As time went by, the auction commenced. However, before the actual bidding started, there was a period dedicated to showcasing the items. This, after all, allowed bidders to better gauge what was on offer.
Soon, the auction officially began. A formally dressed auctioneer in a suit took the stage, exuding an air of competence and stability. Evidently, having someone like him leading the auction inspired more confidence among the attendees. Su Chen sat in the audience, somewhat lost as he didn't know much about these antiques. His main objective for attending was to acquire the "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" painting to further the plot. And of course, there would be an inevitable scene where he'd be publicly humiliated by Qin Yu during the auction. With this thought, Su Chen smirked satisfyingly. With all these female protagonists causing complications, Qin Yu wouldn't be a problem at all! He relished the opportunity to turn the tables.
Just as he was lost in thought, a gentle voice sounded beside him, "Young Master Su, would you like some orange juice and a sandwich?" Turning, he found it was Qin Luoyi. And someone as strikingly beautiful as Qin Luoyi would always be the center of attention, a veritable feast for the eyes. But for Su Chen, the orange juice and sandwich were more enticing. Gratefully accepting her offer, he grew curious—how did Qin Luoyi know his favorite food and drink so precisely?
He marveled, crediting her in-depth knowledge to her being from the protagonist's camp. "As expected, Su Chen still prefers orange juice and sandwiches. Ha, Wang Bingbing, let's see how you can compare with me." Qin Luoyi wore a smug smile. Noticing her smirk halfway through his meal, Su Chen grew wary. Was there some scheme at play? A honey trap set by Qin Yu?
During the auction, due to Qin Luoyi's continuous provocations, Su Chen's bids kept increasing. Then, Qin Yu suddenly stopped bidding, leaving Su Chen to purchase useless antiques at exorbitant prices. He was quickly labeled as a foolish spendthrift. Amused, Su Chen attempted to get closer to Qin Luoyi, "What's your name?" "Qin Luoyi!" Su Chen, putting on airs, remarked, "I love that name. Tell me whatever you like, and I will make sure to buy it for you."
Elated by his promise, Qin Luoyi sighed in relief, although she didn't really want anything in particular. However, she knew Su Chen intended to give the "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" painting to Lin Qingyan. In the previous timeline, Lin Qingyan tore the painting, deeply hurting Su Chen. This time, she wouldn't let anyone hurt him.
Su Chen observed Qin Luoyi's cheerful demeanor, convinced there was an underlying plot. However, he couldn't recall such a plot twist from before. Regardless, if he was going to be humiliated, then so be it. Soon after, a change occurred on the auction platform. "Presenting the 'Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' painting. I won't dwell on its artistic value and allure as those present can see its worth. The starting bid is 3 million."
While the painting was just a typical antique, its association with Lin Qingyan, the goddess of the capital, had amplified its allure, especially since Su Chen declared his intent to acquire it. The crowd at the auction was not ordinary—they were well aware that Su Chen, the so-called wasteful heir, would inevitably make a fool of himself. Publicly, they remained silent, but they detested him in private. They couldn't fathom how such an idiot could be the primary heir of the Su family.
The "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" was undeniably a coveted antique. As the nation prospered and the quality of life improved, people's pursuits evolved. Many were willing to bid on collectibles like this. The price rapidly rose to 5 million. Knowing it was his time to act, Su Chen boldly bid, "10 million."
When the price was announced, gasps instantly filled the room. Such bold bids, raising the price this high immediately, were quite rare in auction houses. People couldn't help but admire Su Chen; the young master was indeed fortunate to be born into such a wealthy family.
However, Qin Yu's gaze was icy and filled with menace. He hadn't expected Su Chen, whom he deemed worthless, to be this lucky, constantly thwarting his plans. But what he found hardest to swallow was Qin Luoyi's behavior next to Su Chen. The brightness in her almond-shaped eyes and the adoring glances she shot at Su Chen were plainly evident. Qin Yu found this completely unacceptable, and he resolved to teach Su Chen a lesson.
"20 million!" Qin Yu said mockingly, looking towards Su Chen. "What a coincidence, I like this painting too." Su Chen's face contorted in anger, but inwardly he was delighted. It was going just as he hoped, the price kept rising, and the higher, the better. The bidding war between Su Chen and Qin Yu was intense, with the price surging like a balloon inflated with great force.
Before long, Su Chen shouted a staggering 70 million - far beyond what the painting was believed to be worth. Even though the attendees were affluent, they were taken aback, especially seeing Su Chen's stoic demeanor. Many wondered just how immense the Su family's wealth was. Qin Yu stopped bidding; after all, 70 million wasn't a small sum. If he continued and Su Chen stopped, he would be the laughingstock.
If previously Qin Yu thought of Su Chen as a fool, after a few setbacks, he'd learned not to underestimate him. He didn't dare raise the bid further. But inside, Su Chen was becoming anxious. Why was Qin Yu holding back now? Previously, the minimum had always been 150 million, yet now it halted at half. Such timidity was unbefitting of a male lead in his opinion. As Su Chen was fuming internally, Qin Luoyi suddenly grabbed his arm, saying, "Master Su, isn't it enough?
The painting's worth at most 20 million; you've already gone way over." Everyone's attention was on Su Chen, so they all heard her words. It dawned on him that he was being tested. In his eyes, Qin Luoyi was trying to gauge his limits on Qin Yu's behalf.
Laughing heartily, Su Chen responded, "Don't worry, this sum is nothing to me. Either way, I'm getting this painting." Su Chen laughed brazenly, disregarding everyone present. "100 million!" Just as the auctioneer's hammer was about to fall, Qin Yu called out a shocking price. The attendees were in disbelief. It wasn't about the price, but the audacity, especially after Su Chen's declaration. Wasn't Qin Yu's action a direct challenge to the Su family's honor? This wasn't a small matter, and everyone was eager to see Su Chen's reaction.
"Damn you! Do you want to compete with me? Are you seeking death?" An enraged Su Chen stood up and yelled at Qin Yu. "You think I'm afraid? 120 million!" Inside, Su Chen was hoping the bids would continue. Meanwhile, Qin Yu felt elated, understanding Qin Luoyi's intention of infiltrating Su Chen's inner circle to gain his trust. He had to admit she was clever, sharing his mindset. But he'd already sent Zhao Menghan undercover. Qin Yu resolved that he'd make Su Chen pay this time. "150 million!" He announced. "Master Su, it's not personal. I just want to gift this painting to the goddess Lin Qingyan."
"If you think it's too expensive, you can always give up!"
Qin Yu still wore that unruly smile on his face. He wanted to embarrass Su Chen and was determined to seek fierce revenge. Anyone with keen eyes could see that Qin Yu was intentionally raising the price. Su Chen didn't really need to go along with it, but he was stubbornly willing to play the fool. "200 million!" Su Chen feigned fury, clenching his fists and glaring at Qin Yu, with a look that suggested he wished he could tear him apart. "You still dare to compete with me? Do you really think you can provoke someone of my stature? You really don't know what's good for you!" While Su Chen's tone was filled with mockery, his face was ashen, making it clear that the 200 million price tag was hard even for him to swallow.
At that moment, Qin Yu seemed satisfied. He sneered, "Mr. Su is truly generous, spending 200 million on a painting. I'm genuinely impressed." He added, "But as far as I remember, this painting was directly sold at auction. Congratulations to Miss Wang Bingbing." Qin Yu's words held hidden meanings. He was showcasing his capability to Wang Bingbing, hinting that such a small gesture on his part could help her earn 200 million. He believed she'd have no reason to refuse a partnership with him. This was killing two birds with one stone.
Su Chen paid the 200 million and then took away the painting named "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix". Those present at the scene took pleasure in his apparent misfortune. Spending 200 million on a mere painting seemed foolish. Even a wealthy family like Su's might be brought to ruin by such extravagance. Su Chen seemed lost in thought, but not because of what people were saying.
He was pondering his next move. The painting was intricate. Because it was a fake, a mere replica. The original was in the hands of Lin Qingyan. And when he used this painting to win over Lin Qingyan, he was exposed. It was indeed a huge embarrassment for him at the time. But now, Su Chen felt something was amiss. Given Lin Qingyan's situation, she might not have humiliated him. The only way out now was through Qin Yu. Since Qin Yu also knew it was a counterfeit and everyone was already mocking him, if this truth came out, his reputation would be ruined. "Some people just won't admit their place.
Even if they become wealthy, they can't change their humble origins. They're just wastes," Su Chen's words were filled with sarcasm, making everyone present uncomfortable. As he spoke, Su Chen purposely showed the painting to provoke Qin Yu, knowing very well it might trigger him, given what he knew of his temperament. Many auction-goers gathered around, as the young master of the Su family was a person of interest to many. Seeing the mocking glances from the crowd, Qin Yu could no longer contain himself. Initially, he planned to let Su Chen embarrass himself in front of Lin Qingyan to further shatter his confidence. But the crowd's ridicule genuinely angered him.
Qin Yu suddenly laughed, "Mr. Su, it's not right for you to say that. After all, you're my benefactor. I should be thanking you." Su Chen was elated, realizing that Qin Yu was getting riled up. "What do you mean?" Su Chen feigned anger, narrowing his eyes and staring at him. The crowd, curious about the hidden message in Qin Yu's words, looked on with anticipation. "Don't you get it, Mr. Su? I thought you raised the price to help me. The painting you just bought is a fake.
You've spent 200 million on a counterfeit!" Qin Yu's mockery echoed through the hall. The audience was shocked, especially the auctioneer on stage. He had never expected Qin Yu to have such keen eyesight. The painting indeed was a counterfeit, a fact only Wang Bingbing had identified, making it even more astonishing that Qin Yu could spot it too. "You're just jealous I got the painting, trying to scare me with your lies?" Su Chen pretended to be outraged, but inside he was rejoicing. Now, he hoped that Qin Yu would continue to drive the narrative, helping him earn his system reward.
"You better not disappoint me," the sentiment hung heavily in the air. The auction houses in this world are unlike those in reality. They don't refund money just because an item turns out to be a counterfeit. Before the auction, all items are shown to the potential bidders, and they are auctioned at quite low prices. If you want it, you bid; if not, there's no need to compete. Thus, if this "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" painting is fake, then Su Chen has just wastefully squandered 200 million. The humiliation from such a blunder would be immense.
"You're simply blind!" Qin Yu didn't mince his words and ridiculed straightaway. Before Su Chen could react, Qin Yu, pointing at the painting, said, "How could you not spot such obvious signs of forgery? I'm truly disappointed in you, Su Chen." His message was clear: Su Chen's performance wasn't worthy of being his adversary.
After a cold laugh, Qin Yu incisively remarked, "If I'm not wrong, this must be a piece by Chen Dafa. Every painting of his always carries his unique emblem." A triumphant smile graced Qin Yu's face. As his words sunk in, the crowd gasped. Chen Dafa, a figure from a century ago, possessed an incredibly sophisticated skill in replicating antiques, making him a legendary figure in the world of antiques. His works are so impeccable that they can easily be mistaken for the real thing.
Over the last century, no one has ever claimed to discern the counterfeits he produced. However, he had a particular habit: he would embed a unique emblem in each of his counterfeits. This could be seen as a safeguard against misidentification of his counterfeits or perhaps just a way to flaunt his unparalleled craftsmanship.