“What will the second auction item be? Something good, I hope?”
As Bai Nianlong finished speaking, Wan Qing’s little face brimmed with anticipation and delight. She tilted her head and playfully retorted to Sun Fengyu, “Just wait and see. But when it comes to buying things, you should think carefully about whether they’re useful before spending. If you keep this up, even if I had a mountain of silver, you’d bankrupt me in no time.” The childlike curiosity and excitement on her face made Sun Fengyu frown slightly, recalling how she had spent sixty thousand taels just to buy a girl—though he couldn’t fathom why a young lady like her, who surely lacked no servants, would want to purchase a pretty girl.
His lips thinned with irritation as he scolded her, “Brother Sun, are you angry that Qing’er made you spend money on Honglian? You just said you’d treat me wholeheartedly and even pursue me earnestly, but now you’re being stingy. Hmph! If that’s the case, then I can’t trust anything you’ve said before. Honglian, Xiatao, let’s go. I refuse to stay with this miser any longer.”
Seeing Sun Fengyu’s lingering resentment and frustration, Wan Qing pouted, her eyes reddening as if wronged. With a huff, she turned to summon Honglian and Xiatao behind her, preparing to leave.
“Qing’er, don’t be angry. Of course, I truly care for you and would give you anything. But money shouldn’t be wasted like this. We should only buy what’s useful and avoid unnecessary expenses. Otherwise, we might find ourselves short when we really need funds. We must plan for the future, don’t you agree?”
Watching her rise in displeasure, Sun Fengyu felt a wave of regret for bringing her along. He had already spent over sixty thousand taels—if he gave up now, winning her favor would require starting from scratch. Gritting his teeth, he wondered whether she was truly naive or just shrewd. Suppressing his frustration, he forced a patient smile and spoke as if teaching her a life lesson, thinking that if he framed it this way, she’d have no grounds to argue further.
“If you put it that way, then Qing’er was wrong. Fine, I’ll wait and see first.” Though inwardly scoffing at Sun Fengyu’s thinly veiled irritation, Wan Qing feigned remorse and obediently sat back down.
“Good. It’s always wise to observe and learn.” Relieved to have placated her, Sun Fengyu felt a weight lift from his chest.
The second item up for auction was a pill claimed to cure all ailments. As Bai Nianlong extolled its miraculous effects, Wan Qing remained silent, unimpressed. She could easily concoct something with the same purported benefits herself.
Watching the frenzied bidding below, she noticed Sun Fengyu sitting beside her, his gaze coolly surveying the crowd but frequently flickering back to her with wariness. Smirking inwardly, she suddenly called out, “Fifty thousand taels!”
“You—!” The highest bidder, confident in his winning offer, was incensed when Wan Qing disrupted his victory. Recalling how she had outbid others in the first round, his face darkened with suppressed rage. Clenching his jaw, he raised his bid. “Fifty-one thousand taels.”
“Fifty-two thousand.”
“Fifty-three thousand.”
“Fifty-five thousand taels!”
Noticing the man’s rugged appearance and foreign accent—unlike anyone from Daqi—Wan Qing couldn’t fathom why he was so determined to outbid her. Yet, she gleefully raised the stakes again.
“I… I concede. Let the young lady have it.” Defeated, the man reluctantly withdrew.
“Fifty-five thousand taels! Any higher bids? If not, this healing pill belongs to the young lady.” Bai Nianlong studied Wan Qing with curiosity, struck by an inexplicable familiarity despite the faint red blemishes on her face. Shaking off the feeling, she smiled and gestured for Wan Qing to come forward.
“It’s mine! Brother Sun, this is useful too. Everyone gets hurt sometimes. Hurry up and pay!” Wan Qing felt an odd warmth at Bai Nianlong’s gracious smile but quickly dismissed it. Turning to Sun Fengyu, she reveled in his visible anguish—his fists clenched on the armrests, his face taut with frustration.
“You…” Sun Fengyu’s expression darkened as she splurged on yet another questionable purchase. Just as he was about to explode, he caught the cold gazes of Leng Mingye and Prince Ning from the side. Swallowing his fury, he reluctantly pulled out the silver notes from his sleeve, his eyes shooting daggers at Wan Qing. Had looks been blades, she’d have been minced to pieces.
Ignoring his seething glare, Wan Qing beamed. “Brother Sun, you’re so good to Qing’er! I’ll make it up to you later. Now, I’ll go fetch the medicine.” Snatching the notes, she skipped toward the stage without counting them.
“Even if this thing is useful, fifty-five thousand taels could buy plenty of top-grade healing pills elsewhere. This is still wasteful.” Sun Fengyu’s voice was strained as he watched her open the box to reveal a single black pill. His chest tightened with resentment.
“Well, it’s already bought. Qing’er will be more careful next time. Hehe—Xiatao, keep this safe.” Wan Qing handed the box to Xiatao, feigning remorse while inwardly relishing Sun Fengyu’s barely contained rage. She settled back to watch the next auction.
The third item was a dazzling Phoenix Screen adorned with pearls and gemstones, its craftsmanship exquisite. The sheer opulence of the jewels alone made Wan Qing’s eyes gleam. This could fetch a fortune if resold.
As bids soared to eighty thousand taels, only a few contenders remained. Wan Qing’s fingers itched to join. Noticing Sun Fengyu’s unwavering stare, she giggled awkwardly. “Brother Sun, why are you staring at me instead of the auction? I know my blemishes are fading, and I’m becoming prettier, but it’s embarrassing!”
“I—it’s nothing.” Flustered by her coquettish act, Sun Fengyu forced a smile and looked away, his stomach churning at the thought of a future with her.
“One hundred thousand taels!” Seizing the moment, Wan Qing dropped a bombshell bid.
“One hundred thousand?! You—” Sun Fengyu’s face turned ashen. Trembling with shock, he barely managed to choke out, “Have you lost your mind?!”
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