Chapter 48: Sorry, I Thought Your Girlfriend Knew

When Gu Shiyan saw Luo Xing again, it was just as he was getting into the car, ready to head to the auction.

Luo Xing sat quietly in the car, dressed in a wine-red velvet gown with a square neckline that swept the floor. Her long, lazy curls were gathered at the back of her head, and a pair of white pearl earrings dangled from each earlobe.

Gu Shiyan bent down to enter the car, his tall frame filling the space, and Luo Xing felt as if the air inside was suddenly scarce.

She was playing a simple mobile game, paying no mind to Gu Shiyan.

In the front passenger seat sat Assistant Song, who smiled at Gu Shiyan, “Old Master Gu instructed that Miss Luo will accompany you today. You are to be her escort.”

Luo Xing glanced at him, “If you don’t want to go, you can get out now.”

Gu Shiyan chuckled lightly, “I’ll go.”

It was a rare occasion for him to serve as someone’s escort.

On the way, Gu Shiyan was the first to speak, “What did the old master say to you?”

Luo Xing continued playing her game without looking at him. “Are you hungry? Didn’t you just have breakfast? Are you like Peppa Pig?”

“......”

Assistant Song, who was nearing fifty, pondered for a long time yet still could not grasp how young people’s conversations had evolved to such an extent; he could not understand a single word.

When they got out of the car, Gu Shiyan stood beside Luo Xing, with Assistant Song following behind them.

Unlike others, Luo Xing did not take the man’s arm.

Though they appeared to be together, each walked their own path.

Luo Xing clearly felt that upon entering, many eyes turned toward her.

She had to look at Gu Shiyan beside her, and when she saw him in a formal suit with his collar unbuttoned and two buttons undone, she instinctively frowned, “It’s your attire.”

Luo Xing assumed the attention was due to Gu Shiyan’s dress and the crowd’s frequent glances.

Gu Shiyan knew it was Luo Xing’s first time in such a setting.

He looked down at his own outfit, unconcerned.

He gently hooked Luo Xing’s hand with his forefinger, guiding her to their seats, “They’re just curious why the old master’s man is following us.”

Luo Xing noticed Assistant Song behind them from the corner of her eye.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed those people were indeed sizing up the relationship among the three.

But everyone present was of high standing; soon enough, they withdrew their impolite gazes.

Luo Xing looked down at Gu Shiyan’s finger hooked around hers—not quite holding hands.

His fingers were cool, the faint blue veins on the back of his hand visible beneath the skin, his nails absentmindedly scratching against Luo Xing’s palm.

Gu Shiyan was always like this—a casual gesture from him could effortlessly unsettle one’s heart.

The three of them sat down, with Assistant Song taking the seat to Gu Shiyan’s left, and Luo Xing placed by Gu Shiyan on his right.

Once seated, a woman took the seat beside Luo Xing. Luo Xing looked up.

Lu Yuanyi!

“Miss Luo? Your idol is at home today,” Lu Yuanyi remarked, dressed in a champagne-colored, floor-length gown with cutouts, her slender neck adorned with a large icy-blue gemstone that, under the auction lights, nearly blinded Luo Xing.

Luo Xing withdrew her gaze; she said nothing of Qi Zhi to Lu Yuanyi.

Gu Shiyan leaned back against his seat, his indifferent gaze fixed on the stage.

“Next, we present the world’s only purple jade weighing 9,499 carats, the Star of Zhaoyi... In traditional Chinese culture, purple is the color revered by emperors. Purple Jade is the epitome of wealth and splendor...”

The auctioneer began to recount the history of the purple jade.

On the black velvet of the stage, the main stone was encircled by dazzling gemstones, each tiny gem of considerable value, yet serving only to set off the central purple jade, whose deep violet shimmered with hints of blue and pink—a truly national treasure.

Luo Xing found the stone vaguely familiar, though she could not recall where she had seen it before.

Gu Shiyan remained nonchalant, not bidding on anything until this item appeared.

He finally leaned forward, placing the first bid.

Luo Xing stole a glance at him.

The starting price for this jewel was six hundred million.

“Master Gu, are you spending a fortune for a beauty’s smile?” Lu Yuanyi joked.

Luo Xing lowered her eyes—spending a fortune for a beauty’s smile?

What did that mean?

Lu Yuanyi looked at Luo Xing again after Gu Shiyan bid, “Bringing your girlfriend to the auction, buying the heirloom of your childhood fiancée—won’t your girlfriend get jealous?”

Luo Xing’s pupils shrank, her collarbone rising and falling as she took a deep breath.

She didn’t look at Gu Shiyan, yet unconsciously her hands clasped together, nails pressed tightly.

Gu Shiyan—he had a fiancée?

Lu Yuanyi watched Luo Xing with amusement, shrugging, “Miss Luo, I thought you already knew.”

Luo Xing stroked the velvet fabric of her dress, her gaze lowered.

Gu Shiyan’s arm rested on the seat’s armrest, the classic black watch pressed against the veins of his wrist, the curve of his hand sharp and strong.

Luo Xing’s eyes slowly drifted toward him.

Today he wore a classic black-and-white suit, the crisp white shirt ironed without a single crease, two buttons undone at his collarbone. He leaned back, his throat bobbing sharply.

His gaze settled coldly on Lu Yuanyi, as if issuing a warning.

Caught between the two, Luo Xing only wanted to escape.

Many were interested in the Star of Zhaoyi, and Gu Shiyan continued to raise the bid.

Luo Xing took out her phone.

The red phone number...

It was the call she couldn’t get through yesterday—Gu Shiyan’s number.

Her finger moved, pressed against the screen, and deleted the number.

She wiped out every trace of Gu Shiyan from her phone.

In the end, Gu Shiyan won the jewel.

Luo Xing looked to the stage—was this really so important to him?

Grandpa Gu’s true purpose in sending Gu Shiyan was for the final showcase.

But Luo Xing could no longer sit still, Lu Yuanyi’s mocking smile occasionally falling upon her.

At that moment, she deeply understood Qi Zhi’s mood that day—under a woman’s gaze that saw you as nothing but a toy, one’s dignity was utterly stripped away.

Her brows were calm, her head unmoved, and she quietly said, “I’ll go out first.”

After speaking, Luo Xing tried to stand, but her skirt hem was caught.

She looked down—on her left thigh, the fabric was pinched between his two fingers, pulling into a crease.

Her mood was much the same, caught and stifled layer by layer.

Gu Shiyan let go and said quietly, “Don’t wander off.”

Luo Xing exhaled helplessly.

She said nothing and left directly.

Lu Yuanyi watched her departing figure, her lips always curled in a smile.

Gu Shiyan glanced at the now empty seat beside him, lowering his gaze.

“Lu Yuanyi, you’ve gone too far.”

The low, hoarse voice came from beside him.

His eyes faced forward, dark pupils reflecting the light, while Assistant Song dared not speak.

The woman laughed softly, “Sorry, I thought your girlfriend knew. But she should understand, shouldn’t she? In your kind of family, childhood engagements and fiancées are quite normal.”