Chapter 49 Dad's Shady Tactics and Heartache for Little Grape (Double Update Combined)...

49

Perhaps sensing the invisible pressure emanating from Bian Xun, Ning Ye dreamt of a certain scene that night.

That was much later, in a larger house, where the garden and lawn were meticulously arranged, and the villa behind it was as colorful as a children's castle. A family of four lived there.

Dad, Mom, a little boy, and a little girl.

The woman looked incredibly happy and was very satisfied with her life, having both a son and a daughter.

The man's gaze was cool, yet gentle as he immersed himself in the scene.

Today is the birthday of both children.

The adults should celebrate with them.

The little girl walked into the castle courtyard. She looked around at the birthday decorations and the three-tiered cake with a puzzled expression. She walked up to her father and scratched her head.

"Dad, today isn't my birthday?"

The two children are already recognized as twins by outsiders. The woman said she would treat both children equally and the little girl as her own, so she carefully selected very expensive birthday gifts for both of them.

But the children weren't actually born on the same day. How should a family with two children celebrate their birthdays?

The woman smiled and knelt down, holding the little girl's shoulders. "Tao Tao, now you and Brother Zixun are siblings. Since Brother Zixun's birthday is earlier, you'll celebrate together from now on, okay?"

Ning Zhitao felt uneasy; her eyes reddened, and she pouted.

Why is that? Before, when she was at home, her parents would start preparing for her birthday well in advance, and they would choose many, many gifts. On her birthday, she was always the only precious child.

Now, however, I have to celebrate my birthday with other people.

It wasn't even her birthday that was celebrated.

Ning Zhitao wanted to cry. She wanted to find her mother so that her mother could comfort her.

"If Taotao is good, she can see her mother." The woman whispered soothingly in her ear.

Ning Zhitao blinked her wet eyes, but after hearing those words, she tried to hold back her tears, rubbed her cheeks to make her expression look very well-behaved, and started clapping and singing the birthday song.

"happy birthday to you~ happy birthday to you~"

In her dream, Ning Ye watched all of this helplessly.

The child's nose was red, and tears were hanging on his chubby cheeks as he sang a birthday song for others on his own "birthday."

Perhaps because she often accompanied Tao Tao to her vocal lessons, in her dream, she could hear it so realistically—it was her own child's voice, whimpering yet trying to hold it in, because she had to be good.

Ning Ye felt as if her heart was being torn apart.

She desperately tried to step into the scene and break the storyline, but she seemed to be isolated from it, unable to break through the barrier.

She suddenly realized that this was the end. After the woman completely revealed her other half to the public, the four of them lived happily ever after, a happy ending that lasted until old age.

Ning Ye watched as Tao Tao clapped enthusiastically and sang the song over and over again, hoping to see her mother again.

But the female supporting character in the story will never appear again.

Ning Ye tried to tear open the invisible barrier in front of her, kicking it with her feet and tearing it with her hands, but there was always a blank space between them.

The plot was like the laws governing this world, and this unshakeable feeling chilled her to the bone, filling her with despair and fear.

What happy ending, what a son and daughter growing up healthy and strong? It's her children who are sacrificed!

Ning Ye felt a lump in her throat and could only futilely swing her fists, as if she were hitting an invisible wall again and again.

She only snapped back to reality when she punched something.

Slowly opened his eyes.

A few tears had already welled up in the corners of her eyes.

Staring blankly at the cold face so close to his.

Bian Xun pinned her down, one hand gripping her wrist, his legs pinning her knees, his chest muscles exposed by her collar—she had just delivered a powerful punch to her chest.

"Who did you dream about that made you so hateful?" he asked calmly.

Ning Ye stared at Bian Xun for several seconds with her eyes open, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his neck with both palms.

He was completely oblivious to it even in my dream.

He just watched their child cry!

Even though it was just like in the story, Ning Ye still felt incredibly wronged for Tao Tao.

Bian Xun raised his eyebrows slightly, letting her pinch him, his voice low and husky, "Looks like you dreamed about me."

Ning Ye didn't actually pinch him. She just grabbed his neck and shook him a couple of times before pushing him away, jumping off the bed barefoot, and going to the small house.

Although both parents had their own worries that night.

But little Ningzhitao slept very soundly.

She lay sprawled out on her little bed, like a kitten comfortably spreading its soft belly next to her parents. The sunlight shone on her toes, which had been kicked off the covers, as she slept soundly.

Ning Ye's heart softened, she covered the child with the blanket again, and then withdrew.

Bian Xun followed, his gaze falling on her fair, pale pink toes. He bent down and placed a pair of slippers beside her.

Ning Ye came out of the child's room with a solemn expression.

We must completely break through the plot!

The scenes she dreamed of were the life that Tao Tao would have faced after she traveled through time.

She will be forced to join someone else's family and be doted on by Xu Lanyi in front of outsiders. No one knows what kind of childhood she will have in reality.

It's said to be love that treats everyone equally, but as long as it's not one's own mother, love always has a price.

Ning Ye glanced at the two auction tickets on the entryway cabinet.

That feeling of watching the plot unfold without being able to do anything about it is terrifying.

The original plot is approaching its final climax. How can we break through it?

Bian Xun sighed helplessly, bent down and reached out to grasp her slender ankle, stuffing her cold feet, which were resting on the cool floor, into her slippers before straightening up again.

He knew why Ning Ye had reacted just now.

She had previously mentioned that she always received plot details through dreams, and she most likely dreamt of something unpleasant for Tao Tao just now.

In the story, he probably plays no role at all.

Bian Xun couldn't sleep last night because he was provoked by Ning Ye's theory about working.

It's absolutely impossible for her to work and support the family.

Therefore, he absolutely cannot go bankrupt.

Bian Xun glanced down at the balance on his digital watch.

After a period of continuous daily losses, various large expenditures, and spending money to buy freedom and escape the plot, his two to three hundred billion has shown a significant decline.

However, no matter how much Bian Xun tried to convince his brain to maintain a state of poverty, the threshold for mental alertness continued to rise physiologically, making the cost per unit of time increasingly terrifying.

He can't just sit around and live off his savings.

However, while using black cards to invest and cash out can indeed quickly accumulate capital, apart from having reliable insider information about one's own company's stock, all other cryptocurrency investment activities are risky. It is not advisable to pursue quick and easy windfall profits, otherwise it is easy to lose a huge sum of money.

But there are other ways to make money.

He was contemplating life last night.

A sinister idea popped into the capitalist's mind.

Ning Ye also came to her senses at this moment, and grabbed Bian Xun's sleeve, "How about we try to avoid the plot? At all the points where it happens, as long as we don't get involved, it's also a kind of twist."

Moreover, the ultimate goal of today's auction is for the female protagonist to obtain a "token of love" to further advance their relationship. The simplest and most direct method is for them not to attend.

But as the night passed, the CEO looked into her clear almond-shaped eyes, and a dark, malicious glint slowly appeared on his lips.

"I have to go."

If I don't go, I won't be able to make money.

Collectibles that make it to major auctions are all of very high value.

The profit margin is therefore very large.

…

Before leaving, Bian Xun glanced down at his bank card balance.

His time was becoming increasingly valuable. The president lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time. To be on the safe side, he gritted his teeth and used his future black card to make a large sum of money.

Then, now it's clear that 500 million has flowed out of his account, buying his freedom today.

Five hundred million.

The CEO stood there silently for a while, letting his mind cool down completely.

His dark eyes stared blankly into the distance.

He invested in this project himself; if he doesn't recoup his investment with huge profits, he'll be unworthy of being a capitalist.

Today is the weekend, and the auction is scheduled to coincide with Ning Zhitao's children's vocal lesson.

Ning Ye and Bian Xun first took the child to the choir. Ning Ye felt heartbroken at the thought of the child clapping and singing the birthday song by himself. She forcibly resisted the urge to ask Bian Xun to sing a song for the child now before leaving.

The two of them drove to the international hotel where the auction was being held.

Bian Xun seemed to be planning something, but there was no communication between the two, and Ning Ye was completely unaware of his plans.

The main problem is that the search for the edge cannot be explained.

All issues involving money were problems he had to solve on his own, like a capitalist's curse.

The man gripped the steering wheel and sighed melancholically.

Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the International Hotel and entered through the special driveway.

Those who received invitations to this major auction were all social elites with prior auction experience and verified assets exceeding tens of millions. Among them, Bian Xun was greeted with a warm welcome from valet parking attendants upon his arrival.

The two were respectfully led into the banquet hall of the international hotel by a waiter. A huge and exquisite crystal chandelier hung overhead. All attendees were given a mask before entering, in order to ensure absolute privacy and anonymous participation in the auction.

Bian Xun and Ning Ye were led to the private room area that surrounded the second floor of the banquet hall. They entered a private room with an excellent location, directly facing the exhibition booths downstairs.

The private room was furnished with leather sofas, and a small table was set with whiskey and roses, along with the bidding paddle for this room.

Ning Ye felt a vague unease about all this special treatment.

After all, they weren't really there to participate in the filming.

In the original story, Bian Xun and Xu Lanyi suddenly started bidding against each other from afar, with Bian Xun ultimately winning the bid and gifting it to her. Ning Ye didn't understand these games played by the wealthy; she only knew that with Bian Xun's current financial situation... he probably couldn't do it, right?

He seems to be very poor lately, and last night he was unusually dejected.

Ning Ye is really starting to consider earning money to support her child.

"Anyway, we're here to observe the plot," Ning Ye glanced around. The second-floor private room was openwork, so she didn't dare to speak loudly. She leaned closer to him and said, "If you can't afford to be a pro, don't pretend to be..."

“?” Bian Xun lowered his eyes and saw the mask on her face.

Scattered pearlescent light outlined the curves of the mask, circling around her eye sockets, forming half a mask of a little fox, lively and charming. Below her nose, her breath carried a light jasmine scent.

What he said was quite cruel: "Don't try to be brave, our family doesn't have that kind of means."

“…” Bian Xun paused, took a breath, and reluctantly hummed in agreement.

He's going to make money right now.

Guests gradually entered the first-floor inner area, where the verification standards were lower. The private rooms on the second floor were reserved for wealthy individuals who did not want to show off.

Before participating in the auction, all guests had registered accounts on the auction's official website, completed real-name authentication, and linked their bank cards for paying deposits and final payments.

Bian Xun narrowed his eyes slightly.

Ning Ye saw that several private rooms diagonally opposite her were filled with people. The light had dimmed, making it difficult to see the specific guests, but Ning Ye noticed that one of the private rooms was crowded with people, with one person sitting in the center.

That must be Xu Lanyi.

Recalling the scene in her dream, Ning Ye felt a chill in her heart.

Both private rooms were occupied, and conversations could be faintly heard, so Ning Ye kept quiet and said no more.

She was constantly thinking, thinking about a real opportunity that could break the deadlock and tear open the whole story.

Before long, the auction officially began.

This was Ning Ye's first time participating in such an event. She listened attentively as the auctioneer introduced the collection, adopting an observer's mindset.

As she listened, the man beside her moved closer and asked softly, "Anyone you like?"

Ning Ye felt a tickle on the side of her ear, a physiological response to his deliberately lowered voice, and quickly moved away.

Stop showing off and listen properly.

Ning Ye didn't know how much the jade ornament that Old Master Bian had always wanted was worth, but the previous collections were already very expensive.

The items range from rare ancient books worth hundreds of thousands to imperial seals and coins worth millions. Each time a collection is carefully brought forward, connoisseurs will let out a low gasp of amazement and then whisper among themselves.

During this time, the female lead did not seem to raise any placards, apparently only concerned with the gift that would make Old Master Bian fall in love at first sight.

This kind of mentality usually indicates a strong determination to succeed.

Ning Ye couldn't help but turn her head to look at Bian Xun. The man tilted his head back slightly, his eyebrows half-closed, looking very aloof and otherworldly.

Finally, a translucent jade Maitreya Buddha slowly appeared.

It is a Maitreya Buddha statue made of imperial green jadeite of the glass type, sitting on a pear wood base. In addition to the excellent quality of the jadeite, its special feature is that it is a standing Maitreya Buddha. He holds a gold ingot, his face is pure and has a slight smile. His belly is round and appropriate, and the color is rich and harmonious. It has excellent connotations of longevity and peace, and conveys an image of open-mindedness and compassion.

The starting bid is three million.

The Buddha statue itself wasn't large, and its price wasn't top-tier, but perhaps to emphasize the preciousness of the item that the male and female protagonists were fighting over for so much money, after the item was introduced, there was quite a stir in the room, and people immediately started raising their paddles to bid.

3.5 million.

3.8 million.

After a few rounds, a sign was raised in one of the private rooms on the second floor: "5 million".

The guests inside all looked up to the second floor. They couldn't see the person who had spoken, but they could tell that it was a woman's voice, very elegant, and it sounded somewhat familiar.

Xu Lanyi's move immediately drove up the price.

Her gaze, filled with anticipation, drifted towards the center of the second floor, as if waiting for something.

"Five million! Five million once—"

"Five million twice—"

A clear, low male voice rang out, "8 million."

An uproar ensued.

Xu Lanyi's heart pounded wildly. It was Bian Xun. Bian Xun had really come.

Ning Ye turned her head abruptly and lowered her voice, "Are you crazy?"

Why is it actually going according to the script?

Bian Xun only managed to pretend for two seconds before putting his arm around her shoulder reassuringly, saying, "Don't worry."

The onlookers at the scene started discussing excitedly, thinking that the two people on the second floor must be big shots, a man and a woman, and that bidding against each other from a distance was the most eye-catching thing.

In addition to the bids from these two individuals, Asian collectors even called in to participate in the bidding.

The atmosphere was instantly created.

Xu Lanyi knew what was going to happen next. She knew that Bian Xun would buy the Maitreya Buddha statue no matter what, and give it to her. The higher the price, the more it would reveal Bian Xun's current attitude towards her.

So Xu Lanyi suppressed her thoughts again and raised her card, "8.88 million."

An uproar erupted in the room.

Beside Ning Ye, the man stood calmly and indifferently, raising his bidding paddle: "9 million."

This time, Xu Lanyi was even more certain, so she simply threw out "9.99 million—"

Bian Xun withdrew her hand, knowing that this was her highest expectation.

"Nine million nine hundred and ninety thousand! Our jade Maitreya Buddha statue holding a gold ingot has fetched a high price of nine million nine hundred and ninety thousand, just one step away from entering the realm of multi-million-dollar collectibles—"

"Would the lady upstairs be willing to reveal why you are so fond of this jade piece?"

Xu Lanyi stood up proudly, her eyes looking towards the private room, "It's a gift for an important elder."

As soon as the voice came out, Bian Xun knew who she was and what her purpose was in coming—to find something that Old Master Bian desired.

The auctioneer showered him with compliments, "Alright, then 9.99 million each time!"

Xu Lanyi smiled.

"9.99 million twice!"

"9.99 million three times—"

Xu Lanyi was taken aback.

"make a deal!"

"Let's congratulate this lady on acquiring this filial piety gift for 9.99 million..."

Ning Ye: "?"

She turned her head in shock and saw the man, who had been keeping his eyes half-closed, suddenly open his dark eyes and start rapidly operating his phone, as if he had been waiting for this moment all night.

Xu Lanyi was completely stunned. Bian Xun hadn't even tried to take it from her; he'd just let her buy it like that? Was he there to drive up the price? How could that be…

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of her private room. A waiter bent down and walked in with a POS machine, smiling slightly.

After coordinating all the information, Bian Xun lightly tapped the edge of the table.

The first step is to have the auction house get Xu Lanyi's consent so that he can pay 9.99 million directly, and whether she is willing to have the purchase money refunded to Bian Xun's bank card.

The first reason this matter could be accomplished was that the Buddha statue itself was a gift to the old master of the Bian family.

Secondly, as long as Xu Lanyi knows the plot, she cannot refuse.

Sure enough, when Xu Lanyi, who was still in disbelief, heard the waiter's question, a smile slowly spread across her lips, which she could not suppress. "Of course."

So that's how it is... So Bian Xun was giving her face!

On the surface, I let her buy it, but in reality, I would buy it myself in private.

She knew that everything she foresaw would come true.

Xu Lanyi happily paid with her card.

The second step involved using a payment of 9.99 million yuan to leverage a 9.99 million yuan return, which flowed into the Future Black Card he had linked, thus making an investment.

If it's a 10,000-fold interest rate.

Bian Xun closed his eyes slightly.

The third step involved paying, signing, and taking the Maitreya Buddha statue.

That's his^^

They could resell it and buy another ten million.

Ning Ye only came to her senses at this moment. No, it seemed like in the blink of an eye, Bian Xun suddenly had 9.99 million in his hand?

Upon closer reflection, isn't that Xu Lanyi's 9.99 million?

"It's not over yet."

Bian Xun led Ning Ye out of the venue and verified their identities at the auction entrance.

The deposit of 10,000 will be refunded to your card.

He paid with his own card.

The refund will be for a future card.

Transferring money from one hand to the other, another hundred million was added.

Ning Ye was only able to barely keep up with Bian Xun's train of thought at this point. Her mind was already working quite quickly, and she had already figured out the actual money transactions.

So Bian Xun... got a Maitreya Buddha statue for free from Xu Lanyi?

Thinking about it carefully, this logic doesn't seem to be wrong, because Xu Lanyi bought it as a gift for Old Master Bian, and Old Master Bian's things belong to the Bian family, and the Bian family all belong to Bian Xun.

Ning Ye was shocked for a long time.

It's so dark, so dark!

But if that's the plan, why can't we communicate it with her? Ning Ye had been on tenterhooks the whole time, afraid that he would really start to passively follow the plot.

Bian Xun gave her a deep look.

The moment they stepped out of the auction hall, a notification popped up on Bian Xun's phone that he had made an inflow.

A stunning string of zeros.

He paused, finally feeling the malice in his eyes subside.

It's done.

99.9 billion.

Add 100 million.

In other words, tonight, he used a cost of 9.99 million—

It leveraged 100 billion.

...

The president slowly raised his sharp eyes.

The anxiety that had lasted for several days finally turned into a feeling of frustration, which was slowly exhaled.

He became reserved again.

This trick is insidious, but it's incredibly effective.

The only problem is that he cashed out too much, which may raise his brain threshold and make him start to think that money is not money.

But at least money can bring a temporary sense of security.

Bian Xun raised his dark eyes, his brows relaxed slightly, and he regained the composure of the world's richest man, asking Ning Ye if there was anything he wanted.

Ning Ye just wanted to go to the restroom.

…She was so nervous just now that she kept drinking water.

She harbored doubts; although they had gotten a Maitreya Buddha statue for free, it wouldn't truly break the deadlock in the plot. However, Bian Xun didn't offer further explanation for her actions, leaving her with these questions for the time being.

When Ning Ye came out, she suddenly saw Bian Xun standing with another person in the distance.

The scene had a strangely eerie feel to it.

Bian Xun's back seemed stiff, and he lowered his eyes. Upon closer inspection, the person opposite him turned out to be one of Xu Lanyi's assistants.

This scene seemed to be something out of the original novel. After the auction ended, the president generously gave Xu Lanyi the item he had won at a high price, making it an expensive token of their love.

Ning Ye didn't make a sound and quietly went around to the side.

As she drew closer, she also heard Bian Xun's voice.

The voice was familiar, but the tone was stiff.

The content of their speech also felt strangely incongruous.

"Thank you... for her filial piety. The old man will definitely like it."

He was forcibly restraining something, and his speech was repeatedly interrupted.

Ning Ye glanced at him discreetly and noticed that his forehead was covered in cold sweat and the veins were throbbing slightly.

"Collectibles have a price, but sentiment... is priceless."

Ning Ye felt increasingly uneasy as she listened.

The veins on the side of the man's neck bulged, as if he was trying his best to hold back and didn't want to say what he was about to say.

But Ning Ye still heard it.

“The old man… has always… liked boys, and so have I….”

Ning Ye suddenly opened her eyes wide.

The assistant was also surprised; the meaning behind President Bian's words was quite clear!

Mr. Bian only has a daughter, while Ms. Xu only has a son.

As Xu Lanyi's confidante, she naturally knew what Sister Xu longed for most, so she was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly to convey this message back.

After everyone left, Bian Xun remained standing in the same spot, gripping the stair railing tightly, his chest heaving.

Just as the alarm on her phone went off, Ning Ye's phone also went off simultaneously.

That's the schedule they set; we need to get ready to pick Tao Tao up from get out of class at this time.

As Bian Xun's phone rang, a bill popped up at the same time. It was a large automatic payment that he had set up just in case, and only then did he finally break free from his previous uncontrollable state.

He stiffened and slowly turned around.

Ning Ye stood a few steps away, holding her phone.

She heard everything he said when he lost control of himself.

But he couldn't find an explanation.

His face suddenly turned even paler than before, his dark eyes as unsightly as the Dead Sea, as he stared intently at her.

The anxiety in his heart was like a raging storm, more terrifying than being broke and going bankrupt.

That wasn't his intention. How could he possibly think boys are better?

He only wants their daughter as his child in this lifetime.

In an attempt to break free from the restraint, a sweet taste rose in his throat, yet he still couldn't speak.

Ning Ye slowly walked up to him, thought for two seconds, and suddenly looked up, "Bian Xun."

Bian Xun's forehead was soaked with sweat, and her voice was burning hot, "I..."

Ning Ye shook her head. "I'll ask, you can answer with your eyes."

"Were you just following the script?"

Bian Xun's pupils suddenly contracted.

Ning Ye immediately understood.

"Are you... forced to follow the plot? Will you be controlled?"

The man's body beneath his suit began to tremble slightly, his dark eyes burning like torches.

Ning Ye finally understood.

Of course something's wrong!

Those lines could never have been spoken by the child's father!

Moreover, given Bian Xun's personality, it's impossible for him to return the 9.99 million yuan worth of collectibles he just got for free!

But the most crucial thing is—

He had just grabbed the outside railing.

Is this something a normal edge search would do?

His severe germaphobia prevents him from touching unsterilized public facilities!

In summary, the edge search described above is definitely not a normalized edge search.

Bian Xun held his breath, staring intently at her with his dark eyes, his shirt beneath his suit already soaked with sweat.

In just a few seconds, it felt like being reborn.

It turns out that the 100 billion yuan he had just amassed couldn't save him.

...Only she could do it.

Ning Ye breathed a sigh of relief. She was quick-witted enough to finally understand the source of Bian Xun's stress during this period.

Being manipulated by the plot is indeed terrifying. However, when Ning Ye thought about it from another angle, his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Bian Xun, I've figured out a way to break this deadlock!"

This is a risk, but it is also an opportunity!

The man before her looked unusually disheveled.

He still seemed to be under control, stiffly leaning closer, his voice broken, "Right now, I really need comfort."

Ning Ye paused for a moment, then came to her senses.

Bian Xun seemed unable to control himself and lowered his head towards her.

Ning Ye saw through it immediately and said in a soft tone, "That's not true. This part isn't in the plot."

Still pretending.

Bian Xun then smiled and looked down at her.

"Then can you, soberly and independently, kiss me?"

He needs it.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Here it comes! TT, Ahhh, Mom and Dad, let's go!

I'll try to get back to midnight tomorrow, and this chapter will continue to drop red envelopes!!