Bai Shuxi’s expression darkened. “Junior Sister, do you know why everyone despises people who only have wealth but no brains?”
Hearing his words, Jiang Shu felt an inexplicable strangeness in her heart. Such obviously sarcastic remarks didn’t sound like the gentle and refined Senior Brother Bai she knew. Although she knew he wasn’t wrong, it still created a significant discrepancy with her perception of Bai Shuxi.
“Should we continue bidding?” she asked. Since she wasn’t the one paying, the final decision rested with the boss.
“Bid.”
His maximum bid was 18 million. If that Zhu guy continued to compete, he would have to return empty-handed today.
With his confirmation, Jiang Shu raised the bidding paddle again. “14 million.”
“Excellent! Mr. Bai from Room 506 has offered the current highest bid of 14 million! 14 million! Any further bids?”
“14 million, going once!”
“14 million, going twice!”
Damn! Who is it?! Boss Zhu fumed, panting heavily. He wasn’t particularly fond of jewels or gems anyway—to him, they were just colorful stones that couldn’t fill his stomach or quench his thirst. No matter how wealthy he was, he couldn’t bring himself to bid further. He might as well buy a cheaper painting to show off later.
“No higher bids on the floor? Then… 14 million, going three—”
“14.5 million.” The man’s voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a cold indifference, completely unaware that he had just heightened the tension in the room.
“Mr. Smith, you won’t go back on your word, will you?” Cheng Xiyu leisurely set down the golden bidding paddle as he asked.
“Ah, haha, of course not! It’s rare for Brother Xiyu to take a liking to something. I’ll cover the cost! Consider it a celebration of our collaboration with Shengjing.”
“Thank you, then.” His fingers unconsciously tapped the table, his gaze dark and unreadable as he looked toward the opposite upper floor.
So he was here for the Blue Luster too?
Bai Shuxi’s face turned grim, his usual smile completely gone. Competing with Cheng Xiyu… Was he doing this on purpose?! As the head of the Cheng family, what precious item did he lack? Why would he suddenly take an interest in the Blue Luster?!
Could it be because…
Bai Shuxi glanced at Jiang Shu with a complicated expression. She had clearly recognized Cheng Xiyu’s voice, her face paling slightly.
She had been the one bidding the previous two times. If she could recognize his voice, he must have recognized hers too. So why did he place a bid? If he was truly here for the Blue Luster, why hadn’t he bid earlier? Why wait until the last moment to speak up?
“Excellent! The esteemed guest from Room 301 has bid 14.5 million! Will the guest from Room 506 continue bidding?!”
Whoa, that’s Room 301. Who knows which influential figure is there? The voice sounded familiar. Rumor has it that the Cheng family’s head is here too. Could it be…?
Well, that explains it. Most likely, the final auction item today will end up in Room 301. Who would dare compete with him for anything?
Jiang Shu decided not to dwell on it further. Composing herself, she asked, “Should we continue bidding?”
“Add another 500,000.” Ultimately, he couldn’t bring himself to give up. Besides, the Bai family was no less prestigious. He might not necessarily lose to Cheng Xiyu!
“Alright.”
“15 million.” She continued bidding, her voice calm as if she hadn’t recognized his voice at all.
Hah, his little lover was certainly dedicated to her job.From then on, every time she placed a bid, Cheng Xiyu would add another 500,000 to the price.
For a while, the auction hall was filled only with the voices of the two bidders. The crowd remained silent, afraid the fire might spread to them.
Who couldn’t tell that Mr. Cheng was deliberately targeting the other party? No one knew who was in Room 506, daring to offend Mr. Cheng.
The price had been pushed to 17.5 million, far exceeding the sapphire’s original value. The host was ecstatic: “17.5 million! 17.5 million! Any higher bids? Will Room 506 continue?”
Bai Shuxi’s face had turned so grim that he could no longer maintain even the slightest composure. He no longer resembled the gentle and refined eldest son of the Bai family.
“The initial appraisal valued it at 15 million. It’s no longer worth it now,” Jiang Shu said, putting down the bidding paddle.
If others could see that Cheng Xiyu was doing this on purpose, he naturally could see it too. The only difference was that while others didn’t know the reason, he did.
He never expected that Cheng Xiyu would actually take a genuine interest in Jiang Shu… What a surprise.
Since Cheng Xiyu could mess with him, he could certainly retaliate.
“Junior sister, keep bidding,” Bai Shuxi sneered.
“…” She didn’t quite understand, but she didn’t question it. “Alright.”
“18 million.”
Whoa! What was Room 506 thinking? Could they not tell Mr. Cheng was doing this on purpose? Or did their appraiser lack the expertise to realize the sapphire wasn’t worth that much?
“Room 506 has given us the highest bid of the night! Will there be any higher offers? Any more?”
The auction hall fell into complete silence… All eyes turned to the third floor.
But instead of another bid, a man’s lightly mocking chuckle echoed through the room. “Congratulations, Young Master Bai.” He clapped a few times, his tone casual. “Young Master Bai truly has deep pockets, spending 18 million on a sapphire. I’m impressed, Cheng.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
As soon as he spoke, a few stifled laughs broke the previously dead-silent auction hall.
Everyone present was a person of status and didn’t want to laugh too openly, but this move was truly something else. Especially coming from the usually steady Cheng Xiyu—the contrast was baffling.
Bai Shuxi’s fists clenched, his knuckles cracking audibly.
Cheng Xiyu had given up?!
He had intended to drive the price even higher and then back out, leaving Cheng Xiyu as the fool. He never expected Cheng Xiyu would…
He had brought extra money specifically for this, only to end up losing it all. The feeling of being suppressed and unable to retaliate was something he hadn’t experienced in a very, very long time.
This trip, though he had acquired Blue Luster, had cost him dearly—especially with so many people watching.
“So… Brother Xiyu, you don’t like it anymore?” Smith, unaware of the underlying tensions and not realizing Cheng Xiyu had been acting deliberately, thought he had genuinely wanted the sapphire.
“Suddenly lost interest.”
How dare he make his little darling accompany him on a business trip? Of course, he had to pay a price.
Bai Shuxi couldn’t possibly believe there were no ulterior motives in having Jiang Shu accompany him on this trip.
After all, Jiang Shu was just a new employee at the company. With so many experienced senior staff available, why did he have to bring his little darling along?
Hah, he really knows how to disgust people. Then don’t blame him for returning the favor.
Jiang Shu also understood clearly—Senior Brother Bai usually had no grievances with him, so this targeting could only be directed at her…
He was warning her: if she got too close to others, he would get angry. It had nothing to do with love, just possessiveness at play.
His things were never allowed to be bothered by others, and now she fell into the category of his “things”…