Lin Siwan’s words made Chen Mu glance at Shen Nanyue a few more times.
A flash of amazement crossed his eyes.
Ever since childhood, he had known Shen Nanyue was beautiful.
Back then, he had even taken pride in being engaged to someone so stunning.
But later, their relationship had become far too dull.
After being engaged for so many years, the furthest they had ever gone was holding hands.
He felt Shen Nanyue was too aloof and untouchable, which was why he eventually couldn’t resist Lin Siwan’s temptation.
Now, Shen Nanyue had come to the auction because of him and Lin Siwan—did that mean she regretted everything and had chased after him?
Thinking about how frequently Shen Nanyue had appeared before him lately, he felt his guess was perfectly reasonable.
An inexplicable sense of satisfaction rose within him.
“Sister, if you wanted to come, you should’ve told me. We could’ve come together.”
“Are we even close?”
Shen Nanyue had important matters to deal with today and had no interest in entertaining Lin Siwan.
She looked at her coldly.
“Stop getting in my way.”
With that, she moved to walk past them toward her seat.
But the moment she passed Chen Mu, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm, stopping her.
“Let go!”
Unable to shake him off, Shen Nanyue snapped coldly.
Lin Siwan was also shocked and frowned at Chen Mu.
“Brother Chen Mu.”
Only then did Chen Mu realize what he had done.
He released her hand and deliberately put on an indifferent expression.
“Shen Nanyue, I’m warning you—stop this pointless obsession. I will never fall for you!”
Shen Nanyue found him utterly ridiculous.
Who exactly was obsessing over whom?
“Obsessed? After Nanyue upgraded her standards, she wouldn’t even glance at crooked melons and cracked dates like you.”
Before she could respond, a low, lingering voice sounded nearby.
Shen Nanyue froze for a moment and turned in surprise toward Zhou Yushen, who had walked to her side.
“Why are you here?”
“To attend the auction, of course.”
Zhou Yushen raised an eyebrow and gave her a reassuring look.
Shen Nanyue stopped asking questions.
Watching the two interact as though no one else existed around them made Chen Mu even angrier.
“You’re just some illegitimate nobody. How dare you lecture me?”
“Chen Mu, after using the restroom, you should really wipe your mouth properly. The smell is disgusting.”
Shen Nanyue coldly shot back before grabbing Zhou Yushen and leaving.
She had no patience to waste on those two today.
They were annoying enough already.
Chen Mu watched the direction they left with a dark expression.
Meanwhile, Lin Siwan softly comforted him.
“Alright, Brother Chen Mu, don’t stoop to their level. He’s just an illegitimate son. Yet he really thinks he’s some noble young master of the Zhou family.”
Only after hearing Lin Siwan’s words did Chen Mu’s mood improve slightly.
Without speaking, he let Lin Siwan hook her arm around his as they found their seats.
Coincidentally, their seats were directly behind Shen Nanyue and Zhou Yushen.
Shen Nanyue lowered her voice and asked Zhou Yushen, “You’re not really here for the auction, are you?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Old Master Zhou’s birthday is coming up. I came to bid on a birthday gift for him.”
As he spoke, Zhou Yushen took out the auction catalog.
After flipping through a few pages, his pale, slender fingers tapped lightly on a set of jade cups.
“I’m planning to bid on this.”
Shen Nanyue glanced at the starting price.
Five hundred thousand yuan.
It wasn’t that she looked down on Zhou Yushen, but for an ordinary salaried worker, even earning a million yuan a year would already make someone exceptional.
The starting bid was five hundred thousand, but after live bidding, the final price would undoubtedly exceed a million.
Zhou Yushen had just bought a house.
There probably wasn’t much left in his savings.
How could he possibly afford such an expensive gift for Old Master Zhou out of his own pocket?
Turning sideways, Shen Nanyue leaned closer to him and stared seriously into his eyes.
“Wh… what is it?”
“Tell me the truth. Did your Young Master Zhou send you here to bid on these jade cups?”
The corners of Zhou Yushen’s lips twitched subtly.
After a moment, he nodded.
Whether he bid on them himself or “Young Master Zhou” did—there was essentially no difference.
Only then did Shen Nanyue nod and sit back properly in her seat.
“Having self-respect is a good thing. But don’t lie. Otherwise, even with a face like yours, it’s still a huge turn-off.”
Zhou Yushen’s calm expression nearly cracked.
When had he ever lied?
She was the one misunderstanding things, alright?
But he had no room to explain himself at the moment, so he could only silently put away the catalog and shift his gaze toward the stage.
From the corner of her eye, Shen Nanyue noticed his reaction and secretly lowered her head with a quiet laugh.
Behind them, Chen Mu stared fixedly at the two of them.
Watching them lean close together and whisper made him want to march up and strangle Zhou Yushen.
But even if Zhou Yushen was merely an illegitimate son, he was still the Zhou family’s only heir.
Chen Mu didn’t dare offend him lightly.
Beside him, Lin Siwan secretly let her affectionate gaze linger on Zhou Yushen’s back.
That noble bearing, flawless face, and status as heir to the Zhou family—every single thing about him stirred her heart.
In comparison, even Chen Mu, sitting beside her, began to seem somewhat distasteful.
After all, becoming the young madam of the Zhou family was worth far more than becoming the young madam of the Chen family.
Each of them harbored their own thoughts.
Until the auctioneer on stage began introducing the items.
The early lots were mostly gemstones and jewelry.
Under Lin Siwan’s coquettish pleading, Chen Mu spent several million yuan without hesitation to buy an entire set of diamond jewelry.
“Sister, if there’s anything you like, just tell me. I’ll buy it for you.”
Lin Siwan deliberately leaned forward, looking at Shen Nanyue with smug triumph, unable to hide the boastfulness in her tone.
At the same time, the corner of her eye kept drifting toward Zhou Yushen, lingering there reluctantly.
“There’s no need. Whatever she wants, I’ll buy it for her.”
The icy voice instantly cracked the expression on Lin Siwan’s face.
Gritting her teeth, she shrank back into her seat.
Meanwhile, Shen Nanyue frowned at Zhou Yushen and warned him in a low voice,
“Why are you pretending to be rich again?”
The coldness on Zhou Yushen’s face disappeared.
A smile curled at his lips as he leaned close to Shen Nanyue’s ear and quietly replied,
“I can’t exactly make this trip for Young Master Zhou for nothing. He said that within ten million, I could bid freely on anything I liked.”
Ten million!
Even Shen Nanyue couldn’t hide her surprise.
She turned to look at Zhou Yushen.
After a long pause, she finally squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.
“Your Young Master Zhou is really generous.”
Zhou Yushen nodded in agreement, looking faintly proud.
“Young Master Zhou has always been generous.”
Shen Nanyue silently mocked him for being such a devoted lackey before turning back toward the stage.
At that moment, the auctioneer had already begun introducing the jade cups Zhou Yushen wanted.
“These jade cups have been authenticated by national appraisers and traced back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Not only are they antiques, but they were also indispensable drinking vessels at banquets. The starting bid is five hundred thousand.”
The moment the auctioneer finished speaking, Zhou Yushen raised his paddle.
“Five million.”
As soon as the words fell, the surrounding crowd erupted in shock.
Who starts bidding at ten times the asking price?
He was clearly determined to win this item at all costs!
Shen Nanyue swallowed hard.
Young Master Zhou truly was fortunate to have a subordinate like Zhou Yushen.
A subordinate who absolutely had no intention of saving him money!
Rarely, in such a massive auction hall, no one else even attempted to bid.
The auctioneer smiled brightly and finalized the jade cups’ ownership after the third strike of the hammer.
The next item was brought onto the stage.
At last, Shen Nanyue became interested.
She straightened up in her seat.
“The next auction item is a magnificent painting!”
— The end of the Chapter–
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