At 7:45 p.m., Tang Qianmiao arrived at the auction hall.
She dressed casually, much like her usual style. Yet even so, her striking beauty drew countless admiring gazes.
Black Rooster leaned slightly toward her ear, whispering, "Boss, there are at least thirty-five hungry wolves here lusting after your beauty."
Tang Qianmiao, with little interest, glanced at the approaching men and said, "I'm going to the restroom, you handle them."
"Uh, Boss..."
Before he could finish, the girl had already walked away.
When Black Rooster turned back, he found himself face to face with the oncoming men.
"Mr. Lu, long time no see. I didn't expect to run into you here," one of the businessmen said with a smile, extending his hand.
Black Rooster returned the handshake with a smile.
The man quickly added, "By the way, who was the young lady with you earlier? Brother Lu, you're really lucky to have such a beautiful girlfriend."
Black Rooster smiled silently, unsure how to respond.
He had long grown accustomed to his boss using him as a decoy.
Following the principle that the more you say, the more likely you are to make a mistake, he didn't speak much, only smiling and nodding to whatever the man said.
This scene was coincidentally observed by Feng Xian and his assistant, who had just arrived.
In fact, the two had entered right after Tang Qianmiao and had witnessed everything.
The assistant's eyes were wide with shock.
At first, he thought it might have been a misunderstanding, but now it seemed Tang Qianmiao really did have a boyfriend.
Sneaking a glance at his boss's expression, it was as expected—completely unreadable.
His gaze remained deep and enigmatic, as always, impossible to decipher.
Within a few seconds, Feng Xian had already shifted his focus, engaging in conversation with some executives who had approached to greet him.
The assistant adjusted his glasses, unsurprised by his boss's reaction.
After all, his boss's mind was occupied with nothing but work; he wouldn't care about anyone's private affairs.
The reason they attended this auction tonight was due to a rumor that Bai Mi had donated a one-of-a-kind perfume for the event.
His boss was hoping to use the perfume as a clue to locate Bai Mi.
———————
After leaving the restroom, Tang Qianmiao headed to the terrace to pass the time, waiting for the auction to begin.
As soon as she stepped outside, a sharp female voice pierced the air—
"Cousin?!"
She turned slightly, her gaze cold.
Lin Wenyu, holding up an exaggeratedly wide skirt, hurried toward her, eyes wide with disbelief. "It really is you!"
As if discovering something earth-shattering, she turned and called out, "Mom, Dad, it's Cousin!"
Tang Qianmiao had no intention of acknowledging her. She walked to the edge of the balcony and stood there, admiring the night view.
Yun Ruyi and her husband approached, surprised to see the girl's profile.
"Why is Miaomiao here?" Yun Ruyi asked her husband.
As always, Tang Yi's expression darkened at the sight of Tang Qianmiao.
Now it was as cold and menacing as ever.
Lin Wenyu bit her lip. "Dad, earlier this afternoon, Mom and I saw Cousin being picked up by a strange man. She didn't return to the Feng family or the Tang family last night. I fear she's been staying with someone else."
She paused, discreetly observing her stepfather's reaction.
Seeing his face grow even darker, a slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
At that moment, a man approached Tang Qianmiao, standing close as he spoke to her.
Lin Wenyu's eyes lit up. "That's the man!"
Yun Ruyi sighed. "It seems Miaomiao was brought here by him. Otherwise, how could a child like her obtain an invitation to such an exclusive auction?"
"Dear, I'm really worried about Miaomiao. Ever since her mother passed, she's become strange and defiant, refusing to listen to anyone. And now, mingling with men like this… If she continues down this path, she'll ruin herself."
Before she could finish, Tang Yi's face had already turned a shade darker, his cold, hard gaze fixed on Tang Qianmiao before he turned to the mother and daughter.
"Neither of you is to speak to her. Pretend you don't know her."
With that, he strode away without so much as another glance at Tang Qianmiao.
Yun Ruyi and Lin Wenyu exchanged glances, both smirking in Tang Qianmiao's direction.
"Mom, it's clear Dad doesn't care about Cousin at all. He's not even willing to involve himself in her affairs."
Yun Ruyi's eyelids lifted slightly. "That's why I tell you to excel in every aspect, to keep your father pleased. Who knows, he might even leave part of the inheritance to you."
Lin Wenyu, excited, said, "Then I'll bid on something valuable later and gift it to Dad with my bonus. I'll also show Cousin just how far apart we really are!"
Once the three of them had moved on, Tang Qianmiao's eyes flickered toward their retreating figures, filled with scorn.