The table where Chen Fan was seated.
Tang Qingying's face showed a hint of regret, and she asked, "Mr. Chen, have you given up?"
Even Tang Qingying, for such a magnificent and dazzling diamond as 'Sky Blue,' could not remain unaffected. If Chen Fan had won the bid for this diamond, she might have had the chance to admire it up close.
"No rush, let Young Master Yuan gloat for a while," Chen Fan said with a faint smile, hinting at something. "There are still a few more items up for auction!"
Tang Qingying was a bit confused.
Chen Fan offered no explanation, watching as the auctioneer introduced the next item: a rare ge-ware porcelain bowl. By now, few items remained, but there was expected to be one last, exceptional piece.
Chen Fan handed his bidding paddle to Xiao Xuan, asking her to bid on his behalf. Soon, he had Xiao Xuan announce a price of thirty million, which deterred most people. However, as expected, as soon as Chen Fan's bid was placed, the wealthy young men surrounding Yuan Liangping began to bid, determined to prevent him from acquiring this exquisite porcelain.
When the price reached forty-eight million, Chen Fan instructed Xiao Xuan to withdraw. This price, however, was already significantly inflated, at least by half the market value. The following several items were no different. Whenever Chen Fan had Xiao Xuan bid, he encountered suppression, leading to transaction prices double or even triple their normal market value.
Chen Fan turned to look. Yuan Liangping, with an air of triumph, gave him a disdainful sneer, as if to say he would ensure Chen Fan acquired nothing. Dai Yunsen, who had been dejected for a long time, also perked up and began to mock Chen Fan.
In the blink of an eye, the auction was drawing to a close. Chen Fan glanced at the auction catalog; only one final, show-stopping item remained.
"The highlight of this auction, Wang Xizhi's cursive script – the 'Ping An Tie'!" the auctioneer announced the final item, his expression growing excited and fervent. This item indeed warranted his excitement, as its value was unparalleled. "For those with even a slight understanding of calligraphy, the name Wang Xizhi is certainly familiar. Today, we are auctioning a silk-based cursive work by him."
"This silk-based cursive script was sold for three hundred million at an auction in the capital ten years ago!"
"Appearing again today, the starting bid is two hundred million, with increments of no less than ten million. The bidding begins!"
As the auctioneer spoke, the entire venue erupted in a buzz! If it sold for three hundred million ten years ago, what would it fetch today? No one knew which collection this piece came from; they were truly willing to part with it. While the ten-year-old price certainly included a premium, even so, the value of this calligraphy would not be less than three hundred million within a decade. Being placed last as the grand finale was truly fitting. Moreover, in terms of collection value, the 'Sky Blue' diamond, which had just sold for seven hundred million, was far from comparable to the 'Ping An Tie.' Of course, the two-hundred-million starting bid also made most people sigh in resignation, able to do nothing but admire it.
"Tsk, tsk..." Xiao Xuan murmured, feeling as though the boundaries of her understanding of the world had been shattered!
Chen Fan glanced towards Xu Shengqing at the adjacent table. This piece was undoubtedly being presented for him. After all, Old Master Chen greatly favored calligraphy and painting, with calligraphy being his particular preference. Wang Xizhi's authentic work would undoubtedly thrill and delight Old Master Chen. However, this time, Chen Fan had no intention of playing along!
He looked up at the stage, where two beautiful women were unfurling the 'Ping An Tie.' The cursive script was exquisite, each character a gem, a pleasure to behold. Beyond that, it was covered with a dense array of seals. These seals belonged to famous collectors throughout history, including not a few masters of calligraphy and painting, such as the Ming dynasty master Wen Zhengming, who was exceptionally fond of this piece and had left several of his seals on it. It was said that Wen Zhengming firmly believed this piece to be an authentic work!
However, there were indeed various theories regarding this calligraphy and painting. Some said it was a copy by the renowned Tang dynasty calligrapher, while others attributed it to the Song dynasty master Mi Fu. Regardless, the artistic value of the 'Ping An Tie' was peerless, and its market value was beyond imagination. The three-hundred-million price tag ten years ago had caused a sensation, yet no one had questioned its worth.
The auction began, but to everyone's surprise, no one bid, and a silence fell over the hall.
"I bid two hundred and ten million!"
After a brief silence, a voice broke the stillness. Bidding quickly became intense. Those who raised their paddles were all guests in the front row. Although most had assumed the 'Ping An Tie' was intended for the young master Xu, they couldn't resist making a tentative bid. After all, if they could acquire the 'Ping An Tie' first and then resell it to Xu Shengqing at auction price, it would still be profitable. Thus, after rounds of bidding, the price quickly climbed to three hundred million.
"Four hundred million!"
Xu Shengqing whispered a few words to Yuan Liangping, then raised his paddle. He had directly increased the bid by one hundred million. Although his heart trembled a little at this price, this peerless work was truly worth it. His cash flow was insufficient to purchase this piece, yet he had to secure it. As soon as he spoke, no one else raised a paddle. Four hundred million was a reasonable bid; going any higher would not only risk not securing the item but also antagonize Young Master Xu and Young Master Yuan. Furthermore, a cash payment of four hundred million would put pressure on even the local wealthy families of Hangzhou.
The guests in the hall murmured, but those who had been bidding earlier had all withdrawn. The auctioneer scanned the room, his gaze inadvertently falling upon Chen Fan. He saw Chen Fan speaking with Xiao Xuan, which made his heart skip a beat, and he felt a sense of unease. He began to repeat, "Young Master Xu bids four hundred million, four hundred million once!"
At that moment, his gaze suddenly sharpened. He saw a woman stand up, raising her paddle high. It was none other than Xiao Xuan. Her pretty face was flushed, her body trembling slightly, and her legs were also shaking gently.
"Lady number 188 has made a bid!" the auctioneer said aloud, though his heart sank.
Instantly, all eyes swiveled to Xiao Xuan, just as they had when she bid for the 'Cang Lan Tu' before.
"Ten... ten billion!" Her voice trembling, Xiao Xuan uttered the figure.
"What?" The auctioneer's jaw dropped.
All the murmuring in the hall ceased abruptly, and a profound silence descended. Ten billion? A six-hundred-million increase in one bid? Had they misheard, or had the world gone mad? Was six hundred million so insignificant now?
Xu Shengqing's body stiffened upon hearing this, his eyes wide as he stared intently at Chen Fan. He hadn't expected Chen Fan to pull such a stunt with the final show-stopping item.
Under the gaze of everyone, Xiao Xuan's face was crimson, her excitement reaching an absolute peak.
Everyone fell silent. Slowly, one by one, eyes turned to Xu Shengqing, awaiting his response. To follow, or not to follow?