Chapter 140: I’ll Give You Some Pointers

Chapter 140: Chapter 140: I’ll Give You Some Pointers

The teahouse in the small town was mostly filled with middle-aged and elderly patrons.

Their boisterous chatter filled the air, making the quiet corner seem all the more out of place.

An intricately carved screen shielded them from prying eyes as the gentle fragrance of tea permeated the air.

Lu Shixu and Fu Yunfeng sat facing each other.

Fu Yunfeng lit incense, while Lu Shixu prepared the tea.

Though neither of them spoke, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

"Did you go to Lingfei Temple up on the mountain, Uncle Fu?"

Lu Shixu asked out of the blue.

Fu Yunfeng didn’t try to hide it, simply nodding.

"But how did you know?"

Lu Shixu poured tea into a cup, his movements unhurried as he spoke.

"Lingfei Temple is quite famous. I figured you wouldn’t miss it, Uncle Fu."

Fu Yunfeng paused, a bitter edge creeping into his faint smile.

"I suppose I’m quite well-known for that."

For years, he had been searching for his daughter, Zizhi, while also traveling everywhere to pray at temples.

In the eyes of many, he was undoubtedly a fool with more money than sense.

A textbook example of a self-made millionaire who threw his money away at temples as soon as he earned it.

Few people knew that he was simply praying for his daughter’s safety.

Fu Yunfeng didn’t feel like talking about it at the moment.

He deliberately changed the subject, turning the attention to Lu Shixu.

"I came for Lingfei Temple. But what about you, Shixu? I can’t imagine what could have drawn you to this remote little town."

The question was a subtle probe.

Aside from their family ties, the two were friendly rivals in the business world.

They had collaborated, and they had competed.

But their relationship was amicable enough; otherwise, Fu Yunfeng never would have asked.

Something seemed to cross Lu Shixu’s mind.

He paused for a moment before replying:

"Mr. Huang’s hometown is here."

Fu Yunfeng mulled it over for a moment before asking:

"You don’t mean the great collector, Mr. Huang, do you? I heard he retired to his hometown to live in seclusion and passed away recently."

Both Lu Shixu and Fu Yunfeng were avid collectors and had run into each other at auctions several times.

In the world of collectors, Mr. Huang’s name was legendary.

Fu Yunfeng himself coveted many of the pieces in his collection. He had visited several times hoping to purchase them, only to be refused each time.

And now...

"It seems Mr. Huang’s descendants aren’t interested in his collection."

His words were tinged with regret.

As a fellow collector, the thought of his own hard-won treasures being casually sold off by his son, Fu Chao, was enough to give Fu Yunfeng a heart attack.

’If I find Zizhi, I’ll just give all my treasures to her.’

’But what if Zizhi wants to sell them too?’

’...Oh well, let her sell them.’

’Out with the old, in with the new, right?’

"So, Shixu, what piece has caught your eye?"

Fu Yunfeng was curious.

Lu Shixu fell into a subtle silence for a couple of seconds.

"An ancient book."

With his sharp intuition, Fu Yunfeng immediately sensed there was more to the story.

"Are you buying it for someone?"

"..."

"For a young woman?"

"..."

Fu Yunfeng burst into hearty laughter.

When his laughter subsided, he remarked with a sigh:

"I’d almost forgotten. You’re only in your twenties—the prime of your life, the perfect age for romance to blossom."

"Ahem."

Lu Shixu cleared his throat and declared solemnly,

"I’m not some reckless kid who loses all composure at the first stirrings of infatuation."

Fu Yunfeng gave him a knowing look.

"Oh? Is that so?"

’Running all the way out to this remote county just to buy an ancient book to impress a girl... he must be absolutely smitten.’

’And based on his reaction, she probably hasn’t accepted his advances.’

’Otherwise, Lu Shixu wouldn’t be making that face!’

’What a novelty! The great Lu Shixu, actually getting rejected by a girl!’

Fu Yunfeng was dying to know just who this girl was—who could possibly have Lu Shixu so completely captivated!

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Fu Yunfeng was suddenly filled with a mischievous energy.

Usually, their meetings were all business, and Fu Yunfeng had always felt Lu Shixu lacked a certain human touch.

It was a rare opportunity to discuss such an interesting topic, and it would be a shame not to make the most of it!

So, Fu Yunfeng straightened his sleeves and smiled enigmatically.

"How about it? Want me to give you a few pointers?"

Lu Shixu could, of course, see that Fu Yunfeng was teasing him.

He was about to refuse.

But as the words reached his lips, he recalled the story of the man before him and a certain someone from the Qing Family.

Though their feelings had faded with time and they had grown distant,

back then, their love story had been a whirlwind romance known far and wide!

The young mistress of the Qing Family was a true darling of fortune, a beautiful and unattainable prize. She had never lacked for suitors, many of whom were exceptionally outstanding.

But she had spurned them all, falling instead for a poor boy from a humble background.

Although later events proved her judgment to be impeccable...

it was undeniable that Fu Yunfeng must have had something special about him to win the heart of the Qing Family’s young mistress!

Lu Shixu was tempted.

But he had no experience in such matters and didn’t know how to begin.

Fu Yunfeng chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

"Alright then, let me give you the rundown..."

At this very moment,

Fu Yunfeng, who was genuinely scheming to help Lu Shixu win the girl of his dreams, had no idea that one day in the future, he would regret this moment with all his heart!

-

While Lu Shixu and Fu Yunfeng were having their chance encounter in the remote town,

back in Yanjing, Nan Zhi was finally meeting the legendary Director Zhong Yu at Nan Family’s Small Restaurant, just as she had hoped.

Zhong Yu, the acclaimed documentary director who had shot to global fame and fortune with her hit series on food, was a very low-key person.

After her rise to fame, she rarely gave interviews, perhaps to maintain an air of mystery.

As a result, from the moment Zhong Yu walked in the door, none of the viewers in the livestream chat recognized her.

They did, however, recognize the person with her—

Oho!

Isn’t that the great food critic, Mr. Zhu Jin, who was just here yesterday?

He’s back again today! And he brought a friend!

[Yes! He’s back! Hahaha!]

[I just spent yesterday arguing with the haters online. This is so vindicating! I wish I could slap them all in the face!]

[Who’s that with Zhu Jin? She looks so elegant. Is she some big shot too?]

[Anyone who hangs out with a big shot is probably a big shot, too.]

[Is it just me, or is the vibe in the restaurant kinda weird? There’s this strange, excited buzz.]

[Huh? Nan Zhi seems as calm as ever. No different from any other day.]

[When is Nan Zhi ever not calm?]

...

As expected, the audience’s eyes were sharp.

They were right; there was indeed a sense of restless excitement in the restaurant.

And it was all because of Zhong Yu’s arrival!

Even a director like Xie Yu, hailed within the industry as a genius and a star of tomorrow, admired Zhong Yu from the bottom of his heart. Whenever he spoke of her, his words were filled with reverence.

But not Nan Zhi.

No excitement, no thrill, no curiosity.

She went about her work as usual, her heart as calm as still water, completely unruffled.

It was as if Zhong Yu wasn’t anyone special, but just another one of the countless customers who visited Nan Family’s Small Restaurant.

Her attitude kept the others in the restaurant from giving any special treatment, so everyone behaved as they normally would.

So, when both Fu Chao and Qi Pei’er were too swamped to help,

Nan Yi stepped up!