks like a castle,” Zhang Ruochuan thought to himself, glancing around in awe.

Fang Sizhe got out of the car and stood beside him, whispering an explanation, “This is a property developed by the Gu family. It’s not for sale to the public; only the rich and powerful live here. Even if an ordinary person has money, they can’t buy it.”

“I actually dared to come here with just a few pairs of socks,” Zhang Ruochuan said, feeling nervous as he watched the wealthy young masters and ladies stepping out of luxury cars. “If I had known, I would have bought a more expensive gift.”

Usually, everyone wore school uniforms, and Gu Yufeng didn’t have much of an air about him. He joked around and even squatted with them to eat street food, which made Zhang Ruochuan forget that he was actually a genuine young master.

“Don’t worry so much,” Xie Ci, who was the last to get out of the car while holding a painting, noticed Zhang Ruochuan’s pale face and comforted him. “If Old Gu would mind the gift being too shabby, he wouldn’t have invited us in the first place.”

Zhang Ruochuan thought about it and agreed. Gu Yufeng wasn’t the type to care about such trivial matters.

Xie Ci’s phone buzzed with a message from Gu Yufeng.

Gu Yufeng: [Have you arrived?]
Xie Ci: [We’re at the entrance.]
Gu Yufeng: [You can go in first; I’ll be there soon.]

Seeing the staff responsible for guiding them approach, Xie Ci patted Zhang Ruochuan on the back. “Let’s go. If you’re really nervous, just stick with us.”

Zhang Ruochuan took a deep breath and turned to ask Jiang Chenyu, who was also a second-generation rich kid, if there were any rules to follow. To his surprise, Jiang Chenyu looked even paler than he did.

“What’s wrong with you? Car sick?” Zhang Ruochuan asked, noticing Jiang Chenyu trembling and sweating coldly.

Since he saw that painting, Jiang Chenyu had been feeling unwell, his mind filled with images from TV dramas of assassinations and corpses being dumped.

Jiang Chenyu, with a mournful face, said, “Old Zhang, I’m so nervous!”

Zhang Ruochuan felt his own nerves spike again at this. “Me too!”

The two of them, feeling like kindred spirits, walked behind Xie Ci, hand in hand.

“Who are these guys?” Three men in their twenties walked past them, looking them up and down with a hint of disdain.

“Attending the Gu family’s gathering and dressed so shabby.”
“Clearly not friends of the young master.”
“Did you walk into the wrong place, kids? This isn’t where you belong.”

Zhang Ruochuan felt a bit stifled and shrank his neck, not daring to speak up after being mocked right at the entrance.

The trio’s teasing drew the attention of many around them.

Xie Ci glanced at them, then calmly replied to the first man who spoke, “Your outfit is quite special.”

The man, feeling flattered by the attention, boasted, “This is a new haute couture piece from the F country Fashion Week.”

Xie Ci nodded, “Is it expensive?”

The man pretended to be indifferent, “Just around a hundred thousand or so.”

Xie Ci raised an eyebrow, “So cheap? I was wondering why it looked so low-class.”

The man’s expression froze: “You think a hundred thousand is low-class? It’s definitely better than your ragged outfit!”

“Different occasions call for different attire. Today is a casual gathering; I prefer comfort,” Xie Ci said, lifting his leg and theatrically brushing off nonexistent dust from his pants, leading Zhang Ruochuan and the others forward. “Excuse us.”

As Xie Ci brushed past the man, the latter was about to say something but was pulled back by his companion.

The companion whispered in his ear, “Look at those sneakers on that kid’s feet.”

The man instinctively looked down, his face falling even further. Those sneakers were worth more than his entire outfit combined, and they showed clear signs of wear, indicating they were regularly worn, not just pulled out for this occasion.

Fang Sizhe caught a glimpse of the three men’s faces, which looked like they were constipated, and couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.

When Xie Ci goes all out, no one else stands a chance.

Zhang Ruochuan let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness for Xie Ci.”

On one side of the garden terrace, a dessert table was set up, and quite a few people had gathered in small groups.

Fang Sizhe checked the group chat and led Xie Ci and the others to find Wang Wei.

Shen Qiuyah was sitting in a corner, her eyes red and holding a crumpled tissue.

Fang Sizhe asked Wang Wei, who was coming over, “What’s wrong with her?”

“When we came in, those people mocked us for dressing too poorly,” Wang Wei said, glancing angrily at a group of women near the dessert table. “Qiuya ended up crying because of them.”

“You too?” Zhang Ruochuan chimed in quietly. “We just got mocked as well.”

Wang Wei frowned, “I heard that not only did Old Gu invite classmates today, but also friends of his cousin. I think they’re all in cahoots!”

Zhang Ruochuan exclaimed, “That’s too much!”

Wang Wei snorted, “This circle is really dirty; they excel at forming cliques and bullying others!”

She didn’t lower her voice intentionally, and the group of women overheard, turning to look at them.

“Don’t pay them any mind,” Xie Ci said, noticing the unfriendly gazes around them. “We’re here for Old Gu; what others think doesn’t matter.”

Soon, Gu Yufeng arrived, followed by his father, Gu Yongnian.

Today was a gathering for the young people, and Xie Ci had been wondering how to present the painting if Gu Yongnian didn’t show up. Now that he was here, it made things easier.

Gu Yufeng was still dressed in casual sportswear, looking just like he always did, and he was less formal than the other guests around them, making him stand out.

Zhang Ruochuan, Wang Wei, and the others all felt a bit more at ease.

“Old Gu—Gu Shao,” Zhang Ruochuan quickly corrected himself in front of Gu Yongnian.

“Don’t be so formal; just relax,” Gu Yufeng said, spotting the item in Xie Ci’s hand. “Is this a gift for me?”

Xie Ci handed over the painting. “It’s a small token; don’t think too much of it.”

Gu Yufeng took it, smiling, “A small token? What kind of token?”

Xie Ci replied, “The sentiment from a classmate, what else could it be?”

Gu Yufeng raised an eyebrow, curious. “What is it?”

Xie Ci said, “You can open it now and see.”

Gu Yufeng placed the item on the dessert table and unwrapped it, revealing an oil painting. The abstract style looked familiar, and even without a signature, he knew who the artist was.

“Is this a work by Jian Yan?”

Xie Ci had been paying attention to Gu Yongnian’s movements, and hearing Gu Yufeng’s question caught him off guard. “You know this artist?”

Gu Yufeng replied, “Is it strange to know?”

Jian Yan’s paintings were well-known both domestically and internationally, often fetching high prices at auctions.

In his previous life, he and Xie Ci had a Jian Yan oil painting hanging in their marital home.

He had thought it was something Xie Ci had casually bought, but it turned out this kid had liked the artist since he was a teenager.

However, Jian Yan’s works weren’t cheap; they started at tens of millions. Where did this poor kid get the money to be so generous?

Gu Yufeng’s mind was filled with questions, which were soon answered by the people around them.

The terrace was already crowded, and with Gu Yufeng’s arrival, even more people gathered around, including several friends of Gu Churan, who were arriving one after another.

A group of young men and women crowded around to watch Gu Yufeng unwrap the gift, and upon seeing the oil painting, they began to mock it.

“What is this? I thought it would be something good; it’s just a messy oil painting?”
“Clearly not a work by a famous artist. I often visit art exhibitions and galleries, and I’ve never seen this painting.”
“Maybe he painted it himself? Painting doesn’t cost anything.”
“Who is Jian Yan? Never heard of him.”
“Such a shabby gift; what kind of people did Second Young Master Gu invite?”

Wang Wei noticed that some of the people speaking were among those who had mocked her earlier, and she couldn’t help but retort, “Aren’t you all being rude?! It’s not a gift for you; why are you making comments? Isn’t it annoying?!”

These people were openly trying to belittle them, but their true intention was to embarrass Gu Yufeng. It was obvious who was behind it.

Zhang Ruochuan felt emboldened by Wang Wei’s outburst and chimed in with a few words of his own.

Jiang Chenyu, listening to their words, trembled all over.

It was over; it was all over.

If they belittled the painting to the point of worthlessness, Old Gu’s father would definitely not like it.

Gu Yufeng caught some key information from the mocking friends of Gu Churan and pondered thoughtfully.

Could it be that at this point in time, Jian Yan’s works weren’t that famous yet?

If that were the case, it would make sense.

Gu Yongnian had been chatting with two middle-aged men who had brought their kids to play, but upon hearing the commotion from the terrace, he went over to check it out and was immediately drawn to the oil painting displayed on the dessert table.

“This is—”

Gu Yongnian squeezed in beside Gu Yufeng, bending down to examine the painting closely. The more he looked, the more delighted he became. “This is a work by Jian Yan! Xiao Feng, where did you buy this?!”

Seeing his father so excited, as if he had found a treasure, Gu Yufeng felt a bit embarrassed and reminded him to maintain his composure.

“It’s a gift from my classmate.”

“Your classmate?” Gu Yongnian looked around at the young people. “Which one?”

Gu Yufeng introduced his father to Xie Ci.

Gu Yongnian turned to Xie Ci, excitedly asking, “Xiao Xie, how did you acquire this painting?”

Xie Ci knew that Gu Yongnian liked Jian Yan’s works, but he didn’t expect him to be this enthusiastic. He replied casually, “This is a collection my elders bought a long time ago.”

“No wonder; it has a different style from Jian Yan’s recent works.”

Gu Yongnian looked at the oil painting again, unable to hide his joy. “But his use of color is still so bold, with a striking sense of stillness and despair, yet it hides a resilient vitality. Every time I see his paintings, I feel an inexplicable sense of familiarity.”

Xie Ci glanced at the chaotic color blocks on the canvas and thought to himself, two middle-aged men abandoned by their wives and children could indeed relate to that feeling. They could cry together.

The group of young onlookers was stunned.

What seemed like an ordinary oil painting unexpectedly received high praise from the head of the Gu family.

The few who had mocked earlier exchanged glances, their expressions not looking good.

It was clear that Gu Yongnian was here to support his son.

Jiang Chenyu, feeling nervous and sweating, had almost given up hope. But seeing Gu Yufeng’s father so excited, a flicker of hope reignited in his heart.

Xie Ci, with a serious expression, said, “This is one of the pieces from the ‘Seed’ series. Originally, my family intended to collect another piece, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find it.”

“Yes, his paintings are indeed rare; whether you can buy them depends on fate.”

Gu Yongnian looked a bit regretful. “I bought one of his ‘Candlelight’ pieces two years ago, and later I wanted to collect a few more, but every time I went to the gallery, I couldn’t find any of his works.”

Xie Ci curiously asked, “Which gallery did you go to?”

Gu Yongnian replied, “Mingjian, which is said to be Jian Yan’s exclusive agent.”

Xie Ci’s fingers, resting on the dessert table, twitched slightly, and his expression darkened. “Have you been there recently?”

“I went once about three months ago.”

Gu Yongnian sighed, looking disappointed. “The person in charge said Jian Yan’s health has been poor, and he has been focusing on recuperating these years, with hardly any new works produced. What a pity.”

Recalling the attitude of the blonde agent that day, Xie Ci finally understood where the problem lay.

Those three paintings that had been unsold for half a year might not have even been displayed.

Gu Yufeng, listening nearby, noticed that Xie Ci’s expression was off and felt increasingly puzzled.

Xie Ci seemed very concerned about this artist; otherwise, with his personality, he wouldn’t ask so many questions.

Zhang Ruochuan and the others saw how much Gu Yongnian liked the gift from Xie Ci and finally felt they could hold their heads high in front of those wealthy young masters and ladies.

Wang Wei wanted to stand up for Shen Qiuyah, glaring at the group of women over there, and asked Gu Yongnian, “Uncle Gu, isn’t this oil painting really good?”

“Of course!”

Gu Yongnian cherished it, saying, “Jian Yan’s paintings are always of high quality.”

Wang Wei added, “But I just heard someone say that the painting Xie sent is messy and worthless.”

Hearing his favorite artist being belittled, Gu Yongnian was displeased. “Who said that? Such a lack of vision!”

The group of men and women lowered their heads, not daring to speak up.

“They say birds of a feather flock together; if you can be friends with someone not too bright, how good can your judgment be?”

Gu Yufeng stood up and walked toward the group, casually grabbing a champagne bottle from the dessert table and splashing it out.

Seven or eight men and women were drenched in the drink, scrambling back in embarrassment.

“What are you doing?!”

“Bullying my guests in front of me; do you think I’m deaf or blind?”

Gu Yufeng slammed the wine glass down heavily, his gaze sweeping over these people. “When you’re a guest in someone else’s home, you don’t even understand basic etiquette?”

The man in the haute couture outfit, who had mocked Xie Ci earlier, angrily retorted, “Is splashing wine on guests really polite?!”

“You’re neither invited by me nor my friend; what do you count as a guest?”

Gu Yufeng waved to the attendant, Roberson, who was standing by. “Please escort these troublemakers out.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m a guest invited by the young master; you can’t kick me out!” the boy shouted defiantly.

The others also refused to leave, looking to Gu Yongnian, hoping he would intervene and stop Gu Yufeng’s rude behavior.

But Gu Yongnian’s focus was solely on the painting. While Gu Yufeng was splashing wine, he quickly moved the painting a bit further away, showing no interest in the squabble between the younger generation.

Watching those people being escorted away, Zhang Ruochuan and the others finally felt relieved.

Gu Yongnian had initially planned to make a brief appearance and leave, but now he was reluctant to go, chatting with Xie Ci about everything from the oil painting to calligraphy.

Gu Yufeng tried to shoo him away several times but couldn’t, growing increasingly impatient as he watched his father.

Xie Ci noticed Gu Yufeng’s glare, which looked like a child whose toy had been taken away, and couldn’t help but want to laugh.

This kid could be really childish sometimes.

“You’ve practiced calligraphy?” Gu Yongnian asked excitedly, wanting to prepare paper and brushes for Xie Ci to show off his skills.

Many young people in the hall were secretly paying attention to what was happening with Gu Yongnian.

Given Gu Yongnian’s status, it was already a big deal for him to show up at such a gathering for the younger generation, but he was unexpectedly able to chat with that young man for so long; they had been there for almost half an hour.

Not to mention ordinary high school students, even big shots from the same business circle would struggle to say a few words in front of Gu Yongnian.

What kind of background did this young man have?

Once the paper and brushes were ready, Gu Yongnian signaled for Xie Ci to come over.

Zhang Ruochuan and the others, curious, gathered around to watch.

Xie Ci picked up the brush, initially planning to write a random poem, but noticing Gu Yufeng’s sour face out of the corner of his eye, he thought better of it and switched to a larger brush, writing the character “Feng” on the rice paper.

The strokes were powerful and vigorous, making Gu Yongnian nod repeatedly. “Good character!”

Gu Yufeng watched, asking nonchalantly, “Why write the character for ‘wind’?”

Xie Ci changed brushes to sign his name, saying, “Since Uncle likes that oil painting so much, why not let him have it? I’ll write a new piece for you.”

After saying this, Xie Ci noticed the corners of Gu Yufeng’s lips slightly rise, a hint of a smile in his eyes. Though he tried hard to suppress it, the effect was far from ideal.