The enchanting *icy red jadeite* gradually revealed its shape amidst the faint grinding noise of the stone-cutting machine. The security guard operating the machine was sweating slightly—polishing jade requires meticulous effort, demanding a hundred times more attention and time than simply cutting the stone in half.
Seeing the *red jadeite* appear, everyone rushed to snatch up the remaining raw stones on the table. However, when they cut them open, all they found was white mist. It was clear that they had only bought a fleeting thrill. Now, all eyes were on the egg-sized piece of *red jadeite*.
Before anyone could wrap the jade in red silk, Grant snatched it up with glee, admiring the piece of *icy jadeite*. Samuel and Zhuang's expressions subtly shifted. They realized that now that this treasure had fallen into the hands of someone wealthy and knowledgeable, buying it would surely cost a great deal more.
Grant, with one hand under the jade, swaggered to the front of the table. Clearing his throat, he announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, this piece of *red jadeite* is vividly colored, transparent, and radiant—a rare, premium icy jadeite. Today, I'm helping my buddy raise money to get married. The starting price is eight million, with increments of one hundred thousand. Anyone interested, please bid."
He wrapped the jade in red silk and placed it on the table, standing proudly beside it. Juston had an odd expression. He hadn't expected the grand finale to be so boldly taken over by this man, so he could only smile bitterly and stand by, letting him take the spotlight.
Ethan, aware of the situation, returned to his seat. From now on, there was nothing left for him to do but collect the money. Overnight, he had transformed from a poor high school senior to a millionaire, leaving him in a dream-like daze.
"Dude, you've hit the jackpot! You owe me a big meal after this—no, make that a week's worth of meals," Mike said, laughing as he pulled Ethan up. Ethan nodded enthusiastically.
"Eight million, one hundred thousand." Zhuang started with a ten-thousand increase but silently cursed Grant for setting such a high starting price. While it was true that if processed well, this *red jadeite* could be worth over ten million, spending too much on the raw stone would make the deal less profitable.
"Eight million, five hundred thousand. I'm taking this *red jadeite*," Samuel declared, upping the price by four hundred thousand with a determined tone, showing that he was dead set on winning.
"Nine million," Zhuang, unwilling to back down, raised it by five hundred thousand.
"Haha! Interesting, old man. Looks like you're challenging me today! Twelve million! Can you go higher?" Samuel laughed heartily, taunting his rival with a playful glint in his eyes.
Seeing the two old men go at it, several other interested buyers decided to sit back and watch the show instead of bidding.
Ethan, on the other hand, was utterly stunned. His teacup tipped over, spilling tea onto his pants, leaving a large wet patch that made him awkwardly close his legs in embarrassment.
"Thirteen million." Zhuang stared fiercely at Samuel as he shouted the bid. He knew that at this price, even if the jade was skillfully crafted, the profit margin would be slim.
"Thirteen million, eight hundred thousand," Samuel calmly raised the bid while sipping his tea, his gaze fixed on the *red jadeite* as if it was already his.
Zhuang's face turned red. This price was approaching his limit, and raising it any further would turn the profit into a risk. Still, he wasn't ready to give up just yet. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "Fourteen million, five hundred thousand!"
As soon as he spoke, Samuel smiled and bowed slightly. "Congratulations, it's yours. I'm out," he said, crossing his legs like a victorious general.
"Damn, these two old foxes finally broke even," Mike muttered under his breath, silently celebrating Ethan's good fortune. With this money, Ethan wouldn't just be able to get married; he could probably afford to have a mistress too.
Zhuang didn't lose face. He quickly pulled out his checkbook, wrote a few swift strokes, and placed the check on the table. Grant picked it up, flicked it with his finger, producing a crisp snap, and then walked over to Juston, whispering, "Make sure to have this packed up and delivered to Zhuang later. Thanks."
Juston nodded, saying nothing. After all, Alexander Family, one of the main shareholders of *Elysian Feast*, would have ensured everything was handled even if Grant hadn't spoken.
With Mr. Grant happily returning to his seat, Juston cleared his throat and made a few formal remarks, signaling the successful conclusion of the auction.
By midday, old Louie had left due to other obligations. Grant led Ethan and Mike to a private room downstairs and ordered a feast. They indulged in over ten dishes while Grant had a briefcase brought in. He transferred fourteen million, three hundred thousand into Ethan's account and, per Ethan's request, withdrew the remaining twenty thousand in cash, along with the uncut stone, all packed into a small bag.
"Ean, this meal is on you, now that you've made it big. Let us soak up some of that luck," Grant said, patting Ethan on the shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm starting to think this guy might have superpowers. Out of all those stones, he happens to pick the one with *red jadeite*. A million-plus! If we weren't friends, I'd be tempted to grab a gun and rob you," Mike joked as he chomped on a piece of fatty *Beef Bourguignon* with exaggerated displeasure.
"Alright, how about I get you a new computer later and treat you to meals for a week? Only KFC, though—just kidding! You can eat whatever you like," Ethan, in high spirits, casually promised Mike a computer and a week of meals.
Mike's eyes lit up at the offer of a new computer. He quickly served Ethan a dish, saying, "Hey, bro, try this *Peony Splendor*. It's tender and juicy, with just the right texture."
Ethan took a bite and chewed, enjoying the rich flavor. "This is really good. What's it made of? It's tender and smooth, almost like chicken."
Grant, struggling to hold back his laughter, tossed another piece into Ethan's bowl. "If you like it, have a few more. This part of the chicken is quite rare. It's called *Heavenly Wings*."
After Ethan finished the *Heavenly Wing*, Mike, savoring the moment, teased, "It's got another name too. Wanna guess?"
"Chicken organ?" Ethan guessed without hesitation.
"Wrong! Here's a hint: it's something that looks better when lifted."
Ethan pondered for a moment before grimacing. "It's chicken butt, isn't it?"
"Bingo!" The two chimed in unison, grinning mischievously.
"Damn it! You two totally tricked me!" Ethan fumed, half wanting to dump the entire plate of chicken butts on their heads. Who would have thought a five-star hotel would serve *chicken butts*, calling it *Peony Splendor*? It was more like a *flower joke* than a fancy dish.
The meal ended in hearty laughter and good spirits.