Unlimited Black Cards! A Mysterious and Wealthy Young Lady!

Su Zhenbang smiled and sat down, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the jade hairpin in Jiang Wenxi's hand. He tentatively asked, "Miss Jiang, you've chosen to settle in Jingyuan, presumably because you prefer its rustic tranquility. I wonder if your trip to Kyoto is for a long-term commitment, or if you have other important business to attend to?"

These seemingly ordinary pleasantries actually concealed a hidden meaning—Jingyuan's influence was enough to affect the social circles of prominent families in Kyoto. They had to figure out Jiang Wenxi's intentions in order to adjust their subsequent relationship strategies: if they wanted to establish a long-term presence, they should take the initiative to befriend her.

If it's a short stay, a wait-and-see approach is necessary.

Lin Zhenhong and Gu Jingchen also looked up, their eyes focused on Jiang Wenxi, waiting for her answer. The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense, as if the air itself had frozen.

Jiang Wenxi picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and savored the sweet aftertaste of Longjing tea. Her smile remained unchanged as she looked up, her tone frank yet not blunt, conveying both her true intentions and a commanding presence: "It's still undecided at the moment; we'll have to see how things develop. My main reason for coming here is to attend the charity auction for antique appraisal hosted by the Kyoto Cultural Promotion Association tomorrow afternoon."

She deliberately pointed out the "Cultural Promotion Association" and "charity," which not only gave a reasonable reason for the trip but also implied her network of connections—the members of the Kyoto Cultural Promotion Association are all wealthy and powerful, and the threshold for admission is extremely high; being invited is itself proof of one's strength.

She paused, then added, "I've heard that there are several unique items appearing at this auction, and I'd like to go see them for myself."

His tone was calm, yet it exuded confidence, as if he already knew the items in the auction inside and out.

"I see!" Su Mingyu immediately replied, a look of understanding flashing in his eyes.

With a hint of overly familiar enthusiasm, she deliberately flaunted her connections: "Miss Jiang, are you one of us? This auction is of extremely high caliber. It not only gathers rare antiques from home and abroad, but also has Mr. Zhou, a leading figure in the field of antique appraisal, in attendance. Even the reclusive collector, Mr. Lu, has made a special trip here. It is truly a rare event in Kyoto."

He deliberately mentioned Mr. Zhou and Mr. Lu, both to highlight the Su family's connections in the antique appraisal circle and to test whether Jiang Wenxi knew these two big shots. If she did, it meant she had a place in the antique appraisal circle; if she didn't, it meant she was just an outsider and might not have enough confidence.

Gu Jingchen also spoke at the right time, his tone calm and steady, subtly conveying the signal of "Kyoto's aristocratic families banding together": "The items in this auction are indeed rare, and all the proceeds will be donated to the restoration project of cultural relics in remote areas. The intention is profound, and many aristocratic families in Kyoto are paying close attention to it."

I, along with Mr. Su and Mr. and Mrs. Lin, also plan to go, as a way to contribute to charity.

His words, seemingly stating his position, were actually implying to Jiang Wenxi that the aristocratic families in Kyoto had already formed a social circle, and if she wanted to gain a foothold here, she needed to know the rules and keep her distance. He also wanted to observe whether Jiang Wenxi had any intention of integrating into the circle.

Lin Zhenhong chimed in, "Yes, most of the prominent families in Kyoto will be there, so it's a small gathering of their social circles. Miss Jiang is new here, so this is a good opportunity for her to make some friends."

These words, seemingly well-intentioned, were actually a test of whether Jiang Wenxi was willing to lower her stance and integrate into the local Kyoto social circle.

Jiang Wenxi nodded slightly, a hint of interest in her eyes. Her fingertips lightly traced the orchid pattern on the hem of her cheongsam. Her tone was composed, neither deliberately ingratiating nor rejecting, while simultaneously showcasing her own strength: "I was invited by the Cultural Promotion Association by chance. I heard that the auction items included a Southern Song Dynasty official kiln celadon vase, a Yuan Dynasty blue and white plum vase, and calligraphy and paintings by Tang Yin from the Ming Dynasty, all in excellent condition, so I wanted to come and see them for myself."

She accurately identified three top-tier items, all of which were unique and core pieces in the auction. Even Su Zhenbang was secretly surprised—the information about these items was extremely confidential, known only to a few key figures. Jiang Wenxi's ability to name them so readily indicated either that she had extensive connections or that she had prepared in advance.

She paused, then added, "Being able to appreciate treasures while also contributing to charity is a win-win situation. As for making friends, that's up to fate."

This statement both responded to Lin Zhenhong's overtures and indicated that he would not deliberately try to integrate into the circle. His composed demeanor and commanding presence made Su Zhenbang and the others no longer dare to underestimate him.

Before they knew it, the morning mist dissipated, and the morning light streamed through the window into the hall, falling on Jiang Wenxi's cheongsam. The light blue fabric shimmered with a soft sheen, further highlighting her outstanding temperament.

Through this conversation, Su Zhenbang and others gained a clearer understanding of Jiang Wenxi—this young Miss Jiang not only has a multinational family as her backing and strong business strength, but also has an appraisal skill that far surpasses that of professionals. She is calm and composed, with a powerful aura, and is far from being comparable to ordinary daughters of wealthy families. She is even more unpredictable than the heads of top wealthy families in Beijing.

They secretly rejoiced that their visit today was the right one; if they had offended her rashly, the consequences would have been unimaginable. At the same time, they secretly plotted how to improve their relationship with Jiang Wenxi and secure more opportunities for their families.

Su Zhenbang stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said sincerely, "Miss Jiang, it's getting late, so we won't disturb your rest any longer. We'll be waiting for you at the auction tomorrow afternoon."

He deliberately extended an olive branch, both as a gesture of goodwill and as a way to get closer to the other party.

"Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Su." Jiang Wenxi stood up to see him off, her posture was proper, and she did not make any unnecessary movements.

"Jiang Yan, please see these distinguished guests out for me."

She stood there, upright and composed, showing no intention of seeing anyone off—this was both the demeanor of someone in a superior position and a way of indicating that she didn't need to curry favor with anyone.

Jiang Yan stepped forward and led everyone out of the hall. As Su Zhenbang and the others passed the courtyard, they looked back at the ancient and elegant courtyard once more, and their minds were already made up.

The elite circles of Kyoto will inevitably undergo a new shift in their landscape because of this mysterious Miss Jiang.

Su Mingyu whispered to Su Zhenbang, "Grandpa, this Miss Jiang's aura is just as strong as yours."

Su Zhenbang said in a deep voice, "Her strength is far more than that. Keep a close eye on the auction tomorrow; she's much stronger than you."

Lin Zhenhong and Su Wan walked side by side. Lin Zhenhong said in a low voice, "It seems we need to get closer to each other in the future and not offend anyone."

Su Wan nodded: "The power behind her is unfathomable. Befriending her would be entirely beneficial to the Lin family."

Gu Jingchen walked at the back, glancing back at Jiang Wenxi's figure standing under the corridor. A deep meaning flashed in his eyes. As he turned away, his fingertips unconsciously rubbed his cufflinks—he was determined to get that Yuan Dynasty blue and white plum vase, but he didn't know if Jiang Wenxi would become his competitor, and just how many cards this mysterious lady had up her sleeve.

The hall fell silent again. Jiang Wenxi walked to the window and watched the departing figures of everyone. The smile on her lips gradually faded, and a sharp, clear glint flashed in her eyes.