At the Gardvin Art Auction Center, a low-profile auction was being held today.
The term "low-profile" was used because the entire event was kept confidential, with all media reporters turned away. However, judging from the luxury cars parked in the lot—resembling an auto show of elite brands—it was clear that an unprecedented frenzy of money and art was unfolding inside.
Inside the auction hall, the auctioneer asked for the final time if there were any higher bids before striking the gavel with excitement.
A new record was born!
370 million!
After nearly half an hour of intense bidding, the most heavyweight lot of the night—the famous painting Love Scar Lake—was finally acquired by a buyer for the astronomical price of 370 million RMB.
With that, the evening's auction came to a close.
As attendees dispersed, many were still reeling from the fierce competition over Love Scar Lake. The bidding had been far more intense than the auction house had anticipated. Numerous buyers had come specifically for this painting, and from the opening bid, the price had skyrocketed to jaw-dropping heights. One by one, participants shook their heads in regret and withdrew, until only the final victor remained—
Gu Ran, who had just nonchalantly called out the winning bid of 370 million, leisurely exited the auction hall, flanked by black-suited bodyguards, her newly purchased rare-skin Birkin in hand.
...
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"This is the painting I bought today. Do you think it looks nice?"
Gu Ran finished typing the message to Ji Shiyu and hit send.
Xu Hui, Ji Shiyu’s personal assistant, approached her as she focused on her phone. He had accompanied Gu Ran to the auction tonight. Standing beside her, he informed her that the post-auction procedures were being processed and that her acquisitions would soon be delivered to Nanchen Mansion.
Tonight, Gu Ran hadn’t just secured Love Scar Lake—she had also won two diamonds and a vintage luxury handbag from the last century, making it a highly fruitful evening.
Gu Ran nodded without bothering to tally her total expenditure for the night. Just as she was about to leave, she accidentally locked eyes with a few familiar faces.
This auction had been an art-focused event, featuring not only antique paintings but also rare jewelry and diamonds, attracting many of A City’s socialites and heiresses.
The group across from her froze mid-conversation upon seeing Gu Ran, their expressions stiffening. Some even wore looks of disdain.
Yuan Mengxuan, standing at the center of the group, paled further at the sight of Gu Ran.
She had come specifically for the 12.7-carat Winston blue diamond, fully intent on securing it. Yet, throughout the auction, Gu Ran had relentlessly outbid her, as if deliberately provoking her, never seeming to reach her limit. In the end, knowing she’d face reprimand for spending so much on a single diamond, Yuan Mengxuan had no choice but to withdraw, leaving her coveted prize to Gu Ran.
What infuriated her even more was that she, a legitimate daughter of the Yuan family, had been outspent by Gu Ran—a caged canary kept by Ji Shiyu. And not just outspent, but dwarfed in comparison.
A diamond worth tens of millions was one thing, but Gu Ran had casually dropped 370 million on Love Scar Lake, the most prestigious lot of the night!
The tension between the two groups was palpable until one of the more diplomatic socialites broke the silence with a forced smile. "Gu Ran, it’s been so long!"
"Yeah, Gu Ran, what have you been up to lately? We haven’t seen you in ages. You never come out with us anymore."
Gu Ran returned their plastic smiles with one of her own, handing her Birkin to Assistant Xu. "Oh, it has been a while! I’ve been busy house-hunting, so I haven’t had time to socialize."
The moment the words "house-hunting" left her lips, the others’ expressions twisted further.
Yuan Mengxuan couldn’t hide her disbelief. "H-house-hunting?"
Gu Ran lifted her chin, her smugness on full display. "That’s right. Since I’m getting married soon, I bought this painting to hang in the bedroom of our new home."
The phrase "getting married" slipped effortlessly from Gu Ran’s lips, and several of the women nearly lost control of their expressions. Suppressing the urge to scream "WTF," they gritted out a strained, "Congratulations."
Gu Ran: "Thank you."
"See you around!"
With that, Gu Ran sashayed away, her entourage in tow.
...
In the parking lot, the spacious interior of the Rolls-Royce exuded luxury.
The driver respectfully opened the door, and Gu Ran elegantly slid inside.
She kicked off her seven-centimeter heels and leaned back into the plush seat.
Recalling the way those women had looked at her—like they wanted to strangle her but had to choke out congratulations instead—filled her with immense satisfaction.
Right now, those fake friends were probably gossiping about her, saying things like, Look at her, so full of herself. If Qin Wenyi were still around, she’d never have gotten this far.
Ji Shiyu only treats her this well because Qin Wenyi is gone. If Qin Wenyi were still here, she wouldn’t dare act so smug.
Even if she marries Ji Shiyu, she’ll never have his heart. She’s just a consolation prize—Qin Wenyi was his true love, his white moonlight.
But Gu Ran wasn’t bothered in the slightest. She summed up their bitter resentment in four words: Pathetic impotent rage.
Qin Wenyi this, Qin Wenyi that—no matter how much they whined behind her back, Qin Wenyi was dead. Deep down, they all knew a corpse posed no threat to Gu Ran.
Who in their right mind would waste energy competing with a ghost?
Gu Ran stretched lazily, then pulled out her phone to post on social media.
"Love Scar Lake—such a romantic name for a romantic painting. Perfect for hanging in the bedroom of our new home."
In the comments, she added: "The new home we’re getting married in."
Her post quickly garnered a flood of likes and comments—some genuine, some not—all offering "congratulations."
She selectively replied with a few "thank yous," then returned to her messages.
Ji Shiyu still hadn’t responded.
Pouting, she played a round of a mobile game. By the time it ended, the car had already pulled into Nanchen Mansion.
A lakeside villa in the heart of the city, this had been Gu Ran’s home for years. Ji Shiyu, for convenience, mostly stayed at his apartment near the financial district, only visiting Nanchen Mansion occasionally.
Some snickered behind her back: If Gu Ran was Ji Shiyu’s caged canary, then Nanchen Mansion was the gilded cage meant to keep her.
Gu Ran slipped her shoes back on and returned to her extravagant, gilded "birdcage."
Some birds yearn for the sky and freedom, but why can't there be birds born to love living in a cage?
Pampered with fine silks and delicacies, fluttering her beautiful wings inside the enclosure, singing cheerful tunes, waiting for her master’s gentle hand to stroke her splendid feathers.
Gu Ran went upstairs to the master bedroom—spacious, bright, and filled with the faint sweetness of scented candles, lit by the servants to her liking.
Barefoot, she stepped onto the cream-colored shag rug and surveyed the room.
She was really going to marry Ji Shiyu. The marital home wasn’t here, but after the wedding, she could finally fly out of this pure gold cage.
No longer would she be the notorious, spoiled golden canary in people’s mouths. She would be Ji Shiyu’s lawful, legitimate wife.
In high spirits, Gu Ran took a bath, fetched a bottle of red wine from the cabinet, and put on some soft music.
The deep crimson liquid poured into an elegant crystal glass, and she drank alone, swaying with the music, even twirling on her toes in delight.
Late at night, the artificial lake’s surface rippled calmly.
A black sedan glided through the shadows, smoothly entering the gates of Nancheng Manor.
Only when Ji Shiyu stepped out of the car did he notice Gu Ran’s WeChat message—a photo of the painting she had just bought at auction for 370 million, along with the caption, "Isn’t it pretty, hehe?"
Earlier, Gu Mingjing had called him, laughing. "Your little golden canary has been telling everyone she’s marrying you. She’s posted about it on her Moments several times—is it true?"
"Or is she just using this to pressure you into marriage?"
Ji Shiyu didn’t deny it, but he hadn’t expected Gu Ran to be so vocal about their engagement.
He checked her Moments. Sure enough, her recent posts were all wedding-related, each dripping with smugness.
The man’s expression darkened.
The marriage had been proposed by the old man a while ago. He adored Gu Ran and wanted a grandchild soon.
With the old man’s health declining, Ji Shiyu hadn’t outright refused, assuming Gu Ran would understand his busy schedule meant no immediate plans for marriage. Yet, to his surprise, she seemed to have taken it seriously—even helping the old man prepare a marital home.
Ji Shiyu closed WeChat, pocketed his phone, and headed upstairs.
He needed to talk to Gu Ran about this.
The master bedroom door was slightly ajar, warm light spilling through the gap.
Ji Shiyu pushed it open.
Inside, Gu Ran swayed with a wineglass in hand, dancing barefoot to the music.
Mid-twirl, her gaze landed on the tall figure at the door. She froze.
Ji Shiyu frowned at her flushed cheeks and drunken haze.
The glass slipped from Gu Ran’s fingers, landing soundlessly on the plush rug.
She staggered toward him, her mind echoing the words everyone whispered—
"It’s only because Qin Wenyi is gone."
"It’s only because Qin Wenyi is gone."
The phrase grated on her. Tonight was supposed to be joyful, yet those words had crept in like countless tiny voices, impossible to shake off.
Irritated, Gu Ran shook her head and stumbled forward, wrapping her arms around Ji Shiyu’s neck.
Locking eyes with him, she enunciated slowly, deliberately:
"Look. I’m Gu Ran."
