Chapter 32: Even If I Were to Sell It, Someone Must Have the Life to Buy It (3)

After calling out the price, Sun Huan looked at Wen Qingyan with a hint of nervousness. "Sister Qingyan..."

Wen Qingyan rose slowly and took Huan'er’s hand. "You... this is no small sum, after all. How can I let you spend so much... I..."

As Wen Qingyan hesitated, her expression full of unspoken words, Huan'er immediately insisted, "Sister Qingyan, don't worry about it. If the Sun family has anything in abundance, it is silver."

From the opposite box, Changge Yue watched the two figures behind the beaded curtain. She caught the flicker of mockery in Wen Qingyan’s eyes and rubbed her brow slightly.

She shook her head in resignation. "Captivating both men and women?" Was this the power of a delicate, soft-hearted girl?

Changge Yue pouted. The world said women were made of water, but Wen Qingyan wasn't just water—she was likely a hot spring! As for herself, Changge Yue figured she was a frigid pool that no one dared to enter.

Inside the nearby Changge family box, the atmosphere turned deathly quiet. Changge Yuqing looked at Lady Zhuge with a trace of fear. "Mother..."

Lady Zhuge sneered. What was one hundred thousand taels? However, as an elder, it was unbecoming for her to openly compete with Wen Qingyan. Although it was Changge Yuqing who had placed the bid, no one here was a fool; her intentions were clear to everyone. Yet, this piece of porcelain was the most prized possession of her father, Zhuge Pei. Lady Zhuge shredded the handkerchief in her hand, venting the fury she could not express. Changge Yuqing dared not even breathe loudly, wishing she could simply cease to exist.

Changge Yue glanced at the opposite box. "A gentle, understanding soul..." She thought she would like to play that role once herself.

A slight, casual smile curled the corners of Changge Yue’s lips, followed by the cunning of a little fox. "Two hundred thousand taels!" In any case, the money would eventually end up back in her own pocket.

Whether it was the Wen family or the Changge household, she would never be soft-hearted when it came to silver meant to honor her!

In the darkened chamber, where the entire auction house lay in full view, Feng Shang’s lips curved into an amused smile.

Zui Qingfeng, however, frowned. "Is that girl a fool? Buying her own item at an auction?" Did she think buying her own goods would exempt her from the commission fee? How naive!

Feng Shang merely let out a cold snort, not even deigning to glance at Zui Qingfeng. Zui Qingfeng felt deeply depressed—had he just been looked down upon?

The teacup in Wen Qingyan’s hand trembled. For all her composure, anger flared in her heart. First, someone from Yuexuan had interfered with the glass embroidered robe, and now, someone was bidding again. She took a deep breath, but Huan'er piped up, "It’s alright, Sister Qingyan. Let’s bid two hundred and ten thousand..."

Before Huan'er could finish, a joyful cry erupted from the Changge family box. "Three hundred thousand taels." It was not that Lady Zhuge was being reckless; she wanted to strike Wen Qingyan down with a single blow, leaving her unable to counter-bid. As for the anonymous woman in Yuexuan, she did not take her seriously at all.

Huan'er’s mouth hung open, and the price of two hundred and ten thousand taels was swallowed back into her throat.

A trace of anxiety flashed in Wen Qingyan's eyes. She turned her gaze to Huan'er, hoping the girl would repeat her earlier grand promises. Unfortunately, Huan'er’s eyes darted away, afraid to meet Wen Qingyan’s gaze, as she twisted her handkerchief incessantly.

Wen Qingyan felt an even deeper disdain for this wretched, copper-smelling girl from a minor family. Yet, she did not let a hint of it show on her face. "Forget it. I originally thought my grandfather would like it, but it seems my aunt intends to gift it to him as well. It is just... I wonder how my aunt came to have so much silver on hand... I suppose the Li family of Suzhou is on good terms with the Changge household; perhaps this money was provided by the Li family after all."