Chapter 57: A Painting Worth Fifty Million
Translator: _Min_
Jiang Yue did not expect Song Yu would involve her in the dispute.
Throughout the previous period, only w.a.n.g Lan and Song Yu from the Song family showed her any particular affection. They played a significant role in determining whether she could become part of the Song family.
Having grasped this point, she responded gently with a smile, “Yes.”
w.a.n.g Lan harbored her doubts deep down. However, once she received encouragement from Jiang Yue, she hesitated no longer. She held up her bid card and exclaimed, “50 million!”
The second her words resonated, the entire location erupted into a clamor.
w.a.n.g Lan was somewhat delighted to hear the praises rising from the a.s.sembly beneath. Her gaze fell upon Gu Dai’s box, antic.i.p.ating Su Ting’s next bid.
w.a.n.g Lan’s actions were swift, so swift that Song Ling couldn’t grasp what had transpired. He voiced his objection, discontent filling his tone, “Mom, why did you raise the bid again? Didn’t 1 instruct you to let them win it?”
Nonchalantly, w.a.n.g Lan waved her hand to answer Song Ling’s query, “It’s fine. Su Ting is bound to keep bidding for that sl*t Gu Dai. 1 will surely stop later and not bid any further.”
w.a.n.g Lan’s reference to Gu Dai caused a slight furrow of Song Ling’s brow, but in the end, he remained silent, adding only, “Hmm, ensure you don’t bid later, no matter what.”
w.a.n.g Lan promptly concurred, “Hmm, noted.”
However, events didn’t unfold as w.a.n.g Lan antic.i.p.ated. A minute slipped by with no bid increase from Gu Dai’s side.
Song Ling noticed this, and his brows contracted. w.a.n.g Lan’s heart pounded. Both Song Yu and Jiang Yue closely monitored the unfolding situation.
They weren’t the sole observers, others and even the auctioneer joined in, their attention riveted on Gu Dai’s box, curious to know whether the bidding would continue.
Yet as seconds turned into minutes, silence reigned from the box.
Eventually, a sound emanated from the box, but it wasn’t a bid. It was a woman’s voice, suffused with mirth, inquiring, “Why isn’t the auctioneer striking the gavel? Isn’t the deal final?”
The auctioneer promptly regained his composure when he heard the voice, “50 million for the first time!”
“50 million for the second time!”
“50 million for the third time!”
“Sold! Congratulations, Mrs. Song!”
The room detonated with applause and exclamations.
“Goodness, Mrs. Song truly is affluent, prepared to bid 50 million for a painting.”
“The initial price was a mere 500,000, and it now skyrocketed by 100 times! This is typical of the Song family, they aren’t concerned with the cost. As long as they desire it, they don’t mind how pricey it is.”
“I genuinely envy Mrs. Song’s life!”
“I feel the same, I do too.”
At that moment, w.a.n.g Lan, the object of everyone’s envy, felt as if she had been whacked over the head. Her mind whirled, her face ghostly pale, she clutched her chest in fear, and shakily rose from her seat.
Song Ling’s countenance was extremely somber. He spoke to w.a.n.g Lan in a grave voice, “You can go and make the payment.”
“I don’t have the funds.” w.a.n.g Lan uttered the statement and turned towards Song Ling, pleading in her tone, “Son, can you help your mom in paying? I truly don’t have any money!”
Song Ling remained unmoved, “Settle it with your own money.”
w.a.n.g Lan looked taken aback, she hadn’t antic.i.p.ated that Song Ling would be aware of her secret funds.
But since Song Ling had recently reduced her to receiving only 100,000 a month, her secret funds were her only solace. If she were to pay, she would genuinely be left penniless, so her only choice was not to pay!
Once Song Ling cast a glance at w.a.n.g Lan’s expression, he immediately saw through her ploy, “I won’t cover for you. If you fail to pay, they might approach grandpa.”
w.a.n.g Lan did not expect Song Ling to be so ruthless.
Song An was already dissatisfied with her. If he discovered this, the repercussions would be unthinkable…
The auction a.s.sistant had already entered. w.a.n.g Lan had no option but to grudgingly hand over her card to pay. As she viewed the painting that came into her possession, she threw it on the floor, stomping on it multiple times in frustration.
w.a.n.g Lan looked up, and through the window, she caught sight of Gu Dai in the adjacent box. Instantly, fury blinded her and she yelled, “Gu Dai, you are utterly shameless, escalating the price and not bidding. You’re really sly!”
Gu Dai remained poised, in contrast to w.a.n.g Lan’s furious and fl.u.s.tered demeanor. Her voice held a light chuckle, “I’m just less affluent, I lack the funds to continue bidding, unlike Mrs. Song, who is so wealthy.”
Gu Dai glanced at the painting on the ground, and continued, “Mrs. Song, your painting accidentally fell.. You bought it for fifty million, you should certainly take careful care of it!”