The black sedan traveled smoothly on the road leading to the Art Center.
The interior of the car was quiet, save for the low hum of the engine.
Lin Luan sat in the back seat, wearing a deep gray suit. On his wrist was the watch Su Jin had given him. He was currently tapping away on his phone.
[Xiaowan, Brother has to work overtime today, so I won’t be home for dinner. I sent you some money.]
[Transfer: 100 yuan]
After confirming the transfer was complete, Lin Luan turned off his phone screen and slipped it back into his pocket.
He looked up and spoke to Song Li, who was driving.
“Won’t taking me to the auction like this leak the news? Aren’t we supposed to keep this from Miss Su?”
Song Li kept her eyes on the road ahead, not looking back.
“Please rest assured, Mr. Lin. Mr. Su has already made arrangements. Miss Su has an unavoidable international video conference tonight that will last until at least 10:00 PM.”
She paused, glancing at Lin Luan through the rearview mirror before adding, “The auction ends at 9:30 PM. I have enough time to return before her meeting ends. She won’t notice I was gone.”
“I see,” Lin Luan said thoughtfully.
The black sedan pulled smoothly into the Art Center’s underground parking lot, stopping quietly in an inconspicuous corner.
The parking lot was filled with luxury cars, but Lin Luan was no longer surprised by such sights. After all, he had seen even better ones at Su Jin’s house.
Song Li turned off the engine but didn’t unfasten her seatbelt immediately. She turned her head, her gaze lingering for a moment on the watch on Lin Luan’s wrist.
“Mr. Lin,” she began, “the invitation is in your inner suit pocket. The card Mr. Su gave you is tucked inside the invitation’s liner.”
“Understood.”
Lin Luan nodded and reached into his suit, feeling the high-quality texture of the envelope. He pulled out the invitation and opened it to find the Deep Blue Bank Card Su Bingren had provided for the vase purchase.
“Also, please put on this Bluetooth earpiece. I will guide you if there’s anything you don’t understand. Please try to stay online the entire time.”
Song Li handed him a Bluetooth earpiece and a pair of glasses. Lin Luan took them and carefully placed the piece in his ear.
“What are these glasses for…?”
“There is a small camera on the glasses that allows me to see what you see.”
“I see.” Lin Luan nodded.
“The final item is the Qing Dynasty Blue and White Yuhuchun Vase. The starting bid will be around 3.8 million, but based on past market trends and the significance of this piece, the final price will likely fall between 6 million and 8 million. There is 500 million on the card, which is more than enough.”
“500 million? Why so much?”
“That was Mr. Su’s wish. I’m not sure why,” Song Li said, shaking her head.
“Alright.”
Lin Luan nodded and pushed open the car door. He took a deep breath, adjusting his suit jacket and tie.
Soon, he would be raising the bidding paddle on Su Jin’s behalf, squandering astronomical sums of money without blinking an eye.
‘I feel like some kind of nouveau riche.’
Just as he was about to walk toward the elevator, Song Li suddenly called out to him. “Mr. Lin.”
Lin Luan turned back.
Song Li looked at him, her expression complex for a fleeting second, before she simply said, “Good luck.”
Lin Luan gave a small smile, turned, and walked into the elevator. The doors closed behind him.
The elevator rose slowly, the numbers ticking upward.
The auction was about to begin.
*Ding*
The elevator doors slid open silently at the top floor of the Art Center.
Unlike the silence of the underground parking lot, he was met with a world of glitz and glamour, filled with the scent of expensive perfume and the rustle of fine clothes.
Classical music drifted through the hall, and every inch of the floor exuded an air of luxury.
“Mr. Lin,” Song Li spoke, testing the earpiece. “Can you hear me?”
“Yes, I can,” Lin Luan replied, pressing the earpiece with one hand.
Song Li nodded to herself; the earpiece was working fine.
A staff member dressed in a black formal suit stepped forward politely to check Lin Luan’s invitation.
Once the invitation was verified, the staff member bowed. “Mr. Lin, your seat is in Area A, third row. Please follow me.”
Area A was the central area with the best view of the entire venue.
Lin Luan followed the staff member through a corridor lined with thick plush carpets.
Preview images of some of the artworks scheduled for auction hung on the walls. The atmospheric lighting highlighted every detail of the exhibits perfectly.
“Are… are all these things being auctioned tonight?” Lin Luan looked around.
“Most of them are. A few are museum-quality pieces meant for display only, not for sale,” Song Li answered through the earpiece.
A light fragrance lingered in the air, mixed with the expensive scents worn by the guests, though it wasn’t overpowering.
His appearance drew several scrutinizing looks. Some of the other guests at the auction intentionally sized him up.
“Right here, Mr. Lin.” The staff member stopped at a seat covered in deep red velvet.
The position was excellent, directly facing the auction stage. The people sitting nearby were all faces that frequently appeared on financial news.
Lin Luan gave a slight nod of thanks and sat down composedly. An elderly man with graying hair at his temples glanced at him but quickly looked away.
“Your bidding paddle is next to your seat,” Song Li said.
Lin Luan looked around and found it. It was a wooden paddle. He picked it up and saw the number 88 gilded onto it.
“Number 88. That’s a lucky number,” Lin Luan remarked.
“Let’s hope so,” Song Li instructed. “Now, you just need to wait until the final item appears.”
“Got it.”
The lights in the auction hall gradually dimmed, focusing on the stage at the front. An auctioneer with perfectly groomed hair walked onto the stage.
“I won’t bore you with unnecessary pleasantries. I believe everyone cares more about tonight’s items than my words.” The auctioneer smiled. “Therefore, I now declare the auction officially open.”
The first few items were mostly contemporary paintings and jewelry. The bidding process was orderly. Most bidders were reserved, only acting at key moments.
Lin Luan sat quietly, occasionally taking a sip of the bottled water beside him.
“Next is Item 15, an oil painting titled ‘Moon River’ by the young artist Chen Mo.”
The auctioneer’s voice continued. Lin Luan adjusted his posture, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the bank card.
It was almost time. The final item was coming soon.
” ‘Moon River,’ 1 million once! 1 million twice!” The auctioneer paused. “1 million three times! Sold!”
The auctioneer dropped the gavel, and the staff quickly moved the painting.
At that moment, the auctioneer suddenly cleared his throat, and the smile on his face became particularly meaningful.
For some reason, Lin Luan felt as if the auctioneer had just glanced at him.
Instead of immediately introducing the next item, the auctioneer signaled for the staff to adjust the lighting. The lights in the hall dimmed slightly, leaving only the auction stage enveloped in a bright beam of light.
“Distinguished guests,” the auctioneer’s voice echoed through the microphone, “we are going to temporarily adjust the auction order to present one of tonight’s most significant items early.”
A slight commotion broke out among the audience.
Lin Luan’s heart tightened as a bad premonition washed over him. He subconsciously sat up straight.
The auctioneer scanned the room, pausing to build the suspense.
“I now announce that the next item is — “
“15% Equity of Jinse Technology.”
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