Chapter 41: She Just Wanted to Defeat Wen Zhixia Once

Courier: "Rest assured, Miss Zhao personally signed for it."

Hearing this, the person on the other end of the phone said no more and ended the call abruptly.

The courier didn’t think much of it; earning a hundred yuan for a single trip within the city was a stroke of luck, not something one encountered every day.

As night fell, the city of Four Corners was once again illuminated, glowing as if it were broad daylight.

Hua Qianjiao sat inside the car, reluctant to get out.

Wen Zhixia drove up; recognizing the car parked ahead, she approached and saw Hua Qianjiao dragging her feet, unwilling to leave the vehicle. The driver pleaded earnestly, "Miss, you really should go. Miss Wen has arrived. This is Chairman Hua’s instruction—you can't stay in the car forever."

Hua Qianjiao clutched the hem of her little dress, head bowed, her lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, and muttered, "I don’t want to go. They all want to see me embarrass myself."

Even with her slow reactions, she remained acutely sensitive to malice.

The driver fell silent, too. Once, Hua Qianjiao had been envied—so clever, so radiant. Now, she had to endure immense pressure and the ill will of onlookers.

Knock, knock, knock—

Wen Zhixia curled her fingers and tapped the window with her knuckles.

The driver hurried to lower the window.

Wen Zhixia looked at Hua Qianjiao inside, head hanging low, like a soldier surrendering before the battle even began. "Qianjiao, get out of the car."

Hua Qianjiao always listened to her, but at this moment, she hesitated. "Sister Wen, I don’t want to go."

"One day, your parents will grow old. If you can’t build your own walls, if you can’t even face people, how can they rely on you in the future? Your buffer period has been long enough. You can hide in the car for now, but you can’t hide forever." Wen Zhixia extended her hand. "Come, be good."

After a moment, Hua Qianjiao finally placed her hand in Wen Zhixia’s, though she still carried a timidness toward the unfamiliar surroundings.

Wen Zhixia smiled gently. "Cheer up. If..." She paused, a domineering face flashing in her mind. "If you feel nervous or someone makes you uncomfortable, just lift your chin slightly and look at their hairline. You don’t need to say anything. That alone will keep them at bay."

Hua Qianjiao didn’t understand. "Why?"

Wen Zhixia smiled. "Because I’ve met a Miss Chu who’s notoriously hard to deal with. She always looks at people down her nose, and everyone fears her wealth and influence. Your family background is similar. You can learn from her."

Hua Qianjiao nodded, half understanding.

Indeed, arrogance backed by power easily creates an aura that others dare not breach. Even though everyone knew Hua Qianjiao’s intellect had declined, her proud expression deterred them from uttering any barbed words.

Wen Zhixia walked beside Hua Qianjiao—the former elegant and poised, serene and courteous; the latter exuding a delicate aloofness, unconcerned by life’s troubles.

Their arrival drew considerable attention. Upon learning that the Hua family’s young lady had arrived, the organizers of the charity auction personally came to express their gratitude. "I’ve heard so much about Miss Hua’s beauty and kindness, inheriting Chairman Hua’s passion for charity. Seeing you today confirms your reputation. I’m Wu Lihao. If you need anything, just let me know."

Wu Lihao extended his hand to Wen Zhixia, smiling and showering compliments.

Wang Haiqiong, witnessing this, remarked half-mockingly, half in jest, "President Wen always becomes the center of attention, wherever she goes. If Chairman Hua knew that his expensive charity sponsorship ended up paving the way for others, I wonder how he'd feel."

Wen Zhixia glanced at her, not responding.

Just then, a staff member whispered into Wu Lihao’s ear, "Manager Wu, you’ve mistaken the person—the girl beside her is the Hua family’s young lady."

Manager Wu looked embarrassed; anyone could see that Wen Zhixia carried more of the sharp business aura of Chairman Hua, while Hua Qianjiao next to her resembled a little sister. "Well..."

"You can thank Sister Wen as well; she’s my sister." As Wen Zhixia was about to ease the awkwardness, Hua Qianjiao, who had barely spoken since entering, suddenly said.

Manager Wu quickly followed suit, "Yes, yes, Miss Hua and... Miss Hua’s sister, naturally very close, inseparable."

Hua Qianjiao saw nothing wrong with this; she and Sister Wen had no need for boundaries, so she nodded to Manager Wu.

Wen Zhixia smiled and shook her head at Hua Qianjiao’s self-assured expression. "Let’s go inside."

Manager Wu said, "This way, please—"

Outside, Ye Lanzhou leaned against his car door, elegant as a breeze, attracting the gaze of many passing women.

A Bentley pulled up. The door opened, and impeccably tailored trousers accentuated a tall figure; sharp brows arched, deep eyes glinting with intensity, thin lips pressed in a cold, proud line—a commanding presence.

"President Gu, you’ve kept everyone waiting," Ye Lanzhou joked. "Everyone’s already inside, and you’re just now arriving."

"There was a last-minute issue at the company," Gu Pingsheng replied in a cool tone.

"I hear your Far East project is nearly under control. Allow me to congratulate you in advance." Tossing his keys to the valet, they headed inside together.

"Do you know her?" Ye Lanzhou asked, noticing a woman approaching them with joy. She had been standing outside before his arrival, seemingly waiting for someone. With only himself and Gu Pingsheng present, it was clear who she was waiting for.

"Senior," Zhao Fuhe stopped beside Gu Pingsheng, calling softly.

Gu Pingsheng avoided her outstretched hand. "Go home."

Zhao Fuhe’s smile froze. She clenched her fingers. "Is there something wrong with how I dressed today?"

She had dressed to impress, so why was he so dissatisfied?

Gu Pingsheng didn’t want to probe her reasons for being here, nor waste time. "This isn’t a place you should be."

If this wasn’t her place, did that mean only Wen Zhixia was allowed here? Would she forever be barred from any event where Wen Zhixia was present?

He had asked her to be his companion; she had prepared all day with excitement, even hired a stylist. Now, just because Wen Zhixia appeared, was she to leave in defeat?

Almost instinctively, Zhao Fuhe attributed Gu Pingsheng’s changed attitude to Wen Zhixia.

When Wen Zhixia and Hua Qianjiao entered the charity auction, Zhao Fuhe had just stepped out of her car. Knowing the event was grand, she had rented a luxury vehicle to ensure she matched the occasion.

But the moment she spotted Wen Zhixia, her heart sank. An ominous feeling overcame her; she feared Wen Zhixia’s presence would ruin her meticulous preparations and rob her of the chance to appear alongside Gu Pingsheng.

And now, that moment had arrived.

"My car has already left, and there’s no other vehicle here. Senior, how am I supposed to go home? I spent all day preparing after receiving your invitation, even skipped my hospital check-up. What am I supposed to do alone?" Tears are a woman’s best weapon, especially in such situations.

Standing on the steps ahead, Zhang Zhiyan glanced at Gu Pingsheng and Zhao Fuhe, lips curling in a mocking smile, then turned away.

Gu Pingsheng narrowed his eyes, thumb rubbing his index finger. "Who gave you the invitation?"

This implied he knew nothing about the invitation. Zhao Fuhe immediately sensed the change in his tone; tearful, she looked up, bewildered, "Why do you ask? Didn’t you instruct the courier to deliver it?"

Regardless of the invitation’s origins, she couldn’t let herself take the blame.

Gu Pingsheng watched Zhang Zhiyan’s retreating figure, his gaze heavy.

When the three entered the venue, the auction had already begun.

Charity auctions are, in truth, games of capital, attended only by the wealthy and influential.

Wen Zhixia and Hua Qianjiao sat in the middle of the front row, seats reserved specially for them.

Gu Pingsheng and his companions, arriving late, took seats by the aisle.

"Sister Wen, do you like anything? I’ll buy it for you." Miss Hua was always extravagant, never hesitating to bid high; within moments, she had already acquired two items.

"The Hua family is sponsoring this event; you can’t act on impulse. If you’re not truly fond of something, let others bid," Wen Zhixia reminded her.

Hua Qianjiao nodded and asked, "Then what do you like?"

Wen Zhixia flipped through the elegant booklet detailing tonight’s lots, her eyes landing on a celadon vase. "This is a piece Professor Wang and his wife have searched for years. I want to buy it as a Teacher’s Day gift."

Hua Qianjiao glanced at it, eager. "Alright, let’s bid on this."

Gu Pingsheng, after entering, kept his gaze fixed on the front row.

"The man sitting behind Senior Wen looks familiar," Zhao Fuhe remarked, leaning into Gu Pingsheng in her black strapless gown, her pale skin catching the eye of any man whose gaze lingered.

Ye Lanzhou’s expression was subtly odd.

"I think he’s the one who dined with Senior Wen last time," Zhao Fuhe added.

Gu Pingsheng rubbed the auction catalogue in his hands, his eyes unreadable and silent.

Ignored, Zhao Fuhe continued as if nothing were amiss, "I didn’t expect to see him here, but with Senior Wen being so outstanding, it’s no wonder he’s so captivated..."

The blue-and-white porcelain Wen Zhixia favored was the seventh lot tonight.

The host, holding his script, introduced, "The next item is an early Qing dynasty blue-and-white porcelain. Please note: the central vein of the banana leaf is left blank; the petal edges are distinctly outlined; the 'notched' area on the peony leaf is unusually deep—a rare find. Starting bid is two million. Each raise increases by one hundred thousand."

As soon as the host finished, Hua Qianjiao impatiently raised her paddle.

The host smiled, "We already have a bid from the front row—two point one million."

A bespectacled middle-aged man in the back row, evidently after this piece, raised his paddle as well.

"Bidder number 32 offers two point two million," said the host.

Hua Qianjiao tilted her head, considering, and before she could raise her paddle again, Wen Zhixia, wanting to buy the gift herself, pressed her hand.

Unexpectedly, Hua Qianjiao decided to bid aloud, "Two point five million."

The host smiled, "Any bids higher than two point five million?"

The middle-aged man seemed eager to continue, but his companion stopped him, "You’re bidding against Miss Hua, and her family sponsors this charity auction. You won’t win."

He hesitated.

Wen Zhixia’s phone lit up—a message from Zhang Zhiyan: This lot and the tenth, the lotus-patterned dish, were originally a set. If you intend it as a gift, I recommend buying both.

Wen Zhixia paused, checked the catalogue, and found his words true; the connection was noted in small print, easily overlooked.

She turned slightly, smiling and nodding in thanks to him.

They exchanged a few quiet words.

Zhao Fuhe noticed the lot was Wen Zhixia’s choice. No matter the occasion, Wen Zhixia was always elevated, needing neither action nor words—someone was always there to fulfill her wishes.

She couldn’t understand what made Wen Zhixia so remarkable beyond her luck and icy purity.

With this thought, she lowered her gaze and whispered enviously to Gu Pingsheng, "That blue-and-white porcelain is beautiful. It would look wonderful at home."

She glanced at him, but he made no move. Zhao Fuhe felt disappointed.

Just as the host prepared to strike the gavel, Gu Pingsheng suddenly raised his hand. "Three million."

Zhang Zhiyan, hearing his voice, paused and smiled at Wen Zhixia, "Do you think President Gu truly likes this, or... is it for someone else? I saw him arrive with a young, beautiful companion."

Wen Zhixia pressed her lips together, turning away. Before Hua Qianjiao could raise her paddle again, she held her hand. "Three point five million."

Some had already recognized the bidder who called out three million, but Wen Zhixia, seated at the front, was not widely known; still, her bidding against Gu Pingsheng piqued curiosity.

"This lady bids three point five million. Any higher?" asked the host.

Zhao Fuhe whispered, "Senior, we still..."

"In the fourth row, a gentleman bids three point six..." The host was about to announce, when Gu Pingsheng declared, "Five million."

The crowd erupted in astonishment.

Wen Zhixia gripped her paddle, stood, and said, "Six million."

The host beamed, "This lady bids six million. Any higher?... Six million once, six million..."

Zhao Fuhe didn’t understand Wen Zhixia’s motive for bidding so boldly, nor did she care for the porcelain herself. She simply wanted to win over Wen Zhixia for once.

But she couldn’t show her true intent, nor any hostility. "Senior, I really do like this vase."