The charity auction gala had already begun, with celebrities from all walks of life gathering in the hall, their eyes all focused here.
“The Fu family and the Feng family have been competing fiercely lately, it seems like they’re bringing it out into the open now.”
“That girl in the middle is pretty enough, but why does she look so familiar?”
“Is she some rich family’s daughter? But didn’t President Fu bring a date? This…”
Li Jing stood amidst the various gazes and whispers, her thin shoulders slightly hunched, and finally said helplessly, “I, let’s sit down quick…”
Fu Lingchu didn’t take a step back, and Feng Ce also looked furious.
—In the end, Li Jing sat between the two male leads.
After Qiao Yuxin added more headwear and jewelry, feeling that she could finally outshine Li Jing, she came out, only to find that Fu Lingchu was actually sitting with Li Jing?!
Even more outrageous, Feng Ce was sitting on her other side?!
Not only her, but the other wealthy socialites were also unhappy—the two most powerful men in the room were actually being monopolized by that penniless nobody!
Li Jing in the middle: If she could, she would also like to sit on a separate sofa^_^
But there was no way, she had to make a living.
Thankfully, the sofa was very long, so even though Li Jing was sitting between two tall and muscular men, it wasn’t crowded. Fu Lingchu’s bidding paddle was on her left, Feng Ce’s on her right—but of course, Li Jing wouldn’t actually raise the paddles, otherwise, how could she watch the male leads compete?
Technically, Li Jing didn’t have the qualifications to bid, but the male leads were willing to donate the amount in her name. So, in any case, the two wealthy male leads’ battle was the focus.
Seeing that President Fu and Young Master Feng had finally taken their seats, the auctioneer on stage discreetly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and began to host the auction process.
“Welcome to all of you who have graced us with your presence tonight, I believe you are all socially responsible and compassionate individuals, and tonight’s collection will not disappoint…”
“Bidders raise their paddles to bid according to the starting price, following the 258 model, raising the paddle once represents 120,000, raising it a second time is 150,000, raising it a third time is 180,000, and so on. Of course, malicious collusion and price gouging are prohibited, otherwise, the bid will be invalid according to law.”
Li Jing: Abiding by the law and harvesting the leeks, no problem √
Fu Lingchu’s presence was powerful, and Feng Ce was not to be outdone, she sat obediently in the eye of the storm, watching the first item being brought up.
This was a sculpture by an internationally renowned artist, a gazelle made of fiberglass and ceramic, shimmering with a unique vitality under the overhead lighting, drawing approving murmurs from many art connoisseurs in the room.
Fu Lingchu glanced at Li Jing, “Do you like it.“carpreads.pages.dev
The posture was very open, as if as long as Li Jing nodded, he could spend a fortune for her.
In the later part of the original story, the original owner also became immersed in the warm fantasy created by the male leads, until the White Moonlight returned from abroad with an illness, and she was forced by the male leads to become a blood bag, shattering this false fantasy like a broken mirror.
Li Jing clicked her tongue inwardly, before she could speak, someone in the room had already bid 200,000 yuan.
Feng Ce glanced at Fu Lingchu, raised his paddle with a look of disdain, as if silently saying: I don’t even need to ask.
Fu Lingchu narrowed his eyes.
Li Jing appeared bewildered on the surface, but her heart was clapping: Yes, yes, let’s fight!
But Fu Lingchu was a shrewd and successful businessman after all, he was not at all provoked by Feng Ce, instead, he took on the demeanor of a mature man, resting his hand on the back of Li Jing’s chair, and asked casually, “Not interested?”
Li Jing pursed her lips, looked at Fu Lingchu, then at Feng Ce, and spoke cautiously.
“I just think, this, this is too expensive…”
Feng Ce burst out laughing.
A hint of a mocking, helpless smile flashed in Fu Lingchu’s eyes.
—Truly naive and foolish.
Anyone who could enter this kind of gala and have the qualifications to bid, which one didn’t have a substantial fortune. Not to mention, the painting Ye Yan donated, it would start at least at three million.
Yet Li Jing felt that a 200,000 art piece was already “too expensive” for them.
Was she looking down on the head of the Fu Group, or was she looking down on the heir of the Feng family?
The subsequent bidding, as if to demonstrate their inexhaustible wealth to Li Jing, this frog at the bottom of a well, Fu Lingchu and Feng Ce continued to bid, as if what they were spending was not money, but a string of meaningless numbers.
Seeing the girl beside him so nervous that her fingers were tense and white, and she didn’t even dare to speak, a sense of satisfaction based on wealth and power arose in his heart.
Li Jing didn’t speak.
She was talking to the system: “Ye Yan’s painting hasn’t even come out yet, and they’re already fighting like this, I’m saying it’s not too much to ask for a floor of the seaside villa tonight, right?”
The system was truly amazed by her adaptability: “As expected of you, the emotions are so well-delivered!!”
Feng Ce’s brow was furrowed in displeasure, while Fu Lingchu’s lips held a relaxed smile.
Until the host announced the introduction of the next item—
“Donated by an anonymous benefactor, a painting by Brazilian artist Tustavo Remos, ‘Moonlight’, depicting the bright moon in the night sky with vivid and innocent brushstrokes, like distant longing…”
Fu Lingchu suddenly sat up straight, and the impatient expression on Feng Ce’s face vanished.
They stared intently at the painting being pushed out, as if they could see through the canvas and see the person standing in front of the painting, quietly admiring it.
Li Jing’s gaze swept towards the second-floor box without a trace. It had been quiet there all along. Du Jinghuai’s agent hadn’t raised his paddle, but this time he was definitely going to make a move.
Three male leads fighting, it wouldn’t be fair to them if they didn’t pay a high price for their deep love for the White Moonlight.
Moreover, Du Jinghuai’s scheming was actually more complex and unpredictable than Fu Lingchu’s. Li Jing was looking forward to the effect of adding in this line.
At this time, on the second floor.
The man by the glass window had half-long black hair, a cold and melancholic look, his gaze fixed on the scene below.
To be precise, it was fixed on a certain person in the scene.
Originally, he had come here just to wait for Ye Yan’s collection, but his gaze was completely captivated by the restless figure in the scene.
Although the distance was far, Du Jinghuai could tell that the face was nine out of ten similar to Ye Yan’s.
Du Jinghuai fell in love with Ye Yan after she had already become famous. One time, he saw her unknown vulnerability and deeply felt the urge to keep her by his side and take care of her.
This feeling was special. He believed that he wouldn’t be like those shrewd businessmen, nor would he be like those immature young masters, who could easily find some counterfeit to fill the void in their emotions.
Du Jinghuai’s gaze shifted slightly, and then he dialed Ye Yan’s number.
“Yanyan, I’m at the charity gala.”
Du Jinghuai watched Fu Lingchu and Feng Ce, who were already driving up the price, and told Ye Yan in a gentle voice, “The painting you donated has already been bid up to nearly ten million.”
On the other end of the phone, Ye Yan covered her mouth and exclaimed, “What? I told Lingchu and A’ce not to…”
But a bright joy flashed in her eyes.
That painting, which she had simply left at home for a while, could make Fu Lingchu and Feng Ce lose their minds and spend a fortune for her.
“A’huai, I want you to persuade them,” Ye Yan said in a heartbroken tone, “Don’t do this for me…”
“I want to persuade them too, but—” Du Jinghuai’s voice was gentle, but his eyes held a strange meaning, “They’ve been bidding like this all night.”
Li Jing, who was in the middle of the scene, saw the male lead number one and male lead number two bidding directly towards ten million. Thinking that all this money would go into her account, she couldn’t help but feel tears welling up in her eyes.
Ye Yan, you! You are my god!!
My god of leeks!!
But Ye Yan, who was holding the phone, suddenly froze.
They weren’t just bidding for her painting, were they also bidding for that counterfeit…
“But, Yanyan,” Du Jinghuai expressed his love in a timely manner, “I won’t look at anyone else.”
“In my heart, you are the absolute, the eternal, the only one.”
Ye Yan was silent for a few seconds, then let out a pitiful cry, “A’huai…”
“Hmm, you don’t need to say anything, I understand.”
They were both in the bizarre and glamorous entertainment industry. Du Jinghuai understood Ye Yan’s fragile and sensitive heart better than Fu Lingchu and Feng Ce. He pitied her, but he also wanted to possess her.
No one could be like Ye Yan. No matter how similar the counterfeit looked, it was just a fake.
Having achieved his main goal, Du Jinghuai got up and left the second-floor box. Several assistants had checked the hallway beforehand and confirmed that no one was there, so he could leave without worry.
Du Jinghuai walked calmly around the corner, suddenly colliding with a hurried figure.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
The person looked up in panic, a familiar, fair and delicate face, crashing straight into Du Jinghuai’s eyes.
For a moment, Du Jinghuai really thought he had seen Ye Yan.
Li Jing: Hee hee, didn’t expect that, did you?
She had a system prompt that could locate the male lead’s position.
While male lead number one and two were still bidding, the third line was up, my old bro!
But the Acting Emperor was indeed the Acting Emperor. Even though he was shocked, Du Jinghuai’s expression didn’t change at all, it was cold and indifferent.
Li Jing quickly stepped back.
However, the brooch on Du Jinghuai’s white suit caught the light gauze on Li Jing’s skirt. As she stepped back, there was a “rip” sound, and a long tear appeared.
The stunning custom-made dress was ruined. The girl’s heart ached, her eyes widened, and her eyes immediately turned red.
Du Jinghuai knew clearly that these were two different people.
But when that same face showed vulnerability, it still made his fingertips pause.
Then, the man’s cool voice rang out, “How much is the dress? I’ll pay for it.”
Li Jing: Okay, okay.
He had already developed the self-awareness of a leek from the first meeting, she was very optimistic about this Acting Emperor!
Li Jing held her hand over the tear in her dress, her heart aching, but she shook her head dejectedly: “It’s okay, maybe I shouldn’t have worn this kind of dress…”
At such close range, Du Jinghuai could see every detail of her body—if she shouldn’t have worn it, perhaps very few people in the world could wear it.
So Du Jinghuai asked again: “How much?”
Li Jing shook her head and stepped back, her figure so thin, but her face showed a strong determination: “Actually, I borrowed money to buy this dress—five thousand yuan is not a small amount, but I will pay it back myself.”
Du Jinghuai was slightly taken aback.
The craftsmanship of this dress was definitely more than five thousand, and the person who gave it to her obviously hadn’t told her the truth. As for the reason, it was simply because she wouldn’t accept expensive gifts.
This poor girl was even seriously thinking about paying it back.
If Ye Yan was the moon on the water, then she was a stone sunk in the mud, but… those eyes were too clear, like pebbles washed clean by the water.
Li Jing stopped there, politely turning to leave: “I’m so sorry for bumping into you just now, goodbye.”
The system asked: “Host, is this really okay?”
Li Jing walked towards the dressing room, saying: “Du Jinghuai’s most needed emotion is pity, showing weakness in front of him is the most effective.”
Behind Li Jing, the man watched her figure disappear around the corner.
Du Jinghuai’s initial favorability: 0%
Du Jinghuai’s favorability +1%
Li Jing hadn’t even pushed open the dressing room door when she caught a glimpse of a figure rushing towards her with a fierce look.
She immediately retracted her hand from the door.
Just right, let’s find a sucker.
Qiao Yuxin felt like she couldn’t take it anymore.
She had been staring at Fu Lingchu’s table all evening, and after Li Jing left, she also found an excuse to sneak over, and then she saw Li Jing talking to the great Acting Emperor Du!
Hooking up with three guys in one night! Who does she think she is?!!!
Just because she’s wearing a custom-made dress, she thinks she’s a femme fatale?!
Qiao Yuxin rushed towards her, holding a glass of red wine—the dress she couldn’t get, Li Jing wouldn’t have it either!
Li Jing’s dress was already torn, and she stood there calmly, waiting for her to splash it.
But just as Qiao Yuxin reached out to splash the wine on her, time suddenly froze—
A white, bony hand stretched out from behind, taking away the wine glass.
The silver-haired man was wearing a deep black tailcoat, perfectly matching his sculpted features, broad shoulders and narrow waist, his steps elegant and gentlemanly as he walked towards her with the wine glass.
His pupils were a light color, echoing his dazzling silver hair, reminding people of a silent snow mountain. But his gaze was warm, and he smiled gently at Li Jing.
“—Be careful.”
Li Jing blinked, thinking that the Transmigration Bureau’s supervisor could actually easily freeze time, this BUG-like existence was so cool.
“Teacher, you’re so thoughtful,” Li Jing said with a smile, “but I was going to let her splash it and then make her pay for my dress.”
Lu Mian walked in front of her, lowered his eyes, and asked with a hint of regret: “Then, do you need me to pay for your dress?”
“No—” Li Jing chuckled, leaning in slightly, “I need you to pay for my wine.”
The man’s clear breath paused slightly.
The fingertips holding the glass unconsciously rubbed against it, the wine swaying slightly.
Li Jing was in a good mood.
She finally flirted back after being flirted with by him at the beginning.
“Just pay me when you have time—” She took a step back, “Resume time, I still have to brush up on the plot.”
Lu Mian looked at her for a few seconds, then lowered his head and smiled.
With a snap of his fingers, time flowed again.
Qiao Yuxin had completely forgotten what she came here to do, and she didn’t even remember that she had a glass of wine in her hand, she could only rely on her previous emotions to rant at Li Jing.
“The Fu family won’t allow you to marry in!” Qiao Yuxin pointed at her, “You’ll always be a poor loser!”
Li Jing agreed with the first sentence, but the second one—that was impossible.
Li Jing walked into the dressing room in front of her, closed the door, leaving Qiao Yuxin fuming outside.
She treated Qiao Yuxin and the others with a lot of affection.
The three male leads were her first-tier leeks, and the supporting characters they could attract were the second tier. Fu Lingchu could attract his fiancée and wealthy socialites to pick fights, Feng Ce had all the school girls crushing on him, and Du Jinghuai… had the power of tens of millions of fans.
“You get what I mean?” Li Jing said.
System: “As expected of you…!! The host’s wealth achievement is just around the corner!!”
Li Jing changed her clothes, rubbed her hands together, and returned to the banquet hall.
“Let’s go, let’s go back and brush up on the first and second lines,” Li Jing said, “and harvest the results.”
“But Host, if it’s a super large amount of money, it will be submitted to the Transmigration Bureau for the highest level of review.”
Li Jing: “Highest level? The Main God? The Main God wouldn’t be so stingy, would he?”
Li Jing: “The Main God is busy with a million things, they wouldn’t be free to manage a small world, would they? No way, no way.”
System: “…”
Oh.
-—–
In the end, the painting Ye Yan donated was bid up to a terrifying price.
Because it exceeded the assessed market price too much, the organizers could only come over and bow and scrape, begging them to negotiate the price privately. Everyone present knew that this was a game between the two great families, the Fu family and the Feng family, and no one dared to join this smoke-filled battlefield.
Just when the stalemate was at its peak, Ye Yan’s phone rang.
She called Fu Lingchu.
In an instant, the cold and ruthless aura around Fu Lingchu dissipated, and under Feng Ce’s wolf-like gaze, he answered the phone gently: “A’yan, hmm? You tell me.”
“Okay, hmm… I understand.”
Fu Lingchu hung up the phone gracefully and then said to Feng Ce: “Young master Feng, I’ll let you have this painting.”
He knew that the Du family would definitely make a move, and after bidding up the price to this point, he would let Feng Ce take the loss.
Feng Ce forced himself not to be outdone, coldly saying: “It was mine anyway.”
Fu Lingchu was in a very good mood at this moment, scanning the crowd for Li Jing’s figure while saying lightly: “If you think so, then so be it.”
Feng Ce was full of dissatisfaction.
Why did his sister call Fu Lingchu first? Where was Li Jing? She had disappeared too.
He couldn’t suppress the urge to flip the table, but just then, his phone rang.
Feng Ce picked it up and saw that it was a message from Ye Yan.
[A’ce, I know you’re together so I won’t call. I received your intentions, but don’t fight over me, I’ll be worried.]
Feng Ce’s anger subsided, he lifted his eyelids and glanced at Fu Lingchu, “My sister sent me a message too.”
Fu Lingchu snorted coldly.
Ye Yan was always like this. She wouldn’t neglect anyone.
She was so warm and kind, she should be cherished and held in their palms forever.
Li Jing came back right at that moment.
She had changed back into her usual clothes, and their eyes fell on her faded, almost worn-out sleeves, realizing that Li Jing was a completely different person from the girl in the light gauze dress just now, as if she was Cinderella after midnight.
Li Jing held her sleeve, asking cautiously but expectantly: “How much did you donate?”
At this moment, the two pampered and privileged young masters of the wealthy families had the same question in their minds - how could she even think about helping others when she couldn’t even afford to eat?
Fu Lingchu said lightly: “You’ll know soon enough.”
Li Jing’s eyes shone with anticipation.
After the entire evening’s auction, the organizers were responsible for settling the amount of donations from each of the kindhearted individuals. All the items had been professionally appraised and the buyers confirmed for the evening. This year’s Charity Night had a very impressive turnover thanks to the bidding between Fu Lingchu and Feng Ce.
The organizers were beaming with pride as they announced the results.
Fu Lingchu had bought a total of three items tonight, spending 5.13 million.
Feng Ce had bought a total of two items tonight, but one of them was Ye Yan’s painting, for a total of 10.08 million.
“Thank you, young master Feng and President Fu, for your generosity to the mountain region!…”
The host was very excited, and Li Jing was about to cry.
Fu Lingchu rested his arm on the back of the sofa and said to Li Jing: “Young master Feng donated more, why don’t you thank him?”
The tone of his voice seemed to naturally classify Li Jing as his possession.
Feng Ce frowned, crossed his arms, and raised his chin at Li Jing, “Come over and sign.”
Li Jing: I’m coming, I’m coming.
These were truly donated in her name. For the first time, Li Jing thought the male leads were so handsome!!!
Perhaps the light in her eyes was too dazzling, so Feng Ce averted his gaze.
— This person didn’t even know that they participated in the auction not for any mountainous area, nor for her, Li Jing, but for another person who looked exactly like her, but whom they held in the palm of their hands.
Moreover, none of this donated money had anything to do with Li Jing. What was she so moved about?
Are there really people who are so kind as to be this foolish?
On the donation confirmation form provided by the staff, Li Jing respectfully signed her name.
Immediately after, a series of beautiful sounds of counting money pierced through her skull.
Fifteen million, a beautiful sum deposited into her account.
“What are you crying for?” Fu Lingchu suddenly asked.
Li Jing raised her hand to wipe away the tears of emotion from the corner of her eyes.
— A large villa, a white sandy beach. A handsome guy with silver hair.
Wuwuwu.
At this time, the staff brought over the certificate: “Miss Li Jing, this is your donation certificate.”
Li Jing wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes, and under the complex and unreadable expressions of Fu Lingchu and Feng Ce, she repeatedly declined, her eyes and face full of sincerity.
“Honor is no longer important to me, really.”
At that moment, Fu Lingchu and Feng Ce felt a pang of guilt for the first time.
—Fu Lingchu’s favorability +3%
—Feng Ce’s favorability +5%
Good, three lines of progress in one round.
Li Jing smiled through her tears, so beautiful: “The honor belongs to President Fu and young master Feng!”
— And the money all belongs to me!!