Chapter Seventy-Four: The Auction Item

Her dark hair fell naturally over her shoulders, unadorned by any elaborate styling, yet possessed a breathtaking beauty that seemed to cast a spell, compelling every gaze to settle upon her.

“You look stunning today, sister,” Fu Zhichen whispered softly at Pei Susu’s ear. Perhaps it was because he leaned so close, his warm breath brushing her skin, or perhaps it was the deliberate low timber of his voice, but a subtle intimacy unfurled between them.

Pei Susu shot him a sidelong glance, her beautiful eyes tinged with playful reproach. “We’re in public—don’t say things like that.”

“Then, may I say it when we’re home, sister?” Fu Zhichen’s gaze lingered on her, caressing her with the warmth of his eyes like a gentle hand, stirring boundless imaginings. Pei Susu could not help but blush—

Why did it suddenly feel as though Fu Zhichen had grown even more mischievous lately?

Naturally, this scene did not escape the sharp eyes of those around them. Yet, given their distinctive statuses and Fu Zhichen’s outward aloofness—the look of someone untouched by worldly desires and immune to feminine charms—no one suspected anything about their relationship.

“Stop teasing me and have a seat,” Pei Susu reminded him, not forgetting their purpose for being there. After all, the auction was full of all sorts of people; if some unscrupulous reporter slipped in and snapped the wrong photo, no amount of explanation would suffice.

They took their seats as required. The auction had yet to begin, but the room was already brimming with guests. A single glance around revealed many of the business world’s heavyweights had already arrived.

“Although there aren’t many truly exceptional items this year, it’s still the grand annual event. The organizers’ influence is formidable,” Pei Susu couldn’t help but sigh.

Among this year’s lots, only one or two could be considered remarkable; the rest were rather unremarkable, perhaps even less impressive than the pieces usually shown in private exhibitions.

But the true power behind the auction house was shrouded in mystery. Pei Susu had heard rumors before, though she’d never had the chance to learn more.

“The owner is indeed enigmatic,” Fu Zhichen agreed. Even he, with all his connections, knew little about the shareholders behind the scenes.

More guests kept arriving. Pei Susu’s gaze wasn’t fixed on the entrance, and so she failed to notice when, just as she looked away, a familiar figure slipped in.

Liang Wenru entered the auction, dazzled by the opulence. He’d never attended such an event before; the invitation was bought at great cost from a friend. In order to buy Pei Susu this gift, he had truly gone all out.

He found a seat and glanced enviously up at the gallery above—he’d heard those seats were a world apart from those below, but his invitation didn’t permit him access, so he could only look on from afar.

Soon, the chatter around him grew so loud it made his head ache.

“Ladies and gentlemen,”

At some point, a woman had taken the stage. She moved with quiet elegance, and though she was already in her middle years, her beauty remained undiminished.

All eyes turned to her as she stood before the microphone, a cheerful smile on her lips.

“Thank you all for coming. It is only with your support that our auction has flourished to this day. I wish to extend my gratitude to every guest present.”

Her hair cascaded down as she bowed to the crowd.

From her seat in the gallery, Pei Susu watched the woman on stage, then turned to Fu Zhichen. “That’s Jin Rusong, the star auctioneer, isn’t it?”

Though she seemed to stand out for her looks, her skill and command on the auction floor were unrivaled in the trade. She was the only auctioneer ever appointed for this annual event.

“Yes, that’s her,” Fu Zhichen confirmed.

“I didn’t expect her to be so impressive—she’s much more beautiful in person than in the news.”

“She is indeed a woman of remarkable talent; otherwise, she wouldn’t preside over this auction year after year.”

With this acknowledgment, the auction soon began.

Pei Susu showed no interest in the first few lots. Only when the brooch appeared did her gaze subtly change.

Noticing this, Fu Zhichen turned to her.

“I don’t want it—don’t buy it for me,” she quickly said, catching his expression. “I just thought it looked nice, that’s all. Even if you bought it for me, I doubt I’d look at it more than once.”

Hearing this, Fu Zhichen relented.

The brooch started at a high price, but as the only truly worthwhile item so far, it attracted many bids. The price climbed steadily, finally halting in the six-figure range, and was ultimately claimed by a bidder at the front.

“That price is certainly inflated—it’s unlikely to ever sell for a profit.”

Pei Susu didn’t pay attention to the voice of the winning bidder and so failed to recognize that the one who had just spent over a hundred thousand on the brooch was Liang Wenru.

“Still, if it’s something you love, perhaps it’s worth it,” Pei Susu remarked, glancing around to find many eyes fixed on their section. Fu Zhichen’s influence was far greater than she’d imagined.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated. Glancing down, she saw a friend request from an unfamiliar number.

Without much thought, she accepted.

A photo arrived almost instantly—it was the very brooch from the auction.

Pei Susu was surprised, and then a message followed: “Susu, please accept this as my apology. Can we make up, Susu?”

In an instant, Pei Susu’s expression turned cold.

So the one who had bought the brooch was Liang Wenru?

Frowning, Pei Susu felt a wave of disgust and promptly muted his contact.

“What’s wrong, sister?” Fu Zhichen asked, picking up on her displeasure. Pei Susu turned to him and showed him her phone.

A shadow flickered in Fu Zhichen’s eyes.

Before arriving, he’d had Liang Wenru sent to the police station—yet it seemed the man hadn’t learned his lesson and was already looking to harass Pei Susu again.

“Just ignore him,” Fu Zhichen said, his voice tinged with jealousy.

Pei Susu couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve already muted him for you. Who knows what other tricks he’ll try next—leaving him as a contact just makes it easier to watch the drama unfold.”

Chu Qingzhu was surely out of chances now, and Pei Susu was more than happy to witness their downfall. Seeing them grow more wretched, treading a path utterly different from her own, filled her with an unexplainable satisfaction.

Liang Wenru’s regret now was like a resounding slap across his former self, drawing blood. Yet, rather than feel any sorrow, Pei Susu felt only a sense of grim delight.