Chapter 75

Chapter 75: The Final Item

“I just wanted to say… tomorrow I’d like Aunt and Uncle to come eat at the Su family’s,” Su Luo Yu said, smile strained. “Grandmother has been talking about Aunt lately. If she sees Aunt, she’ll definitely be happy.”

The Ji couple had rushed here today, arriving after hurrying all the way. They hadn’t even had time to visit the Su family yet.

Now, with the auction already decided, they could only swallow their frustration for the moment.

They would wait until everything ended—then discuss how to fix this mess.

Beside Qiao Qing Yan, Si Jin Nan finally let out the breath he’d been holding.

From the moment she called out that number, his heart had been lodged in his throat.

He never imagined that after all his warnings, she would still dare to go head-to-head with the second-floor room.

Someone the Ji family treated with that kind of respect—who in their right mind offended them?

What shocked him even more was that the mysterious guest didn’t fight her.

They withdrew.

Qiao Qing Yan touched her cheek, smiling faintly. “Looks like that Old Ancestor’s life isn’t worth that much after all.”

Si Jin Nan stared at her.

“…If your bid hadn’t been so bold that everyone froze,” he wanted to say, “the Ji couple might’ve snatched it back.”

But he didn’t.

He dragged a hand through his hair instead, looking at her as if she’d grown another head. “What do you even want that thing for?”

He didn’t mention the money.

He’d promised that if she liked something, he’d pay. He wasn’t going to take it back.

As for what outsiders thought? He didn’t care.

People already believed he lived for trouble. One more scandal wouldn’t change anything.

“The name sounds rare,” Qiao Qing Yan said lazily. “I want to see what kind of thing it is.”

Her expression made it seem like she was only playing.

Si Jin Nan pressed his tongue to his cheek, unable to understand her at all.

And yet he was certain of one thing—Qiao Qing Yan didn’t do anything without a reason.

If she heard his thoughts, she would tell him plainly: she truly didn’t have another purpose this time.

She really did just want to see what Clear-Heart Dew was.

—

After the Si family’s item, the next three lots belonged to the Ji family.

Calligraphy and paintings by a famous master—originally a set of four. One had been lost long ago, its whereabouts unknown. Only three remained in the world.

Their collection value was enormous. For collectors, they were the kind of pieces you waited a lifetime to see.

So the Ji family separated them into three auctions.

In the end, the three pieces sold for a total of 190 million.

The first two went for 50 million each. The last sold for 90 million—after missing the first two, no one wanted to miss the third.

Bidder psychology was easy to read.

As people began to relax, thinking the night was over, Ji Qiang Wei stopped them in time.

“Everyone, please wait. This auction isn’t over yet.”

Even Ji Chang An and Madam Ji looked surprised.

“This auction still has one final item,” Ji Qiang Wei announced, “and it hasn’t been brought out.”

People flipped through their brochures, confused. There was nothing listed.

They’d assumed Clear-Heart Dew was the finale—especially since it was the only item not printed in the program.

But now…

“Please stay calm,” Ji Qiang Wei said, voice steady. “Please look.”

The big screen lit up.

A black-and-white museum promotional film flickered into view, footage from the first half of the last century. The camera lingered again and again on a necklace—grandmother green gemstones glowing even through the grainy haze.

The film unfolded slowly, telling the necklace’s story.