Unfortunately for Shi Mingqian, even if he had realized what was happening, it was already too late. By now, the auction had escalated beyond anything he could control.
No one in the auction hall cared about the Shi family’s current state of mind. What everyone wanted to know was: who dared to challenge the Shen family?
No news had come recently of any prominent wealthy families coming to Jiangcheng either.
So after Shi Sheng’s bid, all eyes naturally turned to the Shen family’s private room.
Surely the Shens would bid, right?
After all, in Jiangcheng, if the Shen family wanted something, they never let it go easily.
As expected, moments later, a deep male voice sounded again.
“The Shi family’s recent acquisition a plot of land worth three hundred million, along with two subsidiary companies.”
Gu Nian hissed: “Isn’t that price… a bit too high?”
A lighter flicked between Shen Luli’s long fingers. His voice was calm, measured. “As long as we get the artwork, it’s worth it.”
Thinking of the nearly skeletal Shen matriarch he had seen on this visit, Gu Nian frowned and said no more.
The same dialogue was taking place in another private room.
He Qiuchiu raised her eyebrows almost to her hairline after hearing Shen Luli’s bid. “Shengsheng, are you matching it?”
Shi Sheng: “Yes. Mr. Shen’s floor price is much higher than that.”
“Expose evidence of the Shi family using child labor in remote factories and bribing rival employees to steal confidential information.”
“Withdraw ten billion in funding from the Shi family.”
Shi Sheng narrowed her eyes. Shen Luli’s move was even more generous than she had anticipated.
With ten billion withdrawn, the Shi family would be at least half ruined.
She leaned back on the sofa and didn’t bid again.
After all, what’s the fun in killing them off in one blow?
The goal was to leave Shi Mingqian some scraps, and let him watch as the empire he had spent his life building was slowly devoured by other wolves and tigers that was the real fun.
After waiting a moment, the auctioneer saw that no one else was bidding, wiped the sweat from his brow, and struck the gavel: “Sold! Congratulations to Mr. Shen for acquiring the item with the divestment plan!”
The word “congratulations” once again made the audience aware of the Shen family’s strength. But for the Shi family, it was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
The blow was too sudden, too severe, leaving Ye Xiangwen unable to react, her features twisted in near-madness.
How could it have come to this?
Half an hour ago, she was still the enviable wife of a powerful family. And now, in such a short time, her family was on the brink of bankruptcy?
How could she leave the house, face her rivals?
No! She couldn’t let the Shi family go bankrupt!
Shi Yiyan couldn’t sit still either, her eyes spinning around.
She didn’t know how many assets the family had, but judging from her parents’ expressions, she knew something serious had happened.
The family couldn’t go bankrupt now, could they?
No way she had just returned, and hadn’t even enjoyed the high-society life for a few days. How could the family go bankrupt?
And if the family went bankrupt, what would be left for her?
She hurried over to Ye Xiangwen, tugging at her arm and whispering urgently: “Mom, call Uncle and Grandpa! Ask them to talk to the Shens, or cover the missing ten billion?”
Shi Mingqian, for now, paid no attention to how Ye Xiangwen and her daughter discussed the matter. He was lost in thought, replaying events from a few years ago.
No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t figure out when he had offended the mysterious “Master Kong,” who had gone to such lengths to orchestrate this auction just to push the Shi family into ruin.
Even more bewildering was the Shen family’s sudden betrayal.
Although the two families were about to be joined by marriage, the Shens, in front of everyone, had hand-delivered the Shi family into a bottomless abyss, completely disregarding any sentiment.
The auction hall was full of clinking glasses, yet he vaguely noticed the schadenfreude and calculation in people’s eyes. Faces that had once bowed before him now were written over with greed.
Shi Mingqian’s eyes were bloodshot, fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
No. I haven’t lost yet. The Shi family hasn’t fallen…
Shen Qinghui yes, he still had Shen Qinghui’s leverage. He refused to believe Shen Qinghui wouldn’t care at all!
If the Shen family forced him to die, then before he died, he would take a piece of them with him!
And then there was the mysterious person bidding against the Shens.
Thinking of this, he immediately pulled out his phone and made a call.
What he didn’t realize was that every move he made was being monitored.
Shi Sheng watched the Shi family’s humiliation on the screen with cold eyes, especially Shi Mingqian’s ashen expression, and her lips curved into a frosty smile.
“The fun is just beginning. I hope you can hold out a while longer don’t disappoint me.” she whispered.
He Qiuchiu also found the scene immensely satisfying, her grin stretching wide, even thinking of pouring herself a celebratory drink.
Before she could take a sip, a shrill alarm suddenly sounded in the private room.
Frowning, He Qiuchiu immediately opened her computer and typed rapidly. Moments later, she said: “Someone is trying to access the room’s surveillance.”
Shi Sheng remained calm, resting her chin in her hand, waiting.
She trusted He Qiuchiu’s skills.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, He Qiuchiu pressed the last key and all the surveillance screens went static. She smirked: “Done.”
Then she looked at Shi Sheng. “It’s someone from the Shi family.”
Shi Sheng sneered: “Overestimating themselves.”
With those small pests dealt with, Shi Sheng had no intention of lingering at the auction.
She and He Qiuchiu left quietly through the private corridor.
This scene was witnessed only by Shen Luli and Gu Nian, who were also on the third floor.
This time, Shen Luli did glance at Shi Sheng a few extra times.
In the empty corridor, her black cheongsam rippled with each step, every movement perfectly measured not flashy, yet sharp.
The high collar accentuated her slender neck, and her jawline peeked faintly beneath the mask.
Undeniably, this woman had some beauty.
Yet Shen Luli’s gaze darkened. If his guess was correct, the woman who had just raised the bid was this very same person.