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“So many people.”

Wang Guan stood on the third floor. Since the building had a central atrium, he could look directly down into the main hall. Seeing the crowds swell, a flicker of apprehension mixed with his delight. “Should we implement some restrictions?”

Crowds brought liveliness, certainly, but they were also prone to disorder. The museum housed many priceless artifacts; a single mishap in the chaos could ruin everything.

“No need to worry,” Gao Dequan chuckled. “Just have security step up patrols and assign people to manage the flow.”

With Elder Qian establishing a museum—such a momentous occasion—Gao Dequan was naturally there to lend a hand. In fact, he was directly in charge of the on-site coordination. Since he assured Wang Guan there was no issue, Wang Guan felt reassured.

“I’ll keep an eye on things here,” Gao Dequan said with a mysterious smile. “Elder Qian must be making his move soon. You should go check on him now.”

“Oh?”

Wang Guan paused, a thought dawning on him, then smiled. “Alright, Uncle De, you stay busy. Call me if anything comes up.”

As he spoke, Wang Guan moved lightly toward the reception area. Along the way, he observed many visitors, their faces rapt with absorption, which greatly pleased him.

The third floor was the functional zone, holding a diverse collection: jade and lacquerware, ivory, horn, and wood carvings, rare ancient texts, Buddhist and Taoist statuettes, and so on. The items weren't numerous, but every single one was a rare and exceptional masterpiece. Most importantly, the entire layout of the third floor, the specific placement of every item, had been designed by him. Elder Qian had approved it entirely, without suggesting any changes.

Seeing that the visitors found no fault, Wang Guan’s mood was naturally excellent. His steps quickened, and soon he arrived in the lounge area of the reception section.

At this moment, the hall was thronged with guests. There were figures from the political sphere, leading lights and magnates from the business world, and, of course, cultural celebrities. Regardless of their specific connections, everyone was gathered here to show support. Moreover, if they hadn't been invited, they certainly would have protested. After all, only by being present here could they grasp what a rare opportunity this was—a prime chance to expand their networks.

Take the current scene, for instance. People were chatting in small clusters, using the exchange of business cards as an opportunity to make initial impressions. In another setting, that impression could become a significant asset. All sorts of relationships are forged this way.

“Wang Guan, come here.”

Just as he entered, Elder Zhou immediately beckoned him over.

As one of the younger generation present, Wang Guan knew relatively few people. However, many knew of him. Among a gathering of mostly white-haired elders, the sudden appearance of a young man naturally drew considerable attention. Those who knew him offered warm smiles. Those who didn't certainly began discreetly inquiring about his background.

Under everyone’s gaze, Wang Guan walked over briskly and asked with a smile, “Elder Zhou, what instruction do you have for me?”

“It’s not an instruction from me,” Elder Zhou shook his head. “It’s about Lingxi. Everyone is asking him about the empty display case in the main hall, but he’s being deliberately mysterious, refusing to give any hints. I recall you were responsible for arranging the exhibits in the hall; perhaps you can tell us. What is that space intended for? It’s not going to remain vacant, is it?”

This question had piqued the interest of many.

After all, everyone entering the main door had clearly noticed the empty display stand, positioned right in the central viewing area, bearing no artifact.

At first glance, many had vaguely surmised that something exceedingly precious was destined for that platform. Now that Elder Zhou had brought it up, their suspicions were confirmed.

Many present knew that Elder Zhou and Elder Qian were friends spanning decades; how could he not be privy to Qian’s intentions? By raising the topic, he was simply offering Elder Qian a way to shine.

Wang Guan understood the subtle dynamics perfectly and naturally did not expose the maneuver. Instead, he chuckled. “Elder Zhou, please, even I am quite in the dark. I don't know what Elder Qian plans.”

This was the absolute truth; Wang Guan wasn't lying. He truly hadn't received instructions from Elder Qian. In fact, the extremely rare treasures he had collected, though they had arrived in the capital, had not yet been brought to the museum.

Just last night, Wang Guan had asked Elder Qian which piece he intended to exhibit, only for the elder to reply that there was no rush; everything was arranged, and Wang Guan should prepare in a couple of days.

At the time, Wang Guan had assumed Elder Qian was planning a build-up, waiting until curiosity reached its peak before unveiling the object to create a sensation. Now, it seemed Elder Qian had a different plan in mind.

At that moment, under the scrutiny of the crowd, Elder Qian stood up and smiled slightly. “The time is nearly right. If you are interested, perhaps you will accompany me downstairs to take a look.”

Once Elder Qian said that, how could anyone remain seated? Naturally, they all followed, forming a sizable procession as they descended to the central location of the vast hall. Such a large movement also caught the attention of others. Soon, people on the corridors of the second and third floors were peering down, curiously watching the activity below.

As for the crowd on the first floor, they immediately formed a tight circle around the central display platform, craning their necks for a better view.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please, a moment of quiet, please.”

At this point, someone stepped forward to maintain order—an announcer specially hired for the event, experienced in handling such scenes and responding with perfect decorum. Within a few words, he managed to calm the crowd before inviting Elder Qian to take the stage.

Elder Qian then stepped forward, beaming at his friends, family, and the representatives from various sectors of society. He showed no sign of stage fright and delivered a series of well-rehearsed platitudes. Primarily, he expressed thanks for the government’s support of cultural endeavors and gratitude for everyone’s patronage and encouragement, touching upon some of the philosophies behind establishing his museum. In short, his speech was met with considerable, enthusiastic applause.

People possess a herd mentality; seeing others clap naturally prompts them to join in. Amidst the fervent applause, Elder Qian concluded his brief remarks and then smiled. “I won’t take up much more of your time. I know you must all be very curious about what exactly is planned for the display stand behind me…”

Instantly, the focus of the crowd intensified. After all, no one there was a fool; they understood that the longer the suspense was drawn out, the more extraordinary the object being revealed would be.

Someone in the surrounding throng speculated, “It might be an item of national treasure status.”

“Nonsense. We know it’s valuable. The real question is what it is.”

The neighbor scoffed, then mused, “But speaking of which, the museum already displays many famous masterpieces. For something to be singled out like this means it must be even better, truly worth anticipating.”

“Exactly, exactly…”

Seeing the expectant looks, Elder Qian smiled slightly, his voice melodious. “I suspect most of you have already guessed correctly. I can confirm your suspicions here. However, this item may differ slightly from what you expect. I hope everyone is prepared for that possibility.”

As he spoke, Elder Qian gently turned, pressing lightly at the base of the display stand.

Instantly, a circular aperture split open in the center of the custom-made stand, and smoke began to billow out. Accompanied by wisps of faint vapor, an object slowly ascended, finally revealing itself completely to everyone’s view.

“What is that?”

Simultaneously, the surrounding crowd surged forward, eager to get a look, some even showing a touch of avarice. Fortunately, security guards held them back, preventing any incident.

“It’s a vase.”

Someone closer, or perhaps viewing from the vantage point of the second-floor corridor, saw more clearly and immediately called out.

“Duh, we have eyes, we know it’s a vase. The key is this vase—what is its provenance? Ming or Qing Imperial Ware? One of the Five Great Famous Ceramics? Or perhaps Yuan Blue-and-White?”

Faced with myriad questions, many couldn't help but widen their eyes, scrutinizing the object closely. But upon seeing it clearly, astonishment—not admiration—flooded every face. Note, this was astonishment, not awe.

If it were awe, it would imply the vase was magnificent, worthy of praise. Astonishment, however, suggested a different meaning: it was utterly unexpected, contrary to their anticipation.

“Why has everyone gone quiet?”

The people further back, unable to see clearly, urged the ones in front. “What’s wrong with the vase? What does it look like? Is it a top-tier masterpiece?”

“It’s a Yuhuchun bottle,” someone explained. “But… it doesn’t look like a masterpiece. It looks rather ordinary.”

“Impossible, right?”

The people in the rear naturally disbelieved and craned their necks to look. Indeed, resting on the platform was a bottle with a flaring mouth, slender neck, sloped shoulders, and a generously rounded body—its lines beautifully smooth and uniform. The shape was decent, but the glaze was extremely common. It wasn't celadon or white porcelain, nor was it decorated with blue-and-white or famille rose enamel; it was the most pedestrian creamy yellow.

This glaze color clearly suggested a failed attempt to fire pure white porcelain—the result of insufficient kiln temperature, yielding something akin to a semi-finished product. In short, it was a remarkably plain vase without any distinctive features, naturally causing great surprise.

Of course, several astute individuals in attendance believed that Elder Qian would not bring out such an object to simply fool everyone without reason. If they weren't mistaken, the vase must hold some special significance, perhaps a story attached to it, or maybe it was the very first piece Elder Qian ever collected…

“Good heavens, he even brought this out,” Elder Zhou whispered with a low chuckle. “It seems Lingxi is restless and felt the exhibition wasn't lively enough, so he decided to pull a major stunt…”

“What do you mean?”

Wang Guan faintly caught the remark and quickly asked for clarification.

“Don’t rush. Watch closely; I guarantee you’ll have your eyes opened,” Elder Zhou said with a mysterious smile, refusing to say more no matter how Wang Guan pressed him.

“There must be something hidden,” Wang Guan thought.

Recalling Gao Dequan’s identical demeanor, Wang Guan was one hundred percent certain that the vase on the stand was not as simple as everyone imagined.

“I mentioned that this item might differ from your expectations,” Elder Qian stated now, a faint smile on his lips. His gaze drifted distantly, seemingly lost in memory, his voice transmitted clearly to everyone via the loudspeakers. “However, the provenance of this piece requires us to trace back forty years…” 〖∷Fast update∷No pop-ups∷Pure text∷www.〗RS