"Hello, who's this?"
"Young Master Shang! This is Liu Tianyi, the president of Shenhua Bank! Do you remember me?"
"Uh… I think so." Shang Yunyan scratched his head. In truth, he had long forgotten what Liu Tianyi looked like. All he vaguely remembered was visiting Shenhua Bank with a check from the system during his first lottery win. Back then, Liu had personally greeted him, but his name and face had faded from Shang Yunyan's memory.
"Ah, Young Master Shang, I just received an alert—58.6 billion yuan was transferred into your Shenhua Bank account! I called immediately to see if you need any additional services from our bank. We recently launched an investment product offering a 4.85% interest rate!"
"Heh, President Liu, I transferred the money here because I'm attending a major auction in the capital tonight. As for your investment product, I'll pass. I own an investment company myself, and the returns from our projects are much higher."
"Ah, I see! Well, best of luck at the auction. May you acquire the treasures you seek. I won't keep you any longer, Young Master Shang. Have a great evening!"
"Thanks. Goodbye."
After hanging up, Shang Yunyan checked his bank account and thought for a moment. Currently, he only owned one company, managed by Xue'er. He hadn't taken over United Fit himself because of unpleasant memories associated with that company. He feared that if he got involved, he'd fire everyone in a fit of rage, which could cripple the business. Besides, he still hadn't used the "Technology" key in the system's control panel. Once the auction was over, it would be time to activate that feature and start his own tech company.
As dusk settled, Shang Yunyan prepared to leave. Despite the city's notorious traffic, the auction venue was only a 7-8 minute walk from his villa.
The event was being held in the Emperor's Grand Ballroom of the Hilton HuaMao Hotel. The Hilton had gone all out, dedicating its premier space to this prestigious auction hosted by the Xu family, one of the six great families of the capital. The guest list included not only celebrities and elites from nearby regions but also children of prominent officials, all of whom had strong connections with the Xu family and had come to support them.
Shang Yunyan arrived in his custom Rolls-Royce Phantom, drawing the attention of everyone at the hotel's entrance. The doormen and staff, accustomed to greeting billionaires, couldn't help but be awed by the arrival of the evening's most expensive car.
"Whoa, big brother, isn't that a Rolls-Royce Phantom? That's not just any car—you can't buy this custom model with money alone. I've never even heard of someone in the capital owning one," Xu Yaoyang whispered to his eldest brother.
"It seems the capital has a new heavyweight. Do you remember what our younger sister mentioned about seeing a young man at Tianhua Yipin, our parents' villa? That mansion, worth over a billion, isn't just about money—it requires significant status and connections. Now, here comes another enigmatic figure driving a car like that. Let's tread carefully, brothers. We don't want to offend him," Xu Yaowei, the eldest brother, advised.
The Xu family, one of the six great families of the capital, had four siblings: three brothers and a younger sister. Xu Yaowei, the eldest, was the general manager of Xu Group. The second and third brothers, Xu Yaoyang and Xu Yaotian, were vice presidents of the company. Their youngest sibling, Xu Yiru, had recently graduated from university and was preparing to join the family business. This auction was her first taste of the Xu family's grand social events.
As Shang Yunyan's Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up to the hotel entrance, his driver, Old Zheng, stepped out to open the door. Shang Yunyan exited the car with practiced ease, followed by two impeccably dressed women stepping out of a sleek Mercedes van behind him.
The moment Xu Yaowei saw Duan Yurou, one of the women accompanying Shang Yunyan, his eyes lit up. She radiated elegance and professionalism, her flowing hair and confident demeanor embodying everything he admired in a woman. If she also proved to be capable and ambitious, Xu Yaowei knew he wouldn't let such an opportunity slip by.
"Young Master, this is the auction venue," Duan Yurou said as she and Xue'er flanked Shang Yunyan.
"So many people…" Shang Yunyan remarked, glancing at the bustling crowd. "Let's head in. If the items I'm interested in come up early, we'll leave quickly. I don't like noisy places."
Before they could enter, the Xu brothers approached Shang Yunyan. Xu Yaowei led the way, his two younger brothers trailing behind.
"Good evening," Xu Yaowei greeted, extending a hand. "I'm Xu Yaowei, general manager of Xu Group. Welcome to our family's auction. May I ask your name?"
"Shang Yunyan," he replied calmly, shaking Xu Yaowei's hand.
As they exchanged greetings, Xu Yaowei studied Shang Yunyan closely. His poised demeanor and noble air left a lasting impression. Shang Yunyan showed no sign of being intimidated, even upon hearing Xu Yaowei's name. Instead, his expression remained calm and indifferent.
Xu Yaowei's gaze drifted to the watch hanging on Shang Yunyan's chest—a Vacheron Constantin 57260. The brilliance of the rare timepiece nearly blinded him.
Who is this man? Xu Yaowei wondered, his curiosity deepening.