Chapter 40: A Pyrrhic Victory

Shen Jizong had just finished helping Nan Xing calibrate her headset when he received a call from Li Sichen.

Once the auction began, Nan Xing would be able to communicate her bids directly through the headset. Shen Jizong had already arranged for a dedicated staff member to handle the bidding, who would raise the paddle on the auctioneer’s floor according to Nan Xing’s instructions. Throughout the entire auction, Nan Xing would not need to show her face, as the event practiced anonymous bidding—one of the privileges afforded to Gold members to ensure the highest degree of privacy.

Upon returning to his private lounge, Shen Jizong prepared to enjoy a cup of tea and catch his breath. Before he could even settle into the sofa, he saw a call from the Li family. He immediately set down his teacup and hurried to the entrance to welcome them personally.

"Young Master Li, what brings you here? If you had given me a heads-up, I would have come down to meet you myself." Shen Jizong greeted Li Sichen with a beaming smile before acknowledging his childhood friend, Qin Luye, who was standing beside him. His social graces were, as always, impeccable.

"Steward Shen, I’d prefer not to show my face at this auction. Could you please make the necessary arrangements?" After the pleasantries, Li Sichen got straight to the point. He wanted to keep his presence quiet for now so he could surprise Li Beitian later.

The group followed the VIP corridor and headed upstairs. Shen Jizong stopped in front of a private box and gestured toward it. "Young Master Li, the other boxes are fully booked. This is the Fourth Master’s private box; please make yourself at home here."

Every year, when the Star Coast hosted its auction, Shen Jizong would reserve a spot for Li Beitian regardless of whether he planned to attend. This was a privilege reserved for only a handful of top-tier Diamond members. The box next door, separated only by a wall, was indeed Li Beitian’s exclusive suite. Naturally, every box had its own private VIP access, ensuring that even with only a wall between them, the members would never run into one another.

After ushering the two men into the box, Shen Jizong used his walkie-talkie. Moments later, a staff member arrived with two calibrated headsets. Li Sichen and Qin Luye each took one. Once Shen Jizong confirmed everything was in order, he excused himself.

As soon as Shen Jizong left, Qin Luye casually flipped through the auction catalog on the coffee table. It contained the event's procedural details and background information on every exhibit.

"Tell me, Sichen, are you sure you want to bid on these cufflinks for your fourth uncle?" Qin Luye held the catalog at various distances, scrutinizing the black-gold cufflinks. "They may have come down from the Swedish royal family, but they’re not exactly functional. At best, they’re just for show. Do you really think he’ll like them if you buy them for him?"

Li Sichen gave him a look that suggested he was completely clueless. "It’s the thought that counts. I want this unique piece. Besides, what’s a pair of cufflinks compared to my lifelong happiness? If buying these makes my fourth uncle happy enough to help me resolve my marriage situation, I’d be willing to be his servant."

Qin Luye clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. "Look at how desperate you are. It’s just one woman. If you really don't like this eldest daughter of the Nan family, why not just ask her out and make things clear?"

"If she were that easy to talk to, do you think I’d have to go through all this trouble?" The mere thought gave Li Sichen a headache. In his eyes, Nan Xing was the type who simply refused to listen to reason.

Qin Luye: "..."

"Forget it, you wouldn't understand. The day you finally see my fiancée for yourself, you’ll know exactly why I’m so desperate to avoid her."

"Oh? You really think that little of her?" Qin Luye’s interest was piqued.

Li Sichen gave a cold snort. "Out of sight, out of mind. I’d give anything to cut ties with that ugly woman as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I’m stuck under the pressure of the old man’s handwritten letter. There’s nothing I can do on my own."

Qin Luye opened a cigarette case, pulled one out, and hung it carelessly from the corner of his mouth. "The way you talk about her, I’m even more curious now. I’ll have to see this fiancée of yours, Nan Xing, when I get the chance." He adopted a lazy, devil-may-care attitude. "I want to see what kind of divine being could force our ambitious young master Li to change the motto he’s used for over a decade."

Indeed, before meeting Nan Xing, Li Sichen’s motto had been, "A youth fears not the length of time, for glory still waits ahead." After meeting her, it had changed to, "I, Li Sichen, would rather eat dung than marry Nan Xing!" He remembered that once he’d changed it, some meddlesome person had posted it to a group chat, and he had been the laughingstock of the group for a long time. It was no wonder Qin Luye was so gossipy—the motto was simply too devastating. It was a classic case of harming the enemy by a thousand while losing eight hundred oneself.

"If you've got so much to say, why don't you go kiss your Miss Cigarette!" Li Sichen retorted, hurling a throw pillow at Qin Luye without hesitation.

Qin Luye chuckled cheekily, hugging the pillow to his chest while his eyes fixed on the large screen across from them.

In the room separated by the wall, Nan Xing was doing the same, pressing a remote to broadcast the live feed to the outer areas. The exhibition hall outside was divided into three levels. The magnificent hall was packed with auction attendees, mostly from the art and collecting worlds, and every seat was taken. Among them, Nan Xing spotted a few familiar faces she had seen at Nan Weiguo’s birthday banquet.

Amidst the sea of elegant attire, Nan Xing immediately caught sight of Nan Zhen’er. She was surrounded by the same group of socialites, all seated in the first row of the lower level—the position closest to the exhibits. After all, the daughter of the richest man in Beixin was entitled to that much privilege.

Nan Xing manipulated the screen to zoom in on Nan Zhen’er. She appeared to be chatting happily with her companions, but suddenly, Nan Xing saw Nan Zhen’er’s fingertip land on the middle page of the auction catalog—the very page featuring the "Pink Star" diamond mentioned earlier. Looking at her expression, she seemed determined to have it.

Could it be that Nan Zhen’er had her eye on the Pink Star for herself? A wild, mocking smile crossed Nan Xing’s lips as she realized the situation. Since that was the case, as the elder sister, she would simply have to do Nan Zhen’er a small favor.

With that thought, Nan Xing dialed Shen Jizong’s number. "Steward Shen, please keep an eye on things for me. No matter who decides to compete for the Pink Star, let me know immediately."

After giving her instructions, Nan Xing hung up and switched the screen back to the entrance of the exhibition hall. Just then, a sudden figure caught her attention.