Chapter 168: Shen Xun Gets Schemed Against Again

At first several people joined in raising their paddles, but by the time the price hit a million, some had already stopped; others wanted to continue but were stopped by the people beside them.

Of those still bidding, one was Qiao Chuan, assistant to President Shen of Star Universe Technology, and the other was Secretary Cen of Ke Group; the two sides kept raising in increments of fifty thousand, clearly determined to outbid each other.

The major events that occurred on the day of the Self-developed Chip Project bidding did not become widely known, but insiders were still well aware of the grudge between Ke Zhongyu and Shen Xun.

When immortals fight, stay far away.

So when Qiao Chuan bid one million fifty thousand, Secretary Cen bid one million one hundred thousand.

At one million five hundred thousand, Qiao Chuan hesitated and turned to Shen Xun: "President Shen, it's not worth going over one million five hundred thousand. The other side is clearly running up the price on purpose."

Shen Xun frowned deeply. After a moment's thought, he asked Qiao Chuan: "What do you think the odds are that Ke Zhongyu genuinely wants to compete for Elder Shen's patent? Both professionally and personally."

Professionally, the Ke Clan was large with ample capital; launching other technology projects alongside the Three-Region Project was perfectly normal.

Personally, Ke Zhongyu wanted to win Jiang Lai, so he would inevitably clash with President Shen at every turn.

Qiao Chuan said conservatively: "At least fifty percent."

Just as the gavel was about to come down, Shen Xun raised his own paddle, bringing the price to one million six hundred thousand.

Whether Ke Zhongyu's people genuinely wanted it or were deliberately running up the price, he could no longer afford to gamble.

Right now he was walking on thin ice at Star Universe Technology; every step had to guarantee a good outcome.

Qiao Chuan had already found out that Elder Shen was free on Friday; he planned to bring a gift and visit in person.

Hearing the price reach one million six hundred thousand, Secretary Cen glanced back at Shen Xun and Qiao Chuan, flashed a brilliant smile, and then called out: "One million seven hundred thousand."

Qiao Chuan continued to raise.

This small red sandalwood armchair was not a Ming or Qing palace collectible, just an ordinary inherited Qing-dynasty round-backed armchair; two million was already an extremely high price.

For a moment, the spectators' eyes grew eager with anticipation, wondering whether President Shen of Star Universe Technology would make a comeback or Young President Ke of Ke Group would prevail once more.

In the Erlou private room, Ke Zhongyu noticed that Jiang Lai's gaze at the auction floor had gone a bit blank, and she had silently poured herself several glasses of water.

So people on the outside had to give a gift worth millions just to meet Elder Shen.

Ke Zhongyu was amused by her frequent sips of water to calm herself down.

Catching the man's brief, soft laugh, Jiang Lai turned her head and asked: "You also want to meet Elder Shen?"

"You also want to introduce me?" Ke Zhongyu asked in return.

Jiang Lai fell silent for a moment: "With your status, you probably don't need me to introduce you."

"Hard to say." Ke Zhongyu said meaningfully, then clarified his true intent: "I have no interest in an ordinary inherited single red sandalwood round-backed armchair."

Down below, the price had already reached two million; the crowd wore varied expressions.

Secretary Cen: "Two million two hundred thousand."

Now each bid meant adding another two hundred thousand.

Qiao Chuan's forehead began to bead with sweat. In the past, two or three million wouldn't have made him this nervous—the main issue was that President Shen was now genuinely a bit strapped for cash.

Ke Zhongyu replied to Jiang Lai: "I want Shen Xun to have no money in his pockets."

Jiang Lai looked at him in surprise, a trace of confusion surfacing in her eyes: "Why?"

Ke Zhongyu said casually: "If the lawsuit to recover marital joint property is won, will Shen Xun pay off Lin Shutong's debts?"

"He will." In an instant, it dawned on Jiang Lai.

Ke Zhongyu sneered: "With the money gone, what will he use to pay for her?"

Lin Shutong would have to figure it out herself—and how much of a cushion did she really have to fill that hole?

Jiang Lai looked at Ke Zhongyu earnestly: "Thank you, President Ke."

"A product launched is the best repayment. However…" Ke Zhongyu's deep gaze settled lightly on her face. "The two previous favors still need to be noted. Your dinner barely counts as repaying one."

Behind them, Secretary Guan pressed her lips tightly together, not allowing herself to laugh. President Ke had truly gone to great pains to keep up the act.

Jiang Lai asked: "How did President Ke know for certain that Shen Xun would keep raising the bid?"

"If he can't secure Elder Shen's patent, how will he hold onto his current position? Even knowing it's a trap, he'll still jump." Ke Zhongyu was confident.

Sure enough, after Secretary Cen called out two million six hundred thousand downstairs, Shen Xun gritted his teeth and raised his paddle one last time.

Two million eight hundred thousand.

Secretary Cen turned her head, smiling radiantly: "Congratulations, President Shen."

An ordinary red sandalwood round-backed armchair was purchased by Shen Xun at the exorbitant price of two million eight hundred thousand.

Shen Xun's face went dark.

Ke Zhongyu had actually probed his bottom line in secret—simply despicable.

He didn't know exactly which private room Ke Zhongyu was in; his gloomy gaze fell on Secretary Cen.

Secretary Cen still wore her lovely smile, but inwardly she was marveling:

Of all people to offend, why offend President Ke—young yet deeply scheming.

President Shen had just been schemed out of his money; the next step would be his power and position.

Their President Ke—put nicely, he was calculating; put bluntly, he was treacherous.

Jiang Lai was shocked by Ke Zhongyu's grasp of human nature; she studied him for a good while.

Ke Zhongyu quietly straightened his posture and asked with a straight face: "Do you have thirty or fifty thousand?"

Jiang Lai nodded.

After a while, a Qing-dynasty blue-and-white fruit dish was displayed on the auction stage, with a starting bid of twenty thousand.

Jiang Lai's eyes brightened slightly.

Ke Zhongyu curled his lips: "Want it?"

Jiang Lai nodded.

Ke Zhongyu glanced at Secretary Guan from the corner of his eye, and Secretary Guan immediately notified Secretary Cen.

Secretary Cen raised her paddle: "Thirty thousand."

He then smiled at everyone around him and nodded slightly as a courtesy.

Everyone understood implicitly.

It was just a small fruit plate — if President Ke wanted it, let President Ke take it, so he wouldn't hold a grudge.

Secretary Cen won the blue-and-white fruit plate with branch motifs for thirty thousand; she thanked everyone, rose, and left.

Shen Xun watched the direction Secretary Cen left in — sure enough, it was toward Erlou.

"President Ke, mission accomplished."

Ke Zhongyu gave a faint "Mm."

Secretary Cen carefully produced the wrapped blue-and-white fruit plate with branch motifs and handed it to Jiang Lai, who had already stood up.

"Take a look, Dr. Jiang — this is porcelain from an official kiln of the Qing dynasty. It's perfect for gifting to an elder: not so expensive as to seem excessive, yet it shows you value them."

Jiang Lai's eyes lit up with delight. She asked, "Where do I pay?"

Secretary Cen: "Just transfer it to President Ke — I just swiped his card."

Jiang Lai immediately turned to the seated Ke Zhongyu and said, "President Ke, QR code or transfer?"

Ke Zhongyu opened his payment QR code and held it out.

Beep—

Thirty thousand received.

Ke Zhongyu opened his wallet on the chat app — only sixty thousand in total.

Thirty thousand from Jiang Lai's olive-green coat last time, plus thirty thousand for this blue-and-white fruit plate with branch motifs — sixty thousand altogether.

Ke Zhongyu put his phone away.

He stood up and said, "Let's go, Jiang Lai."

Jiang Lai was looking down, gently tracing the branch motifs on it; when Ke Zhongyu suddenly called out, she immediately looked up and said, "Coming!"

Secretary Cen and Secretary Guan exchanged a glance and grinned with raised brows.

That exchange just now was a bit too much like an old married couple, wasn't it~

When would Dr. Jiang finally grant their President Ke a proper title?

Downstairs, Shen Xun caught a glimpse of a familiar figure flashing past.

"Jiang Lai…"