Movie variety show soul travels between two worlds to become a rich man

Chapter 438: Being courteous for nothing

"I am leaving."

After cuddling with the reluctant Huang Yanyan for a while, Gao Dongxu stood up and smiled.

"Okay, let's go, I'm going to sleep for a while—" Huang Yanyan, her pretty face flushed, looked at Gao Dongxu with seductive eyes and said reluctantly.

Gao Dongxu smiled and nodded, then said he would make a phone call before opening the door and leaving his room.

The courtyard was empty at the moment, and Gao Dongxu did not disturb Huang Kewu. He stepped down from the tightly closed gate, and the gatekeeper immediately appeared and opened the gate for Gao Dongxu.

"Thanks--"

"Take care, son-in-law—"

Gao Dongxu glanced at the other party and couldn't help but smile slightly. It seemed that the Huang family truly accepted his status as their son-in-law.

After leaving Huang's house and getting into his car, Gao Dongxu received a call from an unfamiliar number on his way back to Panjiayuan.

"Hello, this is Gao Dongxu. Who is this?"

"Hello, Mr. Takashi, this is Kido Kana..."

Gao Dongxu was a little surprised when he heard the other party's somewhat broken Chinese accent, and asked the other party why they were calling.

Kido Kana didn't beat around the bush and gently invited Go Dong-wook to dinner.

To be honest, this surprised Gao Dongxu quite a bit. After all, it was the first time the two had met today, and they weren't even that familiar with each other. Now, the other party had taken the initiative to invite him. It would be strange if there wasn't something fishy going on.

Thinking of what Huang Kewu said about Kido Kana, and recalling Huang Kewu's hesitant expression as he looked at him, Gao Dongxu immediately understood that Huang Kewu must have already anticipated that Kido Kana would come to him, and originally wanted to remind him, but in the end, he didn't say anything for some reason.

Thinking of this, Gao Dongxu couldn't help but curse Huang Kewu, the old fox, in his heart. At the same time, he couldn't help but admire Huang Kewu's shrewdness, wisdom, and cunning.

Wanting to see what Kido Kana was really up to, Gao Dongxu smiled and readily accepted her invitation.

After hanging up the phone, Gao Dongxu couldn't help but sneer. At the same time, he couldn't help but marvel at the Kido family's deep obsession with the Mingtang Jade Buddha Head.

Back at Zhenbaoge, it officially closed for business around 4 p.m., with a sign announcing it would be closed for the holiday and would reopen on the eighth day of the first lunar month.

Then Gao Dongxu, along with Yang Tao and the other two women, locked the shop, opened all the display cases, and packed the antique treasures inside into boxes and crates.

It took two whole hours to sort out all the antiques and treasures, then carry them upstairs and put them in the safe. In reality, Gao Dongxu had collected them all into his spatial storage.

"Click——"

After closing the safe door, Gao Dongxu turned around and smiled at Yang Tao, Wu Xiaowei, and Tang Nannan, saying, "Alright, it's officially the holiday. Go home and get some rest."

I was originally planning to treat you to a nice meal, but this afternoon an important client called and made plans with me. So, I guess I'll have to take you another time.

Wu Xiaowei and Yang Tao's hopeful eyes dimmed slightly, but they knew they couldn't be unreasonable. After all, they had been with Gao Dongxu for a long time and weren't in a hurry.

Gao Dongxu was very satisfied with the two girls' obedience. After Leng Feng and Fu Gui met up at Zhenbao Pavilion, he locked the doors and windows and took a car to the residence of the Kido family in the capital.

Before nightfall, Gao Dongxu arrived as promised at a secluded mansion of the Kido family in the western part of the capital.

Pushing open the rustic red-lacquered courtyard gate, a breathtaking view unfolds before you—this traditional courtyard house has been completely transformed into a Kyoto-style garden.

The winding bluestone path is lined with red maples transplanted from Japan, planted in a staggered manner on both sides. The leaves rustle in the night breeze, as if softly singing a foreign poem.

In the center of the courtyard lies a dry landscape garden, with white sand undulating like waves, and several dark rocks lying quietly within, resembling a solitary island floating on the sea. Under the high eaves, paper lanterns cast a warm yellow glow, illuminating the low-lying Japanese-style building. The wooden lattice windows are half-open, revealing the flickering candlelight inside. The entire residence is tranquil and elegant, as if time has stood still.

Gao Dongxu was immersed in the scenery before him when suddenly, a slender figure appeared under the corridor.

Kana Kido wore a beige furisode kimono, the fabric embroidered with subtle wisteria patterns that shimmered faintly in the lamplight. Her waist was cinched extremely thin, making her figure appear even more delicate, yet exuding an air of untouchable dignity. Her long, black hair was styled in a classic updo, adorned with a plain silver hairpin that accentuated her snow-white skin and exquisitely beautiful features.

Upon seeing Gao Dongxu, she gave a slight bow, folding her hands in front of her in a standard Japanese greeting. Her Chinese was a little hesitant, but surprisingly pleasant to the ear: "Welcome to my humble abode, Mr. Gao." Her voice was soft as water, yet carried an indescribable charm.

Gao Dongxu was taken aback. Kido Kana, dressed in a kimono, was surprisingly stunning.

His eyes were gentle and warm, yet they held a hint of unfathomable melancholy. His demeanor was humble and elegant, but deep down he possessed a strong resilience, as if a cold blade was hidden beneath the gentle water. He seemed fragile, but in reality, he was indestructible.

She is like a book written in ancient script, making people want to read it carefully, yet they can never truly understand it.

"Taka-san, please follow me." Kido Kana smiled faintly and turned to lead the way. Her steps were light and steady, and the hem of her kimono swayed slightly with her movements, like a falling maple leaf, silent yet captivating.

Gao Dongxu followed her into the main room, which had long been transformed into a traditional Japanese residence. A low table sat on the tatami mats, and an antique iron kettle was bubbling away, filling the air with the aroma of tea. A middle-aged woman in a light purple kimono knelt to one side, bowing respectfully as they entered.

"This is the tea master, Ms. Morita," Kido Kana introduced softly, then knelt before the tea table and began preparing the tea ceremony with practiced ease. Her fingers were long and slender, her movements fluid and graceful, every detail precise and elegant, as if she were performing a silent ritual.

Gao Dongxu watched quietly, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart—it really takes three or four generations to cultivate a so-called aristocrat.

Looking at the innate nobility and mystery about Kido Kana, one both wants to get close to her and dares not easily profane her.

Kido Kana turned slightly to the side, revealing half of her ivory wrist through the cuff of her kimono. As the middle-aged woman knelt to pay her respects, the tortoiseshell hairpin in her hair flashed with a dark light.

Gao Dongxu noticed that the tea set displayed on the low table was not an ordinary object: the glaze of the black Raku tea bowl had a texture like a meteorite crater, and the side of the Karatsu yaki water finger had kiln-transformed flowing cloud patterns.

As Kido Kana scooped up matcha with a silver ladle, half of her family crest, outlined in vermilion lacquer, was faintly visible through the collar of her kimono—the outline of a three-leaf hollyhock concealed the nine stars.

"This is a special thin tea made by the descendants of the Tokugawa Oiwaban." She paused three inches above her wrist as she poured water, her movement suddenly faltering. The whisk traced a 'の' pattern on the bottom of the bowl, and the foam rippled with emerald green.

Looking at Kido Kana's dignified and elegant appearance, Gao Dongxu couldn't help but smile faintly.

Every move she made was like that of a noble lady who had stepped out of an ancient painting; every glance and every gesture exuded a meticulously crafted charm.

He calmly picked up the teacup and sipped the matcha that Ms. Morita had ordered. The bitter aroma of the tea spread on his tongue, but his gaze remained fixed on Kido Kana—she was putting on airs, and he watched her put on airs with great interest.

After a few cups of tea, the paper sliding door was gently pulled open, and several maids dressed in elegant kimonos filed in with small, quick steps.

Their movements were synchronized and graceful, as if they had rehearsed a thousand times, with even the swaying of their clothes being just right.

They knelt down beside the low table and placed a black lacquered and gilded Japanese-style low table neatly. Then, someone slowly entered carrying an exquisite lacquered wooden food box.

As soon as the food box was opened, a delicate aroma wafted out. The maids placed one small, exquisite dish after another on the table—glistening salmon roe sushi, tuna belly lightly seared over charcoal, thin rolls wrapped in seaweed, and chawanmushi adorned with gold leaf. Each dish was like a work of art, small in quantity but exquisitely beautiful, making one's mouth water just by looking at them.

Kido Kana leaned forward slightly, her sleeve slipping down to reveal a section of her fair wrist. A smile played on her lips, her voice as gentle as the wind: "Taka-san, please try some. These are prepared according to the traditions of the Kyoto main family."

Gao Dongxu raised an eyebrow and said casually, "Miss Kido has gone to so much trouble. If I were to be polite, it would seem like I was being rude."

Kido Kana seemed oblivious to the teasing in his words, maintaining her perfect smile as she personally picked up the sake bottle, knelt beside him, and poured him a cup of sake.

The wine was clear, swirling gently in the porcelain glass, reflecting the candlelight and gleaming with an amber luster.

"This is plum wine brewed by the Kido family, made with plums from their old house in Kyoto. I hope you like it, Mr. Taka." She gently touched the bottom of the glass with her fingertips and pushed the wine towards him, her movements elegant to the point of being almost deliberate.

Gao Dongxu took the wine glass, his fingertips casually brushing against the back of her hand. The touch was slightly cool, yet delicate as jade. He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. The wine was refreshing, with a hint of plum sweetness and tartness—truly excellent.

"Good wine." He put down his glass, looking at her with a half-smile. "But Miss Kido, with such a solicitous attitude, could it be that you have something to ask of me?"

Kana Kido's eyelashes drooped slightly, her smile unwavering, yet her true emotions remained unreadable. She said softly, "Taka-san, you're joking. I just... wanted to treat you well and make friends with you."

"Really?" Gao Dongxu said with a faint smile, "That flatters me."

"You flatter me, Mr. Gao."

Gao Dongxu looked at the woman who was meek and gentle, and although her looks were not top-notch, the temperament and charm she exuded made people feel a strong urge to bully her. He reached out and took the wine cup that she handed to him, and drank it all in one gulp.

Their eyes met, and when Kido Kana saw Gao Dongxu's aggressive gaze, her pretty face flushed red. She lowered her head shyly and smiled with pursed lips.

(End of this chapter)