Chapter 58: Chapter 58

"I got you a set of jewelry at the auction, I’ll bring it to you next time we meet."

The next second, a reply came from the other end, and through the words, one could imagine how happy and excited the person was.

"Thank you, darling, I love you so much! [Rose] [Kiss]"

Yin Shuyao’s mind buzzed, her eyes glaring at Qin Fan. How could he buy such expensive jewelry to give to another woman? She couldn’t accept it.

That was fifteen million! Has he gone mad?!

"What are you looking at?" Qin Fan pressed the phone screen off and placed it on the table, enjoying Yin Shuyao’s hurt, shocked, and angry expression with interest, saying, "I asked if you liked it; I didn’t say I’d give it to you. Who are you putting on this look for?"

"Qin Fan!" Yin Shuyao squeezed her palm tight, trying hard to control herself, trembling with anger, yet had to consider the other people at the same table, whispering, "There’s no need to humiliate me this way!"

Qin Fan paid her no heed, leaned back into his chair, lazily crossing his legs, and looked toward the stage.

While they were speaking, another item was sold, a sky blue glazed vase from the late Qing period, with a final price in six figures.

After that, a staff member wearing white gloves brought up a cello.

Shen Jianian’s gaze followed the cello, stopping at the center of the stage.

She had noticed it in the brochure earlier, just a simple cello name, but seeing it now with her own eyes confirmed that it was indeed Yan Qiusheng’s cello.

Yan Qiusheng is a world-class cellist, a Chinese-American. When she was twelve, he held a concert in Beicheng, and she was fortunate enough to be brought to the venue by her parents to listen. After the concert, her father used his connections to get a photo with Yan Qiusheng and also obtained his autograph.

Moving from Beicheng to Yicheng, that photo somehow disappeared.

In recent years, Yan Qiusheng had vanished from the public eye, and she didn’t expect to see his cello here.

While she lost focus momentarily, the price had already risen to tens of millions; apparently, everyone knew of Yan Qiusheng’s fame. His cello must hold tremendous value and significance for collectors.

Shen Jianian herself majored in cello, naturally understanding even more, only hoping whoever ended up owning the cello was truly passionate about it.

Fu Jichen wasn’t interested in any of this, focusing on drinking tea; the tea prepared by the hosts was quite excellent.

He glanced up, suddenly noticing Shen Jianian’s gaze fixed on the stage, her eyes subtly gleaming as if the people and scenery around her were nonexistent.

Fu Jichen thoughtfully glanced at the cello.

"Mr. Song has bid twenty-six million; is there anyone who can beat twenty-six million?" The auctioneer raised his little hammer, routinely scanning the crowd, "Twenty-six million going once..."

For the first time that evening, Fu Jichen picked up the bidding paddle on the table, "Thirty million."

An increase of four million in one go, such boldness was not something an average person possessed.

Shen Jianian turned her head in surprise, looking at the person beside her; she hadn’t noticed when he raised the paddle, "What are you buying the cello for?"

She didn’t believe he had such refined interests.

Fu Jichen replied convincingly, "You don’t like it?"

Shen Jianian paused for a long while without speaking. She indeed appreciated Yan Qiusheng’s cello, merely for admiration, not necessarily wanting to possess it.

"I already have my own cello," Shen Jianian said.

"To switch around," Fu Jichen suggested.

Shen Jianian looked at him, wondering if he even knew that it was Yan Qiusheng’s cello—an item belonging to a world-class cellist, giving it to her would be an extravagance.

"I don’t want it," Shen Jianian spoke straightforwardly.

Fu Jichen stuck to his words, "If you don’t want it, we’ll keep it at home as a display piece."

Shen Jianian had nothing more to say. He wanted to buy it and display it at home, she had neither the reason nor the position to persuade otherwise.

Lu Yanzhi overheard their conversation and glanced elsewhere; he probably shouldn’t be sitting here, feeling like a third wheel.

The auctioneer gestured towards Fu Jichen’s table, "Mr. Fu has bid thirty million, thirty million going once..." Before the words were out, another paddle was raised, causing the auctioneer to quickly change his tone, "Mr. Song increased the bid again, the current price of the cello is thirty-one million!"

Fu Jichen set down the tea cup, didn’t even bother to raise his paddle, and leisurely said, "Thirty-six million."

This time the increase was five million!

Everyone in the room gasped, their eyes shifting back and forth between Fu Jichen and that Mr. Song.

Mr. Song knew he couldn’t compete with the Fu Family, so he put down his bidding paddle.

After the auctioneer declared the price three times with no further bids, the cello was finally acquired by Fu Jichen.

Yin Shuyao stewed for a while; having witnessed this spectacular bidding, her heart felt even more blocked. Shen Jianian trained in the cello, and it was obvious who Fu Jichen bought the cello for.

She had just argued with Qin Fan over fifteen million, and here Fu Jichen spent thirty-six million to please Shen Jianian. In comparison, it made her seem pitiful and lamentable.

She, a legitimate grand lady of a wealthy family, wasn’t as fortunate as Shen Jianian, a fallen noble.

During the intermission of the auction, people moved around inside, some heading to the bathroom, others going to the buffet area for some light refreshments, while small groups gathered for idle chat.

Fu Jichen received a call and left, Lu Yanzhi disappeared too, leaving Shen Jianian sitting alone at her place.

She scanned the room, took the shawl off her shoulders, bundled it up on the chair, and stepped towards the buffet area.

Stopping at the long buffet table, Shen Jianian took a small plate of pastries from the three-tiered rack, tasting it in small bites. The refreshing mung bean mixed with osmanthus fragrance spread through her mouth.

Having finished the pastry, Shen Jianian picked up a glass of juice and turned around, only to almost bump into someone approaching her from behind. Thankfully she reacted quickly, stepping back just in time to avoid a collision.

Unfortunately, half of the juice in her hand splashed out, landing squarely on the person’s suit.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to," Shen Jianian said, her calm demeanor revealing a hint of panic, immediately reaching for a napkin from the table and handing it over, "Please wipe it off."

The middle-aged man drenched in juice wore a face of anger, then paused slightly upon seeing Shen Jianian’s face, turning to amazement and interest.

"Whose daughter is this? Haven’t seen her before,"

Having arrived late, the middle-aged man missed the first half of the auction and didn’t know Shen Jianian came along with Fu Jichen. He hadn’t seen her at other events either, so her careful and courteous demeanor, unlike those high and mighty society daughters, made him mistake her for some up-and-coming star or influencer.

"I’m very sorry," Shen Jianian apologized again.

She didn’t want to cause trouble for Fu Jichen, just hoped to resolve the matter quickly.

The middle-aged man stroked his lip corner, stepped forward a bit closer, and lewdly remarked, "Since the juice was spilled by the lady, shouldn’t the lady clean it up?"

Yin Shuyao had spotted the commotion from the start, holding her elbow with her left hand and lightly swirling a slender wine glass with her right, presenting an unhurried, spectator-like stance.

Shen Jianian’s face had once been the source of her jealousy; it still is. However, everything has two sides; beauty can bring benefits or bad luck.

The scene before her was a perfect example.

Yin Shuyao took a small sip of wine, watched the scene without blinking, secretly hoping Shen Jianian would be publicly humiliated by that old pervert, causing Fu Jichen to dislike her.