Chapter 108 - Auction
Bai Xia followed Stella out of the audition hall in silence. The moment they stepped outside, the noisy atmosphere rushed toward them like a wave. Sharp voices overlapped, footsteps hurried, and anger-filled shouts echoed around the entrance. Even before she looked up, Bai Xia could already tell that a fight had broken out.
Two girls were struggling fiercely in front of the building.
Hair was being pulled, clothes had become wrinkled, and deep red scratch marks were visible on one of the girls' exposed arms. The surrounding audition candidates stood in a loose circle, none of them daring to step forward to break it up. Fear, curiosity, and excitement mixed on their faces as they whispered among themselves.
Upon closer inspection, Bai Xia recognized one of them immediately.
It was Shang Shan.
Shang Shan's usually well-maintained appearance was in a mess. Her hair was disheveled, her face slightly red, and her eyes burned with anger and humiliation. The other girl, though injured, held her audition number tightly as if it were her lifeline. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to cry.
Bai Xia stopped at the back of the crowd, leaning quietly against the wall. Her expression was calm, her eyes indifferent. She whispered a few instructions to Stella without turning her head.
"Go and see what's going on."
Stella immediately walked forward. With a sharp gaze and firm tone, she forcefully separated the two struggling girls. The moment the space opened, Shang Shan spoke first, her voice arrogant and filled with entitlement.
"I'm your boss's best friend. Let me in immediately. I'm tired of waiting outside with these nobodies."
Her gaze swept over the surrounding girls with deep disdain.
The injured girl trembled slightly as she spoke through clenched teeth, tears finally spilling from the corners of her eyes.
"She wanted to cut in front of me. I refused, and then she started shouting and hit me. She even scratched my face…"
She was clearly frightened when Shang Shan announced she knew the CEO, but even so, she did not give up her position in line. She had waited too long to back down now.
Stella looked at both of them with a professional expression. She had already received instructions from Bai Xia. She bowed slightly toward Shang Shan, her attitude polite yet firm.
"Miss Shan, my boss did not inform me of your visit today. Therefore, please follow the rules like everyone else and return to the back of the line."
Shang Shan's face froze.
She had never expected to be rejected so cleanly in public.
For a moment, her expression twisted in embarrassment and rage. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides as if she wanted to explode right there. But when she met Stella's unwavering gaze, she knew very well whose order this was.
This was Bai Xia's decision.
She dared not force the matter.
With eyes full of resentment, Shang Shan glared at Stella fiercely and turned away. Her footsteps were heavy as she walked toward the back of the line, humiliation eating away at her pride.
The injured girl finally breathed a sigh of relief, almost collapsing where she stood.
Stella turned toward her, reached into her pocket, and pulled out a crisp 1,000 yuan note. She placed it gently into the girl's trembling hand.
"Go inside first and treat your injuries. This is for your medical expenses."
The girl's eyes widened in shock. She stared at the money, then at Stella, her lips trembling as gratitude flooded her face.
"Thank you… thank you so much…"
Around them, the other audition candidates exploded into whispers.
"If only I had spoken up earlier…"
"She not only got 1,000 yuan, she even gets to go in directly…"
"I regret it so much…"
Jealousy, regret, and envy spread through the crowd.
Bai Xia watched quietly from the back. Her lips curved into a barely noticeable arc before she turned away without another glance.
She and Stella got into the car and drove off.
Unbeknownst to them, in the shadowed corner of the building, a pair of resentful eyes stared viciously in the direction their car left. The hatred inside those eyes twisted like poison, quietly brewing something dangerous.
Stella drove directly toward the auction venue, and shortly after, she and Bai Xia entered the grand hall.
The auction venue was already filled with people. Bright crystal lights illuminated the hall, reflecting off expensive suits, glittering jewelry, and calm but calculating eyes. The host was still giving opening speeches when Bai Xia stopped at the entrance.
Just as she was about to step inside, a shrill voice suddenly rang behind her.
"I didn't expect to see you here. Looks like you're here to fish for another rich man."
The voice was sharp, unpleasant, and dripping with hostility.
Bai Xia stopped.
She slowly turned around to look at the person, but the face she met was unfamiliar. She studied the girl carefully and frowned slightly.
"I'm sorry, have you mistaken me for someone else? I don't remember you."
The girl sneered.
"My name is Gu Nan. Don't you remember? You stole my last boyfriend, sucked him dry, and now you're here looking for a new big fish."
Bai Xia was momentarily stunned.
Last boyfriend?
Her thoughts flashed instantly to Fu Jian.
Her gaze sharpened as she examined Gu Nan more closely. Suddenly, the image overlapped with a memory.
Wasn't this the girl from the café that day she went on a date with Fu Jian?
But Gu Nan looked very different now.
Her black hair was glossy and smooth, her makeup delicate, and her skin pale from careful maintenance. She was dressed head to toe in luxury, clearly having been lavishly spoiled.
"Oh… so you're that girl from the café," Bai Xia said lightly. "I thought you were just a waitress back then. What are you doing here now?"
Gu Nan's face darkened instantly.
"What waitress? My boyfriend is rich, handsome, and he has a car. You can only ride that stinky bike for the rest of your life."
Bai Xia almost laughed.
She gave Gu Nan a lazy glance and decided she was not worth another word. Without responding, she turned and walked straight into the auction hall.
Gu Nan's face twisted in fury. The way Bai Xia ignored her completely felt like the greatest insult. She stomped her foot angrily and quickly followed her inside.
"I'll show you later," she muttered bitterly in her heart.
Bai Xia and Stella took their seats in the second row. The opening speeches were still ongoing. After sitting for a short while, Bai Xia stood up and headed toward the restroom.
Two minutes later, she returned.
If someone looked closely, they would notice a black auction card now resting calmly in her hand.
She had entered her space and retrieved it to activate her mission.
After all the introductions were over, the real bidding finally began.
The first item up for auction was a piece of land located near a residential area, covering 50 acres.
"And this land begins at five million yuan!"
"Six million!"
"Seven million!"
"Nine million!"
"Thirteen million!"
Bai Xia raised her paddle calmly.
"Fifty million."
Her cold voice echoed across the hall.
The entire venue went silent.
The host froze for a moment before his excitement burst through.
"Fifty million once! Fifty million twice! Sold to the lady in front!"
The second item was a seven-floor shopping mall with additional parking space.
Starting price: twenty million.
"Thirty million!"
"Thirty-five million!"
"Forty million!"
"One hundred million."
Once again, Bai Xia's voice cut through the hall.
Gasps echoed everywhere.
"Who is she?"
"Too ruthless…"
A few businessmen attempted to bid further.
"One hundred five million!"
"One hundred ten million!"
"One hundred fifty million!"
The hall grew quiet again.
"One hundred fifty million once! One hundred fifty million twice! Sold!"
Then came a thirty-floor apartment building with sixty residences and vast parking space.
Starting price: one hundred million.
"One hundred twenty million!"
"One hundred thirty million!"
"Two hundred million!"
Bai Xia did not hesitate.
"Three hundred million."
Silence fell again.
"Three hundred million once! Three hundred million twice! Sold!"
Whispers erupted throughout the crowd.
Some admired.
Some mocked.
Some doubted.
"No one has even seen her face clearly…"
"She's throwing money like water…"
"She must be backed by some terrifying force."
"Or maybe she's just reckless."
"She doesn't even blink when bidding hundreds of millions…"
"Is she a hidden tycoon?"
"I wonder how rich she really is."
"Could be a puppet placed by some big family."
"But spending like this? That's insane."
"No matter what, she's not someone we should offend…"
Bai Xia felt a sharp gaze on her.
She turned slightly and met Gu Nan's resentful eyes. Sitting beside Gu Nan was a man whose face was half-hidden by shadows. Bai Xia could not clearly see his features.
She ignored them both.
Finally, the last major item appeared.
A massive chain of hotels and restaurants, consisting of three five-star restaurants, seven three-star restaurants, and two five-star hotels.
Starting price: two hundred million.
The hall fell completely silent.
As expected, Bai Xia raised her paddle.
"Three hundred million."
A collective sigh rippled through the crowd.
Then another paddle went up.
"Three hundred fifty million."
Bai Xia was slightly surprised.
She turned and saw the man beside Gu Nan bidding. Gu Nan now wore a smug smile, as if she had finally found her moment of triumph.
Bai Xia calmly raised her paddle again.
"Four hundred million."
This time, the man did not bid anymore.
The hall held its breath.
"Four hundred million once! Four hundred million twice! Sold to the lady in front!"
As the hammer fell, Bai Xia suddenly heard a soft sigh from behind her.
But that sigh…
It sounded far too familiar.
Her fingers paused slightly.
Something felt wrong.