Chapter 8

Ning Yuxuan was in the second-floor drawing room of the old family estate when she heard that Xie Zhiyan had arrived.

After the formal ceremony concluded, Elder Gu had been surrounded by guests taking turns to toast him for his birthday. It wasn’t until 2:15 PM that the old man excused himself, citing fatigue, and instructed the butler to summon Ning Yuxuan to the small parlor on the second floor.

Seeing her arrive, the elder smiled and gestured for her to approach. "Yuxuan, dear, come and sit."

Elder Gu, long accustomed to being in a position of power, possessed an aura he could command at will. At this moment, however, his expression was gentle, making him appear like an ordinary, benevolent old man. Ning Yuxuan took a seat in the chair beside him.

The old man took a sip of tea and began to chat, seemingly at ease. "I haven't seen you in a month. How is everyone at home?"

Ning Yuxuan nodded. "They are all well. My father is actually coming to North City for a business trip next week."

The elder chuckled. "Ah, yes, Yuanfeng mentioned it to me. He said he wanted to come and wish me a happy birthday in person. If I weren't so old, I would certainly share a few more drinks with your father."

After a few more casual exchanges, the conversation finally turned to the main topic.

"Yuxuan, my dear," Elder Gu said, his face etched with deep lines, though his eyes remained sharp. "Tell me, what exactly is going on between you and that boy, Yunhao?"

Ning Yuxuan knew this was the true purpose of the summons.

She replied with calm composure, "Our personalities just don't mesh well, and to be honest, I'm not the type of person Gu Yunhao likes. So, this time, we have truly gone our separate ways."

Ning Yuxuan was well aware that no matter how kind the elder was to her on the surface, or how strict he might be with Gu Yunhao, his heart would inevitably lean toward his own grandson. For that reason, she provided only a simple explanation, devoid of any tone of accusation.

But the elder was far too shrewd. Combined with the butler’s mention that his grandson had brought another woman to the banquet that day, Elder Gu instantly grasped the subtext of her words: "Are you trying to say that Yunhao has taken a liking to someone else?"

Ning Yuxuan smiled. "Grandpa Gu, I’m not entirely sure what Gu Yunhao is thinking. Perhaps it would be better to ask him yourself? As for us parting ways, I have already made up my mind. Thank you for all your care over the years, but it seems I simply lack the fortune to be your granddaughter-in-law."

The old man fell silent. He studied the young woman before him, his gaze deep and searching. Having seen countless people in his life, he could tell that Ning Yuxuan seemed different from before. He could also discern that her breakup with his grandson was genuine and not a ploy to play hard to get.

Before today, the elder had been happy to see Ning Yuxuan marry Gu Yunhao, even going so far as to support the union. When the Gu family had faced a capital chain crisis years ago, it was thanks to the help of Ning Yuxuan’s father, Lin Yuanfeng, that they had weathered the storm. The old man remembered that debt of gratitude. Had Ning Fei not insisted on refusing, he would have even gifted Ning Yuxuan a property just to repay that kindness.

Over the years, Elder Gu had watched Ning Yuxuan grow up. He knew that while she was somewhat impulsive, she was pure-hearted and had no malicious intent. Yet, after only a month apart, her thoughts seemed to have become much deeper, and her demeanor and bearing had changed entirely.

Intelligence was not a bad thing, but it wasn't necessarily an asset for a granddaughter-in-law of the Gu family. Furthermore, the elder understood that one could not force a marriage.

After a long pause, he spoke. "Very well. Since you have made up your mind, there is little more I can say. Regardless..." A kind smile returned to his face. "I am still your Grandpa Gu. If anyone bullies you in the future, come to me at any time, and I will see that justice is served."

Ning Yuxuan nodded obediently. "Thank you, Grandpa Gu."

If any real conflict were to arise between her and Gu Yunhao in the future, she knew these words were merely polite gestures—but for now, at least, the elder would grant her the respect she needed. That was enough.

A knock sounded at the door, and Butler He’s voice came from outside. "Sir, it is I."

"Come in," the elder said in a low voice.

If it were not for something urgent, the butler would never disturb him while he was speaking with someone.

Sure enough, once Butler He entered, he whispered, "Sir, that Mr. Xie has arrived."

The elder, who had been lifting his teacup to his lips, paused. "Xie Zhiyan?"

"Yes."

The elder signaled for the butler to help him up. "I will go out now." He then gestured for Ning Yuxuan to do as she pleased.

The second floor was considered the private quarters of the Gu family, so Ning Yuxuan felt it inappropriate to linger. She followed the elder out of the room. She was just as astonished as he was. Upon hearing the name "Xie Zhiyan," she had almost thought she heard wrong.

She checked the time on her phone: 2:40 PM. She checked WeChat—no new messages from Xie Zhiyan. Previously, when Xie Zhiyan told her to wait for news, she had assumed he was unsure when his work would end and would contact her then, or perhaps send an assistant or driver to pick her up. She had considered every possibility except that Xie Zhiyan would attend the birthday banquet in person.

Lost in thought, she walked unconsciously behind the elder until she realized she had followed him all the way to the banquet hall.

As Ning Yuxuan lifted her head, she saw the man standing in the center of the crowd, surrounded by admirers, looking strikingly handsome. Most guests were dressed in formal attire, yet Xie Zhiyan, wearing only a standard business suit, carried such an imposing aura that no one found it the least bit out of place.

Given her status, there was no reason for her to accompany the host to greet such a distinguished guest, but by the time she realized this, it was too late. The crowd had automatically parted to make way for Elder Gu. She had been following right behind him; to turn and leave now would be too abrupt.

Ning Yuxuan quietly stood her ground behind the elder.

Elder Gu stepped forward to greet him. "Zhiyan, why didn't you let us know you were coming?"

Xie Zhiyan smiled faintly and extended a hand. "I only found the time at the last minute. I hope I’m not intruding."

The elder chuckled. "Not at all, not at all. I am flattered that you would come in person, purely out of regard for an old man like me."

The two families had no long-standing ties, nor did they have any business dealings. Xie Zhiyan’s willingness to attend the banquet was a gesture of immense respect toward the Gu family.

After the pleasantries, Xie Zhiyan’s gaze swept across the room and slowly landed on Ning Yuxuan, who had quietly stepped back two paces behind the elder.

Ning Yuxuan froze.

Elder Gu followed his gaze and was surprised to realize that Xie Zhiyan was looking at her. However, he did not show it on his face, continuing with a hearty laugh. "Zhiyan, I don't believe you've met this young lady before. Shall I introduce you?"

Xie Zhiyan smiled coolly. "No need. We have met a few times." He locked eyes with Ning Yuxuan. "Miss Ning."

Ning Yuxuan: "..."

She walked over and shook hands with him. "Mr. Xie, it has been a long time."

No one dared to whisper in front of Xie Zhiyan, but Ning Yuxuan could feel countless gazes surrounding her from every angle. It was impossible to invite Xie Zhiyan to an ordinary banquet, and his appearance at this one had drawn an endless stream of people hoping to curry favor.

The Gu sons had all already taken their turns greeting him. Everyone was whispering, speculating that whoever could first establish a rapport with Xie Zhiyan would surely gain the upper hand in the struggle for the family inheritance. Others crowded forward, desperate to offer a toast, knowing that if they missed this opportunity, they might never get another.

Under such circumstances, the fact that Xie Zhiyan had taken the initiative to greet a young woman inevitably led to rampant speculation.

Soon, the rumors spread. The business elite, cautious of their reputations, only had subordinates look into her in secret, but the younger generation and the "bystanders" at the party were soon buzzing with gossip.

"Who is this Miss Ning? I’ve never heard of her. Why did Mr. Xie take the initiative to greet her?"

"Not only that, even Elder Gu seems to regard her highly. He couldn't stop praising the gift she brought."

"I remember her name—it’s Ning Yuxuan, right? Elder Gu mentioned it himself."

Before long, rumors that Ning Yuxuan and Gu Yunhao were dating also began to circulate.

"No way. I thought she was with Mr. Xie... is she actually the Young Master of the Gu family’s girl?"

"I’m not entirely sure... but this Miss Ning is truly something. First, she gets involved with the Gu family’s young master, and now she’s caught Mr. Xie’s eye."

"Exactly! Do you think Xie Zhiyan is only treating her differently because of the Gu family?"

"That’s possible... but from what I’ve observed, Xie Zhiyan doesn't give the time of day to anyone else in the Gu family. Why only her?"

...

Many of Gu Yunhao's friends were there, including his childhood friend, Qi Ang. Qi Ang had been drinking with Gu Yunhao just yesterday and knew about the situation between him and Ning Yuxuan. Hearing the gossip, he specifically sought him out.

"Brother Hao, what is going on with you and that Ning Yuxuan? Have you broken up or not?"

Gu Yunhao, already feeling irritated, replied impatiently, "What does it matter to you whether we broke up or not?"

"Alright, alright, I won't ask. But honestly..." Qi Ang lowered his voice. "Having both your new flame and your old one under the same roof? You’re really playing with fire! Aren't you afraid of getting burned and being scolded by your grandfather?"

Gu Yunhao’s expression darkened further. He had wanted to speak with Ning Yuxuan, but he had been blocked once by his grandfather and later found no opportunity to be alone with her. He had finally managed to send a few messages to Cen Meng, trying to coax her into coming back and warning her not to act impulsively. If Cen Meng said the wrong thing and it reached his grandfather's ears, the situation would be even harder to resolve.

After meeting with her, Gu Yunhao used every trick in the book to appease Cen Meng, finally persuading her not to go public with their relationship for the time being. To avoid anyone seeing them together and letting gossip reach the elder's ears, he told Cen Meng to stay out of sight until the banquet ended.

Having settled that, Gu Yunhao had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the news that the "great Buddha" Xie Zhiyan had arrived and had even spoken to Ning Yuxuan. Now, the rumors were everywhere.

Gu Yunhao felt both bewildered and utterly baffled. He had known Ning Yuxuan for years and had been dating her for over a year—he had never once heard of her having any connection to the Xie family. If she were truly well-acquainted with Xie Zhiyan, how could he, as her boyfriend, have known nothing about it?