Chapter 601: Causing Trouble from Beginning to End

Zhang Zongxian extended his hand, "Little Lin, thank you for today's matter!"

Lin Sicheng hurriedly shook it: "Mr. Zhang, you are too kind!"

"I will have Yuanfan handle it later; the agency fee will arrive in your account by this afternoon at the latest!"

Lin Sicheng felt a bit embarrassed: if one only spoke of the present, the two sides had just met, and it was only right and proper for him to earn this money.

But if one were to speak of their relationship in the previous life, let alone sixty million, if he dared to ask for a single cent, Zhang Yuanfan would have bitten him to death.

But circumstances were stronger than people, and he had been forced to the edge of a cliff. It was just that his father, mother, and grandfather didn't have much money, otherwise he would have spoken up long ago—

Zhang Zongxian sighed: "If I had known your situation, I would have set the reserve price higher—what a pity!"

""

If the reserve price were higher, Zhou Zhilin's transaction price could have been higher, and Lin Sicheng could have claimed more in damages when suing Bonhams.

At the same time, he could have also paid Lin Sicheng a bit more in agency fees in a legitimate way.

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Mr. Zhang, it is already enough!"

"I will stay in Beijing for a few days to visit some friends. Whenever you have time, call Yuanfan, and let me see your collection—"

"Very well, Mr. Zhang!"

"Alright, let's stop here for today!"

The group stood up and saw Zhang Zongxian to the door.

Zhang Hantao and the middle-aged man accompanied Zhang Zongxian into the elevator, while Zhang Yuanfan and Zhang Yuanqiao returned to pack up their notebooks.

Lin Sicheng and Tian Rulong also came over to help.

After packing up, the few of them walked out, and Zhang Yuanqiao said with an expression of admiration: "General Manager Lin, I've learned a lot today!"

"General Manager Zhang, you are too kind!"

"This is my business card. You must call me when you come to Hong Kong in the future. Oh right, Yuanfan, did you leave your number for General Manager Lin?"

It had been left long ago, back on the day of the auction, it was just that neither had ever called.

"Brother, I already left it!"

"In the future, the business on the Mainland side will be handled by Yuanfan. If General Manager Lin needs any help, feel free to call Yuanfan!"

"Very well, General Manager Zhang!"

The three young people lagged at the very back, chatting as they walked.

Up ahead, Sheng Guoan and Tian Rulong exchanged glances from time to time.

They had not forgotten the scene of Lin Sicheng and Zhang Yuanfan's first meeting: that was the first time they had seen Lin Sicheng lose focus.

Although it was fleeting, at that instant, the emotion in Lin Sicheng's eyes was so thick it seemed as if it were about to overflow.

As for Zhang Yuanfan, it went without saying: on the first day, she only lost focus occasionally, maybe six, seven, or eight times.

As long as she didn't make eye contact with Lin Sicheng, she was basically still clear-headed.

But today, there was no contact between their eyes, yet Zhang Yuanfan was distracted the entire time, her eyes never leaving Lin Sicheng's face.

But looking at it from the other side: it would be the same for anyone else.

Encountering a brilliant and peerless talent, who wouldn't be amazed, and who wouldn't take a few extra looks?

This had nothing to do with age or gender, including the two of them.

Precisely because he was outstanding, Lin Sicheng was even more measured—

Arriving at the elevator lobby, the two sides said their goodbyes.

Before parting, Zhang Yuanqiao said he would host dinner that evening, and Lin Sicheng did not refuse.

He had only moved his mouth, yet earned sixty million from them; he had to express his gratitude properly.

Zhang Yuanfan and Zhang Yuanqiao went upstairs, while Lin Sicheng, Sheng Guoan, and Tian Rulong went downstairs.

The siblings had just stepped out of the elevator when they ran into Zhang Zongxian again.

The father and son had not entered their room, but were waiting for the siblings at the elevator lobby.

"Are they gone?"

"Yes, Grandfather, I've made an appointment with Lin Sicheng to have dinner together tonight!"

"Right, young people should interact more!"

As they spoke, the group walked toward the room. After entering, Zhang Yuanqiao couldn't wait to open his computer and pull up the photos of the Zhu Zi Manuscript.

With no outsiders present, they had no reservations in their speech. He pointed to the sheet with the two characters "Yuanhui": "Grandfather, Second Uncle, how can Bonhams be an international auction house and yet not know that Zhu Xi's courtesy name is Yuanhui?"

It was indeed quite unbelievable, but it was not as if it hadn't happened before.

Zhang Zongxian thought for a moment: "Do you know about Qianlong's Congyun Ge?"

Zhang Yuanqiao thought for a good while: "Is it the study Qianlong set up in the Yangxin Hall?"

"Correct!" Zhang Zongxian nodded, "Last year, before Lin Sicheng had even graduated from university, he bought a piece of Qianlong's Agate Congyun Seal at the Beijing Olympic Special Auction held by the Xiling Seal Art Society, and it only cost a few tens of thousands—"

Xiling Seal Art Society, Beijing Olympic Special Auction, Qianlong's imperial seal, and it was Agate?

A few tens of thousands, that was no different from picking it up for free—

Zhang Yuanqiao was stunned for a long time: "Were all the bidders blind?"

Zhang Zongxian glared at him: "At the time, Sheng Guoan and Tian Rulong were also present!"

Zhang Yuanqiao kept his mouth agape, looking as if he had seen a ghost: just how absurd must the process have been for Lin Sicheng to pick up such a massive bargain?

Zhang Zongxian smiled: "You won't find it strange once you've seen more in the future—"

Existence is reasonable.

Some things may be bizarre, but that doesn't mean that just because you haven't heard of them, they haven't happened—

Opposite was a floor-to-ceiling window, the Wind brushing against the sheer curtains, making a "rustling" sound.

The large coffee table was piled high with materials: photos, catalogs, Contracts, and video recordings.

Lin Yi and a male Lawyer examined the documents carefully, speaking occasionally and pointing things out from time to time.

Four Assistants wrote non-stop, taking detailed notes.

There were several others present: the Person in Charge from Bonhams, the manuscript consignors, and the auction house's legal counsel.

After nearly half an hour, all the materials were organized, and an Assistant handed over a Folder.

——

Lin Yi took a rough look through it and revealed a professional smile: "Mr. Lang, Mrs. Jin, General Manager Feng, the three of you can rest assured, the probability of winning the lawsuit is very high!"

The Lawyer's demeanor was very relaxed, and their tone was full of confidence, but neither the Person in Charge from Bonhams nor the two consignors felt surprised.

Because all the Contracts, all the Technology Authorization Agreements, and the restrictive clauses were formulated by professional international and domestic legal teams, and had even been reviewed by professional legal personnel.

Wherever there were loopholes, they had been patched, and there were corresponding disclaimers. To put it bluntly: this was a guaranteed win of a lawsuit.

The auction house's goal was simple: to auction off the item and earn the commission.

The consignors' goal was even simpler: to auction off the item, stir up the hype, and prepare for the next auction.

Then what if the bidder reneges on the bid?

Then they would sue; besides the commission that should have been earned, the auction house could earn a little bit more.

It was the same for the consignors: China is a place that values the law and values contracts; it is not a place where you can just say you don't want it anymore and be done with it.

Whatever price you bid at the fall of the hammer, not a single cent can be less, and you must additionally compensate for a portion of the losses.

But what if the bidder was only entrusted by someone else, was only bidding on behalf of another, and did not possess the corresponding financial strength—what if they had no money to pay?

It still didn't matter: because the item was still there, and the losses caused to the auction house and the consignors by the bidder's breach of faith would not vanish into thin air once the court ordered compensation.

It was equivalent to losing nothing and earning a sum for free. If they could pay, that was best; if they couldn't afford to pay, it didn't matter much either.

Instead, it would bring endless benefits: as long as the publicity was timely, by the time the lawsuit was over, the hype surrounding this manuscript would skyrocket. When it went up for auction again, it would create a promotional effect where one plus one is greater than two.

It was equivalent to all benefits and no drawbacks, so whether it was the auction house or the consignors, everyone was very satisfied.

The law firm was even more satisfied: after all, auction items worth hundreds of millions did not appear every year, and cases involving economic disputes that led to litigation were practically non-existent.

The key was that there was no risk of losing the case, which meant they not only earned the agency fee but also expanded the law firm's reputation.

It was a win-win-win situation, and everyone was happy.

The Person in Charge and the consignors stood up and reached out their hands in unison: "Thank you, Lawyer Lin!"

Lin Yi smiled reservedly: "You three are too kind, this is what I should do!"

The three parties shook hands politely, and the consignors booked a restaurant, saying they would have a small celebration.

For a moment, there was laughter and chatter, and the atmosphere was indescribably relaxed.

Suddenly, two "Ding-dong" sounds, "Hello sir, hotel front desk!"

Following a woman's voice, with a "Clang," the door lock was opened.

Everyone was stunned for a moment: Shangri-La was a five-star chain hotel, after all, so why were they so unprofessional?

You knocked once, didn't wait for the guest to respond, and didn't even know if there was anyone inside, yet you opened the door?

What if the guest was in the shower, or even worse, doing something private?

Just as they were wondering, with a "Click," the door was pushed open.

The waiter who opened the door stepped aside, and two Police officers stood outside.

One man and one woman, the two entered the room and simultaneously produced their identification: "Hello, we are officers from the Zizhuyuan Police Station in the HD District. Which one of you is Feng Laien?"

The Person in Charge was stunned for a moment: "I am?"

"This is a Summons!" The officer flashed a document, "There are some situations we need to understand, please come with us to the Police Station."

A police summons—what had they done?

Was it reported for soliciting prostitution last night?

Just as they were suspicious and uncertain, Lin Yi stepped forward, blocking the middle: "I'm sorry, my client is a foreign guest, you have no right to take him away. I am Lawyer Lin, if you have any questions, you can ask me!"

The male officer was stunned for a moment, revealing a playful smile: this attitude was just too classic.

"A Hong Kong Lawyer?"

Lin Yi nodded: "Yes!"

"Have you ever studied law?"

When a lawyer is asked "Have you ever studied law," it is the same as asking her "Can you understand human speech"————

A flash of anger crossed Lin Yi's eyes: "Of course!"

The male officer straightened his face, and his voice turned cold: "Lawyer Lin, since you have studied law, do you know what a summons is?"

Lin Yi was stunned for a moment, then immediately "flushed," her face turning red to the roots of her hair.

A so-called Summons, or a subpoena, refers to summoning a suspect who does not currently need to be arrested or detained to a public security organ for interrogation.

It has nothing to do with nationality, nothing to do with race. To put it bluntly: the public security bureau suspects you have broken the law, which is why they would issue a Summons.

Lin Yi was something else, arguing with the police about whether someone was a foreign guest or not————what, is a foreign guest your father, so if they break the law they don't need to be held responsible, or even cannot be investigated?

The officer pointed a finger: "Do not obstruct me from performing my official duties!"

Lin Yi was both ashamed and angry, gritted her teeth, but still stepped aside.

The male officer looked at the couple: "Lang Qingxiang, Jin Yuzhen?"

The two looked at each other: "That's us!"

"Please cooperate!"

As he spoke, the officer took out two more Summons.

Looking at the three Summons, several people realized what was happening.

If they were only summoning Feng Laien, then in all likelihood he had done something bad: last night he went to Sanlitun, brought two women back, and hadn't stopped all night.

But they also summoned Lang Qingxiang and Jin Yuzhen, so there was only one possibility: because of that manuscript.

Lin Yi took another step forward, just about to say something, when the police officer waved a hand: "Whatever you have to say, say it at the Police Station! Rest assured, not a single procedure will be skipped; we will certainly inform you of the reason for the summons, as well as the legal basis—"

The few of them exchanged glances, and Lin Yi gave a laugh: "Let's go!"

A Summons has a mandatory nature; for those who do not accept a summons without just cause, or who evade a summons, compulsory measures may be taken.

Therefore, it is necessary to cooperate.

But Lin Yi did not feel that there was any necessity for these three to be summoned.

Furthermore, these three were all foreign nationals, and a Summons is not that easy to approve. But now, not only had the Summons been approved, the police had even come to the door to summon them, which was quite strange.

Lin Yi wondered, had someone used methods outside the rules?

If that were truly the case, but nothing was found in the end, people are not so easily released.

Lin Yi smiled, and the three of them understood, their expressions extremely peculiar.

There was some surprise, some suspicion, and even more of the smugness of a successful scheme.

From their perspective, the ones most likely to be suspects were only Zhou Zhilin and Li Chengkai; the two could neither afford to buy it nor afford to pay the damages, so they could only be the villains who strike first.

But they did not have the strength for this; if they reported the case, the police would not open a file at all, because this was a commercial dispute.

So, could it be that someone was backing them behind the scenes? For example, Zhang Zongxian—

But it didn't matter whether there was or not; in fact, for them, this was a good thing: normal commercial behavior, yet administrative power was used in violation of regulations to intervene; no matter which country it was in, this was a scandal, and even more so, big news.

It was equivalent to adding fuel to the heat of that manuscript—

The few of them kept exchanging glances, their expressions visibly relaxed.

The police officer couldn't be bothered to pay attention and waved a hand: "Everyone, please cooperate!"

The three of them smiled and left the room.

Lin Yi followed at the very back, standing at the doorway. Seeing the police take the people into the elevator, she hurriedly took out her phone: "General Manager, the police have taken the clients away—all three of them have been taken away, mandatory summons!"

"Rest assured, I can handle it—yes, I will contact the embassy, and I will contact the media—"

"Okay, I understand—"

Hanging up the phone, Lin Yi gave a cold snort: Laughing at me for not understanding the law?

Then I will let you see, who exactly is it that doesn't understand the law?

The Police Station was right next to the hotel, two stops away.

By the time Lin Yi arrived, Lin Sicheng had also arrived, and the two groups were invited into the conference room.

The two women looked at each other from across the room; neither knew the other, but both smelled that trace of a kindred spirit on the other—

O

Then, the atmosphere became increasingly silent, and revealed a few traces of eeriness.

After a long while, Tan Zheng reached out her hand first: "Tan Zheng, Fang He!"

Lin Yi curled her lip and stood up: "Lin Yi, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer!"

Both were famous major firms in the industry, one in Shanghai, one in Hong Kong.

The point was: there exists a chain of contempt in the legal profession, and it is very severe; Lin Yi happened to be on the side standing at the high position.

She curled the corner of her mouth: "Lawyer Tan, you used the Backdoor, didn't you?"

Tan Zheng was noncommittal: "Rare, Lawyer Lin actually understands such down-to-earth terms?"

"Just because I don't do it, doesn't mean I don't understand it!" Lin Yi looked at Lin Sicheng sitting next to her, "This is Lawyer Tan's client, right? Then who does he represent?"

"Lawyer Lin, the Court has already opened a case; don't you do pre-litigation preparation?" Tan Zheng smiled, "Even if you are confident, you should at least look at the Contract documents and the auction footage, right?"

Lin Yi was stunned for a moment: of course she had looked at them; she was still looking at them the moment before the police knocked on the door.

But what did that have to do with a person who suddenly popped up out of nowhere, inexplicably reporting a case, and inexplicably having her three clients summoned to the Police Station?

While suspicious, she looked at Lin Sicheng.

First impression: so young?

Second impression: eh, he is actually sleeping?

Suddenly, a scene flashed through her mind: Li Chengkai raising his paddle, the auctioneer announcing the price, and then calling for bids.

After the price was called twice, the bidder for Fujian Province Fund raised their paddle, and the auctioneer called the price again.

But for some reason, no matter which bidder it was, every time they finished raising their paddle, they would look at a young man sitting toward the back of the venue who seemed to be asleep.

This repeated, and suddenly, the young man opened his eyes and picked up his number paddle: "Increase the price by ten million—"

Lin Yi remembered: this was the number thirty-nine bidder who had bid up to one hundred and sixty million.

It was actually him who reported the case?

But on what grounds did he report the case?

Just as she was suspicious, with a "creak," the door to the conference room was pushed open.

First were two police officers, then Feng Laien, and after that, Lang Qingxiang and Jin Yuzhen.

Finally, two more police officers entered and closed the door.

Lin Sicheng opened his eyes and smiled politely: "The three of you, we meet again."

The three of them were stunned for a moment, and subsequently, their faces turned dark.

It was not just because of Lin Sicheng's disruptive price-raising, nor was it just because he used the method of raising the price to indirectly make the manuscript sell for tens of millions less.

It was because they had already guessed that the one who caused Zhang Zongxian to withdraw his authorization, which subsequently led to Zhou Zhilin and Li Chengkai reneging on their bid, was in all likelihood Lin Sicheng.

They were not guessing randomly; they had grounds:

During the auction, Lin Sicheng sat with Zhang Zongxian's granddaughter the entire time.

After the auction, Zhang Zongxian rushed to Beijing at the first opportunity and met with Zhou Zhilin and Li Chengkai. At that time, Lin Sicheng was also present.

Subsequently, Zhang Zongxian withdrew his authorization, and Zhou Zhilin and Li Chengkai reneged on their bid. If it wasn't Lin Sicheng playing tricks in the middle, who else could it be?

Why did they know so clearly?

Because the auction venue was at the Shangri-La, they, Zhou Zhilin and Li Chengkai, as well as the Zhang Zongxian family, were all staying at the Shangri-La.

Lang Qingxiang and Jin Yuzhen saw with their own eyes Lin Sicheng accompanying the Zhang Zongxian family eating in the restaurant—

Lang Qingxiang said with a cold face: "What are you here for?"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Naturally, I am entrusted by Zhou Zhilin and Li Chengkai to represent the case of the Zhu Zi Manuscript!"

"You reported the case?"

"Yes!"

Lang Qingxiang paused abruptly.

In an instant, he understood all the connections: Lin Sicheng was targeting him.

He made Zhang Yuanfan not participate in the bidding, and then deliberately drove up the price, disrupting the auctioneer's rhythm, which caused the manuscript to sell for tens of millions less.

Then, he did not know what means he used to bewitch Zhang Zongxian into withdrawing the entrustment, and also incited Zhou Zhilin and Li Chengkai to renege on the bid.

Finally, he represented Zhou Zhilin and Li Chengkai in responding to the lawsuit, and even went so far as to lodge a complaint first, reporting to the Police: claiming that they and the Shen Mansion were engaged in fraudulent sales.

It meant that from beginning to end, he was the one causing trouble, and even now he was still causing trouble—