Return of the King, Dominating the City
Chapter 50 - 50 49 Snatching a Man

50: Chapter 49: Snatching a Man 50: Chapter 49: Snatching a Man Watching these people spend money like it was nothing gave Song Yun an intense pain in his heart.

Damn it, so this is what the lives of the rich were like!

Though he had a fair amount of savings himself, he had never been this extravagant—throwing around a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand in a single gesture.

It seemed he really didn’t know how to live.

He felt like he was becoming just like those ancient nouveau riche who, when they got money, hid it in their pigsties, terrified that others would find out they were wealthy.

But this crowd was terrified that others *wouldn’t* know they were wealthy.

Li Shishi glanced at Song Yun and asked, “How does it feel?

Should we bid on it?”

“The current price is five million one hundred fifty thousand, which is a bit over this item’s intrinsic value, and…

this vase might not be authentic.”

“That can’t be possible.

The items here were carefully selected by everyone.

They couldn’t be fake,” Li Shishi said, somewhat surprised.

“It does look real, but that’s only on the surface.

Having handled so many antiques, I feel like this one is a fake—it’s just that the forger was too good at creating an authentic look.

He has real skill,” Song Yun said slowly as he gazed at the vase.

“I advise you not to bid on it.”

“Mr.

Li, aren’t you going to join in?” The owner of the lot, Mr.

Wang, came over with his large belly and said with a smile, “The price of this item today has exceeded my expectations.

As the owner, it’s giving me a lot of face.

But the biggest money here, Li Shishi, hasn’t raised her hand once, which hurts my feelings.

Could it be that Mr.

Wang’s face isn’t worth fifty thousand?”

“Mr.

Wang, I’m not interested in this item, so there’s no need to deny someone else’s love,” Li Shishi replied, her face bearing a professional smile, without commenting on the authenticity of the piece.

“Well, that’s too bad,” Mr.

Wang said with a regretful shake of his head.

“Then let me wish ahead of time that Mr.

Li finds an item she likes.”

“This numbskull doesn’t even realize he’s being duped,” a voice came from behind Song Yun, who then turned around abruptly to see an old man dressed in traditional attire.

The old man seemed to carry an air of arrogance; he gave Song Yun a glance and said slowly, “Kid, I’ve just overheard your conversation with Shishi.

Tell me, how did you discern that this is a fake?”

“Well…

there’s no real trick to it.

It’s just that this Gem Red Flared Vase is too red; the color seems kind of greasy, and it feels fake,” Song Yun blurted out a reason, not sure if this old man was someone important.

From the fact that the old man could tell the item was a fake, it was clear he was no ordinary man.

“Grandpa Liu?” Li Shishi spotted the old man standing at the back and said excitedly, “What brings you to Tian Nan City?

You didn’t even give me a heads-up.”

“It’s been so many years, and you’ve become so beautiful.

Yet, you didn’t think to visit this old man in Tian Nan City,” the old man said, looking affectionately at Li Shishi.

“No, I’ve actually been planning to visit Tian Nan after a while,” Li Shishi said, showing a coquettish attitude Yu Ge had never seen before.

“Have you visited the old mansion?”

“This trip was a rush; I’ll talk about that next time.

That old codger, your grandfather, doesn’t even call me during the holidays.

Why would I take the trouble to see him?” After saying that, the old man fixed his gaze on Song Yun and said, “Young man, you wouldn’t happen to be the Song Yun that Old Man Li was boasting about over the phone, would you?”

“If everything went as expected, that’s me…”

“Not bad; good judgment,” said the old man, closing his mouth afterwards without specifying whether it was Mr.

Li’s judgment in people that was good, or if it was Song Yun’s eye for antiques.

“Grandpa Li, is this antique really a fake?” Li Shishi asked curiously.

“Fake.

These charity events are getting worse year by year.

They dare to display items that have been misidentified.

Hmph, but the person who made this vase is also an expert.

If they’re willing to put their heart into their work, it’s quite possible they could become a Grandmaster in decades.”

“What should I do then?

I can’t leave the auction without buying anything, right?

People might talk,” Li Shishi said helplessly.

“First, join this old man for a cup of tea upstairs.

There are good items in this auction; they’re just being saved till last,” said Mr.

Liu, and he waved to his bodyguard, who began to take care of it.

In less than five minutes, the banquet organizer, who had rushed to the hospital earlier, hurried over, bowing and scraping to Mr.

Liu and said, “Mr.

Liu, I had no idea you were here; I could have arranged the best private room for you.”

“So, do we have private rooms available now?

It’s too chaotic downstairs.”

“Of course, of course.

Even if the King of Heaven came, I’d kick him out to save the best for you,” said the banquet organizer, then he led Mr.

Liu towards the second floor.

Meanwhile, Song Yun grew increasingly curious about who exactly this Mr.

Liu was.

Upon reaching the door of the private room and pushing it open, standing inside was a young woman dressed in a cheongsam.

She was very graceful and delicate.

She wore a simple copper hairpin with no other adornments.

Plain-faced and with a mild demeanor, she curtsied, and then promptly took off Mr.

Liu’s shoes before slipping quietly out the door.

Song Yun and Li Shishi did not receive the same treatment and took off their shoes themselves, following Mr.

Liu inside.

Song Yun felt that the best private room was indeed extraordinary—the plush carpet was soft and comfortable underfoot, and the sparsity of furnishings highlighted the striking green plants, with their dark green leaves intermixed with beige buds, imbuing the entire room with a rich orchid fragrance, refreshing the spirit.

But what was really impressive was the floor-to-ceiling mirror by the window.

Only those inside could look out, while from outside, it appeared pitch black.

This was a significant enticement to certain big bosses with perverse tastes, such as multitasking between the auction and engaging in ‘activities’ with beautiful women by their side.

Mr.

Liu sat on the sofa and smiled at Song Yun, “I heard from Old Man Li that you joined the National Security Bureau?”

“Just entered a few days ago, quite out of the blue.”

“No matter, no matter.

To achieve so much at such a young age, if I had a suitable granddaughter, I would definitely marry her off to you.” After saying this, he noticed Li Shishi glowering playfully at him, so he waved his hand and laughed heartily, “Of course, I don’t have a suitable granddaughter, so naturally, I won’t be stealing men from Shishi.”

“Grandpa Liu, what are you saying?

Stealing men?

I’m not interested in him at all.”

“Ah, you speak amiss.

Song Yun is brave and shrewd; he knows when to act and when to withdraw, and understands propriety.

He is a rare good man.

Shishi, you must hold onto him.

You should know that a man like him is never short of women throwing themselves at him.”