Perhaps it was the peculiar magic in Li Chonglou's words.
Lu Xuan's forlorn gaze flickered with a hint of light. She sighed, "Yes, this is a blind auction after all. No one knows the outcome. I was too wishful thinking."
"Blessed by fortune if I get it, resigned to fate if I don't."
"It's just that Chonglou, this item is too important to me. I need to find an antique that surpasses that tapestry."
It didn't matter if she didn't get the item; there would be other opportunities.
Li Chonglou's assurance greatly comforted her.
What was done could not be undone, but everything was subject to human effort. As long as she found another antique more precious than the Kesi tapestry, there might still be a turning point.
"Of course," Li Chonglou nodded affirmatively.
In his eyes, the Kesi tapestry was not considered a treasure, not even a 'leak.'
It was not regrettable at all that it wasn't acquired.
Chang'an was such a large place; were there not a few exquisite items?
At worst, after the event, he would take Lu Xuan to stroll through every antique market. If there were none, they would visit the old streets and the countryside.
If there was truly no other way, there was still Qin Zhou.
The cart would find its path when it reached the mountain, and the boat would naturally straighten when it reached the bridge.
Right now, the most important matter was the pair of Qingshan Stone Fang Seals. That item was not comparable to the Kesi tapestry. If he misjudged, and someone else obtained it, he might regret it for ten years.
Therefore, Li Chonglou's eyes were filled with gravity at this moment.
Hearing Li Chonglou's definite reply, Lu Xuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Facts proved that she had not found the wrong person in Li Chonglou. His eyesight was absolutely extraordinary.
He had recognized this inconspicuous Kesi tapestry at a glance and accurately estimated its value.
However, unfortunate it was that Zhong Liang, that old fox, also had helpers, and he must have made a prediction, anticipating that she would bid eight million and one, thus precisely outmaneuvering her.
It was a pity that she was indeed part of the 'National Treasure Gang.' She couldn't deny it. Perhaps ninety-nine percent of the items at home were fake.
She dared not take the risk of giving those items away. What if someone recognized them as fakes?
Wouldn't everything be in vain?
"Manager Lu, you have no chance now." As the thought crossed his mind, Zhong Liang had already gone on stage to receive the tapestry and shouted provocatively at Lu Xuan from a dozen meters away.
His face was filled with an expression of unbridled triumph.
With this item, the victory was already decided in his eyes. Lu Xuan could not find a second one in a short period.
By the time she found it, the universe would have been decided.
"Damn it!" Lu Xuan was so angry her pretty face turned pale. Her small fists were clenched, wishing she could punch Zhong Liang's detestable face.
"There's no need to get upset with him. Human nature is to seek the high and reject the low. When Sister Xuan gets a better gift for that important figure, he will certainly not pay attention to Zhong Liang," Li Chonglou said calmly, observing everything. "At that time, he might be the one crying."
Relying on a single gift to sway the thoughts of an important figure was too unrealistic.
At most, it was accepting favors and speaking softly, getting benefits.
During the process of handling matters, it would open up convenient paths.
But if there was a comparison, what if Lu Xuan's gift was much more precious?
Given Lu Xuan's character and conduct, she would not lose to the excessively boastful Zhong Liang.
Li Chonglou had seen many such businessmen – one face in front of leaders, another in front of subordinates, two-faced, and they would eventually hoist themselves by their own petard.
"Even so, but..." Lu Xuan wanted to say something, but changed her mind, "Fortunately, you are here. Let's leave it to fate."
She herself did not know why she trusted Li Chonglou so much.
However, Li Chonglou had never disappointed her since they met.
"The seventh item, Old Baoshan Agate Bracelet, final transaction price one million three hundred thousand!" As the words fell, the host announced again.
The string of Old Baoshan Red Agate was acquired by a beautiful woman in her early twenties with a serene demeanor.
The beauty was tall with well-proportioned features.
Her demeanor was very dignified, and her makeup was light, making her pleasing to the eye.
Her beauty was no less than that of Jiang Yuxin and Lu Yunxu.
As soon as she appeared on stage, she immediately drew cheers and applause from many bosses.
They all wanted to strike up a conversation with her.
Unfortunately, she didn't pay attention to any of them. Instead, as she walked back, her gaze locked onto Li Chonglou.
Her eyes held a hint of a smile, leaving Li Chonglou perplexed.
He didn't know this woman at all, yet her gaze seemed to recognize him.
This was strange.
In such a distant place as Chang'an, meeting Lu Xuan was already a great coincidence. Who was this woman?
For a moment, Li Chonglou's mind was filled with questions.
After the beauty descended from the stage, she wore the Baoshan Agate bracelet on her slender, fair wrist and walked directly towards Li Chonglou.
The host continued to announce, "The eighth item, Da Chao Tong Bao silver ancient coin, final transaction price one million and one thousand!"
The one who came on stage was a middle-aged man wearing glasses, looking refined and cultured. His demeanor was not that of a collector, but more like that of a senior executive or engineer in a foreign enterprise.
Holding the Da Chao Tong Bao coin, his face was beaming with excitement.
But before Li Chonglou could observe this person carefully.
The beauty had already reached Li Chonglou's side. She extended her jade-like hand and smiled slightly, "My name is Ji Ling. May I have the honor of knowing you?"
Her voice was as clear and pleasant as a lark's chirp.
"Li Chonglou. Miss Ji, have we met before?" Li Chonglou asked as he gently clasped her hand and then withdrew it.
This scene instantly made many tycoons present turn red-eyed.
The beauty they fawned over and tried to approach showed no courtesy, not even a direct glance.
Yet, she specifically approached this ordinary-looking, thin young man who had clashed with Master Zhu.
This was a blatant slap in the face.
Many bosses, accustomed to giving orders, put on grim faces, lost in thought.
"We haven't met," Ji Ling replied with a smile. "But I didn't expect you to be involved in the bidding for the Fang Seals."
"I withdrew in the third round, but I have a request. If you win them, could you let me have one of them?"
"Name your price. It won't be lower than your bidding price."
These two sentences made Li Chonglou suddenly understand.
So, that was the reason. Ji Ling was also interested in the pair of Fang Seals, but why did she suddenly withdraw from the bidding?
It couldn't be due to a lack of funds. Seeing her bid over a million for the bracelet without batting an eye showed she was by no means short of tens of millions.
Moreover, she directly stated that she only wanted one and would buy it at a price no lower than the bidding price.
What was the reason for this?
Li Chonglou had always believed that everyone did everything for a reason.
Perhaps some fools didn't even know their own reasons, but objective reasons definitely existed.
What was this beauty named Ji Ling planning?
However, no matter what she was thinking, the Fang Seals were not yet in his possession.
Why was she so certain that he would win them?
"Miss Ji, the Fang Seals are now the finale and have not been revealed yet. The variables are immense, and I cannot promise you," Li Chonglou replied with an apologetic smile.
In fact, it had nothing to do with variables. Even if he did win them, he wouldn't agree.
Those two Fang Seals were originally a pair, the male and female inseparable.
Once separated, they would lose their original meaning and value.
"You and I are both intelligent people. You angered Zhu Qiliang precisely to force him to give up, but he doesn't know what that item is," Ji Ling said in a low voice with her back to Zhu Qiliang, without the slightest hint of surprise or disappointment. "Among the people present today, besides me, you are probably the only one who can understand it."
"The reason I didn't compete with you is that I didn't want to be like the snipe and the clam, benefiting a third party."
"I also gave up that Kesi tapestry. It was a clear 'leak.'"
"I bid on this bracelet because it's my twenty-fourth birthday year. I need a red string to suppress my luck. Its value is irrelevant."
"Can you understand what I'm saying?"
As Ji Ling spoke, her eyes shone with wisdom, making Lu Xuan beside her secretly astonished.
This girl was not simple. She had been in business for so long and had seen all sorts of people.
At Ji Ling's age, with such insight, perhaps only Li Chonglou could match her.
"Alright, I promise you. If I get the Fang Seals, I'll let you have one!" Li Chonglou's pupils contracted upon hearing this, and he immediately changed his mind.
He faintly heard an undertone in Ji Ling's words.
This woman was not simple, at least not a mere vase with a beautiful exterior but a rotten interior.
With her saying so much, if he still didn't get the hint, he would be a fool.
Li Chonglou even began to suspect if she, like him, was someone reborn from the future.
Otherwise, how could she understand the origin of these two Fang Seals?
But this matter was difficult to confirm now, and even more difficult to ask directly in front of so many people.
Agreeing to transfer one to her was to leave a foreshadowing, to ask her clearly later.
If it weren't for this reason, then with her current age and such eyesight, it was truly terrifying.
Why had he never heard of such a person in his previous life?
"It's a deal," Ji Ling said, then glanced at the host.
The final item, the finale, the Qingshan Stone Fang Seals, which had the highest bid in the second round, finally appeared.
The host fumbled in the box for a while.
His face showed a look of shock.
In the end, only three bidding cards were produced.
"This... how could this happen?" The next second, the host's expression changed, his voice filled with shock, and his expression was one of helpless sighing, "Indeed, the world is unpredictable. The bids for this round, for this pair of Qingshan Stone Fang Seals."
"The highest bid..."
As he read, everyone held their breath.
After all, it was the biggest dark horse of this exchange meeting. Who the final sucker would be was, at least, a future topic of gossip.
"These two bidding cards are both written as zero yuan."
"The highest bid, ten million yuan exactly, the winner is Mr. Li Chonglou!"
Roar...
As soon as it was announced, it triggered startled exclamations from the entire audience.
All eyes were cast upon Li Chonglou.
Among them, Zhu Qiliang's expression was the most triumphant. He sneered, "Li Chonglou, didn't expect this, did you?"
"Someone useless like you, a greenhorn, can dig a pit to trick me?"
"Immature child, go home and drink milk!"
He knew that Li Chonglou was provoking him. He had pretended to make a third bid, but it was written as zero yuan.
This was equivalent to withdrawing from the bidding.
The other card, needless to say, was submitted by Ji Ling.
Ultimately, the pair of Fang Seals still fell into Li Chonglou's hands.
The heavy stone that had been hanging in his heart finally landed.
He couldn't be bothered to respond to Zhu Qiliang. He unhurriedly went forward, paid the auction fee, and took the two Fang Seals in his hands.
Then, he cast his gaze towards Zhu Qiliang and said calmly, "Ignorant and incompetent, how dare you call yourself a master?"
"A blind dog that judges people by their appearance, utterly clueless."
"This pair of Qingshan Stone Fang Seals, if they were to fall into the hands of a blind fool like you, it would be the greatest tragedy!"
These words shocked everyone in the audience.