Yu Xiaoxiao's expression nearby wasn't much better.
Combining the conversation just now,
Yu Xiaoxiao thought of Zhang Yu again.
Zhang Yu had been missing for nearly three months.
After such a long time, his visa had long since expired.
He hadn't renewed it during this period either.
Moreover, his wechat, phone, and everything else were in a state of lost contact.
According to the Police investigation, his wechat login records hadn't been updated either.
Most importantly, before boarding the plane, he had excitedly posted a very positive status on his Moments.
A person like that showed no suicidal tendencies.
An adult completely out of contact with everyone for over three months—
it was almost certain that if he hadn't been human trafficked, he was already dead.
The puzzled look in Yu Xiaoxiao's eyes appeared only for a moment before returning to calm... Soon, the auction began, and everyone took their numbered paddles and began moving from the waiting hall to the main auction floor.
Yu Xiaoxiao took Jiang Cheng's arm and followed him into the venue.
This auction was clearly much more high-end than the one they had experienced at Luxury Hotel.
Not only did everyone have specifically arranged exclusive seats,
but both sides of the venue were lined with two rows of staff members holding telephones.
These people all looked ready and waiting.
As for why these people were holding phones?
In fact, these people holding phones were staff for telephone-commissioned bidding.
Some buyers, for various reasons, did not want to reveal their identities, so they would send designated people to the scene to bid on their behalf.
Or perhaps some buyers were particularly fond of a certain item and were determined to get it,
but for some reason could not attend the auction, so they would commission a telephone bid.
Jiang Cheng had looked over some of the items for this auction in advance; there were indeed many treasures worth acquiring.
After all, true top-tier collections are found at auctions.
The seating at the auction was also very particular.
The higher the status and net worth, the further forward one sat.
Based on the ranking of Jiang Cheng's invitation, he was originally supposed to sit in the second row, but he had now been squeezed into the first row.
After all, they all knew now that he was the boss of Xingchen.
Plus, Xingchen was currently negotiating with their company for the Fengtai Land King project.
So, Jiang Cheng was naturally arranged to be in the first row.
Wang Congcong, as the son of the richest man, was also arranged in the first row.
As for An Xin, this little wealthy woman, she undoubtedly sat down in the first row as well.
Qin Fen, Wang Zheng, and Chen Hao sat in the second row.
Behind them were all sorts of Second-generation rich, and even some very familiar-looking celebrities.
However, these celebrities didn't have much prestige in this setting and were directly arranged in the back rows.
After all, judging from the transaction records of these formal auctions in previous years,
some items easily started at ten million, and many were even measured in units of hundreds of millions.
If one didn't have some family background, they really wouldn't have much prestige.
Yu Xiaoxiao leaned close to Jiang Cheng's ear and said excitedly, "This is my first time attending such a formal auction. I feel so nervous."
Jiang Cheng gave her a doting smile. "It's my first time too. If you see something you like later, just raise your paddle. I'll let you experience the fun of bidding."
"I've seen those items; they're all too expensive. The salary you pay me can't afford the things here."
Jiang Cheng pinched her petite nose. "What? Thinking the salary is too low?"
Yu Xiaoxiao hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no, that's not what I meant. The salary you give me is much higher than the market price."
"I'm just teasing you, silly. With me here, why would you need to pay? Bid as much as you want."
Yu Xiaoxiao wrinkled her nose. "Aren't I just being careful with your money?"
"Just care about me; why care about the money?"
"You have a point. Then when we go back tonight, I'll let you rest well and take good care of you."
"You wish. I haven't seen you squirt enough yet."
"You're terrible..."
The flirting between the two made An Xin, who was sitting nearby, feel a bit annoyed.
Fortunately, there were several seats between them.
These words didn't reach her ears.
Soon, an elegant woman wearing a qipao walked onto the auction stage.
After taking the stage, she gave a respectful bow to the guests below.
Then, she spoke into the microphone at her ear to introduce herself.
Without any flowery modifiers, the female auctioneer walked to her podium and announced the start of the auction.
Soon, the large screen on the auction stage lit up.
"The first item is a Qianlong Sky Blue Glazed Hexagonal Vase. The starting bid is one million, with increments of no less than one hundred thousand! Let the bidding begin!"
As soon as the female auctioneer's words fell, the system gave a 'Ding!' prompt.
"Detected many precious and collectible items at the auction site. The system is issuing a special reward."
"All funds for the treasures purchased at this auction will be covered by the system. Host, please bid with confidence!"
Jiang Cheng's eyes widened as he looked at the system prompt.
This system is really something!
One should know that the starting prices of the auction items displayed this time added up to over a billion.
These auction items were things Huaqiao Company had bought at various auctions or from private collections over the past few years.
If their company weren't short on cash, they probably wouldn't be in such a hurry to put them up for a low-price auction.
But even if the starting prices of these items were already very low,
if you added the bidding premiums, it would cost Jiang Cheng at least several billion if he wanted to win them all.
He didn't expect the system to say it would cover this money for him.
Does this mean it wants him to open a museum as well?