From rejecting the beautiful female CEO to becoming extremely powerful

Lei Hu didn't stay long. After exchanging a few polite words with Feng Qianyi, he went upstairs.

After the woman in the cheongsam and the others had walked away, she turned to the side and gestured for them to enter: "President Feng, the basement is ready. This way, please."

Feng Qianyi went straight to the left-hand seat in the second row, and Lu Yunzhou followed her to his seat.

"The underground venue of Jubaozhai," Feng Qianyi opened a bottle of mineral water and took a sip, her voice very low, "is only open three times a year, and everyone sitting here has a net worth of at least ten figures."

Lu Yunzhou glanced around, then looked away: "President Feng, what made you make this special trip? What's on your mind?"

"The grand finale is a top-grade thousand-year-old blood ginseng," Feng Qianyi tightened the bottle cap and put it back. "My grandmother was just discharged from the hospital, and her body is severely weakened; ordinary medicinal herbs can't restore it."

Lu Yunzhou's brows twitched.

Thousand-year-old blood ginseng.

The records of the Shennong chapter immediately came to mind.

This thing grows deep underground in the yin veins, its roots absorbing the essence of the mineral veins for thousands of years. When cut, it oozes a blood-red sap, which can prolong life and strengthen the body when used in medicine.

If the genuine product is aged properly, it can not only be used to treat the elderly, but also to cleanse the marrow and strengthen the bones of ancient martial artists.

What's the starting bid?

"Jubaozhai didn't reveal the price beforehand, but the last time something similar appeared, the hammer price was 200 million."

Feng Qianyi said calmly, "I brought enough credit today, so getting it shouldn't be a problem."

Lu Yunzhou nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

The front row gradually filled with people.

A woman in a dark red cheongsam came out from the side door and handed each guest a gold-embossed number tag.

Lu Yunzhou took it and glanced at it; it was number nineteen.

Seven or eight minutes later, the hall door closed from the outside, the sound of the lock clicking shut dully.

The stage lights focused on each other.

A woman in her early forties walked up in high heels, wearing a dark purple suit and exquisite makeup. She picked up the microphone and nodded to the audience.

"Good evening, distinguished guests, and welcome to this season's Jubaozhai tasting event. Without further ado, let's get started."

The first item was brought out; when the red velvet cloth was lifted, it revealed a bloodstone seal, its surface entirely red, in excellent condition.

"Starting bid: 30 million."

"Three thousand five."

"Forty million."

Back and forth they went, and in less than three minutes, the hammer price reached 78 million.

The second item was a meticulous flower-and-bird painting from the Song Dynasty, which sold for 120 million.

The third item, an official kiln famille rose bowl, sold for 160 million.

Lu Yunzhou leaned back in his chair, watching as these numbers came out of other people's mouths as easily as reciting a menu, and silently did some calculations in his mind.

If any one of the people in this room coughed, the money that would fall out would be enough for him to live on for eight lifetimes.

The fourth item, the fifth item, the sixth item.

Nearly forty minutes passed, and all the warm-up items were finally sold.

The auctioneer paused, picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and when he spoke again, his tone was noticeably more subdued:

"Next up is tonight's grand finale collection."

Two white-gloved staff members pushed a glass display case onto the stage.

The cabinet was lined with a black velvet base, and a transparent acrylic box was placed in the center.

Inside the box, an old ginseng root, dark red in color and with its roots curled up, lay quietly, its skin gleaming with a dark, blood-red sheen.

"A thousand-year-old blood ginseng, produced from deep veins on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain, with age certificates issued by three appraisal institutions. Starting bid: 50 million."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall changed.

Those who were chatting or playing on their phones all sat up straight.

"Sixty million."

An elderly man with gray hair in the first row was the first to raise his sign.

"Seventy million."

Follow the others in the back.

"Eighty million!"

The voice came from the right.

Lu Yunzhou turned his head and almost burst out laughing.

Lei Hu had somehow ended up sitting in the far right of the third row, legs crossed, holding up a sign in a lazy manner, with a crooked smile on his face.

His gaze swept across the crowd and landed precisely in Feng Qianyi's direction.

Feng Qianyi remained expressionless and held up the sign: "Ninety million."

"One hundred million."

Lei Hu didn't even hesitate before raising his price.

Feng Qianyi turned her head to look at Lu Yunzhou, her lips slightly moving: "He did it on purpose."

"I can tell."

Lu Yunzhou lowered his voice, but his eyes were not on Lei Hu; instead, they were fixed on the blood ginseng on the stage.

He secretly channeled his inner energy of creation, guiding a wisp of energy towards the display case.

The roots of this ginseng are indeed old, and its appearance matches that of a thousand-year-old plant, but most of its medicinal properties have long since been lost.

In terms of actual value, it's worth at most three to five million, more like a decorative item.

"One hundred and fifty million."

Feng Qianyi raised her placard again.

Two hundred million.

Lei Hu followed with a smile, his eyes full of provocation.

Other bidders have withdrawn from the bidding, and the few remaining observers have also put away their bidding paddles.

The only two people left in the entire hall were bidding against each other, pushing the price up.

"Three hundred million."

Feng Qianyi's voice turned serious.

"Four hundred million!"

Lei Hu increased the amplitude, tilting his head towards Feng Qianyi, his mouth forming the shape of saying "please".

Lu Yunzhou looked at the fluctuating numbers on the price tag, then turned and whispered in Feng Qianyi's ear, "Don't follow anymore."

Feng Qianyi paused, holding up the sign, and turned to look at him.

There's something wrong with the item.

Lu Yunzhou lowered his voice to the lowest level, his lips almost touching her earlobe.

"The outer layer is real, but most of the medicinal properties inside have dissipated. Spending 400 million to buy it back is no different from chewing on a piece of wood."

Feng Qianyi tightened her grip on the sign, and her throat moved slightly.

Are you sure?

"Think back to the time I gave your mother an injection to save her life."

Feng Qianyi remained silent for three or four seconds, her lips pressed into a thin line.

She slowly placed the number plate back on her lap.

"Five hundred million!"

Lei Hu added another sip, his tone smug.

The entire hall fell silent for a moment, and everyone's eyes swept over Feng Qianyi.

Lu Yunzhou's lips slowly curled up.

He took the number plate from Feng Qianyi's hand and stood up straight.

"President Feng, watch me."

He held up the sign and shouted in a powerful voice...

"One hundred million!"

The entire audience was stunned.

The auctioneer was stunned: "Sir, the current price is five hundred million, and your bid..."

"Oh," Lu Yunzhou slapped his forehead, looking embarrassed, "Add, I'll add five hundred million."

A few low laughs echoed in the hall.

Lei Hu's expression changed, and he turned to stare at Lu Yunzhou, as if he remembered something but couldn't quite recall it.

The auctioneer confirmed: "This gentleman has bid one billion."

One billion.

The temperature in the entire hall changed accordingly.

Lei Hu withdrew his laughter.

He straightened up, stared at Lu Yunzhou for five or six seconds, then turned his gaze back to the auction stage and raised his paddle again:

"1.12 billion".

"1.12 billion! Anyone else bidding?"

The auctioneer asked three times.

Lu Yunzhou leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, nodded slightly in Lei Hu's direction, and smiled frankly.

I'm not following anymore.

Lei Hu's smile froze for a moment.

He opened his mouth as if he realized something, but the auctioneer had already brought down the gavel.

"Sold! Congratulations to this gentleman for winning the thousand-year-old blood ginseng for 1.12 billion!"

The applause was sporadic and only rang out a few times.

Lei Hu sat there, his face turning pale and then flushed, his hand gripping the number plate so tightly it became deformed.