Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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Although the guests present felt that Si Huang’s statement was too capricious, with Ivan Jasper present, they could only swallow their bitterness in silence. They could only hope that what they wanted wouldn’t be snatched away by this capricious young lady again.
The middle-aged client, however, was unwilling to give up. One of his most important purposes for coming here was that old street in Y country. How could he let everything fall apart because of a little girl’s words?
“Second Young Master!” With his eyes darting back and forth, the middle-aged client saw Dou Wenqing as if he had seen hope, and his eyes lit up. He whispered, “This must be obtained, our cooperation…”
Before he could finish speaking, he was frozen by Dou Wenqing’s gaze, and for a moment, he had the same question as Chai Liang: What had happened to make the Second Young Master suddenly change his expression so quickly?
“Don’t you understand what the Count is saying?” Dou Wenqing said.
A flash of embarrassment crossed the middle-aged client’s face. He forced a smile and said, “I heard you, but doesn’t Second Young Master think this is against the rules?”
“You mean you want me to argue with the Count right here?” What was clearly a question was delivered as a statement by Dou Wenqing, his words devoid of any inflection, making the middle-aged client feel like a ridiculous clown in his eyes. “Sit down.”
The last two words were uttered, and the middle-aged client unconsciously sat back down, his face turning from red to blue. He was certain that Second Young Master Dou felt he was being disgraced by sitting at the same table with him!
This minor incident didn’t affect the continuation of the auction. The auctioneer and Si Huang, didn’t interfere further. She herself didn’t want the items, and Ivan Jasper would sometimes glance at her, as if he felt regretful that the auction items hadn’t piqued his young lady’s interest or won her favor.
This scene caused the guests below to twitch their eyes repeatedly. They thought that the Count, who used to think of the princess as a perfect gentleman and a trustworthy partner, now seemed unreliable because of his excessive pampering of her.
“Now, we are about to auction one of the highlights of today’s auction,” Ivan Jasper said, lifting the red silk covering the item to reveal a treasure: a ring. “Its name is Christina’s Wish, originating from…”
As Ivan Jasper recounted the origin of Christina’s Wish, Si Huang noticed several groups of people below were eager to participate, including Qin Fan’s table.
This wasn’t something she noticed from Qin Fan’s face, but rather from the expressions of Yang Zi and the others. The moment her gaze fell upon their table, she was met with a pair of eyes that were intensely fixed on her. The gaze was so tangible and pressure-filled that Si Huang couldn’t ignore it; if she pretended not to see it, it would seem too deliberate.
Therefore, Si Huang calmly turned her gaze to meet Qin Fan’s, their eyes seemingly sparking in the air.
After about four or five seconds of eye contact, Si Huang looked away, letting out a soft click of her tongue.
Ivan Jasper, who was standing nearby, heard this clearly. He finished explaining the auction item and asked Si Huang, “Miss, are you getting bored?”
“No, I’m in high spirits,” Si Huang replied.
Ivan Jasper told everyone that bidding on Christina’s wish could begin. He then went to Si Huang to refill her tea, adjusting it to her preferred flavor.
Christina’s wish was for an emerald jade ring, its color rich and deep, its luster subtle yet mysterious. Viewed from different angles, it evoked different feelings: a warm, vibrant green and a dark, deep emerald.
The bidding quickly soared to ten million, seemingly just the beginning. Each bidder’s voice was steady and powerful, indicating they had already decided on this item and had sufficient funds.
Qin Fan and his group were among the bidders. As the price rose, Dou Wenqing and Zhou Jun also joined in, competing with three foreign men.
Listening to their bidding, Si Huang wondered if Qin Fan, having bid so high, would receive government subsidies or pay for it himself. The most aggressive bidder, the man from Country F, seemed to be very wealthy. What surprised Si Huang most was Zhou Jun. She remembered him working for Xia Qitong; was he here on Xia Qitong’s orders? His bid wasn’t high, but he relentlessly competed with the other strong bidders.
“Ivan,” Si Huang called out to Ivan Jasper as the bidding intensified.
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, enough for the people in front to hear, and each of them felt a sudden, inexplicable unease.
Ivan Jasper replied, “Yes, Miss?”
Si Huang rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head to look at the group of guests who were either hiding their nervousness or deliberately watching the show, and asked with a light laugh, “Who do you think will ultimately win this treasure?”
Ivan Jasper’s smile deepened, a hint of mischief and pleasure flashing in his deep blue eyes, “I think no one will win it.”
This statement caused the bidding to pause, and everyone was puzzled by his meaning.
“Oh? Why?” Si Huang asked for them.
Ivan Jasper took Christina’s wish out of the box, then walked up to Si Huang and smiled at her, “Because it already belongs to Miss.”
“Hiss—” A gasp came from below, the crowd’s emotions running high.
Si Huang remained unmoved, arrogantly raising her chin and coldly saying, “Did I say I wanted her?”
“You said it’s a treasure.” Ivan Jasper’s eyes were filled with deep tenderness. His young lady was being affectionate with him again, which made him extremely happy; his heart almost melted, and he wished he could kiss her fingertips.
Everyone suddenly realized that this willful girl had just said, “I think there will be more treasures for me to fancy next.”
“I only said it’s a treasure, not that I fancy it.”
“I think it’s very suitable for you, young lady.” Ivan Jasper’s deep voice was full of masculine tenderness.
He knelt on one knee before Si Huang.
Another gasp rippled through the crowd; Ivan Jasper’s actions made some people momentarily forget to stop him.
Ivan Jasper extended his gloved hand towards Si Huang, palm up. “Please don’t be offended by my taste, Miss.”
A low chuckle rang out, audible only to a select few, most notably Ivan Jasper, who couldn’t help but look up, his gaze lingering on his young mistress with a loving intensity.
Si Huang placed her lace-gloved hand in his, the touch almost weightless. “Ivan, I’ve always trusted your judgment.”
Ivan Jasper lowered his head, his perfect smile now tinged with genuine joy. “Thank you for your trust.” He lifted her hand and slipped the Christina’s Wish ring onto her index finger.
“It truly suits you perfectly, Miss.” The ring unexpectedly fit Si Huang’s finger perfectly.
Si Huang was speechless for a moment. If looks could kill, she would have been sliced into countless pieces by Dou Wenqing’s gaze, and then burned to ashes by Qin Fan’s.
In that brief moment of stunned silence, Ivan Jasper lowered his head and pressed his lips to… the jade surface of the ring she was wearing.
However, from some people’s perspective, they would definitely misunderstand that his lips were kissing Si Huang’s fingers.
“Your Majesty, the sun is burning, and I sense Little Ice’s murderous intent!” Five Treasure whispered quietly.
“Shut up,” Si Huang commanded mentally.
Five Treasure obediently shut up; it knew it had caused trouble this time, but how could it atone for its mistake?
Hidden in the holster strapped to Si Huang’s calf, Five Treasure’s dark eyes darted around.
“Ivan Jasper! You’re so arrogant! You know perfectly well we came here for this!” A nobleman from Country Y stood up, sneering as he accused Ivan Jasper. “Don’t think you can ignore us just because you’re trusted by the Queen. You filthy bast**d, thinking that having a noble surname makes you a true nobleman? No matter how you disguise yourself, you can’t hide the baseness of your soul.”
Ivan Jasper stood up, elegantly smoothing his coat, and said to the accusing man, “Mr. Jerome, your words and actions don’t conform to the standards of a noble gentleman. Over the years, money has ultimately corrupted Jerome’s faith.”
“Shut up, you Queen’s lackey!” The man’s face flushed with shame and anger, his arrogant, twisted smile uttering a cold threat. “Are you really going to entrust Christina’s wish to this beautiful princess? Her fingers look so beautiful. What a pity it would be if something went wrong… Ah!”
The entire room fell silent for a moment. No one saw when Ivan Jasper drew his gun or when he fired it.
The arrogant Y-country man, who had been so domineering just moments before, now had a bloody hole between his eyebrows. Blood quickly flowed down his face, and he collapsed to the ground, his eyes lifeless, his expression still one of shock.
“I hope this piece of trash didn’t spoil your fun,” Ivan Jasper said, looking at Si Huang.
Si Huang replied, “No.”
Everyone noticed again the difference in this new princess. Unlike the former fluffy flowers, her voice was calm and steady, not feigning composure.
The Dream’s crew seemed quite adept at this kind of thing. Several men in suits came over and carried the man’s body away, while others meticulously cleaned the stains from the floor.
“Mr. Jerome was too careless. He should know I don’t like jokes, and I won’t allow anyone to hurt my…” Ivan Jasper paused. He had always referred to her as “my princess,” but now he spoke again, looking at Si Huang, “Young Miss.”
“I apologize for showing everyone something unpleasant. If no guests wish to leave, our auction will continue.”
The staff worked quickly and efficiently; there was almost no trace of the death that had occurred there. The auction continued with the bidding for the final two items.
Everything proceeded smoothly, but everyone knew that something was brewing in their hearts— a sense of unease and scheming towards the ‘princess’ at the front seat who had changed everyone’s plans.
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