C12 Within the Clear Incense Garden

As people trickled into the Clear Incense Garden, they barely batted an eye at the sight of Faang Yu entering alone. They figured his parents were probably already there, and Faang Yu was simply lagging behind—a common enough occurrence among them. But for Gu Huishi, it was a different story. She knew Faang Yu inside and out, and she was well aware that he didn't come from a distinguished background. How on earth could he gain entry to an exclusive estate like Clear Incense Garden? Was the guard not seeing straight?

Shen Tai couldn't help but let a flicker of astonishment pass through his eyes. "He actually got in!" Despite always preparing for the unexpected, he hadn't offered any remarks on Faang Yu's earlier claims. Deep down, he had been more convinced of the improbability of Faang Yu gaining access to the garden. In his own eyes, he was accomplished, but without the leverage of family connections, even he wouldn't dream of entering Clear Incense Garden as a guest. He had measured Faang Yu by his own yardstick, never anticipating that Faang Yu would prove him wrong.

Gu Huishi's face was a picture of displeasure. Moments ago, she had been advising Faang Yu to leave, to spare himself the humiliation. When he ignored her counsel, she felt as though her kindness had gone to waste, deeming Faang Yu ungrateful. Yet, in a swift turn of events, Faang Yu had delivered a resounding rebuke with his actions.

Having known Faang Yu for seven years and dated him for three, Gu Huishi believed she had an in-depth understanding of him. His academic record was commendable, and he seemed poised for success, but ever since Shen Tai entered the picture, she was convinced that no matter how exceptional Faang Yu was, he couldn't hold a candle to Shen Tai. Shen Tai was the heir apparent to the Far East Group, a corporate titan with a market valuation in the billions. In contrast, Faang Yu was fresh out of college, starting from square one.

Love or livelihood—a stark reality to face.

Some manage to secure both, while others are forced to make a choice.

For Gu Huishi at that time, the choice was inevitable: she could only pick one.

Clearly, she had chosen security over love.

She ended up with Shen Tai.

Working at the Far East Group, she quickly climbed the ranks to department head within two years. Her salary, after taxes, was no less than 18,000 yuan. Combined with the monthly allowance from Shen Tai, she was pulling in at least 40,000 to 50,000 yuan a month.

And that didn't even include the lavish spending Shen Tai did on her behalf—dinners out, movie dates, gifts, and more!

Gu Huishi couldn't help but wonder—if she had stayed by Faang Yu's side these past two years, struggling alongside him, would she be living this life of luxury? Yet now, this man who once seemed so inferior to Shen Tai, had managed to enter the prestigious Clear Incense Garden on his own merit. The stark contrast between then and now was jarring, leaving her with a nagging doubt. Was her decision back then the right one, or had she made a grave mistake?

"My choice can't be wrong," Gu Huishi reassured herself silently.

...

Upon entering Clear Incense Garden, a serpentine path of green stone meandered into the heart of the grounds, flanked by verdant lawns. Deeper in, robust cypress trees swayed, their green leaves rustling in the cool breeze, a refreshing welcome to visitors.

Beyond the rockery and flowing waters of the garden, Faang Yu caught sight of a two-and-a-half-story villa. Next to it was a 50-square-meter outbuilding, bustling with middle-aged men and women carrying trays laden with what appeared to be delectable fare.

Others were seen coming and going from the villa's main entrance, not with food, but with cases of fine red wine.

A short distance from the villa lay a 400-square-meter clearing, where twenty long tables draped in white cloths were laden with an array of gourmet dishes and fine wines. To the right of the villa, a golf course and a swimming pool were situated, rounding out the amenities of this well-appointed estate.

Although Faang Yu wasn't in the construction business, the design of the Clear Incense Garden estate made it clear to him that its value was likely north of 100 million. Even with the System Shop at his disposal, 100 million remained a substantial amount for Faang Yu at this stage.

The long tables were surrounded by a crowd of successful individuals, all dressed to the nines in suits and leather shoes, many accompanied by stunning women varying in allure from sexy to dignified to demure, a veritable flock of beauty in all its forms. In addition to them, numerous young people milled about, engaging in idle chatter.

By a rough count, the gathering numbered between forty and fifty, with more arriving steadily behind Faang Yu.

"Only the wealthy could draw such a crowd to celebrate a housewarming," Faang Yu mused internally. Setting aside the younger attendees, each middle-aged man was a successful entrepreneur. While they might have crossed paths before, the odds of such a collective turnout were slim, underscoring Old Master Su's considerable clout.

Indeed, the world hustles for profit, and businessmen exemplify this pursuit more than most.

Without Old Master Su's significant and undeniable influence in the commercial circles of East Wind City and the broader East Province, it was unlikely that such a gathering would convene for a mere housewarming, let alone bring along their heirs.

Even Faang Yu couldn't claim his presence was solely to honor Old Master Su's new abode; he too was eyeing the opportunity to broaden his business network.

The sound of footsteps approached from behind, and turning, Faang Yu spotted Shen Tai, Gu Huishi, and a few others.

Their reactions to seeing him were mixed. A brief, perfunctory nod was exchanged before they went their separate ways.

Gu Huishi's expression held a complexity that Faang Yu found unnecessary to ponder. For him, she was history, their relationship not even warranting the title of friendship, so his emotional equilibrium remained undisturbed.

He made his way to an unoccupied section of the long table, picked up an empty wine glass, and poured himself half a glass of '96 Lafite, savoring a sip. Lafite, after all, conjured memories of the legendary '82 vintage, a year that produced wine of unparalleled quality, a benchmark yet to be surpassed, and thanks to pop culture, had seen its value skyrocket to 100,000 yuan a bottle in recent years.

It's fair to say that in the world of red wine, the '82 Lafite stands as a symbol.

Many wealthy connoisseurs favor the '82 Lafite for its exceptional taste and as a marker of prestige.

Yet, the '96 Lafite, in terms of flavor, doesn't fall short of its '82 counterpart, and it's considerably more affordable—the market price hovers around 10,000 yuan.

Faang Yu, despite his years, had never indulged in wine this luxurious. The rich fruit aroma lingered delightfully on the palate.

Truly, it was value for money!

Unable to resist, Faang Yu found himself savoring a few extra mouthfuls.

"Hey, isn't that Boss Faang?"