CHAPTER 248: CHAPTER 69: MISCHIEVOUS FLIRTATION (PART 2)

"Do you like it?" Yan Wuxu seemed to have grasped Su Ziceng’s intent, and after glancing at the price tag of the set of Colorful Eggs, found it to be only "fifty thousand". This familiar number, which Fei Qing had initially used to dismiss her own expenses, caused Yan Wuxu to pause for a moment, reflecting that indeed, Chang Chi was Chang Mei’s daughter, even pricing was strikingly similar. More ironically, just four Colorful Eggs amounted to the value of a human life.

"It’s not about liking anymore," Su Ziceng’s gaze had shifted elsewhere. At the entrance, Hang Yishao and Chang Chizi walked in, greeting the guests. Upon seeing Su Ziceng and Yan Wuxu, they both hesitated.

Why is she here too? Hang Yishao immediately frowned, subconsciously assuming that Chang Chi had invited her. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see Su Ziceng; in fact, he very much wanted to, and since returning from Paris, he had picked up his phone several times to contact her. However, each time he remembered she was now with that man named Pello, fury uncontrollably flared within him. Hang Yishao was definitely not one to suffer losses at the hands of women.

However, Hang Yishao forgot that people are always bound to suffer losses, especially in cases where they have never experienced losses with women before, he particularly needed to be cautious, as he was prone to suffer a significant one at once.

Su Ziceng quickly turned her face away, discussing the exhibits with Yan Wuxu as if Hang Yishao and Chang Chizi were merely one of the many pairs of buyers. Ironically, Fei Qing’s ticket was also in the first row of the VIP seats, deliberately arranged next to Hang Yishao. A ticket allowed two people entry, and between Hang Yishao and Su Ziceng, there was just one empty seat.

Chang Chi didn’t expect Su Ziceng to show up uninvited. She was somewhat reluctant, but still, under the guidance of the auction house staff, she walked up to the stage, and occasionally cast wary glances at the closely seated Su Ziceng and Hang Yishao.

Luckily, the two were flipping through the auction list, not particularly paying attention to each other’s movements. Chang Chi felt somewhat reassured and cleared her throat, uttering the opening remarks she had prepared for a long time.

The venue was already fully seated, and apart from the buyers, Chang Chi had also spent quite a sum to invite some media to the event, aiming to capture the public’s attention and promote Subi Auction House.

Su Ziceng also took note of these, and the first auction item was already brought forward. Everyone’s attention fell on the set of Russian Colorful Eggs that was carefully brought out.

These Russian Colorful Eggs, unlike the commonly known Christmas Colorful Eggs, were crafted by a group of craftsmen who had strayed from the Russian Royal Family over a hundred years ago. They not only bore blessings but also featured exquisite craftsmanship and glazing. Placed under the lights, the five different-sized Colorful Eggs seemed as if they were glowing.

Su Ziceng tilted her head slightly, trying hard not to let the surrounding people detect her intent. Hang Yishao’s auction paddle was already eager to go; clearly, this first auction item was intended by Chang Chi to create some buzz.

In reality, an auction item of fifty thousand would not attract much attention, and being the first auction item, it was typically expected to be the least remarkable one. Many buyers would wait with a curious mindset for rarer items, so the price wasn’t expected to go very high.

But with Chang Chi’s personality, she definitely wanted to start with a bang, hence this set of Colorful Eggs...

"Two hundred thousand!" No sooner had the auction started, someone named the price, but it wasn’t Hang Yishao—it was an unknown buyer sitting in the back row.

Su Ziceng was flipping her auction paddle but didn’t immediately raise it.

Yan Wuxu was somewhat confused. Earlier, it was clear that Su Ziceng was very interested in that set of Colorful Eggs, and she thought Su Ziceng was determined to buy it.

"Two hundred and twenty thousand!" Another unknown buyer raised the paddle.

One after another, bids came in, making this set of Colorful Eggs unexpectedly popular.

"Who would have thought that these things would be so in demand," Yan Wuxu was somewhat moved after she saw the price climb to three hundred thousand, she absently stared at the five Colorful Eggs. If this were a year ago, when she was still a poor student, the price of these eggs would have been utterly unreachable for her.

"It looks like Chang Chi really put a lot of thought into this," Su Ziceng watched Chang Chi onstage without changing her expression, but she didn’t think like Yan Wuxu. These people competing in the bidding must be shills invited by Chang Chi to hype up the auction atmosphere.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand," Hang Yishao finally raised his board, and after he announced his bid, there was a brief silence in the room. By now, the five ceramic stone eggs could rival the golden eggs, and no normal buyer would pay such a high price for a few stones.

But Su Ziceng never considered herself a normal person, so, it was time for her to raise her board as well.

So after giving Hang Yishao a look, she raised her board and slowly stated a price: "Three eighty."

Everyone knew that this "three eighty" meant three hundred and eighty thousand, but still some couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

The laughter spread like a plague, quickly infecting the venue, except for Chang Chi and the auctioneer.

Hang Yishao was also stunned; he did not immediately raise his board, because as Su Ziceng raised her board, her left hand that was free swept around an empty spot and grabbed his right hand that was about to raise his board.

Warm hand, carrying the unique scent of rose perfume from Su Ziceng, landed on his.

Hang Yishao could feel the angry glare from Chang Chi on the auction stage, but he didn’t look up, nor did he struggle. Instead, he gazed at the hand that landed on his, subconsciously, he grasped that hand back...

The auction board that Su Ziceng was holding trembled slightly, as she felt her left hand being grasped back.

Hang Yishao didn’t raise his board anymore, he just held Su Ziceng’s hand in his, fingers touching, nestled against each other’s palms, with no intention of letting go.

No one saw the dramatic activity that unfolded in the front row, except for Chang Chi on stage and a few others below.

Yan Wuxu also saw this scene, she covered her mouth and gave a soft cough.

Su Ziceng also realized that no one else in the room was competing with her anymore, so she quickly put down her auction board.

"Three hundred eighty thousand? Three hundred eighty thousand? Sold for three hundred eighty thousand!" the auctioneer banged the gavel, and Su Ziceng also withdrew her hand that Hang Yishao was holding warmly. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)