Chapter 265

The spotlight shone on the scroll, faint blue mountains, distant green waters, drizzling mist, like a flowing Jiangnan ink painting.

This is a painting Mu Youyu worked on sporadically over the past year, taking a week to complete, with a small 'Artist Name Yue Shu' signed in the lower right corner.

This is also something she added to the auction at the last minute after hearing Jiang Liangjin mention yesterday's charity banquet, as requested by Grandpa Mu.

The host's voice carried a hint of admiration: 'The next lot is a landscape painting named Qingchuan Misty Rain, by the hand of Artist Name Yue Shu! Starting bid is five hundred thousand, each raise must be no less than fifty thousand!'

As his words fell, the audience fell silent for a moment, then someone let out a light laugh.

Who doesn't know what status Artist Name Yue Shu holds?

Her works are hard to come by even for a thousand gold; a starting bid of five hundred thousand is practically a steal.

Someone raised a paddle: 'One million.'

'One million fifty thousand.'

……

Mu Youyu heard the painting's name, instinctively looked up at the painting, confirmed it was her own work, and felt puzzled.

She hadn't given this painting a name, had she?

Jiang Liangjin understood her, saying, 'This is probably a name thought up by Teacher Lin.'

She usually gives her paintings only two- or three-character names.

'A Jin really understands me.' Mu Youyu leaned into him accordingly.

She rested her chin, tilted her head to look at Jiang Liangjin beside her, her fingertips unconsciously tracing circles on the back of his hand, and said, 'How much do you think this painting could sell for? I think at most seven figures; any more wouldn't be worth it.'

Jiang Liangjin lowered his gaze, his eyes landing on her fair fingertips, he raised his hand to cover her restless hand, saying, 'Here, not even a thousand gold could exchange for it.'

Mu Youyu's delicate eyes blinked up and down lightly.

Whenever she speaks with Jiang Liangjin, she wants to lean into him; now her head is practically pressed against his chest.

This intimate scene fell into the eyes of the several brothers nearby, making them feel sour and itchy at the roots of their teeth, yet they couldn't say anything.

Jiang Liangjin chuckled lightly, his eyes locked on the auctioneer on stage, his index finger slightly raised, poised to strike.

'Five million.'

Just then, a clear, soft voice sounded; Mu Xin raised his paddle, expressionlessly gazing at the stage, his eyes warming only when they swept over the painting.

Mu Youyu was momentarily stunned, turned her head to look at her own brother, blinked, and said, 'Brother?'

Mu Xin said gently, 'What's wrong with me collecting one of your paintings?'

Before his words even finished, Song Yusui's voice burst out in a clamor: 'Hey hey hey! Xinbao, you're not playing fair! What's the point of snatching your younger sister's painting? Five hundred ten thousand!'

He raised his paddle, making faces at Mu Youyu, saying, 'Baby, brother will buy this and hang it in the company lobby, guaranteeing customers can admire our Song Family's little princess's masterpiece every day!'

Mu Xianqi swayed the wine cup in his hand, gazing over with a lingering smile, 'Ten million.'

The meaning of his words was clear: he thought Song Yusui was being stingy, his bid too low.

The crowd below watched with great interest; these few were all top figures in the circle, and seeing them vie over a painting was a rare liveliness.

Mu Youyu watched the price climb relentlessly, the smile at the corners of her mouth fading as she turned to Jiang Liangjin, helpless, 'What's going on with them? It's just a painting—do they really need to go this far?'

Jiang Liangjin didn't speak, merely reversed his grip on her hand, then slowly raised his paddle, voice clear: 'Fifteen million.'

Jiang Ye Ye quietly made a cheering gesture, 'A Jin, give it your all, win it, and Grandpa will reimburse you!'

Jiang Ye Ye quietly made a cheering gesture, "A Jin, give it your all, snap it, Grandpa will foot the bill!"

The drowsy Song Lujing hastily tugged at his brother Song LuXiao, who was resting with eyes closed.

The latter lifted his gaze at the scene before him, instinctively raised his paddle, 'Twenty-five million.'

Mu Youyu was completely bewildered, watching the few people bidding against each other before her, laughing and crying at once, 'Stop adding! It's just a painting.'

But no one listened to her; Jiang Liangjin glanced at Song LuXiao, then raised his paddle again, voice cold and carrying a hint of inevitable victory, 'Thirty million.'

Mu Xin quickly followed: 'Thirty-seven million.'

Song Yusui: 'Thirty-eight million!'

Mu Xianqi: 'Forty million.'

Jiang Liangjin: 'Five—'

Seeing the price about to spiral out of control, Mu Youyu pressed his hand, suddenly raised her own paddle, her clear voice ringing out over everyone else: 'Four million fifty thousand.'

The entire venue fell silent in an instant, all eyes turning to her.

Jiang Liangjin, Mu Xin, Mu Xianqi, Song LuXiao, Song Lujing, and Song Yusui all froze, turning in unison to look at her.

The auctioneer also stared for a few seconds before reacting, 'Four million fifty thousand once! Four million fifty thousand twice! Four million fifty thousand three times! Sold!'

With the final hammer blow, the hall filled with good-natured laughter.

Mu Youyu met everyone's gaze, confidently telling Mu Nian, 'Brother, go pay the money.'

Mu Nian had been whispering something with Yan Yuejiu; hearing this, he first froze, then couldn't help laughing, reached out to ruffle her hair, his eyes full of indulgence, 'All right, brother will go pay.'

Yan Yuejiu pressed his hand, then lifted her hand to ruffle her hair, 'Sister will go!'

Jiang Liangjin, Mu Xin: 'I—'

Mu Youyu quickly grabbed both of their hands, blinked at Yan Yuejiu, and spoke softly, 'Yan Sister, let the eldest brother go; he's the brother, so paying this kind of expense should naturally fall to him.'

Mu Youyu quickly grabbed both of their hands, gave Yan Yuejiu a wink, and said softly, "Yan sis, let the older brother go; he's the brother, so of course paying should be left to the brother."

Song LuXiao snorted twice, 'Me too.'

Yan Yuejiu was dissatisfied, 'Baby, is this you disliking your sister?'

'Not at all!' Mu Youyu hurried over, wrapped her arms around hers, shook them, and cooed, 'Yan Sister is the best; next time we get a chance, can we let Sister pay?'

After a round of soft and hard persuasion, Mu Nian finally laughed, shook his head, and got up to go pay at the front.

Mu Youyu triumphantly raised her brows, turned to Jiang Liangjin beside her, pinched his cheek, and asked, 'How about that? Am I still awesome, right?'

Jiang Liangjin let her pinch him, 'Mm, our Youbao is the strongest.'

Jiang Liangjin let her pinch Jiang Liangjin, "Mm, our Youbao is the best."

Not long after, the auction segment was drawing to a close.

Grandfather Mu and Jiang Ye Ye stayed behind to finish up.

Mu Youyu and Jiang Liangjin stood up, planning to go outside for a breath of fresh air.

Several brothers followed.

When they reached a spot about a meter from the main gate, it seemed a quarrel had broken out.

Mu Xianyan stood there in a wine‑red long dress; the hem of her skirt had bloomed a milky‑white stain, especially glaring.

A girl in a pale pink dress was tugging at her sleeve, at a loss, eyes red, voice trembling: "Yan, Miss Yan, I really didn't mean it—please don't be angry, I'll compensate you, I'll compensate…"

Mu Xianyan furrowed her brow, holding down the skirt that was about to be pulled off, and let out a cold snort.

Her tone held a hint of impatience, but not much anger: "Can you stop pulling at me? I've said four times already you don't need to pay—it's just a dress, what's there to compensate for?"

Mu Xianqi was the first to rush over, stepping forward a few paces to shield her behind him, and asked, "What's going on?"