Thinking of this, he opened the brocade box placed in front of him.
Inside was the lotus bowl that Yun Zhourong had taken from her.
He never expected that the bowl, which originally looked dull and gray, would turn out so beautifully after being repaired and cleaned.
This lotus bowl is shaped like a ten-petaled lotus flower, resembling a blooming blossom. The raised and recessed sections connect seamlessly with the rim, fully expressing the lotus's blossoming form. The sky-blue glaze is even, smooth, and lustrous, possessing a unique charm that is pleasing to the eye.
If I had some doubts before, now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I truly believe that this lotus bowl is indeed worth its value.
The image of Yun Zhourong's bright, sparkling eyes involuntarily appeared in his mind, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
This little girl is truly his lucky star.
There are five people competing for the position of heir to the Ji family.
One was him, and there were four others.
They are Ji Sinian, the biological son of the current head of the Ji family and his legal wife, and Ji Siyu, his daughter, who are also his half-siblings.
The other two are Ji Jianhong from the second branch of the Ji family and Ji Weixing from the third branch.
Although these four individuals are not as capable as him, they are supported by powerful families, which can compensate for their shortcomings to a certain extent and make them invincible.
In contrast, Ji Minxiu, being an illegitimate child, and with his mother of humble origins, was powerless and vulnerable, making everything he did difficult and arduous.
He has put in many times more effort than others to get to where he is today.
Especially now, the higher he climbs, the more difficult it becomes for him. This gap between classes is like an insurmountable chasm, leaving him feeling somewhat powerless.
Take this charity auction as an example; each person was required to contribute an antique.
This requires not only money, but also connections; otherwise, you simply cannot find good stuff.
He searched for a long time before finding something that was barely acceptable.
When they inquired and learned what the other four had found, they couldn't help but feel frustrated.
The foundation built up by generations of descendants in that large family was something he, a person with no background, could never compare to.
However, things are different now.
His fingers gently rubbed the lotus bowl; with it, he would absolutely be able to crush everyone!
"Boss, it's time to go."
At this moment, Assistant Lin came over, his expression filled with barely suppressed excitement, "Where exactly did you find this exquisite lotus bowl? Today we're bound to turn the tide! I can't wait to see those people's furious faces!"
"Okay, let's go."
Ji Minxiu's eyes were also filled with sharpness. He picked up the brocade box and strode out.
Ji's Auction House
"Brother Ji!"
As soon as he got off the bus, he saw a young woman in a dress with a phantom mask on her face running happily toward him.
The girl was in her early twenties. Her appearance wasn't particularly outstanding, but her exquisite makeup and clothing enhanced her overall气质 (qi zhi - a combination of temperament, bearing, and style), making her a pretty and delicate young woman.
Upon seeing her, Ji Minxiu's originally sharp eyes softened a bit. "Xiaoyan, what are you doing here? Weren't you still preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam?"
Then, he looked at Assistant Lin.
"It wasn't me, boss, I really didn't say that!" Assistant Lin quickly raised his hands to prove his innocence.
"It wasn't Assistant Lin, I brought her."
At this moment, a young man with triangular eyes walked over and said, "Little Shiyan, I heard you don't have a female companion, but you're quite eager to be with her."
"Ji Jianhong, who told you to meddle? I told you long ago I don't need a female companion," Ji Minxiu said in a deep voice, displeased.
"Hey, third cousin, I'm your older brother, isn't it impolite to call me by my full name like that?"
After Ji Jianhong finished speaking, he put his hand on Xia Shiyan's shoulder and said, "Xiao Shiyan meant well, and she's so pretty, she won't embarrass you, right? Or do you look down on her family background?"
Upon being praised like that, Xia Shiyan was initially shy, but when she heard about her family background, her eyes immediately darkened, and she became dejected.
Looking at Xia Shiyan's expectant yet cautious eyes, if it were the old Ji Minxiu, he would have felt that she was innocent and naive, felt sorry for her poor background, and wanted to treat her better.
But for some reason, Yun Zhourong's clear eyes suddenly popped into his mind this time.
In comparison, he actually saw impurities in Xia Shiyan's eyes that he had never noticed before.
He lowered his eyes slightly, wondering if Xia Shiyan had changed, or if he had been blinded by his preconceived good impression and thus failed to see things clearly.
"Brother Ji, please don't blame Second Young Master Ji. It's just that I haven't seen you in a long time and I've missed you."
At this moment, Xia Shiyan blushed and whispered, "Young Master Ji said that everyone has a female companion, and it would seem out of place if you didn't. Brother Ji, you don't like others getting close to you, so I thought I'd come and help you."
"Oh my, Xiao Shiyan is so understanding. If I had such a well-behaved little sister, I would definitely cherish her and pamper her."
Ji Jianhong said with a nonchalant air, "She even wore a mask so as not to cause you any trouble. Third cousin, you're not thinking of kicking her out, are you?"
"Don't worry about it."
Ji Minxiu glanced at Xia Shiyan coldly, then said, "Since you're here, come in."
"Okay, Brother Ji!"
Xia Shiyan immediately smiled brightly and reached out to take Ji Minxiu's arm.
But he dodged it, saying, "Just stick with me."
"Oh, okay, okay~"
A hint of resentment flashed in Xia Shiyan's eyes, but her face maintained an innocent and nonchalant expression.
As he watched the two figures walk away, Ji Jianhong's face curled into a contemptuous sneer.
Ji Minxiu is exceptionally capable, but his only weakness is that he lacks a strong family background. If he were to marry into a wealthy family, it would inevitably cause considerable trouble.
Therefore, we must cut off his path!
Since Ji Minxiu values Xia Shiyan, and that stupid woman is also ambitious, then he should give her more help. As long as the two of them can be together, Ji Minxiu's chances of becoming the heir are practically gone!
He took out his phone, sent a message asking someone to post the image of Ji Minxiu and Xia Shiyan appearing together today to trend on social media, and then happily stepped into the auction house.
As soon as they entered, they saw a young man with a hooked nose bump into Assistant Lin's shoulder hard in front of the elevator.
Ji Minxiu quickly caught the person and asked, "Are you alright?"
"Boss, I'm fine. I was so scared! I almost dropped the lotus... this auction item!"
Assistant Lin, clutching the box containing the lotus bowl, looked on with lingering fear and angrily said to the hook-nosed man, "Fourth Young Master Ji, you did this on purpose, didn't you!"
Ji Minxiu also spoke in a deep voice, "Ji Weixing, are your eyes just for breathing? If your eyesight is bad, go get it treated."
"Cough cough..."
Upon hearing this, Assistant Lin couldn't help but cough lightly. The boss was still as sharp-tongued as ever!
"Ji Minxiu, don't be so arrogant. What good stuff can a lowly illegitimate son like you possibly have?" Ji Weixing said sarcastically. "You're acting like it's a treasure. Who are you trying to fool!"
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