The Celestial Master Token had appeared?
Ye Qiu’s heart surged with joy. Hanging up the phone, he turned to Elder Longmei, “Let’s go to the Baoli Auction House.”
“No way,” Elder Longmei said. “Stuff there’s way too pricey, and I’ve got no money.”
“You sure you’re not going? The Celestial Master Token’s surfaced.”
Instantly, Elder Longmei’s breathing quickened, his eyes locking onto Ye Qiu in disbelief. “Little brat, you’re not messing with me?”
“You’re just a scruffy old man, worth my time to trick?”
Ye Qiu said, “Tang Fei just told me on the phone—the Celestial Master Token’s at Baoli Auction House. You in or not?”
“In! Let’s move!”
Elder Longmei took off, his urgency rivaling a groom rushing to his wedding night—eager as hell.
They hurried along the path beside the lotus pond, but two minutes in, Ye Qiu stopped dead.
Seeing Ye Qiu lag behind, Elder Longmei asked, “What’re you staring at?”
“A beauty.”
“What’s so great about a beauty? Hurry up.”
But Ye Qiu didn’t budge.
His gaze fixed on a spot not far off.
By the pond, a girl was painting.
She wore a cap and mask, hiding most of her face, her glossy black hair cascading like a waterfall. A white dress couldn’t conceal her graceful curves.
She held a brush, quietly sketching on her canvas, sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting soft beams on her profile.
The scene was pure poetry!
For some reason, in that moment, Ye Qiu’s restless heart calmed like still water.
“Little brat, what, never seen a woman before? Move it!” Elder Longmei urged, his mind fixated on the Celestial Master Token.
“Hold on, give me a sec.”
Ye Qiu stepped forward, stopping two meters from the girl, and pulled out his phone.
*Click!*
The girl seemed to sense something, turning toward him. Spotting a stranger snapping her photo, she jumped up like a startled rabbit.
But her foot slipped. With an “Ouch!” she tipped toward the pond.
Ye Qiu darted forward like lightning, grabbing her hand and pulling her into his arms.
“You okay?”
Looking down, he met a pair of starry, crystalline eyes—clear and radiant.
She shook her head. “I’m fine, thanks for saving me.”
Her voice was soft, a gentle breeze stirring the heart.
Ye Qiu was momentarily dazed.
“Uh, could you let go?” she asked shyly.
Only then did Ye Qiu realize she was still in his arms, his hands on her slender waist.
“Oh, sorry!” He snapped out of it and quickly released her.
She sized him up and said, “You don’t look like a student.”
“How can you tell?” Ye Qiu countered.
“You just don’t.”
“Are you a Shuimu student?” he asked.
“Mm,” she nodded. “Art department.”
Ye Qiu’s eyes drifted to her canvas—a blooming lotus, vivid and lush, yet exuding a serene, distant calm.
“You paint beautifully,” he praised sincerely.
“You know art?” Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
He shook his head. “I’m a doctor, not an artist. But I can see the detail’s spot-on. You’re observant, and usually, good artists are good-looking too.”
Though her face was half-hidden, Ye Qiu sensed she was stunning.
She giggled. “Didn’t peg you for a sweet-talker. Bet you’ve charmed plenty of girls, huh?”
“No way…” Ye Qiu protested.
“Yeah, right,” Elder Longmei cut in, addressing the girl. “Little miss, this brat’s a flirt, a total player. Don’t let him fool you.”
“Don’t listen to his nonsense, I—”
“Shut it! Move your ass!” Elder Longmei yanked Ye Qiu along.
“Wait, what’s your name?” Ye Qiu called back.
“I’ll tell you next time we meet,” she said, winking.
Next time?
Would there be another encounter?
Ye Qiu, full of questions, was dragged off by Elder Longmei.
The girl watched him disappear, chuckling softly. “Ye Qiu, didn’t expect our first meeting to go like this.”
“Wonder what the next one will be like?”
“I’m kinda looking forward to it.”
She pulled out her phone, made a call, and said, “Come pick me up.”
Two minutes later, a Mercedes van stopped by the pond road. Two tall, black-suited female bodyguards approached her.
“Miss, your orders?” one asked.
“Clean this up. We’re heading to Baoli Auction House.”
…
Baoli Auction House, one of the country’s premier venues.
When Ye Qiu and Elder Longmei arrived, the hall was packed, buzzing with chatter.
“Heard there’s a Wu Guanzhong painting up today.”
“I hear there’s a Song Huizong calligraphy piece too. Love his Slender Gold style.”
“And a Qianlong court glazed vase—don’t you dare bid against me!”
Ye Qiu scanned the room. Aside from the back two rows, only the front row’s center had two empty seats.
He and Elder Longmei strode over and sat down in the prime spots.
The room fell silent.
*Swish, swish, swish!*
Over a hundred pairs of eyes zeroed in on them.
“Little brat, why’re they all staring?” Elder Longmei whispered.
“Maybe ‘cause I’m handsome,” Ye Qiu quipped.
“Can you not be so full of yourself?” Elder Longmei glanced around. “Their looks say we’re in trouble.”
“Who cares?”
A few minutes later, a young man in a suit, cigarette dangling from his mouth, swaggered in.
He looked younger than Ye Qiu, maybe twenty, oozing arrogance, trailed by a few lackeys.
People greeted him warmly.
“Hey, Young Master Zhang!”
“Young Master Zhang, what took you so long?”
“The auctioneer said they’d start once you arrived!”
The youth ignored them, marching up to Ye Qiu and Elder Longmei, glaring. “Who let you sit here? Get lost—”
