Chapter 32
Let's rewind to the day of the lottery.
Hu Zhenzhen casually took a screenshot and sent it to Chen Kai, telling him to communicate with the person.
"Get the tickets to them as soon as possible, and let Dog Castle appear in everyone's sight a few more times before the public opinion dies down."
As he said this, Hu Zhenzhen was trying on a dress. Chen Kai lowered his eyes and replied, "Yes, boss."
He didn't do it right away. Instead, he stood beside Hu Zhenzhen and lifted her skirt for her. "I've already packed the things to be donated today into boxes. Boss, won't you reconsider? I remember you really liked them."
Hu Zhenzhen really liked it.
The painting was hung on the wall in the hallway on the first day she moved in.
Hu Zhenzhen thought it was a fake. She stood in front of the painting for a long time admiring it and praised the craftsman's skill in making the fake to Xiao Jin.
But she later learned that the painting hanging on her wall was a genuine original.
However, unlike the collections kept in special rooms, this precious piece was simply hung on her wall, covered only by a dust cover.
Hu Zhenzhen didn't want to hire a conservator just for one painting, always fearing that it might break down in her villa one day.
Instead of doing that, it would be better to just donate it and let someone else take care of it.
Unfortunately, she couldn't find anything suitable at this auction.
There were quite a few antiques, but things from our own country lose their appeal when they're put up for auction. Hu Zhenzhen didn't want them to leave the country, so she rejected the idea outright.
After searching high and low, this one painting by the Western painter Picasso was the only suitable one.
"No need, let's choose this one."
"By the way, I've also packed up Wang Baishi's original works and brought them along. I'd like to hand them over to Director Wang directly on site."
Chen Kai bowed his head and replied "Yes," making two marks on the manual.
Hu Zhenzhen glanced at it curiously; the page of his notebook was filled with descriptions of valuable things in the villa.
The items that are being crossed out now are the two things that Hu Zhenzhen said she wanted to donate.
Hu Zhenzhen patted his shoulder reassuringly, "Luckily, I have you, Chen Kai. I'm not afraid of losing things anymore."
If anything is lost, Chen Kai will be able to notice it immediately.
The makeup artist behind her, wearing gloves, took a necklace out of Hu Zhenzhen's dressing room. "Boss, is this okay for you to wear tonight?"
Hu Zhenzhen's attention shifted back to the dress. "Okay."
The dark green dress made her skin look even whiter, and Hu Zhenzhen, who was already at the prime of her life, looked even more radiant.
The stylist presented a gemstone necklace shaped like a flower.
After Hu Zhenzhen put it on, she became even more radiant.
The old saying, "Clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse," still holds some truth to it.
Hu Zhenzhen took a picture in front of the mirror and posted it to her WeChat Moments with satisfaction.
She rarely posts on WeChat Moments, leaving some parent representatives who add her as a friend hoping to get closer to her clueless.
After a long wait, Hu Zhenzhen posted a message, and the number of likes and comments on it surged to over fifty within minutes.
Hu Zhenzhen glanced at the comments when she had a spare moment, and was flattered by the numerous compliments, which improved her mood considerably.
The terrible weather today couldn't dampen her good mood.
Jiang Chen had informed her in advance that he was going to Quan Shiqian's house today to play the new game with the two of them. Hu Zhenzhen asked Liu An to accompany him, and the driver today was changed to the youngest one, Xiao Wang.
Chen Kai sat in the passenger seat, having prepared an extra-large umbrella beforehand. Before opening the door for Hu Zhenzhen, he used it to block most of the rain.
The weather was really not suitable for wearing formal attire, but fortunately, Chairman Feng's charity auction was held in a hotel, not in some desolate wilderness.
After getting out of the car and walking three or five meters, the platform in front of the door is enough to shield you from the drifting raindrops.
The large umbrella in Chen Kai's hand almost completely covered this small area.
Hu Zhenzhen didn't get wet at all on the way from the car to the hotel.
The handsome waiter at the entrance stood there helplessly, holding an umbrella in his hand. In the end, he simply put the umbrella away and led the two of them in.
"This way, esteemed guest."
This five-star hotel belongs to the Feng family. In preparation for Chairman Feng's charity auction today, the hotel closed for a day, only serving wealthy businessmen and celebrities who received invitations.
Hu Zhenzhen followed behind the waiter and tugged at the hem of her skirt.
Chen Kai, who had just put away his umbrella, noticed her movement and quickly stepped forward, handing the umbrella to the waiter. "Please take this to the car I was in," he said, before lifting Hu Zhenzhen's skirt.
The dress is designed with a fishtail silhouette, but features a slit on the side, allowing glimpses of the calves to be seen when walking.
Such a skirt hem should not be mentioned.
But it was raining today, and the ground was a bit damp. Hu Zhenzhen didn't want the hem of her skirt to get wet, so she lifted it up slightly.
Chen Kai walked beside her, bending down slightly to carry the load for Hu Zhenzhen.
He only let go of her hand when they reached the carpeted area, and naturally took a step back to stand behind Hu Zhenzhen.
Upon entering the main hall where the party was being held, a different waiter was assigned.
"Hello ma'am, could you please show me your invitation?"
Chen Kai took out the invitation card that Secretary Feng had personally delivered and handed it over.
The waiter at the door quickly and carefully checked everything before pushing open the somewhat heavy banquet hall door.
A waiter came out from inside the door, and the two waiters exchanged a brief, quiet conversation.
"Ms. Hu, this way please. I'll show you to your seat."
Hu Zhenzhen didn't know how they remembered everything. There were over a hundred chairs present, none of which had name tags, yet they managed to remember where everyone was.
It seems that Chairman Feng put a lot of thought into this charity gala.
She had just finished thinking that when her eyes were flashed by a camera flash.
Chen Kai, who had been seated behind Hu Zhenzhen, immediately stood up and began searching for the person.
Hu Zhenzhen turned her head to the side and noticed several cameras on the side of the venue, which seemed to be in operation.
Is Chairman Feng planning to record the gala?
Hu Zhenzhen frowned slightly.
In that short time, Chen Kai had already located the criminal with the flashing light.
It was the staff member who operated a camera from the side.
From Hu Zhenzhen's perspective, all she could see was the man bowing and apologizing repeatedly. However, judging from his actions, it seemed he didn't want to delete the photo she had secretly taken earlier.
After a brief standoff, Chen Kai finally managed to get the man's phone.
He deleted the photos himself and returned the phone.
When he returned, Hu Zhenzhen turned to him and asked, "Did you delete it?"
"It's been deleted, boss. I also inquired and heard that this Chairman Feng is going to livestream this gala, which is why there are so many cameras and equipment in the venue."
Hu Zhenzhen had already guessed it and nodded slightly.
Were you notified of this in advance?
"No," Chen Kai paused for a moment, "Do you need me to communicate with the organizer, boss?"
"Never mind," Hu Zhenzhen said softly, glancing at the camera's position. "Since Chairman Feng has already set up the stage, we might as well borrow it."
Chen Kai only understood half of what she meant.
Seeing the relaxed smile on Hu Zhenzhen's face, he sat back down in his seat with peace of mind.
I couldn't help but admire him. He truly is a boss; he thought of how to utilize unexpected situations so quickly. He still has a lot to learn.
The items to be auctioned had already been delivered to the backstage area of the gala. Chen Kai only needed to go out once before the event ended to retrieve the original Wang Baishi painting he wanted to give to Director Wang.
Hu Zhenzhen didn't arrive too early; people were still coming in one after another, and the waiters kept leading them to their seats.
Clearly, this place, where celebrities and wealthy businessmen gather, is not so peaceful.
The seats were assigned, but some seats were not yet occupied, which gave people in the back a chance to sit.
An elderly lady sitting in the same row as Hu Zhenzhen was harassed by them.
"Ms. Li, I have long heard of your great reputation in the investment world and have always wanted to visit you but never had the chance. I never expected to meet you here today. It is a great pleasure."
The old lady seemed reluctant to talk to him, only nodding without saying anything.
But those who dared to come up to him in this setting weren't so easy to deal with. The old lady nodded, which he considered a form of communication.
"I heard that you bought a piece of land on the southeastern border. I happen to be thinking of doing some mineral business there. I wonder if I would have the honor of cooperating with you?"
The old lady said, "I'm sorry, I don't intend to get involved in the mineral business."
This is already a clear rejection.
But the man seemed not to understand, "So what kind of business are you interested in? Actually, I also have a decoration company. If your real estate company needs cooperation, you can also come to me."
"Thank you, but no need."
"Or the jewelry business, I've also been involved in the jewelry business."
The old lady's expression clearly showed impatience.
Hu Zhenzhen watched from the side and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
After arriving in S City, she didn't socialize much. Only people who saw her trending on Weibo and her close circle of wealthy friends knew about Hu Zhenzhen.
Men are clearly not included in this category.
Hearing Hu Zhenzhen's laughter, his expression instantly changed. He looked at her with displeasure, and when he realized she was a stranger, he asked her forcefully, "Who are you laughing at?"
Hu Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow. "Is that even a question? I'm laughing at you."
Seeing that she was sitting in the front row, the man felt a little apprehensive. "Madam, I don't think I've offended you. Isn't it impolite to mock someone for no reason?"
"But this old lady doesn't want to talk to you, yet you're still bothering her. Is that any kind of politeness you?"
Hu Zhenzhen retorted.
The man lost face, and his expression turned even uglier.
He heard Hu Zhenzhen defending Madam Li in every word and assumed that she was also there to curry favor, but had taken the seat in front of him first in an attempt to attract Madam Li's attention.
Trying to curry favor with Madam Li by stepping on him? Absolutely not!
His eyes suddenly turned fierce. "Madam Li hasn't even spoken yet, so who gave you the right to speak for her? I don't know where this pheasant came from, does she think she can fly into a wealthy family and become a phoenix?"
Hu Zhenzhen was young and beautiful, and the man began to speculate with ill intentions.
Could this be someone's daughter who wants to get close to Madam Li, win her favor, and marry her son directly?
I've seen plenty of men like that.
They are all people who have some money at home but not enough. In order to achieve upward social mobility, they try every means to attach themselves to people who are richer.
His words were truly harsh; not only did Hu Zhenzhen not appear, but even Madam Li frowned.
Fortunately, Hu Zhenzhen wasn't the kind of little girl who would cry at the slightest scolding. After hearing the man's words, she actually smiled even more broadly.
"Chen Kai, go ask Chairman Feng why such lowlifes are allowed in. I don't like being in the same space as these kinds of creatures."
If she were talking about someone else, the man might not recognize them.
But Mr. Feng was the owner of this charity auction, and of course the man knew that.
The moment Hu Zhenzhen called out to the people in the back row, he had a bad feeling. Only people with a high enough status would bring a subordinate to the party.
Although it's not said outright, the second row is mostly occupied by people who serve the first row; this is an open secret at various parties and events.
Men, of course, understand this too.
Since Hu Zhenzhen was able to call out to the people in the second row, she was probably originally sitting in the first row.
When did another tycoon emerge in City S?
The man broke out in a sweat instantly, and gave a dry laugh. "No, it's all a misunderstanding. I just have a foul mouth. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against me."
After saying that, he ran away without waiting for Hu Zhenzhen to forgive him or not.
"Boss, are we still going?"
Seeing the man leave the venue, Chen Kai went back and asked Hu Zhenzhen.
"No need. I was just trying to scare him. He was buzzing around my ear like a fly, it was really annoying. It's good to just get rid of him."
Hu Zhenzhen waved her hand casually, "By the way, remember to ask him who he is later, and try to avoid cooperating with him in the future."
If you accidentally become partners with this kind of person without careful consideration, wouldn't that be incredibly troublesome?
After listening for a while, Madam Li finally burst out laughing.
"You're so straightforward; I haven't met such a decisive young lady in a long time."
Since transmigrating into the book, Hu Zhenzhen's identity has become that of a mother and a rich woman. She hasn't heard anyone call her "little girl" in a long time.
She paused for a second, remembering what the man had just said, and worried that Madam Li might misunderstand.
“I’m no longer a little girl. I’m a mother now, and my son is in elementary school.”
Mrs. Li looked you up and down in surprise. "You don't seem like it. How old are you this year?"
There's nothing to lie about.
Hu Zhenzhen answered with a smile, "Twenty-five."
Twenty-five? So young and the kids are already this big?
Madam Li didn't speak, but Hu Zhenzhen understood what she meant from her expression.
Hu Zhenzhen could tell that Madam Li was a little embarrassed, so she took the initiative to change the subject and said, "I haven't introduced myself yet. I am Hu Zhenzhen. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Mrs. Li took out a business card from her handbag and handed it to Hu Zhenzhen.
"Nice to meet you too."
Upon hearing Hu Zhenzhen's name, Madam Li finally connected this quick-witted young woman with the rumored heir of the Hu family.
"I've heard you've come to S City for a while, but I haven't run into you at any parties and haven't had a chance to meet you."
Madam Li spoke subtly, but Hu Zhenzhen understood.
It was probably the rumors of her being a fifth-generation tycoon that had the effect; these people seemed to think she had a very powerful background.
Hu Zhenzhen didn't explain, only saying, "I don't know many people in S City, and I don't have many friends, so I naturally don't get together often."
She said that, but Madam Li didn't believe her.
If Hu Zhenzhen wanted to attend a party, all she had to do was ask, and with her wealth, there would naturally be plenty of socialites and heiresses willing to hang out with her.
Seeing through it all but not saying anything, Madam Li smiled and didn't say anything more.
I sat and waited for almost half an hour.
After Hu Zhenzhen drank a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, the auction finally officially began.
The lights below the stage dimmed, and the main stage lights at the front of the stage came on, illuminating the area brightly.
Chairman Feng is meticulous in his work.
I don't know if it was for the live stream, but they even spent money to hire a few people to sing.
Hu Zhenzhen had never heard their songs before, but when she heard people around her humming along, she knew they must be famous singers. She clapped twice, but when she noticed the camera, she stopped clapping.
On the homepage of Haixing Live, the most prominent recommendation spot is broadcasting this charity gala live.
The audience was several times larger than Hu Zhenzhen had anticipated.
[Brother Jie is the most awesome!]
[The organizers are really rich! I heard Deng Junjun will be here today too!]
[Just arrived, is this a live broadcast of a local TV station's gala?]
The comments scrolled by quickly, and it took a while before someone kindly answered the previous question.
This is a charity fundraising gala organized by the Kowloon Group.
Many onlookers then realized what the gala was all about and expressed their amazement.
I never knew there were charity galas these days. Where do they donate all that money? Maybe I should donate some too.
This is a golden bullet comment.
In live streaming, this special color represents status; only those who have spent enough money and recharged their accounts in the live stream can enjoy such unique treatment.
As soon as the comments appeared, he was fawned over by a group of sycophants who were following him.
[The Shower Guy is here! Welcome, Shower Guy!]
[The showerhead guy is so kind! Could you donate some money to me too? I'm having a really tough time.]
[As expected of "Shower Head Bro," he donates to rich guys without hesitation.]
The live stream was incredibly popular, and with many celebrity fans mixed in, those who used to fawn over him seemed much fewer in the crowd.
Showerhead, or Xiang Yu, was a little annoyed.
He's rich and enjoys being adored online. If he gets ignored in a live stream, he won't click in to watch it a second time.
But today, he's not in a hurry to leave.
The reason is simple: his older sister was sitting in the audience.
Today his sister went out to attend some kind of auction, and he wanted to go with her, but she refused to take him no matter what.
Xiang Yu suddenly became angry.
He wanted to see what kind of gala was so prestigious that he had to be mindful of others' attitudes to even attend.
Some people in the comments actually knew.
This party was for the museum; the museum needs renovations, but they don't have enough money.
This is the truth, but it seems a bit outrageous to netizens from other places.
Does museum renovation require fundraising?
Is this for real? I've never heard of such a thing.
There are many similar comments.
However, soon some enthusiastic people began to explain the recent policies and the economic situation in S City.
However, the discussion was quickly interrupted by a shot from the live stream.
During the break between songs, the camera panned to the audience.
Chairman Feng, as the initiator, sat in the very center.
However, the public's attention did not linger on him.
Who is the woman in the dark green dress, slightly to the left of center in the first row? Urgent! Is she a newcomer?
[How could that be? Didn't you see that none of the celebrities were sitting inside? The first row is full of super-rich people.]
You know what, among a group of wealthy people, the beautiful women in the front row really stood out.
Hu Zhenzhen's casual glance at the camera further excited the viewers in the live chat.
My sister is going to kill me!
Why are rich women both wealthy and beautiful, while I'm poor and ugly? Damn you, God, you're so unfair!
I need all the information about this rich woman within three minutes!
Hu Zhenzhen was trending on social media before.
Jiang Chen's kidnapping caused a great stir and left a deep impression on many people.
Hu Zhenzhen didn't appear on camera at the time, but her name was already well-known to the public.
With the amusement park incident trending at the bottom of the hot search list, it wasn't long before someone recognized Hu Zhenzhen.
[Holy crap, is this some kind of fifth-generation tycoon???]
[Wasn't the child supposed to be eight years old? How come she looks so young?]
[What do you know? Do you think a rich woman's skincare routine is the same as an ordinary person's? She must have spent a lot of money on her face.]
[Wow, those who said that shouldn't pretend to know what they're talking about. She's a stepmother, and she's only 25. Of course she looks young!]
Amidst the debate in the live chat, the auction finally began.
The bespectacled auctioneer walked onto the stage, stood behind a wooden table on the right side of the stage, and tapped it with a small wooden mallet.
"The auction is now officially open. Please bring out our first item."
Gifts from celebrities and wealthy businessmen are always of high value and are designed to prevent damage from bumps and knocks.
Therefore, we need to be extra careful when dealing with these things.
"The first item up for auction comes from our host, Chairman Feng. He is donating a wooden seal that is two hundred years old..."
As the auctioneer spoke, details of the seal began to appear on the large screen behind him.
Chairman Feng did not send out the wooden seal that day, and seeing what Hu Zhenzhen wanted to donate, he simply gave up the idea of competing with her.
Forget it, none of his collections can compare to Hu Zhenzhen's anyway, so he might as well back down and admit defeat, saving himself the trouble of sacrificing a precious collection.
Even if he were to give away his treasured collection, he would be reluctant to do so.
Only someone as outrageously wealthy as Hu Zhenzhen would donate Picasso's paintings.
"Number 30, 1.5 million per time!"
"Number 28, 1.55 million per time!"
...
Since the disappearance of treasure appraisal shows, netizens haven't seen a real antique auction for a long time.
The live stream remained incredibly popular, even surpassing the popularity of celebrity performances.
In the end, Mr. Feng's small seal was auctioned off for 2.1 million yuan to a wealthy businessman in the back row.
Whether the item is worth 2.1 million is another matter.
At least that wealthy businessman managed to make contact with Chairman Feng through those 2 million yuan, and they even started exchanging a few words.
This is also why many people are willing to attend this auction.
There aren't that many kind-hearted people willing to help renovate the museum; it's just that there are many celebrities and tycoons attending, and this is the perfect opportunity to build relationships with them.
The item that Chairman Feng brought out wasn't particularly appealing to the people in the first two rows, and no one raised a sign at all.
They were different from those in the back row. Even the one with the least wealth had billions, and they looked down on the trinket that President Feng had brought out.
Of course, Hu Zhenzhen wasn't looking down on it.
She simply didn't want to spend money at today's auction.
After a few days of parent-child activities, Hu Zhenzhen's pockets were full again, but she had already donated two original works by famous artists from home and abroad, so she couldn't help but feel a little pained and didn't want to spend any more money on this.
That was her initial thought.
The moment Hu Zhenzhen saw the items Mrs. Li brought out for auction, her resolve wavered.
"A ruby ring once worn by the Queen of Northern Britain, starting price 12 million, minimum increment 1 million..."
Hu Zhenzhen could no longer hear what the auctioneer was saying; her entire attention was drawn to the dazzling brilliance of the ruby.
What woman doesn't love jewelry?
Anyway, Hu Zhenzhen loves it to death.
She donated Picasso's paintings without batting an eye, but she couldn't bear to take out a single piece of the jewels and jewelry in her dressing room.
The gemstone ring also caught the eye of the viewers in the live chat.
Holy crap, the starting price alone is 12 million! How much will the final price be?!
[It's so beautiful! Does anyone know what this ring is like? Could someone in Yiwu make some replicas of it, even plastic ones?]
[As expected of the Queen's ring, besides the main face, the left and right sides are also pieced together with rubies. Only royalty can afford such luxury. I'm so envious.]
"Number 24, 2,100,000 once."
"Number 12, 25 million per transaction."
This is the first time I've been so close to a tycoon.
[It's clear that number 12 is determined to win by doubling the price and forcing others to back down.]
I don't think anyone can surpass bidder number 12. She raises the price by four million every time; she's determined to win.
The comments had just started to appear.
Before everyone's eyes, the first row, which had remained silent until now, raised their number plates.
[Look! That beautiful, wealthy woman is holding up a sign!]
The auctioneer announced: "Number 7, two thousand six..."
Before he could finish speaking, Hu Zhenzhen interrupted him, "Number 7, 50 million."
The room fell silent for a moment, and even the room was filled with the buzz of discussion.
The auctioneer reacted quickly, and the small wooden hammer struck the room with a crisp sound, bringing silence back to the room.
"Number 7, 50 million per time!"
The comments section went completely wild.
Wow, this girl is doubling down!
[This is what a true top-tier billionaire looks like; their asking price isn't just increasing by a few cents, it's doubling it.]
[That person who said they'd win on the 12th got slapped in the face, didn't they? There's always someone better, and there's always someone more powerful. She added four million, and Mrs. Zhenzhen immediately raised the price by twenty-five million. Do they even know what a top-tier tycoon is?]
...
Off-screen, Xiang Yu's mouth dropped open in astonishment.
There's no other reason than that number 12 is his sister, the current head of the Xiang family.
How can someone outshine his sister? Just who is this number 7? Could he really be the reclusive family tycoon that's all the talk online?
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