Zhou Yang met her probing gaze with a faint smile playing on his lips.

He waved his hand dismissively: "Miss Qin is too kind. Actually, I don't know much. It's just a little bit of amateurish skill."

"Plus some... well, just some small ways to make a living."

To make a living?

You call driving a Pagani or Cullinan a way to make a living?

Brother, your Versailles literature skills must have reached the maximum level!

Qin Yumo inwardly grumbled, but maintained a polite smile on her face.

"Pfft—"

Xu Yao, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle.

She snuggled close to Zhou Yang, a hint of girlish coquettishness in her eyes, and winked at Qin Yumo.

"Miss Qin, don't listen to his empty modesty! Even I, his official girlfriend, haven't figured out how many tricks he's up his sleeve!"

"He's very mysterious and tight-lipped. He likes to keep us in suspense, waiting for us to discover his hidden treasures little by little!"

At the end, Xu Yao gave Zhou Yang a playful glance, her eyes filled with a woman's adoration and sweetness.

Zhou Yang was secretly pleased, enjoying his girlfriend's "praise," but his face showed a nonchalant attitude, as if it were all just passing clouds.

"Yes, yes, yes! Master's wife is absolutely right. Master is truly mysterious and powerful, and I admire him the most!"

Du Zhe had already entered the role of a sycophantic apprentice. He slapped his thigh and moved closer to Zhou Yang with shining eyes.

“Master! You are so unfathomable, you are practically a walking bug in the system. As your disciple, I absolutely cannot hold you back!”

"Master, whatever secret techniques you have, just unleash them on me! Don't hold back! Whether it's plucking leaves and flying flowers, striking acupoints and cutting meridians, gambling on stones and appraising treasures, or secret methods for making money... please! Please throw them all at me!"

Du Zhe raised three fingers and swore: "I promise, I will never complain about the hardship or the fatigue. If I can't learn it, I'll admit defeat!"

The more he talked, the more excited he became, spitting as he spoke, as if he could already see himself achieving great skill and having women on both sides of him.

Oh no, it's more like a brilliant future where you have amazing skills in your left hand and money in your right!

Zhou Yang couldn't help but chuckle at his exaggerated performance, but his gaze inadvertently swept towards the auction hall outside the private room.

The melodious classical music that had been playing downstairs had quietly stopped.

On the auction stage, the spotlight suddenly shone, and a woman in a royal blue fitted cheongsam gracefully walked onto the stage.

The woman was around thirty years old, with a graceful figure and exquisite curves. Her long, snow-white legs were faintly visible through the slit of her cheongsam, and she swayed gracefully with every step she took.

She wore a professional yet elegant smile, with bright eyes and white teeth, exuding a dignified yet charming aura.

In his hand he held a small, exquisite solid wood auction hammer, the handle of which seemed to be inlaid with specks of gold and jade, gleaming under the light.

"It seems the auction is about to begin."

Zhou Yang picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and offered a casual reminder.

Xu Yao, Qin Yumo, and the others all turned their gazes toward the auction stage downstairs.

The woman in the blue cheongsam walked to the center of the auction stage, holding a microphone, and her voice was clearly transmitted throughout the entire auction house through the speakers.

"Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good morning! Welcome to the Tianjin Auction House 202X Autumn Art Auction."

"I am Xiaoyou, the auctioneer for this auction. It is a great honor to witness the brilliance of each of today's treasures with you all."

Xiaoyou's voice is sweet and magnetic, and her words are filled with just the right amount of enthusiasm and professionalism, quickly enlivening the atmosphere of the scene.

"Alright, without further ado, let's begin our treasure hunt tonight! First up is our first lot of the night—a Qing Dynasty famille rose garlic-shaped vase with gold-painted auspicious and longevity motifs!"

As she finished speaking, a staff member wearing white gloves carefully placed a porcelain vase on the display stand.

The garlic-shaped bottle is sturdy and full-bodied. The body is painted with famille rose enamels, iron-red and gold-painted patterns of auspicious mountains and seas, bats and clouds. The colors are bright and the painting is exquisite. The whole bottle exudes a magnificent and luxurious royal style.

At the same time, a large screen behind her displayed numerous introductions to the porcelain piece.

"This vase comes from the official kiln of the mid-Qing Dynasty. It has a regular shape, bright glaze, and auspicious meaning, making it a rare and fine decorative item."

"Starting bid: three million! Each bid must be at least one hundred thousand!"

Xiao You's clear voice rang out again, and she gently tapped the auction gavel in her hand.

"Master! Master!"

While diligently massaging Zhou Yang's legs, Du Zhe's eyes gleamed as he stared at the garlic bottle downstairs. He lowered his voice and leaned closer with a fawning expression.

"This bottle looks quite impressive, and the design on it is festive! Do you like it, sir? If you do, I'll take a picture of it for you right away, as a... as a gift from your disciple to show my respect for you as you become my apprentice!"

Zhou Yang merely glanced at the bottle and shook his head slightly: "No need, I'm not very interested in this kind of porcelain."

Upon hearing this, a fleeting hint of disappointment crossed Du Zhe's face, but he quickly resumed his obsequious smile.

"Hehe, if Master doesn't like it, fine. Let's just watch the show!"

The bidding had already begun downstairs, with several buyers interested in porcelain raising their paddles, driving the price up.

The price quickly broke through five million, eight million... Finally, with Xiao You's crisp hammer blow, this Qing Dynasty garlic-shaped vase was sold for a high price of 12.6 million, giving the auction a resounding success.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!