Chapter 300 - 112: Astronomical Haute Couture Wedding Dress, Jin Xia

During the intermission, Ge Qing came over, a displeased look on his face. "You silly child," he said, "If you wanted one of my custom pieces, you just had to tell me. Why spend so much money?"

Jiang Li linked her arm with Ge Qing’s. "Master, others might not get it, but surely you do?"

Ever since Jiang Li had made a name for herself in the industry, she had the good fortune of meeting Ge Qing and had taken him as her master.

Something clicked for Ge Qing, and his eyes lit up. "To build hype for Jin Xia?"

Jin Xia was the new brand Jiang Li had just established. It was aimed at the international market and helmed by Ge Qing, though it had yet to officially open.

Jiang Li raised an eyebrow and snapped her fingers. "Bingo~"

This was also why Jiang Li had asked Cao Wenzhou to keep an eye on the auction—it was all to win the bid for Ge Qing’s design and generate buzz for Jin Xia.

Ge Qing said disapprovingly, "But a billion is too much. It’s not worth it."

Jiang Li arched a brow. "At least after tonight, 60% of the world will know the brand Jin Xia. I think that’s pretty worth it."

First, there’s you, Ge Qing. Second, there’s the sky-high price of one billion. At the very least, it’s guaranteed to dominate the top five trending spots.

On the top one or two social media platforms, even if not 100% of the world’s population is registered, at least 80% are. Out of those, at least 60% will see it.

’Besides,’ she thought, ’I’ve won so many items tonight, and my cash rebate balance is already in the hundreds of trillions. A mere billion is nothing.’

Although Ge Qing didn’t understand, the item was already won and the money paid. He could only pray it would actually be effective, or else the money would have gone down the drain.

「After a twenty-minute intermission, the auction continued.」

The bidding in the second half grew increasingly fierce. As the saying goes, you save the best for last, and the early items were just a warm-up.

However, Jiang Li reined it in a little. This was a charity auction, after all; she had to give others a chance to win an item or two.

The final item was a one-of-a-kind, heavily embellished, long-trained wedding gown designed by Ge Qing. It was inlaid with 5,201,314 diamonds, featured pure hand-embroidery, and had a starting bid of 500 million.

As soon as the photo of the wedding gown appeared, Jiang Li turned her head and whispered, "Should I bid on this dress? For our future daughter-in-law?"

Shen Yanzhi chuckled lightly. "Aren’t you afraid she won’t be able to wear it?"

Jiang Li said with certainty, "Don’t worry, she’ll definitely be able to wear it."

No girl could see such a beautiful wedding dress and not be moved. She would find a way to wear it, even if it meant skipping all three meals a day.

Such is the power of a beautiful dress.

Shen Yanzhi remained noncommittal. He knew that even if he objected, Jiang Li would bid on it anyway.

The man in seat 1 was eager to bid, but when he saw the determined look in Jiang Li’s eyes, he couldn’t help but try to negotiate. "The lady in seat 2, could you let me have this one? I want to give this wedding dress to my daughter."

Jiang Li shrugged helplessly. "I’m afraid that’s not possible."

’He wants to give it to his daughter, but I want to give it to my daughter-in-law,’ she thought.

The man ground his back teeth. ’How infuriating!’

This time, however, he wasn’t planning on backing down. Jiang Li had won so many items tonight; he figured she probably didn’t have any money left for this wedding dress.

They were all sitting in the front rows, their financial strengths roughly equal. He refused to believe he couldn’t win this wedding dress.

Because the wedding dress’s starting bid was so high, not many people were bidding—mostly just those in the first 20 seats.

When the price soared to 80 billion, the venue fell silent.

’No way,’ someone thought. ’Even with over five million diamonds, its value should cap out at around forty or fifty billion.’

Besides, Jiang Li had already spent so much money. How could she possibly have the confidence to call a price of 80 billion?

To put it in perspective, the liquid capital that a typical public company could muster was only a few tens of billions. Jiang Li had just bid that entire amount on a single wedding dress.

After the bidding in the first half, the auctioneer was now able to ask with perfect composure, "The lady in seat 2 bids 80 billion. Are there any other bids?"

In truth, when the price reached 50 billion, the man in seat 1 had already been prepared to give up.

After all, he couldn’t afford any more.

But seeing Jiang Li continuously raise her paddle got under his skin, so he decided to drive up the price a little.

But now that the price was at 80 billion, he truly couldn’t raise it any further.

What if Jiang Li suddenly stopped bidding? He’d be stuck with it, and his company would probably go bankrupt.

"80 billion going once, 80 billion going twice, 80 billion—"

Before the auctioneer could bring down the gavel, bidder 13 suddenly raised their paddle, seemingly after long consideration.

"81 billion."

Jiang Li glanced at bidder 13 and decisively made her move. "90 billion."

’I’m not afraid of people helping to drive up the price,’ she mused. ’After all, for every item I win, I get a rebate by claiming it’s a gift for Shen Yanzhi. Naturally, the higher the price, the better.’

’90 billion... with a 1,000-times rebate, that would be 90 trillion.’

’The very thought is delightful.’

Perhaps struck by Jiang Li’s scornful glance, bidder 13 ground their back teeth. "100 billion!"