Chapter Sixteen: The Scheme Begins

And so, the matter was brought up for discussion once again.

Even if this time it was more about how Sheng Ting, with his immense wealth, set off fireworks all across the city yet still couldn’t pay a single employee’s salary.

But as long as it stirred up some buzz, that was enough.

When the fireworks went off, Sheng Ting, perhaps out of a momentary lapse of reason, even sent a text to Jiang Nanxing asking, “Do you regret it?”

Huh? Really?

Jiang Nanxing thought he was seriously sick. Even if Sheng Ting hadn’t set off those fireworks for Yao Xinyue, he wouldn’t have done it for her.

She had just deleted the message when, lo and behold, Yao Xinyue sent her a text too.

Showing off, of course.

Truly a match for the likes of the greatest strategists.

The next afternoon, Qin Jiu sent over a team for dresses and styling.

The dress wasn’t complicated and wouldn’t be too restrictive.

Jiang Nanxing was very pleased.

After all, she still had some plans to execute.

Later, Qin Jiu came to pick her up for the auction.

Rarely did he wear a full suit, and it fit him perfectly.

The defined muscles beneath still gave him a wild edge.

Jiang Nanxing linked her arm through his and whispered in his ear, “Are there any particularly expensive lots tonight?”

The warm breath tickled Qin Jiu’s ear, making him feel a bit flustered.

“Hmm,” he replied softly. “Quite a few.”

He didn’t think Jiang Nanxing was asking out of desire.

Sure enough, she smiled sweetly and said, “Oh, then, Mr. Qin, are you interested in making Sheng Ting bleed financially?”

Jiang Nanxing leaned even closer, and he caught a faint, pleasant fragrance from her.

Qin Jiu tried not to pay attention to it. “Of course I am.”

The venue was vast and lavishly decorated.

The rear seats were arranged around small round tables.

Name cards and fruit platters were already set on the tables.

The front seats were more comfortable leather sofas.

Jiang Nanxing had never been to an auction before, so she wasn’t sure if this layout was just for the male lead to show off or if all wealthy people’s auctions looked like this.

Qin Jiu’s seat was undoubtedly in the front row.

Sheng Ting’s name card was at the table next to his.

The auction was about to start when Sheng Ting and Yao Xinyue finally arrived, fashionably late.

Both looked disdainful, noses held high, and when they saw Jiang Nanxing, they snorted coldly.

Jiang Nanxing was too indifferent to care and focused on the auction catalog.

She was looking for which lots would bleed Sheng Ting dry.

First, jewelry—no doubt about that.

Yao Xinyue couldn’t stand seeing Jiang Nanxing doing better than her; if Jiang Nanxing showed even the slightest interest, Qin Jiu would bid.

Neither Sheng Ting nor Yao Xinyue would sit still for that.

Two hotheads combined meant no room for reason.

They could boldly raise the bids without hesitation.

Qin Jiu noticed Jiang Nanxing eyeing the jewelry and leaned toward her, whispering, “This jadeite, when it was still a raw stone, was auctioned off for nearly two hundred million.”

“After processing, its estimated value is between five and six hundred million.”

Jiang Nanxing’s eyes lit up, and she lowered her voice. “Do you think we could double its value?”

Qin Jiu glanced at Sheng Ting, who was staring daggers at the two of them, and smiled. “Hard to say.”

Then he went on to introduce other lots one by one.

This auction was truly heavyweight.

There were many items worth tens of millions, even hundreds of millions.

Good, Jiang Nanxing liked it.

Soon, the auction officially began.

There were all sorts of items—antiques, calligraphy, paintings.

People placed bids.

When the first piece of jewelry came up, Jiang Nanxing spoke to Qin Jiu in a voice loud enough for Yao Xinyue and Sheng Ting to hear, “This necklace is quite pretty.”

Qin Jiu cooperated and raised his paddle.

Starting price was three million; Qin Jiu went up to four million.

Yao Xinyue, always watching Jiang Nanxing’s every move, immediately coquettishly whispered to Sheng Ting, “Brother Sheng, I think this necklace matches my outfit perfectly today.”

Then, with exaggerated innocence, she apologized to Jiang Nanxing, “Oh dear, Sister Nanxing, you seem to like this necklace too. What shall we do?”

Sheng Ting shot a look at Jiang Nanxing filled with three parts disdain, three parts mockery, and four parts coldness, then raised his paddle to six million.

Probably to flaunt his greater wealth compared to Qin Jiu.

Yao Xinyue smugly said, “Sister Nanxing, looks like we’ll have to rely on our own skills.”

Qin Jiu matched the bid, raising it to nine million.

Clearly, a game of one-upmanship.

If Sheng Ting wanted to outbid him by one million, Qin Jiu would outbid Sheng Ting by one million.

Naturally, Sheng Ting felt challenged and pushed it to thirteen million.

Everyone else saw this as a clash of titans and wisely chose not to intervene.

One, because neither side was someone they dared offend, and two, because none had the financial power of these two.

They were simply here to enjoy the spectacle.

Qin Jiu wanted to bid again, but Jiang Nanxing held his arm with a look of regret. “Let’s just see the other lots.”

So, in the end, Sheng Ting won the necklace for thirteen million.

He had the item delivered immediately.

The two of them put on a show of affection.

While placing the necklace on Yao Xinyue, Sheng Ting mocked Qin Jiu, “Mr. Qin, when did you get so poor that you can’t afford a necklace worth tens of millions?”

Yao Xinyue tilted her head back, stretching her neck, giggling, “Brother Sheng, isn’t this necklace a bit too expensive?”

“Otherwise, why wouldn’t Mr. Qin keep bidding?”

Sheng Ting pulled Yao Xinyue tightly into his arms, glaring at Jiang Nanxing and Qin Jiu. “My woman deserves the best!”

Jiang Nanxing and Qin Jiu exchanged a knowing look, both seeing deep disdain and disbelief in each other’s eyes.

But it was just as well that Sheng Ting was as clueless as expected.

Afterward, Jiang Nanxing and Qin Jiu tried the same trick a few times, attempting to bait Sheng Ting.

Qin Jiu also tried to win a couple of items himself, to mask their true intentions.

Guess what happened?

They had underestimated Sheng Ting.

One lot started at eight million and was bid up to eighty million.

And Sheng Ting kept bidding.

Of course, he won it.

Jiang Nanxing pretended to ask Qin Jiu if the price was too high.

Sheng Ting and Yao Xinyue chimed in unison, saying only those without money thought it was overpriced. Sheng Ting, after all, always spent money to buy happiness.

After these trials, Jiang Nanxing noticed Qin Jiu was visibly more pleased.

She had a feeling he was planning something she didn’t yet understand.

When the last few expensive lots came up, Jiang Nanxing quietly signaled Qin Jiu to put on a little more of a show, to satisfy Sheng Ting’s desire to win.

So after losing a few items to Sheng Ting, Qin Jiu feigned anger and scowled.

Jiang Nanxing played the part of the pitiful one trying to soothe him, only to be coldly brushed off.

Yao Xinyue and Sheng Ting watched this scene, utterly delighted and smug.

Then, the final grand lot was presented.

Qin Jiu asked Jiang Nanxing gravely, “Do you know the Sky Lantern?”