[Gold Powder GL] True Elegance Comes with Knowledge - Chapter 10

On the day of Jin Yanxi’s birthday banquet, Yan Hui and Qingqiu still had two morning classes. After finishing lunch, they began to prepare for the event.

They changed into formal attire, picked up the birthday gifts, and made their way to the Jin Mansion. By the time they arrived, the place was already bustling with activity. Yanxi, known for his wide circle of friends, had naturally attracted a large crowd. The entrance was lined with cars.

Stepping out of the car, they saw the mansion had been newly decorated—fresh flowers, elegant adornments, and embroidered banners filled the space, making it far livelier than when Qingqiu last visited.

Back then, she and Yanxi shared a silent understanding, and she had taken notice of every detail. Now that she had moved on emotionally, such things no longer held her attention.

As honored guests for the celebration, the two were escorted directly to Yanxi to be welcomed personally.

Yanxi had always thought Qingqiu wasn’t fond of social gatherings, so he usually avoided bringing her along to such events. The only reason he had sent today’s invitation was because he hadn’t seen her recently and hoped to use this opportunity to reconnect.

What he didn’t expect was Qingqiu’s transformation—she had traded her traditional Chinese robe for a Western-style dress. With bare shoulders and arms, her long hair loosely flowing except for two locks secured with hairpins, she looked elegant and serene. The sight caught him completely off guard.

He stared at her in awe. While he had always found her gentle and lovely, he had once thought her too reserved. But now, dressed like this, she outshone anyone he had ever encountered.

A pang of regret struck him. Originally, several of his friends had planned a small play for the celebration, which Mrs. Jin had approved—he had looked forward to a joyful day. But now, he couldn’t help but wish there was a dance party, so he might have the chance to dance with her. That, he felt, would’ve been a perfect moment.

Still, he reassured himself—if he could invite her once, there would be other chances.

Lost in thought, Yanxi forgot about the other guests. Yan Hui, noticing Qingqiu’s discomfort under Yanxi’s gaze, stepped forward with a smile, subtly blocking his view. “Where’s the hall for the Seventh Master’s birthday? We should go pay our respects.”

Snapping back to reality, Yanxi quickly led them to his private study, offering polite small talk along the way.

The birthday gifts had already been delivered in advance. When Yanxi saw a bicycle among them, his eyes lit up. “This is great. I’ve been wanting one but kept putting it off. I didn’t expect to receive it today!”

Qingqiu smiled. “The Seventh Master has taken care of us many times. It’s your birthday—we had to show our appreciation somehow.”

Yanxi was taken aback. He had assumed the bicycle was from Yan Hui, which was surprising enough given their brief acquaintance. But hearing it was from Qingqiu shocked him even more—such a gift was no small expense for her.

“That’s really too generous,” he said quickly.

“It’s nothing,” Qingqiu replied. “You once gave me a birthday gift I cherished deeply. Now that it’s your birthday, it’s only fair I return the kindness. I hope you won’t find it too simple.”

Her words dimmed Yanxi’s initial joy.

He had worried the gift might strain her finances. But hearing her mention “returning the kindness,” he realized she was drawing a clear line—she had accepted a valuable gift and now felt obliged to give something equally meaningful in return, not wanting to owe him anything.

This made Yanxi uncomfortable. When he gave her that pearl necklace, it was because he thought it would complement her wardrobe, and he wanted her to feel confident at social functions. He had been happy to see her wear it and never expected anything in return. But her explanation made it seem as if he had overstepped—forcing her into a transaction.

Yet, if he told her not to worry about returning the favor, it might seem as though he were belittling her.

Feeling awkward, Yanxi quickly shifted the conversation to Yan Hui’s gift. Thankfully, it was more appropriate for their acquaintance—a complete set of Alexandre Dumas novels. Though simple, the gift suited Yanxi’s tastes perfectly, and he praised it warmly before leading them to meet Mrs. Jin and the other guests.

They had arrived slightly late, and most guests were already seated and chatting. Word had spread that two of Yanxi’s close friends had arrived, one of them named Leng. Naturally, it stirred curiosity.

Among those most intrigued was Bai Xiuzhu. She had long considered Yanxi to be hers and believed they were destined to marry, even if they had argued frequently in recent months. Rumors of a new woman in his life had unsettled her, but since he never brought anyone around, she pretended not to notice. Yet today, he had brought someone home.

She kept her eyes on the doorway, unaware that others had noticed her reactions.

When Yanxi entered with his guests, everyone’s attention turned to Qingqiu. Unlike the flashy lace and bright colors that were fashionable, Qingqiu wore a simple, elegant blue dress. It had clean lines and just a single flower at the chest.

The form-fitting cut highlighted her silhouette, and the only accessories she wore were a hairpin and a diamond necklace. Among the brightly dressed crowd, she stood out with graceful restraint.

People began glancing at Bai Xiuzhu, thinking she had been completely upstaged.

Xiuzhu was painfully aware. Struggling to maintain her composure, she bowed her head and pretended to sip water.

Mrs. Jin had heard vaguely about Lao Qi’s girlfriend, but seeing Qingqiu in person, she was surprised by her beauty and poise. She took Qingqiu’s hand, spoke with her for a long time, and quickly grew fond of her. Encouraged by her enthusiasm, the others joined in, and the atmosphere turned lively.

As Yan Hui and Qingqiu sat down, the focus shifted again.

Unlike Qingqiu’s serene elegance, Yan Hui wore a sleek suit and had her hair tied in a neat bun. The ensemble was strikingly unconventional for a woman, yet undeniably stylish. Some guests even began to wonder if they should try such a look themselves.

Young Mary, uninhibited by social graces, asked where their clothes were made.

Yan Hui named the tailor shop, which many recognized. But they were surprised—they had never seen such designs there before.

Qingqiu smiled. “Yan Hui sketched the design herself and had the tailor make it.”

In fact, the tailor was so impressed that they not only waived the cost but also paid Yan Hui for the rights to the design.

Yan Hui had even negotiated a business arrangement with the shop.

Qingqiu now fully believed in her mantra—“Making money is easy.” With the right skills, knowledge, and creativity, anything could be monetized. It was just a matter of recognizing the opportunity.

This shift in mindset allowed Qingqiu to see the world differently. Though her family was still modest and the Jin family’s wealth dazzling, she no longer felt out of place. Sitting among them, she could chat and laugh freely, with growing confidence.

Her words brought even more attention to Yan Hui. Once they learned her surname was Jin and that her brother was in the military, the Jin family welcomed her warmly, treating her like one of their own.

The afternoon passed in cheerful conversation.

After dinner, the guests gathered outside to enjoy a performance. As Mrs. Jin chatted with Yan Hui, Qingqiu found herself walking alongside Bai Xiuzhu.

Bai Xiuzhu had been quiet all day. Now, seizing the chance, she spoke with thinly veiled sarcasm. “Miss Leng is truly a great beauty. No wonder Master Qi kept her hidden away. He never let us see her.”

Qingqiu smiled calmly. “Miss Bai, you’re too kind. Master Qi and I simply live nearby, so we see each other often. We came today only because it’s his birthday. Otherwise, we wouldn’t dare bother him.”

Qingqiu was sharp. Though no one had openly teased her during the party, their attitudes spoke volumes. She had already guessed the relationship between Yanxi and Xiuzhu.

Yanxi clearly had a longstanding companion, known even to his family, and yet he had flirted with her without hesitation. He was exactly the type of man who acted on whim, with no thought of consequences.

At that moment, Qingqiu felt quietly relieved—thankful she had moved on before things became too tangled. Otherwise, how could she have faced Xiuzhu’s barbed words now?