Baiyun Xuan auction house was the biggest auction house in Ninghai.
It was said that the boss of the auction house came from a powerful background and that was how he was able to defeat all opposition and win the right to auction off Master of the Divine Burin’s work.
The moment Ding Ning entered the Tianquan North which Road Baiyun Xuan auction house was on, he discovered that the advertisements plastered on all the lightboxes on this street were about this auction. Even the neon lights on the nearby restaurants and Baiyunxuan Mall were advertising the same. They clearly showed how seriously Baiyun Xuan auction house viewed this auction.
It was probably only Ding Ning who did not know what an uproar his jade carving had on the antique world. After the top two Ninghai jade carving masters saw his work, their praise was endless and admitted they could not compare.
With the praise of the top two masters in the professional world as well as the powerful publicity provided by Tianfu Company, the news got out very quickly. First, the president of Ninghai’s antique society brought appraisers to appraise, then the president of the Yan Jing antique society made a personal visit, then after that jade carving masters from all over the country came to visit. Even foreign jade carving masters heard of the news and paid visits. All gave very high praise.
Tianfu Company took advantage of the situation and, allying with Baiyun Xuan auction house’s tireless publicity, domestic and international millionaires and collectors came without regard to the distance. This was what created such a prestigious auction.
For Ninghai’s city government, the auction was a chance to demonstrate Ninghai’s international metropolis to the world. As it also happened to be peak travel season for National Day, the government placed particular importance on this auction and had sent out large numbers of police to keep the peace. The city government would not allow anything to go wrong. It was under these circumstances that Xiao Nuo had become the head commander responsible for the safety of the auction items.
Although there were two more days until the official auction date, the organizers, Baiyun Xuan and Tianfu Company, decided to especially host a small-scale exhibition for the millionaires and jade carving masters who had come to take a look.
Today, Xiao Nuo wore a white half-sleeve inner shirt with a short-sleeve black blazer over top. Her hair was cut in a bob with a pair of earphones resting on top. She looked completely like an auction house staff member. As she stood waiting anxiously at the door of the auction house, she immediately became the focal point of everyone’s gaze.
The usually silent and unsmiling female police superior, who emanated a coldness that warned off strangers, actually revealed an embarrassed smile after making a phone call. This made the jaws of her subordinates drop almost to the ground. They all secretly wondered who was on the phone that was able to melt this impenetrable glacier?
“Hello, beautiful lady. I am Pals from France, may I invite you to dinner?”
At this moment, a tall and handsome golden-haired white young man came over, accompanied by a group of people. After seeing Xiao Nuo, his beautiful sky-blue eyes flashed with remarkable brilliance. He spoke politely and in the Shenzhou language which he appeared well-practiced in.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know you.”
The smile on Xiao Nuo’s face immediately disappeared. She returned to her usual cold expression and furrowed her brows.
“Ah, lady, I just want to invite you to dinner. I have no ulterior motives. You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, and I think I have been struck by love at first sight. I hope you will give me a chance to pursue you.”
Pals was not disheartened and he expressed his love with deep emotion. In the eyes of outsiders, this was very strange but for someone who grew up in France, the land of romance, this could not be more normal.
Xiao Nuo’s brows were pulled tightly together. Impatiently, she said, “Please move, I’m meeting a friend.”
“You can ask your friend to change the meeting time. I think we will have a romantic evening.”
Pals was like a dogskin plaster, sticking tightly to Xiao Nuo.
“I have no interest in you, please move.”
Xiao Nuo had never met such a pestering person. She forcefully suppressed the anger in her heart and spoke icily.
“Beautiful lady, don’t be angry. I mean no harm. I just want to pursue you.”
Pals raised his hands, an innocent expression on his face but he stood in Xiao Nuo’s way.
“Get lost!”
Xiao Nuo’s temper was never very good. If not for the fact that she was now responsible for the safety of the auction, she would have sent him flying with a kick long ago.
“Beautiful lady, you are too rude. Tell me, how much money do you need before you will agree to dinner with me? One hundred thousand or two hundred thousand?”
Pals noted Xiao Nuo’s disinterest in him and his face darkened immediately. Purposely, he shook the Vacheron Constantin watch on his wrist and spoke arrogantly.
“Little girl, do you know who Mr. Pals is? He is the chairman of the Asian Sector of Osklan Corporations. For him to be interested in you is your good fortune; stop pretending to be so noble and virtuous.”
A fat middle-aged Shenzhou man, balding at the top, arrogantly flattered Pals.
A cold light flashed through Xiao Nuo’s eyes. Compared to a foreigner filled with a sense of superiority, like Pals, she hated Shenzhou people who worshipped foreigners and bowed and scrapped before them the most. “If he looks favorably upon your mother, then that’s also your good fortune.”
“What did you say? Are you looking for a beating? Do you know who I am?”
The fat man’s face grew bright red and he stretched out turnip like fingers to point and yell at Xiao Nuo.
“Alright, Mr. Li, this is a girl that I like. Don’t interrupt.”
Pals unhappily interrupted Mr. Li’s anger. Mr. Li’s expression changed with remarkable speed. He immediately squeezed out a smile and nodded agreeably. “Yes, Mr. Pals, I was too excited. You are correct.”
“Lady, name a price. How much will it cost for you to spend the night with me? One million? Is that enough?”
Pals was very pleased with Mr. Li’s attitude. He looked arrogantly at Xiao Nuo. From an invitation to dinner, it had quickly turned into an all-night event.
Xiao Nuo clenched her fist. Her good mood had all but vanished. She forcefully suppressed the raging fire in her heart and said, “Stop bothering me. Move.”
“No matter how beautiful a woman is, she has a price. Mr. Pals has plenty of money; name a price.”
“The women of Shenzhou Country can all be bought for money. It’s just a matter of how much.”
“This woman is just pretending to be aloof. As long as you name the right price, Mr. Pals, which woman would not throw themselves at you?”
“It’s just a matter of letting out the line. Beauty, name a price. Now that Mr. Pals has chosen you, what can you do? Remember, don’t be too greedy otherwise, you will lose out.”
“Beauty, you are very pretty. Be obedient and name a price otherwise, if Mr. Pals becomes unhappy, you won’t be able to continue living in Ninghai.”
“Your boss, the owner of the auction house, is an old friend with Mr. Pals. If you make Mr. Pals unhappy, you might not be able to keep your job.”
…
The group of Shenzhou merchants around Pals heartlessly stomped on the dignity of their own country as they shamelessly flattered Pals and forced Xiao Nuo to submit.
That disgusting face made Xiao Nuo want to throw up. Her eyes swept coldly over these ugly faces and the anger rose in her heart.
It not for the fact that she was responsible for the security of the auction and her boss had repeatedly stressed the need for everything to go well as to prevent any damaging effect on Ninghai’s international image, she would have smashed open these people’s faces.
Pals looked at Xiao Nuo with a sense of being very proud of himself. He whistled coquettishly and said, “Beautiful lady, everyone has a price. Name your price.”
“One billion!”
A burst of light male laughter floated over. Pals’ face darkened and he turned to see Ding Ning standing to the side and clutching his side with laughter. “Who are you?”
Xiao Nuo’s expression brightened but upon seeing Ding Ning wink at her, she immediately pursed her lips and remained silent.
“Who I am is not important. What is important is that I like this beautiful woman. I now name a price of one billion dollars to invite her to dinner with me; do you have a problem with that?”
Ding Ning’s eyebrows rose and he spoke with purposeful provocation. “Of course, this is an auction house, and you can bid against me.”
“Kid, don’t brag; do you have one billion?”
“Tch, I think he’s just some guy trying to cause trouble.”
“Kid, I suggest you wise up and don’t insult those you can’t deal with.”
“The hell, that’s so funny. One billion, look at your street-stall clothes, have you even seen what one million looks like?”
“Get lost, kid, don’t look for trouble for yourself. Do you know who we are? Killing you would be like squashing an ant.”
…
Pals had not yet spoken when the shameless dogs began to bark, one louder and more arrogant than the next.
An icy light flashed through Ding Ning’s eyes as he coldly swept his eyes across this group. The terrifying murderous intent sent chills through everyone’s heart and they all closed their mouths with fear.
“Beauty, this is a group of dogs that only know how to bark. They don’t even have one billion dollars yet dare to claim that they have plenty of money. How funny. Since no one is betting against me, you belong to me tonight.”
Ding Ning pushed passed Pals without regard and wrapped his arm around Xiao Nuo’s slender waist.
Xiao Nuo pouted playfully and rolled her eyes at him but her hand pinched hard at Ding Ning’s waist. Through gritted teeth, she said, “No problem, handsome brother, I’ll keep you company tonight.”
“Of course, I am a man of my words. I am not like some French man, with all those airs, yet unable to take out even one billion dollars. How dare he try to pick up girls? What an embarrassment to come to Shenzhou country.”
Ding Ning ignored the pain and glanced disdainfully at Pals. “Pauper, get lost. Don’t get in the way of my dinner with this beautiful lady.”
Pals’ face was dark. “Kid, are you all talk? Do you really have one billion?”
Without waiting for Ding Ning to speak, he smiled coldly at Xiao Nuo and said, “Lady, clear your eyes; he’s just a liar.”
“Even if I am a liar, I’m still better than a pauper like you.”
Ding Ning’s eyebrows rose and he said with faceful satisfaction, “As long as the beautiful lady believes me, what does it matter if you paupers do not? Do you believe me, beautiful?”
“Yes, I believe you!” Xiao Nuo said very cooperatively.
“Humph, stop pretending, kid. Look how wretched you are. Do you dare to take a gamble with me? If you can bring out one billion, I will immediately kowtow to you and apologize but if you cannot, you will kneel and apologize to me and this beautiful lady belongs to me tonight.”
Pals’ face was bright red with range and cold light flashed across his narrow eyes. He was only the chairman of the Asian sector of the company, so his annual salary was only two million. To spend the night with a beauty such as Xiao Nuo, he could stand to spend four to five hundred thousand, any more was impossible, much less one billion.
“Pah, this wretched kid is just faking it. Never mind one billion, if he can bring out five hundred million, I’ll kneel and kowtow to him.”
“Kid, fakers will be struck by lightning, don’t you think your boast is a bit too much? If you can bring out two hundred million, I’ll kneel and apologize.”
“Look at his wretched state, if he can bring out one hundred million, I’ll kneel and call him father.”
“Haha, even one hundred million is thinking too highly of him. I bet he doesn’t even have fifty million.”
“Fifty million? If he can bring out twenty million, I’ll kneel.”
“You all think too highly of him. The street-stall clothes on his back are no more than two hundred dollars. If he has ten million, I’ll kowtow and apologize to him.”
…
The dogs spoke mockingly and taunted Ding Ning. Pals was very pleased with their attack and arrogantly slanted a gaze at Xiao Nuo.
“This…” Ding Ning showed a hesitant expression.
