If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: The Third Day

April 3rd, S City Jewelry Auction.

Cheng Liu parked her car and, as she walked towards the entrance, spotted her chief assistant, dressed impeccably in a suit, standing out from the crowd.

“He Bai.” Cheng Liu walked over to greet him. “You’re here early?”

“Not too long ago.” He Bai pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and handed her the auction invitation.

Cheng Liu took it and said helpfully, “You looked a bit like a security guard just now, standing there.”

“…” He Bai smiled faintly. “That’s because I didn’t have a female companion.”

Cheng Liu looked around, noticing that most of the people entering were in pairs. It dawned on her: “I’m using your female companion’s invitation?”

“Not really. I wasn’t planning on coming originally.” He Bai asked Cheng Liu, “What made you suddenly decide to come to an auction?”

She had never been interested in such things before.

“Li Dong mentioned he was coming when we had dinner yesterday,” Cheng Liu said, walking forward and showing her invitation to the doorman. “I’m here to see what they’re auctioning.”

“It’s rare for you to be interested in something like this.” He Bai walked beside her. Apart from Cheng Liu’s casual attire, they looked no different from the other couples around them.

This exclusive auction provided complimentary drinks and desserts for guests to enjoy while mingling.

As soon as Cheng Liu entered, Li Dong spotted her. Her attire stood out conspicuously among the crowd in suits and dresses.

Moreover, her young and handsome chief assistant was also eye-catching enough to attract the attention of many present.

Li Dong immediately picked up his wine glass and walked over with his wife, Yang Fanyu.

“CEO Cheng, what brings you to a place like this today?” Li Dong asked, raising his glass.

Cheng Liu was a notorious workaholic, never attending social events unless they were work-related.

He had been able to have dinner with her yesterday solely because he had renewed his contract with Shenyin Technology.

As far as Li Dong knew, Cheng Liu’s last public appearance had been at a banquet six months ago, also for business purposes.

He Bai took two glasses of red wine from a nearby table and, standing slightly behind Cheng Liu, discreetly handed her one.

Cheng Liu took the glass, clinked it against Li Dong’s, took a small sip, and then said, “I’m looking for something suitable to give to my boyfriend.”

She was quite pleased with her effortless and casual display of affection.

He Bai, standing behind Cheng Liu, paused, his wine glass in hand. She was at the auction to buy a gift for Wang Hongyang?

At the mention of this, Li Dong recalled her WeChat Moments post from last night and winked: “CEO Cheng, I saw you buy that perfume yourself yesterday.”

“My boyfriend gave me another bottle later,” Cheng Liu said, forcing a smile. If it weren’t for him, she would have successfully shown off on Moments last night.

Li Dong drawled, “Is that so?”

Clearly, he didn't believe her.

“CEO Cheng, would you like to take a look at today’s auction catalog?” Yang Fanyu, standing beside them, handed over a thick booklet. “There are only one hundred lots in this auction, a relatively small number, but there are a few good pieces.”

Cheng Liu took the catalog and glanced at Yang Fanyu. As expected of a former A-list celebrity, even in her forties, she was still stunningly beautiful and exuded charm.

Just then, someone else came over to greet Cheng Liu.

Li Dong nodded in acknowledgement and walked away with his wife.

As soon as they turned around, Li Dong gossiped with his wife, “If Cheng Liu has a boyfriend, pigs can fly!”

Yang Fanyu frowned slightly at his words.

Li Dong, thinking his wife didn't believe him, continued, “I could tell during dinner yesterday. She couldn't even produce a photo of her boyfriend. It’s definitely fake.”

“Why are you so worked up about whether CEO Cheng has a boyfriend or not?” Yang Fanyu glanced at Li Dong, not understanding the amusement these middle-aged men derived from this. Last night, he had even excitedly called someone in the living room to talk about it.

“Honey, you haven’t seen what Cheng Liu was like a few years ago.” Li Dong clicked his tongue. “I’ve met my share of workaholics, but there are no more than three as extreme as her. A relationship? She would never spend her time on something like that.”

“Really?” Yang Fanyu glanced back at the young chief assistant following Cheng Liu. “If she wanted to be in a relationship, I don’t think it would take much effort.”

…

After a round of greetings, Cheng Liu finally entered the auction hall. She grabbed a bottle of water, opened it, took a few sips, and said to He Bai beside her, “Only these people would think of drinking alcohol this early in the morning.”

He Bai handed Cheng Liu a plate of pastries he had procured from somewhere: “Have something to eat.”

Cheng Liu didn’t take it: “You eat it. I had breakfast.”

As they entered, a woman in her thirties turned and waved at He Bai.

“That’s my sister,” He Bai said to Cheng Liu.

“Your sister is calling you over.” Cheng Liu looked in that direction, indicating that He Bai didn't need to stay with her.

He Bai took a few steps, then turned back: “I’ll be sitting over there. Call me if you need anything.”

Cheng Liu waved her hand, urging him to go: “You’re off duty today.”

He Bai went to sit with his sister, and Cheng Liu, holding the auction catalog, casually found a seat.

As soon as she sat down, she realized the person beside her looked familiar.

It was CEO Ji, who had privately messaged her yesterday.

He was wearing a high-end grey suit, looking younger than his forty-something years, though the deep frown lines between his eyebrows betrayed his age.

Ji Mushan noticed someone sit down beside him, looked up, saw Cheng Liu, and nodded: “CEO Cheng.”

“CEO Ji.” Cheng Liu nodded back, not finding it particularly coincidental.

More than half of the attendees were businesspeople from S City. It was normal to run into someone she knew.

Cheng Liu sat down and focused on the auction catalog, browsing the jewelry on offer. Ji Mushan also had a catalog in his hand, but he didn't open it, simply sitting upright, quietly looking ahead.

Their corner of the large auction hall was the quietest.

Others, sitting together, whether they knew each other or not, would engage in small talk. After all, everyone who could enter this auction had a certain social standing.

Cheng Liu, oblivious, continued flipping through the catalog, finding nothing that caught her eye.

Or rather, nothing suitable for her boyfriend.

The catalog was filled with jade bracelets, diamond necklaces, mostly for women. The other items were either too old-fashioned or unattractive.

Cheng Liu felt she had come for nothing. She should have asked He Bai for the catalog beforehand and decided whether to come after looking it over.

Just then, the auctioneer stepped onto the stage, ready to begin.

Cheng Liu flipped to the last few pages and suddenly spotted an item that caught her eye. That was it.

She closed the catalog and waited.

Throughout the morning, from the first to the twenty-fifth lot, Cheng Liu and Ji Mushan sat motionless, neither of them raising their bidding paddles once.

During the intermission, servers came around with drinks and food.

The small table between Cheng Liu and Ji Mushan was filled with delicate snacks and drinks. In such a setting, conversation was inevitable.

“Have you found something you like, CEO Cheng?” Ji Mushan asked, taking the initiative.

Cheng Liu nodded: “You too, CEO Ji?”

“There’s an item I’d like to bid on for my son.” Ji Mushan looked towards the auction stage. “It seems we’ll have to wait a while longer.”

“I’ve also found something I’d like to give to my boyfriend,” Cheng Liu said, naturally and smoothly boasting about having a boyfriend in front of others.

Ji Mushan looked at Cheng Liu’s young face, a wistful look flashing across his eyes. Then a slight smile appeared on his usually serious face, but because he rarely smiled, it looked somewhat unnatural: “That’s good.”

“There aren’t many lots here,” Cheng Liu said, looking at the auction catalog in front of Ji Mushan. “I thought there would be more jewelry.”

Ji Mushan agreed: “Indeed, there aren’t many choices if you’re buying for your boyfriend.”

They chatted for a while longer, then Ji Mushan suddenly asked, “CEO Cheng, is that Ranshan Midu you’re wearing?”

Cheng Liu paused, then said, “Yes, it was a gift from my boyfriend.”

The base notes had emerged by now, but Cheng Liu still felt it smelled slightly different from what her boyfriend wore.

Her boyfriend’s scent had a subtle, moist, and alluring quality that she liked very much, but she didn't get the same feeling from the same perfume on herself.

Ji Mushan was about to say something else, but the auction resumed.

The plates on their table were cleared, and the bidding continued.

During this time, He Bai, sitting diagonally in front, glanced back at Cheng Liu a few times. Seeing that she hadn’t bid on anything and didn’t seem particularly interested, he breathed a sigh of relief.

As for Cheng Liu, completely unaware of her chief assistant’s gaze, she leaned back in her chair, almost falling asleep.

She didn't like wasting time in places like this, so she simply let her mind wander.

Ji Mushan, on the other hand, sat patiently. He only picked up his phone once, taking a photo of a page in the auction catalog and sending it before putting it away again.

…

Finally, as the auction was nearing its end in the afternoon, the item Cheng Liu had her eye on appeared.

“Perhaps you’ve grown tired of seeing so much jewelry,” the auctioneer said, gesturing towards the display stand. “This Jade Lily-of-the-Valley Deer Planter is the work of a master jade carver. The entire piece is carved from a single piece of jade, exuding a fresh and elegant aura. It’s perfect for display and collection. The starting bid is 900,000, with minimum increments of 10,000.”

The item on display was a planter featuring several blooming lily-of-the-valley. White jade flowers hung from green jade leaves, and at the base of the flowers was a delicate, lifelike deer. The black planter itself was carved from black jade.

Cheng Liu sat up straight as soon as she saw the Jade Lily-of-the-Valley Deer Planter.

The moment the auctioneer announced the bidding open, Ji Mushan and Cheng Liu raised their paddles almost simultaneously.

The auctioneer, wearing white gloves, gestured towards Cheng Liu: “The lady bid first.”

Ji Mushan froze, turning to look at Cheng Liu, clearly not expecting her to be interested in the same item.

“910,000,” Cheng Liu said, holding up her paddle.

“And the gentleman?” the auctioneer prompted, pointing to Ji Mushan.

“1,000,000,” Ji Mushan said, raising the bid to a round number.

Cheng Liu also hadn't expected CEO Ji to be bidding on the Jade Lily-of-the-Valley Deer Planter. She turned, her gaze meeting his.

They both smiled politely, then turned back to the auction stage.

The auctioneer brought the gavel down twice.

Cheng Liu raised her paddle again: “1,100,000.” She was determined to win this planter.

Ji Mushan, equally determined, raised his paddle: “1,200,000.”

The previously amicable atmosphere between them suddenly became tense.

This was the first time Cheng Liu had taken a gift for her boyfriend so seriously. She wouldn't let anyone snatch it away, not even CEO Ji, even if it was for his son!

So, Cheng Liu raised her paddle again, looking at Ji Mushan: “1,500,000.”

She, CEO Cheng, had money!

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