Spotting a side entrance, Wang Guan immediately gestured for everyone to follow. As they approached the side door, he briefly considered calling Museum Director Wang, just in case they were barred from entry, which would be quite embarrassing.

As it turned out, Wang Guan had underestimated Mr. Feng's meticulousness. The security guard upon seeing their group approached them, asked for Wang Guan's name instead of requesting an invitation, checked the registry immediately, and then, with a broad smile, granted them entry.

Stepping inside the museum, they found the atmosphere relatively quiet. After all, when it came to artifacts of art, most people subconsciously held a degree of reverence, habitually observing in silence.

However, for many attendees, the gathering felt less about appreciating art and more about networking. In the expansive exhibition halls, groups of three or five people deliberately positioned themselves in the corners; while they appeared to be examining the collections, they were in fact whispering amongst themselves.

"Where is the Jiaowei Zither?"

After circling several halls without finding the main attraction, Old Meng looked puzzled. "Weren't they supposed to display it today? Why isn't it here?"

"It will probably only be unveiled when the formal exhibition officially begins," Sha Qingfeng speculated. "It’s such an important piece; they certainly wouldn't bring it out early. They have to build up the anticipation a little first."

"That makes sense," Old Meng agreed wholeheartedly, then smiled. "Then let's wait a bit and look around at the museum's existing collection. I wonder if there are any new acquisitions."

"That’s hard to say. Let's go over there and see..."

As seasoned experts, Old Meng and Sha Qingfeng had visited this location many times before and were quite familiar with the environment. While speaking, they led Wang Guan and the others around, taking them to view some of the collection's more precious items.

It should be noted that private museums generally focus on a specific niche. Due to financial constraints, they cannot rival the breadth of a national museum; instead, they specialize in one or two categories.

The Liang Yi Zang Museum was just like this, primarily collecting Ming and Qing dynasty furniture and Western-style vanity cases. The furniture was crafted from superior woods like Zitan and Huanghuali, while the Western vanity cases were classic works created by world-class jewelers, combining precious materials with exquisite craftsmanship.

Naturally, these items were antiques, with the majority dating from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Due to differing personal tastes, Wang Guan, Pi Qiushi, and others naturally leaned toward appreciating the Chinese woodwork, including mirrored chests, dressing boxes, official document chests, cabinets, tables, and folding screens.

As for Bei Ye and Qiao Yu, they were clearly more drawn to the vanity cases—items made from precious materials with masterful execution, bearing the touch of renowned artisans. However, it wasn't long before their attention shifted entirely.

"Xiao Ye, look quickly! Isn't that 'Heavenly King' Liu? He's here too!" Qiao Yu exclaimed with unexpected excitement and delight. "Come on, let's go ask him for an autograph."

As she spoke, she didn't give Bei Ye time to object, dragging her toward another exhibition hall.

Seeing this, Wang Guan managed a wry smile. There was no sense of jealousy; after all, that "Heavenly King" Liu had already announced his long-concealed marriage and even had a child. There was no reason to feel jealous now.

"Alright, let's keep looking," Wang Guan called out, returning his attention to the exquisitely crafted furniture.

After only a few steps, Wang Guan felt that familiar sense of enemies crossing paths. Several people were approaching them head-on, led by Hu Shao, the notorious adversary of Cai Peng.

Hu Shao spotted Wang Guan at the same moment. His brow immediately furrowed, his expression turned cold, and he sharply turned on his heel to leave.

"I didn't expect him to be here either," Old Meng murmured, shaking his head slightly upon seeing the exchange. "His elders probably couldn't make it, so they sent him to attend the exhibition."

"Let's just look at our own things; we don't need to pay him any mind," Sha Qingfeng said with a smile. "I’ve been paying attention, and there are indeed quite a few new acquisitions—items that are truly rare to see."

"That's only natural," Old Meng chuckled. "A museum, you see, if its collection isn't timely updated with new things, how can it keep drawing repeat visitors?"

As they spoke, the group continued their leisurely stroll, gradually moving deeper into the museum's interior.

Meanwhile, Qiao Yu and Bei Ye returned full of high spirits. Their notebooks now held not only Heavenly King Liu's signature but also those of other celebrities.

Noticing Qiao Yu beaming, Wang Guan looked puzzled. "I didn't recall you two being interested in chasing stars. What brought about this sudden change in preference?"

"Hee hee..." Bei Ye suddenly laughed, explaining softly, "Xiao Qiao isn't chasing stars; she just wanted to see if celebrity signatures are as illegible as the rumors say."

"It's not for me. I'll give it to my younger brother later; he can use it to chase girls," Qiao Yu said with a sly grin.

"Uh!"

In an instant, Wang Guan was rendered speechless, once again marveling at Qiao Yu’s extraordinary personality. Shaking his head lightly, he faintly heard a rising clamor. He immediately turned back to see a crowd surging toward the main hall, realizing the exhibition was about to commence.

"Let's go! The Jiaowei Zither should be making its entrance. Everyone, hurry up and take a look!" Old Meng and Sha Qingfeng exclaimed joyfully, urging Wang Guan and the others forward.

"What's the rush? The object is right there; it’s not going anywhere," Pi Qiushi remained completely unperturbed. Having viewed many objects in Beijing, he certainly wasn't as anxious as the other two.

As for Wang Guan, he was even more relaxed, leisurely taking Bei Ye's slender hand and slowly drifting with the current of the crowd toward the main museum hall.

By this time, the spacious hall was packed with onlookers, and even the corridors on the second floor were jammed tight. However, the display stand in the very center of the hall was conspicuously empty, indicating the Jiaowei Zither had yet to appear.

But as time passed, more people began entering through the side passages. They were preceded by seven or eight burly security guards clearing the way, making it instantly obvious that the principal figures had arrived.

Indeed, Mr. Feng and Museum Director Wang emerged, smiling broadly, surrounded by their entourage, and were immediately greeted with a burst of warm applause.

What followed was predictable: Mr. Feng gave the opening address, followed by Director Wang, and then a series of Hong Kong's most famous literati, musicians, and other dignitaries took turns speaking, elaborating on the historical significance of the Jiaowei Zither... essentially an unending test of everyone's patience and endurance.

Yet, many people were inwardly growing impatient, though their faces betrayed nothing. On the contrary, they maintained smiles, appearing to listen intently, as if deeply enlightened, even pausing to applaud occasionally in support.

There was a reason for this facade: the venue was filled with reporters, each armed with long lenses of cameras and video recorders. These devices were constantly pointed not just at the speakers on stage but also sweeping across the audience. Under such scrutiny, who among the well-mannered public wouldn't want to present their best side, lest they appear on television and become a laughingstock?

Fortunately, compared to some domestic conventions that could drone on non-stop for three days, the speeches on stage were relatively brief. Thus, after enduring for quite some time, the audience finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

Once the crowd had finished their platitudes, Mr. Feng returned to the stage. Gazing at the expectant faces, he decided to end the suspense, formally announcing the start of the exhibition, and then gracefully stepped down.

At that precise moment, the seemingly seamless stage floor abruptly split down the middle. Accompanied by a haunting, classic sound of a guqin string being plucked, a platform encased in reinforced glass slowly ascended.

Upon this platform rested the object of everyone’s eager gaze: the renowned Jiaowei Zither.

Now fully revealed, the platform allowed the glow from the crystal chandeliers to illuminate the zither, flawlessly bringing out its ancient charm and artistic essence.

As the saying goes, the first impression is the strongest. The audience already held the Jiaowei in high esteem, and having been meticulously restored by the masters from the Palace Museum, the zither had reclaimed its original splendor. Though its condition was not perfectly flawless, the marks left by the passage of time imbued it with a profound, rustic beauty and a unique resonance.

The combination of these factors meant that the collective perception of the Jiaowei Zither was automatically elevated by several notches.

"Click, click, click, click..."

At the same time, not only were the citizens crowding forward for a closer look, but the reporters were certainly not going to miss this opportunity. Flashes erupted incessantly, not letting up for a solid five or six minutes.

Witnessing this barrage, Wang Guan felt a flicker of doubt, wondering if the Jiaowei Zither, were it not protected by the glass case, might have been instantly incinerated to ash by the blinding lights.

With such a treasure before them, a natural urge compelled people to push forward for a better view. However, due to the sheer volume of admirers, viewing had to be done in rotations, with people slowly queuing up and taking turns.

At the urging of Old Meng and Sha Qingfeng, Wang Guan and the others reluctantly joined the queue. After another long wait, it was finally their turn to approach for viewing. At this moment, Wang Guan couldn't help but feel a sense of irony—he was waiting in line to look at his own property! Truly, he was a model of law-abiding behavior...

Unaware of Wang Guan’s internal musings, Old Meng and Sha Qingfeng seized the moment their turn came to carefully examine the instrument. After five or six minutes, they finally stepped away from the display stand, looking unfulfilled.

"What a magnificent piece," Old Meng began, ready to express his admiration, when two or three staff members approached and gently blocked the path of their group. With professional smiles masking a hint of cold detachment, they said, "Gentlemen, we need to detain you for a few minutes regarding a small matter. Would you please come with us?"

While phrased as a request, the tone carried an undertone of non-negotiable compliance.

"What's wrong?" Wang Guan and the others were naturally surprised and completely baffled.

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