594: Chapter 583 594: Chapter 583 Song Yun just smiled nonchalantly, playing with such a minor character at times could actually be quite interesting.
Since this so-called great director had yet to cross Song Yun’s bottom line, Song Yun felt no need to bully him.
Moreover, this evening’s banquet was held by Xu Hongxing especially for Song Yun, so Song Yun had to give face to Xu Hongxing.
Therefore, he turned his head and said no more.
Soon, many waitstaff filed in from both sides, each carrying one or two chairs.
These were for the charity auction seating that would take place shortly.
Originally, this was a large hall suitable for dancing, but it quickly filled with chairs.
Then Xu Hongxing and a top pillar of the Sunan system took their seats in the front row, flanked by Sunan’s richest man, Xin Dong, and several other bigwig figures.
In the second row sat those who deemed themselves just a notch below the first row.
Song Yun and Mao Shan casually found seats together in the fourth or fifth row.
Whether out of self-interest or to help Song Yun, Mao Shan sat on Li Shishi’s right while Song Yun took the seat to her left.
Mao Shan effectively shielded Li Shishi from the other men around her.
Song Yun gave Mao Shan a warning glance, to which Mao Shan generously said, “Brother Yun, I don’t have the charm you do, and Shishi wouldn’t fancy me.
I’m just here to cover your back.”
“Cut it out, what do you take me for?
Am I that petty?
Among brothers, I’m the most generous.
As they say, ‘women are like clothes, but brothers are like limbs!'” Song Yun said earnestly.
“But isn’t there another saying?
‘Break my limbs, and I’ll steal your clothes’?” Mao Shan laughed.
“The key is, no one can break my limbs,” Song Yun chuckled.
Li Shishi watched the two men with a light chuckle and stayed silent.
Meanwhile, the director, who also sat in the fourth or fifth row, shamelessly took the seat directly in front of Song Yun and kept persuading Li Shishi by turning his head from time to time.
Li Shishi, however, was truly of extraordinary demeanor, and no matter what he said, she didn’t utter a single word in response.
Eventually, Feng Changhai became nearly infuriated, wishing he could stand up and unleash his small universe, delivering a brilliant Pegasus Meteor Fist and Rising Dragon Tyrant Stick to this Athena-like woman to show her a man’s prowess.
“Would you knock it off,” said Song Yun, his patience finally wearing thin with the so-called great director.
He frowned and added, “Keep blabbering and believe me, tonight, I’ll have you thrown into the water to feed the fish.”
“Country bumpkins will be country bumpkins,” Feng Changhai snorted disdainfully, wanting to say more, but the charity auction had already begun.
The charity auction, unlike a typical auction that aims for profit, was strictly for charity.
Naturally, the atmosphere wasn’t as intense or explosive as in a formal auction.
The items up for grabs were mostly ordinary and most transactions were around several hundred thousand yuan, with few reaching over a million.
At that moment, Mao Shan’s phone vibrated.
He took it out and saw a message from Luo Zi, then hastily passed the phone to Song Yun.
“I’m with grandpa now, have Brother Yun bid on something later.
Try to drive the price up as much as possible, the scarier, the better.
Create some momentum first, then later push him to the forefront.”
Song Yun understood and had Mao Shan send back a reassuring message.
“Shishi, if you see something you like later, I’ll buy it for you,” Song Yun said, turning his head.
Li Shishi smiled with squinted eyes and nodded, “I understand.”
“Heh,” Song Yun shrugged his shoulders.
This woman was so clever, sometimes he really felt the pressure.
Before long, a painting was presented on stage, reportedly by a rather famous artist during the Republic era, with the highest starting price of the night at one million yuan.
“I like it,” Li Shishi said simply.
“Two million,” Song Yun raised his hand and called out.
Doubling the price immediately caused a sensation.
Although the painting could normally fetch two to three million yuan, such a rapid and significant increase made Song Yun seem quite imposing, and many people remembered him on the spot.
“2.5 million,” Feng Changhai said lightly, then turned to Song Yun and mentioned, “Sorry, I like this painting too.”
“But you also need to have the means to buy it,” Song Yun laughed, then shouted, “Five million.”
The entire venue was taken aback.
Bidding in such leaps was truly startling.
The painting was at most worth just over three million yuan, but you went straight to five million yuan – do you think you’re the richest man in Sunan?
Xin Dong, the real richest man in Sunan, was still sitting quietly in his own place!!
Young man, really impulsive, many people remarked.
“The gentleman has offered five million yuan.
Are there any higher bids?” The host on stage, clearly arranged by Xu Hongxing, scanned the audience and said, “This gentleman is willing to donate five million yuan to support our charity.
Does any other gentleman wish to contribute even more?”
Feng Changhai pursed his lips and stayed quiet, not being someone who printed money and thus not one to disregard its value.
“Country bumpkins are truly country bumpkins, never seen someone spend money like this,” Feng Changhai muttered to himself, as if to reassure himself.
In the end, Song Yun bought the painting for five million yuan.
Of course, that was just the public price.
Xu only asked Song Yun for three million yuan in the end because Song Yun’s high bid was just to make the effect even more intense.
The charity auction concluded swiftly and when all the items had been auctioned off, Xu Hongxing stepped alone onto the central stage and cleared his throat holding a microphone.
The hall, previously abuzz, fell silent at once.
“I’m very pleased everyone gave me so much face to attend this charity auction tonight,” Xu Hongxing spoke with a smile.
“The money raised tonight will be used entirely for charitable causes.
I, Old Chen, can guarantee this with the official cap on my head!!
We will absolutely not embezzle a single cent, nor take any so-called management fees; those are nothing but scams.
We intend to do real, solid work!”
A timely round of applause erupted from the audience and only after it had died down did Xu continue, “The auction is one reason you were invited here tonight.
And I, Xu, have another purpose this evening, which is to introduce a friend of mine to you all.”
Xu Hongxing said this while looking towards Song Yun and then announced, “Song Yun, come up and meet everyone.”
Song Yun stood up with a smile, his face calm and composed, and several surrounding people let out surprised murmurs.
They remembered Song Yun’s aggressive bidding from earlier.
Many had assumed Song Yun might be the child of some nouveau-riche, only to find out he was actually a friend of Xu Hongxing, and the reason Xu Hongxing had hosted the evening’s banquet!!
Could it be that this man was the child of a major tycoon?
Or perhaps the child of one of the top ten wealthiest overseas Chinese?