So, during the auction, Gu Shengsheng decided to completely chill out and just sat there enjoying herself.

As for Lu Shijing, he would occasionally feed her fruit and snacks.

The people sitting behind them were finding it a bit much.

Many of them had even come alone. ‘Did we come here just to be subjected to this public display of affection? On what grounds?’

Then, a man from behind came over to make conversation. “Miss Gu? Miss Gu, you and Mr. Lu seem to have a really great relationship!”

“I’m impressed.” Gu Shengsheng glanced up at him briefly before saying, “You’re… Mr. Chen Gang, the host of that treasure appraisal show?”

“That’s me, that’s me. Miss Gu, we’re all quite impressed with your accomplishments. Everyone was hoping to come see your prowess as an appraiser.”

“A whole group of us industrialists from Huaxia came here today just to see you appraise treasures.”

Gu Shengsheng nodded. “Oh. Well, you all must have a lot of free time. Spending five hundred thousand on an entry fee and going through all the trouble of traveling just to see me.”

“Since your purpose is so pure, you might as well get rid of the bidding paddle next to you. Save yourself the trouble of calling out a price later.”

“…” Chen Gang’s smile froze on his face.

He was a little speechless. ‘I didn’t mean anything like that! How did things get so messy?’

‘I have no idea what’s gotten into them.’

“Miss Gu, since we’ve already paid to get in, we have to participate in the auction! We can’t afford the six-billion-dollar centerpiece, but we should at least try for the earlier items, right?”

“Not everyone can contribute to Huaxia like you can, but we need to try, too. After all, you know I have a TV show. I have a large fan base behind me.”

“A lot of you internet celebrities even come to me for advice,” he said, as if it were a great burden.

Gu Shengsheng nodded. “Oh, I know. You’re the one who smashes people’s real antiques with a hammer during appraisals, right?”

“And you’re also that Mr. Chen Gang who told a descendant of Qi Baishi that their painting was a fake, only to get proven wrong after they revealed their identity?”

Chen Gang’s expression had been fine, but after hearing Gu Shengsheng’s words, his whole demeanor soured. He honestly wanted to just punch her.

‘Who even talks to people like that?’

‘Isn’t that just rude? Who does she think she is?’

Just as a fuming Chen Gang was about to start cursing, Lu Shijing turned around. “Mr. Chen Gang,” he said, “you’re in the wrong seat.”

Chen Gang stood up in alarm, looking at the ticket in his hand. “It doesn’t say I can’t sit here.”

Then, someone from the organizing committee came over. “Mr. Chen, this way, please.”

It would have been better if they hadn’t invited him over at all; with one “please,” they escorted him all the way to the back.

Chen Gang: “…”

Gu Shengsheng made a “bye-bye” gesture.

Lu Shijing said, “Unnecessary socializing should simply be avoided.”

Once the auction began, the bidding was fierce. Every item fetched a high price.

In any case, Jack was happy. The higher the price, the bigger the profit.

But the final trump card was still the centerpiece, the *Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection*.

Even though every preceding item sold for a high price, their combined total would be a billion at most.

But the final, priceless, one-of-a-kind piece was the *Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection*, worth six billion.

He couldn’t believe that such an incredible item had appeared out of nowhere just last night, and that it was here specifically to help him.

‘Isn’t this a blessing from Jesus?’

‘It’s as if God himself couldn’t bear to see me suffer. All of this is a gift for me. How could I possibly waste such a great opportunity?’

‘I have to make a killing on this one.’

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.

Jack’s gaze toward Gu Shengsheng was now tinged with disdain. The auction had already reached the tenth item.

“Miss Gu, you haven’t bought a single thing so far. Is it because you look down on them, or because you don’t have the money?”

Gu Shengsheng said, “Oh, I don’t have the money.”

“Because all my attention is on the final piece. This is the rare *Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection*. Do you have any idea what this means to us in Huaxia? No matter what, we have to get it.”

Jack asked tentatively, “But if you win it for ten billion, is it really worth that much?”

Gu Shengsheng immediately took on the air of an expert giving a lecture.

“I’m in the business of trading all sorts of antiques. I’m telling you, Mr. Jack, it’s because you always limit yourself.”

“Look at you, you’re so rigid in everything you do. Always so cautious. If you want to make Big Money, you can’t have any hesitation, understand? There are so many opportunities waiting for you.”

“Going on like this every day, what can you do besides collect a small salary from your superiors? Have you even saved up five million yet?”

“…” Although Jack desperately wanted to refute her and mock her for being so classless and looking down on him, he couldn’t deny that she was actually right.

“So what should I do?” Jack grew curious. “How do you make your money? I heard that in Huaxia, it’s possible for you to earn a hundred million in a single day.”

Gu Shengsheng nodded. “That’s right. You have to use your brain and do business to make money. Otherwise, why would I be here trying to snatch up this centerpiece?”

“Once I buy it, I can keep making money off it. Do you think I’m going to put it on display in my private museum? No, I’m going to resell it, create a lot of hype…”

Gu Shengsheng said a lot in one breath. Of course, it was all complete nonsense.

Not a single word of it was true.

In any case, Gu Shengsheng had set the stage perfectly.

Jack walked back to his seat with a frown.

Then Lu Shijing asked, “Did he take the bait?”

Gu Shengsheng replied, “I’m pretty sure he did.”

Jack kept thinking, ‘If anyone can make money, why can’t it be me?’

‘After all, if a young girl like Gu Shengsheng can earn so much, why can’t I?’

Six billion. With his connections, he could borrow that much. Even more.

Jack was already very familiar with these kinds of operations.

So, when the final exhibit was being auctioned, Gu Shengsheng was the first to stand up. “Seven billion.”

The crowd didn’t look too surprised. Anyone who came here without that kind of money couldn’t possibly compete for the Da Ying Museum’s final piece anyway.

A few others then stood up to bid, and after that, Lu Shijing raised the price in one go: “Ten billion.”

The crowd began to whisper among themselves:

“It looks like Mr. Lu and Miss Gu are determined to win this.”

“That Miss Gu has a great eye. Our choice shouldn’t be wrong; several professional Treasure Appraisers in our families told us to buy it.”

As they spoke, everyone’s expressions grew solemn. After all, no one wanted to give up, and that was the truth.

People continued to raise the price, but not by much anymore.

Finally, Jack spoke up directly: “Fifteen billion.”

“…” The crowd was stunned. ‘Why is the director bidding on it himself?’

They all wanted it, but they didn’t have the financial power.

And so, the item was sold to Jack for a final price of fifteen billion.

He hadn’t been happy for long before he received a call from the museum’s upper management.

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