"Oh, Uncle Fang, you flatter me..."
Facing the praises from Lu Zhiqing and Chen Wenbin, Wan Yunting could only cupped his fists and responded with a humble smile, showing no arrogance despite winning first place in the Lanting Award calligraphy competition.
The group chatted in the tea room, naturally revolving around calligraphy. Facing literary masters like Meng Xuehai and Chen Wenbin, Wan Yunting naturally maintained a low profile, sharing his insights on calligraphy, which earned him great admiration from Lu Zhiqing and the others.
After all, someone who had only practiced calligraphy with a brush for less than six years could write in the Slender Gold Script and Cursive Script with such mastery, astonishing everyone. He was truly a reincarnation of a calligraphy deity with such monstrous talent...
"Dinner is ready..."
With Du Xiumei's loud call from outside, Fang Guowen then beckoned everyone to eat. Wan Yunting helped Fang Shoushan to his feet, and he, along with Hu Tianchi, Lu Zhiqing, and the others, moved to the dining room. The round dining table was laden with delicacies, all appealing in color, aroma, and taste. Fang Yanxi had been helping with serving the dishes, but she remained expressionless. Only Wan Yunting noticed this, while Fang Guowen and Du Xiumei seemed oblivious to their daughter's unusual demeanor today...
Feeling helpless, Wan Yunting decided he would find a time to talk to Fang Yanxi properly after dinner.
Naturally, drinking was indispensable at the dinner table. Wan Yunting's ability to remain sober even after countless drinks greatly amazed and impressed Lu Zhiqing and Chen Wenbin. Fang Guowen then said, "Xiao Wan, many people in our Literary Association want to meet you, this calligraphy great. They want to find a time to host a calligraphy appreciation evening. Would you be interested?"
After all, Wan Yunting had become famous overnight in the calligraphy world. The Literary Association of Huadu City and the calligraphy masters all wanted to witness this young calligraphy great praised by Old Fan!
Not only that, even the wealthiest man, Kang Hongwen, had messaged him that afternoon, congratulating him on winning the Lanting Award calligraphy competition and even inviting Wan Yunting to his home for dinner tomorrow to request his calligraphy.
"Uncle Fang, I might not have time recently."
Wan Yunting felt a little helpless, smiling faintly.
He naturally disliked attending such "calligraphy appreciation evenings" as he had no intention of mingling in artistic circles.
Moreover, having just returned to Huadu City, he had matters to attend to and was indeed short on free time.
Fang Guowen naturally understood that he was declining and nodded with a smile, "It's alright, we'll host it when you have time. Come, let's drink..."
"Come..."
Lu Zhiqing and Chen Wenbin raised their wine glasses, and Wan Yunting smilingly raised his glass, nodding before they all finished their drinks...
Fang Yanxi, having finished her meal, sat quietly to the side, looking down at her phone, silent. Her mother, sitting to her right, nudged her arm and whispered, "What's wrong with you today, girl? You've been keeping a straight face and not even chatting with Xiao Wan. Is there something going on between you two?"
Turning to look at her mother, Fang Yanxi smiled and said, "Mom, what could possibly be going on between him and me? Look, isn't he drinking well with Dad and the others? How could I interject? I'll talk to him later when they're done drinking."
Du Xiumei gave her daughter a knowing look and could only shake her head helplessly.
Fang Guowen, Hu Tianchi, and the others, having had their fill of drinking, couldn't resist asking Wan Yunting to show his calligraphy on the spot. He naturally had to respect his future father-in-law's wishes, so they moved to his study, where he wrote two pieces of cursive calligraphy...
Of course, this time he dared not incorporate his spiritual energy or sword intent into his calligraphy. Otherwise, if something like what happened during the competition, where he almost scared Yuan Deyou to death, were to happen again, it would be troublesome.
It wasn't until ten o'clock in the evening that Wan Yunting finally satisfied Fang Guowen, Hu Tianchi, and Meng Xuehai. Taking the opportunity to use the restroom, he quickly went outside. He happened to see Fang Yanxi coming down from the second floor and smiled, "Yanxi, shall we go for a walk?"
Fang Yanxi glanced at him expressionlessly and nodded.
Thus, the two left the house and went to the community's leisure park, sitting on the familiar park bench under the dim streetlight. It was a bit chilly in the evening. Seeing Fang Yanxi wearing only a long loungewear dress, Wan Yunting took off his jacket and draped it over her. The woman calmly said, "Thank you," but her distant demeanor made Wan Yunting feel uncomfortable.
They sat quietly on the bench, looking up at the dim streetlights. Suddenly, Fang Yanxi turned to Wan Yunting and said, "Let's get married!"
As soon as she said this, Wan Yunting's entire face froze. He stared at Fang Yanxi with shock, seemingly unable to react to the surprise in his heart.
Fang Yanxi maintained her calm expression. Seeing the man's stunned look, she felt disappointed and said faintly, "Just kidding."
"It's not that, Yanxi..."
Finally reacting, Wan Yunting became agitated and quickly explained, "This, this is too sudden, I hadn't thought..."
Fang Yanxi, her heart sinking, stood up and said with an even colder, more indifferent tone, "Yunting, let's take a break from each other!"
"What?"
Wan Yunting looked at her again with a shocked expression. Fang Yanxi's pretty face was indifferent as she said, "Let me think. Let's leave it at that."
"It's not like that, Yanxi..."
Wan Yunting immediately stood up. Fang Yanxi took off her jacket and handed it back to him. With her expression cold and devoid of emotion, she turned and walked back towards home.
For a moment, Wan Yunting stood frozen. He knew that the woman had discovered his relationship with Gu Luotang, which was why she had suddenly proposed a separation...
"Alas..."
A moment later, Wan Yunting sat down again. Feeling guilty, he sighed. Knowing Fang Yanxi's personality, no matter how eloquently he spoke now, she wouldn't listen.
But the thought of losing her made Wan Yunting's heart ache. He knew he had hurt Fang Yanxi's feelings...
He sat alone for an hour, with seven or eight cigarette butts already on the ground. Finally, Wan Yunting discarded the last cigarette butt. Realizing he had no more cigarettes, he reluctantly got up and headed back to Fang Yanxi's house. Just as Lu Zhiqing, Chen Wenbin, and Meng Xuehai were leaving, he greeted them at the door. After seeing the three of them off, Fang Guowen patted Wan Yunting's shoulder and smiled, "Xiao Wan, thank you tonight."
Wan Yunting's smile was a bit forced. He waved his hand and said with a smile, "Uncle Fang, you're too kind. It's getting late, I should be going."
"Don't rush off. It's almost midnight, why not stay the night here?" Fang Guowen said, pulling him along with a smile, his intentions clear.
But Wan Yunting couldn't express his inner turmoil. If Fang Yanxi wasn't angry, he wouldn't refuse, but now the woman didn't want to see him! "No, Uncle Fang, I've already called for a designated driver. Besides, I don't have any spare clothes, so it's not necessary."
"Alright."
Seeing this, Fang Guowen didn't insist. When the designated driver arrived, Wan Yunting left. Sitting in the car, he was lost in thought, feeling uneasy because he couldn't make a choice between Fang Yanxi and Gu Luotang!
"Heh, quite the scoundrel..."
Thinking of this, Wan Yunting couldn't help but let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh. The designated driver, driving him, glanced at him in the rearview mirror and said with a smile, "Boss, did you break up with your girlfriend?"
Wan Yunting's expression froze. He looked up at the driver and smiled, "How did you know?"
The driver smiled and said, "Men, aren't they all like that? Especially since you just came from the lady's house and have been so somber, I guessed it must be a relationship matter."
Wan Yunting looked at the driver with great interest and said, "It seems you're quite experienced!"
The driver chuckled and said, "I bet you wronged your girlfriend first!"
"You're a psychic!"
Wan Yunting gave him a thumbs-up. The driver looked smug and said, "Men are all the same. Who doesn't have a few romantic entanglements? As long as you have the means, you can keep one at home and a group outside. But ultimately, what women need is sincerity. So, I think you should try harder to appease your girlfriend."
Wan Yunting nodded and smiled, "I've learned my lesson."
And so, the designated driver transformed into a relationship expert, dispensing dating advice to Wan Yunting all the way, such as how to appease girls. Wan Yunting listened in a daze, realizing that this driver was definitely a master of romance...