The auction held by the Lei family had always garnered significant attention, especially with the rumor that their auction items would include a rare treasure jointly buried by the three families: Lu, Miao, and Tang.
In an instant, tickets to the Lei family's auction became incredibly hard to obtain, and major prominent families began meticulously selecting their participating members.
They all had a premonition that regardless of the outcome tonight, it would be a moment destined to be etched in history.
Three days passed, neither long nor short, and in the blink of an eye, the designated date and time on the invitations arrived.
"Qingyu, you rest well at home," Xia Qingtian said, dressed in an elegant evening gown. She reached out and ruffled Xia Qingyu's face, "I'll bring you something delicious when I get back."
"I'm not a child," Xia Qingyu pushed Xia Qingtian's hand away, pouting. "Come back early."
"Be good, don't worry," Xia Qingtian then linked arms with Gu Yaoyang and turned to leave.
Da Ya, Bai Yuqi, and the rarely formally dressed Pavilion Master Shi departed together.
Watching the red sports car drive away, Xia Qingyu took a deep breath and said, "Come out."
At this moment, a head peeked out from behind the sofa. "Are they gone?"
"Mm," Xia Qingyu crossed her arms and looked towards the sofa. "Er Ya, you should tell me what they're planning to do tonight now, right?"
"It's nothing much, just an auction," Er Ya said, flipping over the sofa to stand beside Xia Qingyu. "But I heard it's going to be very lively. Do you want to go watch the excitement?"
"Excitement? Can you even get in?" Xia Qingyu looked at Er Ya, slightly surprised. "Don't you need an invitation for that?"
"Hmph, I naturally have my ways," Er Ya said, hands on her hips and chin held high with a confident expression. "Just tell me if you're going or not. The person picking me up will be here any minute~"
Xia Qingyu instinctively felt that Er Ya was a highly unreliable person, but thinking that Xia Qingtian might be in danger, she nodded forcefully. "Yes."
"Then let's go," Er Ya snapped her fingers and led Xia Qingyu out of the door stealthily.
At the second-floor corner, Shen Yao watched the two figures, a smile curving her lips as she shook her head. She turned back to her room, planning to send Xia Qingtian a text message later.
From their recent interactions, she had realized that Er Ya was a witty fool with a missing brain stem, while Xia Qingyu was the truly clever one.
With these two around, perhaps other interesting events might unfold.
On the other side, Xia Qingtian and Gu Yaoyang and the others were warmly welcomed upon arriving at the Lei family's auction.
This time, the highest-level invitations were only issued to three parties.
Besides the original Miao and Tang clans, it was Xia Qingtian.
The attendant invited the five of them to the best seats in the auction hall before retreating.
Pavilion Master Shi, his square face radiating righteousness, had, upon entering, scanned the surrounding decor and exits, looking like a diligent guardian.
Bai Yuqi, with his blonde hair, yawned as he walked, his formal wear looking rather rakish on him.
Tang Youxi wore a black evening gown with a vintage veil half-covering her face, complemented by fiery red lips, exuding charm.
Gu Yaoyang was in a dark, custom-made suit. The double-breasted design with a peaked lapel further accentuated his excellent physique. As he sat down, adjusting his wristwatch, he said to Xia Qingtian in a low voice, "Everyone attending today is a well-known prominent family from the capital. It seems they're all after the treasure map."
"Mm," Xia Qingtian's thoughts were similar to Gu Yaoyang's. She had also observed the attendees after entering. However, she already possessed a more detailed version of the treasure map. She was more concerned about the Tang family's movements. Glancing at the open, unpartitioned resting rooms on the sides, Xia Qingtian knew that neither the Miao nor the Tang families had arrived yet, so there was no need to worry for now.
"I'm going to the restroom," Tang Youxi felt a bit nervous. With the auction yet to begin and the Tang family members not yet arrived, she felt it would be better to go to the restroom first.
"I'll accompany you," Xia Qingtian, not wanting Tang Youxi to encounter the Tang family just yet, got up proactively. She also took out perfume from her handbag and sprayed it twice on Tang Youxi, attempting to mask the strong, distinctive scent of poisonous herbs emanating from the Tang family members with this potent fragrance.
Tang Youxi thought that this measure wouldn't be of much help, but knowing it was Xia Qingtian's kind gesture, she smiled faintly and walked towards the restroom with Xia Qingtian.
"My dear friend, why do girls always go to the restroom in pairs?" Bai Yuqi asked Gu Yaoyang, placing a hand on his shoulder curiously. "This is something I've never been able to figure out."
Gu Yaoyang glanced at Bai Yuqi and shifted his shoulder away. "Ask a girl, why ask me?"
"Aren't you Mr. Know-it-all Gu? What's wrong with me asking you?" Bai Yuqi said. "Besides, I'm not a chameleon. Am I going to stop girls at the restroom door? What kind of person do you think I am? Honestly..."
As Bai Yuqi spoke, he tugged at the hem of his suit with both hands and snorted.
Gu Yaoyang merely chuckled and cast a sideways glance at Bai Yuqi, not replying.
On the other side, after Tang Youxi entered the restroom, Xia Qingtian stood in front of the mirror, using her fingertip to touch up the edge of her lipstick. Glancing casually outside, she met a pair of clear black and white eyes. Puzzled, she saw the owner of those eyes beckoning to her repeatedly.
Xia Qingtian looked left and right, then pointed at herself. "Me?"
The person nodded vigorously twice and beckoned again.
"Da Ya, I'll wait for you outside," Xia Qingtian said after hearing Tang Youxi reply "Okay," before walking towards the person who was beckoning her. "Whose young master are you? What do you want with me?"
"I just want to know what it's like when a femme fatale becomes reality," the person said, crossing their arms and哼ing. "Is it you who made my brother not come home?"
"Huh?" The more Xia Qingtian heard, the stranger she found it. When had she become a femme fatale?
Xia Qingtian had heard many such slurs as "plaything of the capital" and "murderer with beauty," but the level of "femme fatale" was a first. Seeing that this young man didn't look much younger than her, with a delicate appearance, bright eyes, short hair, and wearing a stylish suit, Xia Qingtian found it amusing. "Who is your brother? Is he handsome?"
"Of course, my brother is handsome! Not only handsome, but also rich, both handsome and rich!" The young master's spirits immediately lifted when mentioning his brother. "My brother is the most perfect person in the world! He knows everything and can do anything!"
"You're bragging..." Xia Qingtian tilted her head, looking at him. "Aren't you perhaps trying to recommend him indirectly, deliberately making me interested in your brother?"