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"300,000!"
Just as Liang Zhihao was basking in his smug triumph, the auctioneer stood speechless in awkward silence, and the entire hall hung in an uneasy tension, a clear, bright voice suddenly shattered the stillness.
Every eye in the banquet hall instantly turned toward the source of the voice.
There, seated at a dining table, was a beautiful woman in a daffodil-yellow dress, her face alight with a smile. Seeming oblivious to the curious stares from all directions, she repeated, "I bid 300,000!"
The banquet hall was like a deep pond struck by a stone, inevitably rippling with waves of murmurs.
"Who is she?"
"I recognize her, she is one of the Xu Family's daughters."
"Which Xu Family?"
"Which Xu Family do you think? THE Xu Family!"
"Even with money, you can't just throw it around like that! 300,000 for a song? Maybe if it were Ouyang Derong's work, but who's this Lu Chen?"
"Hehe, Xu Hui is Shu Jing's junior sister. She's probably just trying to save her senior sister's face."
"Ah, that's perfectly normal."
Many recognized the woman holding up the bidding card, sparking a flurry of whispers and speculation. Liang Zhihao's smile froze on his face. He, too, recognized Xu Hui and overheard the surrounding chatter.
"Motherfucker! Gigolos always have the luck."
The young master of the Liang family could only curse Lu Chen's incredible luck under his breath as he dared not direct his anger at Xu Hui. Even ten of him combined couldn't afford to provoke a member of the Xu Family, not even the notoriously rebellious daughter who had fallen out of favor with her family.
Moreover, his uncle was equally out of the question.
In Hong Kong, the influence of elite families ran deep. To qualify as a member of the city's wealthy elite, a family needed not only immense wealth and a vast network of connections but also deep roots in both politics and the economy.
The Xu Family was one such powerhouse.
With Xu Hui's single bid, the awkwardness surrounding Lu Chen instantly dissipated, and Shu Jing's dignity was preserved.
Lu Chen was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected the woman he'd only exchanged a few words with to come to his rescue, let alone immediately raise the bidding price to 300,000.
Just moments ago, Lu Chen had been about to have Li Zhen raise the paddle himself. Even if that would have been awkward, it would have been better than having no bids at all.
Shu Jing's thoughts, however, were far more complex.
She knew perfectly well that Xu Hui's bid on Lu Chen's song wasn't about saving face for her. The fact that this rebellious daughter of the Xu Family wasn't sabotaging the event was already a miracle!
"What's taking so long? Aren't you going to gavel it down?" Xu Hui waved her auction paddle at the auctioneer on stage.
The dazed auctioneer snapped out of his stupor and hurriedly announced, "300,000! Miss Xu Hui bids 300,000! Any higher offers?"
Though he asked the question as a formality, the auctioneer doubted anyone would bid higher. He raised his gavel, preparing to strike.
Charity auctions prioritize speed and efficiency over the usual formalities.
"350,000!"
Just as everyone thought the gavel was about to fall, another voice suddenly rang out.
'Competing with Xu Hui!'
All eyes swiveled back to see who dared to challenge Xu Hui's bid.
The bidder was a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties, her elegance undiminished by age. Noticing the crowd's attention, she smiled and said, "My Xiaodie is debuting next month and desperately needs a title track. My apologies to Miss Xu."
Confusion rippled through the crowd.
Nearly every guest recognized this dignified woman: Jin Mingshu, the owner of Madam Jin Entertainment Company, Hong Kong's most renowned talent agency.
Born into a prominent family, Jin Mingshu founded her entertainment company in her twenties, venturing into film, television, variety show production, and talent management. Over decades, she had supplied Hong Kong's entertainment industry with a steady stream of talent.
Renowned actors Liu Jiaen and Gu Rong, vagabond singers Gao Mingfeng and Li Li, and many others had all been nurtured under Madam Jin's guidance.
Xu Hui, though a member of the Xu Family, was no match for Madam Jin alone.
Madam Jin and Shu Jing had a close relationship.
What puzzled everyone was this: if Xu Hui was simply trying to help Shu Jing out of a tight spot, bidding and winning the auction should have sufficed. What was the point of Madam Jin intervening?
Surely Madam Jin wasn't petty enough to be competing with Xu Hui out of spite!
It was Xu Hui who was truly angry. Her face icy, she declared, "Auctions are about who bids the highest. No one owes anyone anything. I bid 500,000!"
She raised her paddle again.
Madam Jin's smile didn't falter. "That's right. Then I'll bid 600,000."
In the blink of an eye, the starting bid of 10,000 had skyrocketed to 600,000, and the bidding war showed no signs of stopping.
Typically, such heated bidding wars were rare at charity auctions. Most attendees weren't looking to acquire heirloom pieces; their primary goals were networking and philanthropy.
So, even when multiple bidders coveted the same item, they'd typically discuss who had the strongest reputation or personal connections, ensuring everyone saved face and remained in good standing. A win-win for all.
Madam Jin and Xu Hui's direct, unyielding confrontation, however, resembled a bitter rivalry.
Yet no one had ever heard of any prior animosity between them.
Meanwhile, some industry insiders fell silent. If Madam Jin was indeed bidding for a lead single for her newly debuted artist, the price of 600,000 yuan far exceeded the industry's highest standards.
In Hong Kong's pop music scene, even top-tier songs, lyrics and music combined, rarely fetched more than 300,000 to 400,000 yuan. Given Madam Jin's status and reputation in the entertainment world, she had countless options and absolutely no need to engage in this bidding war with Xu Hui.
Madam Jin wasn't so shallow. So, the question remained: what had compelled her to act this way?
Sensing the onlookers' surprise and skepticism, Madam Jin clarified, "Mr. Lu Chen is the Mainland's most outstanding singer! Every single one of his songs is a masterpiece!"
The auctioneer had said something similar earlier, but few had taken it seriously. However, coming from Madam Jin's mouth, the impact was entirely different.
"As far as I know, he charges around a million yuan per song. Moreover, the album 'Flower Woman', which he produced for his girlfriend, Miss Chen Fei'er, has already sold over five million copies."
Five million album sales!
Several figures from the show business community gasped. Even in the Mainland's massive market, surpassing five million album sales was an astonishing achievement.
Chen Fei'er's name, on the other hand, was widely known.
Chen Fei'er's boyfriend demanded a million yuan per song, and his sales charts exploded. Given all this, Madam Jin's offer of 600,000 yuan was perfectly reasonable.
Many guests in the hall craned their necks, searching for Lu Chen. They were all eager to catch a glimpse of this remarkable talent.
Only Liang Zhihao cowered, wishing he could shrink back into his own trousers.
Madam Jin's praise for Lu Chen felt like a series of stinging slaps across his face.
He could already feel the strange, mocking gazes from the surrounding guests.
(End of Chapter)