Chà Chà Novel

Xue Cheng’an’s smile stiffened for a brief moment, then quickly returned.

“Of course I’m happy to work with you, Cousin. But the entire Lin Group will belong to you someday. Do you really need to start as an assistant like me?”

That depended on whose assistant he would be. Uncle Wang might be Lin Zhen’s secretary, but his business experience was second to none.

Many major projects required his approval before they could even reach Lin Zhen’s desk.

Xue Cheng’an must have assumed Lin Huaiqing did not understand and was deliberately trying to provoke him.

“Huaiqing, Cheng’an. Come in.”

Uncle Wang opened the chairman’s office and called them inside.

“Starting today, you’ll work under me and learn how the company operates. Organize the documents on the desk. This afternoon, you’ll attend a charity auction.”

Lin Huaiqing did not see his father all morning. He was probably holding another staff meeting.

That afternoon, Uncle Wang had the driver take them to the charity auction.

“Buy a few items as you see fit. The budget is limited, so don’t spend more than five million.”

After giving his instructions, Uncle Wang hurried back to the company, leaving them there.

“Cousin! I hear the lots here are nothing special. Wouldn’t it be better to keep the five million ourselves?”

“I don’t know. Let’s sit down and take a look.”

Xue Cheng’an was up to no good, openly tempting him to make a mistake. How ridiculous.

As he reached his seat, Lin Huaiqing encountered someone familiar.

Beside him, dressed with conspicuous flair, was Qin Fan—the man he had punched the other day.

The swelling had apparently gone down. Almost no trace remained.

Nearby sat the protagonist, Qin Feng.

There was an empty seat between the brothers. Anyone who didn’t know better might think they were on bad terms.

They were probably representing the Qin Group, buying trinkets at inflated prices as an indirect way of making a donation.

At the sight of that intensely irritating face, Lin Huaiqing wanted to change seats. But Xue Cheng’an, behind him, had already sat down.

He could only follow suit.

“Enemies really do meet on narrow roads! What brings you to an auction today, Young Master Lin?”

Qin Fan talked far more than his elder brother. Lin Huaiqing could not be bothered to respond and pretended not to hear.

The seating area was dim, the lights concentrated on the auction stage. Several lots passed without catching his interest.

Just as he began to doze off, someone firmly stroked his thigh.

He looked at Qin Fan, who was watching the auction with complete concentration, and wondered whether he had imagined it.

“Did you touch me just now?” he asked Xue Cheng’an.

“No? Cousin, look at that jade bracelet. The quality seems good. Why don’t we bid on it?”

Lin Huaiqing looked at the emerald-green jadeite bangle on the tray. It was clearly one of the finest items offered.

Its quality fell somewhat short of exceptional, but the one-million starting price had already drawn plenty of bidders.

【Ding! Side storyline triggered: “The Heroine’s Grandmother’s Bracelet.” Win the auction to complete the mission and receive +10 protagonist hatred.】

The notification came at just the right moment.

The bracelet had belonged to the heroine’s late grandmother, and she cherished it. Her younger sister, however, had stolen it and put it up for auction.

That made its eventual owner critically important.

Qin Feng would be determined to obtain it. The bidding had already reached three million when Lin Huaiqing raised his paddle.

“Four million!”

A jump of one million. Even among these prominent guests, that was enough to make people hesitate.

Many dropped out.

“Excellent! Mr. Qin offers four point two million! Will Mr. Lin continue?”

“Four point five million!”

Lin Huaiqing raised his paddle again.

Qin Feng, seated nearby, shot him a sharp glance that seemed to carry a warning.

“Four point eight million!”

Lin Huaiqing ignored the warning entirely. Making Qin Feng miserable was practically his purpose in life.

Without hesitation, he declared, “Five million!”

Even Qin Fan could no longer sit and watch. He pulled Lin Huaiqing’s hand down.

“Are you mad? That thing isn’t worth five million. Why compete with him?”

“I know it isn’t! But I like it, and I’ll bid whatever it takes!”

Deep down, Qin Fan found this infuriating version of Lin Huaiqing adorable. It made him want to press him against a wall and tease him mercilessly.

But going head-to-head with Qin Feng would not end well.

As his brother, Qin Fan knew exactly how unforgiving he was.

“That’s right, Cousin! Our budget is only five million. Don’t go over it.”

Xue Cheng’an did not speak loudly, but just loudly enough for Qin Feng to hear.

Whether deliberate or accidental, the remark revealed Lin Huaiqing’s budget. Qin Feng immediately raised his bid.

“Five point five million!”

Anyone with a little knowledge knew the bracelet was worth three million at most. Now its price had climbed to five and a half.

Although the proceeds would go to a local charitable foundation, wealthy people’s money did not grow on trees either. At this price, the buyer was already taking a considerable loss.

“Six million!”

Lin Huaiqing raised his paddle with an aching heart. The extra million would have to come from his personal savings.

“Six point five million!”

Qin Feng remained perfectly composed, as though the sum meant little to him.

“Lin Huaiqing, stop bidding. My brother needs that bracelet. Don’t compete with him out of spite.”

Qin Fan meant well, but Lin Huaiqing pushed his hand away.

“He needs it, but I don’t?”

“He’s buying it to pursue a woman. What do you want it for?”

“I’m buying it for a woman too. Is that not allowed?”

Lin Huaiqing rolled his eyes, annoyed by his interference, then raised his paddle.

“Seven million!”

Even the auctioneer had never seen anything like it. A charity auction had somehow produced a seven-million bid.

These rich people were mad.

“Who are you buying it for?”

Qin Fan’s face darkened. His cold eyes fixed on Lin Huaiqing, determined to get an answer.

Lin Huaiqing ignored him completely, still eager to raise his bid again.

Furious, Qin Fan stood, snatched away his paddle, and dragged him from the seating area.

Caught up in the bidding, Lin Huaiqing refused to give up even as he was pulled away. He was about to call out another offer when a large hand clamped over his mouth.

“Mmph! Mmm…”

“Hey! Cousin! What are you two doing?”

Only after pulling him backstage did Qin Fan uncover his mouth.

“Are you insane? Why did you drag me away?!”

Without Lin Huaiqing bidding further, Qin Feng secured the bracelet for seven point two million.

Mission failed.

Lin Huaiqing was furious, and the consequences would be serious.

But someone was even angrier: Qin Fan, who had brought him backstage to demand an answer.

“Who did you say you were giving that bracelet to? Lu Yuting? Or Lin Yanyan?”