Chapter Twenty: Lighting the Celestial Lantern-O jovem senhor Jiang ajoelha-se implorando perdão, mas a senhorita Shen já se casou com outro.(Vossa Graça)

“Hey, you little ungrateful brat!” Ye Pianpian instantly exploded. If Shen Suining hadn’t held her back, she would have dashed over and grabbed Jiang Jiang by the ear.

For the past four years, because of Shen Suining, Ye Pianpian had been very fond of Jiang Jiang. Whenever she saw something nice, she would think of Jiang Jiang.

Now, seeing Jiang Jiang like this, Ye Pianpian truly felt it was undeserved.

Shen Suining merely averted her gaze calmly and continued to bid.

“Five hundred million.”

Compared to the previous uproar, Shen Suining’s renewed bid plunged the auction hall into an eerie silence.

Jiang Runlang turned his head to look at Shen Suining, his eyes filled with unfamiliarity and curiosity.

This time, Shen Suining did not avoid his gaze; instead, she smiled slightly at him, signaling him to continue.

To others, that smile was a blatant provocation directed at Jiang Runlang.

As expected, Jiang Runlang’s expression turned icy.

He gave Shen Suining a deep, cold glance, then turned back but did not immediately raise his bid.

The necklace had already reached five hundred million. Whether considering the intrinsic value of the necklace or the added worth from its story, five hundred million was an exaggerated figure.

Jiang Runlang was indeed wealthy, but he was no fool. To bid over five hundred million for a necklace, especially at such a modest auction, was rather foolish.

However, Jiang Jiang did not understand these things.

Within her small frame was a huge competitive spirit.

She only knew one thing: she could not lose to the mother she despised!

So, during Jiang Runlang’s silence, Jiang Jiang climbed up from his lap and stomped her feet anxiously.

“Daddy! I like this! You promised to buy it for me!”

Jiang Runlang’s large hand protected Jiang Jiang’s small body but still did not raise the bid.

He was certain that no matter how much he bid, Shen Suining would keep raising.

There was no way Shen Suining alone could do this.

Someone behind her must be backing her up.

Naturally, Jiang Runlang assumed that person was his own mother.

He cast a glance toward Pei Min.

Since Jiang Runlang and Shen Suining began bidding, Pei Min had been sitting steadily in her seat, without even glancing their way.

This only confirmed Jiang Runlang’s suspicion: Pei Min was Shen Suining’s trump card.

He sneered coldly and, as Jiang Jiang shook his arm again to urge him to raise his paddle, said to her, “Jiang Jiang, why don’t you ask Grandma if she wants to give you this necklace.”

At these words, Jiang Jiang immediately slid down from Jiang Runlang’s lap and ran off toward Pei Min.

In fact, it should have been the auctioneer’s time to strike the gavel, but he made no move, nor did the guests urge him on.

Everyone wanted to see how this drama would end.

This time, Shen Suining did not hurry either.

She watched as Jiang Jiang ran to Pei Min’s side, clutching her arm and swaying from side to side.

“Grandma! You love me the most, right? Please agree to have Daddy buy this necklace for me, okay?” Jiang Jiang looked up with a hopeful little face, coaxing Pei Min.

Pei Min lowered her eyes to look at Jiang Jiang but did not immediately respond.

As Jiang Jiang continued to tug at Pei Min’s arm, Pei Min turned to look at Shen Suining.

Shen Suining sat there as serene as ever, as if she cared nothing about what would happen next.

This composed demeanor was unfamiliar to Pei Min.

Pei Min stared deeply at Shen Suining for a full half minute.

During that time, their eyes met.

Shen Suining understood Pei Min’s meaning: this farce should end here.

Once she was sure Shen Suining understood, Pei Min turned back and gently stroked Jiang Jiang’s head.

“Go ahead,” she said kindly.

Receiving Pei Min’s permission, Jiang Jiang immediately brightened and cheered, “Grandma, you’re the best! I love you so much!”

Before her words even ended, Jiang Jiang turned and ran back to Jiang Runlang.

“Daddy! Grandma agreed!” Her cheeks flushed pink with excitement, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

Jiang Runlang curved his lips slightly, lifted Jiang Jiang back onto his lap, and raised his bidding paddle again.

“Six hundred million.”

This time, Jiang Runlang raised by a full hundred million.

It was his way of signaling Shen Suining that he had no patience to continue playing this game with her.

The guests all turned their gaze to Shen Suining in unison, only to see her lowering her eyes to check her phone.

She was exchanging messages with Jiang Jun.

“Mr. Jiang, the value of this necklace really isn’t worth six hundred million. Are you sure you want to keep bidding?”

From the perspective of a professional archaeologist, Shen Suining knew this necklace was already seriously overpriced; there was no need to continue.

After sending the message, she received no reply.

She sighed silently in her heart. It seemed Jiang Jun was determined to secure the necklace.

Just as Shen Suining prepared to bid again, suddenly, the sky lantern in the second-floor private room was lit.

Even the auctioneer on stage was stunned.

He had no idea this would happen!

All eyes turned to the second floor. Until now, no one even knew there were people upstairs.

The guests whispered among themselves, trying to find out who was up there.

The most expressive was Jiang Runlang.

First, he stared in disbelief at the second floor, then at Pei Min, and finally fixed his gaze on Shen Suining’s face.

Could it be that his guess was wrong?

The person backing Shen Suining wasn’t Pei Min?

But someone in the second-floor private room?

Jiang Runlang’s eyes darkened, and his hand gripping Jiang Jiang’s arm tightened involuntarily, causing Jiang Jiang to cry out in pain.

“Daddy, you’re hurting me!”

The fate of the necklace was now sealed.

Just as the auctioneer was about to introduce the next item, a message came through his earpiece.

He paused in surprise, then looked incredulously at Shen Suining.

Seconds later, cautiously, the auctioneer took the brocade box containing the necklace and walked down from the stage toward Shen Suining.

Everyone watched without blinking, hearts pounding.

Shen Suining realized something and instinctively clenched her phone resting on her lap, silently blaming Jiang Jun.

She didn’t want this kind of attention at all!

Yet, no matter how much she resisted inside, the auctioneer reached her side, holding the box.

He said, “Miss Shen, this is a gift for you from a distinguished guest in the second-floor private room.”

Instantly, the entire hall erupted in astonished whispers.

This was a genuine six hundred million, gifted outright to Shen Suining, whom they had all looked down upon.

Who exactly was the guest in the second-floor private room?