58 Auction
Husband, please.
Two glasses of red wine were poured down, and Jin Runyong yelled and screamed, but the matter was left unresolved.
Security personnel rushed over upon hearing the commotion. They intended to deal with the troublemakers, but after glancing at Xue Lu, they hesitated and left dejectedly.
Kim Yoon-yong was the "victim," so angry he was trembling, but he didn't say much.
Most of the people attending the auction were wealthy and influential, and Kim Yoon-yong himself knew that as a foreigner, he wouldn't gain any advantage here. But leaving like this would be too humiliating. At an auction, who truly holds the power is revealed when the bids are placed.
So he went to the garage to change his clothes, leaving Chen Fangqi alone to face the stares and ridicule of the crowd.
Zhu Tianming was completely taken aback by the couple's actions. His colleagues in Lancheng had said that the Xue family was extremely respectable in the circle, and Lawyer Xue was the most respectable of all. These two glasses of red wine made Lawyer Xue appear somewhat more approachable and friendly.
Zhu Tianming had spent half a month with Lawyer Xue and considered himself half a friend, so he joked, "President Xue is truly a man of character."
"What's the point of reasoning with this kind of person?" Xue Lu said calmly. "If you don't want to tolerate it, you have to put aside your personal qualities."
Zhu Tianming nodded, then flattered Song Qinggui: "Miss Song is also a woman who is just as capable as any man."
Song Qinggui also laughed: "I've never been a person of high moral character."
As they were chatting, Chen Fangqi suddenly walked over. She glanced at Xue Lu with a complicated expression, then fixed her gaze on Song Qinggui: "Want to chat?"
Xue Lu frowned, but Song Qinggui readily accepted: "Okay."
The two went to the terrace on the second floor of the exhibition hall.
Song Qinggui could clearly see that Chen Fangqi's arms were covered in goosebumps from the cold: "Go inside, it's cold here."
“Right here.” Chen Fangqi’s eyes flashed with sharpness.
"Why?" Song Qinggui asked, puzzled. "You're freezing to death, why do you have to suffer here?"
Chen Fangqi smiled, exuding charm. During her time away from Lancheng, she had thought for a long time about why she had lost to Song Qinggui.
She got her answer. She realized she wasn't as brave as Song Qinggui. Song Qinggui was never ashamed of his desires, so no matter how much criticism he received, it was just a passing breeze. As for her, Chen Fangqi, she lost because she was too concerned about saving face.
So, after Song Qinggui raised this question, she leaned against the railing and answered candidly: "This terrace is the most prominent location in the entire exhibition hall. All guests who come here will see this terrace first. They will see my graceful figure, my smooth back shimmering in the early winter sun, like freshly fired white porcelain. They will be curious about what kind of woman has such a figure and dares to boldly show herself. They will come to my side because of this curiosity and fall into my hands. Men are very superficial, you should know this better than I do. I know you are beautiful, but I am beautiful enough. I don't believe any man can be completely unaware of the signals I deliberately release."
Song Qinggui was shocked by her remarks.
"Your expression is really funny, I like it." Chen Fangqi smiled genuinely. "Oh right, it's not like no man can escape my grasp. Xue Lu is one of them. I admit, you have good taste. But men are all beasts, they don't have much staying power, the novelty will wear off sooner or later. Song Qinggui, in a few years, you may not be as successful as you are now. But I, Chen Fangqi, will be doing better than you."
After the initial shock, Song Qinggui felt no anger or resentment towards Chen Fangqi; only a desolate emptiness remained in her heart.
Chen Fangqi ultimately fell into the abyss she almost did.
Chen Fangqi continued her eloquent speech: "My biggest gain from coming to Hong Kong is that it broadened my horizons. Song Qinggui, Lancheng is too small, the world is vast. The Xue family is one of the leading families in Lancheng, but compared to the wealthy people from all over the world who come to Hong Kong, they are nothing. You forced me to the point of not being able to survive in Lancheng, so coming to Hong Kong can be considered a blessing in disguise. In the future, when I marry into a wealthy family, I might even have to thank you."
Song Qinggui chuckled helplessly: "You think marrying into a wealthy family is that simple?"
Chen Fangqi waved her hand at her: "Don't try to lecture me like you're an experienced person. And don't think you're so great. What you can do, others can do too."
"Chen Fangqi, you've gone mad."
"Crazy? I'm not crazy, I'm sober." Chen Fangqi smiled disdainfully: "Poverty is the root of all evil in this life. Poverty means no dignity, being trampled on, and gradually turning you from a human into a dog. What is a dog? It wags its tail when given meat, and bites when starving. I don't want to be a dog, I want to be a human, a superior person. You think I'm cold today? Let me tell you, I'm willing. Jin Runyong gave me a lot of money, a seven-figure sum. If I wear one less layer, I can please him and get even more money. I'm happy to do it. Besides, do you understand freedom of dress? Don't I look good dressed like this? Look at those men, they're staring at me. I'm generous, everyone's happy, and I'm happy too, unlike you, who acts like a hypocrite."
Chen Fangqi was completely obsessed, and Song Qinggui couldn't communicate with her at all, but there was something she still wanted to tell her.
“Old Wang is dead,” Song Qinggui said. “It happened last year. His wife gave up treatment, held a hasty funeral for him, and went to live in Europe with their daughter.”
"Ha...that fat pig." Chen Fangqi's eyes were filled with malice: "He deserved to die. Junlan said he bought that house for me, and I was so touched that I served him wholeheartedly for two or three years. Later, when his wife came to take possession of the house with the property certificate, I found out that the property certificate was in his daughter's name. That dog of a man, he wanted to get something for nothing from the very beginning. I must have been blind to believe him."
Song Qinggui was too exhausted to argue with Chen Fangqi anymore: "You two had a fleeting affair, I just wanted to let you know. You can continue enjoying the breeze, I'm going inside."
“Song Qinggui,” Chen Fangqi called out to her, “Keep an eye on your husband and make him come to Hong Kong less often. Two years ago, he was arrogant and had no interest in me, but fortunes change, and who knows what will happen in the future?”
Song Qinggui was dismissive, but after taking a few steps, a pang of pity stirred within her. She had told Lawyer Xue that Chen Fangqi possessed qualities similar to hers, but she was luckier than Chen Fangqi, having encountered people who could save her from dire straits at every crucial juncture in her life. Aunt Sun, Xiao Tian, Luo, Lawyer Xue…
But Song Qinggui knew that no matter how many benefactors he encountered, if he didn't help himself, even the arrival of a great immortal would be useless.
Is there any hope for Chen Fangqi?
Song Qinggui turned to look at the alluring woman standing by the railing: "Chen Fangqi, do you know what freedom is?"
Chen Fangqi frowned.
Song Qinggui: "True freedom is not about wearing whatever you want, but about not wearing what you don't want to wear. You... take care of yourself."
As Song Qinggui left, Chen Fangqi's eyes gradually reddened with hatred.
...
Zhu Tianming treated Xue Lu and Song Qinggui to a simple lunch at a nearby Western restaurant. In the afternoon, the auction officially began.
Jin Runyong changed into a suit and, as if injected with adrenaline, took photos of each suit he wore, while Chen Fangqi's smile became even brighter.
Song Qinggui was attending an auction for the first time, and she only wanted to join in the fun and broaden her horizons, but Jin Runyong's bidding method quickly dampened her enthusiasm.
Song Qinggui's eyes lit up when the next item appeared on the screen.
These are a pair of white jade chopsticks from a Song Dynasty marquis's family. The chopsticks are carved with a flying crane carrying a flower, and the craftsmanship is so exquisite that it is called "white jade tendon".
"You like it?" Xue Lu looked at her with a smile.
Song Qinggui nodded somewhat shyly: "It reminded me of the braised pork you made. I feel that the color matches these chopsticks very well."
The starting bid for the white jade tendon was HK$500,000. Attorney Xue raised his paddle for the first time: "HK$550,000."
Jin Runyong followed closely behind: "Six hundred thousand."
It was only after participating in this auction that Song Qinggui learned that during the bidding, prices were not randomly shouted out like in movies and TV dramas, but had to follow certain bidding tier rules.
The price of white jade tendons accumulated layer by layer. At first, there were jade collectors involved, but later, everyone could see the tension between Xue Lu and Jin Runyong, and it was just the two of them competing against each other.
The price has already been bid up to 3.5 million.
Jin Runyong showed no signs of giving up, and Xue Lu, too lazy to raise his hand again and again, simply held up the sign without falling.
This action shocked everyone; it was just a pair of chopsticks, was it really necessary to make such a fuss...?
A Hong Kong businessman standing nearby couldn't help but say to Attorney Xue, "So determined to win?"
Xue Lu smiled and said, "My wife likes it."
Jin Runyong couldn't swallow this insult and kept raising the price.
Song Qinggui was terrified. She wanted the chopsticks, but no pair of chopsticks should be sold for such an outrageous price.
So when Jin Runyong shouted "Twelve million," Song Qinggui forcefully pressed down Xue Lu's hand holding the sign.
The auctioneer looked at Lawyer Xue with great interest: "Twelve million once."
Song Qinggui pressed down on Xue Lu's hand tightly, her face contorted with pain: "Husband, calm down, please."
Seeing Song Qinggui's expression, Xue Lu smiled deeply. He understood Song Qinggui; if she said she didn't want something, even if he forced it on her, she wouldn't be happy. So he could only sigh, "It's a pity that my braised pork has lost a marriage opportunity."
Song Qinggui quickly said, "When we get back to Lancheng, let's go to the supermarket. I can even build a harem for your braised pork."
The couple whispered to each other as the auctioneer brought down the gavel, and Jin Runyong finally spent twelve million to acquire the white jade tendon.
But he felt uneasy about it. He felt that the couple was doing it on purpose to make him spend money, but he had no proof.
As soon as the auction ended, he stormed off with Chen Fangqi.
Xue Lu also took Song Qinggui's hand, preparing to leave.
"Will you come again tomorrow?" Xue Lu asked.
“Come on.” Song Qinggui thought for a moment, “Our new house is still missing a few paintings. Tomorrow is the painting auction, so come and take a look.”
"good."
"But it can't be too expensive either, don't be impulsive."
Xue Lu smiled indulgently: "I understand."
Just as the two got up and started to walk out, a voice suddenly came from behind them—
"clear?"
Song Qinggui turned around upon hearing the voice, and when she saw who it was, her smile instantly vanished.
Time seemed to stand still. Cold sweat gradually covered her back, and her legs felt weak.
Xue Lu noticed Song Qinggui's loss of composure and looked at the newcomer with confusion.
The man was walking towards them. Judging from his appearance, he was probably of mixed race, with black hair, deep-set features, and some wrinkles on his face, indicating that he was no longer young. But the marks of time did not diminish his handsomeness; he was still tall, upright, and elegant.
Xue Lu felt Song Qinggui's hand quickly grow cold.
The man smiled at Song Qinggui, his expression deep and mysterious: "Long time no see, Qing."
Song Qinggui ignored him, and the man didn't mind either. He turned his gaze to Xue Lu and extended his hand: "Hello, I'm an old friend of Qing's, Saxon."
Xue Lu's pupils contracted instantly, but he still maintained his composure.
He grasped Saxon's hand firmly: "I've heard so much about you."
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