A sea-view home beside the university district

"Elder Zhou, how much do you think this painting could fetch at auction?" Yang Wanqing asked curiously.

"Judging by recent auction records for authentic paintings and calligraphy by Tang Bohu, this piece should fetch around thirty to forty million."

Yang Wanqing sucked in a breath and exchanged a glance with Chen Siyao. Both women knew Tang Bohu's works were valuable, but neither had expected them to be worth this much.

Chen Hao remained composed, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table, without a ripple of emotion in his heart.

Tang Bohu?

It was merely a pseudonym he had casually used back when he was utterly bored.

He had written this piece of calligraphy himself. No one knew better than he did whether it was genuine.

He had left it behind on a whim back then, intending to exchange it for some money in the future. He had never expected it to actually come in handy now.

He looked up and spoke calmly:

"Get the paperwork done as soon as possible. All I want is the money—the sooner, the better."

Beside him, Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing were already rooted to the spot, completely dumbfounded.

An authentic Tang Bohu?

That piece of calligraphy her brother had casually pulled out was actually a national treasure?!

As for the receptionist who had looked down on them earlier, his face was now ashen. Sick with regret, he stood trembling where he was, hardly daring to breathe.

Meanwhile, the livestream chat had already exploded over the footage capturing the entire encounter!

[East Gate Snow]: Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit! An authentic Tang Bohu?!

[Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood]: That receptionist's face just killed me! That slap in the face hit him like a tornado!

[Wind God]: Yaoyao's brother is insane! He just casually pulls out a national-treasure-level piece of calligraphy! What kind of god-tier big shot is he?!

[I Am Ying Zheng]: Confirmed: he's a hidden master! Forget a long-lost brother—he's the God of Wealth descended to earth!

[Little Ke]: Pengcheng property prices? Forget one home—that piece of calligraphy could buy ten!

Chen Hao glanced at the frantic livestream comments, and a barely perceptible smile flickered in his eyes.

"Rest assured, sir. There's an auction the day after tomorrow, and I'll make expedited arrangements for you right away. The painting only needs to undergo one more machine examination before it can be put up for auction. Huang, handle the paperwork for this gentleman."

The receptionist, Huang, hurried over with quick little steps, bending at the waist with a professional smile plastered across his face. Not a trace remained of his earlier arrogance or dismissiveness as he brought over a form and handed it to Chen Hao.

"Yaoyao, fill this out for me. I don't have a bank card."

"But that won't do, will it, Chen Hao? Why don't we get you a card? It'll make things easier in the future, too."

"It's fine, Yaoyao. I can just use your card from now on." Chen Hao patted her head.

"All right." Chen Siyao took the form.

A few days later.

The notification for the bank deposit chimed just as the three of them stepped out through the doors of the Dingsheng Auction House.

Chen Siyao's phone screen suddenly lit up. The string of digits began with "385" and ended in five zeros, making the fingertips holding her phone tremble slightly.

"Chen Hao, it's here." She looked up, her voice still tinged with lingering disbelief. Alongside the affection in her eyes as she looked at him, there was now an indescribable ache.

Yang Wanqing leaned over and glanced at the screen, instantly gasping and clapping a hand over her mouth. "Oh my god! Thirty-eight million five hundred thousand! Yaoyao, you've just... become rich overnight!"

Chen Hao was brushing a fallen leaf from his shoulder. At her words, he gave a faint nod. "It's only a worldly possession. Since the money has arrived, let's go look at houses. You said the university district was close to your school. That sounds fine."

The three drove toward the university district. July in Pengcheng was bustling and hot, and the scenery beyond the car windows gradually shifted from downtown skyscrapers to tree-lined university grounds.

The gates of various universities passed by one after another, while the buildings along the road increasingly blended modern design with an academic atmosphere, until the car entered an upscale residential development backed by green hills and facing a bay—[Treasure Sky City].

It was a renowned luxury sea-view development beside Pengcheng's university district, marketed for its "academic community + waterfront views + major shopping district." Its average price had long since surpassed one hundred thousand per square meter.

Chen Siyao had already done plenty of research online and knew there was a newly listed, spacious top-floor apartment with superb views, perfect for a family. The moment their car stopped outside the sales office, a property consultant dressed in a bespoke business suit approached them with a smile.

"Good afternoon, and welcome to Treasure Sky City. I'm Song Xinxue, a property consultant here. Are you here to view a home?"

Song Xinxue's voice was gentle and clear, carrying just the right degree of professionalism without seeming overly enthusiastic. She was strikingly beautiful, her long black curls loosely pinned behind her head, revealing a smooth forehead and delicate collarbones. Her features still held traces of the fresh beauty of her teenage years.

As she looked up, her gaze first fell on Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing, then was drawn to Chen Hao walking between them.

The man before her stood as straight and sturdy as a pine or cypress, entirely unlike the clients in the sales office dressed in assorted designer casualwear. Yet his calm, otherworldly bearing made him stand out all the more in the luxurious surroundings.

Something stirred inexplicably in Song Xinxue's heart.

Had she seen that face somewhere before?

She suppressed her uncertainty and maintained a gracious smile. "What size of apartment are you looking for? Do you have a particular listing in mind?"

"We'd like to see the 280-square-meter top-floor apartment you just listed." Chen Siyao collected herself and brought out the listing number she had noted down. "The one with an unobstructed sea view that also overlooks the university district."

"Oh, that's our premier unit!" A trace of surprise crossed Song Xinxue's eyes before her smile deepened. "That apartment really is a rare find, and quite a few clients have come to view it. Please come inside. I'll take you up to see the show apartment in person."

Passing through the tastefully minimalist sales office, the three followed Su Wanqing into a dedicated elevator that took them straight to the top floor.

The moment the elevator doors opened, a ten-meter-wide floor-to-ceiling picture window came into view.

Outside, Pengcheng's coastline stretched away like a winding ribbon of blue silk. In the distance, the buildings of the university district formed an orderly, varied skyline, their red walls and green trees all visible.

Closer by, the development's landscaped gardens unfolded in rich layers, with murmuring water and chirping birds. The setting sun broke through the clouds just then, casting golden-red light across the shimmering sea. The sweeping view was breathtaking.

"Wow..." Yang Wanqing was the first to exclaim, hurrying over to the window. "Yaoyao, this is gorgeous! Imagine reading here and looking up to see the sea and the universities. I feel more cultured already!"

Chen Siyao's eyes shone with delight, too. She walked to the center of the living room and took in the layout, which allowed light and air to flow through from north to south. As she imagined setting up a quiet study for her brother and reserving a sunroom for Wanqing, she could not keep the smile from spreading across her face.

Chen Hao walked slowly to the window, his gaze passing over the universities below toward the distant mountains and sea.

Backed by mountains and facing the sea, this home was sheltered from the wind and gathered vital energy. It was a fine place to cultivate oneself and nourish the spirit.

"Chen Hao, what do you think?" Chen Siyao came to his side and asked cautiously.

"Not bad." Chen Hao gave a slight nod. His tone was plain, but it instantly put Chen Siyao at ease.

Song Xinxue stood to one side, watching the three interact. She became increasingly convinced that Chen Hao was no ordinary man. The composure with which he faced a luxury home worth tens of millions was nothing an ordinary rich heir could possess.