Originally, Min Ziqiong, who was worried about not being able to enter the venue without a deposit, breathed a sigh of relief despite feeling a little displeased at her parents' words.
At least her immediate problem was solved.
After parking the car, Min Ziqiong walked to the venue entrance with Ying Chen.
"Dad, Mom," Min Ziqiong called out.
"Don't call me Mom! I don't deserve to be your mother! After the auction ends and I give you the ransom, there will be no more familial ties between us! We'll cut all ties!"
Min Ziqiong's mother said with a dark expression.
Then she led the way inside.
Min Ziqiong's father sighed, as if wanting to say something but holding back, and followed closely.
"Hasn't Xiao Qing explained things clearly to them yet?" Min Ziqiong was shocked.
She couldn't help but want to call her brother, Min Ziqing, and scold the foolish boy.
However, fearing she would delay Ying Chen's important business, she suppressed her urge and put this matter aside for the time being.
As soon as they entered the venue, they felt the uniqueness of this auction.
The hall, which could accommodate nearly a thousand people, was filled with drinks and snacks. Waiters shuttled through the crowd, constantly providing guests with what they needed.
Rather than a solemn auction, it was more like a grand banquet.
Because they were led by Min Ziqiong's parents, the doormen automatically treated Min Ziqiong and Ying Chen as family and did not stop them.
"Hmph!" Min Ziqiong's mother snorted and walked towards an acquaintance.
On the surface, it seemed like socializing, but in reality, it was a deliberate attempt to shake off Ying Chen and the other person.
"Xiao Qiong, you look around yourself! Your mother and I have important business to attend to," Min Ziqiong's father greeted them and left.
Of course, he still showed no good will towards Ying Chen, not even glancing at him from beginning to end.
Fortunately, Ying Chen didn't look at him directly either.
From the very first second they entered the venue, Ying Chen's gaze was locked on the large screen in front.
It displayed the main items to be auctioned today, scrolling back and forth.
There was a rather large famille rose filigree vase;
A set of Qianlong period golden coins for good fortune;
A cursive script hand scroll by Wang Xianzhi;
And a painting of galloping horses by the modern painter Xu Beihong...
In total, nearly a hundred items.
If all these items were genuine, their total value might set a new record for auctions in Longguo.
Of course, with a little thought, one would know that it was impossible for them all to be genuine; a mix of real and fake would be good enough.
The term "auction" sounded formal, but in reality, it was only slightly better than antique markets like Panjiayuan.
Fake goods sold at auctions were commonplace over the years.
Anyone who believed that items auctioned were definitely genuine was out of their mind.
"Looking only at the pictures, it's impossible to tell which items are magical artifacts."
"The most crucial point is that most of the items here are porcelain, calligraphy, and paintings. The probability of such items being magical artifacts is less than one in ten thousand."
"Magical artifacts should be bronze wares, weapons, or items with typical Xuanmen style."
"But there isn't even one in the picture descriptions."
"Am I destined to make a trip for nothing today?"
Ying Chen disappointedly shifted his gaze from the screen.
Despite such a grand auction, there wasn't a single item that Ying Chen wanted.
At this moment, a woman with short, ear-length hair, a delicate face, and a hint of heroic spirit in her eyes walked past Ying Chen.
This woman's attire and appearance were unremarkable, but she exuded a cold and confident queenly demeanor.
Or, more accurately, a female general's aura.
"This person must have military experience, or is currently in a military post," Ying Chen recognized the woman's identity at a glance.
But that was all.
Although the woman was beautiful, she was only enough for Ying Chen to glance at once.
Any more than that was difficult.
However, just as Ying Chen was about to look away, he suddenly stared at the woman's neck and froze.
His pupils then widened, and his breathing became slightly rapid.
This scene, to outsiders, looked exactly like that of a lecher, a pervert!
The short-haired woman had clearly noticed Ying Chen's abnormal gaze. She suddenly turned her head, a look of displeasure appearing on her icy face.
Her eyes erupted with a faint ferocity, like nine heavens' lightning suspended but not yet descending, capable of striking fear into hearts and inspiring awe, even without striking the human world.
But to her surprise, the "death glare" she had always used successfully failed this time!
Ying Chen remained indifferent, still staring fixedly at the woman's neck without any restraint or reservation!
It was as if Ying Chen were a reincarnated glutton for lust, living only for the word "lust" in this life!
The woman raised her eyebrows, like two upward-sloping sword edges, about to erupt.
Unexpectedly, Ying Chen spoke first.
"May I know the young lady's name?"
The woman's disgust was undisguised, and she replied coldly, "You are not qualified to know."
"That makes sense. We are but strangers who met by chance, so no need to ask names."
Faced with the woman's cold and even insulting rejection, Ying Chen not only didn't get angry but even nodded in agreement!
This scene couldn't help but draw a thumbs-up from the onlookers.
"This is a true simp!"
"Since that's the case, I'll get straight to the point." Ying Chen took a step forward, approaching the woman.
He raised his finger and pointed at the woman's neck: "The pendant on your neck is quite interesting. May I have a closer look at it?"
"..." Hearing Ying Chen's words, the anger that the woman had suppressed within her heart instantly erupted.
The surrounding onlookers also changed their expressions, exclaiming two words: "Awesome!"
Everyone knew that the essence of being a simp was shamelessness, but how many people could actually achieve it in reality?
And Ying Chen truly did!
Faced with the woman's impolite and insulting rejection, Ying Chen not only endured it but also launched a new round of attack!
"Pfft, you call that looking at a necklace? I'm too embarrassed to expose you! To be honest, such a white necklace, I'd also want to..." someone in the crowd said with a mix of envy and disdain.
Clearly, everyone believed that Ying Chen had impure intentions, wanting to use the topic of the necklace to achieve his ultimate goal of hitting on the woman!
The woman clearly thought so too.
Her eyes held a fire, and she took a step back. Although her body didn't make any obvious movements, her legs and arms were all in a subtle posture of combat readiness.
In other words, as long as Ying Chen dared to take another step forward, she would not hesitate to break all his limbs!
Leaving Ying Chen to spend the rest of his life confined to bed!
"Hmm?"
Sensing the woman's hostility, Ying Chen frowned.
"I just want to look at your pendant, there's no need for this, is there?"
"Moreover, your cultivation is too low to be my opponent. So, it's best to put away your hostility to avoid any unpleasantness."