"Okay, Mr. Xu bids one hundred million. Are there any other bids?"
"One hundred million, once!"
"One hundred million, twice!"
The auctioneer scanned the room, expertly building the atmosphere. After Xu Shengqing's bid, no one dared to disrespect him by bidding against him.
He couldn't help but feel smug.
Acquiring the "Canglan Map" at this price was a massive bargain.
"One hundred million, third..."
Just as the auctioneer was about to call the final bid, a paddle suddenly rose.
The auctioneer was taken aback.
He was a renowned professional auctioneer, and before the event, he had been subtly informed by the organizers about Mr. Xu's prominence.
In fact, this auction was, to some extent, organized for Mr. Xu. Thus, he had assumed no one would compete with the young master Xu for the "Canglan Map."
However, an unexpected challenge had arisen.
The paddle was raised somewhat awkwardly, even trembling, and a woman's voice, laced with nervousness, called out, "One hundred million... twenty million!"
Beside Chen Fan, Xiao Xuan's face had turned beet red.
In the momentarily hushed atmosphere, all eyes turned towards their table.
Xiao Xuan was flustered and quickly lowered her paddle.
Dai Yunsen and the others at their table also looked on in surprise, their expressions shifting to disbelief upon closer inspection.
"Alright, the lady with paddle number 188 bids one hundred and twenty million!" The auctioneer quickly recovered, his voice excited as he announced with a smile, "One hundred and twenty million!"
At the next table, Xu Shengqing also looked over.
However, his gaze lingered on Xiao Xuan for less than a second before fixing on Chen Fan.
Without needing to think, he could tell that Xiao Xuan was merely holding the paddle on behalf of the real bidder, who was Chen Fan sitting next to her.
A shadow of displeasure crossed his eyes, and he immediately raised his paddle, stating, "One hundred and fifty-five million!"
Again, he increased the bid by thirty million, showcasing his strength and his determination to win.
Under the scrutiny of so many eyes, Xiao Xuan trembled with nervousness.
She had said before that auctions were just a spectacle for the wealthy to show off their fortunes.
She never imagined that she herself would one day be bidding at such a high-stakes auction.
"Mr. Xu bids one hundred and fifty-five million!" the auctioneer declared loudly.
The atmosphere in the auction hall began to heat up.
"Who is that woman? How dare she not give way to Young Master Xu?"
"When did such a female tycoon appear in Hangjiang? Does anyone know her?"
"It doesn't seem to be her; it's the son-in-law of the Su family beside her who is competing with Young Master Xu?"
"They really don't want to live a good life. They refused to yield their seats earlier, and now they're going head-to-head with Young Master Xu. Do they think Young Master Xu and Yuan Shao are pushovers?"
"..."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
In an inconspicuous corner at the back, two women from the Xiao family suddenly stood up, their eyes wide with disbelief.
The one bidding against the young master Xu for the "Canglan Map" was their own sister, Xiao Xuan?
What was going on?
...
Chen Fan smiled at Xiao Xuan and said, "Two hundred million!"
Xiao Xuan's expression startled.
She hadn't thought much of it before, but now, as she came to her senses, she asked with immense worry, "Chen Fan, do you have that much money?"
"Just keep bidding!"
Chen Fan said casually, as if money were merely a number to him.
Xiao Xuan hesitated.
"Mr. Xu bids one hundred and fifty-five million, once!" the auctioneer's voice resonated throughout the hall.
Xiao Xuan was in a panic.
Chen Fan nodded at her, signaling her to continue.
"Mr. Xu bids one hundred and fifty-five million, twice!"
Looking at Chen Fan's calm face, Xiao Xuan couldn't help but worry, "Won't he trick me?"
If they won the item at an exorbitant price and then couldn't pay... the thought of that scenario was unbearable.
But, as if compelled by an unseen force, she still raised her paddle and said, "Two hundred million!"
Xiao Xuan's bid stunned even the auctioneer.
A jump of fifty million in one go – was this how auctions were conducted?
While it sounded bold, did they truly believe money was just paper? Or just a number?
This was two hundred million!
At a table in the front row, a gaunt, middle-aged man turned his head towards Chen Fan. His expression was one of astonishment, and his brow furrowed.
At another table, Jiang Tiansheng and Luo Jiuzhang exchanged a glance and smiled simultaneously.
A mere two hundred million was nothing to a figure like Mr. Chen!
Xu Shengqing stared intently at Chen Fan, his eyes growing colder.
"Lady number 188 bids two hundred million!"
The auctioneer repeated the bid, but his tone was no longer excited, instead becoming somber.
In a normal auction, he would welcome a bidding war driven by rivalry.
But this auction was different, and it was making him anxious.
"Two hundred and ten million!"
Xu Shengqing raised his paddle again.
Chen Fan smiled and told Xiao Xuan another number.
"Three hundred million!"
This bid sent the entire auction hall into an uproar.
Even among the distinguished guests present, a price of three hundred million was still shocking.
A jump of ninety million in one increment left many astonished and utterly convinced.
This was a blatant display of defiance, a severe humiliation.
Their earlier refusal to yield seats could be attributed to Xu Shengqing and Yuan Liangping's magnanimity. But to be so openly challenged and undermined, could they endure it?
"Do these two truly think Young Master Xu is a kind and benevolent soul, to provoke him repeatedly?"
"Three hundred million. Looking at their attire, do they even have three hundred million? Are they sure they aren't here to cause trouble?"
"Has this son-in-law of the Su family lost his mind to act so recklessly?"
"..."
"Three hundred and ten million!"
Xu Shengqing's face turned ashen, his eyes blazing with fury.
Yuan Liangping, sitting beside him, had a grim expression that seemed to drip with suppressed rage.
He suddenly regretted not having dealt with Chen Fan before tonight, allowing him to disrupt the auction.
The original purpose of this auction was to appease Xu Shengqing.
Furthermore, he intended to use this event to showcase his charisma and win the admiration and allegiance of Hangjiang's elite, thus consolidating his power and eventually dominating the entire region.
But the current situation felt beyond his control.
For his grand ambitions, this lack of control hinted at a nascent danger.
The auctioneer, aware of Yuan Liangping's agenda, felt a pang of distress. He didn't want to repeat himself and simply looked at Xiao Xuan.
Xiao Xuan did not disappoint him. She raised her paddle again and, in a trembling voice, called out, "Four hundred million!"
Hearing this figure, the auctioneer felt his head spin.
This wasn't an auction; it was an open provocation, a public humiliation, a brutal trampling of Young Master Xu's pride.
Tang Qingying, who was present, was taken aback despite having some prior expectations.
Chen Fan's actions left her marveling, further deepening her sense of his mystery.
Dai Yunsen's mouth hung open, unable to close.
He had just been boasting about winning an item for five million and engaging in a bet with Chen Fan.
Now, the other party was bidding four hundred million.
From one hundred and twenty million to four hundred million, each figure made his blood boil, seeming fantastical and unreal. Da Feng Novel Network.
His companions were equally dumbfounded.
"This... it's impossible. This can't be true. How could a son-in-law discarded by the Su family possibly have four hundred million?"
If Chen Fan truly possessed four hundred million, would the Su family have abandoned such a son-in-law? Were they all complete idiots?
As his thoughts churned, Xu Shengqing, gritting his teeth, placed his bid: "Four hundred and ten million!"
Xiao Xuan trembled all over, looking at Chen Fan.
Chen Fan calmly picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and casually stated, "Five hundred million!"