Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The auction had already begun, and Xia Yinxi, keeping an eye on his father's whereabouts, didn't dare go to his seat. He was sneaking glances around when he suddenly caught Ji Yunzhuo's eye, who was not far away.

Xia Yinxi shook his head vigorously.

Then he saw Ji Yunzhuo flash a clearly "up-to-no-good" smirk.

"?"

What did he want to do!

"Making eyes," Song Baichuan muttered darkly.

"Lovebirds~"

"You guys wouldn't understand." Xia Yinxi leaned back, hiding behind the porcelain display case. "Don't look at me, look at the auction stage!"

Song Baichuan asked curiously, "What are you hiding from?"

"Hiding from my dad."

Before Song Baichuan could respond, a deep voice came from beside them: "Xiao Xi, Xiao Chuan."

"Uncle Xia, good evening."

Xia Yinxi froze, then slowly peeked out from behind the porcelain vase: "Haha, hey Dad."

Xia Yucheng's gaze was dark: "You little turncoat."

He hadn't come to play peacemaker with his parents, and as a result, he'd gotten a few more earfuls from Meng Shuxue.

Xia Yinxi didn't want to upset Ms. Meng either, so he immediately threw Ji Yunzhuo under the bus: "I told Ah Zhuo to go, he really messed up."

Xia Yucheng ignored his attempt to pin it on Ji Yunzhuo and said, "I used to want to bring you to these events, but you always said you were shy. Now that you're following Xiao Zhuo, you should be learning a lot. This time, head straight to the company for some training."

Xia Yinxi bit his tongue lightly and didn't answer.

He didn't know why the original owner steered clear of this circle, but now he was a cuckoo in the nest. The real young master could come back anytime, and the less tied he was to the Xia family, the better.

"I haven't learned anything—he never talks work with me." Xia Yinxi put on a dramatic show. "Wow, so many strangers, so scary!"

Song Baichuan: "..."

Li Yili: "OoO?"

"You..." Xia Yucheng opened his mouth, then stopped. "Forget it. Mom and Dad can support you. Now that Xiao Zhuo's here, you have even less to worry about."

Song Baichuan's jaw dropped.

The host announced the start of the auction, and Xia Yucheng went back to chewing out Xia Yinxi, probably still scolding this unfilial son for making him catch flak from Meng Shuxue, but he didn't get far before some business partners called him over to take his seat.

The first items up for auction were some simple pieces of jewelry. Delicate, but not really collectible, and they were snapped up by a few smaller firms.

Next came jewelry that practically screamed money. Xia Yinxi went "wow" as he looked at a watch on stage: "That's so pretty."

Song Baichuan agreed: "And it totally suits you! Buy it!"

Xia Yinxi glanced at him: "I was just saying. It's obviously crazy expensive."

"?" Song Baichuan looked confused. "Even at auction, this watch won't go for more than eight million."

What's so expensive about that?

Xia Yinxi: "...Forget it, I can't even with you."

The watch was really beautiful and well-designed. Its strap was like a bracelet, made of several irregularly cut, smooth gemstones, and the dial, covered in diamonds, sparkled under the lights, giving off a purplish glow.

The watch would look weird on a guy, but it looked perfect on Xia Yinxi.

"This watch is a new creation by internationally renowned designer Kristen. It hasn't been officially released yet, and globally, only twenty pieces will ever be sold." The host pointed to the strap. "The purple diamonds on the strap are light in color, but under lights or sunlight, they show a blue-purple shimmer."

"The starting bid is five million, with each increment no less than one hundred thousand!"

Xia Yinxi rested his chin on his hands: "Beautiful."

Song Baichuan glanced at him and tested the waters: "Has your dad been cutting your allowance lately?"

"No." Xia Yinxi stared at the auction stage longingly. The original owner's money was his, not mine.

"Then buy it if you like it."

Xia Yinxi made up an excuse: "I'm married now, I gotta be frugal."

Song Baichuan pounded the table: "Ji Yunzhuo's cutting you off? I'll—"

"Calm down." Xia Yinxi grabbed him. "Don't read into it!"

Someone had already raised a paddle. The host boomed: "Mr. Wang from Xingyuan Group, bidding five million! Mr. Wang is a rising star in the internet industry, and Xingyuan Group specializes in..."

Xia Yinxi let the buyer intro go in one ear and out the other, resting his chin on his hand and shut his eyes.

The gemstone's glare was hurting his eyes.

"Ming Ji Group, President Ji, bidding six million!"

Xia Yinxi opened his eyes: "?"

Ji Yunzhuo wants this watch too?

"Mr. Wang, bidding six million five hundred thousand!"

"President Ji, bidding seven million!"

The venue was filled with the host's auction calls, and the price had already climbed to eight million, threatening to hit a thousand. Xia Yinxi was confused: "Does Ji Yunzhuo really like this watch? Doesn't really fit his style, does it?"

Something so flashy and decorative, all show and no substance, was totally not Ji Yunzhuo's vibe.

Li Yili was already stunned, totally blank-faced, as he slowly turned to look at the clueless guy snacking.

Though he'd long suspected his brother had a thing for Xia Xiaoxi, it was still wild. After twenty-six years, had his brother finally gotten over their parents' shadow and fallen in love for the first time...

"President Ji, bidding seventeen million!" The host had already grabbed the auction hammer, barely containing his excitement. "Any more bids?"

Xia Yinxi asked, "How much would this watch cost if you just bought it outright?"

Song Baichuan replied, "Around four or five hundred grand."

Xia Yinxi almost choked. What was the point of his being frugal when the other person in the house was blowing money like this!

Although the money was all earned by Ji Yunzhuo, but dropping over ten million on a watch—what a total sucker move!

And this watch doesn't even suit him!

After a few sips of tea, Xia Yinxi slammed his cup down with a "thud" and suddenly it clicked.

Maybe it's for his white moonlight.

...No way it's for him, right.

The rough jadeite rolled around in his hand like a walnut, over and over, as Xia Yinxi spaced out, mechanically repeating the motion.

The room was buzzing, everyone congratulating Ji Yunzhuo on snagging his prize. Xia Yinxi still looked spaced out, letting out a faint "heh heh."

What's there to congratulate? Throwing away ten million like an idiot.

After another blank moment, he suddenly remembered this was a charity auction—the extra money would probably go to charity. Xia Yinxi snapped out of it and breathed a sigh of relief.

Okay, if it's for charity, ten million's no big deal.

A few more items came up after that, but nothing caught Xia Yinxi's eye. Off to the side, Li Yili's phone buzzed a few times; he sneaked a look, replied, then put it on his right, as far from Xia Yinxi as possible.

After the auction came the stone-cutting session. Xia Yinxi didn't feel like joining the crowd, so he stayed put. Out of nowhere, Gao Qian showed up, holding a wooden box with both hands.

"Assistant Xia..." The words seemed to burn his mouth as Gao Qian forced them out, setting the box on the table. "Mr. Ji asked me to give this to you."

Xia Yinxi looked up, a sudden feeling hitting him: "What is it?"

When the wooden lid opened, sure enough, it was the seventeen-million watch from earlier.

Xia Yinxi: "...He wants me to take it home for him?"

Gao Qian: "...?"

Song Baichuan: "..."

"Sister-in-law, have some tea." Li Yili pushed the cup over.

Song Baichuan gritted his teeth: "Xia Xiaoxi, are you two here to flaunt your love?"

And talking about being frugal—pfft.

"..."

Gao Qian tuned out.

Xia Yinxi closed the wooden box with a dry laugh: "Ahaha..."

"They're almost done cutting. Go get yours done too." Song Baichuan picked up the rock and stood, but Xia Yinxi grabbed him and threw a punch: "What's the rush? My dad hasn't left yet!"

Song Baichuan dragged him toward the cutting room: "I have to cut open this crappy stone of yours today just to humiliate you and feel better about myself!"

"Song Donghai, how old are you?!"

The stone, which looked like it was picked up off the street, still ended up in the cutting machine. Xia Yinxi raised his hand and smacked Song Baichuan a couple of times, then turned to see Ji Yunzhuo had somehow appeared, staring at his hand.

Xia Yinxi slowly lowered his hand and said: "Fancy meeting you here?"

Ji Yunzhuo's eyes swept over the wooden box in his other hand. The box was heavy enough that Gao Qian needed both hands to carry it, but Xia Yinxi had it hooked between his palm and wrist, holding it steady with one hand, even after walking that far.

"Why don't you put it on?"

"Don't flash your wealth."

Song Baichuan rolled his eyes hard, clutching his shoulder as he sat on the sofa nearby, waiting for the stone to be cut.

Ji Yunzhuo took the wooden box and fastened the watch—the one that cost an extra ten million—onto its owner's wrist.

Xia Yinxi's wrist was very slender; Ji Yunzhuo felt he could easily wrap his hand around it. Beneath the translucent diamonds, pale skin and faint blue veins made it look delicate and fragile.

But Ji Yunzhuo knew that this hand, when raised, could shatter the reinforced glass behind him.

He inexplicably imagined that scene, finding Xia Yinxi breaking glass just as cute.

Song Baichuan was still rubbing his shoulder, his eyes full of accusation.

Damn Xia Xiaoxi, with that soft face, hits so hard!

"Beautiful." Ji Yunzhuo held his hand, thumb stroking the back of it a few times. "It really suits you."

Xia Yinxi looked down at the dazzling diamonds, taking a moment to find his voice: "You bought this for me?"

Ji Yunzhuo chuckled and countered: "Who else could wear it besides you?"

"Your white moonlight, maybe..."

"What?"

"Nothing, thanks, Ji... Ah Zhuo." Xia Yinxi's face changed instantly, pulling his hand back to look at the person at the door. "Dad, you're here too."

Xia Yucheng snorted coldly: "Your mom asked me to see if there's anything else you like, and I'll buy it for you."

There were no outsiders in the cutting room. Xia Yinxi laughed it off: "Ah Zhuo will buy it. Oh, Dad, I bought a stone—take a look."

The machine's hum stopped, and Song Baichuan cracked his knuckles, ready to mock Xia Yinxi.

Li Yili paused for a moment, then reminded: "Xia Xiaoxi's real dad and husband are both here. Are you sure you want to piss him off..."

Song Baichuan waved a hand: "I'll save the teasing for later, in private!"

The first cut only opened a small slit along the stone's edge, revealing a gray interior with no sign of jadeite.

Xia Yucheng picked up the stone, examined it for a while, then finally looked up and asked: "How much did you pay for it?"

From his expression, the stone was already doomed. Xia Yinxi wilted: "Five thousand."

Xia Yucheng let out a laugh, placed the stone back in the machine, and told the cutter: "Cut it in half down the middle."

That meant the stone was hopeless—just slice it open and be done with it.

Great, his dad didn't think much of the five thousand either.

Xia Yinxi punched Ji Yunzhuo.

Ji Yunzhuo lowered his head slightly, seeing Xia Yinxi pouting, his hand sneaking behind him to punch a few more times.

"Why did you tell my dad I was here?" Xia Yinxi whispered, using the machine's noise as cover. "Can't you see I'm avoiding him?!"

Ji Yunzhuo couldn't exactly say, "I saw you and Song Baichuan with your heads together whispering, and it annoyed me, so I had to send your father-in-law over to separate you without making it obvious."

Xia Yinxi was still fuming, his fist turned into an open palm that landed heavily on Ji Yunzhuo’s back, catching the latter off guard and shoving him into a stumble.

“...” Xia Yinxi quickly withdrew his hand and turned his head, pretending like nothing happened.

Xia Yucheng looked over: “What’s going on?”

Ji Yunzhuo steadied himself, his expression unchanged: “Nothing, just didn’t sleep well last night, feeling a bit unsteady.”

“You should still take care of yourself, don’t work too hard,” Xia Yucheng said. “Don’t just stand there, sit down.”

Xia Yinxi stepped forward and took Ji Yunzhuo’s arm, eagerly saying, “Let me help you.”

Ji Yunzhuo gave him a dark, meaningful look: “Thanks.”

“No need to be so formal with me.”

Li Yili and Gao Qian, who had witnessed everything, exchanged knowing looks and kept their mouths shut.

The buzzing grew softer and gradually died down as the stone cutter opened the machine, letting out a sudden “Whoa!”

The unremarkable stone had been split in half, revealing a window of rich, delicate purple, packed full and dense.

Xia Yinxi fiercely pinched the thigh beneath his hand: “My two hundred million?!”