Tian Xuan Auction House is the most famous underground auction house in Sicheng, bar none.
Not only does it sport jewels and paintings that can't be found on the regular market, but it also holds rare treasures unheard of by ordinary people.
There is a concept of "stone gambling" in the jewelry industry.
To the bidders, getting something on the Tian Xuan auction stage equals to gambling on treasures.
It's all about the skill of understanding people and objects.
...
When Ye Wan arrived backstage, the auction was already more than half over.
Through the thick, vermilion curtains, one could see the fully packed venue.
The first floor was the liveliest, with bids being placed one after another; multimillion-dollar paintings, jewels worth tens of millions seemed to be of no concern to these people, as they eagerly escalated their bids in one loud, overlapping clamor.
The private rooms on the second floor were concealed behind beaded curtains, and although the people inside were not visible, Ye Wan knew that these were the exclusive rooms of Sicheng's major powerhouse families.
And the very last one was her destination on this trip.
Huachen Media under Fu's.
The talent scout who had offered her a high price back then was from Huachen, and after she refused, Huachen sent several agents one after another.
The most famous of which was the top agent Guan Jifeng, who had made stars out of a dual-award-winning leading actress and a three-time Golden actor.
It was just that the Ye family didn't lack money back then, and Ye Wan's biggest dream in life was to be a dazzling and impressive salted fish.
Unfortunately, fortunes change.
Nowadays, it wasn't Huachen coming to her, but her seeking refuge with Huachen.
If Huachen were to offer her a contract of 10 or even 20 years with hard terms, even at a loss, Ye Wan would have no choice but to accept.
Who would have thought the Ye family would owe a hundred million, and she had already turned 18?
Working for Huachen was better than being sold by those creditors.
As for the third floor...
Ye Wan looked up at the door of the supreme VIP room that was closed.
It was said to be reserved exclusively for bigwigs from Imperial City.
Since the opening of this underground auction house, that door had never been opened, let alone anyone seen coming out of there.
Over time, people started speculating that perhaps it was just a gimmick created by the auction house to maintain an air of significance?
After all, the unknown was always more daunting.
"Ye Wan, you're up next!"
"Okay."
Ye Wan withdrew her gaze.
...
In the supreme VIP room on the third floor, the atmosphere was tense.
In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, a man in a black suit cut an imposing figure, and even from behind, his presence seemed to exude an overwhelming sense of oppression.
"Ninth Master, I have failed in my duties!"
The subordinate kneeling on one knee was sweating profusely on his forehead, "Night Owl sent a message saying that the little girl who was adopted bears some resemblance to Fourth Master Lu, so we..."
"You thought she was the child we were looking for and reported it without verification?"
The man turned around, his handsome face filled with sternness.
Fourth Uncle died young, which was a pain in the heart for everyone in the Lu family, especially for Old Master Lu and Old Madam Lu, who had to endure the sorrow of parents burying their child.
Three years ago, a confidential letter was sent to the Lu family, claiming that fourth master Lu had a posthumous child in Sicheng.
Included with the letter were a photo of a one-month-old baby and an appraisal certificate.
Learning that their youngest son had descendants in this world made Old Madam Lu faint on the spot, and Old Master Lu issued strict orders to find the child at any cost.
But three years passed with no news.
Not just Sicheng, but a significant part of Huaguo centered around Sicheng, all children fitting the age and gender were checked.
Looking for a needle in a haystack would be an understatement.
Yet the outcome was disappointing, even hopeless.
This time was no different.
Relieved that he hadn't told the elders and let them down once more, but infuriated that he still hadn't found Fourth Uncle's child after three years, Lu Changchuan's eyes were cold and grim.
Even the air seemed to carry an ominous presage of an impending storm.
"Have you found any clue about her?"
The "her" was ambiguous, but his subordinate immediately understood, "Miss Xiao Wan has been roughly located, I will do it as soon as possible."
After a moment of silence, Lu Changchuan said in a cold voice, "If you still can't find her, wait for Night Owl to return, then you will all go to South Africa to be punished!"
"Yes!"
The room quieted down as Lu Changchuan furrowed his brows, his gaze settling on the deep night outside the window.
After a long while, as if remembering something, his brow gradually relaxed.
"Return to Imperial City."
Lu Changchuan walked toward the door.
The moment he opened the door, the noise erupted in.
Amidst the roaring applause and whistles, the voice of the auctioneer came through the microphone, calm and composed, "Our final lot is the highlight of the auction, an ancient martial token."
"Next, we invite the token guardian, Miss Ye Wan of the Ye family, to introduce to us the origins of this token."
Lu Changchuan's steps halted suddenly, his figure coming to an abrupt stop.