Ball (Part 1)

Everyone present thought Wei Chenglong had gone mad—who else would spend fifteen million on a necklace worth at most a few million? But they knew him as the eldest son of Dongxiang Group, and assumed that kind of money meant little to him.

Ye Qian, however, wasn't foolish like Wei Chenglong. The necklace belonged to his company, so there was no need to spend money on it. His only aim in raising the bid was to make Wei Chenglong spend more. After all, the money would come from Wei Chenglong, but the necklace would still belong to Ye Qian's company.

"Fifteen million once, fifteen million twice, fifteen million three times. Sold! Congratulations to this gentleman. The 'Star of Love' diamond necklace is yours. Let's all give a round of applause to this generous man, whose contribution will help children in need receive an education," the host enthusiastically praised, though inwardly he cursed, thinking, "I've never seen someone so foolish."

Ye Qian shrugged slightly and smiled, saying, "That guy's too intense."

Qin Yue shot Ye Qian a gentle look, scolding, "What if Wei Chenglong hadn't bid? What would you have done then?"

Ye Qian chuckled and said, "I saw you really liked that necklace."

"A necklace is just an accessory. Your thoughtfulness is enough," Qin Yue replied.

"Oh? So you were bidding to buy it for Yue-jie? I get it now," Zhao Ya said with a playful smile. "Yue-jie, you're such a good sister. You should tell my dad that you and Ye Qian are a perfect match, so I won't have to marry him, and you two can be together."

"Stop talking nonsense," Qin Yue scolded, giving Zhao Ya a stern look.

Zhao Ya pouted slightly and fell silent. "Since you're here, stay for the ball later," Qin Yue suggested.

Ye Qian shook his head helplessly, suspecting that the evening's events wouldn't go smoothly. "You all go ahead to the ballroom. I'll be out for a bit," he said.

"Don't take too long," Qin Yue responded.

Nodding, Ye Qian headed out. In a hotel corridor, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure. Surprised, he approached and said, "You're still here?" Though not entirely sure of the person's identity, Ye Qian sensed a familiar presence.

The man, appearing to be in his early thirties, responded calmly, "The Wolf King Ye Qian lives up to his reputation, recognizing me even with a mask and having met only once. There are few in the world who could do that. It's no wonder Langya defeated the Blood Leopard to become the king of mercenaries."

Ye Qian smiled slightly and said, "You're too kind. I hope you'll honor our agreement."

"I will. Thanks to your intervention, we avoided wrongly killing someone innocent, which would have ruined Qisha's reputation. Since our founding, Qisha has never harmed an innocent person. I'll be leaving now. I hope we meet again, and I can learn a few more things from you," the man replied.

"Don't mention it. I've long wanted to meet your leader; please convey my regards and that I'd like to be friends," Ye Qian said.

"I will," the man agreed, "Farewell."

"Goodbye," Ye Qian said.

Watching the man leave, Ye Qian smiled. He didn't know much about Qisha, but he admired their principle of never killing innocents. He hoped to build a relationship with them, as they could be invaluable allies, capable of executing covert operations that Langya, as mercenaries, couldn't manage as easily. Reflecting on how they had rescued Zhao Tianhao recently, Ye Qian knew it was a lucky coincidence, enhanced by his sensitivity to danger honed over years of perilous experiences.

After wandering the corridors without finding the young men he was looking for, Ye Qian sighed and headed to the ballroom. Despite his concerns, he trusted that Jack, Langya's military strategist, would handle things without issue. His main worry was Li Wei, who hadn't returned yet, but Ye Qian knew Li Wei was capable and could likely handle any trouble he encountered.

The ballroom, set up luxuriously on the second floor of the hotel, had likely been reserved by Wei Chenglong. Spotting Qin Yue, Hu Ke, and Zhao Ya quietly sipping wine in a corner, Ye Qian smiled and approached. Qin Yue looked a bit serious, a hint of worry in her expression. Seeing Ye Qian, she visibly relaxed and asked quietly, "Is everything alright?"

"All good," Ye Qian replied with a light smile.

While Ye Qian felt at ease, Wei Chenglong was seething. First, a random kid had bid against him, driving up the price, and then Ye Qian joined in, making him pay fifteen million for the 'Star of Love' necklace. Although the money was insignificant to him, it still felt like a waste. After signing the purchase agreement and handing over a fifteen million check, Wei Chenglong could only hope that gifting the necklace to Qin Yue would win her favor and make it all worthwhile.