CHAPTER 12: THE ELEVENTH ITEM

Everyone was still eyeing the new couple when once again silence reigned over the room.

Once again, a man and woman entered the room.

However, it was noticeable that the man walked beside the lady while staying a few in centimeters behind her.

The lady's presence immediately had everyone awed involuntarily.

She was too beautiful and graceful to not have the whole room turn heads at the sight of her.

Graceful strapless midnight blue satin empire dress with low heels.

Her calm gaze took in the crowd that was gazing at her before looking away.

Then she sought out a less crowded place in the room.

Everyone's initial stupor faded and was replaced with obvious disdain and dislike.

No one in the high society liked Han Ziyou despite not being a Zhou family member.

They were all acutely aware of how a stranger showed up out of nowhere and took over Zhou Group of Companies. Even though they were not Zhou's, they could empathize with them.

No one wants a stranger coming out of nowhere and taking over the company you have been painstakingly trying to take over.

However despite everyone's dislikes towards Han Ziyou, no one actually dared to do a thing to her.

Simply because the woman was full of too many mysteries and regardless of how hard they tried to investigate her, they never got any actual real depth information on her that they could use against her.

It was disturbing. The lady surely had some big backer but the question everyone was wondering about was why did she choose to take over Zhou Group of Companies in the first place.

Han Ziyou walked along elegantly despite the many stares on her.

Qin Jun was also a silent enigma beside her. Nobody understood the strange assistant either.

They couldn't look into him either.

Mysterious boss, mysterious assistant. Truly disturbing.

It didn't take long for the first activities to take place. The guests dined lavishly while soft classic piano music was played by renown international pianist sensation in the background.

It was a relaxing moment before the battle to dominate in the upcoming bids.

Han Ziyou glanced at Qin Jun and asked "Has Michael arrived at the auction already?"

Qin Jun glanced at the message on his phone and nodded.

"He has. He's as you'd expect, caught up with having to interact with people that won't stop buttering him up."

Qin Jun said with a smile.

Han Ziyou shook her head at the funny scenario.

"Tell him to keep his phone on him. When the auction starts, I'll inform him of the items to bid for."

Qin Jun nodded and did that.

...

After a relaxing dinner, it was finally time for the auction to commence. Guests or should I call them buyers were lead to the huge auction room.

It was a huge space with many chairs set with reasonable space between each person.

At the front of the room, was a huge stage with a large screen at the facing the crowd. At the center of the stage, inbuilt into the floor was a circular pad.

It was actually a computer controlled display system. The items were each in personal display cases and once the time for the item to be bidded reached, the circular pad at the center of the stage would rise to reveal the display case containing the item.

On the higher levels of the room were the private VIP auction rooms. They were set forth for buyers who wanted privacy while buying items.

The rooms were customised to house only one buyer each and the one way vision glass provided enough privacy as only the buyer could look outside the room at the stage without those outside the room looking inside.

Currently, everyone were taking their seats.

People occasionally threw the private VIP auction rooms a glance. That was because usually the people in those rooms were people whose wealth was in astronomical numbers.

Take the top ten families in the country.

Han Ziyou took a seat at a position that was not too obvious just to stay out of people's line of vision.

A few minutes later once everyone was settled, the auction officially commenced.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. It's a pleasure hosting you today. I'm Tang Boyi, your auctioneer for today."

A refined middle aged man spoke to the crowd in calm confidence.

The crowd eased into the already rising auction mood.

After a few short words of greeting and welcoming, the first item for the day was presented.

Today, there were about thirty items out for bidding and instead of the usual way they carried out their auctions where they categorized the items, at the main annual auction, they organized things according to highest possible worth.

So the things we're from least expensive to most expensive.

The lower they went in the designated item number, the more expensive the item may become and the more furious the bidding would get.

Anyway, the last items were usually the best.

So, the thirtieth item on the list was a rare and nearly extinct fruit that was said to have unimaginably great health benefits.

Everyone was stunned for a while. Such a fruit was just the thirtieth on the list. The health benefits that Mr Tang, the auctioneer was reading out were verified and researched. Sure to do exactly as they said.

Sun Auction House always made sure that the items they sold were genuine. The real deal thing.

Some people with loved ones with funny diseases looked at the fruit in awe.

The bidding started immediately.

It wasn't wrong to say that the fruits final price shocked people.

The initial price was five hundred thousand dollars but the price climbed up all the way to three million one hundred thousand dollars.

That was more money than some people could ever dare dream about in their life times.

More than the networth of some uprising celebrities.

People swallowed hard. The bid had just started for crying out loud but it was already hot.

The atmosphere in the auction room sparked with tension.

Everyone was suddenly curious what item number one was. It would probably cost a few hundred million.

The auction continued on with people being more amazed each time more than the last.

They were already on the twentieth item.

The deal had just been closed and the item which was sold was what shocked people.

A classic and vintage Ferrari 250 GTO. A model made in 1962.

The car had sold for a rather ridiculous forty six million dollars. It was hard to believe that in 1962 when the car had just come out, it only cost eighteen thousand dollars.

The winner of the bid was one of the people in the private auction rooms so nobody even knew how bought it. A car collector maybe.

Han Ziyou waited patiently for the items she wanted.

The first item she wanted was the eleventh item. Han Ziyou held her phone which was currently on a call with someone.

Han Ziyou's gaze never left the beautiful diamond behind the glass case.

Everyone was looking at the diamond in awe.

"The next item is the Ocean's crown diamond. It is a twenty five carat pure diamond with a uniform ocean blue color and unique form—"

Tang Boyi gave the diamond's brief but rich information.

No doubt, every woman was eyeing the diamond in absolute desire. Those with their husbands or boyfriends instinctively glanced at them.

The men felt like they were receiving more attention than the diamond itself or to be clear—their wallets were receiving a good stare.

Zhou Lin was immediately enthralled by the amazing gem. She had insisted to Ming Xian that they don't sit in the private room.

Her intentions were clear. She wanted everyone to see her with a rich billionaire.

Ming Xian smiled in amusement. He squeezed Zhou Lin's waist lightly and asked "Do you like it Lin?"

Zhou Lin was startled but she hurriedly nodded.

The auctioneer started the auction for the diamond.

"The starting price is thirty million dollars."

Everyone sucked in an intake of cold air but they had expected as much.

The price was surely going to grow.

As everyone was still in awe, a calm and collected voice issued out a bid from the private auction room number eleven.

"Thirty five million."

Everyone was momentarily stunned. The person didn't bother with starting with the original price and down right added five million dollars to the bid.

Han Ziyou who was sitted quietly and inconspicuously in her corner spoke into the phone.

"Just keep the price steady like that. Keep adding five million each time a person increases the bid."

"Yes, Miss Han." an American accentuated voice rung softly.

Han Ziyou glanced at the diamond in deep thought and added on.

"Stop bidding if the price exceeds eighty million dollars." Han Ziyou was still very rational.

However, what she wanted the diamond for was still a question mark in the story.

"Yes, of course."

Han Ziyou turned her gaze to the private auction rooms. She really hoped that none of them decided to bid against her for any of the diamonds, gems, or anything called a precious stone.

However, Han Ziyou knew that was an unrealistic wish. She just hoped to obtain at least enough of what she wanted.

Han Ziyou was still in thought when she heard the next bid.

"Forty five million." Everyone turned their heads to the voice. Male and strong. Ming Xian had placed his first bid since he had arrived.

Everyone who had initially been planning on obtaining the diamond backed down. Trying to fight this man was crazy for the wallets.

Zhou Lin smiled while leaning on Ming Xian. For a moment, her gaze landed on Han Ziyou who was looking their way.

Zhou Lin smirked in disdain and her gaze was mocking Han Ziyou.

Han Ziyou scoffed and looked away but internally she sighed a little. Currently, her funds couldn't allow her to outbid any of the top ten families.

If that Ming Xian guy really chose to bid like one of the top billionaires that he was, she wouldn't stand a chance.

Han Ziyou glanced at the diamond. It was really beautiful.

"Fifty million dollars." The same first bidder once again increased the bid. Everyone was momentarily stunned. Who would dare bid against Ming Xian!

But then everyone realized that the person was one of the people from the private auction rooms so they guessed that it may be some foreign big shot or one of the people from the other top ten families.

Ming Xian's lips tugged lightly as he glanced up at the private auction rooms but then nonchalance replaced his interest.

"Sixty million dollars." Ming Xian spoke once again.

Some people's hearts were thundering at the price. It had already doubled now.

Some people who knew their businesses had networths of just one or two billion swallowed.

They could never spend money like this simply because their actual liquid funds weren't nearly enough to be wasted on something that may not immediately bring returns to their businesses.

The rich sure were spenders.

Han Ziyou narrowed her eyes that sat calmly on Ming Xian.

Ming Xian felt the gaze so he turned around and was slightly surprised to see Han Ziyou but a strange amused smirk found its way across his lips soon.

"If there are no more bids, then I'll start the count. Sixty million going once—"

But the count stopped on once after Han Ziyou turned her gaze away from Ming Xian.

"Seventy five million."

This time instead of the usual increase of five million, the person increased it by fifteen million. This was really now way beyond the diamonds actually worth but hey, when you have money, how you spend it is up to you.

Ming Xian narrowed his eyes wondering whom he was up against but that was it. He simply wondered whom he was up against and didn't even think once to resign.

His wallets could handle.

"Eighty five million."

Ming Xian spoke calmly but Zhou Lin was not soo calm. Surely, the way the ultra rich bidded was awe inspiring.

This whole time Ming Xian had been increasing the bid by ten million consecutively. He really had liquid funds rolling in like water.

Han Ziyou clenched her hand but she breathed out heavily in the end.

'She had to give up the bid.'

Noticing the thick and tense silence, the auctioneer started the count.

"Eighty five million going once—going twice and sold to buyer number nine."

The silence dragged on shortly before a round of applause went on to congratulate buyer number nine.

Everyone glanced at Zhou Lin who was grinning like a fool but inevitably, they were seething in jealousy at the hot cake Zhou Lin had found herself.

Qin Jun glanced at Han Ziyou, she was as calm as ever. "You know I don't mind giving assistance right boss."

Qin Jun spoke in a low tone. Like I said before, not many knew but Qin Jun was from one of the top ten families and truth be told, the Qin family was far above the Ming family.

Han Ziyou shook her head.

"Thanks but it's OK. This is simply a remainder for me that if I want what I want in life, I have to work harder. Let's just hope the other items I want don't over catch attention."

Qin Jun stared in disbelief but then he just laughed. Boss lady was forever boss lady. Even after losing the item, she still had an 'I have to work harder to gain want I want' attitude.

...