The car drove and right when Lin Qiong was about to fall asleep they reached their destination. The charity auction was held at an upscale mansion. He tilted his head back, looking at the luxurious gate in front of him, and his small mouth formed an "O" shape for a moment.
Qin Heng looked at him and said, "What, haven't you seen this sort of thing before?"
Lin Qiong nodded honestly, "It's really beautiful here."
He couldn't think of any other words at the moment, so he could only use "beautiful" to describe it.
Fu Xingyun listened and turned to him, "Do you like it?"
Lin Qiong didn't know why he suddenly asked like that. He touched his head and said, "It's not that I like it, I just feel that it's spectacular."
The group of people walked inside one after another.
A usher was standing in front of an old-fashioned European gate. "Hello, sir. Please show your invitation."
Fu Xingyun had given him the invitation early in the morning, and Lin Qiong took it out of his suit pocket.
The usher motioned to the reception inside, "Please come this way, sirs."
Lin Qiong pushed Fu Xingyun and followed the usher through the large gate. The luxury inside far exceeded his imagination.
Successful entrepreneurs, rising new elites, and influential figures were all around.
The usher led the two to their designated location and respectfully handed over number plates and paddles. "If you need anything, feel free to call me at any time."
Lin Qiong nodded politely, "Thank you."
The usher, who had initially slightly bent down, was surprised, but he bravely raised his head and looked at Lin Qiong. Normally, people of such high status wouldn't pay much attention to the ushers like them. He didn't expect the other party to say thank you.
The usher respectfully said, "Sir, you're too polite."
After that, he retreated to the side.
It was Lin Qiong's first time here, and he didn't understand anything. He was afraid of making any mistakes that would embarrass Fu Xingyun. As he looked around, he moved cautiously.
The auction hadn't started yet, but the stage in front was colorful. There were banquet tables every one or two meters around, where guests participating in the auction were seated.
Entrepreneurs, artists, second-generation wealthy individuals, most of them came with companions, but there were also those who came alone.
Like Qin Heng.
At this moment, the lighting was still bright. Lin Qiong sat idle in his seat.
"If there's anything you like later, you can just bid for it directly."
Lin Qiong was startled. He came here just to see what the protagonist looked like, and he hadn't paid much attention to the auction.
"I don't really want anything."
Fu Xingyun didn't refute, just said, "Take a look later."
Lin Qiong nodded, and the thought of the story situation made it difficult for him to think about anything else. It felt like there was a breath stuck in his chest, unable to go up or down.
Lin Qiong pursed his lips, and unexpectedly opened his mouth, "What kind of person do you like, Xingyun?"
The man's fingers curled slightly without warning.
However, before waiting for Fu Xingyun's answer, Lin Qiong couldn't wait and said, "Do you like those cheerful and sunny types?"
Fu Xingyun looked deeply at Lin Qiong and nodded, "Yes."
Lin Qiong continued to describe the character of the protagonist in the book, "Firm, kind, and brave?"
"Yes."
"And very good-looking."
Seeing the man nod again, Lin Qiong's face instantly fell.
Fu Xingyun raised his eyebrows, "What's wrong?"
Lin Qiong's voice was a bit muffled as he turned his head away, "Nothing."
Indeed, the preferred type was exactly the same as described in the book.
Fu Xingyun looked at Lin Qiong, who suddenly seemed upset, and for a moment, he was a bit puzzled, not understanding why the other party was angry.
"Are you angry?"
Lin Qiong hung his head, "No."
"Yes, you are."
Using the rhetoric of a scum, Lin Qiong said, "If you think so, then I can't do anything about it."
"..."
Lin Qiong also felt inexplicable. Obviously, he and the protagonist were strangers, and the other party hadn't done anything harmful to him, but an inexplicable resistance arose in his heart.
He knew that his thoughts were unreasonable, but he couldn't suppress the restlessness in his emotions.
"Lin Qiong."
Lin Qiong lowered his head without saying a word.
Fu Xingyun raised his hand and touched Lin Qiong's shoulder gently, "Lin Qiong."
Lin Qiong then came back to his senses.
Fu Xingyun's expression changed slightly, sensing something was off with the other party. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Lin Qiong shook his head. Then, he thought of something and held Fu Xingyun's face with a serious expression. "Tonight, don't talk to strangers, especially handsome men, okay?"
Fu Xingyun looked at Lin Qiong's nervous appearance, and a rare smile appeared on his lips. He deliberately asked, "Why?"
Lin Qiong replied, "Beautiful things are often dangerous. Even roses have thorns."
Fu Xingyun nodded after hearing this, "Understood."
For some reason, Lin Qiong felt relieved after hearing the other's response.
Not long after, the lights in the venue suddenly dimmed, surprising Lin Qiong. Bright lights converged on the stage.
The auctioneer, who hosted the event tonight, took the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to participate in this charity auction. The proceeds from tonight's auction will be donated to impoverished areas and institutions nationwide. Here, on behalf of the underprivileged, I express my gratitude."
After the host finished the opening remarks, there was sparse applause. Soon, the auction began.
The host presented the auction items, and the auctioneer said, "This is the first item up for auction tonight, an origami crane folded by a child in an impoverished mountainous area. The starting price is one hundred yuan."
Lin Qiong was surprised.
!!!
One hundred yuan for a piece of paper!!!
It's not that he lacks compassion, but the item being auctioned really didn't seem worth it.
However, before Lin Qiong could recover from his shock, a voice rang out from somewhere in the venue.
"One thousand."
"Five thousand."
As the bids for the origami crane went higher and higher, Lin Qiong's eyebrows jumped.
Finally, someone raised the placard, "Ten thousand."
Lin Qiong instantly took a deep breath.
Host: "Ten thousand once!"
"Once, twice!"
"Ten thousand! Sold!"
In the end, that small, wrinkled origami crane was auctioned off for ten thousand yuan to a wealthy businessman.
Lin Qiong swallowed hard, then turned to look at Fu Xingyun. "Are all charity auctions auctioning children's handmade items like this?"
Fu Xingyun calmly replied, "Only at the beginning and the end."
Lin Qiong breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Although it was for charity, money doesn't grow on trees for anyone.
The second auction item was presented – a crystal-clear emerald.
Lin Qiong sat in his seat like a country bumpkin, listening to the wealthy people hold up monetary figures he hadn't seen in his two lifetimes.
"Twenty million once!"
Fu Xingyun suddenly spoke, "Do you want it?"
"Twenty-five million twice!"
Lin Qiong quickly shook his head, "I don't."
Fu Xingyun put down his bidding paddle upon hearing this.
"Twenty million three times! Sold!"
Lin Qiong listened to these astronomical figures, feeling overwhelmed. If this twenty million were in his past life, it would have been enough to buy him twenty million steamed buns.
The next auction item was Tafei Stone, another rare gemstone.
Lin Qiong casually glanced at it but was instantly captivated. He had encountered this gemstone in a play script before and knew it was invaluable.
Not to mention selling himself, even enslaving him for several lifetimes wouldn't be enough to afford it.
"It's... really beautiful," Lin Qiong couldn't help but say.
Fu Xingyun looked at him and asked, "Do you like it?"
"Fifty million."
"Eighty million!"
"Eighty-five million!"
Lin Qiong shook his head, "It's not that. I just think it looks nice."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Qiong saw Fu Xingyun raise the bidding paddle that had been idle for over an hour. "One billion."
Host: "One billion once."
"One billion five hundred million!"
Fu Xingyun raised the paddle again, "Two billion."
Damn! Fu Xingyun is so rich.
"Two billion once!"
"Two billion twice!"
After a moment of silence, someone else continued, "Two billion five hundred million!"
Fu Xingyun was about to raise the paddle again when Lin Qiong rushed forward and pressed down his hands that represented the evils of capitalism.
"Don't... don't bid anymore."
Fu Xingyun asked, "Don't you like it?"
Lin Qiong swallowed hard. "Liking something and acquiring it are two different matters, and doing this isn't right."
Fu Xingyun frowned. "What's wrong with it?"
In Fu Xingyn's mind, liking something and acquiring it were the same; if you liked it, you should get it.
Lin Qiong said, "You're being too extravagant! It is inhumane."
"..."
Seeing that Fu Xingyun stayed silent, Lin Qiong pleaded, "You don't have to buy me anything. I don't have much taste, and if you buy something for me, it would be a waste of a valuable item. Keep the money for yourself; you'll definitely find a better use for it later."
Fu Xingyun looked deeply at him.
He was really considerate.
As the auction was about to end, a staff member came over and whispered something in Fu Xingyun's ear. His eyes dimmed for a moment, and after a while, he spoke to Lin Qiong, "I'm going to the restroom."
Lin Qiong stood up, "I'll go with you."
"No need." Fu Xingyun pressed him back down. "Stay here; if there's something you like, bid for it yourself."
----
"Don't even get me started. The rich guy I encountered today acted like I was dirt, completely disrespectful."
"Really? The guest I served was very polite and even thanked me. He looked good too. How about you, Li Lin?"
Li Lin smiled, "It's okay. I don't care about them. As long as I can take the salary for today's work."
"You're really cheerful."
Li Lin said, "They came here to do good and charity work in the first place. If they do anything underhanded, I'll naturally feel disgusted and repulsed."
Several staff members in their uniforms walked towards the venue. Li Lin suddenly stopped halfway. "Oh no, I left my tie in the restroom."
A colleague said, "Hurry back and get it. The closing of the auction is imminent."
Li Lin nodded and hurried back. As he pushed open the restroom door, he heard a deep male voice.
The man stood not far away, facing away from him. "Is it over?"
On the phone, the man on the other end said something, and the man slightly frowned. Then he spoke, "Don't worry about it. If anyone hinders us, we'll deal with them in secret."
"As long as we can get it, any means will do."
Li Lin frowned. Although he didn't know what the man was saying, he felt that the man was not a good person from the conversation.
Fu Xingyun turned around, locking eyes with him.
Li Lin shivered for a moment. The man had a tall stature with broad shoulders and long legs, possessing a well-proportioned and sturdy build– a typical inverted triangle figure. Surprisingly, his appearance was not as terrifying as imagined; he was exceptionally handsome.
Li Lin forced himself to say, "We're in a society ruled by law now, and your actions are not appropriate."
Seeking someone to deal with behind the scenes, is definitely shady business. What if someone gets hurt or worse?
Seeing the man stay silent, Li Lin continued, "Can't matters be resolved peacefully? Why resort to such means?"
As he finished speaking, the man started walking towards him.
Li Lin instinctively took a step back.
As the man approached, Li Lin found himself almost pressed against the restroom door.
"You..." Li Lin gathered his courage. As a person of justice, he couldn't be intimidated by brute force. However, looking at the man's stunning face, he couldn't help but swallow hard.
Before he could finish his sentence, the man interrupted, "Hey, you're blocking the way."
Saying that, he pushed Li Lin aside.
Li Lin was stunned for a moment, then blushed and shouted at the man's back, "Firstly, I'm not 'Hey,' I'm Li Lin!"
"Secondly..."