C41 I Hope the Price Is Reasonable

"Heh, entry requires an invitation; it's not open to just anyone," Lee Gang said with a cold laugh.

His family's fortune was rooted in real estate, boasting assets well over a hundred million yuan. Yet, without his father's fortuitous discovery of an antique at a construction site, they wouldn't even be eligible to attend.

Moreover, as far as he knew, this auction was really catering to an exclusive circle. His sarcasm was deliberate, confident in his belief that Lee Yu was full of hot air.

"And what if I manage to get in?" Lee Yu challenged, an eyebrow arching inquisitively.

"If you get in, I'll call you 'Dad'!" Lee Gang declared with smug assurance.

"Fine by me. We're about done eating anyway. Let's go—I'm about to gain another son!" Lee Yu retorted, his patience wearing thin as he rose and took the lead.

"Come on then. If you don't get in, you're my son," Lee Gang taunted, having realized his chances with Huang Xiu were slim to none. He was ready to throw caution to the wind, eager to publicly humiliate Lee Yu in front of Huang Xiu, hoping she might then turn away from him.

The tension in the room spiked, and the crowd followed them out, bustling up the stairs.

"Yu, can we really get in?" Huang Xiu whispered, her concern evident. She was unaware of the auction details, just like Lee Yu, who was of a similar social standing to her family.

"He's not going to chicken out, is he?" Lee Gang scoffed upon hearing Huang Xiu's words.

Lee Yu ignored him, pulling out his phone and immersing himself in it.

...

The top floor was accessible only by stairs, not an elevator. At the turn, several intimidating security guards stood watch.

One guard blocked their path, stating firmly, "Kids, you can't just wander upstairs."

"I have an invitation!" Lee Gang announced, producing an invitation and passing it forward.

An invitation was a token of distinction. The head guard scrutinized it thoroughly before, upon verification, addressing him with newfound respect, "Please, go ahead."

He handed back the invitation with a reminder, "However, with so many people here, you can only bring one person upstairs with you."

Lee Gang strutted up, fixing his gaze on Lee Yu. "Why aren't you coming? Remember what you just said?"

"What's the rush?" Lee Yu glanced up, smirking. "Eager for me to call you 'daddy'?"

His words piqued the interest of the security guards, and a few classmates couldn't suppress their chuckles.

"Sharp-tongued, aren't you?" Lee Gang snorted. "Dragging this out is pointless. I'll give you a minute, tops. After that, you better start calling."

Just then, Lee Yu spotted a familiar silhouette. "No need to wait. You can start calling now!"

Before Lee Gang could respond, a figure passed by him.

Chen Chengde descended the stairs quickly, surprised by the crowd at the bottom. He didn't dwell on it, though, as his attention shifted to Lee Yu.

"My young friend, you've arrived. Come on up," Chen Chengde invited.

"Is it alright if I bring someone with me?" Lee Yu asked, nodding toward Huang Xiu.

Chen Chengde breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it would have been a challenge to bring everyone up. But one person? That was no issue.

"Of course, it's fine. You could bring a few more if you wanted."

"Just her," Lee Yu clarified, shaking his head and leading Huang Xiu upstairs.

Youth didn't equate to foolishness in his book. Chen Chengde's offer was clearly out of courtesy, and Lee Yu wasn't about to naively bring a crowd.

Besides, he had no ties to these people. Why should he care?

"Elder Chen!" "Good to see you, Elder Chen!"

The security guards recognized the esteemed arrival and greeted him with respectful bows.

As they walked past Lee Gang, Lee Yu whispered with a taunt, "Son!"

Lee Gang's face flushed, and he bit back his words.

It wasn't about conceding; he knew who Chen Chengde was. He had seen the venerated elder from a distance at events his father took him to, where he was always the center of attention.

Lee Gang knew well enough that if he wasn't foolish, he'd understand the significance of Elder Chen's stature.

Lee Yu shook his head dismissively. Life in the Otherworld had been a relentless series of village massacres and kidnappings. Those experiences had expanded his worldview. Once settled in Qing's, he was considered a seed member and had two maidservants, Cui and Hong, at his side.

Authentic maidservants, at that.

Why bother sparring with a peer his own age? The indignation faded, and Lee Yu suddenly realized he might be acting a bit childish...

Curiosity piqued, he wondered what had transpired in the Otherworld over the past few days. Any new developments with the mimesis puppet? He resolved to check in as soon as he wrapped up today's affairs.

"Yu, how did you come to know such influential people?" Huang Xiu asked, her voice tinged with amazement as they ascended the stairs to a vast, open space. Men in suits stood at attention every few steps, some with noticeable bulges at their waists.

What struck her most was how each of these men bowed respectfully to an elder, who, in turn, treated Lee Yu with exceptional warmth. Huang Xiu couldn't help but feel she had yet to truly understand Lee Yu.

"Is this view clear enough for you? No obstruction from the crowd," Chen Chengde said with a chuckle.

He guided them to a table in the front row, where a young, attractive woman was seated. If Lee Yu wasn't mistaken, she was Chen Chengde's granddaughter.

"Her likeness is the spitting image of her photo," Lee Yu remarked, noting the calluses on her hands. Clearly, she was a martial artist. Anyone who mistook her for being weak would be sorely mistaken.

The young woman's attention turned to Huang Xiu, and with a nod from Chen Chengde, she extended her hand. "Hello, Chen Jingfu. Grandfather speaks of you often, but this is our first meeting."

Chen Jingfu... That name sounded awfully masculine.

Lee Yu promptly grasped her hand, smiling. "Lee Yu. And I must thank your grandfather for giving me the opportunity to broaden my horizons."

Chen Jingfu spoke up, "My name is definitely masculine. My grandfather was convinced I'd be a boy, so he chose a boy's name for me. By the time I was born, the name just stuck."

Lee Yu was puzzled, "..." Did I just mention that name? Odd, I can't seem to recall doing so.

"Shouldn't young people exchange WeChat contacts when they first meet?" Chen Chengde chimed in from the side.

With a bit of pressure from Chen Chengde, Lee Yu reluctantly added Chen Jingfu as a WeChat friend. Once that was done, Chen Chengde, beaming, said, "There was a slight delay due to an earlier issue, but now you can start with the first auction item."

Lee Yu didn't dwell on it and instead turned to Huang Xiu, "Perfect timing. Take a look and see if there's anything you fancy. If you're short on cash, I'm happy to lend you some."

He recalled that an elder who was very fond of Huang Xiu was soon to celebrate a milestone birthday. The ginseng he had previously given Huang Xiu was actually intended as a gift for that elder. It hadn't crossed his mind that Huang Xiu was also planning to purchase an antique for the occasion.

Huang Xiu nodded with a sweet compliance.

She had been preparing well in advance, saving money for the past few years in the hopes of finding some treasures at the auction. If the price was right, she was ready to make her move.