Chapter 40: Do You Understand Auctions?

In the afternoon, Jiang Li wore a conservative black suit and followed closely behind Lin Fan to attend the largest auction in Jiangcheng.

However, the paternity test report in her hand felt immensely heavy. Ever since Special Assistant Lin handed her this document regarding herself and little Qin Jingchen, she had been feeling completely out of sorts.

The six words "Not a biological parent" weighed heavily on Jiang Li, making it hard for her to breathe.

Still, she had mentally prepared herself for this in advance, hadn't she?

Just because she felt a sense of natural closeness to the child didn't mean the child was hers!

Jiang Li tried hard to calm herself down, but the image of Youyou's blood-stained heart flashed back into her mind.

She shook her head, forcing herself to regain composure.

Jiang Li looked at Lin Fan before her and took a deep breath.

Lin Fan held up the paddle bearing the name of the Jiangcheng Group. As the two of them watched wealthy businessmen from all over the country gather here, Jiang Li kept silent due to her lack of experience.

Sensing her nervousness, Lin Fan said, "Don't be nervous, Eldest Miss. These are things you will have to experience in the future. Face them with poise. After all, you have the Jiang family backing you, and you are the helmsman of the Jiang family."

Jiang Li straightened her posture and sat upright. Her well-tailored suit accentuated her graceful figure.

Her translucent, fair skin caught a glimmer of light, and she sat there with quiet confidence.

Throughout the entire venue, Jiang Li exuded an innate, effortless dignity.

At that moment, uninvited guests arrived. Jiang Xue and Qin Mu walked in arm in arm.

Catching sight of Jiang Li, Jiang Xue covered her mouth in feigned disbelief. "Oh heaven, Cousin Jiang Li, how could you possibly come to such a high-end place? Aren't you just a nobody, a mere low-level employee?"

Jiang Li said nothing and simply pointed to the sign in front of her bearing the words "Jiang Corporation," indicating that she was there as a representative of the company.

Jiang Xue's expression twisted instantly. "You're representing the Jiang Corporation? Has the Jiang family really run out of people?"

Well, hadn't they?

Yet Jiang Li did not see it that way. Although she had never met her biological father, he had given her life. Even if she was the result of an unintended accident, she would never desecrate his memory.

"My surname is Jiang as well. Jiang Xue, please watch your language. After all, Chairman Jiang himself personally dispatched me and Special Assistant Lin here. If you have any objections, you are welcome to take it up with the elder himself."

"You—ha! Have you ever even seen an auction before? How utterly ridiculous. Do you understand auctions? Do you even know how bidding works? What the hell does a woman crawled out of the slums know about any of this?"

Jiang Li smiled faintly and glanced around. Whispers and questioning gazes were beginning to drift from the surrounding crowd.

"The Jiang Corporation is down to just Special Assistant Lin and some unfamiliar little secretary. Oh, it's such a pity about President Jiang's death."

"Madam Lin Dan was a renowned charity ambassador, yet the culprit still hasn't been brought to light. How truly conscience-less!"

"Indeed, Chairman Jiang didn't come. It seems he's still grieving over the loss of his son!"

"Still, with a corporation as massive as Jiang, isn't there President Jiang's father, as well as Jiang Xue, who is the eldest miss of the Jiang family? Why would they send an unknown little secretary?"

"Who knows? Didn't you hear the little secretary say it? Chairman Jiang personally ordered her to come. There must be a purpose behind it."

"Goodness, I wonder if the Jiang Corporation will survive this. Who knows what the future holds?"

"I heard the Jiang Corporation and the Qin Corporation have close ties. They even signed a lucrative contract just a few days ago."

"As for who will inherit the Jiang Corporation a month from now... somehow I feel it's going to be President Jiang Jintao. Even if they are part of a collateral branch, they share the same ancestors after all."

As the murmurs rose, Jiang Li merely smiled.

Even so, she was representing the Jiang family and could not afford to lose face.

"Miss Jiang, please mind your words. Regardless of my identity, right now I represent the Jiang Corporation."

"Even if you are the prospective eldest miss of the Jiang family, aren't you still not one yet?"

"Since you aren't, refrain from pointing fingers. And as for President Qin, I would think you are a man of some standing in Yuncheng; you shouldn't drag just any woman everywhere you go. At the very least, if your wife were here, you ought to have taught her what basic decency is."

"Otherwise, even a refined socialite falls far short of a woman like me from the slums."

Jiang Li's sharp retort struck like a fierce storm, tearing both of them to shreds.

Refusing to back down, Jiang Xue made a move to step forward and argue with Jiang Li.

With a cold snap, Qin Mu declared, "Enough! If you're going to treat this place like a fish market for gossiping shrews, you can get out!"

With that, Qin Mu pulled out a chair and sat down, refusing to spare Jiang Xue another glance for the rest of the evening.

Jiang Xue was driven mad with fury.

*Humph!* Glaring daggers at Jiang Li, Jiang Xue vowed silently to make her pay dearly.

The auction officially commenced. The first item up for bid was a pair of jade bracelets.

Jiang Li knew nothing about such things, but buying them as a gift for her mother seemed like a wonderful idea.

The opening bid was 1.2 million.

Jiang Li raised her paddle. "1.5 million."

Hearing her bid, Jiang Xue curled the corner of her lips in open disdain. "2 million!"

To spend 2 million on a pair of jade bracelets felt unreasonable to Jiang Li, so she stopped bidding.

Instead, Jiang Xue let out a smug, cold laugh. "Someone like you wants to compete with me? Do you even match my worth?"

Jiang Li silently mouthed two letters—"B.S."—before taking a sip of water.

Lin Fan held back a chuckle. "Eldest Miss, you must remain calm. Don't act on impulse!"

Jiang Li took a deep breath and muttered, "Seeing Jiang Xue's punchable face just makes me want to slap her. Did you see that, Lin Fan? Qin Mu and Jiang Xue are becoming more and truly alike. He's a scumbag and she's a bitch—a match made in heaven."

Lin Fan offered an awkward smile. "Eldest Miss, according to our investigation, your relationship with President Qin Mu wasn't ordinary. It seems you were in a relationship with him for three years, and the two of you were far more than just ordinary friends."

Jiang Li looked embarrassed. "I was young, ignorant, and mistook a fish eye for a pearl. The past is in the past, and Special Assistant Lin would do better not to bring it up. As for dating him... hmph, I'll just consider myself bitten by a stray dog!"

Special Assistant Lin twitched his lips and gave a thumbs-up. "Able to let go as easily as you pick things up—truly worthy of being the eldest miss of the Jiang family. Impressive!"

The jade bracelets were won by Jiang Xue, who proudly brandished the brocade box in her hand. Jiang Li couldn't be bothered to care.

The second lot was a landscape painting, co-authored and signed by the couple Lin Dan and Jiang Jinxiu.

The legacy work of her biological father?

Jiang Li never expected to encounter this painting here. She hesitated—should she bid for it, or not?

"Brother Qin Mu, this painting is a symbol of my uncle and aunt's deep affection. They were a couple in perfect harmony, the epitome of a model husband and wife."

"I want to win this painting and present it to Grandpa Jiang. It will bring him some peace of mind. Don't you agree?"

Qin Mu glanced at Jiang Li, then nodded at Jiang Xue.

Yet Jiang Li had changed. She carried herself with an enhanced elegance, and her speech and mannerisms possessed the poise of someone from a distinguished family.

Recalling the agreement between himself and Jiang Li, Qin Mu stood up, poured a glass of water for Jiang Li, and then—under Jiang Xue's stunned gaze—returned calmly to his own seat.