The fact that Lu Xuemei, a woman, managed to emerge unscathed from the internal strife back then and has now returned to the Shen family with Lu Yuchen in tow speaks volumes about her formidable capabilities.

Adding to that, she carries an aura of kindness and amiability, making it easy for her to deceive young girls with her tactics.

However, he forgot Lin Zhiyu was no ordinary young girl.

When it came to such matters, her vigilance surpassed even his.

Sure enough, Lin Zhiyu responded with unwavering certainty, “Of course.”

There wasn’t a single good person around Lu Yuchen. It would be sheer foolishness for her to naively approach him again.

The young woman’s eyes were resolute as she sat on the sofa, her affirmation firm and powerful. The vitality radiating from her expression was something he had never possessed.

“Good.” Shen Yanli felt his heart soften, his tone unconsciously growing softer.

Outside, the noise grew increasingly chaotic, and the auction house soon buzzed with excitement.

Shen Yanli remarked indifferently, “They’re here.”

Lin Zhiyu stood by the railing, looking down. The newcomers were as ostentatious as ever, drawing attention wherever they went, reveling in the spotlight.

This time, however, was different. The woman by his side had changed it was no longer Ji Xianlin but Chu Shiyi.

Unlike Ji Xianlin, Chu Shiyi refused to be a mere backdrop to Lu Yuchen. She met the crowd’s gazes with confidence and grace, and in her presence, Lu Yuchen seemed to fade into the background.

“Why isn’t the Ji family’s daughter here? What’s going on?”

“Brother, have you lost your edge after all these years in the business world? Given the Ji family’s current situation, who would willingly get involved and risk trouble?”

“After all, they were once married. Isn’t this a bit too heartless?”

“What’s the use of sentiment? Can it put food on the table? If you care so much, why don’t you step in and take over his mess?”

“Hey, watch your words. The Ji family hasn’t fallen yet. Be careful what you say.”

“What’s there to fear? It’s only a matter of time. In their current state, no one can save them.”

The hall buzzed with lively discussions, their interest in the couple’s private affairs rivaling their curiosity about Lingyang Land.

Yet, the two parties involved remained composed and unbothered, walking calmly under everyone’s gaze toward the private booth on the second floor.

Watching them, Lin Zhiyu couldn’t help but click her tongue and remark, “Fake couple.”

Just then, Shen Yanli approached slowly. The first thing she noticed was the warmth emanating from his body against her back.

His clear, cool voice sounded above her head, “Chu Shiyi loves to compete, and Lu Yuchen won’t tolerate anyone stealing his thunder. There’s no need for us to intervene they’ll clash on their own.”

“You really sound like a villain when you say that,” Lin Zhiyu said with a light laugh, lifting her gaze.

The familiar, faint scent of cedar from the man filled her senses. Even at her height of 1.7 meters, when she looked up, she could only see the lower half of his jaw, partially obscured by shadows.

The blurred shadows softened the sharp lines of his cool profile, lending him a touch of tenderness.

As the fragrance enveloped her, Lin Zhiyu felt as though her entire being was imbued with his unique scent, one she couldn’t seem to shake off.

Not hearing her response, the man lowered his gaze to her and unexpectedly found himself captured in her clear, luminous eyes. Her dark pupils, bright and vivid, held his reflection completely.

He called her softly, “Zhizhi?”

Under his gentle gaze, she unconsciously touched the tip of her nose and averted her eyes. Feeling somewhat awkward, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, inadvertently exposing her flushed earlobes.

Shen Yanli observed it all, a fleeting smile passing through his profound eyes. He gently tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ear, openly admiring his “masterpiece.”

Lin Zhiyu remained completely unaware, believing she had hidden it well.

“No rush,” he said abruptly.

Lin Zhiyu looked puzzled, “What’s not urgent?”

Shen Yanli didn’t answer, merely giving her a leisurely glance.

Zhi Zhi, we’ll take it slow.

The auction soon began, and everyone’s attention returned to the items up for bid.

The private booth came with a bidder; if interested in an item, one could signal them to raise the paddle.

Lu Yuchen’s booth was right next to theirs, but even halfway through the auction, there was no movement from their side.

Lin Zhiyu, playful by nature, fixed her eyes on several expensive gemstones and insisted on bidding for them.

Shen Yanli was happy to indulge her, letting her have her way.

A waiter waited in the booth with the contract for signing once a bid was won. Lin Zhiyu didn’t even blink when placing bids, immediately raising the offer whenever the previous bidder called out.

Now, faced with a string of zeros that made her dizzy just looking at them, she felt her vision darken.

She poked the back of his hand with her fingertip as he signed, complaining indignantly, “Why didn’t you stop me?”

Shen Yanli lifted his gaze, answering nonchalantly, “At the rate you’re spending, my wealth is enough for you to play around for ten lifetimes.”

Lin Zhiyu: “…”

The waiter: “…”

He clasped her mischievous fingers and finished signing the document. “If you like it, bid for it. The way you’re spending won’t even make a dent in my assets. Don’t feel burdened.”

Lin Zhiyu sought his confirmation, “You said it, right?”

“Mm, I said it,” Shen Yanli replied with a faint chuckle.

Lin Zhiyu wasn’t one to quit while she was ahead; when it came to pushing her luck, she was a natural.

In the booth, her voice could be heard intermittently.

“Follow.”

“Follow again.”

“Raise!”

A delighted female voice exclaimed, “This one is so pretty, I really like it.”

A doting, indulgent male voice followed immediately, “Then bid for it.”

A long line of waiters formed outside the booth, waiting to enter for signatures. This scene of extravagance was rare, and discussions about the owner of the booth grew increasingly lively.

“Isn’t this insane? Bidding so much without a care for tomorrow? Who’s inside?”

“Another gentleman spending a fortune to win a beauty’s smile. What a waste, what a waste.”

“Young Master Chen, learn from them. How about bidding for that Golden Pigeon diamond ring for me?”

“Sweetheart, let’s pick something else, okay? How about this vase passed down from Dong Qi?”

A slap echoed loudly. “You stingy man! Trying to fob me off with just 10,000? I’m done! Go live with your ugly vase, you cheapo!”

The discussions from downstairs faintly drifted through the window into the booth. Chu Shiyi lifted the gauze curtain to glance at the neighboring booth but could only see the bidder in black standing by the window, with no view into the inner room.

Not seeing what she had hoped for, though her heart was stirred, Chu Shiyi had no intention of probing further. Just as she lowered the curtain, a lazy male voice came from behind.

“Miss Chu, are you envious? If you desire something, I wouldn’t mind spending a fortune for you, Miss Chu.”

Though he spoke of splurging, he only bid on inconspicuous trinkets, hardly showing much enthusiasm.

Still, girls tend to appreciate such grand gestures of affection. If Chu Shiyi liked it, he saw no reason not to indulge her.

Chu Shiyi let out a scornful laugh. “How thoughtful of you, Young Master Lu. But these methods meant to charm young girls you’d better save them for your wife.”

“I wonder how she’ll react when she hears about tonight’s events? Furious arguments? Silent treatment? Or perhaps an immediate divorce?”

She settled back onto the sofa, watching him with the gleeful expression of someone anticipating a spectacle.

Unlike Ji Xianlin’s docility, Chu Shiyi regarded Lu Yuchen with condescending disdain.

She looked down on him.

This was something both of them understood perfectly.

Resenting her family’s arranged marriage plans, she directed all her frustration at him, trying to pressure him into backing down.

Lu Yuchen’s eyes remained utterly unperturbed. “Doesn’t this suit your father’s intentions? For every day I maintain ties with the Ji family, you’ll have to wait one day longer.”

They had deliberately chosen this crowded venue, requiring them to enter together under public scrutiny first to announce it to the world, and second to force him to sever relations with the Ji family.

Chu Shiyi responded with a dismissive smile. “Lu Yuchen, don’t be too greedy in life. Be careful you don’t end up with nothing.”

“No need for your concern, Miss Chu. I will surely live up to expectations.”

After a long wait, the highly anticipated Lingyang Land finally made its appearance under the auctioneer’s introduction. A twenty-minute video presentation heightened the tense atmosphere in the venue to its peak.

“Finally, after all this waiting, it’s here.”

“If I secure this land, my status won’t just multiply tenfold I’ll be the one sitting up there then.”

“Tenfold? If those policies really come through, it’ll be more than tenfold. Your vision is still too narrow, my friend.”

“Wishful thinking. With those VIPs in the upper boxes, how could prime land like this ever fall to you?”

“What do you know? Maybe their interests lie elsewhere. Can’t I at least dream about it?”

The ground floor buzzed with lively discussions, while upstairs, though no conversations were audible, the partially drawn curtains had all been fully opened clear evidence of their serious attention.

Bid spotters from all eight private boxes stood ready, their focus fixed on the land still being showcased on the large screen.

Lin Zhiyu crouched in the narrow space between the sofa and coffee table, examining the red diamond she had just acquired. As she lifted her gaze to speak

She saw the man calmly toying with a circular cup in his hand, his pale fingertips slowly rotating the rim. His long legs were crossed naturally.

The impeccably tailored suit accentuated his noble, detached composure, making even the red diamond’s radiance seem dim in his presence.

For a moment, Lin Zhiyu’s eyes grew dazed.

He ought to always remain this dignified and composed the shattered, desolate figure from her dreams had no connection to the man before her now.

Sensing her gaze, he lowered his lashes to meet her affectionate stare.

He murmured softly, “What’s wrong?”

Lin Zhiyu reined in the overwhelming pessimism in her eyes and spoke again, “Shouldn’t we at least put on a show?”

A faint smile touched Shen Yanli’s lips. “Do you still want to bid?”

“Of course,” Lin Zhiyu replied without hesitation.

A trace of indulgent amusement flickered in his eyes before he set down his wine glass and murmured, “Alright, you bid.”

“What if I accidentally win it for real?” Now that he had agreed, Lin Zhiyu suddenly felt uncertain.

Shen Yanli was unbothered. His voice carried a hint of laughter. “Then we’ll win it.”

The spotlight focused on the auctioneer, whose raised voice remained audible even through the ongoing murmurs of discussion.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Lot 37 Lingyang Land is now open for bidding. This auction adopts an ascending price method, following the principle of highest bidder wins. Items that do not meet the reserve price will not be sold. The starting bid is five hundred thousand. Please raise your paddles.”

“Eight hundred thousand.”

“Eight hundred fifty thousand.”

“One million.”

“One point eight million.”

…

The clear and steady voices of bidders calling out their offers echoed continuously throughout the venue.

Chu Shiyi casually raised her hand, her cool and resonant voice filling the private booth. “Five million.”

The staff on the balcony promptly relayed the bid downward.

Soon after, a voice from a moderate distance called out: “Ten million.”

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