<h4>Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Auction</h4>


    *


    North City Eight-star Hotel Top Floor


    Auction Site


    Many of the items up for auction this time were from Royal Treasures and had won everyone’s favor, attracting arge crowd.


    To prevent influence from power and status, this auction was arranged as a "masked auction."


    Jiang Mian took a fox mask from a staff member, "Thank you."


    "Eh, seriously, with this on, I can’t recognize anyone."


    High society was a cycle, and most of those attending the auction probably knew each other. The organizers had certainly made it so that nobody could tell who was who.


    Upon entering the venue, Jiang Mian and Su Lixing went straight to the second floor to find their private room and sat down.


    After scanning the room, Jiang Mian’s gaze quickly lingered on a figure, "Look, there’s President Lin."


    Su Lixing followed Jiang Mian’s gaze.


    A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes before quickly returning to calm, and she smiled with a slight lift of her lips, "Your brother has not been busytely, just loitering around North City every day."


    Jiang Mian herself was curious about this very question, but then she thought, "Being busy is just an excuse, winning a beauty’s smile is what’s really important."


    "Right, Susu?"


    Su Lixing cast a brief nce, her pretty eyes shining, "Of course, even someone as busy as President Fu hase out."


    Fu Sichen?


    Jiang Mian’s brows furrowed slightly, and she quickly caught a glimpse of the man in a well-tailored suit. His neat tie gave an intimidating presence, and even wearing a mask among the crowd, he stood out distinctly.


    She quickly averted her gaze, nonchntly saying, "Oh, it has nothing to do with me."


    Su Lixingughed, these two were always so stubborn with each other.


    The auction officially began.


    The auctioneer introduced tonight’s first item, "From n Ind’s royal collection, the Mermaid Ne."


    As the ck cloth was lifted, a blue gem sparkled under the lights, radiant and alluring. Even from a distance, the surrounding ring of smaller diamonds caught everyone’s attention.


    Jiang Mian flipped through the booklet of items, her red lips curling into a half-smile, "No wonder it’s so crowded, they’ve arranged one grand item after another."


    The opening Mermaid Ne was a rare treasure in itself, just an appetizer among many, and whether one could swallow the rest would depend on capability.


    "The starting bid is 800,000."


    "900,000!"


    "1 million!"


    The prices rapidly escted.


    Jiang Mian’s eyes sparkled with interest, and with a side nce, she observed the man seated on the other side, serene and detached, his thin lips seemingly pondering something.


    "I think this ck Gemstone looks pretty nice!"


    Su Lixing pointed to an item on a page, a ck pearl gemstone ne, a natural wonder that already captivated even in photos, unimaginable what the actual item would look like.


    The only response she received from Jiang Mian was silent stillness.


    ??


    "Mianmian?"


    "Jiang Mian??"


    Jiang Mian’s train of thought was interrupted, her gaze returning, "Hmm?"


    "Did you hear what I said?"


    Jiang Mian’s eyes fell on the booklet in Su Lixing’s hands, "I heard you, you like this one."


    "..."


    Should it be said that it’s because one’s best friend responds too quickly, or because she knows her too well.


    "2 million for the first time! 2 million for the second time! 2 million for the third time!"


    "Bang!"


    The gavel fell with a muffled sound.


    Thepetition for the first few items was not very fierce, probably because the majority were eyeing the itemsing upter.


    [A set of pink diamond jewelry series]


    [ck Gemstone Pearl Ne]


    [Over 1000-year-old openwork filigree white porcin]


    ["Blue Moon" gemstone ring]


    [A yellow diamond ne crafted with white diamonds and rose gold]


    ...