Ye Fan, Chu Mengyao, and Liu Shangxiang were chatting softly, attracting quite a few glances from the surrounding people.
"Damn, this guy is shameless, earning the admiration of the top strong woman and Liu Shangxiang, yet doing nothing about it. He should at least bid for Liu Shangxiang’s items to show some manliness."
"Not manly at all, lacks any gentlemanly demeanor, what a disgrace."
The men looking at Ye Fan turned their envy and jealousy into personal attacks, while the women’s expressions were much more varied, each wondering if Ye Fan was the illegitimate child of some big shot.
"Bastard, damn scumbag." Ji Tian and Meng Hao sat not far behind Chu Mengyao, watching the scene unfold with burning anger. Especially Ji Tian, who had been quite considerate towards Liu Shangxiang, yet she wasn’t particularly thankful and was instead chatting warmly with Ye Fan, which made him naturally frustrated.
"Punk, later I’ll slap your face thoroughly. I must win Mengyao’s item. Then everyone will look down on you, a man sitting beside Chu Mengyao unable to afford to bid on Mengyao’s item, people will definitely laugh at you." Meng Hao laughed smugly, with his wealth and status, Ji Tian wasn’t his match, let alone Ye Fan whom he didn’t even regard.
Ji Tian was well-prepared, determined to win the item from Chu Mengyao.
Li Qianru was sitting with Mayor Niu, smiling meaningfully, she said, "To win a beauty’s smile, I wonder how high the price Chu Mengyao’s item could reach?"
"Let’s wait and see. The more funds raised, the greater the help for society. I certainly hope it’s as high as possible." Mayor Niu chuckled.
Shen Tingting looked amused, watching the lavish spending spree and inwardly muttered, "A bunch of hypocrites."
"Now, the final item in this charity auction, President Chu’s Jade Bracelet." The host was all smiles.
Ji Tian and Meng Hao sat upright, both patient, abstaining from bidding, seemingly like two masters competing in patience; whoever bids first would appear inferior.
"Twenty million." A suited man couldn’t hold back his voice.
This man was a CEO with business dealings with the Chu Group, currently negotiating a partnership. Trying to get acquainted in front of Chu Mengyao, he ambitious started the bid, knowing he couldn’t win Chu Mengyao’s Jade Bracelet, but wanted to make an impression.
The gentleman was generous, bidding twenty million right off the bat, the highest since the charity auction began.
"What’s this? In this kind of setting, a small figure like you dares to participate? How laughable." Meng Hao looked at the man with a mocking gaze, then dismissively said, "Fifty million."
"Wow, indeed the heir of the Meng family, spending generously, fifty million without even batting an eye."
"What do you know, as one of Chu Mengyao’s suitors, Meng Hao wouldn’t care about such a small sum."
"Going all out for a beauty’s item, quite impressive."
"Yeah, if I had fifty million, my company could double in size. People compare and it’s demotivating."
Whispering voices arose from different places.
"Ninety million." Ji Tian casually raised the bid, his price increases were well-calculated, Meng Hao increasing by thirty million and Ji Tian adding another ten million on top of that.
Ji Tian’s words led to more gasps among the crowd.
For the others, items taken out by ladies were rarely priced this high. Even people with backgrounds like Liu Shangxiang and Shen Tingting only had their items auctioned at about ten million; Chu Mengyao’s item, however, was apparently the hot commodity with Ji Tian and Meng Hao viewing it so highly, the bidding was overwhelming.
Chu Mengyao discreetly kicked Ye Fan, subtly indicating, "It’s your turn."
"If it’s my turn, then it is. Why should I worry? It’s your money anyway; if you’re not distressed, why should I care?" Ye Fan muttered softly.
His words were only heard by Chu Mengyao and Liu Shangxiang next to him; no one else could hear.
"You two are quite the pair, one handling the item and the other bidding without spending a penny, like playing house? Mengyao, is it thrilling to play this game? Ye Fan, is the feeling of spending lavishly particularly thrilling?" Liu Shangxiang looked at Ye Fan and Chu Mengyao amusedly.
"Keep your voice down, don’t let others hear." Chu Mengyao warned.
"Exactly, what’s the fuss, it’s not your money." Ye Fan glared.
"Fine, I’m the redundant one here." Liu Shangxiang pointed at herself, feeling helpless.
Chu Mengyao’s actions were aimed at making a good impression in front of Mayor Niu. If money can solve a problem, it’s not a problem; anything that helps secure the Jinluo Bay project is worthwhile.
Ye Fan understood the intention and confidently bid, "Let me round it up, one hundred million."
"One hundred million? A jade bracelet for one hundred million? Damn it, my own worth isn’t even that high."
"President Chu’s item is extraordinary; even if it’s a stone picked up from the ground, it’s a special stone."
"Indeed, President Chu’s reputation is valuable beyond anything."
"What’s this guy’s background? One billion thrown without a care."
The crowd was abuzz, voices of shock erupted from various peoples’ mouths, men were astonished, women’s gazes at Ye Fan changed, captivated by the mysterious man.
Meng Hao and Ji Tian were slightly taken aback, not anticipating Ye Fan daring to compete with them in financial prowess, wasn’t this asking for trouble?
"Don’t think you’re strong. If it’s a fistfight, I’m no match, but in this battlefield, a hundred of you aren’t capable." Ji Tian proudly opened, watching Ye Fan with mocking interest, thinking if Ye Fan stuck to being quietly naive it would’ve been fine, but daring to pretend to be wealthy was going to self-sabotage.
"Kid, you brought this on yourself; I’ll show you why the flower is so red. Competing wealth, who do you think you are, fighting me is asking to be humiliated." Meng Hao smiled mischievously.
Ye Fan, Meng Hao, and Ji Tian were confronting each other; this bidding was certainly going to be astonishing, and everyone realized it.
Ye Fan wanting to financially crush them was absolutely impossible.