Chapter 299 - 111: Ge Qing’s Private Customization, Lighting the Sky Lantern

Not bad at all. A great start.

Excitedly, Jiang Li raised her eyebrows and immediately pulled out her phone to send Shen Yanzhi a message.

Feeling his phone vibrate, Shen Yanzhi pulled it out. After seeing Jiang Li’s message, he shot her a suspicious look, wondering what she was up to.

Jiang Li had been winning one lot after another, all for prices far exceeding their market value.

"Lot 88 is a private commission from the renowned designer, Mr. Ge Qing. The starting bid is 1 million."

Ge Qing, a winner of numerous international awards, later retired from public life and had not been heard from since.

His record sale for a single private commission was 80 million.

At these words, Jiang Li sat up straight. Shen Yanzhi, however, was already numb to it all.

He had now been reduced to being Jiang Li’s shill. For any item she was interested in, he had to drive up the price.

Though he didn’t know what Jiang Li’s plan was, he’d noticed that her funds seemed to be inexhaustible.

’Anyone who didn’t know better would think she had some kind of god-tier spender system.’

Of course, Jiang Li didn’t know what was on Shen Yanzhi’s mind. If she had, she would have likely exclaimed, "How did you know!"

The bidding continued, and the price soon reached 80 million.

Given that Ge Qing hadn’t produced anything in a long time and his work was internationally acclaimed, it was only natural that everyone wanted the opportunity for a private commission.

"Number 21, 81 million."

"Number 16, 82 million."

"Number 1, 83 million."

Seeing this, Number 21 pleaded desperately, "Come on, you guys, just let me have this one! I’m a huge fan of Mr. Ge’s designs!"

Number 1 shrugged. "My wife likes them too."

Number 16 let out a wry laugh. "What a coincidence. My wife likes them, too."

The price eventually reached 100 million, and Number 21 backed down dejectedly.

’She was a huge fan of Ge Qing, but for 100 million, she could buy a ton of clothes from Qingyan LAVUE.’

’They were both Chinese brands; give Qingyan LAVUE a little time, and it could be just as famous worldwide.’

When the bidding reached 500 million, Number 16 dropped out as well, grumbling, "This is insane!"

Number 1 spread his hands. "What can I say? Anything to make my wife happy."

Shen Yanzhi thought Number 1 made an excellent point and immediately added another 100 million. "600 million."

Number 1 whipped his head around to stare at Shen Yanzhi, completely shocked. "Hey, man, are you out of your mind?"

Shen Yanzhi smiled. "You said it yourself: a wife’s happiness is priceless. Forget 600 million; I wouldn’t blink at 6 billion."

Hearing Shen Yanzhi’s impossibly cool declaration, Jiang Li couldn’t help but press a hand to her chest.

’If she didn’t, she was afraid her heart might just leap out of her chest.’

’That was so damn cool!!!’

The man at paddle number 1 was clearly competitive. Looking like he was ready to go head-to-head with Shen Yanzhi, he shot back, "700 million."

"800 million."

"900 million."

The auctioneer blinked. ’Hello? Am I invisible? I’m the one running the auction here, but they’re all acting like I don’t even exist.’

"1 billion!"

Jiang Li raised her paddle, giving Number 1 no chance to continue. "I’ll light the sky lantern."

Lighting the sky lantern, as it was called, was a declaration that one would continue bidding to the very end and pay the final price, no matter how high.

It was, simply put, a battle of wealth. Whoever had more money, got the item.

Number 1 was on the verge of a breakdown. It was one thing to have Shen Yanzhi driving up the price, but for Jiang Li to then light the sky lantern on top of that...

’It was just for one outfit, for crying out loud. Did she really have to go this far?’

’They were all sitting in the front row; everyone’s financial standing should be in the same ballpark.’

Acting on the principle that it’s better to make friends than enemies, Number 1 forced a smile. "Since the lady at paddle number 2 is so fond of Mr. Ge’s designs, I won’t stand in your way. Perhaps we could get a meal together sometime and get acquainted."

Jiang Li smiled. "A meal sounds lovely, but I’d have to bring my husband."

Number 1 took a deep breath. "Yes, of course. That’s no problem at all."

’He grumbled to himself: ’Like you’re the only one who’s married. I have a wife, too!’’

Shen Yanzhi raised an eyebrow. "Well, since Number 1 has given up, I’ll withdraw as well."

’He was only bidding for Jiang Li to begin with. Now that she had lit the sky lantern, there was no reason for him to keep driving up the price.’

The auctioneer brought the gavel down immediately. "Let’s have a huge round of applause to congratulate the lady at paddle number two for winning the private commission from Mr. Ge Qing for one billion!"