The two returned to the Su family home. Butler Liu went to handle other matters, and Yan Ning returned to her room.
As soon as she entered the room, she saw an exquisite gold invitation on the coffee table.
She picked up the invitation, which read "Royal Antiques Auction" in ornate lettering.
Next to it is a gleaming gold auction hammer image, with the time, location, and organizer's name below it.
Yan Ning felt a surge of intense curiosity.
An auction? That sounds interesting.
She had never attended an auction before, and this occasion, filled with mystery and an aura of wealth, felt somewhat novel to her.
She opened her wardrobe and carefully selected a suitable yet elegant outfit.
This is a light-colored, fitted dress with delicate lace trim at the neckline and a slightly flared skirt.
Pair it with a pair of silver high heels and a gemstone necklace.
Yan Ning looked at herself with satisfaction in the mirror, then picked up her handbag and went out to the auction venue.
The auction was held in the grand ballroom of a luxury hotel in the city center.
As soon as Yan Ning entered the venue, she felt the luxurious yet tense atmosphere.
The spacious hall was furnished with rows of chairs, and in the center was a tall auction stage displaying various precious antiques and works of art.
The soft yet bright lighting made each exhibit sparkle.
Many people dressed in fine clothes sat in their seats, holding signs with numbers on them.
Their eyes were fixed on the auction stage, waiting for the auctioneer to make his presentation.
The auctioneer stood on the stage, struggling to promote an exhibit.
It was a white jade Guanyin statue.
It is about half a meter tall, pure white like jade, and carved with lifelike detail.
Guanyin has a kind face and an otherworldly air about her. The folds of her clothes are smooth and natural, as if they might flutter at any moment.
The auctioneer used a magnifying glass to carefully display every detail of the jade Guanyin.
He spoke eloquently about the history and value of the white jade Guanyin:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this white jade Guanyin is a precious artifact from the Ming Dynasty. It is said to have been carved by a high-ranking monk at the time. The jade is warm and lustrous, and the craftsmanship is exquisite. It is truly a priceless treasure."
"Now, let's begin the auction! The starting price is five million, and each bid must be at least one million higher."
Five million!
A middle-aged man in a suit held up a sign.
"Six million!" A woman sitting in the back row retorted.
"Seven million!" Someone else raised the bid.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the next bid.
At that moment, a magnetic and pleasant voice rang out:
"Twenty million."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.
The entire audience erupted in boos, and everyone's attention turned to the source of the noise.
Yan Ning couldn't help but turn around and look, only to see a man in a black suit sitting casually on the sofa.
His posture was languid and elegant, with his legs slightly crossed and his hands resting on his knees.
Beneath his high, straight nose, his thin lips were slightly pursed, giving him a cool and aloof air.
A pair of familiar peach blossom eyes, carrying a faint chill.
Yan Ning couldn't help but take a second look, only to suddenly realize that this was her fiancé, Xie Huaiye!
The auctioneer's eyes lit up instantly, and he shouted excitedly:
"Twenty million once, twenty million twice, twenty million three times, sold! Congratulations, Mr. Xie!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the whole audience burst into enthusiastic applause, and people cast envious glances at Xie Huaiye.
Yan Ning turned her head and looked at the jade Guanyin statue again.
Amidst the applause, the white jade Guanyin lowered her eyebrows and smiled, the smile at the corners of her mouth seeming to deepen.
Suddenly, the white jade Guanyin blinked rapidly.
Yan Ning was startled. What was going on? Had I seen wrong?
She continued to stare at the white jade Guanyin, trying to see if it really blinked.
But the white jade Guanyin remained motionless, her expression unchanged.
A surge of intense curiosity welled up in Yan Ning's heart. She subconsciously took a step back, only to bump into the person behind her.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry."
Yan Ning quickly turned around and saw a familiar face—it was Xie Huaiye.
He frowned slightly, then smiled faintly.
"It's alright, we meet again, Miss Yan Ning."
Yan Ning paused for a moment, then pointed at the jade Guanyin and said:
"Xie Huaiye, did you see it just now? The eyes of that jade Guanyin statue seemed to move."
Xie Huaiye's gaze followed her finger to the jade Guanyin, his eyes became deep, and the smile on his lips faded slightly.
He was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Really? Maybe it's the lighting, but this white-robed Guanyin is indeed lifelike, giving people the illusion that she is looking at you."
Yan Ning remained silent for a moment. In the past, she could directly sense the presence of evil beings, but this time she did not sense them. Could it be that she was seeing things wrong?
Seeing that Yan Ning remained silent, Xie Huaiye pursed his lips and said:
"Our company recently encountered a major incident, and a mysterious person provided us with evidence. I wonder if Miss Yan Ning could help me figure out who this person is?"
Yan Ning was stunned. This mysterious person was her! How could she be the one to calculate it?
Moreover, it wouldn't be good if outsiders found out that she had secretly sneaked into their company; it's better to keep this a secret.
So, Yan Ning raised his hand, casually did some calculations, and said:
"This person is a male friend of yours for many years. He is currently abroad, so I won't say who he is."
Xie Huaiye nodded seriously, "Is that so? Then let's forget about it."
His keen eyes caught a sly smile on Yan Ning's lips.
You were so accurate in your calculations before, able to predict the time, place, and people so clearly. Why are you being so evasive this time?
Moreover, he has an indifferent personality and hardly any friends around him, let alone friends of many years.
Xie Huaiye had reached a conclusion in his mind. He smiled and said calmly, "Thank you for helping me with the calculation. I have to go now."
Yan Ning looked at Xie Huaiye's back, then at the white jade Guanyin statue, and felt that something was a little strange.
No, we still need to find out the truth about this white jade Guanyin. If it really is an evil object, we can't let it harm people!
Yan Ning left the auction and returned to the Su family home. She sat on the sofa and received a push notification on her phone.
Xie Huaiye will be holding an exhibition tomorrow, displaying his collection of calligraphy, paintings and antiques from many years at the art museum.
Yan Ning glanced at the list of exhibits, which included many valuable and rare treasures, including the white jade Guanyin statue.
Xiao Shi, somewhat curious, leaned closer, looked at the white jade Guanyin on Yan Ning's phone, and asked:
"Sister, are you going to see the exhibition? When did you become interested in antiques?"
Yan Ning raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Wrong. I'm not interested in antiques; I'm interested in the weird stuff hidden inside."
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