C9 A Treasure That No One Was Willing to Bid For!

Xiao Nan mulled over his situation. Having been drawn into this auction, he was determined not to let any treasures slip through his fingers. While he wasn't wealthy, the money he had was enough for a wager. Besides, he doubted these ostentatiously moral tycoons had the eye to spot a true gem. They might be titans of industry, but in the world of treasure appraisal, they were novices at best. Xiao Nan was confident in this; his appraisal system had recently been upgraded to level two. It wasn't top-tier, but it was certainly sufficient for this event.

Sure enough, once the auctioneer announced the starting bid, there was silence. The stone's unremarkable appearance failed to dazzle anyone. Despite the deep pockets in the room, no one was eager to spend on such an ordinary-looking piece.

Xiao Nan got the game, yet he feigned ignorance, leaning over to whisper to Ai Xiaohan, "Why hasn't anyone bid yet?"

Ai Xiaohan offered a knowing smile. "That's auctions for you. The early items are bargain-bin goods with little collectible value. People usually hold off on bidding, saving their excitement for the later offerings."

Scratching his head, Xiao Nan asked, "Is that a rule here? Aren't they worried that the best items might be up front, leaving the later ones less valuable?"

"Not at all," Ai Xiaohan replied with ease. "Auctions follow a pattern: start with something small to warm up the crowd, then bring out the showstoppers once the mood is set."

Xiao Nan admired her nonchalance. Those seasoned in the spotlight had a certain poise, speaking with effortless grace. Perhaps one day, if he found himself in such circles, he'd speak with the same even-tempered cadence.

But talk was cheap, and the auction was ticking by. As the first item neared a pass, Xiao Nan couldn't hold back. He blurted out, "Five thousand!"

His voice boomed, startling Ai Xiaohan beside him. She regained her composure and looked at him, puzzled. "You're interested in that scrap of stone?"

With a grin, Xiao Nan replied, "What you see as scrap, I see as something more. It's not just any ordinary stone..."

Before Xiao Nan could get his words out, Ai Xiaohan cut him off, "Do you really think it's not obvious to us? Sure, it's different from a common rock, but its value hardly stirs excitement. The starting and final prices are nearly identical, which is why no one else is bidding. And then there's you, jumping in with an offer."

Initially, Xiao Nan had thought Ai Xiaohan recognized the stone's unique qualities, but it turned out she had only a superficial understanding. Yet, her comments made it clear that those gathered were genuine connoisseurs of antiques. The auction was shaping up to be more complex than he had anticipated.

With an embarrassed grin, Xiao Nan responded, "Maybe it's just a gut feeling. I took a liking to this stone and decided to bid. Who knows? Its worth might just exceed all your expectations."

Ai Xiaohan simply smirked and held her tongue at Xiao Nan's explanation.

The crowd, drawn by Xiao Nan's bid, turned their attention to him, curious to see who would spend money on a worthless stone. Their gazes fell upon Xiao Nan with undisguised scorn.

"I thought some wealthy young master was bidding out of sheer boredom, not some penniless kid!" sneered a voice from the side, quickly followed by more jeers.

"Dressing like that for Old Mr. Ai's birthday banquet and having the nerve to bid? He's clueless about the concept of shame."

"Exactly! He looks like a beggar. How he even got in here is a mystery, and now he's keen on a worthless stone. Even if it's slightly more valuable than the bid, there's no need for such desperation. This guy must be out of his mind with poverty!"

Amidst the laughter and ridicule, Xiao Nan remained unfazed. He knew the stone's true value better than anyone. As the adage goes, those who understand you don't need an explanation, and those who don't, aren't worth explaining to. Xiao Nan was at peace, focused solely on claiming the stone. After all, it was a hint from the system, a perk available only once every three days, and he had no intention of squandering it.

The murmurs were somewhat grating, and Ai Xiaohan couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. After all, she was the one who had brought him along, and his actions inevitably reflected on her. Besides, she was well aware that the stone wouldn't draw much attention. So when Xiao Nan's sudden outburst drew all eyes to them, how could she not feel her own reputation slipping?

"Five thousand going once, five thousand going twice, five thousand sold!" The auctioneer's gavel came down, settling the fate of the stone. With a hint of mockery in his voice, the host announced, "Would the gentleman who won the bid please come to the stage to claim your item? And while you're at it, share a few words with us!"

Laughter rippled through the audience, spurred by the host's tone. Though the host was no expert in antiques, it was clear to even the untrained eye that the stone wasn't worth much. The sight of a young upstart buying it was, to him, nothing short of comical.

Xiao Nan strode confidently to the stage and accepted the microphone. "Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone for this bidding opportunity. Truth be told, I'm not of high status. Had you all joined in, I doubt I'd have won this gem. So, my gratitude to you is immense."

"Secondly, my thanks go to my friend Xiaohan, for inviting me to Grandpa Ai's birthday celebration. Without her introduction, I wouldn't have had the chance to acquire this treasure."

"And lastly," he continued, lifting the stone high, "since I came empty-handed, I'll take this moment to offer this treasure to Grandpa Ai as a gift. May Grandpa Ai's fortune be as vast as the Eastern seas and his life as enduring as the pines of the South Mountain."

Xiao Nan had expected applause, but instead, another wave of mockery washed over him.

"He's giving a worthless rock as a birthday gift? This guy's got to be kidding!"

"Exactly, isn't this just humiliating for Old Mr. Ai? This young man must have a death wish!"

"Old Mr. Ai is a man of stature. Does he really need a stone from someone like this?"

As the multitude of opinions swirled around, Old Mr. Ai's face soured without him even realizing it.