DASFAM_110

The seating arrangement for the charity auction segment had been decided in advance.

Due to the prestige of both the Shang and Zhang families, Bai Xu and Zhang Changning's seats had been placed in the front row, but both of them found the position too conspicuous, especially since there would be live-stream cameras added at the last minute—

So, after communicating with the person in charge, the two of them simply moved to the third row to keep a low profile.

Zhang Changning was quite pleased, "This spot is much better. Once the first two rows fill up with other guests, it'll be a lot harder for the cameras to catch the two of us."

"Mm."

Bai Xu didn't particularly want to appear on camera. He glanced at the celebrities and entertainers who were gradually making their way in, "For segments like this where everyone's on camera, there are people far more suited for it than us."

He aimed at his good friend's handsome face and joked, "That said, with a face like yours, you'd do more than fine in the entertainment industry. Want me to have your sister-in-law arrange something for you? Give it a try?"

"Give me a break."

Zhang Changning returned the joke in kind, "Why don't you go yourself? I'd say that face of yours is quite a sight to behold."

The two were busy ribbing each other when a waiter's guiding voice came from nearby: "Teacher Ye, your seat is in the second row."

Bai Xu glanced over and saw Ye Zhen, dressed in a new outfit and look, slowly making his way in under the guidance of a staff member.

Between his fingers was a royal blue square-cut men's diamond ring, which happened to match the tone of his deep-V suit perfectly.

During that brief walk, Ye Zhen also caught sight of Bai Xu and Zhang Changning seated in the third row.

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he still paused in his steps, "Young Master Zhang, hello, it's been a long time."

His company's boss and Zhang Changning were relatives, and the Zhang family was one of the top prestigious clans in the capital circle. Being in the entertainment industry, one had to understand social graces to some degree.

Because of the remarks he had accidentally overheard earlier, Zhang Changning's impression of Ye Zhen was not a favorable one. He dropped his usual smile, and his brows and eyes took on the arrogance that only a young master of his standing could carry. He responded with nothing more than a breath of sound.

"Mm."

"……"

Ye Zhen was briefly taken aback, clearly not having anticipated that his own initiative would be met with such a cold reception.

Bai Xu took in his reaction, "Mr. Ye, I'll have the hotel's person in charge contact you later. Regarding that haute couture suit from just now, please have your team liaise with him about the subsequent compensation arrangements. He'll handle the follow-up."

The words sounded polite, but the tone was equally lukewarm.

Ye Zhen suppressed that subtle flicker of displeasure and smiled, "Mr. Bai is too courteous, I already said there's no need, so there's no need."

Bai Xu caught the quiet firmness that had slipped into the tail end of his words, "Alright then."

Ye Zhen didn't continue the topic and took his seat in the second row on his own.

Just slightly to the front and side of Bai Xu and Zhang Changning, all it would take was a slight turn of the body for their gazes to meet.

Zhang Changning withdrew his gaze and looked toward his good friend in puzzlement, murmuring, "Bai Xu, why are you still being so even-tempered? He was talking about you behind your back with such ill intent, and on top of that—"

"Wearing such a huge gemstone men's diamond ring, who could tell whether he came for the charity event or just to show off his wealth."

"It's probably sponsored by a brand, right?"

Bai Xu knew his good friend was standing up for him. A faint glimmer passed through the depths of his eyes, "You don't get it right now, what I'm doing is keeping things separate."

Since the other party was insisting on smoothing over that little accidental incident with the outfit, then he no longer needed to hold back on whatever he intended to do next.

Zhang Changning didn't quite understand, but he could tell there was something more behind his good friend's words, "Alright then, as long as you think it's fine."

Meanwhile, in the row ahead, the assistant Xiao Xin was fuming on behalf of his artist, "Brother Zhen, did you see the attitude of those two? Who do they think they're looking down on?"

"……"

Ye Zhen heard his muttering and his brow furrowed slightly.

He truly hadn't expected that, given his current status and popularity, he would still end up being treated so coldly in a setting like this.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one else had yet taken their seats on either side, Xiao Xin continued to grumble, "I thought people from elite society were something special, but aren't their seats placed behind yours all the same?"

Hearing those words, the small knot of indignation that had been building in Ye Zhen's heart eased a little, "Enough. Mind what occasion you're in before you open that mouth of yours."

Xiao Xin grinned, "Aiya, I'm just doing this for my Brother Zhen's sake."

This past year, Ye Zhen's popularity had risen rapidly, and the members of his management team had risen along with him.

Ye Zhen looked at the live-stream cameras that had already been set up at the front and instructed, "The live stream is about to begin. Go find yourself an empty seat somewhere in the back rows, I'll contact you if anything comes up."

"Got it."

Xiao Xin complied, and didn't forget to remind him, "Brother Zhen, don't forget what Sister Ying told you."

Sister Ying was his executive manager. She hadn't been able to make it tonight due to a sudden matter at home, but she had specifically left instructions—

This charity auction dinner was a prime opportunity for Ye Zhen to build his public image. If he had his eye on any auction item, he was free to make a move within a range he could accept.

After all, under the banner of a charity dinner, the team would naturally help stir up the buzz afterward.

Ye Zhen nodded, "Understood. I know what I'm doing. Head down first."

...

Zhang Changning watched the two of them whispering to each other diagonally ahead, his mouth going a mile a minute, "What do you think those two are talking about? They're not badmouthing you again, are they?"

Bai Xu let out a helpless laugh, "Why don't you just go lean in and listen?"

Zhang Changning slouched back in his seat, "I'm afraid if I happen to hear something nauseating, I'd throw a punch right then and there, and that would be a bit hard to wrap up cleanly."

Bai Xu played along and responded, "Oh~"

Zhang Changning said, "Are you laughing at me?"

Bai Xu held back a smile, "No~"

The two of them stopped paying attention to the row ahead and just chatted idly as usual. Before long, the auctioneer presiding over the event walked up in a smart professional outfit.

She opened the proceedings simply and crisply, and with that, the auction officially began.

The first ten items up for bid were from various welfare and charity elementary schools, there were students' paintings and calligraphy works, as well as volunteer teachers' fountain pens and notebooks, and local specialties sent by schools of all kinds.

This type of auction item didn't hold much real value in itself, it was simply a pleasant-sounding hook attached to charitable donations. Even so, there were still guests willing to spend a small tens of thousands or over a hundred thousand to buy one.

Zhang Changning was also happy to spend his money, and bought a hand-knitted floral little hat, quite adorable, actually.

By the time all ten of the first batch of auction items had been sold off, Bai Xu had not raised his paddle even once.

Zhang Changning asked, "Bai Xu, are you not bidding tonight?"

Bai Xu gave a simple answer, "I want to look a little longer."

It was said that the last ten items were genuine collectibles, with the final auction proceeds split evenly, half going to the original owners of the collectibles, and half toward medical aid subsidies for impoverished families.

Before the words had even fully settled, another round of bidding officially commenced.

Compared to the modest affair of the earlier items, the last ten auction pieces were indeed of considerably higher caliber, though since it was ultimately still framed as a charity auction dinner, the starting bid for the collectibles reached no higher than seven figures.

Set against a genuine auction house, it was still a modest affair by comparison.

Even so, the interest among the guests present had visibly picked up, and the sound of raised paddles and called bids was noticeably livelier than before.

"Alright, we will now introduce to our guests the second-to-last highlight piece of the evening, the SACI Black Panther Chronograph Timepiece, model 5206688, featuring…"

Hearing the auctioneer's introduction, the calm that had settled in Bai Xu's eyes all evening finally lit up with interest, "Changning, what do you think of this timepiece?"

Zhang Changning offered his measured assessment, "Just the diamonds of varying sizes set into it must add up to over ten carats, wouldn't you say? The color design and layout are quite nice too, and going by the year of manufacture, it's practically an antique."

Bai Xu felt the same way, "It seems rather well-suited for Yanxiao, I might as well bid on it and give it to him as a gift."

Zhang Changning clicked his tongue twice, "Using Third Brother's card to buy a timepiece for him, and Third Brother will probably still praise you for it when he receives it. Bai Xu, you've really worked out a clever little scheme there."

Bai Xu smiled and said nothing to refute it.

Up on the stage, the auctioneer called out, "Alright, our starting bid is two million."

Before the words had barely settled, a voice came from the second row, "Three million."

It was Ye Zhen.

"……"

Bai Xu cast his gaze over.

Zhang Changning was also taken aback, "I thought he was just here to go through the motions, didn't expect him to open his mouth with an extra million just like that."

Another guest raised their paddle and increased the bid, "Four million!"

From the left rear row came another call, "Four million five hundred thousand!"

Zhang Changning looked toward his good friend, "Bai Xu, are you going to bid?"

But before he could, Ye Zhen, seated diagonally ahead, swooped in again, "Five million."

Hearing that bid, the corner of Bai Xu's mouth curved into an almost imperceptible arc, and his interest in the timepiece shifted direction entirely.

The auctioneer worked the atmosphere up on the stage, "Alright, Mr. Ye at number 12 has raised the bid to five million, does anyone go higher? Five million, first call!"

"……"

No guest stepped forward to raise the bid for the time being.

The crowd present was largely made up of people who knew their goods. Though the antique timepiece was finely crafted, five million was already considered a high price, even under the banner of doing charity, there was little point in continuing to compete for it.

The auctioneer said, "Five million, second call!"

"……"

The venue remained silent, and some had even begun offering Ye Zhen preemptive words of congratulation.

Ye Zhen basked in the dual attention of the live-stream cameras and the room, the curve at the corner of his mouth slowly widening, and just when he thought the win was already his, a voice suddenly rang out from the back rows:

"Six million five hundred thousand."

"……"

The curve at the corner of Ye Zhen's mouth stiffened slightly. He couldn't help but look toward the source of the voice along with everyone else.

Under the gazes of the crowd, Bai Xu set down his paddle. His posture was straight and upright, and his every movement carried a refinement distinct from those around him, as composed as a seasoned veteran of auction houses.

Zhang Changning heard his good friend's bid and gave an admiring clap, "Impressive."

With that, the two of them looked toward Ye Zhen diagonally across in unison.

Ye Zhen had been caught completely off guard by that bid, and hadn't expected Bai Xu to actually give him a nod of acknowledgment on top of it, and in his eyes—

That gesture was not courtesy. It was a form of wordless provocation.

A guest who was watching the spectacle leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Ye, are you going to keep raising the bid?"

Up on the stage, the auctioneer continued to stir up the atmosphere, "Alright, Mr. Bai at number 2 has made quite the entrance, raising the bid straight to six million five hundred thousand. That kind of momentum makes it seem like he's ready to have his name engraved right onto the timepiece."

Ye Zhen gripped his paddle, "Seven million five hundred thousand!"

Yet another raise of over a million, the entire venue erupted in a wave of gasps.

Bai Xu raised his paddle, this time with a slightly smaller increment, "Seven million eight hundred thousand."

Ye Zhen countered, "Eight million!"

Bai Xu continued, "Eight million three hundred thousand."

Ye Zhen glanced diagonally behind him once more, and still met Bai Xu's determined gaze. He felt himself quietly getting worked up, and raised again, "Eight million five hundred thousand!"

A flash of dark light passed through Bai Xu's eyes. He raised an eyebrow, "Nine million five hundred thousand."

After two consecutive rounds of modest increments, he had without warning thrown in a raise of over a million.

The gasps in the venue grew louder.

Zhang Changning beside him was so startled he nearly gave himself a heart attack, and hurriedly lowered his voice to stop him, "Bai Xu, you, you'd better not be getting carried away! This timepiece isn't worth that price!"

With everyone watching, Bai Xu didn't hold back in the slightest, "What's there to worry about? It's Yanxiao's card we're spending, and besides, I think he'll like it."

He fixed his gaze in Ye Zhen's direction, "Mr. Ye, are you still going to raise? I'm quite fond of this timepiece, why not be generous and let it go to me?"

"……"

The veins on the back of Ye Zhen's right hand, gripping his paddle, faintly bulged, yet he still had to keep up appearances in front of the live-stream cameras.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bai, but I'm also quite fond of this timepiece, and isn't tonight all about doing charity and giving back?"

With that, he raised his paddle once more, his voice slightly strained, "Ten million!"

The moment the bid left his mouth, a wave of regret rose in Ye Zhen's heart. His throat bobbed involuntarily, and he even found himself faintly hoping that Bai Xu would raise again and top his bid.

But this time, no sound came from diagonally behind him.

Hearing Ye Zhen's entirely anticipated raise, Bai Xu remained comfortably seated. He used his paddle to shield the upward curve of his lips, and listened at his ease as the auctioneer on stage brought down the gavel.

"Congratulations to Mr. Ye! The timepiece has been successfully won at an even ten million yuan, thank you for your contribution to charity and public welfare!"

Warm applause broke out across the venue.

Only belatedly did Ye Zhen realize he had been played. His smile was indescribably stiff, and hot sweat seeped from his back.

Zhang Changning had no attention to spare for Ye Zhen, who was basking in everyone's fawning, and turned all his concern toward his good friend who had missed out on the bid, "Bai Xu, it's alright, don't be upset. That timepiece wasn't even worth…"

"Who said I was upset?"

Bai Xu gave Zhang Changning a light shrug of his shoulder and said in a volume only the two of them could hear, "I'm not foolish, wouldn't it be better to just use that money to buy Yanxiao a new watch?"

Zhang Changning blinked, and it finally dawned on him, "Wait, you were setting a trap for Ye Zhen just now?"

Bai Xu didn't deny it.

From the very beginning, he had seen through Ye Zhen's intention to use this round of bidding to put on a show of generosity in front of the cameras. So when the other party thought victory was already within his grasp, he raised the bid in one go by a large margin.

Faced with his 'provocative' gaze and the egging on of those around him, Ye Zhen would inevitably raise the bid a second time.

Then, Bai Xu lowered the increment of his raises.

Having already gone up by five hundred thousand and then a million, increments of two or three hundred thousand became easy to overlook and dismiss, leading Ye Zhen to believe there was still room for him to come out on top.

Finally, Bai Xu raised the bid sharply once more, deliberately saying out loud that he was spending Shang Yanxiao's money and bidding on his behalf, pushing Ye Zhen's psychological limit to the very edge.

Zhang Changning laughed to himself, "Got it, you were fake getting carried away, and he was the one who actually got carried away."

One psychological tactic after another, all set up and waiting for Ye Zhen to walk straight into the trap.

"Mm-hm."

Bai Xu used his paddle to shield the movement of his lips, "Now do you understand? This is what I meant by keeping things separate, and returning the favor in kind."

He had never been the kind of easygoing person who tolerated others with open arms. Since Ye Zhen had looked down on him behind his back and spoken those mocking words, he would naturally make the other party pay for it in his own way.

Ten million, for other actors and celebrities, it might not be a large sum.

But for Ye Zhen, who had only risen to fame less than a year ago and was still under a revenue-sharing contract with his company, it was by no means a small amount.

What mattered most was that the vast majority of people would inevitably feel endless regret afterward over every extra yuan of 'wasted money' they had spent.

The final closing piece of the auction was an imperial green brooch.

Bai Xu thought it looked quite fitting for Old Madam Shang. Having not bid on anything throughout the entire event, he joined the auction once more and ultimately secured the brooch at a reasonable price.

With that, the entire auction came to a smooth close.

However, guests who had successfully bid on items and collectibles were required to sign the final auction agreement and charity donation agreement with the organizers.

Bai Xu and Zhang Changning were in no hurry, and stood at the back waiting leisurely.

Buzz buzz.

His pocket vibrated, it was a message from Shang Yanxiao, "Is it over? I'm one intersection away from the hotel."

Bai Xu smiled as he typed back, "It's over, something rather amusing happened too. Tell you about it when we meet later?"

Shang Yanxiao's reply came quickly, "Okay, wait for me."

Bai Xu wrapped up the brief WeChat exchange, only to notice that Zhang Changning was also tapping away at his phone, "Changning?"

"Hm?"

Zhang Changning put his phone away, "What is it?"

Bai Xu probed with a gossipy air, "Who were you messaging?"

"……"

Before Zhang Changning could even open his mouth to answer, a not particularly friendly voice suddenly rang out from behind, "Mr. Bai, that was deliberate just now, wasn't it?"

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