Chapter 60: Chapter 59: Do I smell better than the tender model?

The auction continued.

For the next nineteen items, Mr. Chen Tian didn't make a move.

He even let Gu Yu handle all the bidding while he himself was engrossed in playing a chaotic battle game with Lin Xinyue.

"You can bid anything under ten million," were Chen Tian's exact words.

As a result, Gu Yu managed to secure five auction items without spending ten million.

Golden Eyes could see that these antiques were basically in their original form.

Whether or not to bid, and at what price, Gu Yu had a firm grip on all of it.

He usually secured the auction items at price ranges between sixty to eighty percent of the estimated value.

The five items altogether cost only 9.6 million, but their total value far exceeded 15 million!

When Gu Yu started bidding, he would get excited at a million, but towards the end, he became numb.

Sometimes, he couldn't be bothered to incrementally raise bids in tens or hundreds of thousands, starting from a base price of 300 thousand and jumping directly to a million, thereby scaring away a large group of buyers.

All those present at the auction became curious about the handsome young man sitting next to Old Mr. Chen.

Though Chen Tian was known for his grandiosity, entrusting the young man with the complete authority to bid also showed his unconditional trust in him!

The young man's boldness and decisiveness were indeed admirable; every time he bid, it was without hesitation, and he was just as decisive when withdrawing from the bidding!

Possibly one second he would bid one million, and the next, someone would raise it to 1.1 million, and he would immediately put his bidding card down, discontinuing any further bids.

Steady! That was the impression he gave them—extremely steady!

It was the kind of assurance that came from knowing exactly what one was doing!

Some even suspected that all five auction items he bought were authentic!

If they didn't know he was brought by Old Mr. Chen, they would definitely have thought he was a plant arranged by the organizers!

The last item was still being bid on, Xie Qingyin felt sweat all over her back.

She had hosted over a hundred auctions, big and small, but had never felt as nervous as today.

All because of that young man sitting in the first row, who was casually reading a novel while bidding.

"3.5 million…"

He bid again, looking listless.

"Bidder number one! 3.5 million...!"

But as an auctioneer, she couldn't relax, and continued calling out loudly.

This was followed by a series of bids.

"Bidder number nine! 3.55 million!"

"Bidder number eleven! 3.6 million!"

"Bidder number twenty-five! 3.8 million!"

"…"

In just a few seconds, Xie Qingyin felt like a rap artist, barely keeping up with the raised cards in front of her.

But she was used to it, because ever since Gu Yu bid 1.1 million for the sixteenth item valued at at least two to three hundred thousand, the Gold Silk Iron Line Southern Song Yuan Ge Kiln Cervical Bottle, people started crazily following his bids!

Whatever Gu Yu bid, they would crazily join the bidding frenzy.

Gu Yu's choices were seen as the optimal solution!

If Gu Yu bid, they would frenziedly compete in the bidding.

If Gu Yu didn't bid, neither did they.

It even led to the seventeenth and nineteenth items being passed over without any bids!

The key was, Xie Qingyin knew, Gu Yu's choices were always right, always authentic!

Every item he got was at a steal!

If it weren't for a pair of half-real, half-fake Ancient Jade Owls that fetched an incredible price of five million, providing her some cover, she would have already been in tears!

This Gu Yu, could he be a Treasure Appraiser Master?

He looked to be only about twenty-one or twenty-two. Could there really be such a young master treasure appraiser?

She couldn't believe it!

She had been in the auction industry for nearly ten years, had met countless masters, and had witnessed many seasoned treasure appraiser masters make mistakes!

She had seen a twenty-year-old treasure appraiser, but never one this accurate!

"Bidder number twenty! 4.5 million!"

The price once again reached a psychological threshold. This time, Gu Yu glanced at Old Mr. Chen, seeking his opinion, but Old Mr. Chen was deeply engrossed in his game of Lu Bu, clearly too absorbed to bother with him.

He simply waved his hand, indicating to Gu Yu to do as he wished.

Gu Yu helplessly curled his lips, then raised his bidding card and called out, "5 million!"

On the stage was a Yuan Longquan Green Glaze with a "Chasing Bead Cloud Dragon" motif Double Fish Dragon Ear Bottle—it was indeed authentic, and he valued it at just over six million.

But his predetermined price was five million; any higher, and he couldn't be bothered to compete anymore.

Picking up bargains was what made it interesting!

"Bidder number one! 5 million!"

Gu Yu had added five hundred thousand in one go. Xie Qingyin breathed a sigh of relief; at least it was getting close to the estimated price. If it had been picked up at half the price again, she would have inevitably been criticized today. Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Getting criticized was a minor issue; the real fear was that work would be affected for a long time!

As usual, before Gu Yu's bid even echoed away, a group of people followed suit.

They had been fooled by Gu Yu several times already.

Every time, Gu Yu would suddenly increase his bid significantly, and before they could react, he would have already secured the auction item.

They were no longer going to be fooled by this trick now!

The bidding noise was incessant.

The price soared to "6 million" within a minute.

Gu Yu could only sigh helplessly, put down his placard, and thought to himself that these people were really cunning in bidding against him!

Moreover, among these bidders were some genuine buyers who didn't care about paying a premium price.

Sure enough, eventually the Yuan Dynasty Dragon Ear Bottle was taken away by a boss with a big gold chain and a bald head!

The bald boss, exuding an air of a nouveau riche, stood up, waved his hand grandly, and said, "Eight million, and I'll add more if it's not enough!" effectively silencing the whole room.

"Congratulations to buyer number 13 for acquiring the last auction item of this event! With that, we officially conclude this auction!" Experience more magic at m v l e mpyr

"Ladies and gentlemen who need accommodation and meals can speak with the hotel reception, we have arranged everything!"

"..."

Xie Qingyin stood on the auction stage announcing the final closure as everyone clapped, with no one rushing to leave first.

A significant portion of them was not there solely for the auction.

They were there to network with peers or seniors from other fields.

After the auction, most of them would relocate to the hotel's bar or perhaps the international tennis center.

As the auctioneer's closing remarks were made, people started leaving in groups.

Old Mr. Chen and Lin Xinyue's intense battle had now reached a climax.

The crucial crystal-pushing segment!

During this moment, many people came hoping to engage with Old Mr. Chen, or maybe get his phone number, but all were ignored by Chen Tian.

They had come exuberant and left in disappointment… but none of them dared to express anything.

Upsetting Chen Tian would lead to great losses!

"Yu!"

When most people had left, Ma Tengyun came over to greet him.

"Are you also looking for Old Mr. Chen? He's not done with his game yet; it'd be better for you to wait."

Gu Yu assumed that Ma Tengyun had come to network as well and whispered.

"Haha, I'm not here for Sir Chen; I'm here for you! So, got any plans after this? If not, shall we hit the bar for a drink? The bar here is full of beauties! All of model level!"

Ma Tengyun warmly slung his arm around Gu Yu's shoulder, extending the invitation.

Gu Yu hadn't even replied when he suddenly felt a piercing gaze fixed on his face.

Upon looking down, it turned out that the game had ended, and Lin Xinyue had just heard Ma Tengyun's words.

"Bar? Beauties? Models?"

Lin Xinyue's face carried an innocent smile, but Gu Yu saw her pinching her phone so hard the screen protector was peeling off!

Damn! He hadn't even answered yet!

"Cough! I don't drink, and it's not really convenient."

Gu Yu declined Ma Tengyun's invitation, his eyes continuously signaling towards Lin Xinyue at his side.

"Oh~ I overlooked that!" Ma Tengyun immediately took the hint.

"Alright then, I won't keep you, Yu. Let's catch up some other time!"

He let go of Gu Yu's shoulder, smiling as he spoke.

"Sure, let's catch up some other time!"

Gu Yu could only nod politely.

No sooner had Ma Tengyun left than Gu Yu felt Lin Xinyue's gaze lock onto him completely.

Lin Xinyue stood up and whispered into his ear,

"Honey~ Why make plans for another time~"

Gu Yu shuddered and quickly shook his head, "Just being polite! You know, just polite words!"

"Hmph! Are models as sweet as me?"

Lin Xinyue placed her hands on her hips, huffed slightly, then swiftly pecked Gu Yu on the lips.

"!!! No! Absolutely not!"

Gu Yu's eyes widened, and he immediately perked up, responding with fierce certainty.

"Hahahaha..."

Mr. Chen Tian, sitting nearby, displayed a fatherly smile, laughing as though reminiscing something, then secretly wiped the corner of his eye.

"Let's go! Let's go eat dinner!"

Lin Xinyue took the initiative to hook her arm around Gu Yu's, then pulled Mr. Chen along.

An elderly man and two young people harmoniously proceeded to the hotel's restaurant.