Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Qiao Qing Yan Bids

Second-floor private room.

“Young Lord, that Third Master Ji is too clueless. He still wants to compete with us…”

“This time, Clear-Heart Dew is definitely ours.”

With 150 million on the table and even the Ji family stepping aside, no one should be foolish enough to fight them.

Then a soft, clear voice drifted across the hall—gentle, but sharp enough to cut through every murmur.

“180 million.”

The room went dead.

Downstairs, the crowd erupted half a heartbeat later.

“Who is that? How does she dare bid? Even the Ji family—Is she an idiot?”

“Isn’t that the minor celebrity who argued with the Su family’s young lady at that banquet?”

“Can a minor celebrity even come up with that much money? Did she lose her mind trying to get attention?”

“Look at the man next to her—Si Jin Nan, the Si family’s playboy. Is she making him pay?”

“The Si family’s item, bought back with Si family money. If word gets out, it’ll be a joke…”

“Look at Mr. Ji and Madam Ji’s faces…”

Su Luo Yu hadn’t expected Qiao Qing Yan to step forward at a moment like this.

“Aunt,” she said softly, pretending concern. “Senior Qiao is probably just curious about that thing.”

Then she hesitated, as if reluctant to say more. “But Cousin… is Cousin with Senior Qiao…?”

The Ji couple turned—and sure enough, Si Jin Nan was sitting right beside Qiao Qing Yan.

“That child Jin Nan…” Madam Ji pressed a hand to her forehead, a headache blooming.

Ji Chang An’s brows drew together, troubled.

He had thought highly of Qiao Qing Yan before—her courage, her clarity. But this?

This wasn’t courage. This was an egg thrown at a stone.

And she might shatter more than just herself.

Yet the elderly man beside Ji Chang An, seeing Qiao Qing Yan, smiled instead.

“That child is from your Si family?” he asked. He’d heard her call someone “cousin.”

Ji Chang An’s expression tightened. “She’s the Si family brother’s child. A Chan’s nephew.”

The old man froze, surprise flickering across his face. The Si family brother… then that meant—

Ji Chang An gave a small nod. Something like grief slipped through his eyes before he buried it.

The old man seemed to remember something and said gently, “That child is blessed. In the future, he’ll keep getting better and better.”

Ji Chang An looked at him, confused.

The old man smiled, glanced toward the stunning woman sitting beside Si Jin Nan, and added quietly, “There’s an old saying: survive a great disaster, and you’ll have great fortune.”

He didn’t say more, but the meaning hung there.

Ji Chang An sensed the hint—yet the old man clearly didn’t intend to continue, so he didn’t press.

In the hall, discussion swelled.

Some whispered about the mysterious second-floor room, guessing which great Capital family it belonged to.

Others laughed about how the Si family would lose face tonight.

All because of an entertainment celebrity.

If Master Si heard, he’d probably be furious enough to fall ill. Eldest Young Master Si had done plenty of outrageous things, but this—this would be a humiliation written in ink.

In another corner, under dim light, a man sat straight-backed and immaculate in a gray suit. His tie was perfect, his shoes polished, his posture gentlemanly to the point of cold.

His assistant leaned close. “Second Young Master, it’s Eldest Young Master and that female celebrity.”

The man’s gaze drifted toward them, as if he’d expected exactly this.

“That woman is Qiao Qing Yan?” he asked.

The assistant nodded. “Yes. I heard she announced her retirement a few days ago.”

The man chuckled, lowering his eyes. “Then doesn’t that mean Xu Zhong Qin ended up with nothing?”

He lifted his gaze again, assessing. “Still… she is pretty.”

Before, he’d wondered what kind of woman Xu Zhong Qin had his eye on. Turns out it was nothing special.

A pretty face. Nothing more.

The assistant lowered his head, not daring to respond.

The man waved a hand dismissively. “She’s just a female celebrity. If my brother wants to play with her, let him.”

As long as she didn’t ruin his plans, he didn’t care who got Clear-Heart Dew.

In fact, if his dear brother got it… he’d be even happier.

The more miserable Eldest Young Master Si became, the more reckless he acted, the farther he would drift from the center of power.

The man’s eyes narrowed, focus tightening on the glowing second-floor window.

“Find out who’s in that private room,” he ordered.

Compared to some minor celebrity, he cared far more about the person who could make even the Ji family bow their heads.

He’d never paid attention to that room before.

Now he couldn’t afford to ignore it.