Chapter 268: Grand Gesture

Charity auctions like this were nothing more than a display of wealthy people's penchant for philanthropy to boost their public image.

In this society, if you don't have money, you're looked down upon. But if you do have money, people will find all sorts of reasons to criticize you. If you're frugal and keep your money to yourself, you'll be called stingy. If you donate money, people might say you're just making empty promises. So, rather than facing criticism for not donating, it's better to donate and gain some benefits.

However, the charity auction hosted by the Liu family was not purely for show. The Liu family owned their own auction house, meaning many of the items up for auction were genuine treasures worth vying for.

Thus, many wealthy attendees had come to this event with their eyes set on particular items.

Guided by the waiters, the guests filed into a side hall that was more like another grand hall than a mere side room. The space was filled with neatly arranged tables and chairs, each adorned with fruits, wine, and colorful number cards.

According to their invitation numbers, Yang Chen and Lin Ruoxi were led to a table prepared specifically for them. Coincidentally, their seats were just behind Mr. and Mrs. Yuan. As they sat down, Mr. and Mrs. Yuan turned around and smiled kindly at Yang Chen and Lin Ruoxi.

Lin Ruoxi couldn't understand why Yang Chen was so familiar with the Yuans. Although Yang Chen had mentioned attending Yuan Ye's birthday last time, Lin Ruoxi knew that in such large families, the social networks of children and their parents were not necessarily the same. At least before inheriting the family's leadership position, familiarity with the son did not mean good relations with the parents.

No matter how she thought about it, Lin Ruoxi couldn't see any reason why Yang Chen would know Mr. and Mrs. Yuan, but although she was curious, she didn't plan on asking Yang Chen.

Yang Chen, on the other hand, casually glanced around. He noticed that the Cai sisters were seated at a table in the front row. The foreign guests who had caught Cai Ning's attention were seated at tables further back, chatting happily with a relaxed demeanor.

3.5

The Liu family's auction house was a reputable large-scale company, ensuring that the items up for auction were genuine treasures. As a man in a white tailcoat stepped onto the stage, the auction for the first item commenced immediately. A large LED screen displayed a rotating 3D image of a blue-and-white porcelain.

The appearance of this piece immediately elicited gasps from the audience, indicating its considerable appeal.

The auctioneer announced loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, our first item today at the Liu Auction House is a Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white 'Peony Scroll Jar'. Many of you here are connoisseurs of antiques, and I need not elaborate on the value of this piece. Yuan blue-and-white porcelain is among the rarest, representing a transition in ancient Yanxia ceramics to colored porcelain. The painting style is magnificent, bold, with intricate layers, each piece a rare treasure. This item, perfectly preserved, has been offered by our foreign friends, starting at 5 million Yanxia Coins. Bidding starts now!"

With a resounding "Begin," many antique enthusiasts in the audience began eagerly raising their number cards.

"6 million!"

"8 million!"

"9.8 million!"

"I bid 12 million!"

The bidding continued fervently, quickly surpassing 20 million for this Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain.

Yang Chen listened to the wealthy individuals clamoring like throwing away blank paper and jokingly asked Lin Ruoxi, who sat quietly beside him, "Darling, why aren't you bidding? This item has tremendous potential for appreciation."

Lin Ruoxi replied indifferently, "I'm not interested."

Yang Chen knew she wasn't lacking in funds; it was likely she felt shy and didn't want to participate in such a public auction. He didn't press further.

In no time, someone shouted "43 million," a price equivalent to the total assets of several small businesses!

Although Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain could sell for astronomical prices, this piece, while high-quality, wasn't among the most iconic. Many attendees, including major bosses, regretfully folded their number cards, feeling there was no need to compete further.

The auctioneer began to call out, "Lot 57 bids 43 million, going once at 43 million..."

Before the auctioneer could continue, Yuan Hewei, who had been silent all along, suddenly raised his card and declared, "I bid 50 million."

With that declaration, the bidder who had originally shouted 43 million fell silent immediately. Regardless of whether they had the funds to counterbid, challenging the Yuan family for an item clearly indicated a lack of desire to maintain harmony in the Zhonghai social scene.

Furthermore, Yuan Hewei's bid of 50 million for the Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain, while not necessarily reflecting its actual value, symbolized a symbolic participation by the top family to acquire the first prestigious item, showcasing their prominence.

Unsurprisingly, everyone else chose silence. After the auctioneer's three calls, Yuan Hewei secured the first item for 50 million.

Once the first round ended, Yuan Hewei turned to Yang Chen and said with a smile, "I'm completely clueless about antiques; I bet many are laughing at me for being a big spender."

Yang Chen shook his head, "In a few years, it'll be worth 50 million. Keep it at home."

"Oh, so you're knowledgeable in this field?" Yuan Hewei asked curiously.

Both Lin Ruoxi and Yang Jieyu looked at Yang Chen with slight puzzlement.

Yang Chen lightly chuckled, "I dabbled in it when I was bored overseas before. Just a bit of this and that. You could say I'm a jack of all trades, master of none."

Of course, this was a white lie. Yang Chen had picked up some knowledge about blue-and-white porcelain because people had given him some Yuan Dynasty pieces before. He remembered some facts about blue-and-white porcelain, but he hadn't paid much attention to where those items ended up; someone else had handled that for him.

"Haha, it's not being a jack of all trades, master of none; it's culture," Yuan Hewei chuckled, "Many here have built their business empires through intuition. Coming to such auctions and splurging money is just for reputation. They envy what they call 'jack of all trades, master of none.'"

As they chatted, the auction continued.

The second and third items were successively displayed on the screen: ruby jewelry, medieval Western oil paintings, and ancient Yanxia calligraphy scrolls, each worth tens of millions.

However, after acquiring the first item, Yuan Hewei refrained from bidding further. Lin Ruoxi remained as silent as ever, seemingly detached from the proceedings.

Yang Chen began to feel a bit bored. The games of the wealthy seemed monotonous, and the flow of money, which could end up anywhere, left behind a greater void. To put it bluntly, it was less stimulating than lighting up a cheap cigarette.

However, as the auction progressed to the fifth item, Yang Chen suddenly felt a peculiar sensation.

Displayed on the large screen was a small, elegant goblet in antique gold color, typical of Gothic era style, likely used for holding wine.

The shape of the goblet was roughly cylindrical, with a wide mouth and a rounded base on a high foot. Its body exhibited ancient and somewhat blurred lines, with a few metallic scratches, but overall, it was discernibly a nobleman's goblet cast from rare metals like gold and silver.

Yang Chen suddenly had a realization. No wonder Cai Ning had come, and no wonder those peculiar vibes came from those few Caucasians. What Macedonia had mentioned online seemed to be true. It was just beyond belief that this legendary "Holy Grail" would appear at this charity auction!

Almost simultaneously, Yang Chen sensed a faint, chilling wave emanating from the back of the venue—a surge of energy akin to a deep abyss. Yang Chen immediately identified the identities of those Caucasians. "Wow, what a grand gesture. They brought quite a few people," Yang Chen muttered to himself.

"What did you say?" Lin Ruoxi thought Yang Chen was speaking to her and asked, frowning.

Yang Chen chuckled, "Nothing, my dear wife. This goblet looks good. Having a glass of wine in the evening helps with sleep and beauty. Why don't you buy it?"

"You should buy it if you like it. Starting bid is two million anyway, not too expensive," Lin Ruoxi replied indifferently.

Yang Chen pursed his lips. He certainly didn't have the money.

At that moment, the auctioneer introduced, "Ladies and gentlemen, this item was recently provided by a confidential seller. Estimated to date back to the Year One AD, this goblet boasts a rich history and mysterious origin, making it the standout feature of tonight's auction. While we begin bidding at two million, its true value is difficult to ascertain. We encourage you to seize this opportunity."

Before the auctioneer could finish, seated at the rear of the auction hall, a busty blonde woman in a dark red evening gown, speaking in halting Yanxia dialect, shouted, "Ten million!"