Chapter 136: You Are Mine
Gu Yuji glanced impatiently at the shouting and yelling He Zhi Ting, while Gu Xueying, looking like a frightened little rabbit, took two steps back, peering around from behind Gu Yuji, her eyes scanning the group.
He Zhi Lan, suppressing her emotions, put on an extremely formal smile and said, “Gu family? Is it the Gu family from Hu City?”
Gu Yuji casually nodded, his gaze toward He Zhi Lan devoid of any warmth.
He didn’t look at her as someone with whom there was a conflict but rather as though she were an irrelevant object.
He Zhi Lan wasn’t bothered by his attitude and maintained a smile on her face. “Then please send my regards to Mr. Gu Sen for me.”
A hint of confusion flashed across Gu Yuji’s eyes, and after a moment, he belatedly recalled that Gu Sen was the head of another Gu family in Hu City. Their assets were greater than his family’s, and they were widely recognized as the true Gu family of the city.
After a brief thought, Gu Yuji understood that He Zhi Lan was deliberately making things difficult for him. Annoyed, he said, “We are from another Gu family. Anyone with eyes should be able to tell that.”
He Zhi Lan smiled and responded, “So you get upset too? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think there was a camera crew around you guys filming a drama. Or perhaps it’s not your eyes that are the issue, but your brains, thinking that you’re some sort of precious commodity that everyone likes.”
The Gu siblings’ faces turned grim.
Picking on a waiter was one thing, but bullying the young lady of a family on equal standing was another matter entirely.
He Zhi Lan’s voice turned cold, and she said, “For your rudeness, apologize to my sister.”
Gu Yuji frowned. “Do you really have to make this so awkward? Our Gu family isn’t some unimportant, faceless family.”
He Zhi Lan chuckled lightly. “Whether or not you apologize is up to you. Whether or not your Gu family will participate in future events in this circle also depends on you.”
Gu Yuji frowned as he looked at He Zhi Lan. “Can you speak on behalf of the He family?”
He Zhi Lan smiled even more broadly. “Of course.”
Though the four great antique families might be fighting amongst themselves privately, on the surface, they were all part of the same group. What He Zhi Lan said didn’t just mean that the Gu family would be excluded from the upcoming Lin family event—it also meant they would be excluded from other family events as well.
Gu Xueying, sensing trouble, hurriedly turned to He Zhi Ting and said, “Sister, it’s my fault. I misunderstood you, thinking you were one of those people who cling to wealth.”
However, Gu Yuji grabbed his sister’s hand and said, “There’s no need for an apology. She may represent the He family, but that doesn’t mean she speaks for us.”
Gu Xueying, filled with helplessness, shook her head and said, “Brother, I was wrong earlier. Yesterday, a waiter tried to flirt with my third brother, and today I’m too on edge. I’m the one at fault, and I hope you won’t blame the Gu family for this.”
Gu Xueying’s humble apology made He Zhi Lan stop pushing further. She gave Gu Xueying a cold look and said nothing more.
However, He Zhi Lan instinctively disliked Gu Xueying. From the brief exchanges earlier, it was clear that the Gu family had offended Xu Youyou.
He Zhi Lan knew that anyone the Kirin Jade Pendant chose would have smooth sailing in life, and anyone who opposed them would face a series of misfortunes.
The Gu family had offended Xu Youyou, and in three years, the Gu family might no longer even exist.
Once Xu Youyou and the group left, Gu Yuji suddenly spoke up, “You still look down on me.”
Gu Xueying’s heart sank. She turned to her brother, her eyes pleading, “Third brother, you misunderstood me. Everything I do is for the Gu family…”
She understood better than anyone that the Gu family was her foundation. As long as the Gu family thrived, she would have a brighter future.
Right now, the Gu family appeared to be flourishing, but Gu Xueying had already seen the hidden dangers beneath the surface. Yet, the people within the family were still living in blissful ignorance.
How could she not be anxious?
Gu Yuji sneered, “You’re capable of provoking the He family, but not of seeing it through. You always kneel so quickly.”
Gu Xueying’s head buzzed when she heard this.
She always thought Gu Yuji was harsh to others, but treated her differently. However, now, when faced with his venomous words, she realized she couldn’t bear them.
“You want to kneel? Go ahead. I know what you’re made of: vain, pretentious, and petty.” Gu Yuji easily said words meant to crush Gu Xueying.
Gu Xueying’s face turned pale, her lips trembled, and she couldn’t say a word for a long time. Though the sky was clear, she felt as though she were trapped in a dark corner, where countless past events she wished to forget resurfaced in front of her.
Gu Yuji seemed to be waiting for her to break down in despair.
The more desperate she became, the more pleased Gu Yuji looked, even reaching out to intimately touch her hair.
“But none of that matters. What’s important is, you’re mine.”
Gu Xueying’s heart raced, and despite knowing this person was her older brother, feelings she shouldn’t have started to grow uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Xu Youyou, accompanied by He Zhi Lan, admired the phoenix crown once worn by the Empress of the Ming Dynasty.
She marveled at the exquisite crown, which, even after so many years, still allowed others to catch a glimpse of the former grandeur. Suddenly, she understood.
“Palace infighting among the concubines is really not about fighting for men. Anyone who sees these beautiful pieces of jewelry can’t help but want to possess them,” Xu Youyou said with a sigh.
He Zhi Lan smiled. “In ancient courts, the jewelry a concubine could wear was strictly determined by her rank. Everyone loves beauty, and from that perspective, it’s hard to say what their palace battles were truly about.”
On the side, Lu Jingyao remained silent, but his gaze lingered thoughtfully on the phoenix crown.
Before long, it was time for the auction.
Although Lu Jingyao had attended two smaller exchange meetings, his understanding of the event was still not as extensive as He Zhi Lan’s.
As soon as Lin Yashu took the stage, He Zhi Lan said, “According to the Lin family’s tradition, their first auction item is typically something they provide, usually a piece of porcelain.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a pattern of a blue-and-white porcelain vase appeared behind Lin Yashu on the curtain.
“The first item comes from the Lin family: a Ming dynasty blue-and-white peony pattern jar, starting bid, ten million.” Lin Yashu smiled and announced.
Two young members of the Lin family carefully carried the large jar onto the stage and placed it right in front of the bidders.
The display of confidence in their own collection was evident.
Someone who knew antiques well called out immediately, “Eleven million!”
