"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is now 8:33 PM Beijing time. I will now be hosting this charity auction. There are a total of 356 items for auction, and each bid must start at least one million..."
A dignified and radiant auctioneer stood on the stage, a sincere smile on her face, conducting the most basic auction procedures for the hundred business tycoons present.
"The first item up for auction..."
The auction was in full swing, Xie Jinghui had no interest in the items; he only noticed the luxurious dark red on Shen Shuangjian's earlobe.
Xie Jinghui didn't have pierced ears, but at this moment, many styles of earrings inexplicably came to mind.
Shen Shuangjian might be very suitable for wearing brightly colored, slender earrings, made of agate or pure gold, hanging delicately on the sides of her ears, peeking through the haze of her black hair, her fair and delicate neck, and a touch of vermilion red.
"The thirteenth lot is an antique Hetian red jade earring consigned by a female collector. The earrings have a rich color and a clean texture, with a starting bid of 1.5 million!"
Antiques like these, which have little collectible value and are unlikely to be displayed at home, will most likely fail to sell at auction, except for a few wealthy women who find them appealing.
The female auctioneer scanned the room expectantly, proceeding with the normal auctioneer's procedure. She asked a second time if anyone had bid, and was about to ask a third time.
Sitting to Shen Shuangjian's right, Xie Jinghui raised his sign.
Two million.
Just after Xie Jinghui made his bid, Shen Sixian, who was sitting to Shen Shuangjian's left, also suddenly raised his paddle.
Three million.
Shen Sixian didn't even raise his head, let alone bother to see what kind of treasure the earring was.
He was only slightly displeased, Xie Jinghui had bypassed him and sat next to Shen Shuangjian.
He was just deliberately trying to make Xie Jinghui uncomfortable.
Five million.
Xie Jinghui unfazed.
Six million.
Shen Sixian continued to add to the bet.
Eight million.
Xie Jinghui's bids all started at two million. He knew the earrings were worth no more than three million, but he didn't think they were a waste of money at all.
Nine million.
Shen Sixian finally glanced at him, then looked up at the red jade earrings on the big screen on the stage.
It's just an ordinary, broken antique. Does the Xie Family really need something like that?
Fifteen million.
Xie Jinghui reached the maximum price in one go. His expression was indifferent, and he still looked arrogant and aloof.
But Shen Sixian knew his unspoken meaning.
In a setting like an auction, if someone bids out a number significantly higher than yours, it essentially means one of two things.
The former is his maximum bid for this item; if you raise it further, he will withdraw from the auction.
The latter, on the other hand, means the other party absolutely insists on having it. If you also want it, then keep shouting it out, with no upper limit, until one side gives up first.
"Fifteen million, just once!"
"Fifteen million, twice!"
"Fifteen million, three times!"
Congratulations to Mr. Xie on successfully acquiring the thirteenth lot of this auction for fifteen million!
Shen Sixian had no intention of breaking ties with him, so when the bid reached 15 million, he relinquished the item to Xie Jinghui.
His original intention was simply to make it less easy for Xie Jinghui to win the bid, not necessarily to compete with him for the item.
Would you like something to drink?
Xie Jinghui, who had annoyed Shen Sixian, was in a good mood. He turned his head slightly and asked Shen Shuangjian, who was standing quietly to the side.
But Shen Shuangjian shook her head, indicating that she wouldn't drink.
This kind of occasion made Shen Shuangjian, who had never been in contact with anyone before, feel a little uncomfortable.
Seeing his reaction, Shen Sixian could only nod and say, "Alright then, if you're tired, we'll go back."
Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall—
Xie Qingchi leaned back on the sofa, somewhat lost in thought, a glass of wine in his hand, swaying listlessly.
Shen Shuangjian...
He slowly raised his eyes, lost in thought.
What is Shen Shuangjian doing right now?
Has he recovered?
What should he say to Shen Shuangjian at their next meeting?
If he tries to add Shen Shuangjian's contact information again, will he be blocked and deleted again?
After a long while, Xie Qingchi sighed somewhat dejectedly.
He didn't know what was wrong with him; all he could think about was Shen Shuangjian. He would think about her while eating and dream about her while sleeping...
"Oh, Young Master Xie, still thinking about it?"
"Tsk tsk, our young master is in for a rough time this time."
The auction is in progress, and there's a bunch of younger people left in the back.
Xie Qingchi was feeling down, so he sat alone in a corner. Several of his friends from the industry came back from their stroll, only to find that Xie Qingchi hadn't even changed his posture.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Xie Qingchi is a person who is both easy to please and difficult to please.
He was proud and rarely looked up to anyone, but he was less distant than his uncle; at least they could exchange a few words.
In situations like this, he might ignore others, but if someone tries to curry favor with him, he won't be tactful enough to turn them away.
"Hey, I just heard that your uncle got into a fight with that guy from the Shen Family at the auction. A broken earring sold for fifteen million."
The one speaking now is a blond guy, who is considered a good friend of Xie Qingchi.
Xie Qingchi, however, showed no interest in these matters and completely ignored them.
"Yes, yes, they've started fighting. I heard that the Shen Family even brought their illegitimate son's younger brother this time, and he's sitting next to Mr. Xie."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Qingchi, who had been sitting on the sofa, suddenly looked up and his gaze toward him turned cold.
The young men next to Xie Qingchi had different expressions, but they all looked at the speaker as if he were a fool.
"I don't know what tricks this little bastard played to actually beg Shen Sixian Master Xie. If you ask me, he's really a simp. Going to such lengths just to see you, without even taking a piss..."
Bang--!
The wine glass in Xie Qingchi's hand was suddenly smashed to the ground. The person who spoke looked up in surprise and was so frightened by his cold expression that he subconsciously stood up.
"Wha... what happened? This..."
Xie Qingchi's sudden outburst was already expected by the small group of people next to the sofa.
They looked at the speaker with pity, speechless and shaking their heads inwardly.
Does this guy not use the internet? It's one thing to casually mention Shen Shuangjian in front of Xie Qingchi, but to insult her at this time...
That's quite a talent.
"Say what you just said again." Xie Qingchi looked at him with a sinister expression.
The man, confused, instinctively replied, "He... he's kind of a simp..."
"Ah--!"
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Qingchi grabbed his head and slammed it onto the table. Xie Qingchi's face was full of hostility and anger, and he smashed a bottle on his head.
You're the fucking simp!