"How, how is this possible?"
Zhou Jiacheng stared at the broken stone, still unable to believe Mr. Wu's words. "Mr. Wu, could you have seen it wrong?"
"Seen it wrong?" Mr. Wu gave a wry smile and shook his head, "The auction was held in Yun City, and I had the fortune to be the chief auctioneer, personally hammering off the 'Auspicious Cloud Bloodstone.' How could I be mistaken?"
"You may not be aware." He scanned the audience once again, assuming the demeanor of an old scholar eager to enlighten everyone present. "Bloodstones are natural creations, and their red color has yet to be replicated by any crafting technique. Moreover, the mining yield decreases year by year, and though there are bloodstones of average quality that can be confused with similar red sandstones..."
"But such top-grade bloodstones are simply impossible to fake, rare in this world."
In fact, when Mr. Wu of Treasure Pavilion spoke, there could be no mistake. In his prime, he was the chief appraiser for several major auction houses, but now he had retired back to his native Yun City because of his age.
Yet, the most shocked person present wasn't the eldest or second branch of the Zhou Family, nor the old lady.
In contrast, it was Zhou Jiayi.
She knew her own possessions best.
Not long after they moved to their current residence, Gu Changsheng brought a piece of broken stone that she hadn't paid much attention to, using it as a doorstop and letting it gather dust. But to say it was worth eighty million was entirely beyond her imagination.
The faces of those present were all's, each one shocked.
Zhang Hai, too, was staggered by this turn of events, but somewhere in his mind, a light bulb went off, and he caught an important detail. "Wait!" His voice drew everyone's attention amidst the silence, and he fixed his gaze on Mr. Wu. "Mr. Wu, you said that this 'Auspicious Cloud Bloodstone' was auctioned off by you ten years ago, and it's unique in the world?"
"Then I'm curious." Zhang Hai's smile was smug and crafty as he faced Gu Changsheng. "How did such a treasure come into Gu Changsheng's possession?"
"Oh, I get it. Gu Changsheng has been playing the fool all this time, hasn't he? Was it all an act? In reality, he used it as a cover to commit wrongdoings!"
Zhang Hai's accusation caused a stir among the crowd.
"Right, where did this thing come from?"
"If it was really theirs, why not auction it off? Eighty million, even the Zhou Family couldn't resist such temptation."
Zhou Jiacheng's rigid expression gradually eased as he began to scold again, "Gu Changsheng, explain yourself, where did you steal this bloodstone from? It's great how my Zhou Family feeds you, and you go behind our backs to do something like this..."
"Grandma, we definitely can't let him off easily this time."
Zhou Jiaming pressed the point while the iron was hot, "How could we forgive him? Our Zhou Family is not a place that harbors filth. We must handle this by the law and let it punish him."
"Eighty million, tsk tsk, guess you'll be sitting in jail for a long time, won't you?"
Everyone at the scene was dumbfounded, not expecting such a reversal to happen so quickly.
After some thought, the old lady too could figure it out. Gu Changsheng came to the Zhou Family with nothing, not a penny to his name, how would he have such a treasure? If he didn't steal it, there was no second possibility.
"Gu Changsheng, oh Gu Changsheng, faced with the imminent crisis, do you have anything to say?"
"Grandma!" Zhou Jiayi suddenly cried out, "Changsheng couldn't have stolen anything, it's just not possible. I know him."
"Oh?" The old lady's eyebrows knitted in disappointment and dissatisfaction with her granddaughter. "Then tell me, where did this 'Auspicious Cloud Bloodstone' come from?"
Zhou Jiayi was speechless, she couldn't answer.
In such a scene.
Zhou Jianmin and Liu Jinhua were already anxious, quickly pulling their daughter back. "Jiayi, don't say anymore, this will only bring disaster upon us. Gu Changsheng, this jinx, it's one thing for our branch to be unlucky because of him, and now he even dares to steal? Whoever owns such an expensive treasure must be greater than our Zhou Family, and it won't just end with imprisonment, he will have to face the anger of the true owner."
"Let's take this opportunity to end your relationship with him!"
Pointed out by all, aside from Zhou Jiayi, no one stood up for Gu Changsheng.
But looking at Gu Changsheng, his face was expressionless, as if he was detached from the matter.
"Everyone, are you all done speaking?"
"If so, it's my turn, isn't it?"
Upon hearing this.
The Zhou Family members sneered, Zhou Jiacheng said, "What else do you have to say? Facts speak louder than words, Mr. Wu is the human evidence, and everyone has seen the material evidence, caught red-handed."
Zhou Jiaming was even more triumphant, "If you didn't steal this thing, I'll livestream myself eating shit."
Gu Changsheng said, "Are you sure?"
"Quit the nonsense, facing death and still putting on airs here. Grandma, big brother, I think we should call the police now!"
Faced with such a scene, Gu Changsheng just smiled without saying a word.
He originally wanted to explain, but since the Zhou Family wanted to make a big deal out of it, then let it be a big deal. He was actually quite eager to see how this group of people from the Zhou Family would end this—
"Suit yourself."
"Changsheng!" Zhou Jiayi broke free from her parents' grasp and rushed over. "You, you better explain clearly, don't be stubborn. If we wait for the police to come, we won't have a way out. It's still salvageable now."
"It's too late, no one can save him now!" Zhang Hai laughed smugly, as if he could already foresee Zhou Jiayi enjoying herself in his embrace.
In front of Zhou Jiayi, Gu Changsheng could be cold to others but never to her. At this moment, he sighed, "Wife, don't you believe me either?"
"I, I..."
"I believe!" Just like Gu Changsheng's feelings for Zhou Jiayi, Zhou Jiayi trusted him completely.
"Then that's enough!" Gu Changsheng was satisfied and looked around. "Call the police then. I'm waiting for some people to live stream it. Even if my family doesn't have money, we won't lack a couple of super rockets in the audience."
"Hmph, still acting so high and mighty. Second brother, call the police!"
By now, the situation had already spiraled out of control.
Zhou Jiaming picked up the phone, ready to dial.
But just at that moment, Mr. Wu, who had been pushed to the back by Zhou Jiacheng and Zhou Jiaming earlier, cried out again, "Wrong, it's wrong, there's been a mistake!"
"What's wrong?" Zhou Jiaming paused.
"Could it be a fake?" Zhou Jiacheng was also taken aback. He had finally seized the opportunity, how could he let it slip away... But even if it was a fake, Gu Changsheng should not expect to get away easily. Making such a scene at grandma's birthday celebration, he wouldn't be able to walk it off.
"No, no, no, the more I thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. If such a treasure was lost, it would have certainly caused a huge uproar, so I went out and made a call to the item's owner."
At this moment, even the old lady stood up, "Who is the owner?"
"The owner is Yun City's richest man, Mr. Ou."
"The Ou Family?!"
...
After a while, Mr. Wu kept communicating with Mr. Ou on the phone.
Mr. Wu nodded, "The call isn't over yet. Mr. Ou would like to speak a few words with Gu Changsheng."
Having said that.
Before everyone had time to react, Mr. Wu pressed the speakerphone, "Mr. Ou, Gu Changsheng is right beside me. Please, go ahead."
From the phone came a deep and resonant voice, echoing throughout the room—
"Mr. Gu, is that really you, Mr. Gu?"
"Since our parting at Yun City University all those years ago, I have been searching for you for three full years. I never imagined you would have such a connection with the Zhou Family, this is wonderful!"
"Mr. Gu, could you honor me with your presence? I am sending someone to pick you up right now, hoping for a reunion."
As the conversation progressed, everyone had already dropped their jaws in shock.
Yun City's richest man, although younger than the old lady, was also in his seventies, yet now he was addressing him with such familiar terms as 'my friend', which was startling to hear.
And what was even more shocking—
"Mr. Ou, today is my grandmother's birthday, so it's inconvenient for me to meet with you. Let's talk another time when I have the chance, I'm very busy!"
Busy?!
How can you be busy when Yun City's richest man is asking for your company, and you dare to refuse?!