Chapter 138: Let Me Have It
Anyone with eyes in the room could see the intense tension between Xu Youyou and Gu Yuji.
The once lively auction hall was now left with only the two of them bidding.
There were still some genuine collectors who wanted the Yongzheng Famille Rose Fushou Olive Vase and were eager to continue bidding, but before they could speak, their companions stopped them.
“They’re fighting, and they’ll definitely drive the price up to extremes. If an outsider gets involved recklessly, what if they end up being the ones who have to take the item? Don’t be impulsive.”
Once personal pride is involved, the nature of the auction changes, and even the person who truly loved the vase could only hold back their desire to raise the paddle.
The person currently the happiest was, of course, the vase’s current owner, Wu Shunyi.
“500 million and one hundred thousand,” Gu Yuji said coldly. This time, his primary goal in the capital was to acquire this vase, and he couldn’t afford not to bid.
He had thought that Xu Youyou would back down, but to his surprise, almost immediately after his bid, Xu Youyou provocatively countered: “550 million.”
All eyes in the room turned to the two of them.
Gu Yuji fixed his gaze on Xu Youyou, as though trying to see through her completely.
Xu Youyou showed no fear, looking back at Gu Yuji without hesitation.
Lin Yashu waited a moment on stage and then asked, “Is there any bid higher than Miss Xu’s? 550 million once, 550 million twice…”
Lin Yashu’s words made everyone in the room tense up. If there were no surprises, this would likely be the highest bid of the auction.
Gu Yuji stared at Xu Youyou, trying to read fear or regret on her face, but he found none. Xu Youyou merely looked at him with interest, completely unafraid of actually winning the vase.
Just as Lin Yashu was about to bring the hammer down, Gu Yuji clenched his teeth and spoke: “560 million.”
The crowd gasped, but before Lin Yashu could say anything, Xu Youyou flashed a smile at Gu Yuji, her red lips parting, “600 million.”
Gu Yuji’s face darkened, his expression almost as if he could devour Xu Youyou with his gaze: “Miss Xu, do you really like this vase so much?”
Xu Youyou smiled, “My house needs a vase, and this one is perfect. Mr. Gu, why don’t you do me a favor and let it go? How about it?”
Gu Yuji couldn’t figure her out, but he felt as if she had seen through him completely. If this vase was something he truly wanted, he would’ve given up the bidding by now. But this vase was the whole purpose of his trip to the capital, and he couldn’t back down.
“610 million,” Gu Yuji gritted out, already thinking that if Xu Youyou continued to bid, he might abandon the item.
But to his surprise, when Xu Youyou heard the price, she didn’t continue bidding. Instead, she smiled and looked at him.
At that moment, Gu Yuji finally understood why his older brother, Gu Fengchuan, hated this “cheap little sister” so much.
She was doing it on purpose! Last time, at the auction in Hu City, she had done the same thing, playing with Gu Fengchuan by raising the price recklessly!
Lin Yashu waited for a moment and then looked at Xu Youyou with a questioning gaze. When she saw that Xu Youyou had no intention of continuing to bid, she finally spoke: “610 million once, 610 million twice, 610 million three times. Congratulations to Mr. Gu, you’ve successfully acquired your beloved item.”
Xu Youyou took the lead in clapping, “A beautiful vase, at a beautiful price.”
In her heart, she felt a bit regretful. Although Gu Yuji was bidding aggressively, his price couldn’t match Lu Jingyao’s offer from abroad. But Gu Yuji seemed to be on the edge of giving up, and Xu Youyou didn’t dare risk it any further.
Once Gu Yuji acquired the vase, he seemed ready to leave, but Gu Xueying wanted to stay.
“Third brother, aren’t you curious about what Xu Youyou wants to buy?” Gu Xueying whispered.
She thought that after saying this, Gu Yuji would definitely stay behind to cause trouble for Xu Youyou, and she could stay behind to socialize with the influential people present.
But to her surprise, Gu Yuji lightly parted his lips and said something very unkind: “I’m not that fool Gu Fengchuan, and I don’t want to keep seeing you flirt with that idiot from the Xingzuo family.”
Gu Xueying’s face went pale. She hadn’t expected her little schemes to be noticed. She tried to explain, “I’m doing this for the Gu family.”
“Who you’re really doing this for, you know better than anyone,” Gu Yuji said, and with that, he turned and left.
Gu Xueying watched him go, not daring to delay, and immediately chased after him.
She completely ignored the pleas from behind by Chai Wei: “The auction hasn’t even been going on for that long, why is she leaving already?”
One of the people nearby quickly comforted the young master, “Young master, our Xingzuo family is big. What kind of beauty do you not have? If you really like her, we can have Mr. Chai arrange a blind date with Miss Gu. The Gu family won’t dare to refuse.”
Chai Wei actually seemed interested, “That’s true. She looks gentle, and she’s a girl from the circle. Her family might be a little lacking, but if she’s obedient, she’d be a good wife.”
Just as the person beside him was about to relax, Chai Wei suddenly rubbed his chin and said, “By the way, Miss Xu, her little face is even prettier than Miss Gu’s. I wonder which family she’s from. She seems a bit temperamental, though. It wouldn’t be appropriate to marry her, but if I keep her on the side…”
The person beside him immediately said, “Young master, Miss Xu seems to be close with Lu Jingyao.”
Chai Wei’s expression immediately darkened, and he said, “Forget it, a girl with such a temper—let Lu Jingyao have her.”
Xu Youyou, however, was completely unaware that she was being coveted by others. She was entirely focused on her few pieces of collectibles. The Ministry of Finance’s first piece fell at 26 million, which was about what she expected.
Now, it was time for the Zeng Gong family’s letter to be auctioned.
As soon as Lin Yashu announced the starting bid, people immediately started making moves.
“200 million.” Lu Jingyao raised his paddle first, seeming intent on acquiring the Zeng Gong family’s letter.
Chai Wei, who hadn’t bid yet, also raised his paddle, “210 million.”
After placing his bid, he gave Xu Youyou a greasy smile.
Xu Youyou felt disgusted and almost wanted to cancel the auction right there.
Lu Jingyao raised his paddle with a dark face, “250 million.”
Many people were interested in the Zeng Gong family’s letter. Almost as soon as Lu Jingyao raised his bid, someone called out, “260 million.”
“270 million.”
“280 million.”
The bid increments in this auction were usually no less than a million, but it seemed that everyone here had agreed to push the bids up by tens of millions at a time.
“300 million.” Lu Jingyao raised his bid once again.
At this point, fewer people were willing to continue.
Chai Wei suddenly stood up, bowing to Lu Jingyao, and said, “310 million. Mr. Lu, last time your father bought Zhao Mengfu’s ‘Lo Shen Fu,’ this time, let me have this one.”
