Crossing the Line – Chapter 6
by Little PandaFinancial Sponsor
No matter how nervous she was, she had to keep it buried deep inside.
An auctioneer who couldn’t control the room had no right to stand on the main rostrum.
Jiang Siyi forced a smile and began to introduce the next lot.
She was deeply familiar with the lot details. Having studied the catalog more times than she could count, she could speak the words with fluent ease through sheer muscle memory, even under immense pressure and with a completely blank mind.
The collectors didn’t care why the auctioneer had been switched mid-session; they only cared about the lots they wanted to acquire.
The Three-piece Jade Fish Set currently on the block was considered the most anticipated lot of this session, drawing a far larger crowd of competitors.
Oliver and Wan Xin stared intently at Jiang Siyi, waiting to see her fall behind on the bidding calls once the crowd grew and the pace accelerated.
But unlike Wan Xin, Jiang Siyi withstood the intense pressure. Her pace was smooth and natural, and she delivered every single bid with crisp clarity. She maintained the competitive atmosphere among the collectors well, keeping a solid rhythm, and the price naturally climbed.
“Two hundred and eighty-six thousand. Any further bids? Two hundred and eighty-six thousand.”
Even as the price reached a high point, Jiang Siyi didn’t rush to drop the gavel. She asked twice more, but there was still no further bid.
Jiang Siyi knew the lot well, but she knew the consignor’s target price even better.
Two hundred and eighty-six thousand was not a price that would satisfy the consignor.
Before the auction, Jiang Siyi had chatted with the consignor of the Three-piece Jade Fish Set, an old friend of Jiashibi who was highly confident in their items. They had once declared that the final bid for this Three-piece Jade Fish Set would definitely not be less than three hundred thousand.
Now, the bidding had stalled before even reaching three hundred thousand, and the room was beginning to cool.
The consignor was sitting in the audience, looking rather displeased.
Jiang Siyi fell silent for a few seconds. After gathering her thoughts, she spoke again.
“As the saying goes, ‘Storing gold is not as good as storing jade.’ The craftsmanship of this set of jade fish is truly masterful, carrying the lingering charm of the Song and Yuan dynasties. The expressive carving on the tails retains the simple, ancient spirit of the Western Zhou, while incorporating the unique ingenuity of the Ming imperial court. The ancients compared jade to virtue, and this Three-piece Jade Fish Set is the perfect illustration of being warm, smooth, and lustrous1. Complete hereditary sets of Ming dynasty ceremonial jade fish are exceptionally rare; only three exist in public institutions worldwide, and they are an absolute rarity in private hands. Two years ago, Jiashibi Hong Kong auctioned a three-piece jade fish set, which has already more than tripled in value today.”
Her deep understanding of the lot and her presentation, which expertly captured the collectors’ psychology, made CEO Gu nod in appreciation.
This method of drawing bids showed the poise of a master; it was clear she had spent a great deal of time learning from senior auctioneers.
Collectors prized investment value above all, and as prominent figures and leaders in their respective fields, they were the most susceptible to this kind of pitch.
Sure enough, the moment she finished her introduction, someone started bidding again.
Paddle 172 was a telephone commission. They had stayed close during the first half, but fell silent once the price passed two hundred thousand, likely having exceeded their limit. After hearing Jiang Siyi’s introduction, they probably still wanted it and, unwilling to let it go, rejoined the fray.
After Paddle 172 bid, the room fell quiet again for a few seconds.
With only one party bidding, the auction floor remained a stagnant pool.
Just as Jiang Siyi’s mind was racing to think of more highlights to present and draw out more bids, another paddle was slowly raised.
Paddle 99, Lin Ji.
Lin Ji: “Three hundred and fifty thousand.”
She jumped the bid straight to three hundred and fifty thousand. Paddle 172 raised their paddle again, aggressively pushing the bid to three hundred and sixty thousand.
Lin Ji unhurriedly raised her paddle, bidding back and forth with Paddle 172.
After a few rounds, the stagnant room was completely revitalized.
Soon, the price broke four hundred thousand.
The consignor of the Three-piece Jade Fish Set was right there in the audience. The moment they heard the sound of flowing money, their sour expression instantly dissolved into a broad smile.
In the end, the price was driven up to five hundred and twenty thousand.
There was no more sound from Paddle 172’s end; they had likely reached their limit and couldn’t bid any further.
Lin Ji casually set the number 99 paddle down on the side table by her sofa.
None of the lots in the Gold, Stone, and Jade session were considered the main events of the Spring Auction; to many prominent collectors, they were merely add-ons.
Add-ons or not, different people had vastly different limits on what they were willing to spend on such extras.
Clearly, while others were fighting tooth and nail, to Lin Ji this was just casual shopping, and she had even bought it at a price that would absolutely satisfy the consignor.
Before this, Jiang Siyi had never expected Lin Ji to be interested in auctions, let alone show up at the Spring Auction she was hosting.
She had thought she would have to process her very first Spring Auction alone in a room full of strangers.
But unexpectedly, there was a witness after all.
And what she expected even less was that this witness would actually be Lin Ji.
Two hearts that were barely acquainted were connected by an invisible thread, their heartbeats synchronizing at this very moment.
Jiang Siyi brought down her first gavel of the Spring Auction. Sold.
The entire Gold, Stone, and Jade session practically became an exclusive showcase for VIP 99.
Lin Ji unhurriedly raised her paddle, effortlessly propping up the prices of all the lots in Jiang Siyi’s hands to high levels.
Backstage, Wan Xin, who was staring intently at the live broadcast screen, clasped her hands tightly together, trying her best to suppress the slight trembling of her body.
If this went on, Jiang Siyi’s commission for this Spring Auction would reach six figures.
Wan Xin said to Oliver, “Jiang Siyi doesn’t actually know that number 99, does she?”
Oliver also found it strange, but he replied, “How could that be? Do you know who that is?”
“Who?”
“Lin Ji, the founder and chairman of Huanwei Technology.”
Hearing the words “Huanwei Technology,” Wan Xin froze.
“Is it the Huanwei Technology I’m thinking of?”
“It’s exactly the one you’re thinking of.”
Huanwei was currently the hottest new energy company, starting in battery manufacturing. After listing overseas, its shareholders became overnight millionaires.
Now, Huanwei’s business scope was becoming increasingly vast and diverse.
The new energy electric vehicle that Wan Xin had driven to work today was the best-selling product under Huanwei.
She had long heard that the founder of Huanwei Technology was an extremely young and beautiful woman, but she hadn’t expected the person before her to be even younger and more beautiful than she had imagined.
Wan Xin felt a bit more at ease. “Then there is no way Jiang Siyi could know such a major figure.”
The last lot was also successfully sold. The moment the gavel fell, Jiang Siyi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The portion of the Spring Auction that served as her stage had come to a successful close.
That evening, at the Jiashibi First Banquet Hall.
As was customary, an after-party was held after every major auction, with the collectors attending as honored guests.
Besides showing appreciation to clients, these after-parties were meant to deepen communication with them and strengthen business relations; some private sales were concluded right here. The staff at Jiashibi all knew the importance of the after-party.
Auctioneering was not only a technical job, but also a physical one.
The consequence of such intense concentration was the exhaustion that set in after stepping down from the rostrum.
Jiang Siyi took a short nap in the lounge and was awakened by Duan Ning, who told her that Manager Wu was looking all over for her and wanted her to head to the banquet hall immediately.
In the past, she had no share in the after-parties, but this year she was a major contributor, so she naturally couldn’t be left out.
Jiang Siyi briefly freshened up, tidied her hair and clothes, and after replying to her elder sister’s congratulatory WeChat message sent from overseas, she headed toward the banquet hall with Duan Ning.
As the two walked through the long corridor, the sounds of music and chatter drifted from the banquet hall ahead.
Warm, golden light spilled onto the monogram-patterned carpet. Just a wall away lay a world of luxury and indulgence, thick with desire.
Jiang Siyi asked Duan Ning, “Did you take a video for me earlier?”
Duan Ning linked arms with her and smiled. “I did, I did! How could I not get it done when you asked? You look gorgeous. I’ll send it to you on WeChat in a bit, guaranteed to satisfy your Miss Song. But honestly, can you focus on what really matters? Your big financial sponsor is here tonight too.”
Jiang Siyi: “My big financial sponsor?”
“Paddle 99, of course! Siyi, we’re friends—give me the real scoop, do you know that big financial sponsor? While you were sleeping, several groups of people already came over to ask about you and her. I didn’t even know how to answer.”
Jiang Siyi told the truth. “We’re not close.”
Duan Ning gaped. “Not close? That means you really do know her!”
Jiang Siyi sighed. “Please. From childhood until now, all the words I’ve spoken to her combined probably don’t even add up to ten.”
Duan Ning only listened to the part she wanted to hear. “What? You’ve known each other since childhood? She’s actually your childhood friend?!”
Jiang Siyi: …
The moment they entered the banquet hall, Jiang Siyi didn’t even have to look; she spotted Lin Ji in the crowd at first glance.
Lin Ji was wearing a robe-style cashmere coat with the belt casually tied around her waist, the tailored fit making it hard not to notice her exceptional waistline. Standing tall and slender, her tiny waist didn’t look fragile in the slightest; instead, it carried a sense of disciplined order.
She was already very tall, standing at 1.75 meters, yet she still wore five-centimeter high heels, completely disregarding everyone else.
Her black hair was gathered into a sleek bun, her mature charm leaving those around her unable to focus on anything else. Gazes converged upon her from all directions, falling on her with utter directness.
The woman at the center of attention seemed completely oblivious to the stares. Her thin eyelids were slightly lowered, her calm eyes chilly as she idly spun a Qing dynasty white jade accessory in her hand.
It was a pampered hand, warmer and more delicate than the jade, with a faint mole on the side of her wrist bone.
Her warm, slender fingertips lightly cradled the white jade, leaving onlookers unable to tell which of the two was the real work of art.
It was no wonder Jiang Siyi’s eyes had instinctively caught her at the very first moment.
It was as if there were a lamp above Lin Ji’s head—not the Venetian glass chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the banquet hall, but a spotlight specifically turned on for her by God.
Even her resolution was favored and turned up; compared to the blurry features of those around her, her face was dazzlingly exquisite.
CEO Gu held two glasses of wine, one of which was his own, and the other he had taken from Lin Ji to free her hands when he gave her the white jade to play with.
CEO Gu, who was normally invincible in the boardroom, stood beside Lin Ji looking very much like a waiter.
Zheng Xianhe was there as well. Flushed from having drunk who knew how much, he was speaking excitedly to CEO Gu about his years of working with Lin Ji, looking immensely proud to share in her glory.
Duan Ning grabbed Jiang Siyi’s hand, her eyes wide. “What? She’s Zheng Zong’s behind-the-scenes boss? Oh my god, how does everything I say come true? Look, what did I tell you? She really is a beautiful and wealthy lady! And you actually said she was probably balding. Where is she balding? That thick, dark hair is even more lush than yours!”
Jiang Siyi was left temporarily speechless.
She also hadn’t expected that Zheng Xianhe’s employer would be Lin Ji. Otherwise, even if she were given ten times the courage, she wouldn’t have dared to say Lin Ji was balding.
Oliver had also brought his colleagues from the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Department to join the crowd.
A group of sharply dressed men hovered around Lin Ji, waiting for an opportunity to step forward and strike up a conversation.
If they could get Lin Ji’s WeChat, that would be even better; their trip tonight wouldn’t have been in vain.
Jiang Siyi thought of how Lin Ji had looked after her the night of Song Ti’s birthday party, as well as her help during the auction just now. She felt that, no matter what, she had to go up, say hello, and express her gratitude.
But the crowd surrounded Lin Ji so tightly that trying to get close to her was harder than squeezing into a subway car during rush hour; even the most popular tourist attractions were only so-so in comparison.
Jiang Siyi thought that maybe she should wait until there were fewer people to come over and offer her off-peak thanks.
Just as she was about to turn away, a clear, resonant female voice called out her name from behind.
“Jiang Siyi.”
Jiang Siyi turned around suddenly to see Lin Ji walking toward her from the crowd, drawing the gazes of the entire banquet hall to converge on her inch by inch.
Duan Ning, holding a glass of wine, saw Lin Ji actually call out to Jiang Siyi, and she forgot to swallow the wine in her mouth.
Oliver and Wan Xin’s smiles froze.
Even Jiang Siyi herself was stunned.
At close range, Jiang Siyi smelled the faint, cool fragrance on Lin Ji.
Because of her work, Jiang Siyi interacted with many people and had smelled all kinds of expensive and niche perfumes, but Lin Ji’s scent gave her a sense of unfamiliarity.
Amid the light fragrance was a hint of white sandalwood; she didn’t know which perfume it was, but it smelled very nice.
The light fragrance drifted around Jiang Siyi’s nose, sometimes faint and sometimes distinct.
Then, in front of everyone, Lin Ji said something that no one had expected.
Lin Ji: “Why did you leave that night?”
Everyone who heard this froze, and even Jiang Siyi herself widened her eyes.
Cough! Duan Ning outright sprayed her wine, coughing so hard she nearly choked to death.
The author has something to say:
Lin Ji: Step four of winning over my wife—babble nonsense, just to get her attention.
0 Comments