Chapter 8: Make Bao Yancheng Regret

Sotheby's Auction that evening was dazzling with stars.

Too many guests had arrived, and the auction had to be moved to the National Opera House.

Luxury cars blocked the entrance, making it nearly impossible to get through.

Tall steps were filled with security and bodyguards.

An extravagant red carpet, a hundred meters long, had been laid down, with reporters swarming on both sides.

Cao Qing, who was already overwhelmed with work, still insisted on preparing an evening gown for Wen Wanzhi, and left early for the venue.

Wen Wanzhi had a good night's sleep, fully recharged.

Coming out of the subway station, it was already dark.

She circumvented the crowd at the entrance and made her way to the door.

The staff, upon seeing the plainly dressed and makeup-free Wen Wanzhi, looked impatient.

"Your invitation, please."

Only then did Wen Wanzhi remember that Cao Qing had asked her to call before leaving home, something she had completely forgotten.

People were coming and going at the entrance, casting unfriendly glances at Wen Wanzhi and murmuring among themselves.

"Isn't that the Wen Wanzhi whom the Bao Family is about to cast out?"

"How could she dress like that, without an invitation, planning to sneak in?"

Just then, a Mercedes minivan pulled up at the entrance.

Wen Wanzhi recognized it at once as Xiang Yiran's car.

The valet opened the door, and a tall, handsome man stepped out.

Bao Yancheng, in his usual black suit, the low-profile luxury fabric reflecting a metallic sheen.

Exquisitely crafted Italian leather shoes glittered with opulent luster.

Xiang Yiran sat in a wheelchair, being pushed up the red carpet by Bao Yancheng behind her.

The two passed by Wen Wanzhi, who was standing at the entrance.

On Xiang Yiran's face was a polite smile, yet disdain was unmistakable in her eyes.

"Sister Wanzhi, why are you here?"

A chill fell over Bao Yancheng's eyes, but he said nothing.

The staff greeted them with utmost respect.

"Mr. Bao, Miss Xiang, are you with Ms. Wen here? She doesn't have an invitation."

Xiang Yiran's smile was brimming with courtesy, "No, we are not together."

Bao Yancheng didn't spare a glance for Wen Wanzhi and pushed the wheelchair away.

A ripple of shock spread through the crowd.

"Bao Yancheng didn't even look at Wen Wanzhi."

"Why is she here, making a fool of herself? Is she trying to get back together with him?"

"Xiang Yiran even acknowledged her? I heard she was almost killed by Wen Wanzhi in the past."

Wen Wanzhi stood erect, the night wind chilling her to the bone.

Dressed in a hoodie, jeans, and sneakers, Cao Qing arrived at the entrance, out of breath.

"Wanzhi, over here!"

A staff member took the staff pass Cao Qing handed over, sized up Wen Wanzhi, and sneered, "Go ahead."

Holding her canvas bag, Wen Wanzhi, with her head down, entered through the main door and hurriedly pulled Cao Qing away.

Having acquired a staff pass, she had hoped to keep a low profile.

Yet, upon arriving at the entrance, she encountered all the people she wished to avoid.

Along the way, Wen Wanzhi overheard numerous discussions.

Many notables from Hai City had come to the auction.

She looked up and, to her surprise, spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.

"Xiao, Xiao Zhou?"

Wen Wanzhi whispered, and Cao Qing also cried out in surprise.

"Isn't that the caretaker from your grandfather's? He is so handsome!"

Ye Yazhou was dressed in a moon-white traditional Chinese satin suit, holding a glass of champagne, and surrounded by various distinguished guests, exchanging pleasantries.

The typically unkempt bangs were now meticulously styled, combed neatly to the sides.

While Wen Wanzhi was still in a daze, Ye Yazhou's twinkling puppy-dog eyes caught sight of her, and his expression instantly lit up.

He tried his best to make his way through the crowd toward Wen Wanzhi.

Several tall bodyguards followed closely behind him, not missing a step.

"Sister Wanzhi!"

Yiran came up to Wen Wanzhi, and the bodyguards immediately cordoned off a quiet area.

It was then that Wanzhi remembered, she had heard quite a few people discussing along the way.

The second son of Ye's Pharmaceutical from Hai City's number one prominent family, who had never appeared in public, was also here today.

So it turned out to be him.

"I'm sorry, Sister Wanzhi, for not disclosing my true identity to you due to some reasons."

Yiran looked at her apologetically, but Wanzhi could sense a familiar feeling.

"You... never mind, why are you here?"

After she asked, Wanzhi regretted it, but Ye Yazhou didn't give her a chance to dodge the question.

"I'm here to buy your auction items. You wouldn't let me pay for grandfather's medical care expenses, so if I win your items, you definitely can't refuse me."

Wen Wanzhi patted the back of his neck casually.

"Stop messing around; you're not allowed to bid. It would mess up my plans."

Cao Qing urged from behind several times, and Wen Wanzhi had to go and prepare, while Ye Yazhou watched her leave.

In the distance, a pair of ink-black eyes had been staring at this corner the whole time.

Bao Yancheng was unconsciously stroking the ring on his hand, with a trembling Cheng Tong standing beside him.

Usually, this posture from President Bao meant that he was on the verge of anger.

Cheng Tong braced himself and admitted his mistake.

"I'm sorry, President Bao, I didn't find out that Ye Yazhou is the second son of the Ye Clan, it was my oversight."

Bao Yancheng's expression did not soften at all, a chilling aura emanating from him.

The Ye Family of Hai City had vast enterprises and their local influence was no less than that of the Bao Family.

Wanting to conceal the identity of the second son, even if Cheng Tong was skilled, it wasn't guaranteed he would uncover the truth.

Bao Yancheng was not angry about this.

He had underestimated this young fellow, and even more, he had underestimated the relationship between Wen Wanzhi and him.

He could never have imagined that just a few months after climbing out of his bed, she could end up close to the second son of the Ye Clan.

Wen Wanzhi, I truly underestimated you.

"Cheng Tong, you have one hour. Before the auction starts, find out everything about Ye Yazhou's background."

*

Arriving at the backstage resting room, Cao Qing was still shocked.

"I used to complain about that nursing assistant being unreliable, and how clumsy he was as a college student. Remember how I wanted to recruit him for my boy band? I really didn't expect him to be the second son of the Ye Clan."

Wen Wanzhi hadn't expected it either.

She thought Ye Yazhou might at most be a little rich second-generation.

Uninterested in inheriting the family business, but still somewhat responsible.

Working every day to save money, playing with car racing, managing a racing team.

He had said before that being a race car driver was his dream.

Cao Qing handed a booklet to Wen Wanzhi, and skilfully heated up the curling iron.

"Alright, here's the guest list, go over it briefly, I'll do your hair and makeup."

While changing into her dress, Cao Qing tsked and took a needle and thread to sew the waist of the cocktail dress.

"You've lost weight again, you can't get any thinner."

Wanzhi averted her gaze slightly.

"I haven't had much of an appetite lately."

She hadn't told Cao Qing about her illness, afraid it would upset her.

Obediently changed into the dress, Cao Qing examined her with satisfaction.

"Not bad, with that look, you would definitely be an explosive hit if you debuted. Forget being a designer, you'd make money faster in the entertainment industry."

Wen Wanzhi was tall and slender with a delicate frame.

Her hair, black and smooth, was curled into lazy, large waves, matched with a black velvet high-slit strap gown.

She exuded a rare sensuality and charm.

Wen Wanzhi hadn't worn a formal gown for a long time, let alone this mature and alluring style.

For a moment, her face heated up, and she felt a bit uncomfortable.

Cao Qing chuckled.

"I've been wanting to see you in this style, that scoundrel Bao Yancheng would regret it if he saw you."