Chapter 18: Chapter 18 My Wife is Even More Beautiful

    The auction hall was bustling and extraordinarily lively.

    The air was filled with calming sandalwood, while the walls were adorned with openwork shelves that held ancient ceramics, paintings, and other artifacts, and verdant potted plants.

    The noise of the crowd fell silent for two seconds when Huo Xingzhou and Qiao Xi entered.

    This was Huo Xingzhou’s first public appearance since his accident.

    The gazes that fell on his legs were filled with scorn, disdain, pity, and malice.

    Everyone had heard the news: the favored son had become a cripple and was also infertile. The inheritance rights to the Huo Family were practically secured in the hands of the eldest branch.

    ...

    Huo Xingzhou was a useless discard!

    “He’s crippled in three legs, what’s the use of having a pretty wife? Just causing her to live like a widow.”@@@@

    “Just a pretty country girl, what a waste. You’re not planning to stand in as the groom for him, are you?”

    “Haha, the Huo Family still needs Huo Beiting!”

    The ugly remarks reddened Huo Sijiao’s face with anger; she clenched her fists, wishing she could start a fight. Qiao Xi’s lips were pressed even tighter.

    Qiao Xi extended her fair hands to cover Huo Xingzhou’s ears.

    “There’s no need.”

    Huo Xingzhou pulled her hands away, speaking softly, “I’m not that fragile.”

    On the contrary, he should remember the faces and words of these people. Once Qiao Xi gave him an opportunity to soar, he’d see how these same people would change their tune to flattery and favors.

    “But I care.”

    Qiao Xi frowned as she spoke, “I don’t like them talking about you like that. Mr. Huo is an impressive person.”

    Huo Xingzhou watched her with seriousness, her apricot eyes especially lively with anger. His annoyance from the previous two days vanished like smoke.

    He thought that he was still willing to open a clinic for Qiao Xi.

    “Huo Er Shao, please come this way,” a staff member from the auction house guided him to a seat in the corner of the first row. A small square table with pastries and tea was set up, beside which was an armchair.

    To the right sat a triumphant Huo Beiting and Su Weiwei, while Zhao Yuzhen and Su Heng were seated much further back.

    “Cousin, you should thank me.” Huo Beiting’s smile was cold, “If it weren’t for my sake, you wouldn’t have made it to the first row.”

    An auction house was a place where power and status were everything.

    “Then thank you very much, cousin,” Huo Xingzhou said, his eyes and voice cold and steady.

    Huo Beiting hated his pretense the most: “Don’t mention it, after all, I have to take care of the useless one.”

    This bracelet had abundant luster, with green shades akin to emerald fish swimming in water. The more floating flowers, the more expensive it was, and the one being auctioned had three blossoms.

    The starting price was five hundred thousand.

    “This country bumpkin, what does she know about Duan Family Jade!” Su Weiwei at the next table scornfully remarked, “She’s probably never even seen jade before, can she even tell the difference between glass and jade?”

    “Beiting, I want it,” Su Weiwei cooed feigningly.

    Huo Beiting kissed her and said, “I’ll buy it for you.”

    He raised his paddle and said, “One million.”

    “Huo family’s young master is generous!”

    “Spending lavishly for his beauty, Su Weiwei is truly lucky!”

    Su Weiwei sneered at Qiao Xi triumphantly, “Would your husband spend so much money on you? I bet he’s too stingy.”

    Qiao Xi licked her dry lips, her expression a bit odd. Huo Xingzhou circled her wrist, his eyebrows and eyes pitch black, a faint smile visible beneath his thin lips.

    “One million for the first time!”

    “One million for the second time!”

    “One million for the third time, sold! Congratulations to the Huo family’s young master for acquiring the premium Floating Flower Jade Bracelet!” the auctioneer declared decisively.

    The staff quickly brought over the bracelet, and Huo Beiting paid with his card. Su Weiwei couldn’t wait to put on the bracelet to show off, “Qiao Xi, let me show you what top-quality jade looks like.”

    She extended her fair arm over.

    Huo Xingzhou rolled up Qiao Xi’s sleeve, revealing a superior Floating Flower Bracelet on her delicate arm, of even better quality, with denser blossoms.

    He looked towards Huo Beiting and Su Weiwei, “Funny coincidence, we also have a Jade Floating Flower Bracelet.”

    “This is what a real top-quality Floating Flower Bracelet looks like!”

    “Who would have thought that country girl hid something so precious! Six floating flowers are rare; priceless, really. Starting at five million at least!”

    The others craned their necks to see the excitement, their comments making Qiao Xi’s heart pound with fear. Five million, what an astronomical figure!

    It was a gift Du Juan had casually given her on her first day of marriage.

    Huo Xingzhou laughed, his voice deep and pleasant, “With the comparison, my wife’s bracelet looks even better, as does her hand.”

    Su Weiwei and Huo Beiting’s faces turned red and then white, looking extremely unsightly.

    “One blossom... two blossoms... six blossoms!” Huo Sijiao exclaimed, “Six floating flowers, my sister-in-law is truly understated. Unlike someone holding an inferior product and still chirping incessantly, not knowing their place.”

    “You...”

    Su Weiwei felt utterly humiliated, overshadowed by a country girl.

    Young Master Sun “tsked” twice from behind, adding fuel to the fire, “Su Weiwei, you’ve lost face! Huo family’s young master, such a small scale!”