Hong Kong’s mainstream print media, the Hong Kong City Daily, dedicated its entire front page on the 18th to a major news story.
Fu Shengyun, a Hong Kong-born master of painting and calligraphy who has lived abroad for many years, recently returned to Hong Kong with his children to receive the Golden Bauhinia Star, awarded by the Hong Kong Government.
After the ceremony, his 80th Birthday Banquet will be held at the Fu Family Residence.
Fu Shengyun is a legendary figure on Hong Kong Island. Fu School Calligraphy stands as a unique tradition; he has inscribed plaques for countless celebrities and landmarks, earning extraordinary international prestige.
Years ago, rumors about Fu Shengyun’s poor health sparked widespread speculation.
Now, with his sudden public return to Hong Kong for his birthday, the Hong Kong media is abuzz— Hong Kong is about to witness another elite socialite gala.
On the eve of the Birthday Banquet, at the Guan Family Villa on Kadoorie Hill.
A white Continental GT sped to a halt outside the gates, Funk music with a heavy beat pulsing from the car.
Guan Yingtang hurriedly got out, her jewelry clinking crisply as she moved.
Her phone was still pressed to her ear as she removed her oversized silver earrings and said to the person on the other end, “Sorry, I can’t make it tonight, my daddy’s back.”
Her friend must have asked something, because Guan Yingtang looked incredulous. “Are you crazy? How could I possibly marry him?”
No time for further chat— she wrapped up the call in a few words. Seeing the lights blazing at home, she steadied herself and walked in.
Maybe it was intentional, but every light in the villa, on every floor, was on, as if preparing to “interrogate a criminal.” The brightly lit hall sent a chill of alarm through Guan Yingtang.
Sure enough, upon hearing her come in, Guan Zhiheng on the sofa turned around.
He didn’t even need to speak— just a scanning, scrutinizing look was enough to shatter the composure Guan Yingtang had been mustering.
After all, just twenty minutes ago on the phone with her parents, she’d claimed to be at home doing yoga.
Who could have guessed her parents, supposedly traveling, would suddenly return ahead of schedule?
Once the butler tipped her off, Guan Yingtang turned back from her way to the party and raced home at top speed.
“How did yoga end up in the car?” Guan Zhiheng asked, fully aware of the answer.
Guan Yingtang pointed out the window. “It was stuffy. I went out for a drive.”
Guan Zhiheng gave a cold laugh. “Today’s Mandy’s birthday, right? You wanted to go to her party. Am I wrong?”
Guan Yingtang: “…”
She pressed her lips together— caught red-handed.
He knew his own daughter well enough. With hands in the pockets of his waistcoat, he stood and walked over, eyeing her bold, fashionable outfit. “You’re influenced by bad company. Look at you now— do you think this is appropriate?”
Mandy was Guan Yingtang’s friend— her Chinese name was He Zi.
Also a Number One Heiress of Hong Kong Island, but Guan Zhiheng had nothing good to say about his daughter’s friend.
He’d objected to their friendship more than once, and father and daughter had quarreled several times over it.
Last year, after Guan Zhiheng had heart bypass surgery, Guan Yingtang tried to accommodate him in every way.
So tonight, knowing he’d come home early, she obediently turned back.
“I’m going upstairs to shower,” Guan Yingtang chose to retreat.
But Guan Zhiheng clearly wasn’t done. He called after her, “Yingtang, you know better than I do how people talk about Mandy’s behavior. Drinking, clubbing, changing boyfriends every few months— if you stick so close to her, are you throwing away your own reputation?”
Guan Yingtang drew a breath, biting back her response.
Guan Zhiheng pressed on. “All the socialites in Hong Kong are watching you. If people find out you’re hanging out with that kind of delinquent, who will believe you’re the Number One Heiress of Hong Kong Island?”
“Mandy’s not a delinquent, and besides—” Guan Yingtang couldn’t hold back, “Is everyone else’s approval really that important?”
“Of course!” Guan Zhiheng’s eyes flashed with anger. “Our Guan Family has been a Scholar Family since your great-grandfather’s time. Your grandfather was a Taiping Justice of the Peace, founded the Hong Kong City Daily with his own hands. I’m the Headmaster of several elite schools, with students all over the world. Your Aunt—”
“Aunt is a Writer and Public Welfare Ambassador, and my cousins are all social celebrities and philanthropists, right?” Guan Yingtang had heard all about her family’s social standing a thousand times, to the point of exhaustion.
“If you know that, why don’t you clean up your social circle? Who you associate with matters. You’re twenty-three— don’t you understand?!”
Just as another father-daughter argument was about to erupt, her mother Ho Ling quickly intervened, “She didn’t go, did she? She understands.”
Ho Ling changed the subject, patting Guan Yingtang’s hand. “Go on up and sleep early. Tomorrow night you need to attend Master Fu’s Birthday Banquet— don’t show up with dark circles under your eyes.”
After a moment’s silence, Guan Yingtang went upstairs without a word.
Guan Yingtang had just graduated university last year. She’d wanted to stay abroad and find a job, but her father, Guan Zhiheng, refused, saying that with the Guan Family’s status, their heiress didn’t need to work for others.
—“The only thing you must do, and do well, is to be the face of our Guan Family and carry on this invisible wealth.”
That sentence from Guan Zhiheng had always bound Guan Yingtang.
Hong Kong is full of tycoons— Trade, Shipping, Real Estate… every field has its leading family, and every family has its own heiress.
The Guan Family isn’t the richest, but Guan Yingtang stands out far above the rest, acclaimed as the Number One Heiress of Hong Kong Island.
Scholar Family, full of talent, Noble Lady… these are the labels the media stick on Guan Yingtang.
Outsiders praise her as a true Hong Kong Miss. Anyone who’s seen her can’t help but sigh at her extraordinary brilliance. She was born with a silver spoon, but no one knows—
She was born with a rebellious soul.
–
Despite last night’s friction with her father, Guan Yingtang still got up early and went through her preparations as usual.
The styling team was already waiting downstairs. Racks of dresses lined up, all cheongsams with a refined Eastern elegance— frog buttons, embroidery, silk.
Guan Yingtang had long grown bored of them, slumping at the dressing table. “Let’s get started.”
The Makeup Artist carefully studied her face in the mirror. She’d seen it countless times, but still couldn’t help but marvel at how such a vivid, exquisite face could balance innocence and allure so perfectly.
She clearly had infinite possibilities, yet now she was boxed into the role of a Noble Lady. It seemed such a pity.
“Using this shade again?” came Guan Yingtang’s voice.
The Makeup Artist, holding the apricot lipstick, hesitated. “This color… really suits your temperament, Miss Guan.”
Guan Yingtang’s lips curved slightly as she propped her face on her slender hand. “What temperament is that?”
Her tone rose at the end, her eyes sparkling— just the right touch of charm.
The Makeup Artist was inexplicably tongue-tied, not knowing how to answer this heiress.
After all, they were following Ho Ling’s instructions: Guan Yingtang had to be set apart from those “vase” socialites who only wore designer brands.
Her dresses were all custom-made by a Master, every stitch striving for perfection.
Over time, the world said Miss Guan was the Moon in the Sky, born with elegance beyond compare.
But no one knew— Guan Yingtang wanted to wear a backless dress, wanted big, wavy hair, wanted lipstick in bold, sexy red.
What she wanted were all things the “Guan Family Miss” wasn’t allowed to do.
–
At 7 p.m., the Guan Family’s car arrived near the Fu Family Villa on Sotheby’s Hill.
It had taken more than twenty years for the Guan Family to cultivate their daughter’s reputation as a cultured lady— music, chess, calligraphy, painting, none could be neglected.
Guan Yingtang’s grandfather had some friendship with Fu Shengyun, and at age seven, she’d been introduced to him as a student.
But Guan Yingtang had no real interest in calligraphy, and in those years she only learned the basics, occupying the title of Gatekeeper Disciple in name alone.
“There will be a lot of distinguished guests tonight, all very prominent. You must be alert and not disgrace us,” Guan Zhiheng reminded her as they neared.
Guan Yingtang was tired of hearing it. She kept silent, still regretting missing He Zi’s birthday party last night.
As she mused, she remembered the question He Zi had asked on the phone, and turned to her parents for confirmation. “Are you two planning to marry me off to Jiang Peiming?”
The Guan Jiang Families had been close for generations. Jiang Peiming and Guan Yingtang had grown up together— childhood friends.
“That’s just a rumor,” Guan Zhiheng denied flatly, but after a pause, added, “But…”
Guan Yingtang tilted her head, waiting for more, but after a while all she got was, “In any case, not him.”
They had reached the villa entrance. Luxury cars queued up, and when the Guan Family’s car stopped at the door, the attendants respectfully came to open it.
Guan Yingtang quickly schooled her expression.
Even though the topic had changed just a moment before, as soon as the door opened and her heels touched the ground, she smoothly slipped into another role.
Tonight, the stylist had chosen a garden green cheongsam for her, her hair styled in an elegant chignon, her head bowed demurely, light makeup on her delicate face— a beauty straight out of a classical poem, every gesture dignified and graceful.
From afar, people gathered to whisper in admiration— this Number One Heiress of Hong Kong Island truly had a unique aura.
Reserved, elegant, her talent seemed to seep from her bones, making her a sight to behold at the banquet.
“Isn’t Miss Guan a graduate from a famous university?”
“She’s a real academic star— a top student from Stanford.”
“Beautiful, with a top education. No wonder all those wealthy matrons use her as the standard for choosing daughters-in-law.”
“Yes, look at how many men are flocking around her tonight.”
……
Because of Fu Shengyun’s reputation, tonight’s gathering was packed with elites, and even more men than usual hovered near Guan Yingtang.
She was weary of it all, but her face had to wear a different mask for socializing.
Her persona was too perfect, her actions had to be flawless, forced to play the part of the graceful socialite to the end.
Only when she was truly fed up did Guan Yingtang excuse herself to the restroom and leave the main hall.
She slipped quietly to the second-floor balcony. Minutes later, He Zi arrived with a wine glass in hand.
“What, not having fun downstairs?”
The He Family had been invited too. The two girls had exchanged glances earlier, and now slipped out together to chat.
Guan Yingtang leaned against the balcony, sounding exhausted. “Just a bunch of fakes. What’s fun about that?”
Since returning to Hong Kong, Guan Yingtang had spent her days at banquets or cultural events, constantly showing off her so-called learning as the Guan Family Miss.
She was truly sick of playing the demure lady.
“No fun at all,” He Zi agreed. “Always the same crowd. That’s why I’m planning to go abroad tomorrow, find a little island, spend some time there, and maybe get a few local hotties to sunbathe with me.”
“…” Guan Yingtang looked at her in shock.
He Zi wilted under her stare. “Okay, fine. Actually, I fought with the old man today. Better stay away for a while.”
He Zi had always done as she pleased. Even if outsiders misunderstood her, she never cared— she did what she wanted.
Guan Yingtang looked back at herself—
All these years she’d played the Noble Lady role to perfection, never daring to step out of line.
The only time she’d ever rebelled was while studying abroad, taking advantage of being unknown.
One Christmas Eve, she’d worn a super-short sequined dress to a classmate’s Yacht party, dancing wildly into the night.
She didn’t even know who owned the Yacht, but that night was the freest and wildest she’d ever been.
“Must be nice.” Guan Yingtang unconsciously slumped her shoulders, gazing at the night, whispering in her heart—
She wanted to leave too.
To stop pretending, to go somewhere no one knew her, and breathe.
As she drifted off, He Zi nudged her arm. “Who’s that?”
Guan Yingtang followed her gaze. Three black sedans were gliding through the darkness toward the Fu Family Residence.
Nearby, Fu Shengyun’s eldest son was already out on the lawn with his family to greet the guests.
The cars stopped in sequence. Attendants respectfully opened the doors, and a group of people stepped out one after another.
Leading the way was a poised middle-aged couple.
After Fu Shengyun’s eldest son shook hands with them, he turned to the young man following behind.
The man wore a black suit. Though his face wasn’t clear, his tall, refined figure exuded an innate nobility. Every gesture was measured, full of presence.
“No idea,” Guan Yingtang glanced over, not really curious which young talent had arrived late. But a few seconds later, she looked again—
“But he looks pretty good,” she admitted, rare for her.
Her phone suddenly rang. Ho Ling was calling, saying there were guests to greet.
Break time was over. Guan Yingtang sighed, walking back as she muttered to herself, “The Best Actress Award really ought to go to me.”
–
Back inside, the banquet was still lively. The rich aroma of wine spilled from glasses, guests chatting and toasting.
Even as they talked, their eyes kept drifting to the door, as if waiting for someone important.
Guan Zhiheng and Ho Ling were chatting with the host, Fu Shengyun.
When Guan Yingtang returned, Guan Zhiheng smiled and beckoned, “Yingtang, come and wish Master Fu a happy birthday.”
Guan Yingtang respectfully stepped forward and embraced Fu Shengyun. “Teacher, happy birthday.”
“Good girl.” Fu Shengyun nodded, looking her over, then turned to Guan Zhiheng. “She’s very suitable.”
Guan Zhiheng smiled knowingly. “If you say so, Master Fu, there’s no doubt.”
Their conversation was cryptic. Even Ho Ling wore a mysterious smile. Sensing something odd, Guan Yingtang couldn’t help but ask, “What are you talking about?”
Fu Shengyun feigned a cough. “I have an important guest coming soon. By coincidence, he’s also a Stanford graduate, just like you. Can you entertain him on my behalf?”
The three of them were being so secretive, Guan Yingtang thought it must be something major— turns out it was just helping to entertain a guest.
“Of course,” she agreed at once.
As soon as she spoke, the main doors opened behind her. Seeing everyone turn to look, Guan Yingtang turned too.
“Speak of the devil,” Fu Shengyun chuckled, stepping forward. “Come on, Yingtang.”
Guan Yingtang didn’t think much of it, following close behind and quietly asking her mother, “Was this guest a last-minute addition?”
For every event, Ho Ling always had a guest list prepared for her, and tonight was no exception.
But Guan Yingtang had reviewed all the names— none were fellow Stanford alumni.
Ho Ling hesitated, but couldn’t hide her admiration. “You could say that.”
The guests had clearly been waiting for this moment. As the last person blocking the view stepped aside, Guan Yingtang finally saw clearly.
No—
She recognized the young man in the crowd instantly.
If the glimpse from the balcony had only hinted at his extraordinary presence, now, face to face, she could feel his aura even more strongly.
It was completely different from all the men who’d surrounded her earlier.
His features were refined, his brow calm and distant—like pristine snow, noble and aloof, untouchable.
Their eyes met.
Ho Ling’s low voice prompted her, “This is Mr. Meng Qinghuai, Chief Executive Officer of Aowan Group, and your Stanford senior, three years ahead of you.”
No one knew that the perfect mask Guan Yingtang had worn for so long cracked, just for a moment, in that instant.
Meng Qinghuai?
—She’d heard his name countless times back at school. He was a legend.