Chapter Thirty-Four: I’m No Longer Following

Lin Wanting’s brows furrowed slightly; she disliked such sudden “coincidences.” She was even less fond of Wen Bin’s condescending demeanor.

Qin Feng stepped directly in front of Lin Wanting.
“President Wen, since we all share the same goal, why not let our abilities speak for themselves? There’s no need for unnecessary words.”

Wen Bin laughed, his tone tinged with amusement.
“It seems the two brothers are quite confident—strength determines everything. Still, let me remind you: the jade trade is a deep pool. One careless step, and you might take a hard fall.”

Qin Feng smiled faintly, his expression showing indifference to Wen Bin’s provocation, but also a hint of anticipation for the coming competition.
“Thank you for the warning, President Wen. Rest assured, we’ll tread carefully. As for you, perhaps your attention is a bit divided by the Jianghai Development Project. I hope it won’t affect your progress there.”

The remark struck home, and Wen Bin’s face darkened for a moment. He hadn’t expected Qin Feng to mention Jianghai so directly—it was, after all, one of his most important current projects.

But Wen Bin quickly regained his composure, his smile unchanged.
“I’ve always known how to prioritize my affairs.”

Just then, a commotion broke out in one corner of the hall, drawing everyone’s attention. A staff member hurried onto the stage, carrying a mysterious raw stone draped in red silk. It was announced as the grand finale of the bidding—a legendary stone said to hail from the oldest Burmese mines, with a high likelihood of yielding top-grade jadeite.

Wen Bin’s eyes lit up instantly. He glanced at Qin Feng and Lin Wanting, a meaningful smile curling on his lips.

...

Inside the private room, Lin Wanting watched as Qin Feng diligently filled out the bid forms.

“Number eighteen—ten million. Isn’t that a bit low? I saw many people eyeing that one.”

“It doesn’t matter. We’re not counting on it for profit. As long as we secure these few key pieces, it’s enough.”

Qin Feng glanced up, smiling. He had already analyzed the stones: numbers five, ten, sixteen, and twenty-eight were the ones they must acquire. The others might yield some gains, but investing too much in them would be unwise.

“All right! I trust you,” Lin Wanting replied with a radiant smile. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with a hint of allure, leaving Qin Feng momentarily dazed.

This woman truly was a rare beauty.

But only for a moment; Qin Feng quickly composed himself and returned to his work. Meanwhile, at the center of the hall, the auctioneer had begun introducing the grand finale stone. His passionate voice, every syllable carefully chosen, seemed designed to stir the nerves of every jade enthusiast present.

“Distinguished guests, up next is the highlight of our event—the legendary stone from the old mines, a treasure shaped by millions of years of nature!
It is not merely a stone but a gift from Mother Earth herself, a miracle said to yield the finest jadeite!
Every inch of it is filled with mystery and possibility, waiting for the right one to unlock its secrets...”

As the auctioneer spoke, the red silk was slowly lifted, revealing a pitch-black stone covered in fine cracks. Yet it was these unremarkable fissures that so often concealed the tracks of jade, sparking boundless imagination.

Wen Bin’s eyes were fixed on the stone, blazing with greed and determination. His companions watched eagerly as well, clearly holding high hopes for this legendary piece.

“Qin Feng, what do you think of that stone?” Lin Wanting asked softly, a hint of nervousness and curiosity in her voice.

“Will you bid on it?” she pressed.

Qin Feng smiled, neither confirming nor denying. Instead, he glanced up at the clock on the wall. The seconds ticked away; the start of bidding was near.

“We’ll stick to our plan for now. As for the finale stone...” Qin Feng paused deliberately, a sly glint in his eye. “You’ll know soon enough.”

The auction officially began. At the auctioneer’s command, the hall grew tense and electric. One stone after another was brought to the stage, their prices rising with each bid.

Following their strategy, Qin Feng and Lin Wanting successfully secured stones five, ten, sixteen, and twenty-eight.

As the auction drew to a close, the grand finale stone was finally brought forth. The atmosphere reached its peak, every eye fixed on this mysterious stone.

“The starting bid is one hundred million!” the auctioneer’s voice rang out, causing a stir.

Wen Bin raised his paddle without hesitation, bidding one hundred and fifty million.

Several other interested buyers quickly joined the fray, and the price climbed rapidly.

Suddenly, Qin Feng raised his paddle and, in a calm voice, called out a figure that left everyone stunned.

“Five hundred million.”

The entire hall erupted in shock. All eyes turned to Qin Feng, barely able to believe that this usually reserved young man would make such a bold move.

Wen Bin’s face turned grim. He hadn’t expected Qin Feng to strike at this moment, and with such an outrageous offer.

He glared at Qin Feng, then resolutely raised his bid. “Five hundred and fifty million!”

Qin Feng, however, seemed not to hear. He sat quietly, a faint smile on his lips.

As the auctioneer asked for further bids a third time, the room fell silent; everyone held their breath.

“One hundred and fifty million going once, one hundred and fifty million going twice...”

“Six hundred million!”

Qin Feng raised his paddle again, his tone steady and unyielding.

A collective gasp swept through the hall. The looks directed at Qin Feng were as if he were some kind of monster—or perhaps a madman.

Six hundred million!

Heaven above! Someone had actually bid six hundred million for this stone.

The stone was indeed precious—even jewelers specializing in “gambling stones” would spend a fortune to acquire it. But if it revealed a rich lode, it would be worthwhile; if not, it would be a colossal loss.

Wen Bin’s expression was ugly, his teeth clenched. He knew Qin Feng was deliberately driving up the price. But he had insider information and had hired experts to appraise the stone—he was certain it would yield a great profit.

Gritting his teeth, he snorted coldly and shouted the next bid: “Six hundred and twenty million!”

Just as he expected Qin Feng to continue, Qin Feng suddenly turned toward him with a smile.

“Ha, President Wen, you’re certainly generous. I’m out.”