Ning Xin's face darkened as she witnessed this scene. The thought of the man her sister loved, who was deeply infatuated with this woman, made her feel incredibly conflicted.
"Boss, we can't bid anymore," the man behind her said softly. "The previous lots have already exceeded our budget. If we bid again, we'll truly be losing money."
Ning Xin clenched her fist on the table.
"Boss!" the man urged, his voice tinged with anxiety. Their budget for this trip was limited, and many of the items they had acquired were overpriced, especially this jade bangle, which was not worth such a high sum. Selling it would mean a loss.
Ning Xin stared at the jade bangle for a while before finally pressing the button on the table, which emitted a clear bell sound.
"Add fifty million."
"Thirty-five million!" the auctioneer's voice, full of excitement, boomed through the microphone to every corner of the hall.
Shen Qingqing glanced at Ning Xin, her expression unchanged from when the previous items were snatched away. "Forty million."
Ning Xin gritted her teeth slightly.
The man behind her grew frantic. "Boss!"
The surrounding spectators held their breath in anticipation. Even a casual observer could tell that the jade bangle was not worth such an exorbitant price. Forty million was already the ceiling; any higher would guarantee a substantial loss.
Would Ning Xin bid again? All eyes were fixed on Ning Xin's private box.
Silence stretched within the box for a long time, and no response came. The crowd, initially eager for drama, slowly lost interest, assuming she wouldn't bid further.
After about a minute, the auctioneer began, "Forty million, once. Forty million, twice..."
"Forty million, thrice! Sold!"
The jade bangle was immediately delivered to Shen Qingqing's private box, and she promptly transferred the forty million, not a cent less.
Ning Xin, seated by the window, observed Shen Qingqing's expression. She noticed that even after acquiring the jade bangle, there was no trace of joy on her face. Was the bangle not that important, or was she simply adept at concealing her emotions? Ning Xin suspected the latter.
"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend our auction. All items for today have been successfully auctioned. There is a restaurant downstairs offering signature dishes from various cities, which you are welcome to try. Upstairs, we also have entertainment facilities for your enjoyment. We hope you have a delightful time here."
The auctioneer concluded with a polite speech, ushering the guests out. Some headed upstairs, some downstairs, and others directly to the parking lot.
Shen Qingqing, having secured what she desired, was preparing to leave the auction house with a pleasant mood, only to be blocked at the entrance.
Ning Xin stood with her hands in her pockets, her cool eyes meeting Shen Qingqing's without flinching. "You were more skilled today, and I admit I lost. But I won't always be the loser."
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "The outcome of future wins and losses is uncertain, but at least today, you've lost both the battle and the beauty."
She hadn't intended to be mocking, but her steady, unperturbed tone ignited Ning Xin's anger.
"Fine. We'll see about that later." Ning Xin, not one for prolonged threats, turned and left decisively.
Ke Lin pouted. "I don't know what she's so proud of. They were clearly looking for trouble. Mr. Shen, how did you offend her?"
Shen Qingqing rubbed her forehead. "It's a long story."
However, this minor incident did not dampen Shen Qingqing's spirits. Having finally acquired the treasure she had been searching for, she was immensely joyful and content.
As they exited the auction house, Ke Lin cited company matters as an excuse and drove off first.
Fu Jingshu started the car and turned to look at his wife in the passenger seat. "Do you really like this jade bangle that much?"
Ever since they got into the car, his wife had opened the packaging and was examining the bangle in her palm, turning it over and over, clearly smitten with it.
Shen Qingqing's lips curved upwards. "You wouldn't understand. This is a priceless treasure to me. Others might think spending forty million on this bangle is a huge loss, but I feel it's incredibly worth it."
"Why?"
His wife usually showed little interest in jewelry and never wore much herself. Yet today, she seemed to have a peculiar obsession with this jade bangle.
Shen Qingqing's fair fingertips gently traced the surface of the bangle. "Because this item is truly very important to me."
"Was it a gift from someone?"
Only gifts from important people are imbued with such special meaning.
Shen Qingqing remained silent. This was tacit confirmation.
Fu Jingshu pursed his lips and tapped his long index finger on the steering wheel. "Was it a man or a woman?"
Indeed, this was his primary concern.
Shen Qingqing was instantly pulled from her carefully cultivated melancholic mood and chuckled in amusement. "It doesn't matter. Man or woman, I don't have any other intentions towards this person."
"So, it was a woman." Fu Jingshu answered without hesitation.
Shen Qingqing asked curiously, "...How did you know?"
Fu Jingshu let out a low chuckle, deliberately withholding the explanation.
"But even if it was a woman, you shouldn't place too much importance on her. This bangle doesn't look like it's of very good quality. Why do you like it so much?" Fu Jingshu glanced at the bangle, his disdain evident.
Shen Qingqing gently tapped the bangle, her movements soft and tender. "If your grandmother or father gave you something, wouldn't you consider it very important?"
"You mean..." Fu Jingshu knew well how poorly his wife's father had treated her over the years, so the person she would cherish so much could only be...
"It was Mom."
"How shameless! Why are you calling my mother 'Mom' already?" Shen Qingqing was inwardly delighted by his immediate acceptance, though she feigned annoyance.
Fu Jingshu said softly, "You are my wife now, so your mother is naturally my mother as well."
Shen Qingqing: "..." He was truly shameless!
Despite her thoughts, a sweet, undeniable smile graced her face. However, thinking of her deceased mother, her gaze dimmed for a moment. She wasn't particularly keen on discussing these matters.
"I'll tell you when we get home." With Shen Qingqing's words, Fu Jingshu no longer pressed for details.
The car soon pulled up to the villa. Shen Qingqing opened the car door, clutching her precious bangle, and headed straight for her room.
Chenchen and Xixi, who were reading on the sofa, saw their mother dash past like a gust of wind. They blinked in surprise. Immediately after, Fu Jingshu entered.