Page 44

Gu Jiuque nodded with a smile. "Since Boss Zhou is being so thoughtful, I'll gladly accept."

Old Master Gu frowned at that. "Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

Zhou Mu smiled warmly. "There's nothing inappropriate about it. The auction won't be held until the afternoon after tomorrow. We can't spend all this wonderful time cooped up in a hotel suite."

At that, Zhou Mu paused slightly and instinctively glanced at Gu Jiuque, whose handsome, gentle features made him seem like a white jade statue. A lewd thought rose in his heart: if this young master was willing, he would be more than happy to waste that wonderful time on the big bed in the presidential suite.

Gu Jiuque's gaze wandered over the streetscape and pedestrians speeding past outside the car window. He did not think there was anything wrong with it either. After all, he was spending his enemy's money and making his enemy happy in both body and mind. There were probably few prey in the world as cooperative as him.

The black Rolls-Royce soon pulled up in front of the Fog City Grand Hotel. This was the oldest five-star hotel in Fog City. The auction Zhou Mu had mentioned would be held in the banquet hall on the hotel's top floor.

There were still nearly two days until the auction, yet the hotel had already gathered quite a few gentlemen and distinguished figures who had come from all over the world after hearing the news. Under such circumstances, Zhou Mu had still managed to book three presidential suites in one stroke. The wealth and connections behind him were self-evident.

Zhou Mu and the people behind him wanted to use this method to dispel the Gu family grandfather and grandson's suspicions. Little did they know that all their scheming was wasted on the blind.

Old Master Gu had not noticed Zhou Mu's little schemes at all. He had come on this trip only to broaden his grandson's horizons. As for helping appraise items, it was merely something he did along the way. Having traveled thousands of miles at another's request, he would naturally help Zhou Mu pick out the most valuable lots at the auction. Whether Zhou Mu actually had the money to buy them was Zhou Mu's business and had nothing to do with him.

Gu Jiuque, meanwhile, saw everything clearly. Having lived a second life, he was like a cheater at a card table wearing X-ray glasses. Every hidden card his opponents kept tucked away was face-up in his eyes. No matter how the players behind the curtain moved their pieces around, as long as they did not change the cards, they could not escape Gu Jiuque's sight.

"Let's sit here for a while first." Zhou Mu smiled at Gu Jiuque.

He led the group to rest in the reception area of the hotel lobby, while his secretary took everyone's identification documents to the front desk to check them in.

Gu Jiuque accepted the coffee brought by the attendant and studied the stage that was soon to make its debut with great interest. He did not notice several figures in suits watching them from above in the sightseeing elevator slowly rising across from them.

"The prey has finally entered the net." A young voice rang out lazily. The refined young man in gold-rimmed glasses said leisurely, "He took the bait so easily. What a disappointment."

"Don't underestimate him." The elderly man seemed to recall something, and a trace of chill entered his voice. "Gu Eight Blades's skill and talent in cultural relic appraisal and restoration are beyond anything you can imagine. Otherwise, I would not have spent so many years laying this plan, nor would I have set the stage overseas, beyond the Gu family's reach."

The refined young man smiled. "Grandfather, you worry too much. How could the player of a game of chess confront the chess pieces himself? Naturally, we should sit in the audience and watch the good show that is about to begin."

As he spoke, a figure hurried toward the reception area. The refined young man pointed at the figure, his eyes smiling. "Look, Grandfather. The actors have already taken the stage."

The elderly man gave his grandson an approving look. The moment the elevator doors opened, he said in a low voice, "Let's go. It isn't time for us to appear yet."

Their foremost task was still to organize this auction properly, allowing the High-End Auction House to use this opportunity to firmly establish itself among Fog City's upper class. Drawing Gu Eight Blades into the trap was merely an appetizer before the real show began.

"Eight Blades? Gu Eight Blades? Junior brother? It really is you! I thought I was seeing things. Why are you in Fog City?"

Following the voice, Grandpa Gu looked over and saw an elderly man with graying temples approaching with a face full of delight. He wore a black Zhongshan suit and had kind, benevolent features. Every movement he made conveyed just the right amount of surprise and astonishment, along with the excitement and joy of meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

Holding his delicate coffee cup, Gu Jiuque took a light sip. Its slightly bitter, rich aroma spread through his mouth. He watched his grandfather rise excitedly and embrace the man, chatting animatedly while clasping each other's arms. After only a few words, his grandfather suddenly remembered something and pointed toward Gu Jiuque. "This is my grandson, Gu Jiuque. Jiuque, come greet your Grandpa Pei."

By then, Gu Jiuque had already risen steadily to his feet and obediently greeted him.

Grandpa Gu held Gu Jiuque's hand and said excitedly, "Your Grandpa Pei is my sixth senior brother. Back then, we studied under the same master. Later, your Grandpa Pei went abroad, and there was no word from him ever again. I never imagined we would meet here."

Zhou Mu, who had been sitting nearby, also rose to his feet. He watched with a smile as Gu Eight Blades warmly caught up with his suddenly reappeared fellow disciple. Only when Gu Eight Blades remembered him did he smile and introduce the man before them. "Pei Liujun is my fellow senior brother. We haven't seen each other in decades."

Then he introduced Zhou Mu to Pei Liujun. "This is Boss Zhou. I came to Fog City this time at his invitation."

Zhou Mu added with a smile, "I invited Old Master Gu to accompany me to the auction being held the afternoon after tomorrow. He is Jingzhou City's most renowned appraiser."

Pei Liujun sighed emotionally. "Ever since we were children, Master always said that, Junior Brother, your talent for cultural relic appraisal and dating was unmatched. Among the eight of us fellow disciples, only you..."

Pei Liujun abruptly stopped, as though he did not wish to bring up the past. He turned to Gu Jiuque and forced himself to smile. "Your grandson must have inherited your mantle as well. You Gu family people are born with sharp eyes."

Gu Jiuque only smiled without speaking. Watching Pei Liujun's flawless performance, he silently thought, What use are sharp eyes, no matter how sharp they are?