Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Having successfully bid for the pair of pearl earrings, Tang Qianmiao picked up her cell phone and started to play an amusing game called Greedy Snake, to whittle some time away.
Her baby snake had gobbled up the enemies within a very short time and then surrounded the field, trapping the opponents in its territory so that they began to kill each other. After that, it would take its own time to enjoy gobbling down the carcasses.
Suddenly, she felt someone touch her arm. Her finger slipped and swiped across the touchscreen. The baby snake’s head was thrown against the wall, killing it immediately.
Raising her eyes slowly, she delivered her idiot teammate a killer stare.
Black Chicken hurriedly gave an apologetic smile, saying, “Bo… Boss… I didn’t do that on purpose. I only wanted to show you…”
Tang Qianmiao’s gaze followed the direction in which he was pointing, till it rested on the booth. At this point, the auctioneer was introducing this particular auction item…
“This perfume called Butterflies & Blossoms is a prize-winning work by Miss Lin Wenyu. It took the second prize in the national competition and there is only one vial in the world. It has a unique scent and the bid starts from 5.2 million.”
When the starting bid price was announced, Tang Qianmiao’s otherwise quiet and calm expression twitched slightly.
Black Chicken, like the rest of the crowd, responded with a soft “huh”.
He bent close to Tang Qianmiao and spoke into her ear, “Although the auction house sets the starting bid, they take into consideration the consignor’s reserve price. The auctioneer had paused for a moment before announcing the starting bid, it was obvious that he didn’t agree with the price, Boss. I’m quite sure your cousin twisted their arm somehow, otherwise the price wouldn’t have been this ridiculous. Even the auspicious pearl that you bid for was not priced this ridiculously. Does she not have any self-awareness? She has to be nuts.”
Tang Qianmiao did not bother to reply. Looking disinterested, she went back to playing the game.
Meanwhile, Black Chicken continued to watch the unfolding scene as his eyes fell on the slim figure sitting in the front row.
When the auctioneer was introducing the auction item, Lin Wenyu had automatically stood up, facing Feng Xian’s direction, looking every inch proud of herself.
Caught up in that moment of feeling rather superior, she did not notice the strange stares from the people in the room. Then she sat down in anticipation of the fierce bidding that would ensue as the people started fighting over her perfume. She held her chin up high and sat up straight, full of pride and arrogance over her achievement.
However, the seconds ticked away, and there was only silence.
The auctioneer had expected this, hence he calmly introduced the perfume once more. He even placed more emphasis on how unique it was.
Silence was the only response.
Slightly crestfallen by this stage, Lin Wenyu threw her mother an uncomfortable look.
Yun Ruyi gave her hand a firm pat and said, “It’s okay. You’ve done such an excellent job, there won’t be an issue.”
Lin Wenyu took a deep breath to steady herself. However, she was feeling increasingly anxious. If the item got passed over, Tang Qianmiao would laugh at her for sure.
No way!
She wasn’t going to let that happen.
But, after the second round of introduction from the auctioneer, the people remained silent.
The awkward silence continued…
At this point, Tang Yi coughed lightly. Although he looked indifferent, there was a threatening aura around him. The next moment, the man seated behind him raised his card hesitatingly and called out, “5.3 million.”
As he made the bid, he wiped imaginary sweat off his forehead.
Then the hall fell into silence again. No one countered the bid.
The auctioneer brought his hammer down firmly. “Congratulations, Mister, for your successful bid on this item!”
Lin Wenyu sighed in relief, although she felt a tightening in her head and her shoulders sagged. She couldn’t express how she was feeling.
But she was quite sure that her stepfather had intervened and helped.
Yun Ruyi whispered, “Stop looking so dejected. Remember, you’re the best and there’s no one better. Perfumes are different from the other items. If it were someone else’s perfume, it would have gotten the same response.”
The words made Lin Wenyu feel more encouraged and her sense of superiority slowly returned.
That’s right. She was only 18 and being where she was, was already a significant achievement, unlike Tang Qianmiao, who had had no success at anything.
“The next item comes to us from the famed fragrance designer, Master Bai Mi. This perfume is Master Bai Mi’s newest creation. This is the only vial in the world, the starting bid is 200 thousand.”
The moment these words were spoken, Lin Wenyu turned ashen.
Tang Qianmiao, who was sitting behind, raised her eyebrow slightly. With ease, she gobbled up a huge snake gem.