Liao Yifan's father suddenly slapped the back of Liao Yifan's head.
"If you understand, you understand. Why shout so loud?"
"Afraid others won't hear?"
Liao Yifan immediately shut his mouth and cautiously looked around.
After finding no one nearby, he breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me to death. I thought that malevolent star heard us."
"Dad, your strategy is brilliant! Truly brilliant! Don't worry, I'll never dare to disobey you again, because I now truly understand: a son is always a son, and a father is always a father. A son will never surpass his father!"
"I'm convinced, I'm wholeheartedly convinced!"
Liao Yifan's father smugly accepted his flattery.
He had initially thought his main account was ruined and planned to create a new one after everything was over.
Now, it seemed this main account could still be salvaged.
Of course, he could no longer indulge his son as before. Strict discipline was necessary; a good son is made under the rod.
"Let's go in!"
Liao Yifan and his father pushed open the car doors and walked towards the distant auction venue.
The cars parked at the venue's entrance indicated that many guests were present today.
And there were no shortage of influential and powerful individuals.
The luxury cars were like an exhibition of high-end automobiles.
Not to mention the prestigious license plates attached to the back of these luxury cars, signifying their owners' prominent status.
At the entrance, Ying Chen looked at the Liao father and son who had arrived late and said coldly, "You deliberately came so late. Do you not intend to hand over the Golden Thread Jade Robe to me?"
Liao Yifan's father quickly denied it, "No, no... how dare we! Please rest assured, Young Master. According to the auction schedule, there are still half an hour before the Golden Thread Jade Robe goes under the hammer. We have plenty of time."
"How about this, I'll take you directly backstage. We'll take the Golden Thread Jade Robe and leave. What do you say?"
Ying Chen did not answer, but quietly observed Liao Yifan's father.
Just as Liao Yifan's father's heart pounded, fearing Ying Chen had discovered his scheme, he heard Ying Chen speak leisurely, "Lead the way!"
"Phew," Liao Yifan's father breathed a sigh of relief.
He then led Ying Chen towards the backstage of the auction.
Upon entering backstage, they saw that the items to be auctioned were stored in specially made display cases, categorized by their value.
These display cases were made of military-grade explosion-proof glass, capable of withstanding the impact of a bomb.
However, as they scanned all the display cases, the Golden Thread Jade Robe was nowhere to be found.
"What's going on? Where is the Golden Thread Jade Robe?"
Liao Yifan's father's face changed, and he asked anxiously.
Then, he grabbed a staff member and angrily questioned, "Where is the Golden Thread Jade Robe? Didn't I tell you not to move it without my permission before I arrived? Are you ignoring my words?"
The staff member, both surprised and frightened, stammered, "The Golden Thread Jade Robe... was taken to the front stage by the Vice President..."
"He said it was to enhance the guests' interest in bidding... so that they wouldn't get impatient and leave if the auction took too long..."
Upon hearing this, Liao Yifan's father's expression slightly improved.
He released the staff member and said, "Take us to the front stage immediately!"
"Yes, boss," the staff member replied meekly.
Then, using his work ID, he opened a special passage leading to the front stage and guided Ying Chen and the others towards the venue's front.
Before reaching the front stage, they could already hear the enthusiastic cheers from within the venue.
It seemed the auction had reached its climax, and all the guests present were in a highly excited state.
From the front stage, the host's resonant voice boomed, "Next, we have finally reached the most thrilling part!"
"Which is the protagonist of today's auction – the treasured heirloom – the ancient artifact of great significance – the ultimate masterpiece of human civilization's craftsmanship – the Golden Thread Jade Robe!"
Boom!
The atmosphere in the venue instantly became even more fervent.
It was as if a bomb had been dropped into the crowd, and the entire hall erupted in thunderous applause.
Upon hearing the host's voice, Liao Yifan's father's face paled: "The Golden Thread Jade Robe... has already started being auctioned?"
"How can this be?"
"How could this happen?"
"There was still half an hour left until the auction!"
Ying Chen stared coldly at Liao Yifan's father and said, "You ask me? I want to ask you!"
Feeling the icy gaze from Ying Chen, Liao Yifan's father trembled with panic, "Young Master, I truly don't know what's going on! You must believe me..."
"Don't worry, Young Master, the auction has just begun, there's definitely a way to fix this..."
"Let me think, let me think... How about we just terminate the auction?"
Liao Yifan's father paced back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.
Beside him, the staff member whispered, "Boss, all the guests here today are heavyweight figures. If we terminate the auction now, we will definitely offend them. Our auction house's reputation will be ruined!"
"A ruined reputation is better than a ruined life! No, we must terminate the auction! You go up on stage now and tell the host to stop the auction of the Golden Thread Jade Robe!" Liao Yifan's father declared with a determined tone, as if ready to make a sacrifice.
"Boss, don't get too worked up! There are plenty of ways to keep the Golden Thread Jade Robe in our hands without stopping the auction! Why don't we find a plant bidder to pretend to bid? No matter how much other guests offer, we'll always outbid them. That way, no one can take it, and everyone will be happy!"
The staff member offered a suggestion.
Liao Yifan's father's eyes lit up instantly, "Yes! Why didn't I think of that!"
"We'll do as you say! You immediately arrange for our plant bidders who are already in the venue to act. No matter what, we must secure the Golden Thread Jade Robe!"
Almost all auction houses have professional plant bidders.
However, these plant bidders are usually used to create atmosphere and drive up prices, with the ultimate goal of selling the items.
But in a situation like today, where the ultimate goal is *not* to sell the item, it was unprecedented.
To the point where the plant bidders lurking in the venue were stunned for a long time after hearing the task requirements.
They muttered to themselves, wondering if their boss had lost his mind.
"Young Master, the plant bidders have been arranged. Now you can rest assured!"
"After the auction ends, I will immediately hand over the Golden Thread Jade Robe to you!"
Liao Yifan's father said to Ying Chen with a sincere expression.
"Next, if you have the leisure, Young Master, perhaps you would like to move to the front stage venue to watch this auction, and perhaps appraise the quality of the Golden Thread Jade Robe?"
Liao Yifan's father then invited Ying Chen.
Ying Chen nodded, "Alright."
So, the group entered the front stage venue.
They found a reserved seat and sat down.
Ying Chen looked up and indeed saw an item on the stage, protected within a display case.
It was made entirely of golden threads and jade pieces.
The jade pieces were as thin as cicada wings, and the golden threads were like silk, crystal clear and exquisitely beautiful.
The entire Golden Thread Jade Robe exuded a hazy, radiant, and mystical aura.
It was unclear whether it was the lighting intentionally set by the auction staff or the robe itself.
Regardless, at first glance, it was clearly an item of immense value.
Not to mention the special significance of the Golden Thread Jade Robe in traditional Chinese culture.
It was generally used for the burial of emperors and generals, said to preserve the vital essence of the body, prevent decay of bones, and ensure rebirth in the next life.
If a living person were to wear it, it could also prolong life and ward off evil.
Therefore, it was not surprising that this item had attracted the attention of various influential figures from Hong Kong.
However, as Ying Chen looked at the Golden Thread Jade Robe on stage, he frowned and blurted out, "Another incomplete piece?"