Chapter 57

"Are you buying a house again? Don't spend money recklessly," Mother hurriedly said to Gaoyang.

"Don't worry, Mom. My business is doing well, and I've made a lot of money. Of course, I should take good care of the two of you," Gaoyang said with a smile, using his chopsticks to serve his parents.

"Why don't you return to Beidu? Don't we have a house there? Your father and I don't speak Cantonese," Father, sitting beside him, asked.

Gaoyang quickly finished the food in his mouth and said, "Dad, the air in Beidu isn't good. I wouldn't feel at ease having you live there long-term. The environment in Hong Kong is much better. Now, there are very few people in Hong Kong who don't speak Mandarin. Don't worry. Moreover, my company's focus will soon shift to Asia, so I'll be able to spend more time with you. When you want to go on vacation, you can come back here. If you want to see relatives, you can go to Beidu."

"Will you have more time in the future? Isn't the company busy?" Mother asked urgently.

"Yes, the company's business is now on track, and all matters are handled by professionals. I just need to set the direction. Don't worry, just live happily," Gaoyang said, getting up to serve his parents soup.

"Okay, you decide," Father and Mother exchanged glances and said. To them, whether it's Beidu or Hong Kong, as long as they are surrounded by people with yellow skin and black hair, it's fine.

The next morning, after returning from the 1925 timeline, Gaoyang was about to go to the gym for a workout when Stock handed him an invitation. "Sir, Sotheby's has invited you to attend the 'Starry Gems' auction in Geneva tonight. This is their invitation."

Gaoyang took the invitation and opened it, finding it similar to what Stock had said, with the text in gold and Chinese. "How do they know I have money?" Gaoyang asked Stock, shaking the invitation with a puzzled look.

Stock's face wore a professional smile. "Sir, Sotheby's does business with wealthy people. If they didn't know about a major tycoon like you, Sotheby's would have gone bankrupt long ago." "Oh, gems." Gaoyang rubbed his forehead, recalling Zheng Xiujing's joyful smile. He smiled and said to Stock, "Okay, you prepare. I'll go and take a look tonight." "Yes, sir."

After lunch, Gaoyang played mahjong with his parents until around 4:30 PM. Mother had a great time playing mahjong and was in a very good mood, smiling all afternoon. If it weren't for Gaoyang's evening plans in Geneva, Mother wouldn't have wanted to stop.

Gaoyang sat in the back seat of a Mercedes S400L, with Stock in the front passenger seat. "Sir, shall we leave?" Gaoyang nodded, and the driver started the car, driving out of the villa. Several bodyguards followed in another S400L.

It's about 160 kilometers from Bern to Geneva. Driving along Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Geneva, it takes about an hour and a half. Gaoyang sat quietly in the back seat, eyes closed, resting, but his mind was discussing matters with Origin.

"Although you are currently covering up well in Africa, the actual crude oil production and the amount you sell differ so much that it will eventually be exposed," Origin said.

"I know!" Gaoyang was also helpless. Most of the energy points he had obtained were used to create bio-warriors. Although the energy consumption of a single bio-warrior was not high, the large quantity made a difference. As Gaoyang's army in the 1925 timeline grew, the demand for bio-warriors increased. The army was Gaoyang's greatest reliance, and the bio-warriors were the hands that controlled the army!

"Do you have any good suggestions?" Gaoyang, unable to think of a good solution, pushed the problem to Origin. "There is a way," Origin said. "Hmm?" Gaoyang opened his eyes, took out a cigarette, and lit it. "Tell me."

"I have read many of your human documents on the internet. Some say that if you want to cover up something, it's best to use another event to attract everyone's attention," Origin said.

"Another event?" Gaoyang smoked silently, thinking about what could be done in the country where the mine was located to divert everyone's attention. After stubbing out the cigarette, Gaoyang leaned back and closed his eyes. He quickly had an idea, and Origin fell silent.

The car drove quickly, and by just after six, they had entered Geneva. Stock turned and smiled. "Sir, I have reserved a table at the Edelweiss Restaurant. Would you like to go there for dinner now?" "Oh, let's go," Gaoyang, whose thoughts were interrupted, responded with a slight frown.

Geneva is the culinary capital of Switzerland, with over 1,100 restaurants in the city. The Edelweiss Restaurant is one of the best, located on a hillside by Lake Geneva, part of the Edelweiss chain.

When Gaoyang's group arrived at the restaurant, there were not many guests. After Stock negotiated, the waiter led Gaoyang to a table on a terrace on the second floor, the best spot in the restaurant. The terrace overlooked Lake Geneva, with a beautiful environment. There was also a Swiss folk music performance, with a several-meter-long pipe playing melodious music. The staff ate at regular tables, while only Stock accompanied Gaoyang. The waiter quickly brought the dishes.

"Go and eat," Gaoyang said softly to Stock. After all, he was an elderly man, and Gaoyang felt uncomfortable with him standing beside him while he ate.

Stock smiled slightly. "Sir, I have already eaten before we came." He then opened the lid of the dish and introduced, "Cheese fondue, the most famous local specialty. This is fresh and delicious perch fillet from Lake Geneva." He picked up the corkscrew and opened a bottle of white wine. "The local white wine is excellent and is a well-known wine in Europe." After pouring a glass for Gaoyang with a napkin under the bottle, he placed the bottle down, stood behind Gaoyang with his hands crossed in front of him, and Gaoyang nodded and began to enjoy his dinner.

After half an hour, the restaurant gradually filled with guests. Gaoyang took the napkin Stock handed him, wiped his mouth, and smiled. "I am very satisfied with your work," he said. Stock gave him a professional smile.

The bodyguards and driver escorted Gaoyang out of the restaurant and into the car, heading directly to the auction venue. Sotheby's held the auction at the Geneva Opera House on the New Square in Geneva.

When Gaoyang arrived at the opera house, Sotheby's reception manager, Rong, saw him get out of the car and his eyes lit up. He hurriedly stepped forward and smiled. "Mr. Smith, welcome. It's good to see you."

Gaoyang looked at the bald man and smiled. "Manager Rong, it's been a while. Your hair loss seems to have worsened." Rong laughed awkwardly and stepped aside to invite Gaoyang in. Gaoyang was no longer the insignificant person who came to sell a snuff bottle a year ago.

Inside the theater, Rong led Gaoyang to a VIP box on the second floor. "Mr. Smith, this is your box. If you need anything, please let me know," Rong said, bowing slightly.

Gaoyang sat on the leather sofa, lit a cigarette, and said, "Manager Rong, please call me Mr. Gao. Please forget that other name. I don't need you to do anything for the moment."

Manager Rong handed a red wooden sign with the number 182 to Stock and bowed to Gaoyang. "Mr. Gao, I understand. Please wait a moment; the auction will start soon." He then slowly left the box.

Gaoyang crossed his legs and looked at Stock. "Shouldn't everyone sit together? Why do I have a box?" Stock picked up an elegant ashtray, placed it on the coffee table in front of Gaoyang, and said, "Sir, at Sotheby's auctions, all billionaires have boxes. Those sitting below are just agents."

Gaoyang was slightly surprised. "How do they know I'm a billionaire?"

"Sir, that's what Sotheby's does. They won't pry into your privacy; they just need to know you are wealthy," Stock said, handing Gaoyang the auction catalog and holding up the bidding paddle. "Sir, do you need me to go down? Which item are you interested in, and what is your reserve price? Please tell me, and I will bid on your behalf."

Gaoyang opened the auction catalog and carefully looked through it. The items included necklaces, rings, earrings, tiaras, bracelets, and raw materials, with various gemstones, pearls, carnelians, colored crystals, and diamonds.

The items in the catalog were beautifully photographed, and each had a starting bid. Gaoyang didn't find any item with a starting bid less than $100,000. "This is truly a gathering for the wealthy," Gaoyang thought, stubbing out his cigarette and smiling at Stock, who was standing slightly bowed beside him. "Can I bid from here?" Stock nodded gently. "Yes, sir, there is a dedicated bidding phone in the box." Gaoyang turned his head and saw a red phone on a nearby counter.

He got up, went to the bar, and picked up a bottle of whisky. "No need to go down, let's see first." Stock took the bottle, opened it, poured it into a glass, added a few ice cubes from the ice bucket, and handed it to Gaoyang.

It was soon 8:00 PM. Through the one-way glass in front of the sofa, Gaoyang saw the seats in the theater below were full, but there was no noise. The lights gradually dimmed, and the host walked to the center of the stage, gave a brief introduction, and announced the start of the auction.

A staff member carried a tray to the center of the stage. The first item was a platinum ring with a 3.01-carat diamond, with a starting bid of $160,000.

The large screen beside the host showed various angles and details of the ring. After an enthusiastic introduction, the host announced the start of the bidding. The price quickly rose from $160,000 to $230,000, and no one bid further. After the host asked, he hammered the gavel, and the entire process took less than three minutes.

Stock smiled at Gaoyang. "Sir, these are just the appetizers. The best items are at the end." Gaoyang nodded slightly and took a sip of whisky without saying anything.

The auction proceeded quickly, and over a hundred items were sold in a short time. The starting bids gradually increased. A natural Burmese ruby had a starting bid of $1,070,000 and was eventually sold for $1,830,000 by an anonymous phone bidder.

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