Volume 1, Chapter 9: Lin Zhiwan, you are truly becoming more and more outrageous!

Lin Zhiwan glanced at the large dog in the elevator. Although she had retreated to the corner, she could not help but feel a lingering sense of fear.

Besides, she and this Miss Song were merely passing acquaintances; even as neighbors, there was no guarantee they would have any further interactions. When faced with Song Jinhe's enthusiastic invitation, Lin Zhiwan declined.

"I shouldn't intrude."

Just then, the elevator reached her floor, and Lin Zhiwan stepped out. Song Jinhe smiled and bid her farewell. As the elevator doors closed, Lin Zhiwan turned and returned to her apartment.

The room was pitch black. Feeling a sense of stifling oppression, Lin Zhiwan opened all the windows. She lay down on the sofa, closing her eyes to rest. Suddenly, the sound of an explosion startled her. She looked out the window to see fireworks illuminating the night sky, brilliant and dazzling.

Lin Zhiwan thought of the young woman she had just met, who mentioned that her lover had prepared a surprise for her. These fireworks, most likely, were for her.

"What a lucky woman," Lin Zhiwan mused.

Once upon a time, she, too, had fantasized about having such a romantic moment with Fu Yanzhou. Unfortunately, she had waited five years without ever receiving a sincere look from him. Fortunately, she no longer cared.

Closing the windows, Lin Zhiwan heated a cup of milk, took her medicine, and went to bed. She slept soundly through the night, and when she woke, she felt much lighter.

She had purchased this apartment because, in the morning, one could see the very first rays of sunlight over Kyoto from the balcony. The sun hitting the river, the distant mountains, and the shimmering water surface—it was the perfect way to start a day with a good mood.

Lin Zhiwan brewed some coffee and sat in a rocking chair on the balcony, quietly enjoying the serenity. The rich aroma of the coffee mingled with the damp, chilly air; though it was cold, it sharpened her mind and dispelled any remaining morning drowsiness.

After breakfast, Lin Zhiwan changed into a crisp white suit and a lapel coat before heading out. Today was a porcelain exhibition hosted by Qiao Hongyu, a renowned local collector. While framed as an appreciation event, it was essentially a preview for an upcoming auction.

The elderly man had spent his life amassing a collection of priceless treasures and intended to auction them off at his eightieth birthday banquet next month, donating the proceeds to charity to accumulate merit and blessings. Lin Zhiwan was there as the auctioneer to handle the preliminary work. A professional auctioneer’s job is 95% complete the moment they step onto the stage; her task today was to explain the exhibits for the preview, facilitating the planning and curation for the auction's middle and final stages.

Stepping out of the elevator, Lin Zhiwan walked toward her car—a limited-edition Porsche, a wedding gift from her past. It was a reward she had given herself after hitting a billion in turnover in her career. She put on her sunglasses, steered with one hand, and drove out of the garage.

Inside his own car, Fu Yanzhou spotted the familiar vehicle at once. He frowned, watching with cold eyes as the car disappeared from his sight. That woman, Lin Zhiwan, was becoming increasingly outrageous! Since their last argument, she had stirred up so much trouble, ignoring Jinxin, taking matters to his mother, and even talking about divorce! Now, she actually had the nerve to follow him! How long did she intend to keep this up?

"Yanzhou! Have you been waiting long?"

A light, cheerful female voice sounded as Fu Yanzhou’s car door opened, and Song Jinhe took the passenger seat. Fu Yanzhou collected his thoughts and handed a food container to her.

"I remembered this is the breakfast place you like best."

Song Jinhe took the container and opened it to find all her favorite morning treats inside. Her eyes sparkled. "I never imagined that after all this time, you would still remember!"

A shadow flickered in the depths of Fu Yanzhou’s eyes, but he quickly adjusted his expression to keep her from overthinking. "Of course. Eat while it’s hot."

...

When Lin Zhiwan arrived at the venue, there were few people in the hall. She quickly entered work mode, adjusting the position of each porcelain piece and the lighting to ensure they were displayed at their best. As the crowd grew, she began to engage with potential buyers, gauging their purchasing power and their interest in specific items.

Qiao Hongyu watched Lin Zhiwan busy herself on the floor and nodded in satisfaction. He turned to his friend beside him and said, "Old Xu, your student is no ordinary person!"

Xu Wenjun’s face betrayed unconcealable pride. "That’s nothing! If you had seen Lin Zhiwan five years ago, you would understand why, even as I approach retirement, I still want to reserve a doctoral spot for her this year."

Lin Zhiwan sensed a gaze from above and looked up to see Professor Xu and Mr. Qiao standing on the mezzanine, watching her. She knew that if not for Professor Xu’s recommendation, she would never have had the opportunity to host this auction. Feeling deeply grateful for her mentor's willingness to let bygones be bygones, she finished her current task and went upstairs to greet them.

"Professor! Mr. Qiao!"

Qiao Hongyu smiled, "We were just talking about you! I’ve never heard Old Xu praise a student like this."

Lin Zhiwan replied, "It is because Professor Xu was willing to give me a chance."

"It is also because you have enough drive to make me proud," Xu Wenjun said, clearly pleased. Having listened to Lin Zhiwan explain the porcelain pieces—covering the eight core areas of clay, glaze, form, pattern, inscription, craftsmanship, history, and provenance—she knew Lin Zhiwan had not completely abandoned her studies over the years.

Lin Zhiwan understood her teacher well; this was a high level of recognition. She felt a weight lift from her heart—after all, this was her first time working in front of her teacher in five years. She hadn't forgotten the terror of being dominated by academic papers and exams back in the day. Fortunately, she hadn't let her down.

As the auctioneer, there were many details regarding the items and Mr. Qiao’s expected price points that needed to be discussed. After a quick word with Xu Wenjun, Lin Zhiwan followed Qiao Hongyu to his study.

Watching Lin Zhiwan walk away, Xu Wenjun felt not only pride but a profound sense of relief. Compared to their last meeting, she seemed to be glowing. In life, it didn't matter if one took the wrong path; what mattered was turning back in time. It is never too late to mend the fence.

By the time Song Jinhe and Fu Yanzhou arrived, the venue was already quite crowded. Even though the attendees were prominent figures in Kyoto, they all stepped forward to greet Fu Yanzhou. With Song Jinhe by his side, their intimate demeanor led everyone to assume they were a couple, and they treated Song Jinhe with extra courtesy. Standing together, they truly looked like a match made in heaven.

Rumors had long circulated that Fu Yanzhou had married five years ago and had a daughter. Perhaps, many thought, the woman before them was that very "Mrs. Fu."