Chapter 113: A Pure Waste of Funds

It means nothing. Qin Feng gave a faint smile. “I only wanted to remind you that some things come at a price once you do them.”

With that, he ignored Li San and turned his gaze to the jade on the auction stage, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.

“Eleven hundred million!”

At that moment, a cool, clear voice suddenly rang out through the auction hall, instantly drowning out every other sound.

Everyone turned toward the source at once. Bai Ruoxi had risen to her feet, looking coldly at Hong Tianba. Her red lips parted as she said, word by word, “I want this piece of jade.”

Even Qin Feng had not expected Bai Ruoxi’s target to be this item.

One had to remember that even if you bought it, it might not necessarily become yours.

“The eldest young lady of the Bai family? She wants in on this too?”

“Isn’t the Bai family in real estate? Why are they interested in this jade?”

“What do you know? That’s called diversification. Besides, who wouldn’t want a treasure like this?”

The murmurs around them rose into a low buzz, but Bai Ruoxi seemed not to hear any of it. She only stared coldly at Hong Tianba, her eyes full of challenge.

Hong Tianba’s expression, once full of certainty, had now turned rather ugly. He narrowed his eyes and sized Bai Ruoxi up and down before saying with a trace of threat in his voice, “Miss Bai, are you sure you want to snatch things from me, Hong?”

Bai Ruoxi let out a soft laugh, her tone laced with disdain. “Head Hong, that’s a strange thing to say. This is an auction; the highest bidder wins. Since when does it become your, Head Hong’s, property? Could it be that in this capital, your Hong gang makes the rules?”

Her words carried a note of mockery, and Hong Tianba’s face darkened even further. He gave a cold snort, ready to erupt, but an old man beside him grabbed him.

“Boss, calm yourself.”

The old man lowered his voice in persuasion. “It’s an auction today. No trouble.”

Hong Tianba took a deep breath and forcibly swallowed his rage. He shot Bai Ruoxi a cold look, but said nothing more.

“Eleven hundred million, going once!”

Seeing this, the auctioneer inwardly groaned, yet still steeled himself and called out.

“Twelve hundred million!” Hong Tianba’s voice rose again, and this time it was filled with absolute determination.

“Fifteen hundred million!” Bai Ruoxi raised the bid without the slightest hesitation, as though she was determined to have the jade.

“Sixteen hundred million!” Hong Tianba’s voice had grown somewhat hoarse, clearly nearing his limit.

“Twenty hundred million!”

Bai Ruoxi raised the bid again, and this time by a full four hundred million.

The whole room erupted.

Everyone was stunned by Bai Ruoxi’s crazed move. To spend twenty hundred million on a piece of jade was simply madness.

Even Qin Feng could not help but frown. He knew Bai Ruoxi came from wealth, but he had not expected her to be so extravagant. Could there be some secret in this piece of jade that he did not know?

“Bai Ruoxi, are you insane?!”

Li San could no longer hold back. He rushed to Bai Ruoxi’s side and roared in a low voice, “Do you even know what you’re doing?! Forty hundred million! Have you lost your mind!”

Bai Ruoxi cast him a cold glance and said icily, “Since when is it your place to interrupt my affairs?”

Li San shuddered under her gaze and dared not say another word.

“Well then, Head Hong, are you still going to bid?”

Bai Ruoxi looked at Hong Tianba, the corner of her mouth curving into a mocking smile.

Hong Tianba’s face was dark as coal. He had not expected Bai Ruoxi to be so troublesome. Forty hundred million had already far exceeded his expectations, and if he bid any higher, it would likely cause Hong gang considerable losses.

“What? Head Hong, are you afraid?”

Seeing Hong Tianba hesitate, Bai Ruoxi was secretly delighted and pressed her advantage. “If you truly are afraid, then bow out now. Otherwise, if you lose face later, it won’t be a pretty sight.”

Hong Tianba was enraged by her words. He shot to his feet and glared at Bai Ruoxi, grinding out through clenched teeth, “Fine! Fine indeed, Bai Ruoxi. I’ll remember you.”

With that, Hong Tianba swept his sleeve and turned to leave. Before he went, he gave Qin Feng a long, venomous look, his eyes brimming with malice.

After the auction had completely ended, Qin Feng arrived early at Bai Ruoxi’s motorcade.

The bodyguards recognized him and did not stop him. After all, they had already heard what Old Master Bai had said.

He wanted Qin Feng to become the Bai family’s son-in-law.

If they gave Qin Feng a cold shoulder now, they might well pay for it later.

The convoy soon drove into the Bai family estate, and Qin Feng and Bai Ruoxi chatted in the car.

Although Bai Ruoxi had a gentle temperament, she was never vague when it came to important matters.

Otherwise, she would not have left her family back then to go to Jianghai and work as a nurse.

“Ruoxi, why did you buy that piece of jade?”

Qin Feng was puzzled. The Bai family was clearly only in real estate. Buying such a thing was nothing but a waste of money.

“You guess.” Bai Ruoxi smiled faintly, deliberately pushing the question back onto Qin Feng.

Qin Feng rolled his eyes and said helplessly, “Don’t keep me in suspense. Just tell me already.”

Bai Ruoxi fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, “This piece of jade is a little special. Don’t ask too much about the specifics. Someone wants it. Let’s set that aside for now and talk about you.”

“I heard you’ve crossed paths with Wang Teng again? Last time, after you had Yang Tianchen call that guy, the Wang family stopped bothering us. What exactly happened? Tell me, otherwise I won’t feel at ease.”

As she said this, worry was written all over Bai Ruoxi’s face.

After all, Qin Feng’s troubles with the Wang family had all begun because of him, and it was also because of Qin Feng that the Bai family’s only beloved grandfather had been pulled back from death’s door.

Qin Feng paused slightly, then realized that Bai Ruoxi was worrying about him because of this matter.

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” Qin Feng reached out and wrapped an arm around Bai Ruoxi’s slender waist, softly soothing her.

Bai Ruoxi shot him a glare and pulled his hand away.

“You and your hands.”

“Mm.” After thinking carefully for a moment, Qin Feng suddenly looked up at Bai Ruoxi and said earnestly, “Ruoxi, do you trust me?”

“Of course I trust you.” Bai Ruoxi nodded. “No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side.”

She knew Qin Feng had definitely run into trouble; otherwise, given his temperament, how could he ever yield so easily to anyone?

During this time, she had been paying close attention to Qin Feng and knew he had been having an extremely frustrating few days.

Not only had he endured inexplicable provocation, he had also offended people he should never have offended.

And those people, whether the Wang family or the Hong gang, were not forces the current Qin Feng could afford to provoke.

“All right, then I promise you.” Qin Feng nodded.

Bai Ruoxi finally relaxed. Since Qin Feng had agreed to her condition, at the very least she could ensure his safety.