Volume 1, Chapter 37: Someone Takes the Hint

She felt she had seen this book somewhere before, though she couldn't quite recall where.

"Shuwei, what’s wrong?" Zhou Haixin asked, noticing her pause.

"Wait a moment, I want to bid on this book." Jiang Shuwei returned to her seat and was the first to raise her paddle: "Three hundred and fifty thousand."

"Five hundred thousand." Su Mian’s voice rang out once again.

Jiang Shuwei snapped her head around to look at her. Su Mian wore a smug expression, as if to say, "You're nowhere near my level." Jiang Shuwei knew Su Mian was targeting her.

A flash of memory crossed her mind, and Jiang Shuwei finally remembered where she had seen the book: it was on her mother’s desk. Back then, she had even used it to prop up a wobbly table, only to be chased around the house by her mother with a switch. Her mother had cherished that book dearly.

Long-buried memories pulled Jiang Shuwei back to the present. She raised her paddle again: "Five hundred and fifty thousand."

"One million." Su Mian’s increments were always startling. Money seemed to be nothing more than a number to her; she would keep piling it on as long as she wished.

Zhou Haixin was also struck with disbelief, grabbing Jiang Shuwei’s arm. "An unremarkable medical book is already selling for a sky-high price of one million? Is this… is this even money anymore?"

Jiang Shuwei sighed. "This book concerns my mother."

With that, Jiang Shuwei bid again: "One point five million."

Zhou Haixin’s eyes widened.

"Three million," Su Mian said lazily, as Xia Chengze raised the paddle for her.

Jiang Shuwei’s heart skipped a beat for no reason. As the only daughter of the Su family, whose assets exceeded ten billion, trying to snatch something away from her was truly an act of overestimating herself.

"Five million." Just as Jiang Shuwei decided to give up, a cold male voice sounded from the dark, secluded corner on the left.

Jiang Shuwei was startled by the voice and couldn't help but look back. In the dim light, a figure with a distinguished air sat upright in a chair; the person raising the paddle beside him was Zhou Zirui.

Su Mian clearly hadn't expected anyone to compete with her. She glanced over with a hint of coquettish annoyance in her beautiful eyes, only to be met by a face as cold and stern as an iceberg: it was Qin Weizhou.

Su Mian’s brows tightened. This book, *The Golden Acupoints*, was something her mother had specifically requested; she could not give up.

"Six million," Su Mian raised her paddle again.

By now, the audience in the auction house was stunned, and whispers began to spread. They didn't know what was so extraordinary about this book to make it jump from a starting price of three hundred thousand to six million—it was simply terrifying.

"Ten million," the man’s unquestionable tone bore down heavily.

Su Mian’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't fathom why Qin Weizhou would be interested in such an inconspicuous old book. Ten million for a potentially useless book—Su Mian was so angry she almost laughed.

"Ten million once, ten million twice..."

"Eleven million." Su Mian was determined to win. Her mother had instructed her that this book was of great importance to the Su family; she could not back down.

After raising her paddle, Su Mian immediately blinked her alluring eyes at Qin Weizhou in the distance, her gaze pleading and innocent, hoping the man would show some mercy.

Qin Weizhou kept his eyes fixed on the antique book on the stage, ignoring everyone else, and said coldly, "Fifteen million."

Su Mian felt as if her heart might explode. Her almond-shaped eyes glared; she felt as if Qin Weizhou was deliberately toying with her. Could it be that this man was seeking justice for Jiang Shuwei? Just moments ago, she had pressed Jiang Shuwei on every item, and now, it was this man’s turn to compete against her?

Jiang Shuwei was also somewhat astonished, looking at Qin Weizhou in disbelief. Of all the treasures auctioned today, which one wasn't more valuable than an old book?

Su Mian clutched her chest, her voice losing its previous momentum. Xia Chengze asked her, "Little Mian, are you still going to bid?"

Su Mian took the paddle directly and held it high: "Twenty million."

At this moment, her momentum seemed to return. Buying a piece of junk for twenty million made her want to spit blood, but her mother said the book was crucial, and she couldn't give up.

"Twenty-five million." Qin Weizhou’s tone remained icy and calm, yet unhurried, radiating an aura of total dominance that left no room for doubt.

Su Mian found it hard to breathe. She bit her red lip, tears of frustration welling in her eyes as she turned to look at Qin Weizhou. He leaned back in his chair like a king, flanked by two friends and business partners; the trio’s combined presence was unrivaled.

Watching Su Mian’s face flush with rage, her expression twisted and helpless, Jiang Shuwei felt a flicker of satisfaction.

"Twenty-six million." Su Mian wanted to gamble one last time. She bet that if Qin Weizhou were truly seeking revenge for Jiang Shuwei, then perhaps her current expression of pure agony would extinguish his anger, and he wouldn't raise the price again. That way, she could at least secure the item.

"Thirty million." For every incremental increase Su Mian made, Qin Weizhou effortlessly topped it. The room was now in an uproar. People began to examine the old book, wondering if it had the power to bring the dead back to life—otherwise, how could it have become the most expensive item in the auction?

Su Mian was anxious and furious, her eyes rimmed with red, her lips bitten white. Xia Chengze whispered to her, "Little Mian, that bastard seems to be driving the price up on purpose. Do you still want to fight for it?"

The Su family’s wealth was around ten billion, but the Qin family, as rumored five years ago, had already exceeded one hundred billion. In these past five years, their growth had been ferocious, and their assets were now beyond estimation. Even if Su Mian wanted it badly, she had to face reality.

Even if she bid up to a hundred million to win the book, offending Qin Weizhou would not yield good results.

Su Mian took a deep breath, turned, and offered Qin Weizhou a graceful, elegant smile, as if to say, "The treasure is yours."

Zhou Haixin was beside herself, tugging at Jiang Shuwei’s arm as she struggled to breathe. "Thirty million... thirty million for that little book? Good heavens, I’m turning green with envy. What’s wrong with having one more rich person in this world? What’s wrong with that?"

Jiang Shuwei watched wistfully as the book was carefully carried away, a surge of vague memories flowing through her heart. She had wanted to bid because the book reminded her of her mother, but at a price of thirty million, she dared not even imagine it.

The auction continued. Since the attendees were all powerful and influential figures, the rules weren't rigid, and those who wished to leave early were free to do so.

Jiang Shuwei had nothing else she wanted to bid on. She decided to leave with Zhou Haixin, planning to find a café on the first floor to sit and wait for the cruise ship to dock.

As the two emerged, they saw Xia Chengze and Lu Yanzhi walking out with Su Mian through another door. Seeing the three of them, Jiang Shuwei turned to leave.

"Jiang Shuwei," Su Mian, still brimming with suppressed rage, called out to her.

Jiang Shuwei looked at her coldly. "Yes?"

Xia Chengze chimed in with a sarcastic tone, "Miss Jiang, aren't you going to explain what happened in the auction house just now?"

Jiang Shuwei glanced at him strangely. "Are you referring to Miss Su deliberately driving up the price to stop me from winning the White Jade Guanyin?"

Su Mian bristled immediately. "What do you mean 'deliberately'? The highest bidder wins; that’s the rule of the auction."

Jiang Shuwei sneered. "Then there’s nothing more to say."

Xia Chengze immediately spoke up, "You and Young Master Qin seem to have a good relationship. For a married woman to be entangled with another man—it’s quite shameful."

Jiang Shuwei’s eyes flickered with surprise. A second later, she nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is shameful. However, I’ll leave it to you to decide who is the one making a spectacle of themselves."

Su Mian’s face flushed with anger. "Jiang Shuwei, who are you insinuating?"

"I didn't say anything," Jiang Shuwei curled her lips into a cold smile. "Some people just like to see themselves in the reflection."