Chapter 7

Lü Wen was also somewhat stunned, taking a while before he uncertainly said:

"This... This can't be dyed, right?"

The Ice Lantern Crassula looked so beautiful, so beautiful that it seemed almost fake, like a work of art.

Liang Qichao, Lu Ping, and Ling Qingxue all raised their heads in unison and said in unison:

"Nonsense!"

Ling Qingxue snorted coldly:

"If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense. This is clearly an extremely rare and superior variant of the Ice Lantern!"

Lu Ping also shook his head slightly and said:

"Lü Wen, based on my experience, there's nothing wrong with this Ice Lantern Crassula. It's even more beautiful than the pictures online."

Because of Ling Qingxue, these few people had all done some research on succulents, and Liang Qichao even ran a succulent cultivation base.

In fact, Lü Wen also had a vague feeling that the Ice Lantern Crassula wasn't fake, but he just couldn't accept it, so he couldn't help but say those words, which he didn't expect to provoke everyone's anger.

Xia Ruofei, however, didn't mind, still wearing a faint smile on his face.

At this moment, Liu Minghao looked at Xia Ruofei, then at Ling Qingxue, and after a moment's thought, said:

"Xia, are you selling this Ice Lantern? How about this! I'll offer 80,000 yuan! Sell it to me! Selling a pot of succulents for 80,000 yuan, you'll make a fortune. I bet you've earned more in all your years in the military than this!"

Liang Qichao immediately objected, jumping up and saying:

"Liu Minghao, what do you mean! Mr. Xia is my contact, and if there's a transaction, it should be with me!"

Lu Ping also chimed in:

"Liu Minghao, that's not very decent! How can you even dare to offer 80,000 yuan? That's just the price of a regular superior Ice Lantern. Mr. Xia's is a variant! How about this, I'll offer 100,000 yuan. Mr. Xia, are you willing to part with it?"

Lu Ping looked refined, but which of these rich second-generation was simple? His words also subtly attacked Liu Minghao, and he pretended not to hear Liang Qichao's words, still preparing to bid.

"You..." Liu Minghao was flustered, "I'll offer 120,000 yuan!"

"130,000! Sell it to me!" Lü Wen also joined in.

These few people all wanted to buy the Ice Lantern Crassula to win Ling Qingxue's favor, so they were naturally unwilling to back down.

Moreover, this superior Ice Lantern was worth this price.

"You guys are too shameless!" Liang Qichao exclaimed, then looked at Xia Ruofei pitifully and said, "Mr. Xia, Blood Wolf... you promised to sell it to me..."

Before Xia Ruofei could speak, Ling Qingxue spoke up first:

"1,000,000 yuan! I want this Ice Lantern. Who wants to compete with me?"

Liang Qichao and the others were stunned, and Xia Ruofei was also at a loss.

He had roughly checked the price before coming, and while a superior variant Ice Lantern was valuable, it certainly wasn't worth 1,000,000 yuan, not even a fifth of that.

Ling Qingxue's offer was clearly not just because she liked the Ice Lantern.

In fact, Ling Qingxue had noticed that Xia Ruofei's total outfit cost less than 200 yuan, and he had just been discharged from the military and was jobless, making him quite destitute. So she had the idea to help Xia Ruofei.

However, the smart Ling Qingxue knew she had to consider a man's self-respect, and was thinking about how to achieve both. Then Xia Ruofei brought out the Ice Lantern Crassula and was preparing to sell it.

So Ling Qingxue didn't think twice and offered an exaggerated price.

Liu Minghao quickly said:

"Qingxue, no matter how good this Ice Lantern Crassula is, it's not worth 1,000,000 yuan. I know you like this Crassula, I'll buy it and give it to you..."

Lu Ping also adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said:

"Qingxue, this price is a bit too high..."

Ling Qingxue huffed lightly and said:

"I like it, I'm willing to pay, money can't buy what I truly desire. What's it to you?"

"This..." Liang Qichao hadn't expected things to turn out this way and looked to Xia Ruofei for help.

Xia Ruofei's eyes were sharp, and he had already seen the situation clearly. He also understood Ling Qingxue's intentions to some extent, but he could only appreciate her kindness.

He had no impression of her at all, so how could he accept such a large sum of money? At best, it would be called deceiving feelings, and at worst, it would be seen as a gold-digging act.

So Xia Ruofei thought for a moment and said:

"Mr. Liang, since everyone is so enthusiastic, let's have a bidding. The highest bidder wins, fair and square! However..."

At this point, Xia Ruofei looked at Ling Qingxue and smiled:

"Ling Qingxue, you don't need to participate in the bidding!"

At first, Liang Qichao thought Xia Ruofei's words were meaningless, as Ling Qingxue had already offered 1,000,000 yuan. Who could bid against her? But then Xia Ruofei's tone changed, and Liang Qichao's worries turned to joy.

But Ling Qingxue was not pleased and pouted at Xia Ruofei:

"Why can't I bid? That's not fair!"

Liang Qichao and the others were stunned. They had known Ling Qingxue for so long, but this was the first time they had seen her act so girlish, making them both envious and jealous.

Especially Liu Minghao and Lü Wen, their eyes were almost on fire.

Xia Ruofei looked at Ling Qingxue helplessly and said:

"Stop fooling around, I'm doing serious business here! If you like succulents, I'll find you some later..."

Ling Qingxue immediately turned from angry to happy and said:

"You have to keep your word!"

"Of course, of course..." Xia Ruofei said dismissively.

Liu Minghao couldn't stand it anymore and said:

"Since that's the case, let's start the bidding! Lü Wen offered 130,000 yuan, right? I'll offer 150,000 yuan!"

Liu Minghao immediately added 20,000 yuan.

Actually, this price was already quite high. The most valuable Ice Lantern varieties on the market were only around 100,000 yuan.

"160,000 yuan!" Lu Ping gritted his teeth and added 10,000 yuan.

"170,000 yuan!" Liang Qichao was not to be outdone. As the host, he hadn't bid yet.

Lu Ping shrugged and said:

"I'm out!"

He was always a calm person, and now the price had already exceeded the actual value of the Ice Lantern, so he decided to quit.

These rich second-generation weren't made of money, and their fathers, though billionaires, didn't give them much in terms of business. They mostly received monthly allowances, and spending 100,000 to 200,000 yuan at once would make the rest of the month very difficult.

Lü Wen thought for a moment and also shook his head to indicate he was out.

Liu Minghao smiled coldly and said:

"180,000 yuan!"

He and Liang Qichao didn't get along, and their families were competing businesses, so he also had a competitive spirit.

Liang Qichao snorted and said:

"Then I'll offer 200,000 yuan!"

Liu Minghao's face changed, and he said angrily:

"Are you crazy, Liang Qichao? This Ice Lantern isn't worth that much! Are you just trying to compete with me?"

"Am I crazy for offering a higher price?" Liang Qichao said disdainfully, "Then what about when Qingxue offered 1,000,000 yuan?"

Liu Minghao was startled and quickly looked at Ling Qingxue, who indeed looked unhappy.

He hurriedly explained:

"Qingxue, I... I didn't mean it that way..."

Ling Qingxue said coldly:

"If you want to buy, keep bidding. If you can't afford it, give up. Why so much nonsense?"

How could he tolerate this?

What was most important in front of a woman he liked? Of course, it was a man's dignity. A few ten thousand yuan was nothing!

Liu Minghao suddenly became energized, his eyes red, and shouted:

"250,000 yuan! I'll offer 250,000 yuan! Liang Qichao, can you still bid higher?"

Xia Ruofei knew Ling Qingxue had intentionally provoked Liu Minghao's competitive spirit to make his Ice Lantern Crassula sell for more, and he didn't expect Liu Minghao to be so cooperative, foolishly adding 50,000 yuan at once.

Xia Ruofei gave Ling Qingxue a slightly reproachful look, and she seemed to understand, winking at him with a mischievous smile.

Liang Qichao was also in a dilemma. The price was already at least twice the actual value, and bidding higher would be unwise, but his pride was also at stake.

At this moment, Liang Qichao saw Xia Ruofei give him a secret nod, and he suddenly came to his senses.

He laughed and said:

"Liu Minghao, a gentleman doesn't take what others like. Since you like this Ice Lantern Crassula so much and are willing to pay twice the price, I'll let you have it!"

With that, Liang Qichao shrugged to indicate he was giving up.

Liu Minghao also calmed down and felt a bit regretful—this price could buy many rare succulents.

Ling Qingxue then said:

"Since no one is bidding anymore, Liu Minghao, pay up!"

"Ah? I... I don't have that much cash!" Liu Minghao hesitated.

"I have a POS machine!" Liang Qichao laughed, "You can pay by card, and I'll have the finance department transfer the money to Mr. Xia's account!"

Liu Minghao knew there was no way out and could only grudgingly take out his card, watching as Liang Qichao transferred 250,000 yuan.

Liang Qichao asked Xia Ruofei for his card number and left the office to find the finance personnel of their succulent restaurant. Soon, 250,000 yuan was transferred to Xia Ruofei's account.

"Thank you, Mr. Liang," Xia Ruofei said.

"Ha ha! No problem!" Liang Qichao laughed heartily, "Not being able to buy this superior Ice Lantern is a regret, but I hope we can cooperate in the future!"

"Definitely," Xia Ruofei said with a smile.

Among these rich second-generation, besides Lü Wen and Liu Minghao who were always against him, Liang Qichao and Lu Ping were quite nice, and Ling Qingxue was even better, looking at him with stars in her eyes.

Liu Minghao, seeing Xia Ruofei and Liang Qichao chatting happily, felt like he had swallowed a fly.

His eyes fell on the Ice Lantern Crassula he had bought for 250,000 yuan, and his eyes suddenly lit up. He quickly picked up the pot and walked to Ling Qingxue, saying:

"Qingxue, I'm giving you this superior Ice Lantern. I hope you like it."

Ling Qingxue only gave the Crassula a cold glance and said:

"If I want it, can't I buy it myself? I appreciate your gesture, but you can keep it for yourself!"

Originally, although Ling Qingxue was cold, she was always polite in her speech. But today, seeing Liu Minghao constantly targeting Xia Ruofei, she was also not polite to him.

Liu Minghao was stunned. He had spent half a month's allowance to win the heart of a beautiful woman, but why did it turn out like this? Wasn't he just a fool?

Xia Ruofei saw the situation and laughed, saying:

"Mr. Liang, since the transaction is complete, I won't disturb you. I'll take my leave!"

"I'll see you out!" Liang Qichao quickly said.

"No need, stay with your friends. I can leave on my own," Xia Ruofei said.

Then he gave Liang Qichao a meaningful look and said:

"Let's keep in touch."

Liang Qichao immediately understood and nodded.

So Xia Ruofei walked toward the door.

At this moment, Ling Qingxue suddenly said:

"Ruofei, I'm also leaving. I'll see you out!"

With that, Ling Qingxue quickly followed Xia Ruofei, leaving Liang Qichao and the others staring at each other, with Liu Minghao's face the most unpleasant.