At the end of the corridor was a door, opening into a vast exhibition hall, not crowded, with people clustered in small groups, speaking in low tones.

Seeing newcomers arrive, some offered a slight smile and a raised glass in greeting; others gave only an indifferent glance; or they watched with simple curiosity, whispering to their companions to inquire about their identity. Upon learning they were of the Chen family, their reactions varied accordingly.

From these gestures, one could discern that the Chen family's standing was indeed extraordinary.

"I wondered who warranted such a grand entrance; turns out it’s the Fourth Young Master of the Chen family," a strangely modulated voice sounded nearby.

Hearing this voice, Ou Feng inwardly cursed, glaring fiercely at the server standing near the man, blaming him for not intercepting this particular individual.

The server looked utterly miserable, crying injustice in his heart: If this person had decided to approach, how could I possibly stop him?

"Fei Yingming?" Chen Wen’s face instantly darkened. He turned around, fixing his gaze on that irritating face, and sneered, "Don't you have business sucking up at the Yang residence? What has brought you here?"

It turned out to be Fei Yingming, the young master of the Fei family. Zhong Yun held no fondness for him either, and the memory of the wanton insults hurled at him in the Feier Gardens flared up, stirring his anger.

Chen Wen and Fei Yingming seemed like natural-born rivals; sarcasm flew between them the moment they met.

Fei Yingming’s gaze swept over Zhong Yun and his companions before he shot back, "I never thought you’d not only attend that commoner’s school but spend your days mixing with these... riffraff. The Chen family is truly unfortunate to have produced such a descendant."

This was, after all, a public space, and relying on his status, he ultimately stopped short of uttering the most insulting term.

Chen Wen huffed twice, his eyes showing disdain. "You are not qualified to lecture our Chen family."

"I fear you’ll bring disgrace to our aristocratic families," Fei Yingming retorted, unyielding.

Seeing they were about to descend into personal attacks, Ou Feng grew anxious. He inserted himself between the two young men, who were clearly fire and water, "My two esteemed young masters, grant me some face. Please, for goodness sake, stop this commotion. Can you? There are so many people watching."

Both Chen Wen and Fei Yingming realized the impropriety of the situation. Even though their families had long since fallen out and fought fiercely in private, in a public setting, they still needed to mind appearances, lest others become the subject of their ridicule.

They snorted coldly and ceased their argument. Fei Yingming, with his female companion in tow, departed.

Whether it was mere fancy or not, Zhong Yun sensed a flicker of killing intent in the way Fei Yingming looked at him.

Watching Fei Yingming leave, Ou Feng sighed in relief. If the two had ended up trading blows, that would have been a spectacle indeed.

He personally acted as their guide, pointing out the exhibits. These were rare treasures, and although Ou Feng did not mention prices, one could easily surmise that each piece carried an astonishing value.

Ou Feng, living up to his A-grade Appraiser title, sensed which item Zhong Yun found intriguing and proactively provided details, explaining the origin, features, and value of the object one by one. His descriptions were concise and vivid, capturing interest in just a few carefully chosen words.

After viewing a dozen or so items, Zhong Yun finally paused.

Ou Feng keenly registered his intense interest. "This is a genuine, rare Garan Zither. Its manufacturing technique has been lost to time..."

"May I touch it?" Zhong Yun interrupted, his gaze as if magnetically drawn, fixed tightly on the musical instrument that resembled an Earth piano.

Ou Feng blinked, instinctively turning to look at Chen Wen. Seeing the nod of assent, he replied, "Of course."

Zhong Yun circled the Garan Zither once, his eyes radiating admiration and a touch of wistfulness. Then, he sat down on the low stool before the instrument, gently caressing the key cover as if comforting a lover.

His expression was so concentrated that those nearby hesitated to disturb him.

Zhong Yun lifted the lid, closed his eyes, and placed his fingers on the keys.

Silence.

Zhong Yun frowned slightly, murmuring to himself, "It’s broken." He then stood up and walked behind the instrument, lifting the rear panel.

"Wait..." Ou Feng tried to stop him, lamenting inwardly. This zither had cost a fortune, and it was one of the Young Mistress's favorite collections. If it hadn't been damaged, it wouldn't be here on display.

At the same time, he silently blamed the man for his rashness. If this instrument were damaged, how could he possibly explain it to the Young Mistress?

He walked over, about to intervene, "Mr. Zhong, you..."

Before the words were fully out, Zhong Yun had already closed the rear panel. Ignoring him, he returned to the stool, took a deep breath, and once again extended his fingers to press the keys.

Dong—

A melodious note rang out, drifting into the air and spreading throughout the vast exhibition hall. Though the sound wasn't loud, everyone in the tens of thousands of square meters of space could hear it.

This music seemed to possess a peculiar attraction, compelling everyone to turn their gaze toward the source of the sound.

Ou Feng was dumbfounded on the spot.

It sounded. The zither sounded. This fact crashed over his mind like a tsunami; he could hardly believe his own ears.

Think of the effort the Young Mistress had expended when she acquired this damaged Garan Zither—she had consulted countless domestic experts, master musicians, and even repair specialists from the G’an Empire, all of whom declared it beyond repair.

It was only in disappointment that it was placed here for exhibition; otherwise, a perfectly intact, original Garan Zither was not even held in the museums of the Ang'e Empire, so how could it be displayed in this venue?

Yet, here it was, seemingly repaired by an exceedingly young man, almost casually. How could this not leave him shocked into speechless wonder?

Zhong Yun frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with the timbre, and stood up again to make a slight adjustment.

Ou Feng stood there blankly, as if unable to process the reality immediately.

Dong—

Like a gentle breeze brushing across the heart, a single note stirred a resonance within the listeners’ souls, instantly capturing their attention.

Zhong Yun's frown smoothed out. His fingers danced across the keys, releasing a cascade of notes like water spilling from a spring in a tranquil mountain forest.

It was a brisk, cheerful tune brimming with rich, exotic flavor, refreshing to the senses.

After finishing the piece, Zhong Yun let out a satisfied sigh and closed the key cover again. He stood up, "This is a fine instrument." He then glanced back at the zither with lingering reluctance.

He did not ask to purchase the instrument; firstly, he couldn't afford it, and secondly, he couldn't buy it. Though he desired it greatly.

From the moment he first saw the zither, a string deep within his heart had been plucked, something inside his body felt poised to erupt, compelling him to reach out and touch it.

Zhong Yun felt a profound connection to the instrument, a link of shared essence. We will meet again. He made a silent vow as he turned away.

Turning back, Zhong Yun noticed Chen Wen looking at him with a remarkably strange expression. He offered a slight smile, intending to say nothing further.

"How many more things do you have that can surprise us?" Chen Wen murmured, his voice barely audible as he passed by Zhong Yun.