Chapter 54: Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao Arrives

Gu Zhao went first to find a design company.

After providing ample geographical data and stating his own requirements, he met the stunned look from across the table and slapped down a hundred thousand in cash.

"Rest assured!" the person in charge raised a hand to swear, "We guarantee to design the interior and exterior of this Taoist temple complex to perfection, designing it as if true immortals were living here!"

Gu Zhao reminded him again, "Design everything according to ancient craftsmanship and capabilities; do not include modern elements."

"I will hand this plan to the company's lead designer; he is most skilled in Xia-style aesthetics and knows our ancient architecture like the back of his hand; he will absolutely satisfy you!" the person in charge promised, patting his chest.

Gu Zhao nodded. "As you say, design it as if true immortals were living here."

Graduation ceremony.

"What have you been doing all these days? Every time I look for you, I can't find you; if you didn't reply to my messages every day, I would have thought you were kidnapped to Shan State."

At school, Zhang Hang pulled Gu Zhao over and sized him up from head to toe. "I always feel something is a bit off about you; did you go get some medical aesthetics done during these few days?"

"I did your sister!" Gu Zhao slapped away the paw reaching for his handsome face.

Zhang Hang laughed heartily, but still asked seriously, "You really have become different; what have you been doing these past days?"

"Secluded cultivation." Gu Zhao told the truth.

Secluded cultivation meant going to another world; indeed, no phone signal could be received here. Secluded cultivation also meant slaying demons and killing ghosts; indeed, one could absorb evil qi to raise one's Dao cultivation.

"You say you're fat, and you puff up?"

Zhang Hang, of course, didn't believe it and assumed Gu Zhao had been struck by a blow. "Is it because your video of the Palm Thunder, though it was briefly popular, was later exposed?"

Gu Zhao was puzzled. "Exposed to what?"

"The special effects were exposed," Zhang Hang said matter-of-factly. "Some comments said the wood you struck while casting spells was small-leaf red sandalwood; the special effects were done very carelessly."

Gu Zhao, "..."

"Let's talk about how your store-visiting videos are going," Gu Zhao said weakly.

"Very good," Zhang Hang boasted enthusiastically. "My store-visiting focuses on contrast; I usually cultivate a rich persona, then go to various shops pursuing love and getting rejected; the comment section is incredibly active."

"So if you fall in love, your persona collapses," Gu Zhao sneered.

Zhang Hang said with a grin, "What if I fall in love today and break up today?"

Gu Zhao chuckled. "The nightclub prince?"

"The school king of women works too," Zhang Hang said, raising an eyebrow at Gu Zhao and tilting his chin toward his back. "Look at those two girls; I've decided to make them my girlfriends for today."

Gu Zhao followed Zhang Hang's gaze and turned back, unable to help but feel slightly surprised.

The two women who had just entered the school gate and were looking around obviously saw Gu Zhao and Zhang Hang looking at them and returned the smile.

Zhang Hang spun the Porsche key in his hand. "Three sentences, and I can get them to accompany me for a day."

Gu Zhao shook his head with a smile. "I don't believe it."

"Let you see my brother's strength; my brother's pleas for love in videos that go unanswered are all fake; every time a store visit ends, those girls cry and beg my brother to take them away," Zhang Hang said proudly.

"I believe that one, but I don't believe it for these two," Gu Zhao still shook his head.

So Zhang Hang spun the car key and strode toward the two women, and to his satisfaction, the two beautiful women also smiled and walked toward him.

"Two beauties..."

"What a coincidence; we found you just as we entered the school."

"I was saying..."

"Xiao Ya just said she wanted to ask you."

"You are talking to..."

"Is this your friend? Hello!"

Zhang Hang saw the two beauties finally shift their gaze to himself and suddenly understood; he whirled around and saw Gu Zhao behind him waving at the two women, then said to him, "Are the three sentences finished?"

"Damn it!" Zhang Hang was furious. "You know these two beauties; why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I told you, and you wouldn't believe me," Gu Zhao patted Zhang Hang's shoulder, then turned toward Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi. "Yesterday you said you'd give me a surprise; I guessed you were in Yangcheng again, but I truly didn't expect you to come to my school."

Jiang Shishi's smile was bright; she teased Gu Zhao. "There must be a beauty by your side in the graduation photo to prove you're not a single dog."

Gu Zhao was startled and looked around. "Keep your voice down; the scope of the blow is too wide."

Xiao Ya looked at Gu Zhao with eyes burning bright. "My grandfather's health has improved; he can stand up on his own every day and move around a little."

Gu Zhao nodded in understanding. "That's good; it seems it was just qi deficiency and weakness."

Xiao Ya raised her head slightly; her long hair was blown by the breeze, brushing past her ears and temples, bringing a faint, subtle fragrance as she approached Gu Zhao. Her cheeks flushed red, and her eyes held admiration. "You are truly amazing."

Zhang Hang beside them couldn't help but feel a throb in his heart; he felt all the big fish and meat he had eaten before had become tasteless.

Gu Zhao also felt a bit unable to bear it and took a step back, only to be hugged by Jiang Shishi beside him, sinking into a hollow. "We came to accompany you; are you surprised? Are you delighted?"

"Surprised! Delighted!" Gu Zhao could only nod. "The graduation photos can be finished in the morning; I'll treat you to lunch."

Jiang Shishi nodded in satisfaction. "The last time we came, Dian Dou De was quite good."

Zhang Hang was startled and couldn't help but interject. "Go anywhere, just not Dian Dou De."

Gu Zhao rarely agreed with Zhang Hang's view. "Let me pick a place."

Jiang Shishi was puzzled. "Why? I heard this one is the most famous, has great value for money, and is recommended online."

Zhang Hang jumped in. "That's exactly why locals don't go there!"

Gu Zhao added, "Assembly-line pre-made dishes with no soul. I'll take you to an authentic old shop to let you taste authentic Cantonese tea snacks."

"Alright," Jiang Shishi said; she didn't care much and had only asked out of curiosity.

Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi toured Gu Zhao's campus together, waiting for him to attend the graduation ceremony.

At the ceremony, Zhang Hang asked Gu Zhao with no small amount of jealousy, "How did you quietly snag two beautiful girls? The quality of these two far exceeds the goods in nightclubs!"

Gu Zhao spoke seriously. "We are just friends."

Zhang Hang sneered, "Your friend? What a ghost!"

He was an old hand at this; he could easily tell that Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya looked at Gu Zhao in ways that were subtly different—even if they weren't yet confirmed lovers, there was unmistakable attraction beyond friendship.

After attending the graduation ceremony and taking group photos with their classmates, the two women accompanied Gu Zhao to photograph memorable spots around campus.

Before noon, everything was finished.

Zhang Hang was now desperate to find out the story between the two women and Gu Zhao, to understand why they looked at him differently.

He knew Gu Zhao better than anyone—Gu Zhao never actively pursued or flattered girls; otherwise, with his looks and family background, he wouldn't have been single for four years, and he was always lost in his own world, so no outstanding girl had ever chased after him.

"Let's go, let's go eat!" Zhang Hang spun his Porsche key in his hand.

And so…

Gu Zhao took a taxi with the two women, while Zhang Hang drove his two-seater Porsche alone.