“Master Gu, I’m terribly sorry for seeking you out so suddenly.”

Secretary Lin looked apologetic, dressed in a fashionable skirt suit that made her appear energetic and professional.

Gu Xicao turned her attention from the scenery outside the car window. “It’s fine. I had no plans this evening. You must be acting on someone’s behalf. Otherwise, given your character, you wouldn’t reach out so abruptly.”

Secretary Lin felt a bit reassured and nodded. “Yes, you’re right. I just learned about this matter myself. The person seeking your guidance is from the Gu family. Master Gu, do you know of them?”

“Do you mean the Gu family involved in shipping and gambling?” Gu Xicao asked with interest. In Hong Kong, many wealthy families were prominent, but the four major clans—Wong, Lam, Gu, and Lee—were particularly famous, each dominating a lucrative industry.

Secretary Lin nodded. “Yes, that’s the one. Mr. Gu is a close friend and business partner of Mr. Cai. He couldn’t attend Mr. Cai’s recent banquet, but after hearing about you, he wishes to invite you to his home for a consultation.”

“His home?” Gu Xicao immediately picked up on the key detail.

Secretary Lin cleared her throat, raised the privacy screen in the car, and lowered her voice. “Mr. Gu is about ten years older than Mr. Cai. He’s gathered all his children at home tonight. My guess is that he wants you to assess them and determine who’s best suited to inherit the family business. Master Gu, you’ll need to tread carefully.”

“I understand.”

Gu Xicao’s expression became thoughtful.

She had wondered why she’d been summoned in such a formal manner, and why the destination was the Gu family home. It seemed Secretary Lin’s speculation wasn’t far off the mark.

The car turned and headed toward Deep Water Bay.

Nestled between the mountains and sea, Deep Water Bay was famed for its breathtaking views and status as an exclusive residential area. Only a handful of elite families could afford to live there.

At that moment, the Gu family mansion was brightly lit, and the summoned children were mingling in small groups.

Mr. Gu had one wife and three concubines. The first wife was childless, while the second, third, and fourth wives each had a son and a daughter.

Currently, the children of the third and fourth wives were gathered together.

The third wife’s son, Gu Xinhui, leaned lazily against a velvet sofa, puffing on a cigar. He exhaled a cloud of smoke and glanced downstairs with irritation. “Ah Liu, do you think the old man’s lost his mind? We’ve got businesses to run, and he calls us all back here, wasting so much time and money.”

The fourth wife’s son, Gu Xinliu, still a student, chuckled. “Third Brother, you shouldn’t say that. If word gets back to Father, you’ll be in trouble again. Besides, I doubt Father would summon us without reason. I’ve heard this so-called master is incredibly accurate—they even helped Uncle Cai find his son.”

“Bah! Accurate, my foot. Do you know how many gamblers at our casinos pray to charms and holy water? None of them ever get rich,” Gu Xinhui scoffed, shaking his head.

His mind was elsewhere, fixated on a young woman he’d recently started seeing. The thought of her made him restless and unable to sit still.

An idea flickered in his eyes. Flicking ash from his cigar into a crystal ashtray, he suggested, “Hey, how about we test this master later? Let’s see how good they really are.”

His younger siblings exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement. “Sure.”

Meanwhile, the youngest of the fourth wife’s children, Gu Yuehua, had no interest in joining the group. Noticing her second sister hadn’t come downstairs, she excused herself, claiming she needed to fetch something, and headed upstairs.

Knocking on a door, she called, “Second Sister, are you still working?”

“Come in,” came a cold reply without a glance up from the desk.

Gu Yuehua entered to find her second sister, Gu Yueluo, surrounded by a laptop and piles of documents. Her admiration was evident.

Gu Yueluo glanced up and relaxed slightly when she saw her youngest sister. A faint smile broke her otherwise stern expression. “Yuehua, when did you get back?”

“Just now. Third Brother and Fourth Brother are being so noisy downstairs that I decided to come talk to you. I’m not interrupting, am I?”

Gu Yueluo stood up to pour her sister a glass of water. “Not at all. I’m just working on some minor tasks—nothing urgent. It’s not like it matters much; I’m going to be married off soon anyway.”

“Second Sister…”

Gu Yuehua cradled the glass of water, her eyes filled with concern. “I’ve heard people say that Young Master Li is a decent person.”

“Decent,” Gu Yueluo repeated with a wry smile. “Sure, I believe he’ll treat me well. But I don’t want to be someone’s stepmother, let alone a kept woman. Not that I have much choice. When Father decides something, I can’t refuse.”

Guilt flashed across Gu Yuehua’s face.

In their wealthy family, marriages often served the interests of the clan. While the men could marry a wife and still pursue their desires outside, the women were expected to be virtuous wives and mothers.

Gu Yueluo had always been strong-willed and ambitious. She’d even earned a spot at Cambridge on her own merit. But what was the point?

As a woman, her father would never grant her shares in the family business. At most, he’d arrange a match with a socially compatible family, send her off with a dowry, and consider his duty done.

Gu Yuehua didn’t mind the idea of marriage, as she lacked her sister’s drive. But seeing her hardworking and capable sister forced into sacrifice for the family’s gain filled her with unease.

“Second Sister, maybe—”

“What are you two talking about? The master has arrived, and Father wants everyone downstairs.”

Gu Xinliu knocked on the door, cutting off Gu Yuehua mid-sentence.

Gu Yueluo replied with a curt acknowledgment and motioned for her younger sister to head downstairs. “Yuehua, you don’t need to comfort me. I know where I stand.”

Downstairs in the grand hall, the space was brightly illuminated, with the sparkling brilliance of a crystal chandelier casting a warm glow.

Mr. Gu was the last to descend the staircase, surrounded by his wives. As soon as Gu Xinhui and the others saw him, they stood and greeted him respectfully.

“Father.”

“Mr. Gu.”

Gu Xicao glanced at Mr. Gu’s wives, her thoughts amused. This old man sure knows how to enjoy life—all his women are beauties.

“Master Gu, please, take a seat. Make yourself comfortable. Xiao Lin, thank you for going through the trouble of bringing our guest over this late,” Mr. Gu said warmly. His hair was streaked with gray, and he wore a well-tailored Zhongshan suit. His refined appearance resembled that of a university professor rather than the tycoon who dominated Hong Kong’s shipping and gambling industries.

“No trouble at all, Mr. Gu,” Secretary Lin replied with deference. “My father also hopes Master Gu will be able to assist you.”

Gu Xinhui chuckled. “Secretary Lin you are lucky. I always said you’d marry into wealth someday, and it looks like I was right. Maybe I have a knack for fortune-telling myself.”

Secretary Lin’s smile was thin and perfunctory. “Third Young Master, you flatter me.”

She inwardly rolled her eyes. This fool had once tried to convince her to leave Mr. Cai and work for him instead. Now that she was engaged to Cai Xiaowen, he had changed his tune in an instant.

The Gu siblings truly are pieces of work, she thought.

“Third Brother, don’t talk nonsense,” Gu Xinliu interjected with a smirk. “The real fortune-teller is right here. What do you know about divination?” He turned to Gu Xicao and smiled. “This must be Master Gu. Such a young talent. I’ve heard a lot about you, but I’m curious—what methods do you use? Who taught you?”

“Yes, exactly,” chimed in Gu Xinhui’s younger sister, Gu Yueshu, a playful smirk on her face. “I’ve never heard of anyone like you in Hong Kong before. Where did you come from all of a sudden? Are you sure you’re not a fraud?”

“Yueshu!” Gu Yueluo shot her a warning look.

Third Brother, however, was quick to retort, “Second Sister, she’s not wrong to ask. Father, we need to be cautious about these things. Not every so-called fortune-teller is reliable.”

The fourth wife’s faction chimed in as well. “Exactly. Entrusting our future to the words of a fortune-teller seems a bit reckless, doesn’t it? Father, you should think this through carefully.”

Gu Xicao lowered her gaze slightly, her thoughts clear. So, the wives are in on this. No wonder they’re all so suspicious.

“Whether I’m accurate or not, you’re welcome to test me,” Gu Xicao said, spreading her hands with a calm and confident smile. “If I didn’t have the skill, I wouldn’t have dared to come here tonight. Do you really think someone like Mr. Gu would be easily deceived?”

Secretary Lin silently exhaled in relief. The Gu family’s mistresses were notoriously difficult, and she had worried that Gu Xicao might lose her temper and leave.

“Bold words,” Gu Xinhui sneered. “Alright, let’s have some fun. Father, what do you think?”

Mr. Gu, leaning on his cane, nodded. “Alright, but show the master some respect.”

“Don’t worry, Father. If the master is accurate, we’ll each pay her 50,000 as an apology,” Gu Xinhui said with a smirk, gesturing to a servant.

The servant returned moments later carrying a dice cup.

“A dice cup?” Gu Yueluo frowned. “Xinhui, this isn’t a casino.”

“Exactly. But what better way to test a master’s skill?”

Gu Xinhui turned to Gu Xicao with a grin. “So, Master Gu, can you tell us the total on the dice? Or are you afraid to try?”

He lifted the dice cup briefly to show her the five dice inside.

“There’s nothing to fear. Shake away,” Gu Xicao replied, crossing one leg over the other, her demeanor relaxed and unbothered.

Secretary Lin hesitated but chose to remain silent, not wanting to undermine Gu Xicao in front of the Gu family. Still, she couldn’t help but worry. Dice games were rife with tricks, and the way the siblings were acting made it clear they had prepared something.

“Alright, I like your confidence,” Gu Xinhui said. “I’ll roll them myself.”

He skillfully shook the dice cup, switching it smoothly between hands with practiced ease before slamming it down on the table.

Everyone’s eyes were on Gu Xicao.

“Well, Master Gu, what’s your prediction? Do you need pen and paper?” Gu Xinhui asked mockingly.

“No need. This is simple,” Gu Xicao replied with a smile. “Third Young Master, the dice cup contains zero points.”