Sending you a little peach heart.

Chapter 01: He, Like Light and Dust

When the cultural variety show Antique Street premiered, Qiao He was washing dishes, her phone propped up by the sink.

On the screen, the female host in a fitted qipao introduced with a soft smile, "Alongside our regular panel of experts, we've invited a special guest—chief art appraiser at Golden Phoenix Pawnshop, ceramic authentication expert, and kintsugi restorer, Mr. Huo Tinglan..."

Perhaps it was the gentle lighting on set, or the fact that the regular experts were all older with gaunt appearances. When the camera zoomed in and settled on Mr. Huo, Qiao He couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"

This wasn't just Mr. Huo; he looked like an icy sculpture brought to life—a restrained, elegant presence with a cold, dignified allure, so handsome it was nearly blinding.

However, by the middle of the show, this icy beauty's facade had shattered.

Huo Tinglan's specialty was ceramics, and the first participant's item struck right at his expertise—a garlic-head vase with entwined floral patterns, marked as being made during the Qianlong period. The owner, full of confidence, insisted the piece was from the imperial palace, an exquisite piece of enamelware used by the emperor himself.

Receiving the director's cue, the cameraman focused on the guest panel.

Huo Tinglan's eyes were narrow, with a slight upward tilt at the corners, their lines as soft as newly blossomed peach petals. He smiled politely, though his gaze was distant, and said, "China has a long history of porcelain production. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Imperial Kiln Supervisor system was established to oversee the production of porcelain for the court. If a supervisor dared to send something of this quality to the palace, the grass on his family's graves would be uprooted."

His deep, rich voice carried an undeniable bluntness.

The older experts struggled to hold back their laughter.

Huo Tinglan, with fingers as slender and pale as jade, gave a light tap on the table, delivering his verdict: "Modern imitation."

In other words, it should be smashed on the spot for being so poorly made.

The show continued, with the final item being a clay pot. The host, following routine, asked the owner for its background; he mentioned he had bought it for nearly 180,000 yuan.

The host then turned to Huo Tinglan, signaling him for his thoughts.

Huo Tinglan, with his striking appearance, exuded charm with every slight movement. He replied, "When evaluating private collections, three aspects need consideration: artistic value, cultural significance, and archaeological worth. This piece has low artistic value, negligible cultural significance, and limited archaeological potential. Even if it cost 180,000 won, I'd feel sorry for you."

The owner was indignant, retorting, "Even experts can make mistakes sometimes, can't they?"

Huo Tinglan smiled, "Whether experts make mistakes, I can't say, but I can assure you, that 180,000 was a serious mistake."

Ignoring any concern for how the show might edit his words, he held nothing back.

The forty-five-minute episode's highlights centered entirely on Huo Tinglan. By the evening of the premiere, bloggers were already posting clips and screenshots of him set to trending music across social media platforms. At its peak, his clips' shares surged to five figures, with comments flooding in, "Oh my god, he's so handsome!"

The name "Huo Tinglan" quickly broke through professional boundaries, earning him a wave of fans purely for his looks. Some admired his refined appearance and profound knowledge, while others found him sharp-tongued and impolite, or felt he was pretentious. Opinions clashed wildly, only driving his popularity higher, and soon his Weibo profile was unearthed.