Chapter 71: Making a Friend — Qian Junze
Su Keke’s first reaction was that she had run into someone from the same profession.
But on second thought, that didn’t seem right. If the other person were truly a fellow practitioner, she should have sensed it long ago.
Just as a shoemaker can recognize another shoemaker with a single glance—or even by instinct alone—feng shui practitioners are the same. Unless one is merely a half-baked amateur who has not formally entered the field, true practitioners can always sense the unique aura of another feng shui master.
“Assistant Wu, please help me keep an eye on my uncle. I’ll be right back!” Su Keke tossed out the words and dashed off.
Wu Zongbai didn’t even have time to stop her before the little girl had already run away.
Remembering the instructions Fourth Master had given earlier, Wu Zongbai paused briefly, then followed behind Su Keke at a discreet distance.
It was already rare enough to have a young girl stand around with him out of boredom for so long. If she wanted to strike up a conversation, then so be it—as long as she didn’t run into someone with ulterior motives.
As she drew close, Su Keke deliberately slowed her steps. The man was arranging the glasses with great concentration, and she did not wish to startle him.
Yet his hand suddenly paused.
He lifted his head and looked toward Su Keke, his gaze gentle. “Miss, are you here to take a glass, or… to look for me?”
Upon seeing his face, Su Keke froze, staring at him for quite some time.
“Isn’t it a bit forward to stare at a strange man like this?”
Although he said so, he was smiling.
Su Keke felt that his smile was exceptionally pleasing to the eye—there seemed to be two clear pools of water in his eyes, where even the slightest breeze could stir faint ripples.
A gentleman unmatched in the world; a man like jade upon the road.
She liked his facial features very much.
“You haven’t finished setting up your Yin–Yang Eight Trigrams yet. Please go on—I’ll just watch and won’t disturb you,” Su Keke said quickly.
A look of surprise crossed the man’s eyes. “You understand this?”
Su Keke smiled, dimples appearing. “I understand much more than just this.”
He paused, then asked tentatively, “Are you… a feng shui practitioner?”
“Oh? You know about our line of work?” Su Keke chuckled. “I suppose you could say so. I’ve only recently completed my apprenticeship.”
“Yin–Yang and the Eight Trigrams, the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the Book of Changes—you understand all of those?” What had initially been mere polite courtesy now turned into genuine interest shining in his eyes.
“Hmph, of course. I’d already mastered them by the time I was six or seven. I can recite the Book of Changes backwards. What about you? Why do you know these things? You don’t seem to be in this profession.”
Seeing her completely unguarded demeanor, the man himself relaxed, his attitude becoming more casual.
“You’re right. I’m not in your line of work. I’m simply interested in metaphysics.”
“If you like it so much, why not take a master and formally enter the field?” Su Keke asked.
He smiled lightly. “Interest and profession are two different matters. For now, I don’t want to turn this interest into a lifelong career.”
Su Keke nodded. “I think that makes a lot of sense.”
“Feng shui practitioners seem to place great emphasis on cause and effect, and on fate and affinity. We met today because of the Yin–Yang Eight Trigrams I set up—doesn’t that mean we share quite a bit of affinity?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Then would you like to be friends? Hello, my name is Qian Junze.”
Su Keke’s eyes widened slightly.
Qian Junze let out a soft laugh and said apologetically, “It’s rare to meet someone who truly understands this. I also happen to have many questions I’d like to ask, so I got a bit eager. Did I frighten you?”
Su Keke shook her head quickly. “No, not at all. I was just a little surprised. Your face suggests a gentle and reserved nature.”
Qian Junze looked at her, smiling warmly. “Then I suppose I still offended you somehow. But is physiognomy really that accurate? Perhaps appearances can deceive.”
“Appearance is born of the heart. A person’s face reflects their inner self to a great extent. Unless one has undergone cosmetic surgery, it cannot truly deceive. Of course, just like one’s fate, a person’s facial features are not immutable…”
In such an unfamiliar environment, encountering someone who shared her interests, Su Keke found herself talking more than she realized. The more she spoke, the more delighted she became. Before she knew it, they had even exchanged phone numbers.
“Ahem!” Wu Zongbai suddenly approached, coughing heavily and looking at Su Keke pointedly.
Only then did Su Keke realize that she had been chatting far too long with a stranger.
Qian Junze glanced at Wu Zongbai, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes. “If Miss Su still has matters to attend to, please go ahead. I came today on my grandfather’s behalf to congratulate Old Master Xu. After sitting for a while, it’s about time for me to leave as well.”
“Then goodbye.” Su Keke waved at him.
After she left, Qian Junze returned to arranging the stemmed glasses on the table. His eyes lowered, all gentleness contained within.
The corners of his lips curved into a faint smile, one that lingered for quite some time before slowly fading.
A few minutes later, he left the birthday banquet alone.
“Miss Su, how can you have so little sense of caution? You just met that man, and you already gave him your phone number?” Wu Zongbai was practically beside himself with worry.
If he hadn’t known that Qian Junze was Old Master Qian’s only grandson, with an impeccable character, he would have taken Su Keke away the moment she spoke her first sentence.
The little girl was perfectly justified. “I observed his facial features—he’s a rare gentleman, a good person. Just like how I liked my uncle the moment I first saw him, I also liked him at first sight.”
Wu Zongbai: …
So, to you, Fourth Master isn’t actually that special?
His heart ached for Fourth Master.
“Huh? Assistant Wu, where’s my uncle? Why can’t I see him?” Su Keke looked toward the spot where her uncle had been standing earlier. He was gone.
Qin Mochen’s second brother and sister-in-law were chatting with other guests. Old Master Xu was speaking with several juniors from the Xu family, while Young Master Qin was surrounded by several women.
Once Wu Zongbai realized Fourth Master was gone, he seemed to think of something and hurriedly searched the crowd for another figure.
Sure enough, that Miss Bai was gone as well. He could not help but frown.
“Assistant Wu, I need to go find my uncle!” Su Keke said anxiously.
She had promised to protect her uncle, yet because of a momentary lapse, she had lost sight of him. She felt terribly remiss.
Seeing the guilt and worry on the little girl’s face, Wu Zongbai sighed inwardly and said, “Fourth Master may simply have gone out to discuss matters with an acquaintance. It’s crowded here, so the other party might have wanted to find a quieter place. Out of courtesy, Fourth Master may have accompanied them to the garden outside.”
Hearing this, Su Keke finally relaxed a little.
“Don’t worry, Miss Su. This is the Xu family’s territory—nothing will happen to Fourth Master,” Wu Zongbai said with a smile.
Su Keke nodded.
“My goodness! It really is you!”
A surprised voice suddenly interrupted them.
Su Keke turned toward the sound. Young Master Qin?
Just a minute ago, he had been entertaining several women. Now he stood ahead, staring at Su Keke with obvious excitement.
Seeing him, Wu Zongbai immediately felt a headache coming on. “Young Master, why are you over here?”
“Assistant Wu, I only came to grab a bottle of red wine. Why are you acting like I’m such a nuisance?”
Wu Zongbai smiled politely. “Young Master, I have no such intention.”
Qin Junchi strode forward, nudged Wu Zongbai aside, and beamed at Su Keke. “I’ve been watching you for quite a while. At first, I thought I’d mistaken you for someone else. Who would’ve thought that with just some makeup, you’d completely change styles? You’re truly charming now. Master, do you know? I’ve been looking for you for a long time!”
