"That was my own decision to give up," Dirk said.
"Your own decision?" Jude laughed even more triumphantly. "Dirk, when did you learn to talk tough? Everyone knows your old man loves Li Yanzi's masterpieces. When you finally come across one, you willingly give it up? If you can't afford it, just say so. There's no need to act tough."
The tension and rivalry between Jude and Dirk were well-known in J City's social circles. Tonight, with many people from this circle in attendance, they noticed when Jude approached Dirk, clearly attempting to provoke him in public.
Dirk, who had also been mingling in J City for a while, didn't take kindly to Jude's public taunts. His face turned unsightly.
"I did indeed voluntarily give up on that painting," Dirk clarified.
"Voluntarily?" Jude's tone became even more mocking. "Dirk, it seems like you've learned to talk tough, but who doesn't know that your family's old man adores Li Yanzi's major works? When you finally encounter one, you choose to give up voluntarily? If you can't afford it, just say so. Talking tough is meaningless."
"Is that so?" Jake suddenly spoke up at this point.
"Who are you? Do you have a say here?" Jude wasn't pleased with Jake suddenly interjecting.
"This is JH Auction House, and I am their guest. Why can't I speak?" Jake retorted. "Can you, Jude, replace JH Auction House and make decisions for them?"
JH Auction House was one of the four major auction houses in the country, known for its immense influence and resources. Even in the face of fierce competition in recent years, it remained a powerhouse. While the Jude family also had significant influence, it was far from capable of representing JH Auction House.
"Sharp-tongued," Jude commented with a displeased expression. "The two of you are only good at talking tough."
"Better than spending six million on a piece of garbage like Jude did," Jake replied.
Jake knew that intervening at this point might offend Jude, but he couldn't stand by and watch Jude mock Dirk in public.
"Haha, if you can't buy it, just say it's garbage?" Jude laughed out loud, his face filled with mockery. "Dirk, are you really this sore of a loser?"
"It's not that I can't afford it, but what you bought is indeed a forgery," Dirk said firmly. "Spending six million on a forgery is something I can't do."
"Forgery!" Dirk's use of that word immediately grabbed the attention of many people in the room. The ongoing dispute between Dirk and Jude had already garnered much attention, and now, with Dirk asserting that Jude's purchase was a forgery, it caused quite a stir.
"Hahaha, Dirk, I always thought of you as my rival, but it turns out you're a sore loser," Jude laughed heartily. "This painting has been authenticated not only by JH Auction House but also by several experts present tonight. No one has found any issues with it. Are you suggesting that you have better eyes than all of them? Well then, please tell us, how do you judge its authenticity?"
Dirk was momentarily at a loss for words. He looked at Jake, who had declared it a forgery, but in reality, it was Jake who had detected the issue. Dirk hadn't noticed it himself. In this situation, he couldn't point out the forgery's flaws.
"This painting is indeed a forgery," Jake said. "If Jude and everyone else here doesn't believe it, I can point out the evidence."
"Alright, I'd like to see what you have to say," Jude retorted in a mocking tone. He didn't believe Dirk and Jake's claims, thinking they were just being obstinate. Now, he could publicly expose them and reinforce the worth of his 60-million-dollar purchase.
Many people in the vicinity had heard about the situation and gathered around. After all, this painting had sold for sixty million, just shy of the price of "Farewell to a Guest," making it a subject of great interest.
However, most people believed that Jake was talking nonsense. After all, many among them had personally examined the painting and found no issues. They couldn't fathom how Jake alone could have discovered something they all had missed.
To them, it seemed impossible.
However, both Bob and Axel, who had helped authenticate "Farewell to a Guest," held an inexplicable sense of anticipation regarding Jake. They had a feeling that Jake wasn't simply speaking without reason; he must have made some discovery.
"At first glance, this painting appears similar to Master Li Yanzi's style, but it is not his work," Jake explained confidently amidst the gathering crowd, completely composed. With his appraisal skills, he only needed to recite the content from his appraisal technique.
"Just because you say it's not doesn't make it so," Jude sneered.
"Master Li Yanzi had a habit when painting birds. He would slightly curve the feathers upwards, but in this painting, the feathers are unusually straight," Jake continued, disregarding Jude's sarcasm. "Furthermore, let's talk about the ink technique. Most people wouldn't apply ink to the structural elements, as it's easy to disrupt the overall framework with the slightest mistake. However, Master Li Yanzi was different. He often applied ink to the structural elements, displaying a technique distinct from ordinary painters. The author of this painting obviously lacks the skill to do this, which is why they didn't dare to apply ink to the raised structural elements. If you don't believe me, take a closer look."
The people surrounding them instinctively turned their attention to the painting in Jude's hands. As Jake had mentioned, there was indeed no ink applied to the raised structural elements.
Many in the audience displayed a realization on their faces. While they knew of Master Li Yanzi's habits, they had previously overlooked these details. Now, upon hearing Jake's explanation, they realized their carelessness.
Jude's expression soured. He wasn't an expert in antique appraisal, but he could see the change in the crowd's demeanor and hear their hushed discussions. It seemed that Jake's words might be true. Could this painting truly be a forgery?
However, Jake wasn't finished yet. "There's one more thing. The ink used in this painting isn't from the Tang Dynasty era. Although it has been expertly imitated, there are still slight flaws. If any of you have studied Tang Dynasty inks closely, you might be able to discern the differences, although they are minor."
"I've studied inks from various dynasties, and this young man is correct," an elderly man in the audience chimed in with a somewhat embarrassed expression. "However, the painter's skill is truly exceptional, reaching a level where it's nearly indistinguishable from the genuine article. Without this reminder, I might not have noticed. I'm genuinely impressed."