Chapter 81

Xiao Ru instantly recognized Wang Ge, although, to be honest, she had only met him a few times.

There were multiple reasons for her coming to the Mountain City Base to spend her summer vacation, one of which was to have a simple and ordinary summer like a regular person.

In fact, her summer was indeed very simple, so simple that she was about to end her vacation without leaving any deep impressions, except for Wang Ge.

However, she also rationally accepted the outcome of "never seeing each other again." She had long been accustomed to accepting it, as this was something she could not change, and even if she could change it, why would she?

Thinking she would never see this person again in her life, she never expected to meet him so soon.

At this moment, for some unknown reason, Xiao Ru felt a bit surprised and delighted.

She was just about to greet Wang Ge when she noticed that he seemed not to recognize her. His gaze quickly swept over the crowd and then he lowered his head to continue eating the exquisite Western pastries.

Xiao Ru couldn't help but pause, her slightly opened mouth closing again.

The bald man and the man with a pompadour, who were following Xiao Ru, both saw Wang Ge at the first moment. Many people tend to judge others by their own low standards, and at this moment, the pompadour and the bald man both subconsciously imagined Wang Ge as a young man trying to climb the social ladder by seducing rich girls or young women. There were plenty of such men in big cities.

However, what surprised them was that Wang Ge's gaze quickly passed over Xiao Ru as if he hadn't seen her, and he continued doing what he was doing.

No!

He must have seen the young lady! The pompadour and the bald man exchanged a glance, and their judgment was the same.

Why is this guy pretending not to see her?

Is he playing hard to get?

Is he being cautious?

Is he being mysterious?

The two men instantly raised their alert level to the highest for Wang Ge. They nodded at each other, deciding to treat Wang Ge as the key target to watch out for today.

Additionally, if there was an opportunity, they might as well give this guy a serious warning to prevent him from having any ideas about the young lady.

"Apparently, this is the highest-level black market auction in the Mountain City Base. In theory, anyone who can come in should have a certain level of status in the underworld. I wonder how this country bumpkin managed to get in." The extremely condescending voice sounded again beside Xiao Ru.

It was a plump, pale man with small eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses, almost indistinguishable whether they were open or closed. His large, flat face had small features, especially his small mouth, which could be aptly described as a cherry mouth. It would look good on a girl, but he was a man...

Both the pompadour and the bald man frowned slightly at his words. They didn't like this man, but he was a local power in the Mountain City Base.

The Federation had its four major families, and the Mountain City Base had its own four major families, collectively known as "Red Sorghum Leaves." The ranking was such that the lower the position, the stronger the family.

Correspondingly, the four major playboys in the Mountain City Base were also from the four major families. They were Ye Long from the Ye family, Liang Jiaju from the Liang family, Gao Yi from the Gao family, and Hong Xiaobao from the Hong family.

The Hong family had some dealings with the young lady's family, so today, the young lady came to the black market auction, and she asked Hong Xiaobao to accompany her.

The name of the four major playboys was quite well-known in the Mountain City Base, but the pompadour and the bald man never expected Hong Xiaobao to be such a prime example, which made them look down on all four major playboys.

Seeing that Xiao Ru didn't respond, the plump, pale Hong Xiaobao changed the topic and, relying on his local influence, led Xiao Ru to a favorable position: "Xiao Ru, don't worry. The black market auction is a place where anything can happen. We will definitely be able to bid on [Kun Huang]."

Xiao Ru nodded slightly with a worried expression. She had come specifically for the Chinese medicine, Kun Huang.

Her mother had been experiencing health issues in recent years, with her hair falling out more and more severely. Her once thick, black hair was now just a thin strand when tied up. The brown spots on her face were becoming more noticeable, covering large areas of her cheeks like butterfly shapes. Her lips, which were initially rosy, had gradually turned dark red and were now black.

She had seen many Western doctors, but none could solve this problem. The Chinese doctor had prescribed a formula, but even after a long period of adjustment, there was no significant improvement. Recently, an old Chinese doctor had given her a new formula using a new variant herb, with Kun Huang as the main ingredient.

Although Kun Huang was not considered precious, it was quite rare. After the first course of treatment, it mysteriously ran out.

The Zhao family was powerful, but Xiao Ru's mother was unwilling to use the family's network for such a matter, so she only mobilized her subordinates to purchase it from various places.

Since Xiao Ru was at the Mountain City Base on Earth, she naturally wanted to try to buy it from there. Although this was not a life-threatening issue, she couldn't bear to see her mother, who was just forty, aging so rapidly.

While Hong Xiaobao was talking to Xiao Ru, the pompadour and the bald man were focused on Wang Ge.

In their view, Wang Ge was definitely looking for a better opportunity to approach the young lady. However, to their surprise, after clearing the food from one table, Wang Ge moved to another table and continued eating without any hesitation.

That table was not closer to the young lady but farther away.

The pompadour and the bald man exchanged a puzzled glance, both feeling reluctant: How could I, with my keen eyes, be wrong? This doesn't make sense. That guy must have some other plan...

Wang Ge had already given up on Xiao Ru. He had a paralyzed sister at home, a disabled brother named Curly, and unresolved family vendettas. The pressure of life was like a yoke on his neck, forcing him to work hard every day, leaving no time or energy for romance.

After eating from several tables, Wang Ge's stomach was almost full. He tidied up his outdoor outfit, which was completely out of place in this environment, and stood in an inconspicuous corner, ready to watch the auction begin.

Hong Xiaobao and Xiao Ru went to the front row, and the pompadour and the bald man, along with Hong Xiaobao's bodyguards, followed.

They quietly observed Wang Ge's position, and both the pompadour and the bald man were puzzled. He really doesn't seem like it... Could we have been wrong?

"Gentlemen and ladies, welcome to tonight's black market auction. This is a grand event held every three months..." On the stage, a fat man with three chins appeared, wearing a tight and ridiculous tuxedo, and began his speech.

Fat Man? Wang Ge looked at him in surprise. Previously, he had only thought of Fat Man as an ordinary black market shop owner, but now it seemed he was more than that. After all, the person who could give a speech and act as the host at a black market auction must be one of the organizers.

Due to the special nature of the black market auction, the host could not be hired from a wedding company. The host must be a seasoned veteran in this field, not only able to identify treasures but also able to explain anything in detail and have a comprehensive understanding of prices. Sometimes, they even had to represent authority.

Fat Man, not simple at all.

At this moment, someone approached him.

Wang Ge didn't need to turn around to know who it was. As childhood friends, they had developed a certain level of默契 (rapport).

"Good news," Curly stood beside Wang Ge, his eyes on the stage where Fat Man was speaking. He whispered, "The [Bear Bug Bile], Fei Peng Grass, and a few others we provided are among the main items. It would be great if they sell for a high price."

Wang Ge also lowered his voice, "Whether they sell or not, it's a good thing for the Black Market Shop."

Curly chuckled, and the two of them watched the auction together. They had no intention of bidding, so for them, it was just like watching a show, except when their items were up for auction.

Xiao Ru was only thinking about Kun Huang. At first, she focused on waiting, but after several items passed without it, she became restless. She glanced around casually and inadvertently saw Wang Ge in the corner.

Wang Ge's clothing hadn't changed much. Although he was now worth several million, he still dressed very simply, even plain.

However, his demeanor had undergone a complete transformation. Xiao Ru remembered when Wang Ge first came to the Upper Class Magic Points, he looked somewhat lost and inferior, like a country boy who had never seen the world, which made her feel sympathetic.

But now, Wang Ge had sharp eyes, a straight posture, and a faint smile on his lips that made him look like a bad boy, yet it strangely attracted Xiao Ru in a different way.

The subtle aggressiveness he exuded made her intensely curious about what had happened to the country boy during this time.

Why had he undergone such a dramatic transformation?

Xiao Ru's gaze made the pompadour and the bald man even more suspicious. They both looked at Wang Ge, but found him talking to a muscular man, not paying any attention to them.

The two of them exchanged a glance and shook their heads with complex expressions.

Meanwhile, Hong Xiaobao kept talking incessantly beside Xiao Ru. She occasionally glanced at Wang Ge, who piqued her curiosity, and responded to Hong Xiaobao's attentions with a distracted nod or "um."

This indifferent attitude, even for someone like Hong Xiaobao, who was the least important among the four major playboys, was noticeable.

Following Xiao Ru's gaze, Hong Xiaobao saw Wang Ge. He immediately remembered the country bumpkin he had mocked earlier. After a moment of consideration, his gaze toward Wang Ge became slightly malicious.

At this moment, Fat Man on the stage announced with enthusiasm, "The next item is quite rare. It may seem ordinary, but it plays a crucial role in many Chinese medicines. It is the precious Kun Huang from the Black Market Shop!"

[To find out how the country boy will turn the tables on the rich and beautiful, please give a recommendation vote!]

Page break for ads

End of page break for ads