C10 The Sexy Lady!

"Hey, that's not very fair of you!" one of the elderly men protested. "Stone gambling should be conducted with transparency and fairness. I think holding an auction here is a good idea. What do you all say?"

"I'm just concerned about the crowd being too large."

"Enough with the excuses!" another man jeered. "By the way... young man, I'm quite intrigued. Could you explain how you knew there was jadeite inside this stone?"

"Indeed, is there a special technique? Could you share it with us?"

As the question was posed, everyone fell silent and listened intently.

"How can you teach luck?" Lee Wen chuckled. "It really is all about luck!"

His comment left the crowd blushing with embarrassment.

"Five hundred thousand!" In the midst of the slightly awkward atmosphere, a portly middle-aged man clutching a briefcase and wearing a thick gold chain around his neck pushed his way to the front of the crowd, exuding wealth and confidence. "I'll take this jadeite off your hands for five hundred thousand! I'll write you a check right now. It's perfect for a jewelry necklace set for my wife. What do you say?"

Lee Wen gave him a look and apologetically shook his head, certain that a higher offer would come.

As expected, another individual glanced at the nouveau riche with scorn and said, "For a glass species jadeite of supreme grade from the old pit, five hundred thousand is too modest for me to even suggest. Let's do this, young man, I'll offer you a fair price—eight hundred thousand. How does that sound?"

"Damn! As if I'm short on cash. I'll take it for one million!" the nouveau riche snapped, lighting a cigarette in frustration.

"One million one hundred thousand!"

"This jadeite has excellent quality. How about one million two hundred thousand for me?"

"One million three hundred!"

"One million three hundred and fifty!"

As the bids climbed higher and higher, Lee Wen remained cool and collected, lighting a cigarette and pulling out his phone to look up information on jadeite.

He wasn't in a rush to repay Ye Tingyu anymore. If he couldn't get a good price, he'd consider taking it to an auction. Every industry has its risks, and the jade business is no exception. No one can be sure there won't be any mishaps during the cutting or carving process. Those willing to bid high are savvy businesspeople who understand the stakes. Thus, the bids continued to soar, with each bidder becoming more cautious.

"One million six hundred thousand!" The nouveau riche raised his hand triumphantly, scanning the crowd. When no one else made a bid, he burst into haughty laughter. "Looks like no one dares to challenge me, huh? Hey, one million six hundred thousand. Are you ready to sell? Should I write you a check or make a transfer?"

In a small county, one million six hundred thousand could buy two or three houses! Many onlookers were green with envy.

"One million eight hundred thousand!" Just as Lee Wen was about to shake his head in refusal, a woman's voice cut through the air. "Hey, handsome, one million eight hundred thousand. Just nod if you're willing to sell."

Her bid sent a wave of excitement through the crowd.

Lee Wen turned to see who it was and was taken aback. He instantly recognized the sultry woman who had purchased the egg-shaped jadeite from him just half an hour earlier.

He hadn't expected her to outbid everyone by such a margin!

"Alright, it's yours, beautiful lady!" Lee Wen nodded slowly, turning down the nouveau riche.

The rejected man walked away, grumbling under his breath.

"Hehehe, I love how direct handsome men can be. We're quite in sync!" The lady winked at him. "Shall we do a transfer?"

"Let's do a transfer," Lee Wen replied, a bit sheepishly under her intense gaze.

The transaction proceeded without a hitch. Afterward, the lady leaned in close and smiled at Lee Wen. "My company is located in Antique City. We have many unique antiques. I'd love for you to come by, have some tea, and perhaps we could be friends. Would you do me the honor?"

Lee Wen had intended to examine all the raw stones, but he was physically and mentally exhausted. Overusing his abilities could knock him out cold.

Considering her genuine offer, Lee Wen agreed with a nod.

With pockets full and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Lee Wen followed the glamorous lady deeper into Antique City, unconcerned with the gossip and colorful stories left in their wake.

Antique City was vast, with a labyrinth of streets and uniform buildings that could easily disorient newcomers. Lee Wen followed her through the twists and turns until they reached a relatively quiet alley, a peaceful respite from the bustling avenues.

"We've arrived," the sultry woman announced as she opened the door and stepped into a courtyard. Lee Wen followed her into what turned out to be a three-sectioned compound, complete with modern amenities that made it more livable.

To his greater astonishment, the courtyard was filled with clusters of individuals who appeared to be from the antique trade. They all showed the utmost respect and courtesy to the woman, greeting her in hushed tones.

Noticing Lee Wen's puzzled look, the woman led the way to the furthest room, explaining with a smile, "We're an underground trading company. In plain terms, it's a trading club for rare antiques. You can find the right buyer here and fetch a handsome price."

"I see..." Lee Wen had an epiphany and followed her to the farthest room before ascending to the second floor.

"Ah, finally home. Make yourself comfortable, help yourself to a drink, and don't be shy!" Upon reaching the lavishly decorated second floor, the woman kicked off her high heels and lounged on the sofa, behaving as if they were alone. She introduced herself with a laugh, "My name is Liu Xinmei. And what should I call you, handsome?"

Lee Wen was a bit restrained, his eyes briefly passing over her ample chest before he responded, "I'm Lee Wen..."

To appear more at ease, Lee Wen began to examine the array of exquisite antiques decorating the second-floor living room. It quickly dawned on him that these pieces were of significant value—this woman was clearly wealthy!

"What a refined name, just like your appearance!" While Lee Wen was inspecting the antiques, Liu Xinmei was appraising him. With a twinkle in her eye, she asked cheerily, "What do you think of that antique in front of you?"

Lee Wen's interest piqued as he lightly touched the item, identifying it as a wine decanter from the Qin Dynasty.

"It's quite impressive. I wouldn't have guessed you'd have such an ancient piece in your collection. You really go all out!" Lee Wen said, his tone light and playful, choosing not to reveal his full thoughts as they bantered.

He was certain of one thing—this woman had not invited him over without an ulterior motive.