Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Charity auctions were a common occurrence within the high society. Typically, the organizers would obtain various treasures or antiques through unique channels and bring them out to auction. Although they called it a charity auction, and to a certain extent a large portion of the proceeds would go to selected local charity organizations, it was mainly used by various men and women in the high society as a way to socialize.
The hotel was extremely large, and the charity auction was held in a circular hall located at the end of the ballroom. There were seats in the area meant for the attendees.
The hall was spacious. Aside from the stage, which was used to display the featured items, there was also a wide vacant area where an auctioneer stood. He was already making the necessary preparations. The organizers had arranged the best seats for Mo Jingshen and Ji Nuan. They sat close to the center and were able to see everything on and off the stage clearly.
After a simple introduction, the auctioneer instructed for someone to push out the first item.
It was a blue diamond that had been discovered in Yugoslavia. This diamond was almost half the size of what Ji Nuan owned and its transparency wasn’t as good at Ji Nuan’s. Furthermore, it had already been processed and shaped and was not as valuable as her naturally round shaped one.
Yet, for such a low-quality blue diamond, the starting price was actually fifty million yuan.
A natural blue diamond was extremely rare. They were mostly purchased by various collectors or wealthy individuals. Presently, a large number of attendees were moved and had already begun calling out prices.
Ji Nuan sat in her seat and casually glanced at the man by her side: “CEO Mo, what do you think about this blue diamond?”
Mo Jingshen glanced at her, unperturbed. “Don’t you own a much better one? Is this even worthy of your attention?”
Ji Nuan lifted one side of her lips. “Even for a low-quality blue diamond like this, the starting price was actually fifty million yuan. I’m truly very curious. How much money did you spend to obtain that blue diamond back then?”
Mo Jingshen did not answer, but his eyes carried a hint of a smile.
It wasn’t clear if he was laughing at her for not returning that blue diamond to him, or for keeping that diamond at home and not daring to wear it out.
Originally, Ji Nuan wanted to ask about the price of the diamond. However, seeing Mo Jingshen’s smiling gaze, she immediately turned her head over and stopped asking.
By now, the price had been raised to one hundred and twenty million yuan. No matter how she looked at it, Ji Nuan felt that it wasn’t worth that price. However, even now, the price was rising.
She couldn’t help but suspect that the one she owned had cost more than a billion yuan…
A billion yuan wasn’t an amount anyone could afford. Especially for such a small diamond.
During the long past they shared, Mo Jingshen never knew to sent her flowers or jewelry to make her happy. Instead, he would take off his expensive suit and keep away his noble side just to personally cook her dinner. For her sake, he was even willing to throw his own life away. Yet, in order to make up the absence of a wedding ring, he had ordered that blue diamond. He left it to her to craft it as she liked. It was fine if she made it into a necklace, and it was equally all right if she chose to have it made into a ring. He never once disrespected her thoughts or her preferences.
Tonight, both her neck and ears were adorned with jewelry from the brand Van Cleef & Arpels. This was likely because he had been angered by the rose bouquet sent by the auntie’s son.
It was rare for Mo Jingshen to be so superficial. For the sake of matching her gown, he had carelessly waved his hands and brought over a set of valuable gems.
Clearly, the man had also thought that his superficial actions would cause her to roll her eyes, and so he had decisively left a mark on her neck. This way, she would still wear it even if she didn’t want to.
This man, even when he was being superficial, he couldn’t conceal his black-bellied nature.
By the side, an old CEO from a company noticed Ji Nuan’s gaze on the blue diamond and couldn’t resist speaking. “CEO Ji, this blue diamond was dug out from Yugoslavia. Even without mentioning its worth, based on its origin and color alone, it’s definitely worth competing for. It’s also valuable as a collector’s item.”
“Is that so?” Ji Nuan offered the old CEO a polite smile.
The old CEO thought that he had managed to ignite her interest and was about to continue the conversation when he abruptly met the man’s mild gaze. “CEO Chen, your company started its roots in the jewelry industry. I’ve always thought that your moral character when it comes to evaluating gems and diamonds wasn’t bad. However, your earlier words truly make me suspicious of the quality of gems sold by your company.”
The old CEO’s expression stiffened. He smiled in embarrassment. “I was simply chatting with CEO Ji carelessly. I wasn’t saying that the blue diamond was of high quality. After all, girls are all fond of these sorts of things. I saw that CEO Ji wasn’t calling out a price, and thought that she didn’t understand the worth and rarity of a blue diamond. I was simply carelessly chatting with her. It isn’t as you thought…”
Ji Nuan: “…”
It turned out that this man was a jewelry businessman. No wonder she wasn’t familiar with him.
As a businessman who worked in the jewelry industry, he had actually managed to say those words and even claimed that this sort of blue diamond was worthy of being collected. He truly went against his conscience.
Even though he personally did not raise his card nor did he call for a price.
Ji Nuan expressionlessly shifted her gaze back onto the stage. The final price was one hundred and fifty million yuan, and it was bought away by a slightly chubby man.
Afterward, another two items were brought on stage. They were both valuable items.
Finally, the last item to appear was ‘Tao Yuan Painting,’ a painting by a famous painter known as Zhang Daqian.
Ji Nuan stared at the painting, a hint of interest finally appearing in her eyes.
That Tao Yuan Painting…
She recalled seeing it in the Ji family’s study when she was young. At the time, Ji Hongwen had treated it like his baby. Apparently, he had spent more than a billion yuan to obtain it. However, for some reason, the painting disappeared from her study and she never saw it again. Subsequently, when she asked one of the helpers at home, she learned that her father had owed someone a favor. The person did not want anything but that painting, and her father could only give it away.
This had happened many years ago.
She never thought that this famous painting by Zhang Daqian would show up at such an auction.
In such a place, the price would surely be raised even higher.
Earlier, Ji Nuan had been completely disinterested at all the other items and had nearly fallen asleep. The moment this Tao Yuan Painting showed up, her gaze was completely fixated in its direction.
Mo Jingshen did not speak, while the old CEO by her side spoke up. “CEO Ji is so young, yet you’re completely uninterested in the jewelry being auctioned off. Instead, you’re interested in this sort of old painting?”
Ji Nuan kept her gaze away and shook her head with a smile. “No, it’s just that I’ve seen this painting when I was young. It left some impression on me.”
