Chapter 275: 13 Billion! The Strongest Regretted Bid in History, Li

The brief skirmish ended, and the auction officially began.

The auctioneer, radiant with vigor, stepped onto the stage and introduced the first lot in a booming voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, first up is one of Yingzi's former landmarks, the Holman Building! Located on Pedder Street in Central, the whole office tower has a prime location and unlimited potential! Starting bid: one hundred million Hong Kong dollars!"

"150 million!" Guo Dongying didn't even finish hearing the price, slammed his bid paddle onto the table, his voice booming like a thunderclap, "Damn it, before I had to endure those foreigners' moods just to rent an office in this rundown building, waiting half a month for an appointment! Today, I'm buying the whole thing, one floor as a toilet, another as a warehouse, just to give Brother Lu Qingshan a show! I have money, and I waste it like this!"

His unorthodox shout left even the seasoned auctioneer stunned, provoking a wave of knowing, uproarious laughter from the Chinese tycoons in the room, and the atmosphere ignited instantly.

The next few commercial properties were virtually divided among members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in a near‑retaliatory buying spree. They bid without hesitation, often paying a premium, not as investors but with hard cash to proclaim to all of Hong Kong Island and the world—a fact: we are the new masters here.

Li Jiasheng, meanwhile, remained calmly seated at the fishing platform. He held the freshly brewed tea his assistant had just brought, wearing his trademark warm smile, watching the near‑mad spectacle as if it were invisible, never raising a paddle. It was as if these were merely appetizer dishes unfit for the table, unworthy of the gaping maw of his true colossal crocodile.

He was waiting. Everyone knew what he was waiting for.

Lu Qingshan also watched him, a faint, ambiguous smile curling his mouth. He knew that the old fox Li Jiasheng was using his restraint to showcase his own magnitude, telling everyone that unlike Guo Dongying and the other "nouveau riche", he only strikes at the most valuable prey.

Finally, when the last and most important lot was brought up, the entire room fell silent in an instant.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the auctioneer's voice trembled with excitement, "Next is the grand finale of this auction—the southern part of Lantau Island, three million square feet of seaside land!"

On the massive projection screen appeared an aerial view of the parcel, its azure coastline edged like a gemstone, the vast green wilderness exuding raw, untamed vitality.

Everyone's gaze, in unison, turned toward Li Jiasheng.

"Starting bid: one hundred million Hong Kong dollars! Each increment must be at least five million!"

Before the words finished, Li Jiasheng finally moved. He slowly raised his bid paddle, graceful, his voice low yet clear enough to reach every corner of the hall.

"150 million."

No probing, no hesitation; the moment he spoke, he added fifty million outright. It was a declaration of intent and a warning to all potential rivals.

"160 million!" A clueless real‑estate newcomer mustered courage and placed a bid.

Li Jiasheng didn't even glance at him, as if he were a pesky fly, raised his paddle again, his tone as flat as commenting on pleasant weather.

"200 million."

The newcomer turned ashen, instantly repelled by the crushing momentum.

"210 million!" Another developer beside Guo Dongying, evidently instructed, immediately followed.

"250 million!" Li Jiasheng's increments grew larger; it wasn't bidding, it was crushing, an absolute confidence built with money, meant to shatter the opponent's mental defenses.

The price kept climbing, but everyone could see it was merely a staged act between Li Jiasheng and Lu Qingshan's shills. When the bid reached 1.3 billion, the developer, after receiving a glance, reluctantly lowered his paddle.

The whole room now had only Li Jiasheng as the sole bidder.

"1.3 billion! Mr. Li bids 1.3 billion! Any higher?" The auctioneer's gavel rose high, scanning the room, his voice fervent, "1.3 billion once… 1.3 billion twice…"

Li Jiasheng's mouth finally curled a barely perceptible victorious smile. He lifted his teacup, gently blew the tea leaves at its rim, his eyes reflecting the satisfaction of total control. Though it cost him dearly, he ultimately secured what he most desired. Tonight, he was the winner who smiled last.

However, just as the auctioneer's gavel was about to fall—

"Wait a moment."

A calm voice suddenly rang out, not loud but clear enough to drown the room's breathing, like an invisible hand choking everyone's throats.

Lu Qingshan rose from his seat, and amid the stunned, bewildered, shocked gazes, he walked unhurriedly to the auction podium. He took the microphone from the bewildered auctioneer, his movements as casual as entertaining guests in his own living room.

He scanned the room, finally fixing his gaze on Li Jiasheng's slightly stiff smile, his face bearing a perfectly timed apologetic grin.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your enthusiasm tonight. Especially you, Mr. Li," he emphasized, "Your fondness for this wasteland, spending heavily, truly honors me. It also made me realize that the land's value may far exceed my imagination. You have taught me a lesson about what real 'value investing' is."

Li Jiasheng's eye twitched imperceptibly, his hand holding the teacup frozen mid‑air.

Lu Qingshan paused, then shifted his tone, becoming somewhat casual and homely, as if he had just recalled an insignificant matter.

"But I just remembered something. My wife, ever since we came to Hong Kong Island, has been staying in a hotel. She keeps telling me that Hong Kong Island is too noisy, the buildings too tall, you can't see the stars or smell the earth. She wants a tranquil place to grow Handcrafted Flowers, tend grass, preferably facing the sea, with spring blossoms. I promised her I'd give her and our daughter a real home."

He turned toward Li Jiasheng, offering an apologetic smile that, to Li Jiasheng, seemed filled with unabashed mockery and ridicule. Then, Lu Qingshan, in an unchallengeable, final‑decision tone, spoke each word deliberately:

"So, apologies everyone. This land, Xinghan Capital has decided to reclaim it for our own use; it's no longer for sale."

Crack!

A crisp cracking sound rang out, especially jarring in the dead‑silent hall.

The white porcelain teacup in Li Jiasheng's hand suddenly cracked, a fissure forced through it! His mask‑like perfect smile froze and shattered, leaving only a grim, incredulous iron‑blue stare.

The next second, the dead silence was completely detonated!

Boom!

The entire venue erupted like a boiling pot, gasps, sharp inhales, and uncontrollable raucous laughter blending together!

"Crack! Crack! Crack!" The reporters' flashlights burst into a white sea, frantically targeting the two opposing men on and off the stage!

Guo Dongying could no longer hold back; he slammed his palm hard onto the table, rattling cups and plates. Pointing at the iron‑blue‑faced Li Jiasheng, he laughed until tears streamed, "Hahaha! Good! What a perfect 'not for sale'! Brother Lu Qingshan, well done! That's what real men are! Who cares about some damn business when you have a wife and kids?!"