Feng Tingshen smiled. "It's fine. Didn't you say your grandmother would like it? Go ahead and bid."
Seeing his smile, Lin Wu's heart filled with sweetness. She raised her paddle again. "Sixty million."
Ren Jifeng followed immediately. "Seventy million."
Then, he spoke up, addressing Feng Tingshen loudly. "CEO Feng, the elders at my home just love this sort of thing. How about giving me some face and parting with it?"
Feng Tingshen looked over and gave a polite smile. "My apologies, CEO Ren. The elders in my family are quite fond of it as well."
They didn't bother to keep their conversation private. Rong Ci and Chu Zilan naturally overheard everything.
The vase was being auctioned for Old Madam Lin. Yet, Feng Tingshen referred to her as an elder of his own family, making it clear he already viewed the Lin family as his own. This was a world apart from the attitude he showed toward Rong Ci's family.
Lin Wu raised her paddle. "Eighty-five million."
This time, Ren Jifeng did not follow.
Ultimately, Lin Wu secured the antique vase for eighty-five million, once again drawing envious gazes from the entire audience.
When the deal was finalized, Lin Wu actually felt a bit uneasy. Although the Lin family was considered wealthy and her grandmother was an antique enthusiast who spent a fortune on pieces every year, spending nearly a hundred million on a single item was unthinkable. If her family found out, they would likely be frightened out of their wits.
Moreover, Feng Tingshen had originally told her to bid a flat hundred million. She had felt the price was too high and privately lowered it to eighty-five million. Thinking of how lavishly Feng Tingshen spent on her, a warm feeling spread through her heart.
Chu Zilan hissed, "Damn! That's nearly a hundred million!"
Adding the two items together, wasn't it close to a hundred million? This time, it wasn't just her teeth that felt on edge. Her entire body felt sour with envy!
Rong Ci pursed her lips, her expression darkening. Seeing this, Chu Zilan asked, "Xiao Ci, are you... alright?"
Feng Tingshen was treating the other woman so welland that woman was the daughter of the mistress who had ruined her mother's life. Could Rong Ci really stomach this?
But the reason for Rong Ci's foul mood wasn't that.
"How Feng Tingshen spends his money is none of my business, and I don't care," Rong Ci said. "What I'm worried about is that if he and Lin Wu want the same things I want, I won't be able to outbid them with my resources."
Chu Zilan realized the gravity of the situation. "That's... true. But she's already bought two items. Surely she won't bid again?"
Rong Ci hoped so. But she knew that with Feng Tingshen's wealth, he could bid on several more items tonight and spend another three hundred million without even blinking.
As she thought this, the embroidery painting she wanted was brought onto the stage. The starting price for this piece was also five million.
Someone immediately called out, "Six million."
Rong Ci raised her paddle. "Seven million."
Initially, Lin Wu hadn't noticed Rong Ci. But as soon as Rong Ci spoke, Lin Wu recognized the voice. She looked back, and her eyes met Rong Ci's.
Lin Wu showed no emotion. She quickly turned her head back around with an air of arrogance and raised her paddle. "Ten million."
Rong Ci's heart sank instantly. If Lin Wu had recognized her voice, she didn't believe for a second that Feng Tingshen hadn't. Yet, he didn't even look back.
Chu Zilan cursed under her breath. "Holy crap! She's really trying to steal it again!"
Ren Jifeng also joined in. "Fifteen million."
Rong Ci pressed her lips together and raised her paddle. "Eighteen million."
Without looking back, Lin Wu bid again. "Twenty-five million."
She had hiked the price up significantly in a single leap! Rong Ci's heart continued to plummet. She didn't have much liquid capital. Her budget for this auction was originally under thirty million. After all, the Rong family business was currently in a slump, and they didn't have much spare cash to squander.
But now...
Ren Jifeng: "Twenty-eight million."
Rong Ci raised her paddle. "Thirty million."
Rong Ci had followed him twice now. Her voice was clear, soft, and very pleasant to the ear. Hearing her, Ren Jifeng looked over. He was stunned for a moment when he saw her, then he arched an eyebrow and smiled. Rong Ci noticed his gaze and responded with a polite nod.
At that moment, Lin Wu raised her paddle again. "Forty million."
Rong Ci no longer had the mind to pay attention to Ren Jifeng. She clenched her hands into fists.
Ren Jifeng spoke again. "Forty-three million."
Rong Ci followed closely. "Forty-five million."
Lin Wu: "Fifty million."
Boom!
It felt as if Rong Ci's mind had exploded. Her initial budget had been thirty million, but when Lin Wu intervened, she had silently raised it to fifty million in her heart. It wasn't that she couldn't afford a higher price.
She had even thought about the villa Feng Tingshen gave her a few days ago. Selling it would fetch two or three hundred million. Since that money was essentially a gift, what would it matter if she spent it now?
But she knew very well that this embroidery painting wasn't worth fifty million. She could spend the money that way, but... she wasn't in a position to be reckless. If she actually sold the villa, she could use that money for far more meaningful things.
Thinking of this, Rong Ci silently lowered her hand.
Chu Zilan suggested, "Why don't you try contacting Feng Tingshen?"
Rong Ci had considered it. But would Feng Tingshen really ask Lin Wu to give up something she liked just for her? Impossible.
Even knowing it was impossible, Rong Ci still took out her phone and dialed his number. Feng Tingshen pulled his phone from his pocket when it began to vibrate. Lin Wu happened to look over and saw a string of digits with no contact name. "A stranger?" she asked.
Feng Tingshen chuckled without answering and hung up the call directly.
Watching the call be disconnected without the slightest hesitation, the tiny flicker of hope Rong Ci had held onto vanished. Her mind went blank for a moment.
Chu Zilan said angrily, "Damn, he actually didn't pick up!"
Rong Ci said nothing, silently placing her phone back into her bag.
By now, the bidding had reached ninety-five million. Ren Jifeng rubbed his temples and looked at Feng Tingshen. "CEO Feng, give me some face?"
Feng Tingshen gave a polite smile. "Next time, for sure."
Ren Jifeng: "..."
'Next time' my ass!
He raised his paddle and pushed the price straight to one hundred and twenty million.
Lin Wu raised her paddle. "One hundred and fifty million."
Ren Jifeng: "..."
Seeing this, Chu Zilan gritted her teeth and whispered in Rong Ci's ear, "This is the first time I've ever seen Ren Jifeng look so defeated."
The Ren Family was a top-tier wealthy family, just like the Feng Family. This time, it looked like Ren Jifeng wasn't as crazy with his bids as Feng Tingshen. One might think there was a huge gap between his financial strength and Feng Tingshen's.
In reality, that wasn't the case. Ren Jifeng was likely just weighing the cost; he didn't want to spend money unnecessarily. Feng Tingshen, however, was treating money like water just to win a smile from a beautiful woman.
With no one else bidding, the embroidery painting naturally fell into Lin Wu's hands as well.
Feng Tingshen looked at Ren Jifeng. "CEO Ren, thank you for yielding."
Ren Jifeng replied, "CEO Feng is too polite."
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/kleinmoretti to access 100+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).