After going upstairs to take a bath, as he came downstairs, he saw Huang Guilán coming to meet Fang Guowén.
Wan Yúntíng quickly invited him to have a cup of tea in the tea pavilion in the front yard and chatted about the charity auction that evening.
Through casual conversation, he learned that the charity auction that evening was an annual event in Huā Department City, primarily organized by various charitable organizations in Huā Department City.
For example, the Huā Department City Loving Hearts Public Welfare Charity Organization, the Huā Department Youth Foundation Organization, the Poverty Alleviation Foundation, and the Children's Charity Foundation, which was founded by Han Shúméi, but the behind-the-scenes founder was Wan Yúntíng!
This charity auction mainly featured the auction of artworks, which were collected from renowned artists and masters across the country.
Therefore, this time, the charitable organizations collaborated with Fang Guowén's Literary Association to jointly organize the charity auction that evening. The Literary Association was responsible for preparing the auctioned works and also invited prominent figures, wealthy businessmen, and magnates from Huā Department City. The funds raised would then be given to the charitable organizations to distribute to the impoverished regions nationwide.
Consequently, when Fang Guowén came to Wan Yúntíng's place, he had already instructed people to publicly announce that he was donating artworks to the charity auction that evening. This immediately caused a sensation in the Huā Department City news, stirring up excitement within the city's literary circles.
It's worth noting that since Wan Yúntíng's overnight fame after winning the Lántíng Award, apart from the hype surrounding his medicinal formulas, no calligraphy work of his had ever been circulated. This left those who wished to collect his calligraphy work in a state of fervent anticipation, yet without any means to acquire it.
Currently, a single piece of Wan Yúntíng's calligraphy was being speculated to be worth over a hundred million!
Of course, these prices were driven by speculation. However, Wan Yúntíng had no works on the market. Now, upon hearing that he would be participating in the charity auction held in Huā Department City that evening, it not only drove local collectors and wealthy individuals into a frenzy but also ignited the passion of collectors from other regions. Some even flew in from afar just to attend the charity auction and have the chance to bid on a piece of Wan Yúntíng's calligraphy.
Soon, this news became a hot topic on local Huā Department City news and Douyin. However, Wan Yúntíng, at home, was completely unaware. At this moment, he led Fang Guowén to his study on the second basement floor and said, "Uncle Fang, should I donate one piece or two?"
Fang Guowén smiled and said, "It's up to you. However, I suggest two. One in cursive script and one in fine script. After all, the auction proceeds are for charity, and people hope you can offer more works for auction. Therefore, you don't need to worry about no one bidding on your works tonight."
Wan Yúntíng nodded in agreement and smiled, "Then two it is."
He then picked up his brush and wrote two pieces of calligraphy, one in fine script and the other in cursive script, handing them over to Fang Guowén. Fang Guowén immediately left to have them meticulously framed before sending them to the Tianyù Auction House venue, preparing for the charity auction that evening.
Wan Yúntíng no longer concerned himself with the subsequent arrangements. He drove away from home and went directly to the office building of the Lingnán Traditional Chinese Medicine Association...
After all, he had been away for a few days, and the association must have accumulated many pending matters for him to handle. Wan Yúntíng entered the building, greeted the association members coming and going, and went directly to his office on the third floor. Seeing that the door was not closed, he entered and found Gu Luòtáng, dressed in an elegant ancient-style Hanfu dress, with exquisite makeup and hair ornaments. She was seated at the desk, exuding an elegant and tranquil aura, her head bowed as she looked at the documents in her hands...
"Luòtáng..."
Wan Yúntíng called out softly. Gu Luòtáng looked up upon hearing his voice. The moment she saw him, she immediately stood up, her face unable to conceal the joy in her heart. She rushed forward and threw herself into his arms, exclaiming excitedly, "Brother Yúntíng, you're back..."
As the woman flung herself into his embrace, Wan Yúntíng quickly closed the office door. Holding Gu Luòtáng, he teased, "Aren't you afraid of being seen?"
Gu Luòtáng's face was filled with a happy smile. She playfully stuck out her tongue and shook her head, saying, "Not at all."
Seeing how increasingly adorable this girl was becoming, Wan Yúntíng couldn't resist kissing her cherry-like lips. Gu Luòtáng's delicate body trembled. She wrapped her arms around his neck, reciprocating the kiss. They hadn't seen each other for days, and it felt like ages. Her heart longed for him day and night. How could Gu Luòtáng suppress her feelings of yearning any longer? She disregarded her feminine reserve and passionately initiated...
Wan Yúntíng scooped her up and sat her directly on the desk. He looked at Gu Luòtáng and asked tenderly, "Miss me?"
Gu Luòtáng's hands caressed his cheeks. Her affectionate eyes were full of tenderness as she nodded and smiled, "Yes, I miss you every day, every night..."
Wan Yúntíng kissed her again and gently nibbled her delicate, rosy earlobe, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Luòtáng, you're becoming bolder."
Provoked by his words, Gu Luòtáng's face flushed. She playfully punched his chest with her small fists. "You're bad, always teasing and making fun of me."
Wan Yúntíng laughed heartily as he held her. Just as he was about to take their intimacy to the next level, a knock on the door interrupted them. Gu Luòtáng quickly got down and tidied her clothes, then sat aside, holding a document to hide her flushed, water-filled face...
"Come in..."
Wan Yúntíng called back. The office door opened, and an association member entered with a file. He glanced at Gu Luòtáng, who was engrossed in her document and her face obscured. He handed the file to Wan Yúntíng and said with a smile, "Vice Chairman Wan, these documents require your review and signature."
"Alright, let me see..."
Wan Yúntíng took the documents and read them carefully before signing with his pen. He then chatted with the association member, Zhang Déshuǐ, for a few moments before turning to leave with the file, closing the door behind him...
Wan Yúntíng stood up, embraced Gu Luòtáng, and was about to continue, but the woman quickly stopped him, saying charmingly, "Don't mess around, Brother Yúntíng. It's not good if someone walks in."
Wan Yúntíng smiled. "Then how about we go out for dinner after work tonight?"
"Okay."
Gu Luòtáng was delighted.
Afterward, they worked on association matters together until six in the evening. Since they were attending the charity auction at eight-thirty that night, Wan Yúntíng took Gu Luòtáng to a nice restaurant for dinner. While ordering, Gu Luòtáng was looking at her phone...
"Luòtáng, what do you want to eat?"
Wan Yúntíng turned his head to look at her. Gu Luòtáng put down her phone and looked up at him, a slightly unnatural smile on her face. "Brother Yúntíng, you order. I can eat anything."
"Alright."
Wan Yúntíng nodded and told the waiter a few dishes before handing the menu back. Seeing Gu Luòtáng sitting beside him looking a bit lost in thought, he smiled, "What's wrong?"
Gu Luòtáng turned to glance at him, shook her head slightly, put down her phone, and picked up her bowl and chopsticks to pour and warm the water. Wan Yúntíng looked at her, seeming to have seen through her thoughts, and smiled, "There's a charity auction at eight o'clock tonight at the Tianyù Auction House. Why don't you come with me?"
Gu Luòtáng's hand, which was warming the bowls, paused. She turned to look at him and, with a slight smile, shook her head. "Brother Yúntíng, I won't be going. Miao Miao and I have plans tonight."
Wan Yúntíng's expression faltered. He gazed at Gu Luòtáng, gently brushed her hair aside with his hand, and said with a smile, "What plans could you and Miao Miao have? Isn't it nice for you to come with me?"
But Gu Luòtáng avoided his gaze and continued to warm the bowls and chopsticks for him, shaking her head slightly. "I'd better not go. You should find someone else to go with..."
Seeing her refusal, Wan Yúntíng's gaze towards her became increasingly guilty and ashamed. He also understood why Gu Luòtáng was unwilling to go with him.
Although some media outlets had reported on Wan Yúntíng's ambiguous relationship with Gu Luòtáng, the public was aware that Fāng Yánxī was his official girlfriend!
"Alright, I'll come find you after the auction."
Wan Yúntíng did not press Gu Luòtáng further and had no choice but to agree.
"Here you go..."
Hearing that he would come to see her tonight, Gu Luòtáng's dejected heart began to cheer up. She handed him the warmed bowls and chopsticks...
After they finished dinner, night fell. With just over an hour left, Wan Yúntíng took Gu Luòtáng shopping. Coincidentally, there was a commercial street nearby specializing in Hanfu and ancient-style clothing. Wan Yúntíng accompanied her for an hour, buying several sets of Hanfu, including some rather alluring styles...
The woman blushed and said she would wait for him to return that night and wear them for him...
At eight o'clock, regardless of whether the Tianyù Charity Auction had started, Wan Yúntíng insisted on sending Gu Luòtáng back to her home before driving directly to the venue. Fortunately, the Tianyù Auction House was not far, and he arrived twenty minutes later. At the entrance of the venue, various luxury cars were already parked.
The venue was brightly lit, and above the entrance, a large screen displayed highlights of the charity auction.
For example, among the works participating in the auction that evening were pieces donated by masters from various artistic circles across the country. The most anticipated was a painting donated by Huangfǔ Xuéyì, a master of the Lingnán School of Painting!
It was rumored that Huangfǔ Xuéyì would personally attend that evening, which had garnered widespread attention and excitement.
However, the hottest topic was Wan Yúntíng's donation of two pieces of calligraphy, which had propelled the Huā Department City Charity Auction's popularity to its zenith, attracting national attention.
After all, major platforms had previously hyped up one of Wan Yúntíng's medicinal formulas to an astronomical price, trending on hot search lists for three consecutive days, which served as a warm-up for this charity auction.
Moreover, as Wan Yúntíng had never released any genuine calligraphy works to the market, the attention at that evening's charity auction was focused on his two calligraphy pieces, even surpassing the master Huangfǔ Xuéyì, a representative of the Lingnán School of Painting.