Ding Ning’s hesitation made Pals even more certain that he was just a big talking liar. With an expression of having seen through his charade, Pals taunted, “What’s wrong? Scared?”
“It’s not that I’m scared. I just don’t think this is a good idea, what if none of you stand by your word afterward?”
Ding Ning’s gaze twinkled as he replied hesitantly.
“Hahaha, I, Pals, and the chairman of the Asian Sector of Osklan Corporation and they are all well-known merchants in Ninghai, how could we not be men of our words?”
Seeing Ding Ning’s hesitancy, Pals’ increasingly felt that he was just full of hot air.
“No, I don’t trust rich people like you. On the surface, you are all very dignified but there’s nothing good beneath that. If you refuse to go through with your words, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m not betting, not betting. Come, beautiful, let’s go.”
Ding Ning became increasingly panicked. He pulled Xiao Nuo and tried to leave.
“Stay where you are; you’re not allowed to leave.”
Seeing Xiao Nuo willingly leaving with Ding Ning, Pals’ jealous anger rose even higher. He stepped forward and blocked their path.
“You’re not allowed to leave.”
“Stand still, who gave you permission to leave?”
“Are you afraid, kid? Trying to slip away?”
…
The dogs surged forward cooperatively and blocked their path, smiling coldly as they spoke.
“This is an auction house, there are cameras everywhere. If you dare to do anything, I’ll immediately call the police.”
Ding Ning’s face was bright red and he spoke harshly but his shaking body and flickering gaze gave away his fear.
Xiao Nuo twisted her head away expressionlessly and almost burst out laughing. Who would have thought that his acting was so good? The entertainment industry suffered a great loss without him as an actor.
She knew that Ding Ning had just extorted fifteen billion from the Qian family last night. She had no worries about him bringing out ten billion.
The police responsible for security still had shown up due to her secret instructions, to cooperate with Ding Ning’s show.
Pals’ face twitched. Although he was a French man, he still didn’t have the confidence to cause trouble in front of an auction house with such a powerful background.
He forcefully suppressed the anger in his heart and squeezed out a fake smile. “We are all civilized people, how could we get violent? But words that are spoken are like water that’s been splashed out. Since you say you can bring out ten billion, then you must prove it to me. Otherwise, even if I cannot do anything here, I can still deal with you after we leave the auction house.”
At the perfect moment, a flicker of fear flashed through Ding Ning’s eyes. Frightened, he said, “What, what do you want to do?”
“Stop stalling, kid. Prove it to us. If you can’t, leave the girl.”
The balding man became arrogant again. Looking at Xiao Nuo’s chest, a leer flashed through his eyes. It was rare to such a beautiful woman. Once Pals was done with her, he had to borrow her for some fun.
An imperceptible coldness flashed through Ding Ning’s eyes. Resolutely, he said, “I can’t trust you.”
A short and skinny man thought for a moment then slapped a hand to his head in joy. “Isn’t this an auction house? We can find a notary.”
“Ah… notaries are expensive, I… let’s not.”
As Ding Ning spoke in a panic, his eyes darted all over the place as if looking to escape.
Pals could almost see his victory. Without a sound, he glanced around and his dogs spread out, blocking Ding Ning’s possible escape.
Pals nodded approvingly and laughed darkly. “It’s alright. I’ll pay for the notary. Now it’s not a problem, right?”
“I… I… brother, it was just a joke, why you take it so seriously?”
Ding Ning shrunk inward and looked pleadingly at Xiao Nuo.
Xiao Nuo didn’t even know how to cooperate with him. She could only stand there expressionlessly.
Pals seemed to already see Ding Ning begging for mercy on his knees and the beautiful woman leaping his arms. With high-spirits, he swept his arm across.
“So it’s settled. Someone go to find a notary. Tell the boss that I’m verifying a bet with someone.”
“I’ll go!” The balding man found a chance to ingratiate himself. With a speed completely at odds with his body shape, he ran inside to find someone.
Ding Ning’s expression was awkward and he sighed. “Ah, why is picking up girls so difficult now?”
“Who are you picking up? If you don’t have money, don’t be so boastful.” Xiao Nuo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and could only glare at him without good humor.
Pals cheered in his heart. As expected, the beautiful lady had already seen through to this liar’s true face and was turning against him.
Looking at Xiao Nuo’s curvy figure, he couldn’t help a heat rising in his heart and he stared greedily, unable to look away.
Xiao Nuo sensed the leering gaze and her face immediately darkened. She wanted to yell out but was stopped when Ding Ning squeezed her hand tightly.
Pals’ eyes narrowed, he felt jealousy and hatred. This d*mn kid, if it weren’t for his interference, this beauty would be having dinner with him already.
As long as she agreed to his invitation, she would not be able to escape him tonight.
In the past, some of the women he had picked up had also pretended to aloofness but once they saw the money, they were sluttier than prostitutes.
“Coming, coming!”
The balding man ran back panting. Behind him were two people wearing the uniform of notaries and a man in plainclothes.
“Mr. Zhu, why are you here?”
Pals was surprised and quickly went forward and offered his hand to the man in plainclothes.
“Mr. Pals is settling a bet with someone. I’m here to watch the show and also be a witness.”
Mr. Zhu’s eyes narrowed as he smiled and spoke lightly as they shook hands. However, an imperceptible flicker of ridicule flashed through his eyes.
Xiao Nuo was responsible for the security of the auction house. Others might not know this pretty policewoman’s background, but how could he not know?
More accurately, his boss knew. From the first day Xiao Nuo took responsibility for the security of the auction, his boss had specifically telephoned to tell him to never, not under any circumstance, anger her.
To be able to make his superior boss warn him so formally, it was clear that Xiao Nuo’s background was terrifying.
Thus, when he saw in the control room that Xiao Nuo and Pals were at odds, his first thought was to bring people to her aid. It was an opportunity to get to know this female captain of the police who had such a powerful background.
Later, it was one of the police officers subordinate to Xiao Nuo who stopped them going out. Zhu Ancheng immediately understood. She wanted to make a fool of this overly arrogant Pals.
He didn’t have a good impression of Pals. Using the fact he was French, he was like a dog in heat and tried to get every beautiful woman he saw into bed with him.
There were previous incidences of him fooling around with a female employee of Baiyun Xuan. What made him most angry was that the female employee had no sense of self-respect and actually went to bed with him.
If it was a normal female employee it wouldn’t have mattered much, however, it just happened that she was the daughter of one of his old friends. After Pals had his fun, she was tossed aside. She took it terribly.
In the end, his friend blamed him for not looking after her probably. He could not explain himself and was blamed all around.
If not for the fact that the Osklan Corporation Pals was part of had a jewelry business that had professional connections with Baiyun Xuan auction house, he would have taught Pals a harsh lesson to let out his anger.
The moment had arrived. Although he didn’t know who Ding Ning was, but based on his cooperation with Xiao Nuo, their relationship was not ordinary. This immediately caught his interest and he decided to make friends with Ding Ning.
After all, Xiao Nuo was an icy woman. If he actively tried to befriend her, she might misunderstand and suspect of ulterior motives, wondering if he drooled over her beauty, then he would, on the contrary, be kept away from her.
But it would be much easier to make friends with Ding Ning. After all, they were both men. They could always find some common interests.
“It’s good that Mr. Zhu can be a witness. I trust no one will dare to go back on their word.”
Pals swept a threatening gaze over Ding Ning. His words had a distinct subtext to them.
Ding Ning’s head hung down with an uncomfortable expression. His entire body shook and he did not even dare to speak.
Pals was invigorated. He pointed to the blank contract and said to the notary, “The first party is me, Pals. The second party is… you, what’s your name?”
“Ding… Ning.”
Ding Ning said in a small voice, his eyes darted around wildly.
Pals smiled disdainfully. “The bet is whoever loses has to kowtow and apologize.”
Ding Ning timidly said, “You said earlier that whoever loses has to kowtow, apologize, and call the other person father.”
“Hahaha!”
Pals and his people immediately burst into laughter. “Yes, yes, add that, add that. Is this kid brain dead, perhaps kowtowing and apologizing are not enough, he also wants to call us father.”
A cold smile rose to the corners of Zhu Ancheng’s mouth. “Who knows who will call who father? Pals is celebrating too early.”
“However, the first party can’t just be you alone. You all have to be the first party.”
Ding Ning said with an unhappy expression.
“No problem, add Li Maoxiang, Zhang Dalu, Wang Keliang, Zhao Linguang…”
Pals waved his hand generously and a leer flashed through his eyes. “If I win, the beautiful lady has to have dinner with me.”
“Alright, add it in!”
Xiao Nuo waved her hand without hesitation.
Seeing her attitude, Zhu Ancheng was even more confident and he nodded to the notary. “Since both sides are voluntarily coming to an agreement, add it in. Mr. Pals, please sign.”
A glimmer of uncertainty suddenly rose in Pals’ heart, he felt that something was not right. Xiao Nuo was too calm. After picking up the pen, he began to hesitate.
“I need to pee; I’m going to the washroom first.”
Seeing Pals hesitate, Ding Ning immediately tried to slip away in a fluster.
“Mr. Ding, no matter how much you need to go, surely you can wait just one moment. Just until after you sign.”
Pals saw that Ding Ning’s flustered attempt to escape and felt his doubts disappear. He quickly signed his name and his followers also signed. The balding man handed the contract to Ding Ning and spoke with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
Ding Ning swallowed and said with a forced smile, “The notary hasn’t signed yet; have him sign first.”
“When does the notary sign first? Are you scared, kid?”
“D*mn, I knew this kid was all talk. It’s too late to escape now.”
“Sign, stop trying to stall; it’s not going to help.”
…
The dogs began their mocking and taunting again.
“No problem, I can sign first!”
Zhu Ancheng did not hesitate at all. He accepted the contract and signed his name on the notary line.
Seeing that Zhu Ancheng didn’t even care, Pals couldn’t be bothered to make an issue out of it. He just glanced at his dogs for them to stop Ding Ning from escaping.
Seeing the paperwork was done, Ding Ning stopped acting. Smiling, he signed his name.
“Mr. Ding, nice writing!”
Zhu Ancheng saw Ding Ning’s bold signature and could not help giving praise, flattering him without batting an eyelid.
Ding Ning smiled widely. “You’re too kind, Mr. Zhu.”
Zhu Ancheng was going to say something else to draw them closer but Pals impatiently hurried. “Quickly, what does it matter if a country bumpkin can write well. He’s also a liar.”
“Liar? What makes you say that?”
At this time, Ding Ning packed in his timid appearance. He stood straight and relaxed. An imposing aura washed over all who were present and replied sarcastically.
Seeing the two different Ding Nings, a light flashed through Zhu Ancheng’s eyes. No wonder Captain Xiao Nuo was so close to him, he was certainly not someone ordinary. Even without Xiao Nuo, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to get to know him better.
