Chapter 19: Chapter 19: I’ll Give You a Big Slap

    Huo Beiting’s eyes were shadowed, his tone cold, “Is such a trifle worth your pride? I’m here today to bid for a birthday present for Grandpa.”

    Su Weiwei withdrew her hand and chimed in, “Our target today is the ‘Longevity Map of Pine and Crane’. The starting bid alone is ten million, can your second branch afford that?”

    “Impressive, impressive!”

    Young Master Sun applauded insincerely. He raised his voice and said, “Huo’s eldest young master sure is wealthy and imposing. I hope to see the ‘Longevity Map of Pine and Crane’ at the old gentleman’s birthday banquet.”

    “Sun Weimeng, whose friend are you exactly?” Huo Beiting’s expression turned frosty.

    Young Master Sun stuck out his tongue.

    ...@@@@

    “Cousin.” Huo Xingzhou’s tone lifted slightly, “I also want to gift this painting to Grandpa, it seems we think alike.”

    “Then it will be a matter of skill,” Huo Beiting was determined to win.

    “Alright.”

    Huo Xingzhou casually loosened his shirt button, revealing a delicate collarbone. His eyelids drooped as he handed the auction paddle to Qiao Xi, “You bid for me.”

    “Me? I don’t know how.”

    Qiao Xi was a bit flustered, her cheeks blushing a faint cherry pink.

    “Increase the bid by one million each time over the highest bid. Unless I say ‘stop’, keep raising it,” he said lazily, leaning back in his chair, wearing a light gray shirt that was thin enough to be eye-catching.

    His long, fair index finger trailed down her back, sending a tingling sensation through Qiao Xi.

    “Qiao Xi, you’re too tense, relax. This is just a small scene.”

    “Okay.” Her throat was dry, “Mr. Huo, do we have that much money?”

    He had said his mother-in-law’s dowry was stuck in the stock market and that his project had been snatched away.

    He patted her lower back, “Don’t worry, your husband... still has savings.”

    Qiao Xi felt slightly reassured.

    On the stage.

    The gold-star auctioneer lifted the red cloth, his voice charged with excitement, “This is the famous Tang Dynasty ‘Longevity Map of Pine and Crane’, in excellent condition. It has already been appraised by five senior cultural relic appraisers.”

    “The starting bid is ten million, following the as-is principle as usual.”

    A bolt from the blue with that announcement!

    Such a fine item, everyone desired it! But not many would pay a high price for a painting.

    Especially when the starting bid was an eight-digit figure.

    “Fifteen million!”

    “Seventeen million!”

    “Twenty million!”

    “What is it?”

    Qiao Xi looked at Zhao Yuzhen’s face with mixed feelings.

    Zhao Yuzhen hesitated and then said, “I see the Huo family’s second young master treats you pretty well, giving you such an expensive bracelet to wear. That puts my mind at ease.”

    “Just say what you want to say, we don’t talk about mother-daughter affection here.” Her gaze was cold and emotionless.

    Zhao Yuzhen, irritated but patient, said, “You grew up in the countryside and haven’t used nice things. A five-million-dollar item is wasted on you. Your sister is ambitious; she wants the best of everything. She’s very upset today.”

    “So what?”

    “Xixi, can you exchange bracelets with Weiwei? Give her the one with three floating blossoms, and she will be happy, and you will benefit too. Once she marries Huo Beiting, she can take care of you.”

    Qiao Xi was incredulous.

    She couldn’t believe the extent of her shamelessness.

    “Do you believe that rubbish?” Her eyes filled with mist, “Do you have a conscience? Do you care about me at all?”

    “I gave birth to you, what’s a bracelet?” She said hard-heartedly, “Can’t you consider my feelings? Being a stepmother is tough.”

    “It seems to me like you’re enjoying it.”

    Qiao Xi leaned against the wall, cold as an ice cellar.

    “Are you going to give it or not?” Zhao Yuzhen demanded.

    “I’ll give you a big slap in the face, you old hag!”

    Huo Sijiao popped up from who knows where and stood in front of Qiao Xi, “Treating the stepdaughter like treasure, harsh on your own daughter. Do you really think Su Weiwei, that ingrate, will provide for you in your old age?”

    “Even tofu has brains, why don’t you?”

    “You... How can you curse like that!” Zhao Yuzhen said furiously.

    “I didn’t curse you! I was cursing that heartless beast!”

    “Jiaojiao.” Qiao Xi took her hand, “No need to waste words with her, let’s go inside.”

    “Sister-in-law, I really feel for you.”

    Qiao Xi managed a bitter smile, and as she walked past Zhao Yuzhen, she spoke, “I heard you want to have a son? You’re going to regret... treating me like this.”

    Zhao Yuzhen stood frozen in place, not understanding what she meant. Suddenly, her heart felt hollow, as if she had lost something.

    In a dimly lit corner,

    a refined and steady middle-aged man witnessed the scene and said to the person next to him, “Look, doesn’t that young girl look somewhat familiar?”

    “From certain angles, she resembles Miss Biao. But on closer inspection, she’s different, only somewhat similar.”

    The middle-aged man shook his head and laughed, “No, she looks more like Huimin when she was young.”

    Especially those slightly elongated almond-shaped eyes when she got angry, strikingly identical.

    “In such a large world, there are too many people who look alike.”

    “That’s true.”