Mu Chen: “Why wouldn’t it? We have everything here.”
Lan Hai: “Alright, count me in.”
Xia Qinue: “I’ll be attending as well. Let’s meet outside the Auction House tomorrow evening.”
Lan Hai: “Sounds good. See you tomorrow.”
With their plans settled, Xia Qinue bid everyone farewell and quietly left the apartment.
Lan Hai turned toward Han Ji Shen.
Lan Hai: “Senior, would you like to accompany us to the auction?”
Han Ji Shen gave a slight nod.
Han Ji Shen: “Very well. I shall accompany you and observe this world.”
Mu Chen looked at Lan Hai in confusion.
Mu Chen: “Bro, why are we bringing this old man along?”
Lan Hai: “Senior has been cooped up inside this apartment for four straight days. It’s only right that we take him out to see the city.”
Mu Chen shrugged helplessly.
Mu Chen: “Fine, whatever. But we seriously need to fix his wardrobe first. We can’t take him out looking like a homeless immortal.”
Han Ji Shen merely scoffed before turning around and walking toward his room.
Watching him leave, Mu Chen leaned closer to Lan Hai and lowered his voice.
Mu Chen: “Bro, I’m telling you… there’s something seriously strange about that old man.”
Lan Hai smiled helplessly.
Lan Hai: “You’re overthinking it. Just let it go.”
The following afternoon, the three of them headed to the capital’s premier commercial district.
Mu Chen pulled out his black-tier credit card and bought Han Ji Shen a perfectly tailored three-piece suit, along with an equally elegant suit for Lan Hai.
After returning to the apartment, they changed into their formal attire and prepared for the evening’s high-society event.
As night descended, a luxurious maglev vehicle glided smoothly to a stop outside the Grand Capital Auction House.
The door slid open, and Mu Chen stepped out first, looking exceptionally handsome in a tailored navy-blue three-piece suit.
His confident demeanor and noble bearing immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding guests.
Han Ji Shen followed close behind.
Dressed in a pristine white tuxedo, with his long silver hair flowing freely over his broad shoulders, he exuded an ancient, regal aura that left many of the high-society women staring at him in silent admiration.
Finally, Lan Hai stepped out of the vehicle.
Clad in a perfectly tailored midnight-black suit that complemented his sharp features and piercing eyes, his modern wolf-cut hairstyle gave him a calm yet striking presence that completely distinguished him from the surrounding aristocrats.
Whispers quickly spread through the crowd.
“Wait… isn’t that Lan Hai?”
“The top scholar of the capital!”
“I heard he ranked first in all of Beijing!”
His extraordinary academic achievement had turned him into an overnight celebrity among Beijing’s elite.
As the three of them made their way toward the grand entrance, another luxury maglev vehicle descended onto the platform.
Hua Tian stepped out first, dressed in an impeccably tailored dark brown designer suit.
Resting her hand gracefully on his arm was Xia Qinue. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
The moment she stepped beneath the lights, the flashing cameras of the paparazzi seemed to freeze in unison.
She wore a breathtaking, floor-length midnight-black gown that perfectly accentuated her graceful figure.
Her silky black hair cascaded freely over her shoulders, while a brilliant diamond necklace shimmered elegantly against her collarbone.
At that moment, she looked like a celestial fairy who had descended into the mortal world.
The instant Lan Hai’s eyes met hers, his breath caught in his throat.
At the very same moment, Xia Qinue stopped walking.
Her gaze locked onto Lan Hai, and for a brief moment, the bustling crowd around them seemed to disappear.
Dressed in his perfectly tailored black suit, Lan Hai looked exceptionally handsome, effortlessly standing out among the aristocratic young masters surrounding him.
Noticing the lingering exchange of glances, Hua Tian adjusted his posture with a faint, confident smile and subtly bent his arm.
Snapping back to reality, Qinue quietly slipped her hand through his arm before the two of them continued toward the main entrance.
Mu Chen clicked his tongue and leaned toward Lan Hai.
Mu Chen: “I told you to claim her when you had the chance, bro. Now look… a complete donkey is walking away with a priceless diamond.”
Han Ji Shen glanced at him with a puzzled expression.
Han Ji Shen: “I fail to understand your metaphor.”
Mu Chen sighed dramatically.
Mu Chen: “Come on, old man. Follow me inside, and I’ll explain the tragedy of modern romance later.”
The three entered the magnificent Auction House and were escorted to one of the highest-level VIP suites.
Hoping to display his influence, Hua Tian used the Hua Family’s status to secure seats in the very same executive suite as Lan Hai and Mu Chen.
As everyone settled into the luxurious private room, Hua Tian approached Lan Hai with a faint, condescending smile.
Hua Tian: “Well, well… Lan Hai. How have you been?”
Lan Hai: “I’m doing fine.”
Hua Tian: “Good to hear. I assume you’ll be attending our engagement ceremony?”
Lan Hai remained silent for a moment.
His fists slowly tightened before he answered in a calm voice.
Lan Hai: “I’ll be there.”
A satisfied smile spread across Hua Tian’s face.
Hua Tian: “Excellent. I must admit, you possess remarkable self-control.”
Lan Hai looked at him coldly.
Lan Hai: “What exactly are you implying?”
Hua Tian: “Nothing much. It’s simply that watching the woman you’ve secretly loved prepare to marry someone of my status can’t be an easy thing to endure.”
Those words struck Lan Hai like a knife.
His throat tightened, yet he couldn’t bring himself to say a single word.
Observing the growing hostility from across the suite, where she was standing beside Mu Chen and Han Ji Shen, Xia Qinue immediately stepped forward.
Xia Qinue: “What are you two talking about over here?”
Hua Tian: “Nothing at all, my darling. I was merely making sure your childhood friend doesn’t miss our engagement ceremony.”
Qinue turned toward Lan Hai.
Xia Qinue: “Naturally. If he doesn’t attend, the engagement wouldn’t feel complete.”
Lan Hai looked at her quietly.
Lan Hai: “And why would my absence make any difference?”
A gentle smile appeared on Qinue’s face.
Xia Qinue: “Because you’re my closest friend in this world, Lan. I want your blessings on the most important day of my life.”
Lan Hai forced a faint smile.
Lan Hai: “Fine… I’ll be there.”
Unable to endure the suffocating atmosphere any longer, he turned around and walked out of the VIP suite.
Mu Chen frowned.
Mu Chen: “Hey! Where are you going? The auction’s about to begin!”
Without turning back, Lan Hai replied,
Lan Hai: “I’m just going to the washroom. I’ll be back soon.”
Han Ji Shen silently watched Lan Hai’s departing figure.
With his centuries of experience, he could clearly see the turmoil consuming the young man’s heart.
Lan Hai was completely trapped by his love, yet shackled by his own sense of reality and inferiority.
“A brief moment of solitude may force him to confront the truth within his own heart,” Han Ji Shen thought, choosing not to stop him.
Inside the restroom, Lan Hai gripped the edges of the sink and stared at his reflection in the mirror.
His breathing grew ragged as he struggled to suppress the pain of being unable to confess the feelings he had buried for so many years.
Meanwhile, back inside the VIP suite, nearly two hours passed.
Mu Chen glanced at his watch, growing increasingly impatient.
Mu Chen: “This is getting ridiculous. Where the hell did that idiot disappear to?”
He immediately took out his phone and dialed Lan Hai’s number.
Mu Chen: “Bro, where the hell are you? The auction’s almost over!”
Lan Hai: “I’m on my way back. I just got held up in the washroom.”
Mu Chen stared at his phone in disbelief.
Mu Chen: “Are you insane? You’ve been in the bathroom for two whole hours!”
Lan Hai: “I said I’m coming back. Just drop it.”
Mu Chen ended the call with an exasperated sigh and turned his attention back to the stage, where influential businessmen and billionaires continued bidding astronomical sums on priceless technological inventions and ancient artifacts.
Suddenly, the curtains parted.
Resting beneath a reinforced glass display case was a glowing, ethereal root.
A genuine Spiritual Ginseng.
The instant Han Ji Shen laid eyes on it, his pupils contracted sharply.
He rose to his feet in disbelief, his heart trembling with shock.
“Impossible… A genuine Spiritual Ginseng… existing in a world completely devoid of spiritual energy?”