The next day, Feng Yu and Ralph went to Sotheby’s Auction.
Ralph had helped Feng Yu pay a deposit and get an invitation card to enter the venue.
Ralph moved closer to Feng Yu at the carpark and told him he saw two familiar car plates. If these two cars were not sold, then it should be Bill Gates and Paul Allen’s.
Feng Yu is slightly surprised to know those two had come. He knew Bill Gates had bought many art pieces to decorate his mansion and owns the most expensive manuscript, Da Vinci’s <Codex Leicester>. He had bought it for more than 30 million USD in 1994!
As for Paul Allen, he does own some art collection. But Feng Yu guessed that he doesn’t know how to appreciate arts like Bill Gates. His collection is only for decorative purposes. It’s just like when you go to a tycoon’s office, you will always see a bookshelf full of books. But most of the books are new and had never been read before.
Many people do not read, but love to pretend to be cultured. Those that don’t know how to appreciate art also like to pretend.
When Feng Yu entered the venue, he saw Bill Gates and Paul Allen. They were sitting in the first row, and beside them are two men who look like consultants.
Ralph brought Feng Yu to his front-row seat on the center corridor’s right, and Paul Allen is seated on the left side of the central corridor.
When Paul Allen saw Feng Yu, he let out an arrogant ‘Hmphed!’ and his expression immediately changed.
Bill Gates also saw Feng Yu, but he did not show any emotions on his face. It’s just like meeting an acquaintance.
Feng Yu pretended to just notice them and walks over with a smile. “Ah… Bill and Paul. What are you all doing here? Are you buying to buy some art pieces to decorate your offices like me?”
When Bill Gates saw Feng Yu walking over to say hi to them, he forced a smile. But when he heard what Feng Yu said, the smile on his face disappears.
What do you mean by buying art pieces to decorate our offices? I know how to appreciate the arts! Are you saying that I am only pretending?
The corner of Paul Allen’s lips twitched. He does not want to speak to a country bumpkin like Feng Yu!
Feng Yu saw Bill Gates and Paul Allen refusing to answer him and assumed he is right. He pushed the consultant beside Bill Gates aside and sat down. “Bill, Paul, which art pieces are you all bidding? Let me know as I don’t want to be going against my friends.”
“You are not our friends!” Paul Allen retorted.
Didn’t you sell off all your Microsoft shares? How dare you claim to be our friends?! It’s fine if you sell some of your shares, but you shouldn’t sell everything. Microsoft’s share prices had been falling since you sold your shares!
You had made high profits by selling your Microsoft shares at its peak. We… our net worth has been shrinking! It’s all because of you, and you dare to say we are friends?!
If you treated us as friends, why didn’t you inform us before you sell your shares? If you let us know earlier, we will not be in this state!
Feng Yu continued with a smile. “We are still friends, right? Oh, do you all have enough cash? Let me know if you need help. I can lend money to you all with no interest.”
Bill Gates and Paul Allen’s assets are mostly in the form of Microsoft shares. During this period, they had sold some of their shares with the excuse of raising cash for other investments. Actually, they knew Microsoft share prices will continue to fall and are trying to cut losses.
Anyway, the shares they sold are all non-voting shares and will not affect their status. Everyone who owns Microsoft shares had sold some. Even Bill Gates had sold his shares, and that Feng had sold all of his Microsoft shares. The market is also not doing well, and selling the shares is the best way to stop losses.
Although Bill Gates and Paull Allen had sold some of their shares, the total number of shares sold by them is nothing compared to Feng Yu. Other than the banks, no one owns more cash than Feng Yu, including Feng Yu’s recent investments.
This time, even Bill Gates cannot tolerate it. He is the World’s Top Billionaire! How can he borrow money from others?! What Feng Yu said is too much!
Seeing Bill Gates and Paul Allen ignoring him, Feng Yu returned to his seat.
Paul Allen sneered as he looks at Feng Yu. How can someone who doesn’t know about art appreciation come here to buy art pieces? He didn’t even bring a consultant with him. I bet he doesn’t even know about the history behind those paintings!
Ralph saw Feng Yu going over to provoke those two and knew today’s auction winning bids will be incredibly high.
After waiting for a while, the auction started.
The auctioneer walks up the stage, and there is a big screen behind him, showing the first item. It’s a manuscript by a famous author. But Feng Yu had not heard of his name before.
Bill Gates started bidding without hesitation. He had bought many art pieces but did not display them at home. Instead, he displayed them in Microsoft for the employees to have a nice working environment.
But Bill Gates is not as noble as he claimed. The <Codex Leicester> he bought was made into a VCD and sold at 50 USD a copy. He sold a few million copies and let the whole world knows that he owns the most expensive original manuscript.
To Feng Yu, this is only a marketing gimmick. It’s just Bill Gates trying to build his reputation. During the time he sold <Codex Leicester> VCDs, Microsoft share prices rose. Everyone starts to notice Bill Gates’s purchasing power and saw the potential profits in Microsoft.
These art pieces are a form of investment that many wealthy westerners like. The prices of the art pieces will appreciate steadily and can let others envy them.
Others might not know, but Feng Yu, who had worked with Bill Gates for some time, knew Bill Gates is someone who likes to show off.
After a few bids, Bill Gates won the manuscript.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen looked at Feng Yu curiously. They thought Feng Yu will purposely raise the prices, but it seems Feng Yu has no intention to do that.
Codex Leicester
