Chapter 17: Caught in the Trap

What? There really was the legendary “Sky Lantern” bid?

She had seen in melodramas that placing a Sky Lantern bid could potentially lead to total ruin.

Jiang Nanxing felt a surge of excitement.

She had never seen one before, truly never.

If Sheng Ting really placed the Sky Lantern bid, that would be thrilling.

But Sheng Ting also understood the gravity of such a bid. Would he let Qin Jiu place it instead, only to drive up the price and trap Qin Jiu?

Jiang Nanxing grew a little worried.

Qin Jiu looked at Sheng Ting, a cold sneer curling at the corner of his mouth as he raised his hand.

Yao Xinyue could only think of one thing: she couldn't stand Jiang Nanxing stealing the spotlight, so she quickly raised her hand first. “Sky Lantern! I want to place the Sky Lantern bid!”

Qin Jiu chuckled lightly, neither hurried nor slow. “Miss Yao, placing the Sky Lantern bid requires meeting certain qualifications. It’s meant to stop those who are unqualified from bluffing and causing chaos.”

Yao Xinyue felt disoriented under Qin Jiu’s disdainful gaze.

She wasn’t exactly wealthy; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been desperate to catch Sheng Ting’s attention.

Sheng Ting lifted his chin slightly, his jawline taut as he spoke slowly and deliberately, “If she’s unqualified, am I?”

“Place it!”

Jiang Nanxing’s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled.

Everyone at the auction was excited; they had never seen anyone place a Sky Lantern bid before.

Some had never even heard of it.

Soon, an attendant brought a magnificent lantern and placed it on Sheng Ting’s table.

Qin Jiu whispered to Jiang Nanxing that the lantern was also an antique, to give the Sky Lantern bid a more prestigious appearance.

The Sky Lantern was lit, but the bidding phase still continued.

The final lot started at four hundred million.

Many people didn’t even consider bidding.

But now that the Sky Lantern was lit, they felt compelled to join in the excitement.

One by one, they made symbolic bids.

No one dared to open with an exorbitant offer.

After the casual bidders had all placed their offers, Qin Jiu leisurely spoke up, “One hundred billion.”

At that price, gasps echoed throughout the hall.

They even thought the starting price of four hundred million was laughably low.

Jiang Nanxing was stunned.

Wait—does the money in these CEO novels really get spent like this?

She glanced sideways at Sheng Ting and Yao Xinyue.

Sheng Ting’s expression darkened.

This meant spending one hundred billion still hurt him.

Qin Jiu tapped his fingers on the table, half-smiling, “President Sheng, shall I take over?”

Even if Sheng Ting placed the Sky Lantern bid, he could still back out in the end.

This was called “bursting the lantern,” meaning the bidder couldn’t afford the price.

But apparently, there was a price to pay for that as well—though no one knew the details.

Today’s auction was filled with influential people.

With such a spectacle, unless Sheng Ting was willing to lose face completely, he had to follow through with the Sky Lantern bid.

Coincidentally, Sheng Ting was particularly prideful.

He quickly calmed himself and scoffed, “One hundred billion, I can still afford that.”

“Any more bids? If not, it’s mine.”

At this point, no one else dared to offer more.

Thus, Sheng Ting won the jewel at a price of one hundred billion.

Yao Xinyue’s mind wasn’t sharp enough to grasp the undercurrents.

All she knew was that Sheng Ting had backed her up and spent one hundred billion for her.

She was ecstatic.

The final lot was delivered straight to Sheng Ting.

Yao Xinyue immediately wanted to wear it around her neck to flaunt it.

But Sheng Ting snapped the jewelry box shut.

It was clear that although he had spent the money, he was displeased.

Yao Xinyue noticed Sheng Ting’s sour mood and reluctantly gave up her plan.

With the final lot sold, the auction was about to end.

Jiang Nanxing still had a task unfinished.

She stood and said to Qin Jiu, “I’m going to the restroom.”

Before leaving, she glanced at Sheng Ting, her expression tinged with disappointment and embarrassment.

Sheng Ting, burning with anger and nowhere to release it, finally found an outlet.

His gaze darkened as he rose and followed her.

Yao Xinyue also stood, “Sheng Ge, where are you going?”

Qin Jiu made a gesture, and someone blocked Yao Xinyue’s path. “Miss Yao, may I have the honor of making your acquaintance?”

Yao Xinyue hesitated briefly; Sheng Ting’s figure had already disappeared.

Jiang Nanxing didn’t enter the restroom but stood by the public washbasin.

Sheng Ting strode over, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her close.

His brow furrowed darkly and coldly. “Now do you regret it?”

“No one but me can give you what you want!”

Jiang Nanxing couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth.

He spouted boastful words one after another but never truly gave her anything.

He only insisted she was unworthy.

She was different—she thought Sheng Ting was perfect, perfect enough to deserve a slap from her.

Raising her free hand, Jiang Nanxing swiftly slapped his face. “President Sheng, isn’t it time you returned the bracelet my mother gave me?”

“Don’t think that just because you secretly took my most treasured possession, you can keep forcing me to indulge your twisted demands!”

“That’s impossible!”

Sheng Ting’s head turned from the slap. Instead of growing angrier, he was baffled by Jiang Nanxing’s barrage of accusations.

He instinctively asked, “What?”

The auction had just ended, and many people came to the restroom, so a crowd had gathered.

Jiang Nanxing launched into a full-blown performance.

Her face was filled with disgust and fury. “President Sheng, I’ve told you—I could never like a man who shows his true colors like you.”

“Why do you have to resort to stealing to entangle me?”

Sheng Ting couldn’t even focus on the slap anymore, gritting his teeth, “What nonsense are you spouting?”

“When have I ever stolen from you?”

Jiang Nanxing feigned earnestness. “I saw it with my own eyes. Am I wrong?”

“I dare say! My bracelet is right here on President Sheng’s person!”

She unleashed a torrent of CEO drama lines. “Even if you won me over by stealing me this way, you’ll never win my heart!”

“I could never love a despicable man like you!”

Sheng Ting was furious. “You crazy woman! Stop ruining my reputation!”

“What bracelet? I’ve never seen it!”

“Oh? Since Miss Jiang believes the bracelet is on President Sheng, why doesn’t President Sheng just strip and prove it’s not on him?” Qin Jiu interjected.

He paused, deliberately dragging out the words as he looked at Sheng Ting in mock surprise. “Or could it be... President Sheng is trying to win Miss Jiang back by stealing her bracelet?”

Sheng Ting was proud; there was no way he would prove his innocence by undressing.

He shook off Jiang Nanxing’s hand with a cold laugh. “If I didn’t steal it, then I didn’t. What’s there to prove?”

“You’re clearly doing this on purpose!”

“Since you couldn’t get the jewel, you want to resort to this…”

Suddenly, Qin Jiu moved decisively, grabbing Sheng Ting’s arm and pinning him against the washbasin.

As the male lead, Sheng Ting was certainly no pushover.