"Brother Huangfu, Ning Jiaren, Old Fan is here!"
At this moment, a young talent excitedly rushed in and shouted.
Huangfu Hongfang released Ning Yuqing's waist and turned his head, raising an eyebrow. "Old Fan? Which Old Fan?"
"Oh, who else could it be but Old Fan, the grand master of our art world, Mr. Fan!"
The young man exclaimed, slapping his palms in excitement. "Mr. Tang, Old Cao, and Old Wang are bringing Old Fan up from the second floor now. I have to go see..."
"What, wait, is it really Old Fan?"
Gao Jiaxu, still disbelieving, tugged at the young man. But the talents and beauties on the third floor had also heard of Fan Liren's arrival, and they were all rushing to the staircase, ready to welcome Old Fan upstairs.
"Old Fan actually came to Shaoxing City?" Ning Yuqing exclaimed in surprise, feeling a flutter of excitement.
So did Huangfu Hongfang. After all, Fan Liren was a true grand master in the contemporary art world. Even his own teacher, Yuan Deyou, was merely a junior in front of him!
"Let's go, let's go out and see..."
Unable to resist, Huangfu Hongfang, Ning Yuqing, and Gao Jiaxu immediately went out. They saw everyone gathered at the staircase, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation, eager to catch a glimpse of the grand master Fan Liren...
In recent years, Fan Liren had rarely appeared in public, especially to the younger generation. Although they had read his literary masterpieces and admired his paintings and calligraphy, regarding him as an idol, they had never met Mr. Fan in person.
"Come, Old Fan, Old Cao, Old Wang, please come upstairs..."
At this moment, Tang Boyun was bowing respectfully, inviting Fan Liren, Cao Hui, Wang Mianzhi, and those following behind, including Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong. To be able to ascend to the fifth floor of Jubao Pavilion with Old Fan was an honor of a lifetime.
"Come, young people, let's go..."
Fan Liren was also beaming with joy. He grabbed Wan Yunting's wrist and personally led him up the stairs towards the third floor. This scene made Tang Boyun, Cao Hui, and the others realize that Fan Liren greatly admired Wan Yunting.
"Elder, you can just call me Xiao Wan, or Yunting. Elders usually call me that," Wan Yunting said with a natural smile as he followed him upstairs.
"Alright, then I'll call you Xiao Wan. It sounds more intimate,"
Fan Liren turned back to look at him and smiled. "You can also call me Old Fan, or Old Man Fan, it doesn't matter. There are no strict rules here, just do what's comfortable."
"Okay,"
Wan Yunting replied with a smile.
Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong, who were following closely, felt even more envious upon seeing this.
"Good heavens, it's really Mr. Fan!"
The young talents and beauties blocking the staircase on the third floor let out exclamations of surprise when they saw Tang Boyun personally leading Fan Liren, Wan Yunting, Cao Hui, and Wang Mianzhi upstairs. "Hello, Mr. Fan..."
"It really is Old Fan!"
Huangfu Hongfang, Ning Yuqing, and Gao Jiaxu, who were also squeezed in the crowd, widened their eyes when they saw Fan Liren. But then, upon seeing Wan Yunting by Fan Liren's side, Huangfu Hongfang's brows furrowed instantly, and his heart sank, his expression turning grim.
Gao Jiaxu and the others also saw it and exclaimed in surprise, "Why are Wan Yunting and the others also with Old Fan?"
Ning Yuqing, seeing Gu Luotang and Huang Yaodong among them, also raised her eyebrows. She glanced back at Huangfu Hongfang and wondered why Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang were coming with Fan Liren.
Moreover, seeing Wan Yunting and Fan Liren chatting and laughing, their relationship seemed very close, as if a grandfather was bringing his grandson for tea...
"Hello, Mr. Fan, you are my idol..."
The young talents and beauties blocking the hallway shouted excitedly.
"Haha, hello, my young scholars..."
Fan Liren looked at the enthusiastic young talents. In his joyful mood today, he was unusually lenient with them.
"Alright, everyone, please make way. I need to escort Old Fan to the fifth floor."
Tang Boyun, leading the way, asked the frenzied talents and beauties to clear a path, leading Fan Liren, Wan Yunting, and the others upstairs, then continuing towards the fourth floor...
Huangfu Hongfang, Ning Yuqing, and Gao Jiaxu were also pushed back by the other talents and beauties, unable to get close to Fan Liren. However, the three of them looked stunned and dazed, their gazes fixed on Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang who were beside Fan Liren. As they followed Tang Boyun, along with big names like Cao Hui and Wang Mianzhi, towards the fourth floor, Huangfu Hongfang was filled with bewilderment and confusion, unable to understand how Wan Yunting knew Old Fan.
Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang naturally saw Huangfu Hongfang and Ning Yuqing. However, Wan Yunting merely glanced at them, completely disregarding Huangfu Hongfang, and followed Fan Liren and the others towards the fourth floor...
Huang Yaodong and Zhao Yushi, along with Lin Yushu and Hou Xuesong, who were following behind, wore proud and provocative expressions as they looked at Huangfu Hongfang and Ning Yuqing. They happily followed Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang upstairs to the fourth floor with Old Fan...
At this moment, Huangfu Hongfang's face turned completely somber, an inexplicable rage simmering within him. He was utterly confused as to how someone like Wan Yunting, a nobody, could be with a grand figure like Old Fan, a titan of the literary and art world.
Did they know each other before?
"Pah, so what if he knows Fan Liren? Look at their smug faces,"
Seeing them head to the fourth floor, Gao Jiaxu couldn't help but curse, his tone laced with sourness.
Immediately, other talents and beauties beside them shot him sideways glances and coldly said, "How dare you address Mr. Fan by his name so casually?"
"Exactly. Disrespecting elders and teachers is simply rude, claiming to be educated yet acting so uncivilized."
"Hmph, we shouldn't associate with such rude individuals. Let's go..."
At once, those talents and beauties glared at Huangfu Hongfang, Ning Yuqing, and Gao Jiaxu and left with disdain.
"Hey, how dare you curse old..."
"Jiaxu!"
Seeing Gao Jiaxu about to retort, Huangfu Hongfang coldly berated him, then turned and returned to the study with Ning Yuqing.
"Tch, what are they?"
Gao Jiaxu shot a venomous glance at the group of young talents before following them back into the study. He saw Huangfu Hongfang and Ning Yuqing sitting in their chairs, their faces clouded with worry and confusion. Gao Jiaxu said indifferently, "Brother Huangfu, Ning Jiaren, what are you so worried about? Even if Old Fan suddenly appeared in Shaoxing, he's not a judge for this Lan Ting Award calligraphy competition..."
Huangfu Hongfang waved his hand, his voice grave. "I'm just curious why Wan Yunting knows Old Fan!"
Ning Yuqing nodded and said, "Old Fan has rarely appeared in public in recent years, and there are rumors of his retirement. Through what channels did Gu Luotang get to know Old Fan?"
"Could it be that Gu Luotang's grandfather knows Old Fan?" Gao Jiaxu guessed, his eyes wide.
Huangfu Hongfang frowned, stroking his chin with his left hand. Although that was a possibility, he still shook his head. "No, Old Fan seemed more familiar with Wan Yunting. It should be Wan Yunting who knows Old Fan!"
"Yes, I kept seeing Old Fan holding his wrist earlier, and they were chatting quite amiably," Ning Yuqing said, her peach-blossom eyes narrowed, observing the detail.
Gao Jiaxu immediately said, "Then we can't guess. We were never in the same circle as that guy Wan Yunting. Perhaps he met Old Fan somewhere else, and we just don't know about it."
Ning Yuqing turned to look at Huangfu Hongfang, her seductive peach-blossom eyes narrowed, and a faint smile touched her lips. "Are you worried that Old Fan might interfere with this Lan Ting Award calligraphy competition?"
Huangfu Hongfang felt a heavy weight in his heart, his gaze sharp. He sighed, "After all, Old Fan is a grand master!"
At this moment, on the fourth floor of Jubao Pavilion, a middle-aged man was bowing with his hands clasped in front of him at the entrance. Seeing Tang Boyun leading Fan Liren, Wan Yunting, and the others up, the manager of Jubao Pavilion respectfully bowed his head. "Mr. Tang, you're here."
"Mm, I'm bringing Old Fan, Old Cao, and Old Wang upstairs to the fifth floor for tea."
Tang Boyun nodded at the manager and then turned to Fan Liren and the others, smiling. "Old Fan, the fourth floor has some of my collection of antiques and jade. Would you like to take a look?"
Fan Liren turned to Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang and asked, "Xiao Wan, would you two like to see?"
"We'll do as Old Fan wishes," Wan Yunting replied with a smile.
"Then let's have a stroll,"
Fan Liren nodded and smiled. Tang Boyun then led them around the fourth floor of Jubao Pavilion. On a row of wooden shelves, various rare treasures were displayed...
For example, official kilns from the Song Dynasty, blue and white porcelain from the Ming Dynasty's Xuande period, and even tri-colored glazed pottery from the Tang Dynasty. In the center, there was a large bronze incense burner, which reminded Wan Yunting of the bronze furnace used for alchemy in the main hall of the cave dwellings of seniors Kang Guangling and Li Qingshui he had seen at the bottom of the valley...
In addition to these antiques, there were also various artistic jade carvings, all crafted by master jade sculptors. All sorts of cultural relics and antiques were gathered on the fourth floor of Jubao Pavilion.
"It truly is Mr. Fan. I pay my respects..."
The fourth floor was not very large, as the entire Jubao Pavilion building was shaped like a pagoda, with the space decreasing as one ascended. Those who could reach the fourth floor were mostly people over middle age. Young people rarely had the qualification to come up, unless they had a connection with Tang Boyun.
Therefore, it was very quiet on the fourth floor. Even the scholars who admired Fan Liren did not behave like the frantic young talents and beauties on the second and third floors. Everyone greeted and conversed with Fan Liren very politely...