Chapter 20 You're a little bad today
When Qiao Xi and Huo Sijiao returned to their seats, the auction was almost over.
Next to Huo Xingzhou's hand was a long red velvet box, which looked like it had just been photographed.
Huo Beiting from next door was arrogantly showing off the painting "Pine and Crane Longevity" everywhere, and gathered with a few people to appreciate it.
Those people are all flattering and fawning.
The heir of the Huo family is of extraordinary value; he is a top-tier figure in Haicheng. Huo Beiting is truly blessed.
"Mr. Huo must be very happy that the young master got the original."
"I heard that you will be announced as the heir on your 70th birthday. Please take good care of us then."
Huo Beiting's mentality swelled, he waved his hand and said with a smile: "It's not decided yet."
"Who else could possibly compete with you for it? That lame loser? Haha, he can't even be a real man."
Huo Beiting was filled with pride after hearing the flattery. His narrow, cold, almond-shaped eyes looked at Huo Xingzhou with arrogance and contempt.
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the auction hall.
"Mr. Qi is here!"
"Why is Qi Sanshi here? I heard he also participated in the appraisal of the 'Pine and Crane Longevity Painting'. I wonder why he didn't issue an appraisal certificate."
Qi Sanshi, a master of Chinese cultural relic appraisal, was known as "living history" for his family heritage. The value of antiques that passed through his hands increased by half.
Huo Xingzhou picked up the azure ceramic teacup and took a sip of the bitter tea. Under the cover of the cup, his thin lips curved into a barely perceptible arc.
The show is on stage.
He pushed another cup of tea in front of Qiao Xi and said, "Your lips are chapped. Drink some tea to moisten them."
Qiao Xi was attracted by his beautiful and slender hands and took the teacup.
"Mr. Qi!"
"It is a great honor for our humble home to have Mr. Qi here."
A large group of people gathered around him, even Huo Beiting wanted to make friends with him, and would be best if he could invite him to his grandfather's birthday party.
Qi Sanshi's expression was solemn. "I came here for the 'Pine and Crane Longevity Picture'. Is it up for auction?"
"Filming is done!"
"It was our Mr. Huo who took the money. He didn't even blink an eye at the 35 million. He wanted to give it to Mr. Huo! Such filial piety is beyond our reach."
Huo Beiting puffed out his chest. Su Weiwei took his arm and chimed in, "Our Beiting is filial. We're not like the second wife, who was so stingy. They only spent 100,000 yuan on the entire auction and bought a piece of junk."
"Where is the painting 'Pine and Crane Longevity'?" Qi Sanshi asked anxiously.
"Here it is." Huo Beiting handed the luxurious brocade box to Qi Sanshi. "Please enjoy it. I'm not in a hurry to take it back."
Qi Sanshi slowly unfolded the scroll, and the pine and cranes were lifelike and full of interest. Many people were amazed again.
"Tsk, showing off." Huo Sijiao was as sour as lemon essence.
Qiao Xi turned and stared at Huo Xingzhou, feeling that he was in a good mood.
Why?
In the crowd.
Old Qi used a magnifying glass and tweezers to examine the painting of "Pine and Crane Longevity" over and over again. Finally, he covered his heart and cried out loudly.
"Wrong, wrong!"
Qi Sanshi slapped his thigh and said in frustration, "It's all my fault for not noticing it last time."
"Mr. Qi, what's wrong?" everyone asked curiously.
Huo Beiting became even more nervous and had a bad feeling in his heart.
"This painting is a fake!"
Qi Sanshitou's hair turned white and he sighed with regret.
"Impossible! How could it be a fake?" Huo Beiting was stunned, it was like a bolt from the blue!
"Mr. Qi, are you seeing things? This... how could it be a fake? We are not amateurs."
"Mr. Qi, did you see it wrong? This...this paper, color, and year are all correct."
"You old man have been bribed, how can you talk like that? There has never been a fake in the China Guardian Auction House!" Su Weiwei's face changed drastically and she roared in frustration.
Qi Sanshi lamented, "The paper is indeed of the correct age, and the ink and inkstone are genuine! But the painting is a forgery! The forger's painting skills are so superb that even I was fooled. If you get close to the painting and smell it carefully, you can smell the faint fragrance of ink hidden beneath the aged smell."
Ancient paintings that have been stored for a long time will lose the scent of ink.
“It’s true!”
"Who would dare to get so close to smell it? No wonder."
"It's actually fake! I told you that the 'Pine and Crane Longevity Picture' has already disappeared from history!"
Who would have thought that the forger was so clever, using Tang Dynasty rice paper to directly mislead the experts.
Huo Beiting couldn't believe his ears. A basin of cold water was poured over his head and his whole body stiffened.
“No… Impossible!”
Su Weiwei gritted her teeth, her face flushed red: "Beiting, don't listen to him. This old man..."
Huo Beiting pushed her away, the veins on his neck bulging: "Shut up, you nosy woman."
Qi Sanshi sighed repeatedly, "Mr. Huo, what a pity. If I could have arrived earlier... But this is a fake, fake can't be real. We also understand the rules of China Guardian Auction House."
No fidelity.
Transaction completed, buyer at their own risk.
Huo Beiting's 35 million was wasted, and he was also ridiculed behind his back for not knowing the value of his money.
The more proud you were just now, the more embarrassed you are now.
Huo Xingzhou put down his teacup and said with a look of fear: "Cousin, thank you for the high price. The painting is fake, but this 35 million is a filial piety that no one can compare to."
Huo Beiting was furious, a heat surged up his body, and his throat was filled with the taste of rust and blood.
He rolled his eyes and fell down.
"Young Master Huo!"
"Beiting, don't scare me! Call an ambulance!"
Huo Sijiao covered her lips and laughed: "Haha, he was so angry that he fainted. What goes around comes around."
"Let's go."
Huo Xingzhou said this calmly. His appearance was cold, and his understatement revealed a sense of abstinence.
Qiao Xi's eyes curled up slightly as she pushed his wheelchair out. He was in a good mood, and she couldn't help but feel happy too.
Huo Sijiao followed beside him, chattering incessantly.
"He really can't stand losing. If he had openly admitted it was a fake, everyone would have said he was a gentleman. But he just fainted from anger. What a petty person."
Huo Sijiao said proudly: "Sister-in-law, my brother is different."
"Um."
Qiao Xi agreed.
"I asked the driver to take you back." Huo Xingzhou said after leaving the auction house.
"Ah? I'm going to separate from my sister-in-law now?" Huo Sijiao pouted. "Okay, then I'll leave first. I don't want to disturb your world of two. Goodbye, sister-in-law."
"Goodbye, be careful on the road."
Qiao Xi waved and watched her get into the car.
Afterwards, the driver helped Huo Xingzhou into the black Rolls-Royce, and Qiao Xi sat next to him. His heart couldn't calm down for a long time. Everything that happened today was too turbulent.
As night fell, the streetlights dimmed in a yellowish glow, casting a shadow over Qiao Xi. Her eyes were clear and gentle, and her black hair hung vertically over her luminous, white neck.
"Mr. Huo."
"Hmm?" Huo Xingzhou turned his head nonchalantly, his tone ending in a sexy tone.
She looked at him for a long while before she spoke softly to the man.
"I think you're a little bit bad today."
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