Chapter 541 - 556: Auction

"So, you’re a boss now?"

It wasn’t surprising Jiang Xia would say that. Looking at An Ning—dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, her hair in soft curls, driving a luxury car, and openly appearing near Uncle Jiang’s house—he really couldn’t imagine any other reason.

"What...? Is it so impossible that I got by on my looks?"

An Ning’s playful remark made Jiang Xia’s fingers clench the fabric of his pants, then relax. "You breaking someone’s legs is more likely. Getting by on your looks? Not a chance."

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m not beautiful?"

"Umm—"

The drawn-out sound helped Jiang Xia relax, and he said lightly, "You are, but not more than me, right? I seem to recall someone saying I could easily be a star attraction."

"You heard that?"

An Ning spared a moment to glance over at Jiang Xia, who pointed forward and yelled, "Eyes on the road!"

"Hey, wait a minute. I don’t remember you having a driver’s license."

An Ning glanced at the winding mountain road. "Pulled some strings, of course. You say that as if you actually went and took the test. Besides, in our country, it’s all master-apprentice training. Who has a license?"

Fair enough. Jiang Xia watched An Ning skillfully handle the car with one hand and said no more.

Next, Jiang Xia learned the whole story from An Ning.

He said with a sigh of admiration, "So you really did become a boss."

"Not really. I don’t have a single subordinate. I’m still a good, upstanding person, you know."

Jiang Xia could sense An Ning’s playful, good mood. They soon arrived at Uncle Jiang’s house. Jiang Xia had dinner, then waited for Uncle Jiang to get home from work.

When Uncle Jiang returned and saw Jiang Xia on the sofa, his first reaction was to check his watch.

"You picked a fine time to show up. Any later and you’d be collecting my corpse."

"Well, you’re not dead yet, are you?"

Jiang Xia rolled his eyes, stood up, and the two shared a hug of mock disgust. Nothing more needed to be said.

Uncle Jiang and Jiang Xia were chatting idly on the sofa when Uncle Jiang’s gaze started to drift. He began winking furiously at Jiang Xia, as if sending some kind of signal.

Jiang Xia, mentally exhausted, knew what was coming. He nervously clapped a hand over Uncle Jiang’s mouth, his eyes threatening. "Don’t you dare say a word."

Uncle Jiang gave Jiang Xia a look that screamed ’hopeless’ and said, "Waiting isn’t necessarily bad, but I’m afraid if you wait too long, the opportunity will disappear. And who knows who’ll be the one full of regrets then."

"What are you talking about? Regret what?"

An Ning emerged from the kitchen carrying three drinks, one for each of them.

Jiang Xia quickly tried to smooth things over. "My uncle was just talking about business."

An Ning took a sip from her cup and looked at Jiang Xia. "Liar."

"Heh, as expected of a Master. I knew I couldn’t hide anything from you."

Jiang Xia just laughed it off without explaining further. An Ning didn’t press the issue. ’Everyone has secrets. Her own existence was the biggest secret of all—one she never planned to tell anyone in this lifetime.’

Uncle Jiang’s "I’m-just-here-for-the-show" expression was painfully obvious. He genuinely wanted the two of them to get together. Since his nephew wasn’t making a move, it was up to him, the uncle, to give things a little push.

"Jiang Xia, An Ning, I have an invitation to an auction here. I’m absolutely exhausted today, so why don’t the two of you go instead?"

"It’s a charity auction, so everyone who attends is expected to bid on and win a few items. It would look bad if I didn’t go, but I really don’t have anyone else to send. I still haven’t even found a suitable secretary."

Uncle Jiang put on his best "I’m-at-my-wit’s-end" face. An Ning didn’t suspect a thing. She had been waiting for Jiang Xia anyway, had nothing else planned for the evening, and had never been to an auction before.

"Alright, I’ll go. Jiang Xia, are you going?"

"You must be tired, maybe I should just—"

"I’m going! An opportunity to spend someone else’s money? If I turned that down, I’d regret it so much I wouldn’t be able to sleep."

And so, half-joking, Jiang Xia secured his chance to go.

They both went to change. It was the first time An Ning had ever worn an evening gown and high heels.

Dressed in a white suit, Jiang Xia looked dazzlingly handsome. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, heart pounding like a drum, waiting for An Ning to appear.

As Jiang Xia fidgeted—one moment smoothing his jacket, the next adjusting his pant leg, then checking his watch, then glancing up the stairs—he was mercilessly mocked by Uncle Jiang.

"It’s a good thing this carpet’s high quality, or you’d have started a fire with all that pacing."

Jiang Xia was about to turn back, but the sound of a door opening upstairs suddenly reached him. He instinctively straightened his spine, turning to present what he considered his more handsome profile as he looked up in eager anticipation.

"Mr. Jiang."

A maid carrying a pile of folded laundry came down from the second floor. She couldn’t help but feel her steps were awkward, as if her very presence were defiling the magnificent staircase.

Uncle Jiang savored the scene, sighing, "Ah, to be young is wonderful."

CLICK. Another door opened. Jiang Xia struck his pose again, not feeling the least bit bothered or embarrassed.

"Mr. Jiang."

It was another maid. The smile that had just appeared on Jiang Xia’s face was once again awkwardly retracted.

CLICK.

Uncle Jiang enjoyed watching Jiang Xia fan his peacock feathers once more. A part of him hoped another maid would appear; he figured the look on Jiang Xia’s face would be priceless.

But alas, it was not to be.

An Ning appeared at the top of the stairs, clad in a slim-fitting, floor-length red gown.

Her beauty was breathtaking.

An Ning had never been so dressed up in her life.

"So? How do I look?"

An Ning did a little twirl. Jiang Xia answered honestly, "Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful."

"Good."

An Ning started down the stairs in her stilettos. Jiang Xia moved to help her, but she waved him off.

"No need. It’s just a pair of heels. I could probably walk on a stick."

An Ning descended the stairs with a steady, elegant, and captivating gait, leaving Jiang Xia feeling a little dazed.

"Let’s go. What are you waiting for?"

An Ning led the way, and Jiang Xia followed.

Inside, Uncle Jiang pressed his face curiously to the window. He watched them walk to the car, where Jiang Xia dazedly opened the door for An Ning, only to get into the front passenger seat himself, like a bodyguard.

"What an idiot! He’s a disgrace to the Jiang Family!"

Having come to his senses in the car, Jiang Xia’s brain finally rebooted. He got out and moved to the back seat. The car then pulled away from the Jiang family’s home and headed for the auction.

Meanwhile, the villa hosting the auction was already packed with guests. Champagne, beautiful women, tycoons in luxury cars—they arrived in an endless stream.

Anyone who received an invitation was a person of considerable means.

Dressed in glittering jewels, they exchanged pleasantries at the entrance, introducing their companions and chatting merrily.

The recent events concerning the Jiang family were no small matter, and everyone who was anyone knew about them. So, when the Jiang family’s car arrived at the auction, it was met with exceptional treatment.

The auction’s organizer personally came out to greet them, escorting Jiang Xia and An Ning inside.

"Your presence truly honors our auction."

"You’re too kind. The honor is all ours."

An Ning and Jiang Xia, calm and poised, walked into the venue with an air of extraordinary grace, neither servile nor arrogant.

Out of habit, An Ning scanned the entire room. Her spiritual power swept across the crowd before locking onto a single spot.

’A stunningly beautiful woman... a familiar identity. Why is she here?’