Chapter 16: Squeeze In
When Gu Fengchuan heard those words, the blood in his body rushed to his face, and he felt utterly humiliated.
Still mindful of his delicate and weak “sister,” he first escorted Gu Xueying to a seat in the second row before storming angrily toward the first row.
“What are you doing sitting here? The front row is reserved for the auction’s top guests—don’t wait until someone comes to kick you out!”
Gu Fengchuan reached out to pull Xu Youyou from the chair.
Xu Youyou looked at him with an expression that said “Are you an idiot?” and replied, “This is the seat they assigned to me.”
“Liar! This spot has always been reserved for Mr. Lu. Move aside! If people find out you’re connected to our Gu family, won’t that embarrass all of us?” Gu Fengchuan glared at Xu Youyou as if she were something filthy.
Xu Youyou was beyond annoyed. She waved her hand.
A staff member in a suit immediately approached with a smile. “Miss Xu, is there something you need?”
Xu Youyou said, “This person is blocking my view and keeps bothering me.”
The staff member promptly stepped between them, smiling politely at Gu Fengchuan. “Mr. Gu, everyone here is distinguished. Even if you’re pursuing a beautiful lady, you should maintain your manners.”
Gu Fengchuan was livid. He was her brother! How could this staff member look at him like he was some toad lusting after a swan? Even if they weren’t blood-related, how could he possibly pursue this compulsive liar?
“Doesn’t she have her own seat? Why aren’t you dealing with her?” Gu Fengchuan snapped.
The staff member looked puzzled. “I am taking care of her—Miss Xu is my responsibility.”
“She’s sitting in Mr. Lu’s seat! What happens if he arrives and gets upset?”
The staff member gave an awkward smile. “This is Miss Xu’s assigned seat. Mr. Lu’s seat is right next to hers.”
Gu Fengchuan’s expression darkened. If Xu Youyou’s seat was the best in the house, then Mr. Lu’s was undoubtedly the second-best.
“How could her seat be better than Mr. Lu’s?” He was baffled.
The staff member simply smiled and said, “Mr. Gu, our auction house has its own rules. I’ve explained everything I can. The auction will begin shortly—please return to your seat.”
Dazed and confused, Gu Fengchuan stumbled back to the second row.
Gu Xueying, still watching Xu Youyou seated comfortably in the best position, grew anxious. “Big Brother, why is she still sitting there? Why isn’t anyone doing anything about it?”
“They said it’s her seat,” Gu Fengchuan replied, still bewildered.
Gu Xueying’s pupils contracted in shock.
But before she could process it, something even more surprising happened.
Accompanied by another staff member, Lu Jingyao entered the room. When he reached the front row, he hesitated for a moment upon seeing someone already occupying his usual seat.
The staff member quickly guided him to the adjacent seat.
After pausing for about three seconds, Lu Jingyao calmly sat down. He glanced at the golden nameplate to confirm it was indeed his assigned seat.
Once he was seated, Xu Youyou gave him a casual glance—he was too striking to ignore.
While Song Zhibai’s beauty had a delicate, broken charm that made people want to either protect him or possess him—like a distant moon hanging in the sky—Lu Jingyao was the blazing sun. He was the natural center of attention, making everyone around him seem insignificant by comparison.
Noticing her gaze, Lu Jingyao nodded slightly toward her.
He had seen Xu Youyou’s profile before, though in person, she was fairer and more delicate than in the photos. The last time he had encountered her was in a residential area where she was walking a small yellow dog.
His assistant, Liu, had been efficient in gathering information—discovering that Xu Youyou had recently moved into the luxury complex Tomson Riviera, and that she had paid in full for the most expensive penthouse.
Lu Jingyao had been curious about her dog and wanted to meet her again, but his busy schedule had prevented it.
Now, meeting her at the auction, he extended his hand. “Hello, I’m Lu Jingyao.”
Xu Youyou was momentarily stunned before shaking his hand. “Xu Youyou.”
She secretly lamented—what a shame this man wasn’t broke. Otherwise, she could have recruited him into her entertainment company and paired him with Song Zhibai to form a “Sun and Moon” duo.
Their handshake was brief, but Lu Jingyao couldn’t ignore the softness of her palm before he quickly composed himself.
He wasn’t one for small talk, so his assistant, Liu, took the lead. “I don’t believe we’ve met before, Miss Xu. Is this your first auction?”
Xu Youyou nodded—it wasn’t something she needed to hide.
Liu, sensing his boss’s interest, continued, “Do you have your eye on any particular item today, Miss Xu?”
The front row had two large circular sofas, each able to seat four people. Xu Youyou’s section only had her in it.
A glossy auction catalog lay on the small table before her, showcasing all the available items, including the doucai cup she had contributed—listed on the final page.
“I’m just here to broaden my horizons,” she answered lightly.
But Liu wasn’t convinced—after all, her seat was even better than his boss’s. Clearly, her wealth was extraordinary.
Curious, Xu Youyou playfully asked, “So, what are you here to bid on? The doucai cup, perhaps?”
Liu shook his head with a smile. “Mr. Lu hasn’t decided yet.”
Xu Youyou chuckled internally—what a polished non-answer. Clearly, they didn’t want to reveal their true intentions.
Meanwhile, in the second row, Gu Xueying’s jealousy burned as she watched Xu Youyou chatting effortlessly with Lu Jingyao.
She had tried everything to get close to him and failed repeatedly. Yet Xu Youyou managed it without even trying.
Desperate, she turned to Gu Fengchuan. “Big Brother, there’s still room next to Sister. Why don’t we squeeze in? The view from the front row is so much better.”
