Chapter 146

"Miaoyin, it's a good thing you have a way."

Yan Hongyu looked at Xu Miaoyin affectionately: "That you can give me a chance and be with me is the honor of my life."

"Hongyu..."

Xu Miaoyin's small face flushed slightly: "I was the one who misjudged before; only now have I discovered that you are the man most suited for me."

"It is my greatest honor."

Yan Hongyu's thin lips curled slightly, and he wrapped his arm around Xu Miaoyin's slender waist, looking toward Xu Tian's direction with a hint of smugness.

Upon seeing Xu Tian burying his head in eating, a trace of contempt appeared in his eyes.

Today, he was going to let this kid see what it truly means to be crushed by strength!

Sure enough, once out of school, Xu Tian was nothing; now that even Lin Miaoyin, who had been devoted to him, had thrown herself into his arms, what else did he have to fight him with?

Just then, an old man wearing a white Chinese-style casual outfit with knotted buttons appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall, followed by a broad-shouldered, sturdy bodyguard with an imposing aura.

"My god!"

"I'm not seeing things, am I..."

"Is it really Master Lin?"

The appearance of the old man in white caused quite a stir in the banquet hall.

"He is the calligraphy master Lin Wanshan!"

All the guests stared dumbfounded at the old man walking into the banquet hall, their faces filled with nothing but shock.

Yan Hongyu and Xu Miaoyin greeted him enthusiastically.

"Master Lin, that you could grace us with your presence truly makes our Yan family shine!"

Yan Hongyu greeted Lin Wanshan politely, his expression and tone perfectly appropriate.

"Master Lin, my name is Xu Miaoyin; I am the daughter of Xu Zhongze of the Imperial Capital's Xu family."

Xu Miaoyin also held her head high and chest out, greeting Lin Wanshan with the well-behaved, innocent-flower demeanor she was best at.

Lin Wanshan paused his steps and nodded faintly.

He knew Xu Zhongze of the Imperial Capital's Xu family; Xu Zhongze had spent quite a lot of effort previously trying to ask him for a "Gold and Jade Fill the Hall" piece.

Seeing Yan Hongyu and Xu Miaoyin take the initiative to welcome Lin Wanshan, the guests in the banquet hall couldn't help but exclaim.

"This prospective heir of the Yan family really has means; not only did he manage to request Master Lin's calligraphy for the old patriarch, he actually managed to invite Master Lin himself to attend the old patriarch's birthday banquet."

"I heard before that Yan Hongyu was the most outstanding of the Yan family's younger generation; I didn't believe it at first, but seeing it today, the rumors are indeed true."

Yan Jin, sitting in the corner, stood up from his chair and looked toward Lin Wanshan's direction.

Being a fan of calligraphy and painting, he naturally regarded Master Lin as his idol, but Master Lin was usually low-key, rarely giving interviews, and even less frequently attending public events.

Even when managing the Yan Group, Yan Jinsong had never had the opportunity to meet this top Huaxia calligraphy master.

Xu Tian calmly observed the expressions of Yan Hongyu and Xu Miaoyin, but felt a bit surprised in his heart.

"Given Yan Hongyu's status, he shouldn't have the qualifications to invite Lin Wanshan."

"As for the Imperial Capital's Xu family..."

Although the Xu family's status among the major wealthy families in the Imperial Capital could not be underestimated, it was no easy task to invite Lin Wanshan.

It seems Xu Miaoyin really put in a lot of effort to please Yan Hongyu.

"Master Lin, please come with me to the main table to be seated."

Yan Hongyu bowed slightly in a gesture of invitation, and together with Xu Miaoyin, led Lin Wanshan to the main seat in the center of the banquet hall.

The old men at the main table stood up one after another, greeting Lin Wanshan enthusiastically.

"Old Yan, this grandson of yours is truly capable; even Master Lin, who never attends private banquets, could be invited by him."

A short, stout old man said with an envious face: "That brat of mine only knows how to cause trouble for me!"

The Yan Family Patriarch had already arrived in front of Lin Wanshan; he shook hands with Lin Wanshan somewhat nervously, though his face remained full of disbelief.

"Master Lin, for you to grace us with your presence, I have failed to welcome you properly; I hope you will not take offense..."

"Old Yan, you are too polite. I heard today is your birthday, so I have prepared a small gift."

Having said that, he instructed the bodyguard beside him to present a piece of calligraphy.

The bodyguard opened the scroll in front of everyone and placed it before the Yan Family Patriarch.

The guests stood up one after another, stretching their necks to peer toward the main table.

On the gold-dusted scroll was Lin Wanshan's vigorous and powerful handwriting: "Fortune and Longevity in Full."

In addition to his personal seal, the inscription also included the words "Gifted to the Yan Family Patriarch."

"Master Lin's attainments in calligraphy truly leave us laypeople in awe!"

The old men surrounding the Yan Family Patriarch praised the calligraphy endlessly.

The Yan Family Patriarch, however, felt somewhat shocked, because this piece by Lin Wanshan was clearly written on the spot for him, which was much more meaningful than the "Gold and Jade Fill the Hall" piece Yan Hongyu had requested.

"Master Lin, this gift is truly too precious for me; I will certainly treasure it well!"

"Old Yan, there is no need to be so formal."

Lin Wanshan waved his hand with a faint smile, appearing indifferent.

When the guests learned that Lin Wanshan had specially written a piece for the Yan Family Patriarch's birthday banquet, their eyes held even more admiration when they looked at Yan Hongyu.

To have such ability at a young age, being able to make a national-treasure-level calligraphy master give him face—this Yan Hongyu's future is absolutely limitless.

"I truly envy Old Yan."

Song Lao couldn't help but sigh: "Both grandsons are so filial, especially Yan Hongyu; he knew you had always revered Master Lin, so he invited Master Lin to attend your birthday banquet—this sentiment is truly rare."

"Indeed, if I had such a filial and capable grandson, I would wake up laughing in my dreams."

The Yan Family Patriarch remained calm on the surface, but was actually quite smug, and was very receptive to the flattery of his old friends.

"We as the younger generation should think of our grandfather in everything; no matter how difficult grandfather's wish is, I will do my best to fulfill it for him." Yan Hongyu spoke with high spirits and eloquence.

And just as they were talking, Lin Wanshan had already turned and walked toward the other side of the banquet hall.

Those who had originally wanted to go up and chat with Lin Wanshan were stunned, feeling a bit confused.

Where was Master Lin going?

The most important big shots in the entire banquet were all at the main table; who else at the side tables could make Master Lin take the initiative to go over and greet them?

At the very corner seat, Xu Tian was serving soup to Su Xiuya, appearing completely indifferent to Lin Wanshan's arrival.

And when he looked up again, he was surprised to find that Lin Wanshan seemed to be walking toward his location.

"Mr. Xu Tian, long time no see."

Lin Wanshan showed no arrogance or coldness of a great artist in front of Xu Tian; instead, he revealed a friendly smile.

"Long time no see?"

Xu Tian's hand holding the water cup paused, and he put down the cup and stood up with some surprise.

What long time no see?

Have they met?

"Eh? Could it be that Xu Tian also knows Master Lin?"

The old men sitting beside the Yan Family Patriarch asked in surprise.

"It looks like they know each other." The Yan Family Patriarch stood up and walked toward Lin Wanshan's direction.

"Master Lin, do you know Xu Tian?"

Seeing the Yan Family Patriarch and others walk over, Lin Wanshan nodded slightly at them.

"That's right, I am an old acquaintance of Mr. Xu Tian, and we are quite compatible."

"So that's how it is." The Yan Family Patriarch remained calm on the surface, but was increasingly surprised in his heart.

Yan Jinsong knew what kind of background this godson had, to actually be able to know Master Lin, and have such a close relationship.

The Yan Family Patriarch was surprised, but Yan Jinsong and Su Xiuya were even more astonished.

They had never imagined that Xu Tian would know Lin Wanshan.

"Mr. Xu, actually you could have greeted me earlier."

Lin Wanshan said with some regret: "Otherwise, I could have planned it more carefully."

Xu Tian was a bit bewildered, completely unable to understand what Lin Wanshan was talking about.

"Master Lin, what is this..."

Not only could Xu Tian not understand, but even the Yan Family Patriarch and others were completely confused.

"Old Yan, you didn't know?"

Seeing the people around him looking at him with surprise, Lin Wanshan explained: "The reason I came to attend your birthday banquet this time, Old Yan, is because Mr. Xu Tian told me you like calligraphy, which is why he invited me over."

Lin Wanshan's voice was not loud, but it was clear enough for everyone in the banquet hall to hear.

The gazes of envy and admiration that had been on Yan Hongyu and Xu Miaoyin shifted to Xu Tian's side.

Previously, they had seen Yan Hongyu and Xu Miaoyin personally welcome Master Lin Wanshan and chat happily with him, so they had preconceived notions that they were the ones who had invited Master Lin.

But listening to Master Lin just now, it seemed to have absolutely nothing to do with them.

The reason Master Lin came to attend the Yan Family Patriarch's birthday banquet was because of Xu Tian's face.

The smiles on the faces of the originally high-spirited Yan Hongyu and Xu Miaoyin froze instantly.

"Master Lin, are you saying that because Xu Tian invited you, you came to attend my grandfather's birthday banquet?" Xu Miaoyin asked in disbelief.

"That's right."

Lin Wanshan was clearly displeased with Xu Miaoyin's slightly questioning tone: "Otherwise, what could it be for? I don't even know you people..."